On the Town ... Nights in Los Angeles

Upstairs

at the

Ace Hotel

From looking at my blog, it might look like I'm out every night. Truth is, most nights I'm perfectly happy to go home after work, kick back and watch Netflix. (6 out of 7 nights?) Once I am home it would take a crane to get me out of the apartment.

But, here and there (usually if I'm planning ahead and bring a change of clothes to work, or if I am committed and/or have tickets to something) I get out and about, on the town. Remember, these are over the course of 4 months.

Here is a view from the bar at the top of the Ace Hotel back in January. I was more interested in taking pictures outside than the loud party music inside. Pretty sure it was a DJ but I can't remember. That tells you something! Love the view, especially of the Eastern Columbia Building.

And apparently on warm nights, people do get into the jacuzzi!

Here is another night, I made it out of the house!

The lovely folks I work for have this fabulous view in Echo Park. They had a lovely gathering and my boss made fabulous crawfish etouffee. (She's from Louisiana so it was authentic!) What a gorgeous night it was!

This was a cool, and different thing to do, in February. I rarely get to the events at the Instituto Italiano di Cultura because usually they are mid week, on the other side of town, and at 6:30pm. Not convenient. But, this one was on a Monday! (My private student day.) It was a birthday celebration for Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) with selected performances of his work.

The introduction was by Maestro Carlo Ponti, of the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. (And son of the elder Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren.) And, just as an aside, this man was a total babe. Seriously, google him. And, yes I checked, he's married.

The recital had pieces from Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Barber of Seville) and  Les Soirées Musicales. 

 Pianist Brian Pezzone, Soprano Elisabetta Russo, Baritone Roberto Perlaz Gomez ...

Look, someone was recording at the event!

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video of her doing Una voce poco fa, but here's Maria Callas doing it. Go big, right?

The IIC is in Westwood, so we walked around the corner to 800 Degrees for pizza and del vino rosso after the show, to continue with the evening's Italian theme. The pizza with truffle cheese was very tasty!

The Rain Room

So, the "Rain Room" was apparently very popular in NYC at MOMA, so I wanted to check it out when it came to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I waited a bit too long though, and unless you were a member it was impossible to get tickets, so I figured it was time to finally renew.

My parents were already members, so we all got tickets for an evening in March, and our reservation was for a Tuesday night at 8:45pm! So we met at the museum and ate at Ray's, the restaurant there before heading in. The food was great, but the portions are small by U.S. standards.

from thewebsite:

"Random International’s Rain Room (2012) is an immersive environment of perpetually falling water that pauses wherever a human body is detected. The installation offers visitors an opportunity to experience what is seemingly impossible: the ability to control rain. Rain Room presents a respite from everyday life and an opportunity for sensory reflection within a responsive relationship.

Founded in 2005, Random International is a collaborative studio for experimental practice. They use science and technology to create experiences that aim to question and challenge the human experience within a machine-led world, engaging viewers through explorations of behavior and natural phenomena. In the decade following the studio's inception, the focus of Random International’s artistic practice has continuously evolved and today encompasses sculpture, performance, and installation on an architectural scale."

Mom and dad in the rain room ... a very fun place to photograph, as it turns out and you have about 15 minutes in there.

It is light sensitive, so if you are in light clothes and being hit by the light, you don't get wet as walk through ... slowly. At least that's the idea. Apparently, little kids get soaked because they are too quick for the sensors! (Raincoats are recommended for little ones.)

My dad took this of me ...

My parents ...

My dad took this one of me, as well. We actually took a lot of pictures! After Prince died they made it purple in his honor.  Love that.

"Rain Room will close as previously announced on Sunday, April 24, 2016. Following conservation efforts, it will reopen on Thursday, May 19, for a limited engagement. While that block of tickets is sold out, we will release blocks of tickets for additional future dates.

Rain Room is a specially ticketed, timed-entry experience. Advance tickets are required. Tickets are not refundable or transferable."

Leaving the museum ...  looking through "Smoke," the huge sculpture by Tony Smith and painting by Alex Israel, called "Sky Backdrop."

And just last week ...

Rooftop Film Club

The Montalban 

I'm sure I must have mentioned my love for the Italian film Cinema Paradiso (1988). I know I talked about Ennio Morricone doing the score, before the Oscars, because he hadn't won yet. Well, Cinema Paradiso was either my first or second foreign language film. It was that or Camille Claudel (1988), with Isabelle Adjani. (Another great film.)

Anyway, I saw it in Santa Barbara when it came out in the late 80s with my sister and my friend Erin. I loved it then, but loved it even more after seeing it the second time, catching it late at night on cable in the early 90s after I'd moved to L.A. Somehow as the years go on it becomes even more poignant and moving. (It's also been a litmus test for boyfriends.)

When I saw the list of movie tickets being released for spring at the Rooftop Film Club, I immediately got on the horn to see if anyone wanted to join me! My friend Lauren who was with me for the Rossini event as well as the Ace Hotel, was up for this as well! AND, it was very exciting because she'd never seen it!

