you'll never see the courage I know...

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Showing posts with label ventura. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ventura. Show all posts

Friday, April 2, 2010

Here's the 'Top Hat' ventura shack that inspired Michael Moore's new documentary

I almost forgot! On the way to pay bills today, I glanced over to 'Top Hat', that has been a staple in Ventura, Ca forever. I was shocked to see it closed down. Top Hat is flashpoint of upcoming Michael Moore documentary!! Controversial activist and filmmaker Michael Moore has taken on a new fight, having found juicy inspiration in Ventura’s own former cheap eats shack, Top Hat Burger Palace.
So sad! Everything is closing and we're going down!

Hamburgled and hungry-OMG! This little "shack" is the flashpoint of upcoming Michael Moore documentary AND IT'S RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM ME!


This is so amazing to me!

Top Hat is flashpoint of upcoming Michael Moore documentary

Controversial activist and filmmaker Michael Moore has taken on a new fight, having found juicy inspiration in Ventura’s own former cheap eats shack, Top Hat Burger Palace. When Moore attended the Ventura Film Festival in 2009 (prior to its rebirth as the Ventura Film Society), he became a regular at Top Hat. It was then that he was introduced to the restaurant’s ongoing struggle to remain open. On one particular day in July, Moore realized that such problems weren’t limited to Ventura, but had become a growing problem across the country.

“I was eating a hamburger — double patty with cheese, a side of fries, two sodas. It’s Americana, you know? It’s fading,” Moore said as he disassembled a hamburger in his office, pointing to the tomato and lettuce as symbols of freedom and justice. “I want to put the fresh freedom on top of the crispy justice and then eat them together. One serving the other. All in my belly. That’s America.”

Moore followed his nose to other businesses in Ventura, uncovering a pattern of openings and closings that he believes emphasizes his warning of America’s declining taste for the historical. Standing before the fence that now bars entrance into the Wagon Wheel, a historic former hotel off of the 101 freeway in Oxnard, Moore and Stephen Schafer of the San Buenaventura Conservancy held a press conference to announce the film.

“Our battle is far from over to save these old, mostly useless artifacts of a culture that has long come and gone and, some would say, overstayed its welcome,” Schafer said as Moore fidgeted with coupons behind him. “With Michael’s help, we will finally have the strength in voice we need.” Schafer and Moore then shook hands and posed together.

However, Schafer became critical of Moore after all references to the Wagon Wheel were removed when rumors of replacing it with a Burger King began to circulate.
“The focus of this documentary is on the struggle,” Moore said, spreading mayo on a toasted sesame seed bun. “If they reopened it with a Burger King inside maybe one of the rooms had a grill and another a deep fryer — I think it might help. Make it drive-thru accessible, perhaps. I’m just brainstorming here.”

Last week, Moore quietly attended a screening of a six-minute short produced by a student at Brooks Institute before leaving to visit the old Top Hat location, where he was confronted by an assembly of protesters who had gathered in the adjacent parking lot. The crowd, chanting, “Burgers and lies!” gathered around Moore, who then led them on a march to the stairs of City Hall where he gave a fiery and winded impromptu speech.

“There’s a town in Michigan completely devoid of hamburgers,” Moore said as he wiped his mouth with his wrist, sweat on his brow. “The place is sad, like a ghost town. Strangers ride bikes all day and night. People are power-walking around, skinny as you can’t imagine and breathing easily. These people are hungry.”

“I’m feeling very burger-deprived,” said Ventura resident Ryan Elliott, a robust man wearing a bowler hat and holding a sign that read “Hamburgled.” “We’re all so grateful for Moore. Someone needed to stand up and flame-grill the politicians.”
Moore’s film I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger Never will open in select theaters this summer.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Winter Wonderland I found myself in. So what if I pretended I was lost in a forrest!


The Winter Wonderland I found myself in. So what if I pretended I was lost in a forrest!

For G'ma
I'm getting him next year!
I have some of these dudes already (mine are more handsome tho!)
Vintage loveliness
Kinda creepy, but not.
She's coming w/me next year too!
Pretty damn' niffty tree!
I'm in love
Making out w/Santa baby!
Next year you better get me those 4 things I asked for, it really isn't much!
Santa wanted me to sit on his lap a little bit longer!


watching my friend bernadette adorn the trees -12/07/09

On my way home from work
The fountain they fill up w/ snow (soap) ever year! It was a really windy day & it kept blowing about! It was really fun.





My Morrissey bumper stickers approves!
Train Tracks by the Sea
A man and his dog!



After a full day's work w/ this crazy "Howard Hughes" guy, sped over & bought my $100.00 Morrissey ticket-Bernadette invited me to help adorn her 3 Christmas trees.(I was so tired by then, I mostly watched, but helped hooked the ornaments!) ;p







Rest of the photos- http://tinyurl.com/ye9kl63

Video- http://www.youtube.com/user/OrphanSailor

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Went to my Dear friend's house today. Hellen was 1 of the 1rst people I met here in Ventura. She has a sweet soul.

We had fun giggling like little girls...I'm so glad I met Hellen. When I first met her she was standing on the sidewalk in downtown Ventura. She made quite an impression on me. She looked like an old-time movie star. She was also wearing my grandma and I's favourite colours, Purple (G'ma) and Green (me). The green trench coat was sea foam green and she had long classy hair w/ old vintage hair pins. Believe it or not, we have a lot in commom. We have old souls and we connect, I have always been drawn to the vintage people. :P
I asked Hellen to pose w/ the photograph of her Mother & Father pressed against her heart! Beautiful! Hellen took only 1 step today!!! haha LOL {inside joke with us} When I was worried I forgot about the brown sugar I needed & the stores were closed, she slipped this in my purse when I checked on the Dog. Dont'cha love Grandma types? Always got your back! ;p Her Granddaugter's piglet...when she was leaving she left it there for Hellen so she wouldn't be lonely! Awwwe *LOVE* Opening the gifts I got her... She's so child-like right here. I love it! *Hellen's Vintage Radio* Our Feet Our Hands we're talking about how January was the worst month/year for us...We have a lot in common sure was- The year from HELL. Her daughter who died bday's was on the 13th, my G'ma died on the 5th {so did I}

ohh X-mas Cheer and dogs with fleas! It's so nice! http://twitvid.com/C8BD6

TWO CRAZIES HAVING FUN! http://twitvid.com/EB278

Are you sure you don't over cook your pasta Hellen? Cuss like a drunken Sailor.
http://twitvid.com/3901A

Is it raining outside in the 100 acre wood?

Rest of the photos-

Videos-