Judy Collins, Walt Disney Concert Hall,  Saturday, Feb. 11

Known for her classic interpretations of “Both Sides Now,”  “Amazing Grace” and
“Send in the Clowns,” the Grammy winning singer songwriter has thrilled audiences worldwide for more than 40 years with her unique blend of interpretive folk and pop.  Accompanying herself on piano and guitar she performs music by her contemporaries and from her own classic songbook.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Roberta Flack and the Pacific Symphony at  Segerstrom Hall Feb 9-11

Valentine’s Special, Grammy Award winner Roberta Flack visits the Pacific Symphony bringing her Intoxicating ballads: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Tongue,”  “Where is the Love” and more. Richard Kaufmann conducts. Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA.

Sex and the City Zoo Celebration,  Sunday, Feb. 12

The Greater LA Zoo Association invites you to  their annual lighthearted “celebration of animal dating, mating and cohabitating” for Valentine’s Day.  Zoo veteran Jason Jacobs will share insights about the pros and cons of relationships in the animal kingdom. Champagne and chocolate will be provided for the humans.   Witherbee Auditorium at the LA Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Watson Adventures’ Naked at the Getty Scavenger Hunt, Saturday, Feb. 11

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at 5 p.m. on Saturday evening with Watson Adventures on a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt for nudity in art.  Teams of two to six people will discover secrets hidden in works of art involving nudity while tackling witty, tricky questions. No knowledge of art – or nudity – is needed to succeed. Advance reservations required.  Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center, Los Angeles.

18^th Annual Valentine’s Celebration: Men in Blaque & UCI A Capella, UCI ArtCenter, Feb. 14

Bring your date or a friend and enjoy some wonderful music, at 8 p.m. on the 14^th., conducted by Joseph Huszti. Join them for a post-concert reception. UCI Arts Center Winifred Smith Hall, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA

 Venice Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt, Feb. 11 and 12

This biking scavenger hunt through Venice Beach is designed for teams of two to get to know each other’s intellectual side while enjoying a day out exploring. There are prizes for the top 3 teams. Bikes are available for rent, or you can bring your own.  A portion of ticket proceeds goes to the Boys and Girls Club of Venice.  Scavenger Hunt, 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice.

Four Course Valentine’s Dinner, Laguna Canyon Winery, Feb. 11 & Feb. 14

Enjoy fine epicurean creations paired with artisan boutique wines while listening to live music. The Valentine’s WineMaker’s Dinner is $125 per person, plus 21% service charge plus tax. Members receive a 10% discount.  Laguna Canyon Winery, 2133 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach.

Zeppelin Air Tour over Los Angeles  Take an air tour over LA in the only airship in the US licensed for commercial passenger transport, Airship Ventures’ Zeppelin Eureka. It’s not private, but there are only 12 passengers per flight, with plenty of room to move around and enjoy the views out the large picture windows.  Opt for the sunset flight.     Airship Ventures, 250 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA

Valentine Sunset Cruise with Dana Wharf Whale Watching Tours

Sail aboard the 95′ Dana Pride at sunset and search for whales, dolphin and other marine life set against the beautiful Orange County coastline. Chocolates and Valentine’s Day treats are included, as well as a glass of champagne.  Dana Wharf Whale Watching Tours, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA

Valentine’s Day Dinner benefits ‘Save Our Beach, at McKenna’s in Long Beach

Fundraiser  Valentine’s Day dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at McKenna’s. For $100 per person, which goes to Save Our Beach, diners will get dinner, champagne and a guaranteed raffle prize.  McKenna’s, 190 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA

Queen Mary Red Hot Singles Mix and Mingle on Valentine’s Day

The party’s on from 8 p.m. to midnight complete with live music, dancing and a sweet treat candy station. Tickets are $19.95 per person and include parking.

The Queen Mary is at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach.

Valentine’s Day Dinner with a View, Orange County Mining Company

Floor to ceiling picture windows offer your table a stunning view of Orange County, and the saloon takes you back to the mining era.

