Hollywood, Miss Piggy and Sizzling Rice Soup!

My 8 year old nephew Benjamin was on spring break, so my sister brought him down to L.A., last week. They went to the zoo, while I was working, then we met up at the apartment before heading to Sushi in West Hollywood at Yoshi Sushi. First time I ever had seared barracuda sushi! And it was great! I highly recommend it.

Anyway, I took the next day off, so I could cruise around with them. Ben said he wanted to go back to Hollywood, and then visit Chinatown, so Penny got tickets to see the new Muppets' movie at the El Capitan Theater. 

El Capitan Theater

1926

The El Capitan is a beautiful old movie palace, on Hollywood Blvd. It opened in 1926, by the same developer that opened the famous Chinese Theater, across the street, and the old Egyptian Theater, a couple of blocks east. It was refurbished and reopened in 1991, just before I moved to Los Angeles.

They do this "show" with the various curtains and scrims, that kind of cracks me up, for some reason.

The Theater and adjacent buildings are owned by Disney, so they open many of their films and have many of the premieres at the El Capitan. They also do a little live show before the movie. In fact, one of the Disney Nature films brought in a whole show with live animals. 

Before Monsters University, they had a couple of musical numbers, with the Monsters … and for Muppets Most Wanted they had Kermit and Miss Piggy "live" on stage. They did a few songs, including Rainbow Connection which, of course, reminded me of me of my childhood and even made me a little weepy!

Kermit and Miss Piggy at the El Capitan

(By the way, I had an awesome Miss Piggy puppet in the 70s)

Rainbow Connection, is on the AFI list of 100 best film songs and has been covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to Lea Salonga. Just saying.

El Capitan ceiling

Not sure if they do this in a lot of cities, other than L.A. and probably New York, but the nicer theaters here often have wardrobe on display, in their lobbies. When we used the bathroom on the lower level, Ben found a room filled with (mostly) Miss Piggy's costumes from the film. We were cracking up!

They had a few other items, from the movie, including this set piece of Miss Piggy's dressing table in "Berlin."

I think this is my favorite! Love the rhinestones on her fishnets! 

And the traditional end to a fashion show … a wedding gown!

Exiting through the gift shop (of course) … the character of "Animal."

Below, looking across Hollywood Blvd., to the El Capitan, from "Hollywood and Highland."

Hollywood and Highland are streets in Hollywood as well as the name of what is basically a mall. They were trying to design it based on a 1916 D.W. Griffith film set extravaganza, for his silent movie Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages. It's kind of strange, frankly, but if you park there, and get a tea at Starbucks, you can validate your parking and pay only 2 bucks.

We headed to Hop Woo for lunch, in Chinatown, after our little Hollywood movie excursion.

Chinatown Los Angeles

 

Hop Woo

The sizzling rice soup was great. We figured Ben would like the orange peel chicken, which he did, as well as the asparagus in garlic sauce and pot stickers. (We over-ordered a bit!) 

It was all pretty decadent, and yummy, though my favorite thing is still the steamed tilapia, that I had on a previous visit. I would recommend that if you want something tasty, that's a little more on the healthy side …

During the week it was pretty slow, and not quite the bustling place that I think Benjamin was expecting. It's always visually stimulating though, and who doesn't love a red lantern!

Slightly strange mannequins? Or is it just me?

In the photo below, is Via Café, where I usually eat when I'm in the neighborhood. It's actually Vietnamese, and has a great crab noodle soup and yummy garlic fish dish with mushrooms and asparagus. (I actually ate there last night!)

Not so busy on a Thursday afternoon ...

We were throwing another bridal shower, that weekend, for my cousin Jenny and put these coins (below) in some little satin coin purses we bought for game prizes. The three coins together, on a red string in your purse, are supposed to give you endless fortune. Figured that endless fortune would make a good little prize. ;)

After our mini tour of Chinatown, I dropped off another painting at my framers, across the street, and Penny and Ben headed back to Ojai. It was a great little visit and as always, very fun having them in my hood.

Oh, here is a little extra shot of me with a couple of Muppets, taken by my favorite 8 year old. It's my new profile pic on Facebook.

Who said that every wish

Could be heard and answered 

When wished on the morning star

Somebody thought of that 

And someone believe it

And look what it's done so far

What's so amazing 

That keeps us stargazing 

And what do we think we might see

Someday we'll find it

The rainbow connection

The lovers

The dreamers …

and meeeeeee!

