The Bard in Venice

June 8, 2014
Destination: Henry V at The Coop at Pacific Resident Theatre, Venice
Cost: $25.00 plus gas

My connection with Mr. Wmm. Shakspeare goes way back. I competed in Shakespearean acting competitions as a teen, studied Elizabethan theater at UCLA and in London and helped found a theatre company focused on the classics in Mammoth Lakes.

Even so, I wasn’t that excited about attending the Coop of Pacific Resident Theatre’s (PRT) acclaimed production of Henry V. I’ve never found Shakespeare’s “history” plays compelling and, like many, think they’re hard to understand and a bit dull – beautiful language notwithstanding.

But PRT’s production is riveting – presented with a clarity and through-force of energy that carries the actors and audience along for the two hour ride. This show, under the inspired direction of Guillermo Cienfuegos (actor Alex Fernandez’ alter ego) features talented actors who clearly represent their motives, even while playing multiple parts. Without sets or costumes and using only minimal props, the choreographed staging manages to evoke a ship at sea, tents on the battlefield, throne rooms and a bloody battle.

When I recall some of the most memorable Shakespeare plays I’ve seen – Peter Brook’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar directed by Trevor Nunn and a Royal Shakespeare Company production of As You Like it with Eileen Atkins – this production of Henry V is in the same class. Bravo to PRT – they brought this challenging play to life.

A River Runs Through It

June 7, 2014
Destination: Los Angeles River Bike Path
Cost: $0

When I was a kid at Canoga Park High, I had no idea the school was situated at the official beginning of the Los Angeles River. There was a big wash along one side, which was furtively, yet ceremoniously entered by graduating seniors each year, under cover of night, in order to paint a bold mural along the concrete walls, enshrining the class name and year.

The LA River has come back in vogue, thanks to the hard work of teams of environmentalists and activists. Check out Rock the Boat, a film which chronicles the adventures of some early river advocates who paddled from the San Fernando Valley to the sea. In the news this past week, our LA Mayor has secured funding to greatly enhance the Los Angeles River experience by creating more bike paths, walkways and art zones along the concrete channel.

A new section of the LA River Bike Path opened in the West Valley, starting just east of my alma mater near the intersection of Vanowen and Owensmouth. It’s so new that the signs and trash cans are still covered in plastic, yet local graffiti artists have already, sadly, left their mark. This wide swath of crushed granite provides a fun way to ride through the valley, separated from the wacky motorists who honk their way along city streets. I only had time to ride a short stretch down to Mason St. – but I’ll be back to see if the route continues to the Sepulveda Basin.

With forward vision, great planning and lots of money - a bike path will be built from Canoga Park High to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. What an amazing amenity for citizens of LA.

Food Truck Frenzy

Destination: Granada Grubfest

Cost: $12.75 plus gas

I was trolling the internet hoping to find a decent food truck somewhere in the Valley, when I hit upon upon Granada Hills Grubfest. On Friday nights, Chatsworth St. just east of Zelzah is lined with up to fifty gourmet food trucks from 5pm-10pm.

Say no more. I was over there in a jiffy, blending into the diverse crowd of all ages and ethnicities. What a fun way to spend a warm summer night - you can sample any number of  “foodie” type offerings without spending a lot of money. There are musicians set up along the way and a general good vibe. 

I spent some time walking around and checking out the selections from trucks such as: Rice Balls of Fire, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Steamy Bun, Jogasaki Sushi Burrito and Ooh La La Crepes. There were about thirty trucks parked along this short stretch.

When I spotted the Cousins Maine Lobster truck, I knew I had to splurge. I’ve been seeking a good lobster roll in L.A. for a while, with no success. This Cousin’s version hit all the right notes:  lots of cold, sweet, succulent lobster with the perfect amount of quality mayo spread on a squishy white roll that had been warmed and slightly crisped up on the flat top.  I settled down on a low brick wall and savored each bite, trying to make this luscious sandwich last. Frankly, it was better than the roll I remembered with such fondness from the coast of Maine. At $12.75, it’s not a cheap food truck item, but not a bad way to indulge in lobster on a budget.