Orange County  Mining Co., 10000 Crawford Canyon Rd., Orange, CA

Waterfront Beach Resort Anti- Valentine Day party  in Huntington

On the flip side if you are really not into prescribed holidays, but still want to party, you can join with others and celebrate your censoring at the Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington.  The Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Cst.  Highway, Huntington Beach, CA

Clybourne Park, Mark Taper Forum, Center Theater, now thru Feb. 26

Winner 2011 Pulitzer Prize.  Headed for Broadway in April, the LA Times called it, “Biting satiric comedy, damnably enjoyable.”  By Bruce Norris. Directed by Pam MacKinnon. Jokes fly and hidden agendas unfold as two vastly different generations of characters tip-toe the delicate dance of social politics, pitting race against real estate at the crux of two seminal events — 50 years apart — in the same north Chicago house.  Mark Taper Forum, Center Theater, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

Placido Domingo in Verdi Masterpiece Simon Boccanegra LA Opera, Music Center, Feb. 11, 15, 19,21, Mar. 1

Thrust into power, undone by a sordid past. Conducted by James Conlan with projected Engish Translations . The unrivaled Placido Domingo brings his celebrated interpretation of one of opera’s most complex characters to his home company.  LA Opera is located at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and is part of the Music Center of Los Angeles, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Cinderella Les Ballets De  Monte Carlo at Segerstrom Hall, Feb. 9 – 12

Sophisticated interpretation of this classic  fairy tale romance , choreographed by Jean-Christopher Maillot.  Exclusive West Coast engagement and Center premiere.  Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

West Coast Premiere: Elemono Pea, South Coast Repertory,  Now thru  Feb. 26 Playwright, Molly Smith Metzler, and Director, Marc Masterson, give you this keenly observed comedy about class, family and the choices that shape who we are. Unfolding in real time,  the sisters of an absurdly rich New York ad man and a visiting blue collar family  from Buffalo collide.   South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana,  Runs now through April 15

Imagine humanoid robots translating languages, land speeders zooming down highways, and X-wing Starfighters guarding  the skies. Could these  Star Wars™ technologies  become  reality?  Find out in Discovery Science Center’s out-of-this-world exhibit, by Bose Corporation. Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA

Bowers  Museum’s  Warriors, Tombs and Temples, China’s Enduring Legacy, runs now through March 4.  Following the extraordinary 2008 Exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana partners with Houston Museum of Natural Science to show 200 newly discovered treasures from ancient Chinese tombs.   Debuting now in the U.S.,  these  ancient works of art come from  three dynasties of Chinese civilization.   Bowers Museum,   2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA

Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Mariott, Feb. 16-19

President’s Day Weekend  is a four-day festival of “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” jazz  with  big bands and duos, playing everything from Ellington to Sinatra. Stars include John Pizzarelli (Thursday) and Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Sunday). The Newport Mariott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport, CA

Come Fly Away, Twyla Tharp/Frank Sinatra, Segerstrom Hall, Jan. 31-Feb. 5

Surfcity USA Marathon, Huntington Beach, Feb. 5

California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon runs on Pacific Coast Highway past the Huntington Beach pier and through  legendary surfing beaches. The Surf City USA® Marathon includes the Free Wheelchair Mission 7th annual Run for Mobility as runners raise funds to send wheelchairs to people in need around the world.. Retro surf bands entertain with a Finish Line Festival  beach side beer garden.

Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings, Segerstrom Hall, Feb. 4  Blast off as the Pacific Symphony travels through our solar system! Real footage from NASA will accompany music from Holst’s “The Planets,” as well as selections from “Star Wars.” Featuring the gifted young musicians of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, these 45 minute concerts are especially designed for children 5-11. During the added Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. (9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers).  Segerstrom Hall, 714 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Laguna Art  Museum Annual  Auction 2012  – Saturday, Feb. 4

From 6 to 9 p.m., a fast paced live auction will offer over 100 premier California artists’ works in an exciting silent auction. Sampling of cuisine from known local restaurants such as French 75 and Pelican Hill, select wines,  a live DJ with live art performances and an afterparty of desserts and cocktails will complete this major museum fundraiser.

