President Obama in Downtown L.A.

President Barack Obama held a "town hall" style meeting at the Contreras Learning Center in downtown L.A. The President also spoke on tax issues, AIG, and reform in education. 

2000 Angelenos were in attendance for the meeting, and a lucky few got to ask him a question or two. 

The President went on to Burbank to appear on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," then headed back to Washington D.C.

This was the President's first visit to Los Angeles since being elected to office.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

Louver Collection at Downtown L.A. Fashion Week

L.A. fashion designer Louis Verdad unveiled his new line, Louver. 

The Louver collection was presented on several mannequins at the MOCA museum in downtown's little Tokyo. Louis was on site to introduce his new fall line to a couple hundred guest. The fall line is mostly in a black pallet with a couple of dresses adorned with chromed metal spikes and crystals. 

Film artist Robertino Fonseca and photographer August Bradley also presented their artwork which featured the Louver line.

Spotted celebrities in attendance were Kelly Lynch, Nicky Hilton, Rose Mc Gowan, and Marisa Tomei.

Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week hosted the event which also featured a runway show of vintage couture from Cameron Silver/Decades.

Welcome back, Louis!

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

President Barack Obama in the OC

President Barack Obama held a town hall meeting in Costa Mesa, CA at the Orange County Fair Grounds. The President answered unscripted questions from the crowd, and spoke on issues ranging from the AIG bonuses to the local California economy. The OC crowd greeted the President with warm chants of "O-BAMA, O-BAMA!." 

After his speech, the President removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to host the town hall meeting.

This was the President's first post election visit to California, and he will be a guest on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" tomorrow afternoon.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

L.A. Fashion Week at BOXeight Final Day

The final evening of fashions from BOXeight's venue at the Los Angeles Theatre. 

Mike Vensel, Hayley Starr, The Battalion, Sahaja, Yotam Solomon, Sjobeck, Maxine Dillon, and Li Cari by Jazmin Whitley closed the evening.

BOXeight promises to be back for next season, and vows to be the premier venue for L.A. fashion.

Photos By Ted Soqui c 2009

L.A. Fashion Week at BOXeight Day 2

L.A. Fashion Week at BOXeight day two. 

Another long evening of runway shows. SkinGraft was the best of the night with their amazing and spectacular gothic line. 

LAKEN, David Alexander, Smoke & Mirrors, Jen Awad, Future Heretics, COA, and martinMartin also showed their fall collections.

Spotted at the shows, Margaret Cho.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

L.A. Fashion Week Begins

Gen Art and BOXeight launched L.A. Fashion Week in downtown at the Los Angeles Theatre today. Gen Art featured fall lines from Raquel Allegra, GRAI, and Society For Rational Dress. 

BOXeight held two shows, one from Sonia Swim wear, and a smashing show from Gerald.

Celebrities spotted, Ron Jeremy (actor), Jerrell Scott (Project Runway), and Brook Mahealani Lee (former Miss Universe).

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

Charles Lewis Founder of TapouT Crash Scene

Street memorial and skid marks on Jamboree Road in Irvine where Charles Lewis was killed in a traffic collision. Lewis was the founder of TapouT clothing line, a tee-shirt business he turned into a multi-million dollar business which was an off shoot of his love for mixed martial art fighting. He began selling the now popular tee-shirts from the trunk of his car.

Lewis' fiance, a passenger in Lewis' car, was also involved in the wreck and remains in a local hospital, she is expected to live. 

Police reports state that Lewis, driving a red 2004 Ferrari Medona, was either involved in a street race with a white Porsche coup, owned by Jeffery David Kirby, or hit by the Porsche in a road rage or DUI accident. Kirby has been convicted of a previous DUI and other driving infractions.

Lewis' fans have come from all over to pay their respects, leave flowers, photographs, and other keepsakes to remember him. 

Lewis is from Costa Mesa, CA.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

Lance Armstrong Visits L.A.

Bicycle racing legend Lance Armstrong, along with 700 supporters, rode down the streets of Hollywood to launch the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Global Art Exhibition. The ride ended at the Motablan Hotel in Hollywood where artist Sheppard Fairey has three new giant murals of Lance on the side of the hotel. 

Lance spoke to a crowd of his supporters about his adversity with cancer, the Livestrong yellow band, bike racing, growing up in Texas, and his new love of art collecting. Lance also spoke about "finally feeling at ease" and his passionate speech was often punctuated with rare smiles. 

Ben Harper, a close friend of Lance, played several songs for the crowd. Ben's magical shaman like performance had him playing two different lap steel guitars and a twelve string acoustic with no pick along with several other beautiful guitars.

Also spotted were Ben Stiller, Laura Dern, and Patrick Dempsey.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

Chris Brown Court Date

Singer Chris Brown made his required court appearance at the L.A. Criminal Courts Building in downtown today. Brown arrived through an underground parking entrance to allude the mass throngs of paparazzi and press. Brown's family arrived via the parking lot behind the courthouse and were hounded by a mass throng of media. Phil Spector was spotted leaving the courthouse in a surreal moment by photographer Jonathan Alcorn, as the Brown family passed by. 

Keeping the surreal moments going, designer Bobby Trendy was spotted leaving the courthouse pushing a baby carriage with a small dog inside, while wearing glitter and tall black wedge heels.

Brown, who is charged with two felonies, is scheduled to re-appear in court on April 6, 2009 to enter his plea.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

The Hollywood Palladium Re-Opening

The historic Hollywood Palladium held it's official ribbon cutting ceremony today. Closed for over a year, the Palladium upgraded it's sound system, stage, concessions to handle larger and more elaborate productions. The new upgrades will keep the classic look with new paint and carpeting.

The Palladium first opened in 1940 with a concert by Tommy Dorsey featuring Frank Sinatra as the singer. Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and James Brown are some artist who played the Palladium. JFK, Martin Luther King, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan have all spoken at the venue.

Grammy Award winner Jay-Z will headline the grand re-opening concert on October 15, 2009.

Photos by Ted Soqui c 2009

Amgen Tour of California Stage 7 Pasadena

                                   The Astana Team leading the way

                     Big George Hincapie with wheel suckers behind him.
                       A brave lead by Rinaldo Nocentoni of team AG2R                                                         LANCE!
Tour leader Levi Leipheimer with Ginnifer Goodwin ("Big Love" star)

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California rolled through Pasadena today with many of the world's greatest bicycle riders racing to win. Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer of team Astana stayed together to keep Levi as the tour leader. 

An amazing break away by Rinaldo Nocentini of Team AG2R earned him a heroic stage win at the finish line nipping Hayden Roulston of Cervelo Test Team. 

Many of the fans were cheering for last years stage winner, Big George Hincapie of team Columbia High-Road, to win, but he had his hand full with several riders sucking his wheel and keeping him away from a win. Hincapie came in 7th place.

Lance Armstrong came in 44th place today.

Photos By Ted Soqui c 2009