~Kermit the Frog

by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher

Happy April!

Blessings and light!

The Early Fall Mix

Club Secretary: I say, Lawrence. You are a clown!
T.E. Lawrence: Ah, well, we can't all be lion tamers. 

~Lawrence of Arabia

I have been making "to do" lists and trying to get things in order. September will always feel like the the beginning of the year to me, time to start projects and get things going and all in order. As I have said, I'm sure this is a left-over from childhood and always starting school in September.

I took these rose photos this morning, before finally getting rid of them ... something still so beautiful about them, no?

Anyway, among other things on my "to do" list ... making dentist and dermatology appointments, as well as going my check up at Cedars Sinai. (Went fine, by the way!) The one good thing about going to Cedars, is that afterward I treat myself to lunch at Lemonade on Beverly Blvd. Mmmmm.

They have all of these amazing salads and you can order the 2 salad combo, but have them split it, to get four items. The photo isn't great but the food is! From the left, arugula with feta and figs, avocado and tomato salad, rice nicoise salad with salmon, and then a chicken salad with mango. YUM! OK, I know this was information overkill but if you are ever in the neighborhood, you should give it a try!

My favorite thing on my to do list, was that I took my grandfather's watch, that had been sitting in a box for decades, and had it had it serviced and oiled (and whatever else they do), and got a new watchband for it. I have hardly taken it off ! I love feeling my grandpa is with me, in such an immediate way. (It's on my wrist right now!)

 

Yes, more Chinatown pics. I couldn't resist. I came out of the picture framer's and there was this gorgeous sunset!

I was famished because I had driven straight over after work. Although it's Chinatown, there are a lot of Vietnamese Pho places and one is right next door to my framing place. I use a little soy sauce and a whole lot of the hot chili sauce! I am a big fan of condiments. 

They brought fresh Thai basil to throw in. Mmmmm.

Another thing that happened in September, was that I finally heard that my non profit (theatre company) I started back in 1999 is officially dissolved. It took almost a year and a half of dealing with three government agencies to get it done. It was a royal pain in the neck! What a huge relief though, to have it  finished up!! 

We had a good little sum of money in the bank, that needed to be donated to another charity, and we chose Art of Elysium.

Art of Elysium is a non profit that works with kids and brings art programs to kids that are in the hospital and having health challenges.

I brought them the check on a Monday and it turned out they were having one of their yearly fundraisers, Genesis, with art by some of the kids, musicians, artists' demos, food and cocktails, as well as little "swag" bags. (Apparently, this happens a lot here in Hollywood - the gift bag thing.)

Anyway, the tickets weren't cheap but since I'd donated those funds they invited me to come and bring a friend, which was nice, because the previous Friday night I was home eating carbs and watching Miss Austen Regets. ;)

Artist Gregory Siff

The art wall ...

Here I am with my swag bag, in my sister's embroidered silk dress (that I could not believe that I actually fit into right now!) in front of some t-shirts that the kids had designed.

 

fun little take home goodies ...

Here is an interview with the founder Jennifer Howell at a previous event, 

explaining what the organization does.

Last week was the 50th Anniversary of Lawrence of Arabia and they screened the movie -newly restored- last Friday night, all around the country. I know it's crazy but I had never seen the movie in its entirety, so I thought seeing it on the big screen was an opportunity that I could not pass up!

My other motivation was this guy. Oh my word. I heart Omar Sharif! They also played documentaries about the making of the film before it started. There was also a doc about the restoration, an interview with Marin Scorsese and an little intro by Omar Sharif, now 80 years old. Everyone in the audience sighed and let out an "awe." Anyway, I thought I'd leave you with some Lawrence of Arabia eye candy. :)

I mean, seriously? Good gravy. 

For more on the film and its restoration, check out this New York Times article.

With all the things I am doing, I am trying to remember to be in the moment, to pray and to meditate. Sometime it's easier said than done but I like this quote that I posted on my Inspiration ~ Spirit  Pinterist board and I think it says it all.

You should sit in meditation

for twenty minutes every day-

Unless you're too busy;

then you should sit for an hour.

~Old Zen adage

Hope you are enjoying the beginnings of fall! 

Can't wait to come around and see what y'all are up to!