Previews! Breakfast at Tiffany's is coming!  Also, Grease, Clueless, and a bunch of others. You have to be on the Time Out L.A.  email list, because tickets sell out way ahead and fast.  You might have seen my Halloween post about seeing Beetlejuice there. 

Apparently, this group has screenings in New York and London but I know there are so many various groups doing outdoor screenings now, so you might want to Google them in your area! Cinespia is another one in L.A. that does outdoor screenings, but at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. (I saw Barbarella and Dr. Strangelove there.)

But the movie I came to see ...

My ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE ...

Cinema Paradiso

The score is so beautiful, I remember listening to it on my iPod, coming into Assisi for the first time on the train, standing at the window, wind hitting my face. Perhaps for that reason, and all the times I have seen the movie over the years, as soon as the music started at the beginning of the film I started getting weepy, and pretty much cried through 80 percent of the movie. It was awesome.

This is the trailer ...

If you have never seen it, you MUST. But warning, do not watch the "new version" or "director's cut" ... watch the original theatrical release! 

Links

Upstairs at the Ace Hotel
IIC Instituto Italiano di Cultura 
800 Degrees
LACMA - Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Rooftop Film Club
Cinespia

Walt Disney Concert Hall - Day and Night

Every musical phrase has a purpose.

It's like talking.

If you talk with a particular purpose,

people listen to you,

but if you just recite,

it's not as meaningful.

~ Itzhak Perlman

Walt Disney Concert Hall

designed by Frank Gehry 

Opened October 23rd, 2003

We all have things on our bucket list. One thing on my list was to see Itzhak Perlman live! When I found out he was coming to Disney Hall, I immediately went online and called my friend Shea who also has a huge passion for music. 

His concert dates with the full orchestra were a bit out of our budget, but on a Tuesday night, he'd be playing with pianist Emmanuel Ax for considerably less and it wouldn't break the bank. I think it was in early fall that we got our seats for January and before we knew it, the time had arrived.

PROGRAM

Mozart: Sonata in C major, K. 296

Fauré: Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13

R. Stauss: Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18

Honestly, I didn't know what these pieces were ahead of time, but I didn't care. I just figured it would be great! I mean, Perlman, right?

Here's the Mozart Sonata with Perlman but this recording was with Daniel Barenboim not Ax. 

I can tell you that it was certainly worth the wait! I'm sure it was great to see him with the full orchestra but I was glad we saw just the two perform on stage together. There was something wonderfully intimate about it and they called out additional works from the stage. So many I lost track. They were beautiful, so I wish I could remember what they were!

With the two of them, you were also able see more of Mr. Perlman's personality, which was funny and passionate, and made me think of Yo-Yo Ma who I am also kind of obsessed with.

Perhaps our task in this shaky, 

fast changing, bewildering world

in which we live

is to make music,

at first with all that we have,

and then, 

when that is no longer possible,

to make music with what we have left.

~ Itzhak Perlman

No pics during the show, but here's Miss Shea and me, during the intermission.

Next door ... the new Broad Museum!

So, that was back in January. Then a couple of weeks ago Shea called.

There is a program for families and kids at the Disney Hall on certain Saturday mornings. It's called Toyota Symphonies for Youth where the orchestra plays, they teach about a particular instrument and have programs before the performance,  like an "instrument petting zoo." Very cute. Anyway, Shea's daughter had a soccer tournament and couldn't make it so she asked me if I wanted to go over there with her.

What a great way to start off a beautiful Saturday!

That particular Saturday was called "Spirit of the Cello." It was really fantastic! This cellist started speaking to the audience about a rehearsal many years ago, where the "spirit of his cello" started to speak to him.

This 'spirit' came out, in the form of an actor with a thick Italian accent ... who was hilarious! "I am the Spirit of the Celllllloooo!"

Anyway, great concept and there was playing of the cello and orchestra, intermittently, along with explanations about the importance of rehearsing and playing along with the orchestra, as well as talking about different composers who wrote for the cello.

Shhhhh .... I snuck a shot of the orchestra before it started ... great seats, huh?

They played Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn ...

Never miss an opportunity to teach;

when you teach others, 

you teach yourself.

~Itzhak Perlman

After the concert we grabbed salads at the cafeteria and walked around to the little public garden, at the Disney Hall to have lunch.

This is the "Rose for Lilly" fountain, designed by Frank Gehry for Lillian Disney. Her bequest is what began the Walt Disney Concert Hall project. Apparently, she loved Delftware so it's a mosaic of thousands of pieces of shattered Delft vases and tiles. It's beautiful and I think works so well with the architecture of the building.

The most important thing to do 

is really listen.

~Itzhak Perlman

Below, if you walk between the two structures there is a little amphitheater ...

One must always practice slowly.

If you learn something slowly,

you forget it slowly.

~Itzhak Perlman

I couldn't find a cello piece at the Disney Hall for you, but here's a Mischa Maisky cello Concerto by Haydn in some fabulous place. Probably Europe ... 

There are people who are uncanny,

who are finished products at a young age.

I wasn't, thank God.

~Itzhak Perlman

Hope y'all are doing great!

