Laughs on Tuesday

Destination: The Groundlings, West Hollywood

Cost: $20.00, $2.00 parking plus gas

I usually jump at the chance to head into "the city," so when a friend called up offering a ticket to a special performance at The Groundlings, naturally I said yes.

So off to Melrose Ave. on a Tuesday night – and a visit to the legendary place that launched the careers of folks like Pee Wee Herman, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Will Ferrell. Traffic was a little challenging during rush hour, but parking was easy. There are plenty of metered spots on Melrose and adjacent side streets, with no parking restrictions after 8:00 p.m.

The show “Charlotte’s Shorts” was a series of brief humorous monologues read by a team of eight former/current Groundlings, including Laraine Newman and (oh happy day!) Lynne Marie Stewart (who played Miss Yvonne on Pee Wee’s Playhouse). These shorts were written by Charlotte Dean and directed by Dean and her mother, Tracy Newman - sister of Laraine. The audience seemed to be mostly friends and colleagues, including actress Edie McClurg.

My companion knew Tracy through her musical work, so it was fun to meet her beforehand and be treated like an insider.  After a little Google research, I learned that Tracy is an Emmy-winning comedy writer (for the Ellen "coming out" episode) and one of the founders (along with her sister, Laraine) of The Groundlings. Charlotte inherited her Mom’s funny bone. There were some riotously clever passages, well presented by these actors with fine-tuned comedy skills. You can read some of the shorts on Charlotte’s blog.

After seeing the photos of so many famous comedians adorning the lobby walls of the Phil Hartman Stage, I’m anxious to return to see a regular performance. Laughter is the best medicine.  Note to self:  don’t head back to the 101 Freeway via Highland on a Hollywood Bowl performance night.

Twilight Trail

Destination: El Escorpion Canyon Park

Cost: gas only

Hot weather makes the thought of hiking less appealing, but I needed a break from bustle and the noise of the city, so I returned to a favorite spot at twilight: El Escorpion Canyon Park.

Easily accessible at the end of Vanowen Blvd. in West Hills, with free parking on the street – these trails, which lead into the Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve, are suitable for a short leg stretch or some serious hiking. It was only a decade ago that this land was permanently protected. Developers wanted to build over 3,000 homes, two golf courses and a shopping center in this oak chapparal in the Simi Hills.  Local activitists mobilized and were successful in getting the land sold to State of California, under the protection of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

It’s really best to visit in the late winter or early spring when the hills are green and wildflowers blooming, but even in the dry, dusty summer, there’s plenty to explore here. The largest trail veers up a hillside to the left and leads to the Victory Boulevard trailhead for the Las Virgenes Preserve. Small user trails to the right, just past the chain link fence which marks the boundary between Los Angeles and Ventura counties, take you to Indian Caves (also called Cave of the Munits)  and up to Castle Peak – the prominent rocky outcropping at the entrance to the canyon.

Today, I crossed the dry creek bed to the north shortly after entering the park, and followed the alternate trail up canyon. I picked my way gently, wary of poison oak and rattlesnakes. There’s evidence of human habitation here, with some non-native palms in the stream bed and a few rusty water tanks along the trail. I came upon a beautiful stand of oaks in a flat clearing – just begging for a picnic table. As the canyon narrowed, the trail turned north again and headed up to a ridge. Coming back down, there were fine views of the San Gabriel Mountains.

I did encounter a snake, lazing on a trail. It didn’t appear to be a rattler, but I kept a wide berth, just in case. There were only a few other folks in the canyon, some trail runners, dog walkers (with aggressive, barking pets – some off leash) and a couple of casual explorers, like myself. Returning to the car at dusk, with a soft breeze coming down canyon, I was grateful for this special spot of open space so close to home.

Note: The entrance sign says “El Scorpion Canyon Park”  

dineLA

July 27, 2014

Destination: Café Bizou, Sherman Oaks

Cost: $21.00 plus gas

Many cities have “restaurant weeks” and what’s not to like? Participating establishments put together a special menu at a reduced price to introduce their fare to new customers. I’ve been meaning to do this for years, and I realized on Saturday that there was only one day left to sample this year’s dineLA, which actually lasts for fourteen days.

I made a lunch reservation at Café Bizou in Sherman Oaks. 