This event is definitely a do-over, since I can't wait to try the pork belly sliders at Belly Bombz. 

Hoisting a Pint

Destination: White Harte Pub
Cost : $5.00 for a beer, plus tip

It must be that last night’s Justin Hayward show brought back memories of Britain, because I decided to check out the White Harte Pub in Woodland Hills this evening.

The NBA finals were on, but I was able to snag one of the last seats at the bar and joined a mixed crew of expats, tattooed moto types, a dude with a serious starched Mohawk, and a few guys having an after work cocktail. I popped in at Happy Hour, so my pint of Fullers London Pride ale was only $5. I counted two other birds (you may recall this is Brit-speak for women) inside. My kind of place.

The bartendress was very welcoming, the ale authentically room temperature and when you factor in that my favourite (adopting English spelling now) Howard Jones song came in on the piped music, things were all tickety-boo. I liked the “no caps allowed” rule,  and there’s a back patio that has room for special events like karaoke, poetry readings and live music.   

The menu had a good mix of British items (bangers and mash, sausage rolls and the like) interspersed with more Cali-friendly choices. The tattooed guy ordered salmon, which looked and smelled jolly fantastic. He confirmed that it was – and he turned out to be a nice bloke on vacation, originally from Tahoe.

I’ll be back to the White Harte - it's the dog's bollocks.

Days of Future Passed (Not to be Confused with X-Men)

June 4, 2014

Destination: Canyon Club, Agoura

Cost: $55.00 plus gas (add $11.50 for cocktail, including tip)

It was 1970 and I was in my first year of high school. Like most nights, I was listening to KABC-FM – “Stereo 95 and a half” as the jingle said. This station was the pre-curser to LA’s powerhouse 95.5 KLOS.  Jim Ladd was the DJ. My Dad was an audiophile and we had the biggest, baddest stereo in the neighborhood. 

A song came on, starting with a frenzy of twelve-string strums. I was struck by the lyrics. “Why do we never get an answer, when we’re knocking at the door, with a thousand million questions about hate and death and war.”  Then the song morphed into a lyrical ballad.

And that voice – there was something about it, something almost harsh and foreboding, but a voice that seemed truthful. So began my love affair with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues – forty-plus years and going strong.

Tonight he played a show without his Moody brethren at the Canyon Club in Agoura. Now nearing 70, his voice is still strong and resonant and I was flooded with memories from the years I wore out the grooves on my Moodies records. I saw them for the first time at the Fabulous Forum in 1972. I was up in the rafters where the clouds of reefer smoke gathered. Tonight the sedate audience of retirees ate prime rib and drank pinot noir, while I stood along the perimeter dancing and swaying. 

I’m so grateful that The Canyon Club is hosting a wide range of music within easy reach of the Valley. The venue is a perfect size, there’s rarely traffic getting out there and parking is free. I’ve had a few mishaps with the box office, but all is forgiven when I can enjoy a musician of Justin Hayward’s stature in an intimate venue within a fifteen minute drive from my home.

Performance : I Dreamed Last Night

Nature Abused

Destination: Chatsworth Park North

Cost: Gas only

Today I ventured out to the site of childhood Girl Scout picnics and high school outings – Chatsworth Park North. I remember climbing rocks here without a care for rattlesnakes and mountain lions. No chance of that now – there are warning signs posted everywhere.

The park is much smaller than in my memories. Isn't that always the way with places from our past? It’s fenced off on all sides – when the Metrolink train thundered by, I realized why. A breeze shimmered through the beautiful old oaks – the ones from my youth that will be here after I’m gone.

I find this park somewhat unsettling. This wonderful resource has been abused by inconsiderate visitors – there’s broken glass and trash covering whatever short trails can be found  Graffiti mars the rocks, the trees, the ground,  the buildings. So sad.  The nearby Chatsworth Park South has been closed since 2008, when lead contamination was found – left behind by shotgun pellets from a skeet shooting range that Roy Rogers owned in the 1950’s and 60’s.

I spent a few minutes beneath the sheltering oak trees and then moved on.