South Coast Repetory,  Now thru  Feb. 26 Playwright, Molly Smith Metzler, and Director, Marc Masterson, give you this keenly observed comedy about class, family and the choices that shape who we are. This runaway  hit is fast, furious and funny. Unfolding in real time, just after Labor Day  Martha’s Vineyard is emptying out, but you can still smell the expensive sun lotion, when the sisters of an absurdly rich New York ad man and a visiting blue collar family  from Buffalo collide.  Low price Previews Jan. 27 – Feb. 2. Opening night, Feb. 3. Reg. performances Feb. 4-26.  (Note – profanity and adult situations included.) Photos courtesy of South Coast Repertory.   South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

 Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana,  Runs now through April 15

Imagine humanoid robots translating languages, land speeders zooming down highways, and X-wing Starfighters guarding  the skies. Could these  Star Wars™ technologies  become  reality?  Find out in Discovery Science Center’s out-of-this-world exhibit, by Bose Corporation. Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA

Lonesome Traveler at Laguna Playhouse   Playing now thru Feb. 5

The Rubicon Theatre  Premiere Concert  is sparked with  “Tom Dooley,” “Goodnight Irene,” “Puff, the Magic Dragon” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “This Land is Your Land.” .Lonesome Traveler  traces our roots   from the backwoods of Appalachia to the nightclubs of New York and San Francisco; from the mid 1920s to the mid 1960s. Among forty classics you will find your favorites. From “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” to “Mr. Tamborine Man” to “Barbara Allen,”  come to enjoy.  Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach

Bowers  Museum’s  Warriors, Tombs and Temples, China’s Enduring Legacy, runs now through March 4.  Following the extraordinary 2008 Exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana partners with Houston Museum of Natural Science to show 200 newly discovered treasures from ancient Chinese tombs.   Debuting now in the U.S.,  these  ancient works of art come from  three dynasties of Chinese civilization. A priceless collection from  tombs that were built like homes for the daily rituals of the royal family and secrets of the silk road.   Bowers Museum,   2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA

Roberta Flack and the Pacific Symphony at  Segerstrom Hall 2/9 – 2/11

Valentine’s Special, Grammy Award winner Roberta Flack visits the Pacific Symphony bring her Intoxicating ballads with: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Tongue,” and “Where is the Love” and more. Richard Kaufmann conducts. Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA.

Tokyo String Quartet at Sokia Performing Arts Center, Aliso Viejo,  Feb. 9.

Known as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, the Tokyo Strong Quartet was founded 40 years ago and has an international following.  They perform over a 100 concerts per season and are known for their critically acclaimed recordings and teaching record. Sokia Performing Arts Theater, University Drive, Aliso Viejo.

Monster Trucks  Hit Angel Stadium Sat.,  Sat. Feb. 11

Monster trucks will roar into Angel Stadium Saturday, Feb. 11. The total access pass activities go from 2 to 3 pm. The Party in the Pits starts after that and at 7 pm the high energy competition begins. Angel Stadium, 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA.

Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Mariott, Feb. 16-19

President’s Day Weekend  is a four-day festival of “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” jazz  with  big bands and duos, playing everything from Ellington to Sinatra. Stars include John Pizzarelli (Thursday) and Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Sunday). The Newport Mariott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport, CA

Cinderella Les Ballets De  Monte Carlo at Segerstrom Hall, Feb. 9 – 12

Sophisticated interpretation of this classic  fairy tale romance , choreographed by Jean-Christopher Maillot.  Exclusive West Coast engagement and Center premiere.  Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

The San Diego Museum Council annually prepare the city’s month-long promotion Museum for February, presented by Macy’s, this year.