It’s close by and I've been hearing good things about this restaurant for a long time. Besides, the dineLA lunch menu looked fantastic: lobster bisque, homemade pasta, salmon, flourless chocolate cake yet cost only $15.00. On Sundays, Ventura Boulevard is not metered, so it was easy to find street parking nearby. The restaurant was buzzing, with patrons assembled on the sidewalk and near the hostess stand, but with my 1:30 reservation I was seated immediately, at a small table alongside a window which looked into the bar. We got off to a good start when my ever-so-slightly arrogant server greeted me as “mademoiselle.”

From the prix fixe menu, I selected baked mushrooms stuffed with chicken-spinach mousse, a lobster-avocado-mozzarella panini with mixed greens on the side and tiramisu. I liked that you could substitute the 1^st or 3^rd course for a glass of house wine.

   

The mushrooms didn’t "wow" at first bite, but really grew on me - the balsamic vinegar sauce was dark, thick and delicious. I loved the two endive leaves dolloped with a little splash of something that resembled Italian salsa. The panini was very rich and needed something to brighten it up. I scooped up some of the salad and layered it inside the sandwich. The added acid-y crunch did the trick. The small diced tomatoes on the greens were of excellent quality and very sweet.. The tiramisu was made with real ladyfingers and had good coffee flavor and lots of fluffy cream.

The mixed crowd made for good people watching, the wine list was reasonably priced if a little pedestrian - there were a few small service glitches, but nothing that would keep me away. The regular lunch menu was expansive and provided good value, especially since you can add soup or salad for a dollar. Café Bizou may become my new Sunday brunch spot.

A Getty Saturday Night

July 26, 2014
Destination: the Getty Center, Brentwood
Cost: $10 parking fee (after 5:00 p.m.), $9.00 wine, plus gas

There’s plenty to do in LA on a Saturday night, but when you’re on a budget – the options diminish. I visited the “Time Out” calendar page and learned about Saturdays Off the 405 – The Getty Center’s free (except for parking fee) Saturday night offerings, featuring live music and DJ's. It seemed simple to just bop up the San Diego Freeway and show up for a lovely evening watching the sunset over the Pacific while enjoying some good live music.

The reality wasn’t quite as smooth. Miraculously, there was no traffic on the 405. But there was an accident near the Getty Drive turnoff on Sepulveda, which backed up traffic considerably. The line of cars entering the museum parking structure was substantial and I wondered if they’d run out of spaces. Fortunately, I snagged a parking spot and made my way to the line for the tram up the hill.

There were LOTS of people here – mostly young date-nighters, but also plenty of European tourists. After some time, I arrived at the plaza where Caught A Ghost was playing. They had funky good energy – very danceable music. The sax player made it happen for me – he had some great wailing grooves going on. I grabbed a Pinot Grigio (after waiting in another queue) and the music got even better.

The band stopped just after the late midsummer sunset, so I finished my wine while strolling the terraces and watching the lights of LA come on in the basin below. To top off the evening, I visited a few select galleries and was inspired by works of Rubens, Hals and Rembrandt.

To make the beautiful night last a bit longer – I shunned the tram and walked back down to the parking structure, enjoying the conversations of the young folks surrounding me. Despite the time it took to get in and out of parking, the Getty put on a great event. Next time, I’ll come and go a bit earlier and hopefully avoid the traffic crush. 

City Hiking

July 25, 2014

Destination: Lake Hollywood

Cost: Gas only

I’ve spent countless hours traipsing through the Santa Monica Mountains, but never had the opportunity to enjoy the easy stroll around the Hollywood Reservoir. I finally found the time to visit this iconic spot – and it’s enchanting.

Easily accessible off the Barham Boulevard off-ramp of the 101 freeway, with ample parking near the end of the Upper Reservoir on Lake Hollywood Drive – it’s a cinch to get here. Bonus: you get to drive through a beautiful neighborhood of Spanish-styled hillside homes.

Once through the pedestrian gate, you can circle the reservoir, mostly on a paved road whose apex is the Mulholland Dam, built in 1924. Even on a hot day, there’s quite a bit of shade on the west side of the reservoir, along with abundant wildlife – this is a great spot to birdwatch. Views of the lake are screened by a chain lake fence which circles the reservoir and prevents hikers from approaching the shore.

The full trail around the Upper and Lower Hollywood reservoirs is 3.3 miles. Full disclosure: due to a gimpy foot, I only made it to the dam and back (probably about two miles). The views while walking across the top of the historic dam were memorable. Looking north toward the hills, the Hollywood Sign looms overhead. With your back to the lake looking down-canyon, you’re directly above the intersection of Hollywood and Vine.

