Rats of Culture 🫦👩🎨
March 1 - March 15
LA Art Week is kicking off, and as always, I have thoughts! And questions.
What is capital A “Art”? Who is it for? Who decides what good Art is?
I imagine a large white gallery space. In it, a rich couple walks with their hands behind their backs, inquiring about a white canvas with a single blue strip of yarn across it. The pricetag is 3x my salary. I look at the blue string of yarn and I’m bored. Unstirred. Surely, I tell myself, there’s something I’m missing. These people have seen more, they understand more, they’re paying top dollar for it–this is clearly good Art, and I’m just missing it… right?
Wrong. My little rats, “good art” is something you identify. If you have the opportunity over the next couple weeks, try out one of these art shows/galleries (I have a few accessible ones below) and be mindful of any feelings of imposter syndrome you might have. As my friend Simone once told me, determining “good art” is as simple as this: “Spend some time with the piece and ask yourself ’Am I moved by this?’” Do you find yourself filled with emotions or burning questions when taking it in? When you walk away, does your mind linger? Why do you think that is? Your life and experiences create a lens of meaning and understanding and curiosity that is unique to you. Art is “good” if you’re drawn to it. Let that move you.
Enough pontificating! Here’s what’s kickin’ for the next two weeks: free art shows, flowers in bloom, movement opportunities, collaging, and breakfast with one of Los Angeles’s ooooldest clubs 🍳🐷.
Friday, 3/1 @ 6-8PM (add to cal)
612 North Almont Drive
Free 🐀 (RSVP here)
As mentioned in the intro, it’s LA Art Week, which means seeing/hearing about a lot of shows and parties that you’re not invited to. This is the year we change that, the year we become rats of culture. Yes, the art world can be elitist, but it can also be stimulating, and when I say stimulating, I mean there’s almost always free alcohol. I’m only kind of kidding. If you’re looking at a piece and thinking “Fuck off CK, I’ve been staring at this for an hour and still have no idea if this is good or not”, have another mezcal and you might just feel more inspired (sponsored by Yola, delicious 😚).
Friday, 3/8 @ 7-10PM (add to cal)
Known Studio (Arlington Heights)
Free entry 🐀
Accessibility in art isn’t just about the viewer–it’s also about the maker, and who has the opportunity to show their work. I wrote about Known studio’s launch last year and their goal of creating affordable gallery space for independent artists. Since August, they’ve consistently curated shows featuring diverse rosters of up-and-coming artists across mediums. This next group show, Realms, is fun: it features furniture design, ceramics, sculpture, and painting alluding to themes of ancestry, sexuality, home life, and fantasy.
3/3 @ 6-10PM (add to cal)
603 S. Brand Blvd. (Glendale)
$12 (tickets here)
After finding out about Junior High, the community art gallery and event space, I was debating whether to share this one or their event called “Gay Feelings” but I figured I’ve probably shared enough of those with you already 🤡 And yes, I know some of you may be a bit tired of love themes–this was originally planned for V Day weekend but it got rained out–but I’m here for it…this is for all y’all who hate Valentines Day because you believe love should be celebrated every day… prove it!!
Cherry Blossom Season @ Descanso Gardens
Now! 9AM-5PM daily
Descanso Gardens
$15 (tickets here)
Took someone on a really cute surprise date here one time. They turned out to be awful but we’re not letting that memory ruin pink tree season! 🌸🫡 I’m convinced there is no better time in LA than when the cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom, and if you make time over the next two weeks, you’ll get to see the tulips too 🌷 🥹. They post updates about bloom periods on the IG so I’d actually recommend a follow to stay up-to-date. Go out and smell the flowers, my sweet rats! 🥰
All month long (check schedule)
Varied locations
Free 🐀
We’ve got visitors! LA is home to several strong running communities, including KRC (Ratplay featured), Eagle Rock Run Club, Blacklist, Queer Run Club, and more. Renegade, an Oakland-based shop and community providing the gear and crew to help you run your best miles, is coming on down to link up with SoCal friends and bringing almost a month’s worth of movement activities leading up to the LA marathon. This rat’s been bulking on #weights and #cheese over the last 3 months with her trainer, so I juuuust might have to thrown down at the Nike strength event 😏(pro-tip, they typically have good merch at their collab sessions).
