Some see him as a literary icon, others see him as a drunken rapist (and some confused individuals think of him as both). But wherever you fall on the spectrum between love and hate, there's no denying that Charles Bukowski made an impression on the Los Angeles arts scene. more ›

The short film was once a cornerstone of the theatrical experience (think "The Twenty", only worth watching). A cinematic laboratory, short films test talents & technologies, often in less time than it takes to read this column. In an age of digital streaming, the LA Shorts Fest offers a rare opportunity to see these small films back on the big screen. The 15th annual fest begins tomorrow at the Sunset 5, and runs through the 29th. more ›

If Machete fired you up for a revolucion (and if it didn't, there are 21+ screenings in Pasadena), the UCLA Film & Television Archive has the series for you! This weekend, they open "The Mexican Revolution on Film" with a Mexican production, Enamorada, contrasted with a Hollywood portrayal in David O. Selznick's production Viva Villa! If you'd rather erode another colonial power, the Aero boasts a weekend of French crime films, with contributions from the '30s on up. It's classic pulp, with equal parts exotica, gangsters & a touch of real-life horrors to give you something to take home. For a further twisted romp through the romantic lands, feast your eyes upon Bunny and the Bull, a bizarro-world journey courtesy of the director of The Mighty Boosh. more ›

Remember Craby Joe's? It's "the 1933 Main Street dive bar made famous by Charles Bukowski," as blogdowntown explains. A new bar is slated to open there called Haven, which is owned by Fairfax Partners, the group behind Crown Bar and Winston's in West Hollywood and The Dime on Fairfax. Here's some background info on Craby Joe's when it closed in December 2007. more ›

Post by Willy Blackmore for LAist more ›

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Craby Joe's has been at the corner of 7th and Main in Downtown LA since 1933, and earned its place in local lore as a watering hole near and dear to the well-known downtrodden of the literary scene, like John Fante and Charles Bukowski. In honor of the bar's closing night, there will be a gathering of local historians and preservationists, and anyone else wishing to hoist a memorial last drink at Craby Joe's from 10 p.m. until last call on Christmas Eve. The night is being called a wake, in order to properly, and ceremoniously, say goodbye to the bar, whose "now-dead neon sign blinked gaily in the opening credits for Barfly and its pickled eggs were the day's only protein for too many." more ›

Welcome to Hollywood Today, an LA City commission voted recommending that Charles Bukowski's former home to be designated a historic cultural monument. Yay books and reading! According to state representative Fabian Nunez, who represents the Downtown LA area, the biggest crisis we're facing today is foreclosures. ""It's a more immediate crisis," he told the AP. Meanwhile, protests are beginning to hit the streets over this. Drink up! It's the holidays! Caroline on Crack has... more ›

We've been looking forward to the "big day" for a long time. Tomorrow was going to be a "big day" because the Cultural Heritage Commission was going to decide whether or not to declare Buk's De Longpre residence a historic landmark. Why should such a residence be declared a landmark? It's where he wrote Post Office & Factotum and was the very residence that plays a central role in Women. more ›

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take her medicine and offered their own suggestions to how the city should capitalize on the local music scene. And everyone thinks that a suggested tax on bottled water is a great idea. more ›

Here are some of my favorite LAist stories from this week: Anti reviews a cd that was sent to him, he gives it a "Good", but someone from the band writes in to complain that it wasn't a good enough Peggy Archer showed us that Malibu is finding that whoring out their best beachfront homes to corporations isn't all they hoped it would be Charles Bukowski is my favorite writer, so I liked this... more ›

Today is what would have been the anniversary of Charles Bukowski's 87th year on this planet, had he not passed away in 1994. I really wish I had it in me to writing something amazing in honor of the man, but I'm not sure it can be done. What can you write about a man who revolutionized literature with a style that has yet to be rivaled? All I can think to do on... more ›