On a midweek afternoon, I was surprised by the quiet here - I only passed a few walkers and cyclists.  The term “urban oasis” is overused, but I can’t think of a better definition for this lush getaway, surrounded by the teeming city.

Ancient Art

July 24, 2014

Destination: The Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades

Cost: $15.00 for parking, plus gas

When the Getty Villa first opened in 1974, I was taking a class in ancient Roman history at UCLA. I loved visiting the loosely recreated Villa of The Papyri – inspired by the ruins at Herculaneum - and found the historic statues housed there to be powerful and inspiring. It was disappointing that the museum closed from 1997 through 2006 for renovation – and yet somehow I never made it back to the new Getty Villa until just now.

What a surprise to secure a same-day parking pass on a beautiful summer afternoon at the height of tourist season. A 3:00 p.m. entrance time left only two hours to explore the stunning grounds and galleries, but with crowds thinning at the end of the day it also made for a relaxed experience.

I found the current exhibition - Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections – particularly interesting. I had forgotten (or never knew?) that the Roman Empire moved its capitol to Constantinople in A.D. 330, at the same time its emperors were fully embracing Christianity. This resulted in artwork that featured images of the pagan gods (Venus, Jupiter, Bacchus) alongside visuals of Christ and the Madonna. I hadn’t realized that it took just a few hundred years, in cultures free of communication tools like the world wide web, for a new religion to  grow and expand until it dominated the largest political structure of the age. This is why I like museums – brain exercise.

The two Getty complexes are an incredible Southern California resource. Being able to pop over to a beautiful site with breathtaking views and inspiring ancient art on a moment’s notice is part of what makes living in LA so special.  

Boyhood

July 23, 2014

Destination: AMC Promenade 16 – Woodland Hills

Cost: $11.50 plus gas

The praise heaped on director Richard Linklater for his film Boyhood has been abundant. The LA Times critic wrote, “I cannot remember when a film has moved me more or captured so well all the colors and shadings of the personal, yet universal process of becoming.” In Rolling Stone, Peter Travers gushes “Boyhood makes us feel euphoric about movies, about their mystery, their power, their ability to move us to laughter and tears. It's an unassuming masterpiece.”

The premise for this film is unique and compelling. It follows the life of a boy through twelve years until his 18^th birthday – but it is filmed in real time using the same actors over those years. We see a family evolve before our eyes, each actor going deeper into his role as time progresses. This approach results in a heightened reality that tricks you into thinking you are watching a real family, not performers who have memorized dialogue.

The realism here is magnified by the masterful performance of Ellar Coltrane as the boy, Mason, Jr.  This is the best “non-acting” I’ve seen in a long time.  With expressive eyes and keen nonchalance, he grows up in front of us – always quietly interesting and worthy of our attention. What a leap of faith director Linklater took, casting this young boy with the hope he would grow into an actor capable of carrying a film. Even though the movie runs nearly three hours, I would have gladly followed Mason through college.

Since I'm on a budget, I took advantage of the discount AMC offers for screenings before 3:55 p.m. As usual, the theatre was too cold and the volume too high. 

Blue Mind

July 22, 2014

Destination: Santa Monica Library - Main Branch

Cost: $2.00 for parking plus gas

I’m back from hiatus after a death in the family and ready to return to my explorations of Southern California.

Tonight I made my way to the Santa Monica Library, located at the corner of 6^th and Santa Monica Boulevard, just a few blocks from the Promenade. This evening’s program featured a reading by Wallace J. Nichols,PHD, from his new work Blue Mind. This book explores the effect of water on our brains – and talks about “the exciting science that shows how being in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected and better at what you do.”

“J.” purposely designed an unconventional book talk. He floated balloons through the audience, introduced his kids (who had just come from swimming at the beach), and spoke about the difference between “red mind” – the anxious condition we find ourselves in as we scurry through modern life – and the meditative “blue mind” state that comes when we interact with water. This was illustrated by readings about his experience in a flotation tank in the Santa Cruz mountains, the successful treatment of PTSD victims through surfing lessons, and reminiscences about his first experiences with water (and through audience interaction – ours as well).

This talk was especially poignant as I reflected on how I coped with the extreme stress that comes with caring for a dying parent. In the final weeks, when I felt emotionally drained, I would often retreat to the backyard pool and float on an air mattress in an attempt to restore equilibrium. It helped.  

This attractive library has a loaded event schedule, a café that’s open late, reasonably priced underground parking and a very large collection of current magazines and new works. It’s been added to my list of cool places to hang out.