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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Break Room LA: A Place To Smash Things


What to choose, what to choose. Should we get the toaster? The printer? Perhaps, possibly the microwave? Ooh, that old Xbox looks good. Keyboard, yes please. Why not, why not take them all? And smash them down to broken down piles of parts! Thanks to the recently opened Break Room LA.

Oh and we did break apart these things as we tried it out ourselves. We have a break down of how things are...broken down. Sufficed to say there is going to be plenty of stuff for you to smash with an aluminum bat, but more on that later.

The Valley has its own place to break away old laptops, TVs and bottles. It has Break Room LA. The concept is simple, you go there to break things. You go there to have fun wailing away on used consumer goods and don't worry it all be recycled...again.

Let's go through how it's done and what you'll be doing there. The process has you choosing a time and date online. Walk-ins are welcome, but we were told it's always better to call or e-mail, so you don't have to wait. You have to be at least 13-years-old to smash there and until you're 19 can't be in the rooms alone. So, you'll need to be older than 18 or accompanied by a guardian or parent until then. Online or in person you have to sign a waiver before smashing. *Don't forget to fill out the back.

You'll check out the different plans and prices. It's hard to recommend which one to try as they all vary, but we went all in and got to smash items in all the different size ranges. Take your time with the large items. The cheapest plan starts at $12 to give you a taste, but you're gonna want to at least put $20 down for a real time.

Really, check out the fine selection of items to bash apart. Like looking for a fine wine, you might want to look at what's the latest thing to smash as the selection will change with new items needing to be added all the time. You see the items you'll be destroying come from the local recycling center. So, think about what your doing as helping the environment.

You see the owner, Steven R. Munoz Reyes came to a deal with SCV Recycling, which is providing all the things you smash. Steven told me at first, he tried Craigslist and the app Offer Up to get items, but it just wasn't giving him enough stuff to be broken up. He then remembered a recycling center his father took him too as a child and scheduled to meet the owner. He met the owner and surprisingly he said yes to the partnership, providing him with things to smash. After you smash that broken down phone or fax it goes back to SCV Recycling to be recycled. In pieces of course, because you smashed it.

After choosing your plans and items you"ll suit up. For safety, you'll be wearing some protective gear. You can take anything you're worried about getting damaged out of your pockets and put it in a provided locker. Then comes the jump suits. We recommend taking off your shoes first when putting on the jump suits. They can be a bit hard to put on over your shoes. Do it before the gloves too. You'll be given, two sets of gloves to wear, first for health, they get sweaty, so, rubber gloves. The second wrapping is for safety. Your wearing some nice thick gloves now. Then the safety mask to protect your face. Listen, glass or plastic or whatever can smash off  what you're breaking and go straight for your face. These masks stop those items and save your looks and your eyesight. 

Your options of weapons include aluminum bats, crow bars and metal pipes. You're allowed to take all with you in to a dedicated room of breaking. Which, one to choose? We say, "All of them!" Each has a different feel. Each sort of make a different sound. And you're gonna love making those sounds with them.

You'll be led to your "break room" where you can prop your phone up in a plastic container for safety to take video. It's fine to bring a camera, but it's up to you to keep it safe. Break Room LA will give you a plastic container, but if you have a camera bigger than a small container we suggest bringing something you think that'll keep it safe.

If your phone has a phone jack you can play your own music while breaking apart an old fax machine. Smash stuff to heavy metal or to classic orchestra music. It's up to you.

As for the smashing itself. Ahhhhhhh!!!!! What glorious fun. With everything prepared, the door closed behind us and our rock tunes playing, we went all out, smashing up a storm. The alphabet learned to fly as we took a bat to a keyboard. Bottles would not break when thrown at the wall right away. We swear it's not like the movies, it's hard to break glass bottles sometimes. It took us multiple times until on one go we got them to shatter. The next time the glass bottles made friends with our friends, the aluminum bats. And, oh did they break apart to the symphony of music playing in the background.

Good-bye, PS2. We hardly new you. Who knew what was inside of you until taking a metal pipe to you.

Adios, XBox Guitar Hero Drum Set. You weren't identifiable as that after we took a crow bar and opened you up with so much force you went everywhere. You're playing your songs in heaven now.

Small upright fan, we were not a fan of you. That's why we walloped you until we couldn't break anymore of you.