LA Breakfast Club
If church x improv class had a baby
It’s 7:15 AM. A 60-something year old woman (we’re told she made her name in Hollywood as the voice of E.T.) walks up to a decorated backdrop and sits down on a wooden horse named Ham. Another woman walks up to her, ties a blindfold around her head, and hands her a plate. “Place your left hand on this pile of runny eggs and repeat after me”, the woman says.
Welcome to new member initiation at the LA Breakfast Club, the quirkiest community in the city of Angels.
The Community:
LA Breakfast Club was started in 1925 by some equestrians (horse guys) looking for a place to chat and chill for breakfast after their morning rides. Almost 100 years later, the membership base has transformed completely–there are women now–but the rituals remain strong. In fact, if the early founders traveled to 2024 in a time machine, it wouldn’t take long for them to recognize their community through the shared songs, secret handshakes, and the curious obsession with “ham and eggs” (yes, it’s all quite Dr. Seussian).
Doors open around 6:45 to 7:15 AM and members and guests arrive, welcomed by an enthusiastic dancing greeter waving them in. From 7:00 to 7:30 AM, a buffet breakfast like what you might remember from a 2000s continental breakfast at the Holiday Inn is served as everyone catches up, taking special care to welcome any newcomers. Around 7:30 AM, the program begins, which starts with the 99-year-old club traditions and songs, and finishes with a presentation from a weekly guest speaker.
The Culture:
If you’re looking for a place where you can leave behind the weight of being an LA cool kid; if you’re looking for somewhere you can sing like you’re back at summer camp but with a bunch of gleeful adults; if you’re looking for a place where you can unlock 110% of your most silly, carefree, inner rat-child …then look no further! Never will you experience a more thorough and genuine welcoming than at LABC, especially if you’re young and/or a POC lmao (they’re aware they’re a bit lacking in those department) (but they complimented my fresh cornrows and didn’t try to touch them, which was actually amazing 😌✊🏽) Everyone was so excited to meet us, introduce us to other members, and share details of the the long and wacky 99 year history. “Isn’t it so weird?” people keep asking me with a grin. “You’ll learn to love it.”
Words I wouldn’t use to describe LABC: trendy; cynical; “cool”
Words I would use to describe LABC: earnest, playful, warm, SILLY
The People:
It’s open to all, but here’s what I saw: mainly white people; 50 years of age on average (with about 20% of people under that); eccentric in nature (i.e. at least 4 people in a room of 80 had purple hair).
When/Where: Every Wednesdays from 7-9AM @ Los Angeles Breakfast Club
Next Meet-up: Wednesday, February 28 2p-5p
How to Join: Tickets here!
My main takeaway? I think there’s a massive opportunity for some young, spritely Angelenos looking for community and connection to make a big splash here and help form the future of this historic community. One thing I know for sure? You’d be hard pressed to find an activity as entertaining and welcoming as a morning at LABC.
Look at this sweet little guy…
I’m not allowed to be the only one to know what a rat king is, y’all have to know too!
Gorg clutch for your next ball xx
That’s it for now! This rat is celebrating because you heard it here first 🥁🥁🥁:
Café Tropical is re-opening this Saturday!!
Turns out, a handful of neighbors in the recovery community that used to meet in the back room at Café Tropical every week banded together and bought the historic coffee shop. You’ll see a combination of both old and new faces behind the counter (all friendly) as the shop finds its groove under new ownership, but one thing’s for sure: your favorite pastelitos, cubanos, juices, and cuban coffees are back on rotation. Expect an Aristocrat interview coming soon with one of the new owners and absolute sweetheart, Danny K!
Go play,
CK
