No. 19: Carter McNeill
Cruise Control Gallery, Deetjen's, Rory's Place, Open Throat and Neptune's Net
Carter McNeill is an Angeleno hailing from the lower hills of Hollywood. You might find him in art department garb, throwing scrap wood into the back of a truck on a backlot in the valley, clearing his conscience on a weekly dip in the Pacific Ocean or on a run around the Hollywood reservoir with a cigarette in his mouth. I was recently at his home for New Year’s Eve, where he picked a book off his shelf for our friend and said “I think this might be a good one for you right now”. From Carter–
I’d like to take this opportunity to share some things about my home state that might come in handy down the line. This might not be your weekend to take a northbound trip up the pch, but if you live in los angeles, I implore you to do so at some point. Goin’ south, for those interested, is frankly a matter for a separate archive. Although some of these recommendations may seem far at first glance, once you have decided to hit the open road and finally welcomed that outlaw impulse to split town, you might get farther than you think.
I. a gallery
This is Cruise Control, in Cambria. It’s a beautiful gallery off highway 1 representing some beautiful California artists like Elle Wilson, whose work was recently on display there. I like this one, Nasturtium. Great California colors. The palette of the soul. Righteous stuff.
II. a b&b
This one might be more obvious. Maybe more known. It doesn’t matter to me though, because it is in fact what has come to mind on this fine morning and on many fine mornings when I think of California and road trips. Deetjens. If you are like me and don’t have money to stay at the Ventana or a similarly pricey spot in Big Sur, and maybe you are with a girlfriend or boyfriend who is not a camper ;) , check out this little B and B. None of the rooms have keys, and each cabin feels as if it would crumble in the wake of a moderately sized earthquake (knock on wood). Grace and I saw a couple fornicating in the woods here. We hiked beneath the redwoods. It’s serene and hidden yet somehow you’re sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast pacific ocean. While you are there you can check out Big Sur Bakery for dinner or breakfast or both.
III. a restaurant (or two)
There’s plenty to eat on the road to nowhere, but if you keep it below SF, and you’re heading back to the city of Angels there are a few spots you want to check out like; High Street Deli in San Luis Obispo, or one of my personal favorite’s, Rory’s Place.
If you only have one night left on your road trip back down the coast, try Rory’s Place in Ojai. I’m not a food critic so I won’t get into the details but the food won’t disappoint, and the people are very nice. They got fresh oysters (personally, allergic) and a great pavlova for dessert.
I think there was a fire here recently, but hopefully it is back up and running soon. While you’re in Ojai maybe you check out Bart's Books or you drive five minutes to Meiner Oaks which has some cool shops and markets like Farmer and the Cook.
IV. a book and a movie
If you’re going to see California, Dagnabbit bring some words with you. Why not enhance the experience by escaping it a little, you know? We all know Didion, Chandler, Fante, Babitz, Steinbeck. Yeah, yeah. But what about something, dare I say, a little poetic? If you want something light, somewhere between prose and poetry, check out Open Throat by Henry Hoke. It is about a mountain lion living in the hills of Hollywood, trying to survive and make sense of humanity and the trauma of having been abandoned as a cub.
While I’m on the subject of escaping reality into journeys of the mind, I’d like to recommend a good movie. Two lane blacktop is a quintessential road movie. It’s about two emotionally confused men racing across the country, beginning in California, and picking up hitchhikers and lovers along the way. It could be you! If you’ve fallen asleep to Easy Rider one too many times, try keeping your eyes open for this. It’s worth the ride.
V. a spot for the way home
It’s noon on your last morning and you decided to avoid the 101, so instead of entering LA from the rear you hugged the coast down through ventura and into malibu. Here we are, at County Line. It is the last stop before you get back to your apartment in silverlake where you will log onto your GMAIL to find an email from the boss saying it’s gonna’ be one hell of a week at the firm. So you stop at Neptune’s Net and you buy a motheruckin’ Modelo and you and your partner eat some crispy fish and chips. One might argue that returning home from a trip, slightly bloated with a belly full of fried food is not the most ideal hypothetically. But I would say otherwise. Go all the way. Indulge. Live the dream my friends.
~ bulletin ~
los angeles
Open: Takashi Homma’s REVOLUTION No.9 / Camera Obscura Studies closes at Nonaka Hill today. Sergio Palacios’ Wall Painting at Shrine. Paul Pfeiffer’s Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom at MOCA. Fashion still life photographer Sheila Metzner’s From Life at The Getty. Hannah Taurin’s Issues at Chateau Shatto.
Tomorrow: Photographer Chloe Horseman’s book In Between release at Maimoun.
Saturday: ABOVE THE SEA AND BELOW THE SKY group show at La Loma Projects and John Cage & Leah Ke Yi Zheng’s The Grasshopper Lies Heavy at CASTLE opens.
new york
Open: Curated by Nate Freeman and Benjamin Godsill (Nota Bene Podcast), Friends of the Pod opened this week at Broadway Gallery with pieces by Tony Matelli, Sterling Ruby, Austyn, Jonas Wood, and more. Sung Hwa Kim’s Today’s Yesterday, Yesterday’s Tomorrow at Harpers Chelsea. Nathaniel Oliver’s My Journey Was Long So Yours Could Be Shorter at Karma. Waking Life at Amanita. Blair Saxon Hill’s Even Then Flowers Bloom and Clintel Steed’s Portraits of the Indomitable at Shrine. Robert Ryman at David Zwirner. Colleen Herman’s A longed-for bed at Olympia. Women Dressing at The Met. Tracey Emin’s Lovers Grave at White Cube closes Saturday. Ed Ruscha’s NOW THEN at MoMA closes Saturday. Henry B Taylor’s B Side at the Whitney.
Tomorrow: Joan Snyder’s Come Close at Canada.
Saturday & Sunday: Tangerine sample sale with MNZ, Nu Swim and more.