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ROD'S TABLE #3

 ROD’S TABLE #3
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A                  to                  Z

AN ABSTRACT ALPHABET

One of my current book projects is a new way for children to recognize the alphabet in its abstract forms.  The ABCs of abstract expression.

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ANGELINI OSTERIA *****

7313 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles 90036

(323) 297-0070

Benvenuti

Chef/Owner Gino Angelini’s menu has always 
been numero uno for Italian cuisine in Los Angeles. 
I first met him when he worked for Mauro Vincente

at Rex Il Restoranti in the classic Oviat art deco building downtown. He is a classic Italian master chef, with Angelini voted Best Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles by Zagat in 2012. Magnifico.

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 TOOTS TIELMANS JAZZ HARMONICA

  Pure genius.                                                            

  I met Toots at the old Catalina Bar & Grill on Cahuenga   
  Boulevard and invited him to my restaurant, Pane e
  Vino, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. His talent
  on harmonica—and whistling—is genius. He had an
  international hit in the 60s with “Bluesette,” and has
  played with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis,
  Max Roach, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, 
  Peggy Lee, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Astrud Gilberto…
  the list goes on forever, an overwhelming 
  testament to his artistry. 

  In 2001, Toots was ennobled a Baron by 
  King Albert of Belgium.

  In 2012, the “Jazz at Lincoln Center” concerts 
  in New York celebrated his 90th birthday with 
  Herbie Hancock, Eliane Elias, Kenny Werner, 
  Marc Johnson, Oscar Castro-Neves, 
  and Dori Caymmi. His brilliance is undiminished.

Photos & Painting by 
Rod Dyer.

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Coast Magazine was a hip & cool magazine in the 70's. Don Owens the art director asked me to do my take on LA which became Rod Dyer's 
Los Angeles visions. 
Here they are.

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1.  Los Angeles City Hall
2.  Cinerama Theatre,
     Hollywood
3.  Bullocks Wilshire
4.  Lipchitz sculpture,
     LA Music Center
5.  Century Park Plaza,
     Century City
6.  Barker Brothers
     Building, Hollywood
7.  Catering Truck,
     Sunset Boulevard
8.  Hollywood Boulevard
9.  Chinese Theatre,
      Hollywood
10. Medical center
      parking structure
11. McDonald's sign,
      Sunset Boulevard
12. "76 Ball," gas station
      Wilshire Boulevard
13. Billboard,
       Sunset Boulevard
14. Capitol Records
      Tower, Hollywood


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  I mentioned a new book project at the top of this blog.   
  Others I’ve designed for Abbeville Press and edited by 
  Walton Rawls include:

  DISNEY DONS DOGTAGS: Best Of Disney Military
  Insignia From World War II.

  With a forward by David R. Smith, Disney Archivist.

  FIT TO BE TIED: Vintage Ties of The 40s and 50s 
  by Rod Dyer and Ron Spark.
  COAST TO COAST by Rod Dyer and Brad Benedict,
  Text by David Lees from the collection of 
  Dave Willardson.
  CLOSE COVER BEFORE STRIKING: 

  The Golden Age Of Matchbook Art by Tommy Steele, 
  Jim Heiman, and Rod Dyer.

  
  Each book looked easy to do in the beginning, but  
  grew in complexity as book projects often do. Still, I
  enjoyed the process and thank everyone involved.

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  LA BOITE AT SHUTTERS HOTEL ON THE BEACH

  I am designing an original cocktail book written by
  bartender of mixology Josh Curtis. It is entitled  
 'Somewhere it's 5 o'Clock'.

  Josh creates a menu of seven unique cocktails every  
  Wednesday evening for Shutters Hotel on the Beach.
  He sets up a moveable bar on the main table there in 
  the Living Room with ingredients to make a variety of 
  classic cocktails as well as a variety of eclectic
  originals based on what is in season at the
  Santa Monica Farmer's Market. 