The following Museums are participating for this annual San Diego’s Museum Month:

• Adobe Chapel Museum
• Barona Cultural Center & Museum
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
• California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Coronado Museum of History & Art
• Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
• Heritage of the Americas Museum
• La Jolla Historical Society
• LUX Art Institute
• Maritime Museum of San Diego
• Marston House
• Mingei International Museum
• Mingei International Museum North County
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – Downtown
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – La Jolla
• Museum of Making Music
• Museum of Photographic Arts
• Oceanside Museum of Art
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
• San Diego Air & Space Museum
• San Diego Archaeological Center
• San Diego Automotive Museum
• San Diego Botanic Gardens
• San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
• San Diego History Center Museum, Library & Junipero Serra Museum
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• San Diego Museum of Art
• San Diego Museum of Man
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• The New Children’s Museum
• Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
• Timken Museum of Art
• USS Midway Museum
• Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
• VisionsArt Museum
• Water Conservation Garden
• Whaley House Museum
• Women’s History Museum and Education Center

Along with its sheer physical beauty, its many other places to go and things to do—from shopping, dining, and its beaches—-San Diego’s has its own substantive and wide, and art and cultural infrastructure.

FromSan Diego’s iconic Museum of Photographic arts and its two San Diego Museums of Contemporary Art—downtown and inLa Jolla—San Diegomuseums offer exploration and education for a diverse interests. So now there are 40 new reasons to visit San Diegoalong with the other many fun and free things to do here.

” A Study Abroad Retrospective, Visual Tales from Eire and England, by Laguna College of Art and Design students.”

It’s one of the biggest parties in Laguna Beach as the city celebrates their  renowned First Thursday ArtWalk.

It’s a self-guided tour of gallery openings and museum receptions that starts as soon as the galleries open their doors to the public with special artist demos, exhibitions, music, dance and much more.

Bring a jacket and wear comfortable walking shoes, as you wind your way down Pacific Coast Highway.  There will be wine to sip and goodies for grazing too.

The tour starts at the North end of Pacific Coast Highway, just after you enter Laguna, goes down to the central business area on Forest Avenue, and then continues on down South Coast Highway. It’s an exhilarating walk filled with art!

Before you start, make sure to take a look at the Artwalk Gallery listings on the site. You’which ll find gallery sites that start on North Coast  Highway which also includes the Laguna Art Museum.

Next, there is the Central Downtown group on Forest Avenue  and finally, there are more galleries to be reviewed on South Coast Highway.  Check the Shuttle Map too for the trolley that is on hand throughout the evening.

Every time I go to this ArtWalk, I come home and put it on my calendar for next month.  If you can’t make this Thursday, pencil in one of the following dates: March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and December 6. You’ll be pleased that you did.

Just one example from the many exhibitions and galleries is  Joanne Artman’s Gallery with America Martin’s solo exhibition. Martin is a Columbian-American fine artist based in Los Angeles.  Her third solo exhibition is appropriately named “Exuberance,”  capturing her amazing works of pure joy. Her favorite landscape is that of the human form which she celebrates with vigor in line and color.

Footnote:  The Laguna Art  Museum Annual  Auction 2012  is on this Saturday night, Feb. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m.

They’ll be hosting a fast paced live auction offering over 100 premier California artists’ works in an exciting silent auction.

Also, there will be sampling of cuisine from such well known local restaurants such as French 75 and Pelican Hill, select wines,  a live DJ with live art performances and an after party with dessert and cocktails which will complete this major museum fundraiser.

Street parking is available along Pacific Coast Highway in front of the galleries and the downtown parking structure is located at Glenneyre Street.

Welcome to Travelin’ Local’s Orange County round up of  Music, Arts, Sports, Children’s Programs, Community Events and more.

West Coast Premiere: Elemono Pea, South Coast Repertory,  Jan. 27 – Feb. 26  Playwright, Molly Smith Metzler, and Director, Marc Masterson, give you this keenly observed comedy about class, family and the choices that shape who we are. This runaway  hit is fast, furious and funny. Unfolding in real time, just after Labor Day  Martha’s Vineyard is emptying out, but you can still smell the expensive sun lotion, when the sisters of an absurdly rich New York ad man and a visiting blue collar family  from Buffalo collide.  Low price Previews Jan. 27 – Feb. 2. Opening night, Feb. 3. Reg. performances Feb. 4-26.  (Note – profanity and adult situations included.) Photos courtesy of South Coast Repertory.   South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