Many Blessings and much light!

And Happy Birthday Evelyn!!!

xo

San Francisco Over New Years ... and Mission Dolores (San Francisco de Asis)

Be the weirdo who dares to enjoy.

~Elizabeth Gilbert 

Over the extra long holiday weekend, in Sausalito, I headed over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the city a couple of times ... Still listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic." 

One trip over the bridge was for an amazing seafood meal at Tadich Grill ... YUM!!! The place was hopping. If you go when people are getting off work (it's in the financial district) it's packed and you may have to wait a bit. You have to swoop in and grab a stool, as soon as someone gets up, but it's definitely worth the wait!

Tadich is believed to be the 3rd oldest continuously run restaurant in the U.S.!  (The only two older restaurants are Union Oyster House in Boston (1826) and Antoine's in New Orleans (1840).

Julia and I both ordered the seafood Cioppino which is apparently their specialty and let me tell you it was chocked full of seafood goodness ... Prawns, bay shrimp, scallops, crabmeat, mussels, and white fish simmered in a tomato based sauce that is out of this world. And the garlic bread was great for sopping up any last morsel. O.K., I'm getting so hungry as I type this!

Julia and I after sampling ...

By the time we left it had definitely died down in there ...

See the sign? It says established 1849! Very old for California!

On New Years Day, I headed back in again, but on my own. I was a bit nervous to drive into the city on my by myself (I know I live in L.A. but it's still an unfamiliar city!) but with Siri's help in directing me, I made it to Amanda's place for her her open house!

She lives in a great old building and I wish I'd taken photos of her her yummy brunch treats but I was too busy eating them!

You can tell by the light I stuck around for awhile!

As I mentioned in the previous post, Amanda is an old family friend. She and her family lived 3 doors over growing up, and it was fun to see her brother Steve there too, who was my childhood friend, honorary brother, and fellow mischief maker! (For instance, the time we walked across the railroad tracks, to the pet store, and bought ourselves pet mice without telling our parents!)

The oldest of friends!

Love these old buildings!!

If you're alive,

you're a creative person.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

City Hall ...

Keep you eyes open.

Listen, follow you curiosity.

Ideas are constantly try to get our attention.

Let them know you're available.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

And, the day I left, I also drove through the city on my way out. I couldn't help but stop and take more architecture pics! 

You have extraordinary treasures hidden within you. 

Bringing forth those treasures takes work and faith 

and focus and courage and hours of devotion. 

We simply do not have time anymore to think so small.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

I also wanted to stop at the  Mission San Francisco de Asis. How could I resist? I mean, Saint Francis after all! Anyway, the mission is obviously the city's namesake, as I think most of the California Missions are.

I thought, if I could actually find a parking space nearby, then it was meant to be that I'd stop at the Mission.

As you can see ...

There's my little red car in the foreground, and there is the Mission right across the street. It was the only spot and the best parking karma ever! Clearly Francis wanted me to be there! 

Next to the old Mission you can see the larger Mission Dolores Basilica ...

Mision San Francisco de Asìs

Founded 1776

Also known as Mission Dolores, for the nearby creek named Arroyo de los Dolores, or "Creek of Sorrows." It was the 6th of the California Missions.

"It is the oldest intact building in the City of San Francisco and the only intact Mission Chapel in the chain of 21 established under the direction of Father Serra." 

I love the painted patterns on the ceiling! And, of course, I'm a huge fan of the old California Spanish architecture.

There is a breezeway between the mission and the basilica ...

There were standing placards in the walkway, with the history of the mission, as well as old etchings. This one, below, I found the most interesting. The caption says "Bullfight at Mission 1842."

It was only a day or two after the New Year and as you can see, the pretty Christmas decorations were still up, in the Basilica. A choir started singing so I tried to be extra low key with my camera!

I liked the stained glass windows that represented the various California Missions ... Below, San Rafael Arcangel and San Francisco de Solano.

You do not need a permission slip from the principal's office 

to live a creative life.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

I grew up in Ventura, so I had to get a shot of the San Buena Ventura window ...

And of course, if you have explored my blog much, then you know I enjoy photographing a cemetery!

You have to participate relentlessly 

in the manifestation of your own blessings.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

"The Cemetery and Gardens of Mission Dolores are located adjacent to the Old Mission. The beautiful gardens have been restored and planted with traditional native trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants from the 1791 period."

 

"Mission Dolores is the final resting place of some 5,000 Ohlone, Miwok, and other First Californians who built Mission Dolores and were its earliest members and founders."

I also made it to the Mission San Raphael Arcangel, while I was in the Bay Area, which I will probably post down the road a bit. Enough Mission for now! Lots of other things to get to! 

I finished my Book on tape of Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, before heading back down South. It was a creative pep talk that I needed. Speaking of which, I am finally working on a new series of works and priming wood panels for oil paintings!

If you want to visit the Mission website, click here.

The website for Tadich Grill is here.

Big April Blessings! 

What is creativity?

Creativity is a crushing chore and a glorious mystery. 

The work wants to be made,

and it wants to be made through you.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic