Category Archives: I Love LA

Cinespia: Outdoor Cinema & Fashion Show

Dear Cinespia,

Why did you have to leave me? It’s too soon. Oh how I loved ye… For those of you who don’t know, Cinespia is a seasonal film series that plays each weekend over the romantic summer months in Los Angeles. What sets it apart from other film series is that it takes place in the beautiful Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This year, Cinespia celebrated its 10th year and played a bunch of classic crowd pleasers. The final screening of the season was ET, which, like Oprah, everyone is morally obligated to love. These film screenings are see-and-be-seen events, filled to the brim with creative clothing and ugly sweaters. Everyone who attends dresses like it’s 1991 and they are getting ready to audition for the original 90210. It’s pretty much my dream world.

All photos by Cinespia’s adorable photographer Kelly Lee Barrett. 

I can’t believe this picture was taken this year. There is nothing current about these lovely looks. Radical.

I like this dude’s sweater.

Oh, to be these people. So aloof and thin. I hate my life.

Left to right: Perm? Check! Fun colorful t-shirt? Check! Hairband? Check! I love these people.

Not sure what I like more, those awesome hats or that lovely patterned blouse. Totally gorgeous girls.

Who let these bozos in? (My shirt is totally unbuttoned! Loser).

I like that guy’s red sweater. And by “red sweater” I mean face.

I’m scared of these people. And that makes me happy.

These cuties were in front of us in line. I knew I loved them when I saw her awesome stonewashed denim jacket.

Naturally, Drew Barrymore introduced the movie. People in Los Angeles get annoyed when they go to a movie and it isn’t introduced by a celebrity.

I’m pretty sure Drew Barrymore is the cutest person in the world. If I were to kidnap any celeb and keep it in a cage so that I could stare at it forever and make it tell me jokes, that celebrity would be Drew Barrymore.

This is how the films are shown, projected onto the side of a mausoleum.

How fun is this girl? I want a glowing hula hoop!

These kids totally escaped from a Hedi Slimane fashion shoot. Their life is more fun than yours.

The moral of the story is that if you go to Cinespia, you better bring your fashion. Because no one actually goes to watch the movie. They go to watch your outfit. Which is really how it should be.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under California, Californiatimez, Hollywood Diary, Hollywoodtimez, Homme Movies, I Love LA

The Anatomy of a Gay Pool Party

Dear Straight People,
I was walking down the street the other day, thinking about how commonplace Gay Pool Parties are on hot summer weekends in Los Angeles, when I realized that there were probably people in the world that had never attended a Gay Pool Party. Thus, I’ve decided to write a shocking exposé on the world of gay pool parties. All the deepest, darkest secrets (from a stylist) will be revealed. Here we  go:

1. The first thing to know about Gay Pool Parties is that they are all sponsored by a high end alcohol brand. I imagine this is because Gay people are rich and their friends are all executives at high end beverage companies. Also, rich people like to save money whilst promoting their rich friends. Or whatever.

2. The second thing to know about Gay Pool Parties is that the boy bartenders are always beautiful. And straight. So single ladies, find yourself a Gay and make him take you to a party. The bartenders will be so relieved to see you that they will fall in love with you even though they are most likely out of your league. This is Los Angeles after all, where every waiter is an actormodel.

3. Every Gay Pool Party is at a ridiculous house in the hills that cost more money than the GDP of most countries. These homes are usually decorated in the contemporary style by a young interior designer with no skills who happens to be really hot.

Some houses (like the one where these photographs were shot) are decorated tastefully. Modern/stark/contemporary isn’t really my thing, but for that style I must say this house was done impeccably.

4. If you go to a gay pool party do not A) Expect to know the host or B) Expect to meet him. Try as you might to find him and thank him for having you over, he will evade you for the entirety of the party. The host only shows up (standing right behind you) when you say something rude like “where’d they get that AWFUL vase!?!” Thus, if you are just dying to know who the owner of the house is, scream something loud and objectionable.