Come Fly Away, Twyla Tharp/Frank Sinatra, Segerstrom Hall, Jan. 31-Feb. 5
A new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary music of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp (Movin’ Out). The seductive vocals of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” sizzle with the sound of a live 14-piece big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp’s choreography. As 15 of the world’s best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye.  Featuring  Sinatra classics: “Summer Wind,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Way,” “New York, New York” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.” Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Monster Trucks  Hit Angel Stadium Sat., Jan. 28 and Sat. Feb. 11

Monster trucks will roar into Angel Stadium this Saturday. The total access pass activities go from 2to 3 pm. The Party in the Pits starts after that and at 7 pmthe high energy competition begins.  Angel Stadium, 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA.

Top Dog Underdog at the South Coast Repertory, runs through  Jan. 29.

This Pulitzer Prize drama  is an electrifying view of the gritty lives of two street savvy hustlers, Lincoln and Booth.  The New York Times calls it, “a thrilling comic drama….dazzlingly written!”  Bearing names of white men given to them by their father as a joke before he walked away,  the brothers never stop conning  suckers on the street and, ultimately, each other in this darkly funny drama of family grief and recovery.  South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

 Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana,  Runs now through April 15

Imagine humanoid robots translating languages, land speeders zooming down highways, and X-wing Starfighters guarding  the skies. Could these  Star Wars™ technologies  become  reality?  Find out in Discovery Science Center’s out-of-this-world exhibit, by Bose Corporation. Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA

Lonesome Traveler at Laguna Playhouse   Playing now thru Feb. 5

The Rubicon Theatre  Premiere Concert  is sparked with  “Tom Dooley,” “Goodnight Irene,” “Puff, the Magic Dragon” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “This Land is Your Land.” .Lonesome Traveler  traces our roots   from the backwoods of Appalachia to the nightclubs of New York and San Francisco; from the mid 1920s to the mid 1960s. Among forty classics you will find your favorites. From “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” to “Mr. Tamborine Man” to “Barbara Allen,”  come to enjoy.  Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach

Bowers  Museum’s  Warriors, Tombs and Temples, China’s Enduring Legacy, runs now through March 4.  Following the extraordinary 2008 Exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana partners with Houston Museum of Natural Science to show 200 newly discovered treasures from ancient Chinese tombs.   Debuting now in the U.S.,  these  ancient works of art come from  three dynasties of Chinese civilization. A priceless collection from  tombs that were built like homes for the daily rituals of the royal family and secrets of the silk road.   Bowers Museum,   2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA

Roberta Flack and the Pacific Symphony at  Segerstrom Hall 2/9 – 2/11

Valentine’s Special, Grammy Award winner Roberta Flack visits the Pacific Symphony bring her Intoxicating ballads with: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Tongue,” and “Where is the Love” and more. Richard Kaufmann conducts. Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA.

Tokyo String Quartet at Sokia Performing Arts Center,  Aliso Viejo,  Feb. 9.

Known as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, the Tokyo Strong Quartet was founded 40 years ago and has an international following.  They perform over a 100 concerts per season and are known for their critically acclaimed recordings and teaching record.  Sokia Performing Arts Theater, University Drive, Aliso Viejo.

Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Mariott, Feb. 16-19

President’s Day Weekend  is a four-day festival of “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” jazz  with  big bands and duos, playing everything from Ellington to Sinatra. Stars include John Pizzarelli (Thursday) and Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Sunday). The Newport Mariott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport, CA

Surfcity USA Marathon, Huntington Beach, Feb. 5

California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon runs on Pacific Coast Highwaypast the Huntington Beach pier and through  legendary surfing beaches. The Surf City USA® Marathon includes the Free Wheelchair Mission 7th annual Run for Mobility, as runners raise funds to send wheelchairs to people in need around the world. Retro surf bands entertain with a Finish Line Festival  beach side beer garden.