Jumping into the air with glee. Using the force of gravity on the way down to make the impact even more powerful and intense. We collided with the top of you and broke you into yourself. We hit you over and over again. Bashing you in, flattening you. We yelled, we screamed in joy. We loved destroying you, microwave. "What did we do on the weekend?," someone might ask us around the water cooler or a friend on the phone. "We f%&ked up at microwave. And loved doing it."

When talking with owner Steven again, he told us he would be changing a lot in Break Room LA in the coming weeks and months and making it more independent from the Escape Room business he also owns. Will update you when major changes happen. Steven said vehicles might become part of the menu to be smashed, but that's down the line. But come on, it's a Street Fighter reference in the making.

For those who haven't tried it, try it at least once. Smash something at Break Room LA. For a wide selection of items that will probably always be different, the ease of access in The Valley and the adventure of suiting up smash an experience you might want to do way more than once awaits you.

*If you have anymore questions about the rules, be sure to call or e-mail Break Room LA  If you want to bring your own items to smash come 10-15 minutes early for Break Room LA to check if it's okay.

*This experience is also from the same people who make Suite 201 Escape Room. If you're looking for an escape room experience you might want to try it.

Break Room LA
6819 Sepulveda Blvd
Ste 201, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 91405 

Hours
Mon Closed
Tues-Thurs 6pm-11pm
Fri 6pm-1am
Sat 2pm-1am
Sun10am-10pm
1.818.923.7513        

*Parking 
You'll want to park through the opening in the Mid-Valley Professional Building on Sepulveda Blvd in its lot. During the time Break Room LA is open it's okay to park anywhere in the lot as the other business have 9-5pm business hours.


Weekly What To Do: Get Your Purim & Oscars On

2018 Oscar Nominated Short Films Playing at ArcLight
Now- March 3
Arclight Hollywood
$

See the short films nominated for The Oscars




The Oscar Concert
Wed, Feb 28 8:00pm
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
$$$
Almost sold-out as of writing this

As part of the Oscar week celebrations for its 90th anniversary, the Academy, in partnership with the LA Phil, presents an exclusive one-of-a-kind celebration of film music, including never- before-heard arrangements of this year’s five Original Score Oscar nominees.





CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (1972) and BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973)
 Wednesday, February 28th, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building Lobby, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Free, Must RSVP

Followed by a Q&A with Actors Don Murray
("Breck", Conquest of the Planet of the Apes)
Bobby Porter ("Cornelius", Battle for the Planet of the Apes)
Austin Stoker ("Bruce MacDonald", Battle for the Planet of the Apes)
and Makeup Artist Tom Burman (Planet of the Apes (1968);
Supervising Makeup Artist, Beneath the Planet of the Apes,
Escape from the Planet of the Apes)


Purim Spiel & Megillah Reading
Wed Feb 28, 6:30 pm -  9:15 pm
Shomrei Torah Synagogue
7353 Valley Circle Blvd
West Hills, CA 91304
Join us for an evening of fun and frivolity as we celebrate Purim. Purim Shpiel - 6:30 pm. Full Megillah Reading - 8:15 pm

Marciano Art Foundation Back Open
Opens March 1st
 4357 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Free, Must RSVP

New Exhibits
-Albert Oehlen/Peppi Bottrop: Line packers
-Olafur Eliasson: Reality projector


Planned Parenthood LA's Annual Food Fare

AM Session 11am-2pm
PM Session 6:30pm-9:30pm
Barker Hangar, Santa Monica
$

From its prestigious beginnings as a cooking demonstration with Julia Child in 1979, Food Fare has become one of the most highly anticipated foodie events in Los Angeles. Food Fare features well over 150 of LA’s best restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries, libation purveyors and retail merchants. Food Fare also includes a Wine Silent Auction, a raffle of Dream Experiences, and a VIP reception for sponsors. Proceeds from Food Fare benefit Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA).

Grand Purim Palooza

Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
$15

Celebrate Purim with a festival outside








The Mar Vista Time Travel Mart – Grand Reopening!
Thur, March 1,  6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Mar Vista Time Travel Mart
12515 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066 United 
Free
The Time Travel store has been redone, check it out and get some goods from the past or future perfect for your desk at work. 








Japanese Food Festival
March 2, 2018 (Fri) - 5pm to 8pm
March 3, 2018 (Sat) -- 1pm to 4pm
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
900 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90017

LA’s must-see Japanese food lover’s event is back bigger than ever! Unique in its focus on bringing together foodies & Japanese food industry professionals, the 2018 Japanese Food Festival will feature food, sake, and travel exhibits from 50+ exhibitors. Whether you just love eating Japanese food or want to be the Japanese food guru among your friends, there’s plenty for everyone.

