The LAFMS has been around since 1973 and from what I gather is a rotating group of musicians that are more like sound and performance artists. When you walk into the space, you’ll find motion triggered sound sculptures, long tables of abandoned toys and junk that have been used as instruments, and walls of photographs and ephemera that documents the Los Angeles Free music Society’s long history.

The Box is planning on monthly exhibitions, and from the looks of this first show at this new space, they are aiming to push alternative forms of art and media. Learn more and check out their schedule here.

Proprietor of The Box, Mara McCarthy

Most interesting though was their metaphor of the “spark”. A spark produces a flame which produces a fire, builds community, and spreads. In their case, all of their creativity and art starts with a simple act of doing what they love. The spark is their pure, unadulterated art. Often times, their art, their perspective get fused with commercial work with the potential of spreading like fire to millions. But, it all starts with the spark, being themselves and being free to express themselves through art. It’s how it is and how it should be.

Here is our friend, Jon Setzen, the organizer of Creative Mornings, Los Angeles. He is the one that invited us to our Creative Mornings talk last year at the Herman Miller showroom. Basically, Jon rocks worlds.

Jolby will guide us on a voyage through their past, present, and everything in between to find out what makes them happy. For “Shapes & Smiles”, Jolby has been exploring their methods of storytelling with over 50 new pieces of work, including illustration, paintings, wood-cut shapes, screen prints, plush, and home goods. An audio tour will accompany the exhibition accessible by your smart phone. With this, you’ll be able to know the back story and personal relevance of each piece from the artists. Such a great idea! You’ve seen this done before in museums, but, rarely in a gallery setting like this. If you are in Southern California, the show is Friday, December 16th. Subtext Gallery is located at 2479 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, California 92101. More info here.

By the way, you can pick up some exclusive Jolby for Poketo products on the Poketo site. We met them last year in their hometown of Portland…. really down to earth, cool guys. We pride ourselves here at Poketo with collaborating with people that love what they do, are awesome at it, and are undeniably the coolest people on earth. Jolby is one of them. Stay tuned for more good things with Jolby and Poketo in the new year!

Illustrator, filmmaker Derek Kirk Kim and Actress Vivian Bang with Angie.

Ted with writer Julie Wolfson (Coolhunting) and proprietor of Starry Kitchen, Nguyen Tran.

Poketo fan, wearing an old school Poketo x Peskimo tee… only one of a handful made, seriously.

Gregory Han of the famed Apartment Therapy and Unplggd Blog with Ted and Angie.

Angie and Joy The Baker!

John of the Pomona’s Glass House Music Venue!

Kiddos!

Handsome Coffee Roasters. Love it.

Yummy treats from Urth Caffe!

Nathan Ryan from Proxart Magazine.

Michael Phillips of Handsome Coffee.

Tawny rocks!

Thanks ladies!

Date: Saturday, December 10th, 10am to 2pm
Where: Poketo HQ, 510 South Hewitt Street, #506, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Parking: FREE street parking
More info, email: events[at]poketo.com

I had been wanting to see Cass McCombs play live for some time now. For one reason or another, things never lined up for me. I thought it was going to be yet another failed attempt as it was a sold out show at The Echo in Los Angeles. I stopped into my favortie record store, Origami Vinyl, to see if Neil there had any tickets left. No tickets, sold out. But, as I asked the question, a gentleman overheard and had an extra ticket to spare. I guess it was meant to be… the show was rad… Cass McCombs and band played in complete darkness except for the light display providing a back light and silhouette of the band. Live, it sounded just like his albums… perfect.

Here are two of my favorite songs…

This year will be made even more special with Handsome Coffee Roasters serving up their special blend of coffee and espresso. They are bringing their handsome espresso bar, so, get ready for a special cup of their handmade coffee, the way they do it. And if you have a sweet tooth, Urth Caffe will be providing some sweet, baked good especially for this holiday event. I’m getting excited already!

Poketo
510 South Hewitt St.
#506
Los Angeles, CA 90013
more info, email events@poketo.com

I hope everyone is enjoying the amazing long weekend. So nice to have a few days off this time of year, it’s a reminder for all of us how lucky we are to spend time with family and friends, making, cooking, hanging out…enjoying every minute of life’s leisure times. For me and Angie, Poketo is so much part of us. For the past 8 years, it’s something we live and breathe, it’s a natural extension of our lives, and we are so thankful to have you guys in it.

Seriously, without YOU, Poketo really doesn’t exist. It’s YOU reading this blog. It’s YOU who makes the choice to support independent and shop Poketo.com. It’s YOU appreciating all the fun things we make and discovering the artists and designers that we support. It’s YOU following us on the numerous online things we love and commenting/liking/conversing, because YOU know it’s US, chatting right back. It’s YOU who come to our parties and have a ball with us because there is nothing better than to have fun, for fun sake. Thank you guys for supporting the artists, the designers, and being part of Poketo and the community that we’ve built together. It’s you I want to celebrate, it’s you that keeps Poketo going, it’s you that I’m thankful for.

On a side note, we want to pre-officially invite you all to the Poketo studio in Downtown LA for our annual warehouse/holiday sale on December 10th. We’ll have a flyer with all of the info up for this event in the next few days, so please check back. If you’ve been to our warehouse sale in years past, you know it’s fun and a great time to check off your holiday list.

It will be Saturday, December 10th, come and meet us at our studio, shop all of Poketo, and have a good time. For this event, we are honored to have the gentlemen from Handsome Coffee hand making and serving you the best coffee and espresso you will ever taste. Handsome Coffee is setting up their headquarters in Downtown LA, a new micro-roastery in the arts district, due to open up to the public soon! They roast their own beans, they know their coffee, it’s quality through and through. It’s a favorite, hands down. We’ll be posting all of the info shortly, but, mark your calendar in the meantime, December 10th from 10-2pm.

xoxoxo, Ted and Angie