Cinderella Les Ballets De  Monte Carlo at Segerstrom Hall, Feb. 9 – 12

Sophisticated interpretation of this classic  fairy tale romance , choreographed by Jean-Christopher Maillot.  Exclusive West Coast engagement and Center premiere.  Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Laguna Art  Museum Annual  Auction 2012  – Feb. 4

From 6 to 9 p.m., a fast paced live auction will offer over 100 premier California artists’ works in an exciting silent auction. Sampling of cuisine from known local restaurants such as French 75 and Pelican Hill, select wines,  a live DJ with live art performances and an afterparty of desserts and cocktails will complete this major museum fundraiser.

With one of the best climates on the globe, and one of the most stressed out populations in the country, it might be time to merge the two views as we learn how to opt out and power down with beaches like Little Corona Del Mar.

On a recent trip I discovered a book about stopping that seems custom made for Californians. David Kundtz’s STOPPING, How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going,

“Life has become so complex that our old methods of coping no longer work. It’s time for something totally new – stopping.  The idea is to do nothing as much as possible for a definite period of time so you can wake up and remember who you are, so you can get going again in a more purposeful, centered way.”

Kundtz’s three time lengths for stopping are:

n      – Stillpoints — brief moments in the midst of a hectic day

n     – Stopovers — timeouts from an hour to a week

n     – Grinding Halts — sustained periods away from it all

On Site Research

Recently I backed this theory up with some on site research trying out the stopover approach. I picked Little Corona del Mar Beach as my stopping point for the afternoon.

Indeed, as I headed downPacific Coast Highway,  I was in a so-so mood.

But that mood began to lift change the moment I parked my care overlooking the magnificent bluffs above the Little Corona Del Mar beach. The view was spectacular.

By the time I had scooted down the short, steep hill, I was grinning as I saw and was soon to be at the bottom.

There below was aSouthern Californiaprescription for bliss: fresh air, sun, sand, small brown pelicans and a million little seabirds, all scooting around the wet sand, calling to me to come and play.

This could be the perfect spot for a family getaway too. Bring some shovels and buckets to play in the sand and pack a picnic and a blanket. The rest of the afternoon will take care of itself.

Little Corona Del Mar Beach is just the right spot for visiting:

Not deserted, but not crowded, not too large, and close-by, of course, in Orange County.  There’s free parking on the streets on the bluff and a short walk down the paved hill and you’re literally on the sand next to the gorgeous shoreline.

There are no food stands, but a picnic would be perfect.   A restroom/shower is available on the walk down.

If you arrive by 9 a.m. the tide pools are reachable for exploring. Later the tide comes in and you’ll just have to be content with a glorious view, lovely  air and near perfect solitude.

It’s your turn now to try stopping, to enjoy “the times-in-between and the pause between the notes.”

Directions to Little Corona Del Mar Beach: FromLos Angeles take the 405 freeway exit at Jamboree. Drive toPacific Coast Highway, “PCH”, turn left and drive toPoppy Drive in Corona Del Mar. Turn right at Poppy and left at Ocean.

From there, the beach is a short walk down the hill from Ocean.

Explore the Globe’s most Iconic Recipes from Around the World in 80 Dishes

Now, I know your mouth will water, and you’ll be salivating as you savor these mouth watering pictorial delights of meals and all you have to do is pick your favorite meal/s and perhaps book a trip-or find a restaurant close to you, or not, and find one that makes one just like you see below.

 

1. A full English Breakfast – it must have beans, sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, hash browns and toast. Needless to say, it should all be finished off with a cup of tea.

2. Breakfast in Iran – usually features  naan bread with butter and jam. When a light breakfast isn’t desired, then Iranians eat halim. Halim is a mixture of wheat, cinnamon, butter and sugar cooked with shredded meat in huge pots. You can eat it hot or cold. Below Halim is in an omelet.

3. A Cuban wake up meal – is comprised of sweetened coffee with milk along with a pinch of salt thrown in. Cuban bread is toasted and buttered and cut into lengths to dunk in the coffee.

4. Polish Breakfast – known as Jajecznica, is a traditional Polish breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs covered with custom-made kielbasa along with potato pancakes.