Bukowski in LA, LA in Bukowski. The man was quintessential LA and our fair city informed every word, every rant, every foul-mouthed rush of brilliance that he created. In honor of Bukowski's birthday, Nobody Reads in LA will be reading from his novel Post Office. The ranting kicks-off at Charlie O's Bar in the Alexandria Hotel tonight @ 7pm. In true Buk style, drinks are served until 2am. more ›

Monday Moonday poetry reading 7:30pm @ Village Books Tuesday David Lynch signs Inland Empire 7pm @ Borders, Westwood Elaine Dundy presents The Dud Avocado 7pm @ Book Soup Warren Mar presents Descanso 7pm @ Vroman's Kiara Brinkman signs High Up in the Trees 7pm @ Dutton's Wednesday Adrienne Barbeau presents There Are Worse Things I Could Do 7pm @ Book Soup Nobody Reads in LA presents Charles Bukowski's Post Office (it's his birthday!) 7pm... more ›

We at the Gothamist network would like to express our heartfelt wishes to the people of Minnesota in the days after their tragic bridge collapse. We're not trying to discount the severity of the accident by making note of it in opposition to our usual -Ist lightheartedness - we just wanted to take a moment and recognize those affected last week. more ›

Arguably the finest writer Los Angeles has ever known, Charles Bukowski typed away volumes of poetry, short stories, and novels in Hollywood. One of his best works, Post Office, about the ups-and-downs of a heavy drinking mail carrier was written by Bukowski at 5124 De Longpre Ave in 1969 and published two years later. more ›

Is it possible to love a creation in spite of its creator? You have to admit that "Live Through This" rocked, even if Courtney Love is not the most likeable person on the planet. And Picasso wasn't exactly a nice guy. The same holds true for Fred Eric, one of the most controversial personalities on the LA food scene. I cannot say my one run-in with him, in which he almost ran me over with a motorcycle, exactly endeared him to me. His restaurants, as well as his personality, inspire love/hate relationships. more ›

coffee, in the morning, outside, sitting alone) the best thing about
being PJ is the shoes. The shoes come from everywhere and they make
me feel like the young Sammy Davis Jr., if you will. They glisten on
the dusky sidewalks of L.A. They keep me company. Now the worst thing
about being the Pigeon is the vats of depression that spill on me in
the morning....the huge puddles of despair that I fight to leap
over...and the little dark guy in the corner that wants to ruin my
life....slowly.

Where are your favorite cities to do shows, and where does LA
rank?
Whittier, CA is my favorite city in the world to play. They're number
one. There's Memphis, Orlando, Boulder and Seattle too. L.A. Is
always fun, but the fun comes at a price. I get real nervous when I
headline shows in Lost Angels. The weight of trying to blow up leans
in on you all day. Show LA or more precise, Hollywood would rank at
number 15 in the places I like to play.

Where's the best place to buy clothes in LA?
Another great question Sherlock Holmes! That's 2 for you and none for
me. The best place to shop for clothes would be Wasteland on Melrose.
They have one in SF as well. Vintage, classic, endless amounts of
anything you'd ever think of thinking of thinking about. Its cheap
too. Great, sleek shoes laughing at you and the slacks dance around
on their hangers....the hats float.

What happened with you and L.A. Symphony?
Wow, you're really going for it aren't you? Is your name Dracula? Do
you want blood? Me and LAS went our separate ways in 2003 when I had
to make a decision to do LAS or PJ full time. I was missing Symph
shows because I'd be out touring alone....so it had happen I guess. I
always wished we all could come and go and schedule tours around each
other, keeping our identities as well as keeping the group
alive...but I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. Or we
didn't think we could. We could've though....we strangled each other
out of wanting to do it anymore. Oh well.

What non-hiphop influences do you draw upon?
Rock and Roll is great. Jazz delivers. Electronic kills. Old Country
is rad. The Streets and The Strokes dance in my head a lot. Bob Dlyan
intimidates me. Stevie Wonder is untouchable. D'Angelo too. (Where's
is he now? Please come out with another album coke head!). Honeycut
is our Bread. The list goes on and on. I have very big ears and
eyes.....Charles Bukowski is King. I try and draw solely from people
that are way ahead of me....I try not to hang around the playground
too much. Crabs in a bucket.

