About John Kriza

I've never done this before. REALLY
Like everyone I have a million thoughts that go by on a daily basis that I of course want to share with the world. Or just myself. Right now I can't think of anything to say to make me even sound remotely interesting.

John Kriza is not my real name. John Kriza was a dancer for American Ballet Theater back in the 30's-60's. He drowned in shallow water off the coast of Florida in the early 70's. John Kriza was one of the first masculine American dancers in ballet. Years before Barishnikov. I saw him in a photo book when I was very young and still grappling with my sexuality. He has a harshly, handsome polish face with a strong nose. He looks like a meatpacker. He also has a slender slylph-like body with broad sholders and a barrel chest. He leaps like a gazelle. To me his is the PINNACLE of male perfection. Someone I strive to be every day but will never become. So he's just my password. I use his name instead of my own.

Top 10 Movie Soundtracks

These are my absolute favorites that run the gamut from jazz to rock.

1. Siesta- Miles Davis. A masterpiece of the Spanish horn.
2. Wild Orchid- Various. Outstanding brazilian feel to it. One of the worst movies of all time.
3. Flash Gordon- Queen. My favorite Queen album too.
4. Suspiria- Goblin. Maximum FREAK-OUT music.
5. Dead Man on Campus -Various. One of the most eclectic from The Dust Bros to M.Manson!
6. Experiment in Terror- Henry Mancini- One of the COOLEST soundtracks of all time!
7. Lost in Translation- Various (but mostly My Bloody Valentine) So easy to get sucked into.
8. Fast Times at Ridgemont High- Various. Perfect So.Cal 80's rock.
9. Breakfast at Tiffany's- Mancini - Sorry. Cheating. 2nd Mancini but this man is perfection.
10. Twin Peaks (TV Soundtrack)- Perfect for floating down a river.

Honorable Mention-
The Party, House of Dark Shadows, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula (Philip Glass and the Chronos Quartet), You Only Live Twice, Ed Wood, Lost Highway, Looking For Mr.Goodbar, Taras Bulba, Sliver, Vertigo

Macarthur Park

There's a great sort of calm that washes over me when I look at a beautifully made house or building. I truly believe I fell in love with architecture before I fell in love with people.

There are so many faded but gorgeous monuments of design where I live (Silverlake/ Echo Park) that it gets exciting when I find something new.

One of the greatest spots in LA (that is also one of the shadiest) is Macarthur Park. A lake surrounded by the buildings of downtown LA and apartment buildings that inspired noir writers like Raymond Chandler to create his stuff. Just look at the Asbury hotel. You can almost imagine one of his deadly dames smoking a cigarette and peering out the window.

When people think of LA they think of Santa Monica or Beverly Hills and Hollywood. What films and TV tell them to see. (Or that horrid Orange County "The OC" Trust me that place is a cultural WASTELAND) Nobody thinks of even coming to the Eastside.

The wealthy in LA have no class. Beverly Hills and Westwood look slapped together. Nob Hill in SF, now THAT'S class.

There is a world here. One that is rich with history.