Saturday Night at MOCA 2012.04.28

Here are some images I shot last night, up and down Grand Avenue, and landing at MOCA for the Member's opening of the 'The Painting Factory'.

As always all images are copyright Peter Politanoff, and cannot be used for commercial purposes without consent!

Eating Japanese - Torihei

In my continuing series  "Eating Japanese", I've found another restaurant to write about. Fortunately it was located in Torrance (not far from home), in the strip mall next to Mitsuwa Market. The best description I could come up for Torihei is a Japanese Tapas restaurant. Their website describes it as" Yakitori Robata Dining", not only do they serve yakitori, but also izakaya dishes, oden and sashimi. I should mention also the beer, sake, and shochu! Here are some images I shot with iP4 and Panasonic GX1.

A storm was threatening, although forecast was for later in the evening.

Since we didn't have reservations, we had to sit in the back area. I would like to note, we were the only non-Japanese patrons. For me that is always a good sign of authenticity.

Although the menu was in Japanese the order forms were bilingual, and located in a tall glass on the table.

Fortunately I had researched not only their website but some of the dishes they served before arriving.

Xiao long boa was incredible!!

The yakitori in general was outstanding.

Finished the dinner very satisfied and determined to come back very soon.

As always all images are copyright Peter Politanoff / RedStarImage, and cannot be used for commercial purposes without explicit consent.

What Becomes of Old and Abandoned Hospitals?

     What happens to hospitals when they become outdated, infrastructure crumbling, technologically inferior to the others nearby. Well in most cases, a new wing or two are built and the old one demolished. In other cases they are abandoned, often ransacked, left as refuge for some, only to be re-discovered by Urban Archaeologists decades later. 

     In some instances, the facilities go bankrupt. When these hospitals abruptly close, the staff merely walks away, the equipment that can be sold is, and the rest including medical record and files are left behind. 

     In Los Angeles however, old hospitals never die, they merely get re-cycled (or repurposed if you will) as film locations. Equipment, files, records, furniture and supplies that are left behind become valuable set dressing and props.

     Here is one I explored the other day while we were filming for a new TV Medical series.

Just a warning - this is a very dark tour of the facility!

Although Closed in 2004, the sign still remains.

Let's take you on a hypothetical journey. You enter and wait!

Then down a corridor.

To admissions or administration.

Down another corridor,

  To Radiology!

Down another corridor,

To the Corridor outside of the ORs. You could call this pre-op waiting!

The operating team scrubs!

 Wheels you in.

Off to recovery.

Then to your very own private room, I've omitted several corridors for fear of this post getting way too long.

Lucky you, it is a private room!

Others might not be so fortunate, 

 Further observation,

 And tests!

 More surgery!

 This is the point where it gets depressing!!!!

 Down the elevators,

 Down a basement corridor,

 And, into the Morgue!!

 The hand written entries in this ledger, are of all the autopsies performed here.

 In another room in the basement I found the facilities office, full of plans for the future. Unfortunately like those souls who passed through the morgue the hospital did not survive either!!

More images on this subject and others can be found at:

RedStarImage.com

As always, all images are copyright Peter Politanoff/RedStarImage. All International restrictions apply, cannot be used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.