The Weekend Feast For February 24th - 26th

This weekend Pacific Standard Time focuses on Santa Barbara. Special events are happening all around that lovely little town just 90 minutes up the coast.

Why not drive up Sunday morning and head straight to the community celebration ( 1pm - 4pm) at The Santa Barbara Museum of Art? Enjoy food, drinks, live music and exhibition inspired art activities. Then head indoors to view Pasadena to Santa Barbara, now through May 6th.  Take a look around the entire museum while you are there, venturing beyond the Pacific Standard Time show. The museum is really lovely. Though small, every show I have seen there has been terrific. They put on some particularly interesting photography exhibits ( I loved 2010's Chaotic Harmony: contemporary Korean Photography.) If you go,  don't miss Publicly Private: Enrico Natali and Doug Rickard, on now through April 22nd.

Closer to home ( and on Saturday) it's your chance to see everything the talented kids of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts have been doing.  More than 30 live performances, art exhibits, debut film screenings and workshops will be offered.  Things kick off at 3pm with scenes from "Hairspray" and end at 11pm after a full scale production of the "Odyssey."  See some or see it all, everything happens at the Los Angeles Theater Center, 514 S. Spring St, downtown.  Tickets are required ( $15 general admission)   Details are here. 

Sunday afternoon you can enjoy winter brews from more than a dozen breweries at Winterfest, a production of Collaboration. Ticket prices range from $15 ( a Winterfest stein, you buy the beer)   to $38 ( 10 taster tickets and you better have a designated driver.)   Downtown at the marvelous Belasco Theater, it's here for all you need to know.

And of course Sunday is the Oscars.  Channel 7 (ABC) at  4pm our time.  You can look at the shiny website right over here.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Petition to Extend Summer Break By 1 Week For Many Westside Schools

As of now the LAUSD start date for school year 2012/2013 is August 15th, 2012.  A group of westside parents and educators has started a petition to extend the start date by 1 week, until August 22nd, for the complex of LAUSD schools that includes Palisades Elementary, Marquez Elementary, Canyon Charter Elementary, Kenter Elementary, Topanga Elementary, Paul Revere Middle School and Palisades High School.   The new start date allows the kids to complete their finals before the winter break (a major  reason for pushing the start date to the middle of August in the first place) and gives families one more week of summer vacation, a desire many families share.  The purposed date also brings complex schools into alignment with other area schools (Santa Monica/Malibu and most Independent schools) who will begin their 2012/2013 school year on August 22nd. You may sign the petition here.

The Weekend Feast For February 16th - 18th

It's President's Weekend, a time when many Angelinos head to the desert or the mountains for a little fun.  Should you be going to the desert you are in luck as it's Modernism Week in Palm Springs.  House tours, films, gallery shows and parties abound. A guide to the week can be found here.  My favorite offering is the vintage airstream and trailer show, next Sunday the 26th from 9am - 1pm.

Owners will be on hand to tell you all about their trailers,  from restoration to travel history.   Complete information as well as tickets to all tours and events are available here. For Your Art has a well curated guide to the week, you can find it here.

To experience the architecture of the area you can climb on a double-decker bus, join one of the Modernism Week walking tours or better control your time and your kids by driving around town on your own. Self-drive architecture maps are available at the gift shop of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and other locations.  We have done this, kids in tow, and it's fun. There are plenty of places to stop for a drink or an ice cream, lot's of opportunities to let the kids out to run around for a minute or 2.  Palm Springs isn't huge so a driving tour that encompasses most of the major sites can be done in an hour.



Don't despair if you're not getting a weekend away. Here in town some good stuff is going on.

Don't you love this picture? Ansel Adams took it in 1940 while on assignment in Los Angeles for Fortune Magazine.   It's part of a collection of rarely seen Adams images now on display at drkrm, 727 Spring St, downtown.  The show opens Saturday so stop by between 6 and 10 for some wine and cheese.  It's here for details.

I think The Secret World of Arrietty looks charming. You can make a special event of going to the movies this weekend by seeing it at the El Capitan with its organ music and live character show. The movie opens tomorrow and do take note of Japanese language screenings offered throughout the run.   

Amazingly in 3 years I don't think I have ever written about the Zimmer Children's Museum, 6505 Wilshire Blvd.  This Sunday at 3pm the Zimmer presents a visit from Love on 4 Paws,  a local animal assisted therapy program.  Kids get a chance to meet the animals and find out all about the work they do.  The Zimmer is a small but fun museum, well worth a visit.  There's an airplane cockpit your kids can climb in and an ambulance complete with paramedic gear they can explore.  Click here for details.   Note that the Zimmer is offering one of their Open Door days on Monday from 2pm to 5pm. These afternoons are designed for families with kids with special needs. Admission is $10 per family ( 2 adults and all children in the house.)  You must make reservations to attend and you may do so by calling Jessica at (323) 761- 8910.


