LA’s own Historic Chinatown will be home to the 1st Annual Funk Rumble Block Party this summer.

This incredible grassroots event is brought to you through a collaboration of some of LA’s top underground music and art promoters.

Half music festival – half block party, The Funk Rumble is a blend of live music, djs, vendors, and artists coming together to celebrate urban soul and create the ultimate summer party!

Groove to the sounds of LA’s top funk bands. Performing live - Breakestra, The Lions, Orgone & more! Plus San Francisco’s own - J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science!

The finest djs from LA’s top underground clubs will be laying down a vast mix of music - soul, funk, reggae, hip hop, latin and more - combining past present and future.

Peruse the vendor village and you’ll find apparel, accessories, artwork and one-of-a-kind goods presented by up and coming designers and the most creative individuals from San Diego to San Francisco.

Amazing works of art will be created right before your eyes from start to finish, throughout the event grounds and art walk area, by over 15 LA artists.

A variety of food, including vegetarian, will be available along with cool treats…cold Hawaiian snow cones on a beautiful summer day!

Cold beer and a full bar inside the Grand Star Jazz Club.

Join us for this “economy friendly” groundbreaking event!

Flock Shop & Spectrumega Media Present…

The Funk Rumble Block Party
Saturday, July 11th, 2009
12 pm – 10 pm
$5 before 4 pm, $8 after
Kids under 10 years old in free
All ages, fenced event
947 N. Broadway, LA 90012
Street & Lot parking available

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When dusk hits on a humid summer day, what better place to be than laid out on a blanket under the stars with friends, snacks, and a big screen playing some of the most famous flicks? Luckily for you, more and more major cities across the nation are establishing their own version of the outdoor film festival, where a variety of films both old and new are screened in parks, on beaches, or rooftops.

Dolores Park Movie Night, San Francisco

If you bail from the Bay, be sure to check out San Francisco’s Dolores Park Movie Night on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The festival is already slated to feature some foreign favorites, like Amelie, and is dog friendly (just in case you wanted to bring your puppy along)! With the lure of the mega screen and the infamous Virginia the Tamale Lady, who’s rumored to stomp the grounds hawking her delicious tamales while doling out advice, how could you not be down with this amazing festival!

HBO Bryant Park Film Festival

For those of us on the East Coast, the options in New York city are a-plenty. Most famous is the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival, which showcases a lineup of timeless classics that everyone should see at least one. Starting on June 15th, make your way to the park each Monday evening and chill with your homegirls while you take in oldies but goodies like Harold and Maude, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While they don’t offer tamales, they do have gourmet sandwich drop-off at your blanket courtesy of Top Chef head honcho Tom Colicchio’s ‘Witchcraft. Not bad for a night of lounging in the park!

If you’re across the river in Brooklyn, you don’t have to make the trek into the city to catch a great flick. Consider the Rooftop Films Festival, which is a platform for local and underground filmmakers to show their work. Although not free (on average, screenings run about $9 a pop), the events are usually preceded by interesting panels with the directors, and followed by some free beer and open bar offers. Be sure to catch much-buzzed about Voices from El-Sayed,  a documentary that looks inside the world’s largest community of deaf people living together. Brooklyn also offers the Movies with a View festival, in its 10th year. With world-class DJs from Brooklyn Radio spinning, and dinner being served up by popular eatery Rice, the festival allows guests to unwind under the Brooklyn Bridge. The lineup this year includes Tatum O’Neal classic Paper Moon and Johnny Depp fave Edward Scissorhands.

Chicago Outdoor Film Festival

Don’t worry Midwest, you’re still in the game! Chicago isn’t one to be left out, so the immensely popular Outdoor Film Festival will be back with a vengeance. Every Tuesday, your favorite black-and-white flicks like Psycho and Sunset Boulevard will grace the screen. The lineup here is really amazing, so make sure you pack a picnic and check it out.

Free is (most of the time) better, so this summer before you throw down $12 bucks plus popcorn to catch a movie in a dark theater, head out to your local park and catch one for nearly nothing (minus the cost of your snacks) under the stars!

Saigon Customs Elephant

Saigon Customs Geisha 1

Miss Saigon is a talent that I believe many should recognize. Presently she utilizes Saigon Customs as a way to illustrate her obvious talent and artistic flair. Being featured on Female Sneaker Fiend, Sole Heaven, and Chicks in Kicks, Saigon has developed an instinctive style and eye for custom sneakers and wishes to invoke imagination to all who see them. She is looking forward to showcasing her unique line of work at artistic venues around the world, and I for one am excited to see the goodness!

Joy Rich hearts you! Why else would they make such amazingness?  Joy Rich is a boutique in Los Angeles, on Melrose, with an eponymous clothing and accessories line.  They take the best of sportswear add just the right amount of “street” and lots of “glam.”  Inspired by all things 80s, including the luxury and pop culture brands that grew out of that era, Joy Rich has a new collection that is pure fire and will definitely keep you warm through the fall and winter months.  From tees emblazoned with references to Chanel, Nike, and super models, to puffer jackets, varsity jackets and the absolute favorites - acid wash jackets!  The collection also includes accessories from jewelry, bags and glasses.  One of the very exciting projects that Joy Rich has coming up is a collaboration with Brian Lichtenberg.  The project started out as one-offs and then it naturally progressed into a full co-branded project with a collection of t-shirts and accessories.  The jewelry features laser cut acrylic pendants in black, clear and neon pink and yellow.  They are not for people looking for something subtle to wear - these are all statement pieces - loud ones.  Joy Rich can be found at the Joy Rich boutique on Melrose.

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Ayo LA! Insight gear, food and drinks, and music from Black Black at the Insight warehouse sale tomorrow, Nov. 22.  Wish I could go. Luvs me some Insight.

8940 Ellis Ave, Los Angeles

Digital Gravel teamed up with the good people at 722 Figueroa Showroom (Ludwig & FORDBRADY) to create a temporary holiday brick-and-mortar experience, showcasing the excellent quality and finely styled clothes, footwear, accessories, books, art, housewares, and furniture that the companies are well known for.

Taste the rainbow and get an eyeful of the experience in the video below

722 N Figueroa, Downtown LA
213-687-8425

20% off the fall collection at Built By Wendy, coast to coast.

New Yorkers, if you missed yesterday’s Manhattan party, there’s always Williamsburg!

• 46 North 6th Street, Brooklyn

• 7938 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles

• 3520 20th Street, San Francisco

Hellz-Bellz has internship positions available. Looking for dedicated peeps to get the job down in the areas of marketing and design. Get first-hand experience in the fashion industry from one of the hardest working ladies in the business! Here are the details:

*Live in or around the Los Angeles Area

*18 and over

*Have an interest in learning about the fashion industry esp. marketing and design

Contact via e-mail with “INTERN POSITION” as the title to: info@hellz-bellz.com

The other day, I got a surprise message in my inbox from a gorgeous lady named Nena. Inside were pictures of fabulous earrings - bamboo style made of richly-patterned fabrics - that she makes herself. After being floored by the craft(wo)manship, I clicked on her Myspace page and saw that this talented lady has so much more to offer than the few pictures of accessories she included. Check out my favorite of her wares after the jump…

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