5. Every gay person that is rich enough to host a Gay Pool Party has met the president. It’s just a fact of life.

6. Every Gay Pool Party house is decorated in ridiculously expensive original artwork. Like these signed Lichtenstein silkscreened prints (valued at $150,000).

7. Gays love houses with a view. So if you’re at a Gay Pool Party and there ins’t a view, it is important that you leave immediately.


8. Gays don’t like square pools. So if you attend a gay pool party expect a nontraditional pool shape. Don’t be afraid, the water is still warm and inviting. In fact, the water at Gay Pool Parties is, on average, 12 degrees warmer than the water at straight pool parties. Gay people hate cold water.

9. An important thing to note about Gays is that none of them have body hair and they all smell like coconuts. They are also impeccably clean and don’t need to wear sunscreen, because their Ken Doll skin tans naturally in the sun, protecting them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.


10. Gays love angles and drama, and design their houses accordingly.

11. Finally, gay pool parties are really more like a swimsuit competition than a party. Everyone has 4% body fat, a brand new brightly-colored swimsuit, and perfect “Talented Mr. Ripley” hair. It’s like being trapped in a colony of models that have no idea there are people out there who aren’t models. Which is “fun”(?) right?

I hope you have enjoyed all the deep, dark secrets I just revealed to you about Gay Pool Parties and are excited to embark on your own safari into the wilds of your first Gay Pool Party before the summer ends. I know I am!

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under Amazing Gays, Californiatimez, Haute Hommes, Hollywoodtimez, I Love LA

Cinespia, Sweaters, and Sweethearts

Dear Los Angeles,

My two favorite things about you in the summer are: 1. The Hollywood Bowl and 2. Cinespia (AKA cemetery screenings). I found out about the screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery just after moving to LA and it was love at first sight. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of attending a Cinespia screening, it’s a series of films shown in the cemetery throughout the summer. All the films are good ones (Last week was Harold and Maude and I had to miss it. So sad). People bring wine and food and picnic while the movie plays and half the time they’re not paying attention to the movie but rather to their captivating friends. Which is okay with me because I love being captivated by my friends. Anyway, here are some pictures of how pretty and fun the screenings are:

I love my friend’s sweater. Don’t you? I guess it’s Club Monaco from a few years ago.

But my sweater is even more exciting:


When the sun sets it get’s crazy pretty:

I highly recommend a Cinespia screening to anyone who likes movies, fun, people, wine, food, or being outside. If you don’t like any of those things I’m worried about you.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under Californiatimez, Hollywood Diary, Hollywoodtimez, Homme Movies, I Love LA

Whut Glamour: HRC Benefit Sale & Auction

Dear HRC,

Thanks for hosting that glamorous auction/sale at LDC Home the other night. It was an honor to have my paintings shown alongside all the beautiful works selected for the exhibition. The night was filled with snobby designers, gay hotties, and a luxurious supply of appetizers and cocktails. Here are some of the things I saw:

This installation of great antique pieces by Adam Straus served as the entry to the event.

Who doesn’t love horse art?

This collection of small drawings was by far my favorite piece in the show. I found out later it was done by my friend Johnny. I think I’m going to buy one or two of these. They are filled with so much love, tenderness, and humor (kind of like me).

This photo/chandelier moment was too ridiculous to pass up.

I liked this artist a lot, but most of his work was too NSFW to post on this site, which I like to imagine is being read as bedtime stories to little tykes everywhere.

 

 

And here are a few of my contributions (I forgot to get installation pics).

It was a glamourous night, filled with some of my favorite people in Los Angeles. The evening raised thousands for HRC and served as a great get together for the LA design community. Fun.

Love,

Orlando

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Filed under Californiatimez, Drawingtimez, Haute Hommes, Hollywood Diary, I Love LA, The Artz, Whut Glamour!

