Side Note:

ArtReview Magazine has released their annual Power 100 list of important people in the contemporary art world. I'm Happy to anounce Ebi Melamed has been named the 82nd most influential person by the respected world-wide publication. RESPECT!

Mono Listens.....Conway Twitty

Taking it to the Old School Country with this one....

Mono Loves.... Lamborghini Canto AKA L147

The Canto prototype was an exercise to study the potential designs for supercar replacements. Various versions of the Canto were shown to the president of the Lamborghini company but unfortunately, was not deemed acceptable to carry the Lamborghini name and enter into production. The company responsible for creating the designs was the famous coachbuilding factory, Zagato.


The proposed engine was a 6.0 liter, V-12 engine producing 640 horsepower. If it would have entered into production, the engine would have been slightly detuned to 610 horsepower. This way the factory could have maintained the similar maintenance schedule used for the 530 horsepower Diablo models. The target weight for the canto was to be around 2200 pounds. A semi-automatic six-speed shifter by Valeo with steering-wheel based buttons was proposed to drive the engine and power the rear wheels.


The plans called to debut the Canto at the Geneva Auto Show but due to financial uncertainties and unable to meet the 2200 pound requirement, the Canto project slipped farther away from production.

Here is the car in all of its glory at the Lamborghini Museum.

Mono Eats.... Akari Sushi

Ive been a fan of Rudy (Owner/Chef) for a long time. I followed him from Cho Cho San to Akari. Ive never been disappointed with this place. True it is a hole in the wall but that just makes it more special. Be prepared this place is addicting.

The ambience could use some work, but for the price and taste, you cant ask for anything else...

My suggestions:

Three Amigos extra spicy on crispy rice cake: A delicious mix of shrimp, crab, and scallops all tossed in a spicy chili oil....

Ice Roll: Shrimp tempura and immitation crab rolled into crispy iceberg lettuce.

Bonzai Roll (Soy Paper) no idea whats in this roll all I know its delicious

Akari Special (soy Paper): Again no idea whats in this but its AMAZING...mmmm

Rock Shrimp Tempura

The list could go on and on... the best part about the place is that if you sit at the sushi bar and ask his advice he will be upfront and honest with you.

Mono Drives.... Ferrari 599 GTB

So I recently had the opportunity to drive Ferrari's 599 GTB, and Holy Shit is this thing fast....the car has it all: the looks, the luxury, and man can it go. I've read the reviews, I've seen the Top Gear epi and so on, but nothing prepared me for this beast. When I hit the throtle I was like JESUS, I felt my brain shift in place...the care is awesome. Im very familiar with the F430 & LP640, the 599 is on a "whole nother level"

I could give you all the boring details, but i'll spare you. Here is the deal, Ferrari took the engine from the all-mighty Enzo and teamed it up with the fastest F1tranny in Ferrari road car history (yes that includes the Enzo)and wrapped it in the beautifuly designed pinanfarina body.

Mono Loves..... Five Four X Danny Lee

One of the most creative ads since the Sony Bravia commercials, I know this has been out for awhile but I recently Linkedin with one of te FiveFour guys and took a look at his blog (Andre's Blog) where I found this....

Mono Listens.... Paul Van Dyk ft. Ashley Tomberlin (New York City)

Mono Wants... Aston Martin Rapide (AKA Aston 4 Door)

"With its Le Mans racing program soon to be bolstered by GT2 and LMP1 entries, and with sales of its ever-so-desirable GTs ever increasing, Aston Martin is preparing to add the four-door Rapide to its production line-up. Aston was anticipated to decide by year's end where the Rapide would be built. Although the company just moved to a new facility in Gaydon, the automaker was reportedly in discussions with a number of smaller contractors – including Pininfarina, Karmann, Magna-Steyr and Valmet – over potentially outsourcing the Rapide's manufacturing".

"Private coachbuilders are all in dire need of the contract.Confirmation that Aston would build the Rapide was one of the first things its new owners did after acquiring the company from Ford".

From: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/15/s...martin-rapide/

Im on my way to place my order.....