The obligatory: How did you get the name Pigeon John?
Jesus gave it to me. I was walking through Inglewood one day when out
of nowhere Jesus rolled up on me in a '77 Cutlass Supreme...4 doors,
grey. He hopped out and handed me a dead pigeon. He whispered "Please
have a good time, you're really bumming me out." I watched him sink
back into the cushioned seats and drive, quickly away. And that's
when it happened, the pigeon started shaking violently and became
awake, picked up and flew away. I don't think I had a choice....its
was "pigeon" or die.

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starring Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, and Marisa Tomei more ›

With all our recent focus on drugs, poopie, dead winos, starlets on drugs, tattooed rock'n'roll cellphone exhibitionists, kids on drugs, guys who like young girls a little too much, kid show hosts on drugs, self-lovers, rock festivals with swear words in their names organized by guys who have various terms for self-love in their band names, and more drugs, we figured it might be time to give a little space to some good clean... more ›

LAist likes Matt Dillon. "My Bodyguard", "Drugstore Cowboy", even "Crash" were decent films where Dillon played that tough guy with a heart. But Matt Dillon isn't Charles Bukowski. Bukowski was ugly and bloated and got laid in spite of his looks, not because of them. That's why a fucked up Mickey Rourke played a passable Chinaski in the stinker called "Barfly". Ironic because would be the perfect time for Rourke to play the great poet and novelist. more ›

Charles Bukowski wasn't *just* a beer drinking machine. He was a sensitive Cancer who self-medicated and wrote all night. Maybe like some of you do. As much as we love the man, we aren't quite sure which poem this is since he had many who had "Love" in the title. But names and titles and formalities are so unimportant when you have a virtual gorilla "reading" a funny and great poem. So enjoy tonight's... more ›

Today is Charles Bukowski's birthday. Los Angeles' greatest poet lived to 119 years old. He carried an axe and led his blue ox around with a choke-chain that he'd release whenever someone stepped to him. more ›

The mash-up has gone to a new level with this "film". This poem comes from the classic book "Mockingbird Wish Me Luck". Only two more days until the new movie from the novel by Charles Bukowski is released, "Factotum". Can't wait. more ›

Charles Bukowski lived all over Los Angeles during his long life. Here he is filmed walking around San Pedro and reading "Dinosauria, we", which inspired the title of his biopic "Born Into This", which is where this clip comes from. Every night we celebrate Bukowski, LA's finest poet, as we march toward Friday's release of "Factotum", starring Matt Dillon.... more ›

As we continue to celebrate LA poet Charles Bukowski this week, we turn our attentions to rock stars Tom Waits and Bono, who read two poems that were written at the end of the master's long life. Waits was clearly a fan of the work, and one can hear quite a bit of the Bukowski style in some of Waits' tunes, in particular the song/story "Swordfishtrombones." And Bono is just jumping on another bandwagon,... more ›

With the release of the film "Factotum" right around the corner (going head-to-head against Snakes on a Plane), we thought that every night at midnight this week leading up to Friday we should celebrate the work of Charles Bukowski, LA's finest poet. more ›

Instead of selling a large collection of rare Charles Bukowski manuscripts, originals, and books for about $1 million, the LA poet's widow has donated the works to the hoity-toity Huntington Library in San Marino. more ›

Haven't you ever wondered what could be learned from the inspirational story of Charles Bukowski's life - alcoholic, depressive, and suicidal poet? Stephen Memel, the auteur/directeur/chanteur/Phantom Impersonateur, did, and he has given the world BUKOWSICAL!, now extended at the Sacred Angel Fist Circle Of Note Gang Theater through July 21. more ›

John Sylvain produces websites, films and theater. He is also a writer, actor, director and father. more ›