Sunday, August 9, 2009

Downtown Dearest: Stop Pissing On My Ally Door Entrance.

Let's catch you up, yes?  

1.) I moved to downtown Los Angeles (where before I was in a suburban, quaint neighborhood called the Miracle Mile District).



There's so much to say about living downtown--it is another world all together.  I could write pages alone on the types of people I've met--so many young artists swarming the lofts and we all look at each other, strangers all of us, like we know some big secret.  It's like we were all drawn here by some giant wizard and we're about to take part in an enormous electric daisy carnival-esque rave of life. Y
Yeah, maybe it sounds a bit out there, I know, I think so too but the kids downtown would not!  It's a beautiful thing.  

And maybe it is a giant secret because the city--it's shitty looking.  Skid Row is two blocks and a skip left of my building.  There are druggies, screaming homeless bickering and urinating bums on every corner and in every ally.  Rats the size of my cat scamper back and forth from the overflowing dumpsters piled with the worst smelling trash I've ever come across in my life.  Urine and feces decorate the streets more commonly than I'd like to acknowledge.  You take a shower, step outside, and you're covered in dirt.  I am scared for my life after 9 PM--if I want to walk down a few blocks to Seven-Eleven--I cannot alone.  Most people cannot, actually.  English magazines are very difficult to find and speaking english in general is rather a lost cause.  One way streets are a bitch....So what is the "secret" we young people are all excited about?  We don't know!  That's what's so awesome!  I guess we all wonder what the hell we're doing down here...but upon exploring, we've found there is an entire playground expecting us!  Trendy, painfully posh clubs, lounges and restaurants have begun to rise out of the most atrocious abandoned buildings.  During the day--these old, boarded up, dingy spaces are dormant but come nightfall a red rope sneaks into position and a queue of Chanel purses, Jimmy Choo stilettos and Chloe skirts with Prada overcoats forms in the shadows of the flickering street lamps--one red rope after another and further into the night the streets, usually filled with bums are fill-
ed with dashing couples straight out of a 1920's movie about Speakeasy's and flappers.  And then, if the artist types don't feel like dressing up--it's unneeded anyway since every loft
 building is flooded with Loft parties and young hippsters hanging off the fire escapes, floating music, waving cigarets and lounging from roof top pool to roof top pool.  



...Downtown is too cool for me.  

My loft is too cool for me.  I'd post pictures...or I will soon but I can't find my stupid camera cord right now--I'm living in an excessively large industrial space...out of poorly marked, sporadically packed boxes that are scattered throughout three floors.  It's tough to be on time in the mornings when your underwear is in one box, your socks are in another box the floor below, your shoes are back upstairs in a bag somewhere and then your shorts are in one of four boxes marked "pants" all the way on the first floor.  

Alright--so this first blog is to kick of a series of blogs titled "Dear Downtown: (blank)" where I'll be documenting how the move is going or writing up any unusual adventures.  

Two to look for next: 
"Downtown Dearest:' The Heist'"
"Downtown Dearest: Flying Couches and Sweating Bears"


Final note--Marjorie came to stay with me in my new place!  We went to a movie at the Grove and dinner and she stayed the night and we went to Disneyland the next day before I sadly took her back to her parent's home so she can return to SanFran today.  One year.  She graduates in one year and then I'll have a roommate to share in these adventures!  

When you're alone
And life is making you lonely,
You can always go downtown
When you've got worries,
All the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go
Downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown, no finer place for sure,
Downtown, everything's waiting for you
(Downtown)
Don't hang around
And let your problems surround you
There are movie shows downtown
Maybe you know
Some little places to go to
Where they never close downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossanova
You'll be dancing with 'em too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go
Downtown where all the lights are bright,
Downtown, waiting for you tonight,
Downtown, you're gonna be alright now
(Downtown downtown)
Downtown
(Downtown)
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So, maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares and go
Downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown, don't wait a minute more,
Downtown, everything's waiting for you
Downtown (downtown) downtown (downtown)
Downtown (downtown) downtown (downtown)
(repeat and fade out)

peace.  

14 comments:

  1. lol this is awesome. really, you'd write quite the eclectic book if you ever decided to go down that avenue. love the honest description of la, reminds me of certain parts of nyc i've seen in my summer here. i'm a dork for saying this, but totally love that you are marje are still friends :). good luck w/ this new journey ahead!

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  3. Those who happen to ask theirselves about the text on the end, it's a song by Petula Clark, pretty darn old but one of those "sounds familiar!" tunes.

    I can so imagine the scene you're in! Downtown really doesn't sound too cool, it sounds like you'd fit right in, go creativity! Quick and friendly sidenote, I was just in vacation in Avignon, in the south of France. Every year, there's this huge theater festival, for 3 weeks, if you love theater on the streets and everywhere else, it's the best place to be. And I think that I saw enough of your blogs and updates to say with certainty; you'd belong there. You'd fall in love too, I am absolutely sure. Just... check it out, if you ever have spare time and a computer :)

    Cheesy cheesy, it's awesome to see you and Marjorie are still friends. Marjaleigh survived! :D

    Keep on rocking, blogging, loving, please, for all of us, your loyal fans who love you!

    Iris (Holland)

    P.S. Sorry. I can't write a short comment. Or a short anything.

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  4. hi analeigh,

    glad to see ur update!
    hope all's gonna be extremely well for you esp in ur new place which seems kinda dangerous? anyway take extra care ya!
    keep blogging! i would love to read your career progressing each and every time =)

    have a blessed journey...

    faith c. (singapore)

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  5. Aww, I missed these long posts of Analeigh brain spewing onto my computer screen. Keep it up yo.

    Lol, yo.

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  6. Hey hey! looks like your in the place to be!
    Life sounds like it's going frickin awesome! keep on, keepin on!

    Your fan from Alamogordo
    Zach

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  7. Analeigh! I can't believe you live in downtown by skid row. I'm so scared to even pass by there even during the day! You're really brave.

    Just want to say that I enjoy all of your blogs. I'm so glad you still keep in touch with Marjorie! I'm a huge fan of both of you.

    Love the lyrics you posted. That song reminds me of Girl Interrupted (the movie) I recommend it. I think youll like it :)

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  8. great to find this blog, and to get an update on your life-n-times. i'm like an old katt, and new to America's Top Model, but after viewing reruns of your season recently, i am simply awestruck by what makes you so beautiful: your mannerisms.
    the way you "choreograph" yourself is just absolutely timeless.
    peace, prosperity, and love to you and yours.
    mathieu in the heartlend

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  9. omgsh i had no idea you used to live in miracle mile !
    i used to live in park la brea, but i moved to orangecounty a month or so ago.
    it's weird to think that i spent like two and a half months watching your show religiously and then we might have been shopping at the grove at the same timee.
    well, i hope you love LA and that your modeling/acting career only gets better<3

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  10. Wowza. Analeigh's back, and happier then ever!

    Did you have cheerios this morning?

    I think you did.

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  11. Your writing is so good:) I'm enjoying every word!
    Hoping to see an update soon, though:)

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  12. Hi Analeigh,
    Nice to meet you here.
    U are the model I love the most in the ANTM history because your good personality and gorgeous look.
    Wish you have a very good career in Modeling.

    Gill (HK)

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  13. Hey,
    i am one of your fan when you were on ANTM.
    anyway are you going to post again?

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  14. I love it there and always will...If your still there enjoy it and have fun!!! And beautiful writing.

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