Los Angeles ~ So much to do ... so little time!

Now I've been happy lately

Thinking about the good things to come

And I believe it could be

Something good has begun

Oh, I've been smiling lately

Dreaming about the world as one

And I believe it could be

Some day it's going to come

~Lyrics by Cat Stevens

So much to do the last couple of months!

Sometimes, I really do feel like I'm the luckiest lady on the planet. At work one day, one of the moms came in to pick up her kids, at the studio, and was beside herself! "Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Cat Stevens!" she said, in almost breathless excitement. She is without doubt, his biggest fan. 

At this point, my jaw dropped.

I love Cat Stevens, and I had seen on Facebook that he was coming to the Nokia. As much as I wanted to go, it wasn't really in my budget and good tickets were going to be impossible to get without a pre-sale number or American Express account, or however they were doing it for this concert.

Long story short. She saw my expression and since they have 3 kids, and you by tickets in sets of 2 ... guess who go to go and sit with one of the kiddos!!!!

One of my faves!

View from the VIP terrace. Yep.

It ended up that Evie and I got the VIP tickets ... (Includes things like drinks, cheesecake and prime rib. I had the cheesecake. Evie had the Prime rib.)

It was the Peace Train tour and that's the train station on the stage, below.

Packed and sold out.

I was naughty, at the end. I was so good the whole time not taking pics (not supposed to during the concert) but I lost all self control near the end and took this pic, below, to show show you guys. Sigh. So good. The seat above is where I sat for the first half and then I switched with dad for the second half. Very cool to see two different perspectives. Both amazing.

Cat Stevens' songs brings up not only childhood memories, but also when I first moved to San Diego with my friends. I have specific memories that go with so many of the songs and by the end of the concert I was in full (silent) ugly cry. (The song Father and Son, does me in!)

He played every significant song I would have wanted him to play, and when he played Moonshadow, I knew my friend Scotty, who past away just a few years ago, was right there watching and grooving along with me. I will never forget it. 

Thanks Kari!!!

Oh, a little trivia. His song Father and Son was the first Mp3!

Here he is now, a from his new album, plus some oldies. All acoustic. Music starts at 1:08.

HOLLYWOOD COSTUME

OK, so if you are going to be in LA before March 2nd, you HAVE to go to the Hollywood Costume exhibition. It's in the old art deco May Company Building next to LACMA. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art.) It was done through the Motion Picture Academy (Thus the Oscar, below) and conjunction with the Victoria and Albert, in London.

I've seen some great costume and clothing exhibitions, in the past, but this one is on a whole other level. Not only was it the sheer number and breadth of the costumes, but it was multi media aspects, with all kinds of interviews and movie screens and ... well, it's really hard to explain!

This short video, with the lady who created it, explains it better than I can!

My favorite thing in the show was Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" costume!!! But they had costumes worn by everyone from Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe, to Harry Potter and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. 

I didn't even know the exhibit was going on until my friend Drew called, and asked if I wanted to go! Thanks Drew!

You can't take pictures inside, so we made the most of the outdoor space. 

With my boyfriend, Han Solo. ;)

For more info and to get tickets, click here.

VIRUNGA

So this next bit, was back in November. I was at a documentary screening at the Arclight Cinema, in Hollywood. I was able to go to by being in the Union. (S.A.G.) Even though we don't vote on Docs.

It was for the documentary Varunga, which has now been nominated for Best Documentary Feature, for the Academy Awards!  You can stream it on Netflix. (you might note the big red lettering, below.)

Afterward they did a Q & A with the director and producer.

from the website:

"VIRUNGA IS THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF A GROUP OF BRAVE PEOPLE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE IN A PART OF AFRICA THE WORLD'S FORGOTTEN AND A GRIPPING EXPOSE OF THE REALITIES OF LIFE IN THE CONGO.

In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth and home to the planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers - including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a caretaker of orphan gorillas and a dedicated conservationist who’s a member of the Belgian royal family - protect this UNESCO world heritage site from armed militia, poachers and the dark forces struggling to control Congo's rich natural resources. When the newly formed M23 rebel group declares war, a new conflict threatens the lives and stability of everyone and everything they've worked so hard to protect, with the filmmakers and the film’s participants caught in the crossfire.

A powerful combination of investigative journalism and nature documentary, VIRUNGA is the incredible true story of a group of courageous people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of Africa the world’s forgotten, and a gripping exposé of the realities of life in the Congo.

From director Orlando von Einsiedel and executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio."

It was really well done. Below, is the director Orlando von Einsiedel (white shirt/beard) below. I talked to him a bit. SUPER nice guy. And they had wine and h'ordeuvres.

Here are some of the folks involved in the film, interviewed on TV.

For more information, on Virunga, click here. 

One more! Because we need a little Peace Train, now!

Get your bags together

Go bring your good friends too

'Cause it's getting nearer

It soon will be with you

Now come and join the living

It's not so far from you

And it's getting nearer

Soon it will all be true

Oh, peace train sounding louder

Glide on the peace train

Come on the peace train ...

~ Cat Stevens, Peace Train

Hope your new year is off to a great start!!!
Blessings and light!