Other kid centered places to consider visiting this holiday weekend include the fabulous Kid Space in Pasadena ( open Monday from 9:30am - 5pm)  and Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana ( open Monday from 10am - 5pm) home of the Star Wars exhibit (through April 15th) and the recently opened Dora & Diego Let's Explore! 

My Kids loved this museum when they were younger ( it's great for kids up to 12) and very well worth the drive down the 5.   

Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Readers.  Whatever you do today, whether or not you are in a relationship, know that you are deeply loved.  It's a gorgeous day in LA. Step outside and feel the warm embrace of the sun, let the wind kiss your cheek and may the flowers that are blooming everywhere be your bouquet.

The camellias are going all over town.

I love them so, each one a ballgown, a parasol, the dainty blush of an old fashioned girl.

 There's nothing like the ruffly, girly flowers for the romantics among us.  And how wonderful that we get a whole day for ourselves too! Bring on the hearts and flowers because I love Valentine's day!

A thank you to the various photographers who posted these on The Huntington Gardens photo share.  It's the best time of year to walk through the Huntington Camellia garden ( it's more like a magical forest, really) so try to get over there in the next few weeks if you are able.


 Ruth at Flower Forums let me know about her terrific interview with Gayla Trail from the popular blog You Grow Girl.  It's informative and well worth a read as you begin to think about your own small plot (or pot.)  Spring is coming. What would you like to cultivate this spring?

Have a lovely day.

The Weekend Feast For February 9th - 12th

It's the weekend before Valentine's Day (hint, hint).

Get something fabulous for yourself or your valentine atthe Barney's Warehouse Sale -

The sale takes place inside the South Hall of LA Convention Center (area K.) Parking is available on site but it's really expensive, like $18 or $20 dollars. Park off site if you can.  The sale runs Saturday the 11th - Monday the 20th, prices go down as the sale goes on. And if you've never done this before here's some advice - there is one large changing room for each gender. It's a mess, insane. There is no place to hang anything, things are piled everywhere, the walls are just a curtain and they are constantly being blown open so you are exposed to all and sundry.  But it can be worth it!  Wear leggings and a tight tank top underneath your clothes. This will help you when trying things on as you will be able to slip many things over your thin stuff and not have to strip down. Good luck!

Cirque Du Soleil's OVO is on now in the big tent at the Santa Monica Pier. The show is delightful, whimsical, funny and breath-taking (wait until you see the finale - we were blown away.) It's here for tickets and information but take a minute to search around the web for deals. You might save yourself a few bucks. And ps - you can easily park in the Santa Moncia Place lot, corner of Colorado and 2nd. You have to walk a bit but it's less expensive than parking in the beach lot.  There are several options for dinner on the 3rd level.

The Devil's Night Drive In, downtown at 4th and Broadway, is hosting Brokeback Mountain. Saturday, February 11th, doors open at 6:00pm the film shows at 7:30.  $10, tickets and reservations available here.

This weekend is your last opportunity to see MOCA's contribution to Pacific Standard Time, Under The Big Black Sun, California Art from 1974 - 1981. The exhibit closes Monday the 13th.



Tickets are available for this weekend's CEAIT Festival at REDCAT, inside Disney Hall downtown.

Dutch composer Thomas Ankersmit uses vintage electronics and up to the minute sonic technology to create amazing sound works.  Friday is "Noise Night" ( every night is noise night in my house...) which could be fun and interesting fro older kids and Saturday is, "Ambient Night," featuring the debut of a new work.  It's here for details and tickets.

Saturday is Free Family Day at the Japanese American National Museum.  There are all kinds of fun things going on with an emphasis on healthy cooking and eating;  crafts, art, how to make miso soup, dance lessons and performances.  11am - 4pm at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 East 1st St it's here for a map and location details and here for Saturday's details. How about a trip to the Warehouse Sale followed by something for your kids at JANM? Everybody wins! 

Have a great weekend.