Cool Jazz in Westwood

June 2, 2014
Destination: Schoenberg Hall, UCLA

Cost: $7 for parking plus gas

I was lacking ideas for today’s outing, so turned to LA Weekly online (laweekly.com). It lead me to The Spring Festival of World Music and Jazz at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall.

This 2 ½ week festival is an annual event – previous shows this year featured the music of Bali, India, Mexico, and the Balkans, as well as an evening of Bluegrass.

Tonight’s performance, hosted by jazz guitar legend Kenny Burrell, showcased UCLA Jazz Combos. First up, a group of graduate students: The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble. These young men were magnificent. As I listened, completely engulfed in their waves of evocative piano, bass, vibes and searching horns - time and space stood still.

Several combos followed (many directed by Mr. Burrell, who serves as Distinguished Professor, Director of Jazz Studies), including some talented vocal stylists. My parking meter was running out – so reluctantly, I had to leave early. I was inspired and humbled by these disciplined young artists.

Incredibly, this performance series is free. One more reason to love L.A.

Rauschenberg and Shia

Destination: Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Cost: $12 plus gas

Feeling tense and seeking clarity, I decided the perfect antidote would be a visit to an art museum. I set off for MOCA on Bunker Hill, remembering that downtown parking meters aren’t regulated on Sundays.  But I was unaware of how popular the L.A. core has become, and it took a while to circle and find a spot on 3^rd, in a derelict district not far from Japantown.

I love that modern art is challenging. It seems it’s not about what the artist is trying to evoke, but rather the observer’s reaction that is important. I’m starting to gain an understanding and appreciation of Warhol and Liechtenstein – and want to learn more about Robert Rauschenberg. Jackson Pollock remains a mystery.

I don’t think MOCA is that well curated, but I found the lower level reading room and was able to uncover a book about Rauschenberg and read about his “combine” art created from found objects in New York City during the Fifties. How convenient that some of these works were right upstairs.

As I went to study one, I spotted a young man and his mother. The man was talking about the four most important works in this gallery – and I stepped a little closer to eavesdrop, since he seemed to know what he was talking about. I glanced at his face and it was familiar: Shia LaBeouf.  I probably wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t overheard a docent namedrop – he had visited earlier in the day. Apparently, he has pretty keen interest in modern art. 

I enjoyed the Cinema Vezzoli exhibit. Francesco Vezzoli is intrigued by Hollywood glamour, divas, and embroidery. He prints black and white photos of cinematic icons like Joan Crawford onto stitching fabric and sews glittery threads into tears emanating from their eye sockets. The exhibit featured some weird short films, fake movie posters and works inspired by the Italian director Luchino Visconti. If only Shia had sported sparkling teardrops, my afternoon would have been complete.

Out on the Town

May 31, 2014

Destination: The Local Peasant, Woodland Hills

Cost: $18.00 (inc. tip)

I was excited about the prospect of an evening at the Canyon Club in Agoura to check out an obscure band that I've come to admire. I did some “night on the town” primping and after parking the car did my best old lady strut up to the entrance, wondering why the lot was so empty. I soon found out the concert was cancelled due to laryngitis.

Not about to let a good shower and blow-dry go to waste, I pulled out the phone and started googling bars with music. Then I remembered my friend in Calabasas who’s almost always up for anything and dialed his number. “We’re out, we’re at The Local Peasant in Woodland Hills. Come join us, I’ll buy you dinner.” 

The amount of activity at this Ventura Blvd. gastropub was  impressive: the large patio out front was packed with lots of pretty people.  It was an all ages-crowd, mostly thirty-somethings and the energy was good. The staff was friendly and welcoming. After joining my friend, his girlfriend and their small group – I found myself in the middle of a lover’s spat. Most of the group left for $20 massages next door and two of us hogged a large table for a long time, drinking wine and talking, I was impressed with the gracious way we were offered a smaller table nearby, so the large one could be freed for diners. 

I’ll come back to try the food and the Diablo (the cocktail de rigueur). The appetizer menu looked great, but a server never showed up.  I’ll cut them some slack on a busy night, since the overall impression was positive. Now I know where the cool folks go to hang out in the West Valley.