TITMOUSE 5-SECOND ANIMATION NIGHT
Fri, Mar 2, 7:30pm
Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028

5-Second Night is an annual tradition that gives Titmouse animators the chance to bring to life whatever strange/beautiful/disturbing/funny ideas they've had all year as a short-format cartoon. Tonight the studio opens up the screening of these masterpieces to friends, neighbors and fans and adds in a selection of rarities from the studio’s vaults.

20th Anniversary Double Feature!
THE FACULTY / URBAN LEGEND
Fri, Mar 2, 7:30pm
Aero Theatre 1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403
$

Two 90's horror classics.


First Fridays
Friday, March 2, 5pm - 10pm
The Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007
$20 

Explore the Museum after hours! There are bands in the mammal hall, and DJs ds in the lounge. Geek out about science and history and L.A. culture, sip cocktails, and check out one of the food trucks. There are behind-the-scene tours, themed discussions, and our special exhibit Tattoo is open.

100% Soft Opening Reception
Friday, Mar 2, 7 PM - 9 PM
G1988
7308 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046-7513

New Work by 100% Soft












OH LUCY! Special Screenings
Actress Shinobu Terajima
Fri, March 2, 7:30pm show w/Q&A
Director/Co-Writer Atsuko Hirayanagi
Actress Shinobu Terajima
Sat, March 3, 5:20pm show w/Q&ADirector/Co-Writer Atsuko Hirayanagi
Actress Shioli Kutsuna

Sun, March 4, 1:00pm show w/Q&A
Nuarte Theater
$

Synopsis: Setsuko (Shinobu Terajima) is a lonely, chain-smoking, past-her-prime office worker in Tokyo. When her fun-loving twenty-year-old niece Mika (Shioli Kutsuna) browbeats her into enrolling in an unorthodox English class she meets a handsome young American instructor, John (Josh Hartnett, Pearl Harbor), who tries to break through Japanese formality by hugging his students; he requires her to wear a curly blonde wig and take on an American alter ego named “Lucy.”

Capture Creatures Vol.1 Book Launch & Signing
March 3, 2018
Mar 3, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Gallery Nuclues
210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Free
 
The dynamic duo Becky Dreistadt & Frank Gibson are back with the first ever trade paperback collection of their playful and fully-painted comic, Capture Creatures Volume 1.

Becky & Frank will be in attendance to sign their latest book and show off some original art work that were originally showcased during Capture Creatures' inception. Other goodies and knick knacks will also be available at Nucleus!




Amy Sol's Bird of Flux & Liz Brizzi's Tokyo
Opening Reception with the Artists
Saturday, March 3, 2018 6:00 - 9:00PM
Thinkspace Projects
6009 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232

Thinkspace is pleased to present new works by Korean-born painter Amy Sol in Bird of Flux.
On view in the Thinkspace project room is Tokyo, featuring new works by French-born, Los Angeles-based artist Liz Brizzi.

Saturday, March 3, 2018, Noon – 7PM
425 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 
at El Pueblo Historical Monument
Free


Join the Chinese American Museum for the 17th Annual Los Angeles Lantern Festival. Our free signature event culminates the Lunar New Year festivities with engaging community booths, museum tours, live entertainment, music, arts & crafts, and food trucks.

Grand Opening Day “Dreaming the Universe: The Intersection of Science, Fiction and Southern California,”
Saturday, March 3, noon-5pm
Pasadena Museum of History
470 W. Walnut St. Pasadena, CA 91103Free

Come discover the exhibition, Dreaming the Universe: The Intersection of Science, Fiction, and Southern California, which ventures into the world of science fiction that was created right here in Southern California. Explore the stories of the writers, artists, and fans who used their talents to help us imagine the future. Kids who land in the Rockets & Flying Saucers craft workshop can create their own space vehicle with Art 2 Go from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. All life forms are invited to the opening, and visitors are encouraged to use their imagination when creating their costume for this otherworldly afternoon. Tickets: Free

Stonecutters LA: Futurama Edition
Saturday, March 3, 4pm-6pm
NerdMelt Showroom
Free
 
Join us for Futurama trivia, prizes, episode screenings and special guest appearances from people who've worked on the show. So bring your best robot friend, crack open a fresh can of Slurm and meet us at 4pm at The NerdMelt Showroom in the back of Meltdown Comics. All are welcome and the show is completely free!
With guests appearances from creator David X Cohen, writer Eric Rogers, voice artist Maurice LaMarche, and more!