Plaza

 I have 2 kids, one on the autism spectrum, and outside of my own work, my life pretty much consists of planning, driving, helping, making, carrying things, calming, mediating, encouraging, cooking, hugging, yelling, soothing, monitoring, praying, laughing, making empty threats and having faith.   It's not easy being a parent and it can make some of us crazy (or all of us crazy to varying degrees.)  Moms deal with the nuttiness in all kinds of ways; the lucky ones can laugh but some of us get bitchy. Some spend too many hours on-line or watching tv. Some get fat and others get and stay a little too lean and wired,  always a bit on edge.  Some moms do blowouts and workouts, a little "me time," offering a sense of control in the ultimately uncontrollable.  Some get boyfriends, go shopping, do drugs or sugar or coffee or wine.  Me?  I go out. Out of my house, my neighborhood, out of my head, out into the glittery LA night.  A few hours of good hair, the smell of perfume and exhaust and desire. I come back to myself in these nights and I remember that I am fun and sexy and capable of lighthearted happiness. On a great night, something wonderful happens. Let me tell you about last Saturday -

picture by Rowan Byers


Plaza -

 Now don't stop reading just because you would typically never go into a place that looks like this.  Coming back to yourself on a Saturday night can sometimes require the willingness to step through doors you wouldn't go through on a Tuesday afternoon.  Obviously, Plaza isn't fancy. You could even call it a dive - and if your current idea of a dive is La Descarga because it's way over on Western, well, I'm asking you to stretch a bit here. We are looking for a little adventure, so come along as the story unfolds when we step through the doors...

 
  Plaza is a lesbian, Latino, transvestite cabaret bar. Cabaret bar/dance club really as after the stage show everybody dances. If you feel like it, you can climb up and dance on the stage. One lady was having a great time with the curtains.

Here's how it went - first of all I have to say that I did not see all of the show as I was stumbling down La Brea in my giant boots having thought it was a good idea to walk from Santa Monica Blvd almost to Melrose in very high heels at midnight (it is not a good idea.) But I did see some and it was great.  We got there just as the lady in the black dress on the left ended her number and worked the room and then the guy ( I think, I'm 90% sure he was an guy though there was argument among us) above in the cowboy outfit sang several songs as women went up and hugged him or danced with him and stuffed money in his clothes. It was awesome. Then all the ladies came out and took their bows, the show was over and the place turned into a dance club with great Latino/house/hip-hop/club music.  It was my friend's birthday and his girlfriend asked them to announce it and they did and then my friend danced on a chair and everybody clapped and we drank very cold beer and danced and danced.

You have probably been by Plaza a million times. It's just 2 or 3 buildings up from Pink's on La Brea and it's been there for years. Everything is in Spanish, - we were pretty much the only non-Latino people in there - and the crowd was nice and attitude free. It's not a club filled with 23 year olds in tiny (oh so tiny tiny tiny) skirts.  It's working class people out for a Saturday night at a transvestite bar.  I know, the world is weirder and much more wonderful then we know.  But you should know that, different and almost other-worldly as it felt, we 40 year old westsiders felt very welcome.  It's cheap to get in, like 5 or 10 bucks, the drinks are reasonable so even after you give away several singles you won't feel like you've gone broke. And you will have a fabulous time!

 Details - Plaza 739 N. La Brea, west side of the street, just North of Pink's.  Call for show times (323) 939- 0703 or just get there around 10pm on a Saturday. If you're hungry after all that dancing and you don't want a hot-dog know that some nice ladies were selling chimichangas right outside. Grab a paper plate and take a seat on the curb.

The Weekend Feast For February 2nd - 5th

It's a weekend of treats!

Stephanie Shaiken at Crust makes some of the best pies in L. A. Head down to Surfas in Culver City on Saturday the 4th, pick up a pie and be the hit of the super bowl party.  Details above and click the link for directions.

 Isn't this a beautiful cupcake?

The Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood is hosting a cupcake challenge Saturday from 4pm - 7pm.  Sample the mini cupcakes and watch as a winner is chosen. Tickets can be found here.  

 Continuing the treats into next week, on Monday, February 6th from 4pm -7pm it's free - FREE - yogurt and toppings at all Yogurtland locations. Click here for details and locations. 



Who do you think is the hottest chef in LA? How nice for us that this is always a difficult decision...

The folks over at Eater are hosting their 4th annual Hottest Chef in LA contest. The contest starts today and you can keep of who's got the sizzle here. I told you it was a weekend full of treats.



And keep in mind some great stuff going on around town -

Women Hold up Half the Sky is up and running (and extended) at The Skirball. Do not miss this important exhibit and take your kids ages 10 and up. 

I am crazy about In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States (see post below) at LACMA but your kids will love Metropolis II ( above) an awesome kinetic sculpture that looks like a tiny, frantic modern city. The work runs regularly throughout the weekend.  Click here for the schedule so you know when you can see it in action. 

Have a wonderful weekend!