   Fresh Fruit Cup by Josh Curtis : Akvinta vodka, Apricot 
   liqueur, Green Chartreuse, fresh orange, & fresh   
   lemon.

  Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram @mixingcocktails
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FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE UNIVERSE
Check out :
                    ____________________
“Don’t Watch This Film: Extraterrestrial Origin” 
                                                                       by David Icke and Steven Greer
                    ____________________
. . .And watch the skies. As legendary scientist/ cetologist 
John Lilly liked to tell his friends, 
“Extraterrestrials have come to this planet but
they went to the most intelligent species—
the whales and dolphins of Planet Ocean.”
                     ____________________
Go to: 
openminds.tv
search for :
S4 Facility
Escape from Area 51
J-Rod Full Doc

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BRRRRM

During the Rock & Roll heyday of the 60s, 70s, 
and 80s, after working at Capitol Records working 
as an director/photographer, I started my own 
business, The Rod Dyer Group, 
designing and photographing artists for every record label in L.A.
I was also a restaurant buff. I had my favorites, 
and some places were difficult to get into. 
Since I knew the owners of all the hot spots in 
town, I created a promo postcard to help clients 
and friends get reservations when they wanted them.

The BRRRRM stands for 
"Best Rock & Roll Restaurant Reservations Made.” 
I still get calls to this day.

Photo Credit: 
My friend Mike Salisbury took the 
photos for an article in New West,
featuring my 1972 Dino Ferrari.

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JAZZ GUYS

I created a series of limited edition gyclee prints of iconic jazz greats on handmade paper, deckled edge. Available for sale. Each is matted and framed 34"X45"

     

Clockwise forom top left: Charlie Parker, Willie "the Lion" Smith, John Coltrane, and Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong   

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In 1957, jazz master Hugh Masekela left South Africa during the apartheid era. I did the same thing, heading to New York where I got my first job in America as an art director on Madison Avenue. I met Masekela years later in L.A. and photographed him for an album and publicity shots. He was married to Miriam Makeba, an amazing jazz singer.

He topped the Billboard charts at number 1 with the crossover instrumental hit 'Grazing in the Grass' composed by Philemon Hou. 

I then worked on a poster for the hit musical, “Sarafina” which he conceived with Mbongeni Ngema. He also wrote a book, “The Musical Journey Of Hugh Masekela" published in 2004.  Well worth the time.

                               Photos by Rod Dyer







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TWO MONKS ON A MISSION

Great Cuisine

ROD’S TABLE #2

An Insider’s Guide To Los Angeles

Ratings are on a scale of five:

***** Must Visit   **** Excellent   *** Very Good   ** Good   * Not so good

IL PICCOLINO

*****

350 N. Robertson Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90048

310 659 2220

    Photography by Norman Moore and Rod Dyer

What can I say? This is some of the finest cuisine in L.A. I have known Eddie Kerkofs since he opened Le Dome with Michel Yhuelo on Sunset. I created their logo, menu designs, dinner plate designs, and more. Le Dome was the ultimate celebrity and Hollywood-style restaurant with diners like Elton John, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Pink Floyd, and movie stars one after another. Eddie now owns Il Piccolino with Silvio DeMori, whom I’ve known for years and is an extraordinary restaurateur. Their menu is extensive and first class. I give it a 5+. My design partner, Norman Moore, and I did their new website, including the photography. It’s one of our favorite restaurants. They never miss a beat.

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MAKE MINE A RICKEY (From mixologist Josh Curtis)

Although it’s been awhile since 1894 when “Colonel Joe” Rickey first asked a bartender at Shoemaker’s Bar in Washington, D.C. to make this thirst-quenching cocktail, it’s as timely as ever. Originally made with rye, the most popular version is made with gin. The version below is made with vodka to bring the fruit flavors forward.