Mono Rocks..... Nike Air Burst Storm

This colorway has got to be one of the top 5 most under-appreciated. Nike released these for Japan only...thus these size 12s are super rare... Unfortunately I wear the pair I own all the time resulting in some hardcore damage... but if anyone comes accross a sz12 PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Mono Wants.... Stan Lee Tribute Pieces

I grew up on Stan Lee comics, wether it was Superman, Fantastic Four, The Hulk or my personal favorite X-Men... So when I heard Gallery1988 on Melrose Ave was hosting "Under The Influence" a tribute to Stan Lee, I was all over it. Unfotunately my top choices were sold before I could get to them....

Brian Bird (Magneto)

Matt Dangler (Wolverine)

Mono Listens.... Sir Mix-A-Lot

Before his Baby Got Back fame, Sir Mix-A-Lot released SWASS... I used to roll around in my Nissan Sentra with 2 18s in the back, and man did this song bump...it felt like a shiatsu midget was in my back seat giving the massage of his life. I took pride of the fact that I had the entire song memorized. POSSE UP

Mono Collects.... Logan Hicks

One of the favorite pieces in my collection.... Logan Hicks "New York Fire Escape". I picked this up at the Logan Hicks X XLarge show several months ago and decided to hang it in my office. My interpretation of the gold coloration and stairway... CLIMB YOUR WAY TO THE TOP!

Mono Wants..... Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang (1 of 5) AKA Pure Blood

ALL RAW & Sexy as Fuck! this takes industrial to the next level...Raw Aluminum and Carbon combined with a W16, thats 2 V8 enginse side-by-side, Quad-Turbo, producing 1001HP......SICK SICK SICK. The No paint = limited production (as if the Veyron wasnt limited enough) is definitely a genius way to increase the already astronomical 1.6Mil price tag, but if you got it flaunt it.

Mono Listens..... Armand Van Helden (808 Breakbeat RMX)

Not into the final fantasy bullshit.... the songs a classic.

Mono Rocks.... NIke Dunk Hi Premium Curry (Original)

One of my top 10 Favorites of all time! Nike really fucked up re-issueing these... business is business

Mono Listens.... Dr. Dre X Monster

Dr. Dre Legendary Icon (who by the way is infamous for blowing through studio speakers)and Monster cable present "Beats by Dr. Dre" a new venture

Mono Rocks..... Nike Dunk Low Pro B (AKA Lightning)

Before the whole Shoe Collector Hobby became a phenomenon....granted I made a fortune on Ebay capitalizing on the phenomenon... I was big into Shoes. As part og the blog I will post occasional pics of my remaining collection

Mono Listens.... Yves LaRock

Mono Eats.... Village Pizzeria

Another one of my Favorite Places.... I actually used the blog as an excuse to head there today... I’m not a big pizza guy but there's something about this pizza that gets me... In New York they will tell you that the crust makes the Pizza, Village Pizzeria's crust is spot on... I love their Calzones and Pasta as well. If you’re into Thick Crust (not talking Gino’s deep dish) try the Sicilian.

Personal Pans For Lunch (Meal Deal #2) 9" Plain Cheese Pizza, small salad, garlic roll & large soda.........$8.50 (until 5 p.m.)

Mono Listens... The Knife

Mono Eats... Eastside Market

One of the things I do best is EAT, so I thought what better to get this blog going then some of my favorite local LA spots....

Ill Start things off with Eastside Market, by far one of my favorite places in LA.

The first time I walked into this place I was shocked, this place had more cops than the local LAPD station.... but my rule of thumb... if the place is filled with cops several things are true:

1. Good Food.

2. Great Prices.

3. Safe Environment.

The food is definitely amazing, my personal favorite is the number 7... start things off with a layer of delicious pastrami, then top it off with a juicy layer of roast beef, mozarella cheese, then comes the tender layer of bell peppers all topped off with a generous amount of Marinara (yes this is a large sandwich)..... MEAT ON TOP OF MEAT SMOTHERED WITH MARINARA???? How can you go wrong? Sandwich and a drink will set you back a whole $8.00... yes it says eight dollars.