2010 Los Angeles Beard Ball

I am still recovering from my LA trip so I will have more to write once all the tea, wheat grass, smog, and soy cappuccino x's 100 have stopped fogging up my mind.  That said, I wanted to update the previous post I wrote about LA vs. NYC.  Originally, I had intended to use my weekend trip to Los Angeles to compare/contrast beards from NYC's upcoming 2010 Beard Ball; however, it became quite evident that this would not be 100% fair.  How could 3-days in LA ever compete against the biggest event to hit Brooklyn on 2/4?  Perhaps I was setting up LA to lose or perhaps... maybe... I didn't believe that the city had anything facial hair worthy to offer my eyes..... (Note: it was definitely the latter).

But then I met Brad face-to-face (and his beard is real - I pulled it for #proof) and realized quickly that something bigger - something better - something to even the playing field most be done... so as such, upon discussing details with El Beardo, B-A-B is happy to announce that come spring/summer 2010 we will be having a West Coast BEARD BALL in Los Angeles!  And from that night (a local, niche LA charity will also be announced), we will raise funds & toast beards --- and our Brooklyn 'Beard of the Night' winner will go up against LA's hairiest.  The Twitter and beard communities will vote and B-A-B will weigh in... and the East Coast/West Coast rivalry will have it's shining King of Beards.

SO ATTENTION LA: Get the silicone & saline out of places it does not belong & listen up!  I am telling you about the spring/summer soon-to-be-officially-announced-with-all-details-Beard-Ball now so you have time to grow!  I still have my money on Brooklyn.  That said, check out Dan Lawler, co-manager of RBar's sweet 'stache that he calls "FuManChu-to-Infinity."  This 100% helped to solidify that the LA Beard Ball is a must.  We hope to have it at RBar once we work out some ideas.  And yes, Dan was even wearing this exact outfit on Friday night. #LAIntensity

LA Beardo - Bring It, Baby

So the rumors are true - I am heading to the land of plastic to see if a certain something is real... and I am not talking about boobs (we already know, LA... sadly, we already know).  No, the point of my LA trip is to scout West Coast beardos and challenge them to defend their scruffy constituency.  Are you important enough to be blogged about? Are you strong enough to go head-to-head against my beloved NYC? 

Los Angeles - this is your official invite to show me your best and shut me up because as far as I am concerned, the bearded assassins of cool still walk MY streets: Venture down to the East Village, the Lower East Side, Bushwick, Greenpoint or Williamsburg and you will find a pageant of bearded bohemians, handlebar mustaches worth a ride, and mutton chops that would make you hungry.  And guess what?  They think of themselves as being cooler than most of America (and you know - most are). LA is just a West Coast town suffering from mass facial hair erosion, too many collagen injections for your American-Apparel-wannbe-model girlfriends, and a largely over hyped rock-music scene.  

My Plan
To make sure I capture the "in" crowd and non-tourist traps of LA, a certain writer  (who will prob ditch me after reading this post) has volunteered to show me around your city to blog the facial hair essence of LA - the unpretentiousness and off the radar parts. I plan to take a ton of photos, record your stories, and above all - have Los Angeles #PROVEIT 

NYC vs. LA
After I get home to NYC, I will upload the photos of Los Angeles AFTER the 2010 Beard Ball happening on Thursday, February 4th.  I will use the photos from The Beard Ball to compare/contrast from those in LA.  And soon after... drum rolll.... "The Best Beard of the Coasts" will be announced (*per usual we will accept 'stache entries as well - no worries).  Most likely, we will have those on Twitter vote to help determine a winner using a specific hashtag - soon to be announced - but rest assured B-A-B will also be weighing in.
 
Hope Above Hope
In truth, I am teasing throughout most of this post (5%). LA isn't Brooklyn (thank GOD), but that doesn't mean you prob don't have a few dirty hipster beardos worth my time or SOMEONE of hairy interest.  As such, I am heading to your city to witness beards with an open and optimistic attitude - in what I pray will be many more trips to numerous other cities and towns to document the growth of hundreds and record the DIY facial creativity of a select few.  I want to find your rad bars sporting ratty booths, a jukebox, pool tables, darts, and a fantastical array of male fashionistas to actors (aka: waiters)... all willing to show off their bearded glory.   

Are you ready Los Angeles?  I am coming to scout you.