Photo: Rod Dyer

CHERRY LIME RICKEY

aka: sparkling cherry limeade

1.5 oz Broken Shed Vodka

2 regular maraschino cherries

or Luxardo maraschino cherries

2 lime wedges

.5 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

Fill with club soda

Muddle two lime wedges and two Maraschino (mer-uh-skee-no) cherries. Pour the simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and vodka over the citrus and cherries. Shake it up and pour all the contents into your desired glass.  A highball works well. Top with club soda and swizzle with a barspoon to mix the ingredients. Drink it.

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GOOD VIBES 

Ndugu Chancler is an old friend from the roundtable on the patio at Pane. He’s had an amazing career as a jazz drummer that includes sessions with Miles Davis, one of my musical heroes, Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, John Lee Hooker, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson (“Thriller” and “Bad,” including “Billie Jean.”). He also put together a jazz band for Bill Cosby at the Playboy Jazz Festival that I photographed for Venice Magazine. 

I designed an album cover for a set that featured him on vibes, creating an image of him that represented his movement on mallets, then I turned the image into a giclee print. I also created a postcard and business card for him with his drum set displayed in his head—and on his mind. He is one of the most talented and loveable people I know. If you like jazz, you’ll love Ndugu.

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CATCH A FIRE

Speaking of album covers, I’m a big reggae fan and created the album graphics for Bob Marley’s “Catch A Fire” album using a Zippo lighter. It was chosen by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the best album covers of all time. One problem: the grommet used to fasten the top of the lighter to the bottom tended to damage the edge of the album. Sorry about that.

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FOR ARTISTS BY ARTISTS

For the last four semesters I’ve been teaching at The Academy of Art in San Francisco with colleagues Roland Young, Craig Butler, Tommy Steele, Jay Vigon and  Tom Pope. Tom and I created an Entertainment Advertising course, which we teach together. The students learn from us, and we learn from them.

_________________________________________________________Aliona Sazonova Art Director

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A NEW BOOK

My friend and fellow teacher at AAU, Tom Pope, has written a novel for which I designed the cover. Originally based on one of his screenplays, it’s the story of an L.A. anchorman whose plane goes down in the Pacific Northwest, and he begins a journey into consciousness that forever alters his perception of the world and his place in it...

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ANOTHER NEW BOOK

I’ve also designed The Cork Game, written by Tom Pope, with illustrations by Andy Engel, about a bar game played by the Gambino Family wiseguys while waiting for a call to go whack somebody. It was introduced to the regulars at Pane by writer/director Harvey Keith, who used to shine Gambino’s shoes at age 10 on the streets of Bath Beach. We played it often at the round table on the patio. All you need is the cork from a wine bottle. Uncork the bottle, pour a glass, and let the game begin. The Cork Game is the ultimate Bar Book—how to kill time while waiting for your party to arrive. We’re hoping a publisher will step up to the bar.

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IS COOL

Several months ago I designed a logo for a website called “The History Of Cool,” containing objects and ideas people think are cool. So, be cool—check it out.

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The TEAK Fellowship

Created by Justine Stamen Arrillaga Founder & Co-Chair fifteen years ago in memory of Teak Dyer and DeWitt White. Mission: The Teak Fellowship helps talented New York City students from low-income families gain admission to and succeed at top high schools and colleges.  Along with academic support, TEAK provides leadership training, exposure to the arts and outdoors, mentoring, career experience, and assistance with the high school and college application processes. All contributions are tax-deductible as provided by law. 16 West 22nd Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10010 Telephone: (212) 288-6678 

Fax: (212) 288-5058  www.teakfellowship.org

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THE TOFF

I’m originally from South Africa where sharp-dressed men are called Toffs. My friend Billy Dee Williams and I are both Toffs. I’ve designed neckties, suits and accessories, while Billy has created his own line of colognes and clothing. Recently I came across a men’s fashion designer I really like, Aitor Throup. He considers himself a product designer rather than a fashion designer and has an art exhibit at H. Lorenzo at Sunset Plaza. He is brilliant and always carries the most extraordinary fashion lines for men and women.

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ROD'S RANT
Q. Why do the majority of bartenders slam an empty bottle into trash & scare the shit out of customers in the vicinity?
A.?
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