MOMO NO SEKKU/ 桃の節句(PEACH FESTIVAL)
Exhibition - March 3 - March 21st. Reception 6:30-10pm
2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025

Spring Sale!
Saturday, March 3, 11 AM - 6 PM
The Perky Nerd
1606 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, California 91506
"We are getting ready for spring, so it's time to clean out last year's stock! Parking lot sale time. Come find deals on comics, Funko Pops, action figures, mugs, and statues. There will be 50cent comics, $1 comics, and $3 Dorbz and Pops. Gotta come find the yellow tag deals THIS SATURDAY at our parking lot sale."



Cat-tivism: Adoptions, cat history, cat psychic, comedy and more
Sunday March 4, 6 PM - 10 PM
Stories BooksandCafe
1716 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90026
Free 

Stories Books & Cafe is proud to purrrrsent a free night of cat-centric entertainment benefiting Eastside LA’s Luxe Paws Cat Rescue. Festivities include music by Nana The Cat Lady (as seen on The Gong Show), Psychic Pet Readings by Shana Leilani, the amazing but true stories of “History’s Greatest Feline Heroes," in a lecture by Dr. Paul Koudounaris, in which he shares tails of history’s most heroic felines!

Cherry Blossom Festival 2018
March 4, 5, 11, 12
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
General Admission

Our most popular festival returns with two weekends of live music, origami, good food and beautiful blooms throughout the garden.


Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra
Sun, March 4, 6 pm
LACMA | Bing Theater
Free

The Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, Carlo Ponti, Director, with violin soloists Roberto Cani and YuEun Kim, perform Barber: Adagio, and Vivaldi: Four Seasons.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Subway Cars for Red/Purple Lines From China?

Really gotta love how the Metro tries to make it positive that the new subway cars that we''ll be eventually getting for the Red/Purple Lines will be made in China, specifically the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation. The Source, recently blogged about how there will be new cars for our Metro and it's underwhelming as to why they seem so proud of it.

But, it gets weirder as the subway cars aren't finished. So, parts for these new subway cars will create fifty local jobs (temporary). So, The Metro can't spout some nonsense of made in America or creating local jobs.

Sometimes you really wonder about the management of The Metro. Multiple questions arise.

1. Why not make the whole thing locally?
2. If it can't be made locally, why not at least made in the US?
3. If it cost is so much locally to make the shell of it, why waste money on building the local parts? Wouldn't it be cheaper for those to be made in China too?

Are current subway cars are from Japan, Italy and Germany. Why Metro decided to go with a completely new company might be an issue on saving money.

That raises questions on safety. China doesn't have a great record with their transportation and infrastructure. This doesn't seem like the greatest course for new cars in preperation of more travelers during the Olympic games in the next decade.

We might want to call it now, we see massive problems in the future of having to deal with these cars and problems accruing with dealing with the Chinese company.

Theme Songs Were Sung at the Disney Television Animation Tribute

Nucleus had another wonderful opening, this time for a tribute to Disney Television Animation. What once was only going to be the fanfare of the nostalgia filled Disney afternoon soon included the newer shows appearing on ABC Saturday Mornings and Disney XD. Though, one could argue the most love seen was for the older cartoons during the grand opening, Saturday Feb 24th, 2018.

Be it Talespin or Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck or Duck Tales, the art sent you back to the time after-school when you would sit back, eat a snack and see some old friends go on adventures. You might hear one of the theme songs playing in your head. Some of those songs came out of memory storage on a memory board Nucleus set-up. As you can see some lines from some show's theme songs below:


The memories came pouring in by some fantastic tribute art. "Do you remember Gargoyles?," someone proclaimed in the crowd. "Did I watch Recess, I must have," someone spouted to them-self. Our favorite had to have been Rebecca E. Dreistadt's Rescue Ranger piece seen below. Oh, those big cat eyes. And, of course, Chip and Dale are too busy fighting to notice.
If wanting to remember a part of you childhood or just some good memories go through our gallery or visit Nucleus.

Check more art from the show below






Check out the gallery yourself in person or online

Disney Television Animation Tribute Exhibition
Now- March 11, 2018
Nucleus
210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801 





Jump from more pieces from the show