Glamourtimez: The Melrose Project

Dear Matthew Lanphier,
Thank you for inviting Emily and me to that glamourous opening at The Melrose Project over the weekend. The evening was filled with delightful designers, inspirational interiors, and ample appetizers. I especially liked all the great ideas I got from wandering around. Nothing better than a lovely design-filled night, a nice glass of wine on a spring evening, and the company of my talented friends. The event was in honor of the current exhibition of furniture, art, and objects at The Melrose Project. My favorite piece was this “Heaven” light sculpture.

It was a fun treat when Emily showed up. I posed with our new potteryhead friend (center).

This is my friend Ryan. Hi Ryan.

I love this lighting solution. Creates a great big impact with not a lot of money but still looks chic. Would look awesome over a big dining table.

Spools of thread make a super pretty (giant) piece of wall art.

This head makes me feel happy inside.

This little house would make the perfect home for my collection of 100 hamsters.

This wall collection is so pretty and SO Emily Henderson.

I have a soft spot for octopi. And octomoms. Not really.

My handsome friend Matthew, a talented interior designer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

A pretty photo I liked.

Aerial view.

These fun painted out globes were everywhere. I’m totally going to try this at home with some of the globes I have lying around. It really only works with flat globes (no topography) but would be pretty to do with glossy acrylic paint.

I love this cute painted on carpet idea. I’m totally a sucker for floor painting.

Another pretty collection of art hung in a wonderful curvy stairway.

Totally fun wall sconce collection.

Emily and I getting totally inspired. (By you).

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Filed under Californiatimez, Emily, Great Humans, Haute Hommes, Hollywood Diary, I Love LA, Whut Glamour!

Los Angeles Living: Rooseveltimez!

Dear The Roosevelt Hotel,

I just love coming to your hotel, especially now that it’s getting warm outside and I can sit outside, luxuriating in the sun, drinking mojitos whilst staring a celebrities and glamourous European tourists. I took these pictures there the other day, while I was having a Sunday Funday. The afternoon turned from romantic and golden to mysterious and neon. Lovely.

The pool always makes me think of David Hockney. I love ye, Roosevelt.

Love,
Orlando

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Filed under I Love LA, Vacationtimez, Whut Glamour!

Hungrytimez: What To Eat When You’re Downtown and You Don’t Know Anything!

Dear Diary,

I have to go to downtown LA a lot for work a lot, usually to go to Michael Levine to buy bargain (yet high quality!) fabric for our makeovers on SFAS. One thing I’ve learned is that you should never go to a crazy ass giant fabric store when you are starving, because it’s IMPOSSIBLE to choose nice colors when your stomach is eating itself. Michael Levine is downtown, and I don’t really know downtown very well. The weird thing about that part of Los Angeles is that one block feels like fancy uptown Manhattan and the next block is full of hobos, feral cats, and burning trash cans. Thus, it can be difficult to find a decent place to eat here because you might accidentally wander into a crack den. Don’t get me wrong, I love it down here (Editor’s Note: As I’m writing this I just heard the following soundbite from the table next to me: “Yes, there was a shooting. Right over there, just 40 feet from where you’re sitting. They both died.”). Anyway, one day I wandered into LA Cafe, which looks kind of like a New York bodega but actually makes really delicious iced coffee and has at least one DIVINE menu option. It’s definitely not a fancy place, and it seems kinda dirty, but it’s filled with ubertrendy downtown people wearing asymmetrical feather earrings and covered in tattoos. The item I always order is called the Farmers’ Market Salad (with Chicken added). It’s totally delicious and always fuels me to get through the rigor of a visit to Michael Levine. The salad looks like this:

It’s totally delicious and I could eat it every single day for the rest of my life. Seriously. As a final note, have you ever told a totally long story and thought it was super fascinating until it was over and then you realize it was probably boring for everyone listening? I feel like I just did that. Sorry.

Love,
Orlando

PS: The people next to me are talking about models. And they are models. Downtown LA is SO glamourous.

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Filed under I Love LA, My Likey