Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Flying Pigeons of Figueroa

In case you haven't noticed yet. 

Figueroa is getting pretty fuckin cool.

Particularly for the bike hippies.

I know most of you "Los Silver Parkers" don't do tend to go too far east of Chango.

But for those of us out here on the east side of the east side. 

I'm including:
  • mnt Washington
  • eagle rock 
  • and even us over here in Monticeto heights
Figueroa is starting to stink like a cool neighborhood. 

To all of you who are skeptical about the future of our hood.

all I can say is, it could happen.

remember a few years ago when echo park was all shitty? 

Well now look at it.

Its still all shitty but its expensive and trendy chicks live there now.

See what I mean.

Any way, Figuroa is already pretty cool for bikes

First off, Figueroa has the bike oven.

And up the street there's the bicycle station.

And most recently, and possibly most interestingly we have, (brand new, just opened)


Featuring brand new classic Chinese bicycles for only 299.00

(price includes bells, baskets racks lights and locks)

And there stinkin cute too.

I think these are going to be a big hit once people finally get tired of 
those god damn fixies.

something for both the ladies and the gents.














the chick ones come in cute colors!


















The austere utilitarian decor is truly reminiscent of the P.R.C.
It makes me want to get "re-educated"














I have to say, I'm excited, I really like them.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

VIVA LA MARKADO DE LA FARMARO REVOLUCIEON AKI!




VIVA LA MARKADO DE LA FARMARO DE LO REVOLUCIEON AKEE!
POP QUIZ
Question: Farmers Market + Bikes = ? (hint, see below)







Answer: "cool as fuckin hell"

Do you feel alienated?

Some times I do too.

But not when I go to the kick ass kick ass silverlake farmers market

Saturdays 8am to 1pm W Sunset Blvd & Edgecliffe Dr

(*note: mike told me the Hollywood one is better, more farmers market reviews later)

Unlike the store (which sucks) the farmers is fuckin fun!

Because it has
  1. rad people being natural and looking at each other lovingly as if to say we're cool.
  2. rad politics (think outspoken homosexual women w/clipboards, stickers and steely determination)
  3. hippy singer songwriters who refuse to play to the morbid drum beat of your consumer industrial complex death culture
  4. bitchin crepes
  5. absolutely gorgeous produce
email me at morgan.blackledge@gmail.com and maybe we can make a date to meet @ one of them soon.

or get on your human powered machine and visit one whenever you like.

here's a schedule of all Los Angeles: Farmers Markets 

here's a guy you will want to know about: Michale Pollan















pretty as a peach? id say so.















choose one

A:"acquire and spend and lay waste to your power" (at the store)

B: shopping can be empowering once again (at the FRMRS MRKT)















say fuck yes to fabulous fuckin summer time foods

mission statement



cyc la nista is;

 

In search of authenticity and beauty in a post authentic and at times ugly as hell city.

 

Determined to forge a sense of self-actualization out of the iron alienation of pistons and windshields, with the hammer and fire of pedals and feeling awareness, on an anvil of rotten blacktop and crumbling cement.

 

Featuring observations, admiration's and insights from the saddle.

 

From the mean streets of Los Angeles, and beyond…..

 

 

“Alienation (as apposed to self-actualization or self-activity) as expressed in the writings of Karl Marx, refers to the separation of things that naturally belong together, or to put antagonism between things that are properly in harmony. In the concept's most important use, it refers to the alienation of people from aspects of their "human nature" or 'species-essence' or 'species-being'. He believed that alienation is a systematic result of capitalism.”

 

If the very basic human need for transportation in Los Angeles can be viewed in the same light as Marx viewed commerce and production.

Then consider this.

What could be more harmoniously conjoined than moving through space and time and the feel of the wind on your skin?

or

A hill climb, a heavy load, and a little extra effort.

or

The need to get from point a to point b on a map, and the expenditure of your natural physical energy to make it so.

 

In my humble opinion, the automobile is a major source of the alienation and isolation so many of us Angelinos suffer from so acutely.

The bicycle is a fantastic antidote.

Cyc la nista will examine Los Angeles and beyond by bicycle utilizing all six or seven senses including:

           

the feeling body and thinking mind.

the sense of hopelessness and optimism.

the sense of style and being looked at.

and the sense that you may be run over by a car at any moment.