5. Quick Spanish breakfast – Pan a la Catalana, or Pan con Tomate, in Spain is plain but really delicious. Just mix your bread with fresh garlic and plenty of ripe tomato, then soak it with olive oil and salt. Then put cheese, ham or sausage on top.

6. A yummy Moroccan breakfast - typically consists of different breads with some chutney, jam, cheese or butter. They have a really delicious crumpet-style bread which is made in large portions to tear a bit off. Also, be sure to enjoy their semolina pancake bread called Baghir – both are delicious.

7. A healthy Hawaiian breakfast – In Hawaii they’re fruit is long known for its tastiness. Indeed, eating fruit and then having a large meal later in the day is typical for the natives. Then there’s always plenty of bagels to enjoy but by then when most are in the water surfing, they’ll be hungry after their sessions.

8. Swedish breakfast – often includes a Swedish pancake, referred to  as a Pannkakor. It’s a thin flat cake that consists of batter and fried on both sides – much like a crepe. It’s usually served with a sweet, fruity filling. Oh, yummy!

9. Icelandic breakfast cuisine – is a hearty and hot breakfast to fight off the dark, icy mornings here. Hafragrautur, or oatmeal, is served with a sprinkle of brown sugar with some raisins or nuts on top,

10. Breakfast in Portugal –  is croissants served with lots of coffee served outdoors.

11. Breakfast in Australia – remember–Vegemite. When abroad, Aussies are often found with a stash for when they want some food from back home. It’s sticky and salty brown.  Be sure not to argue about the Vegemite vs Marmite war – everybody knows Marmite is better, but let those from Down Under have their say.

12. A Brazilian breakfast - consists of a selection of meats, cheeses and bread. It’s typically the regular breakfast fare here.

13. An Italian breakfast – Think Italy and immediately you think of heavy meals. But for breakfast they tend to go light probably to save their appetites for pasta, noche, seafood and a pesto pasta dinner? For breakfast though, the locals tend to have both a cappuccino e cornetto’ aka a cappuccino and a croissant.

14. A Welsh breakfast – Welsh Rarebit aka cheese on toast is a scrumptious breakfast.

15. Breakfast in Denmark - In Denmark, typically, you’ll often find rye bread, cheeses, salami, ham, pâté, honey, jam and sometimes even thin ‘plates’ of chocolate for their early morning meal.

16. A Philippines breakfast – Like Hawaii, in the Phillippines the local fruits are always enjoyed by its countrymen, especially for breakfast. Mangoes are popular and to keep up your energy  rice is the top choice, as are little sausages, known as longganisa. Fry it with  salt and garlic cloves it’s known as sinangag–it’s then combined with eggs, meats and beans and you’ve got a breakfast for a king (or a queen).

17. An Alaskan breakfast –  contains reindeer meat and an egg nestled on a pancake.

18. A traditional German breakfast –  has wursts, local cheeses and freshly baked bread. It’s typical fare for breakfast here and it’s topped off with their wonderful coffee.

19. The famous American breakfast - home made thick pancakes with syrup and blueberries, topped off with a few rashers of bacon.

20. The French breakfast – of course is the croissant, Combine them with just about anything.

21. Breakfast in India – above are rosemary roasted potatoes, Indian tofu scramble, lentils, veggie sausage and banana pepper toast.

22. A hearty Scottish breakfast - consists of  the delicious chunk of haggis served alongside every fat-fried egg. Haggis is sheep’s heart, liver and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, salt and stock.

23. Thailand’s breakfast  – you’ll find this dish at shops all throughout Thailand. It’s a minty spicy fish with a sweet & spicy pork, served with rice.

24. An Argentinian breakfast -consists of “mate” (an infusion drink made with leaves of “yerba”) or dulce de leche with “facturas,” a croissant type pastry.

25. An Irish breakfast - is typically white pudding and soda bread.

26. A Canadian breakfast – those are not eggs but are known as perogies. Perogies are boiled, baked or fried dumplings made from unleavened dough and traditionally stuffed with potato filling, sauerkraut, ground meat, cheese, or fruit. To go with that, then sausages and toast top it off.

27. Breakfast in Mexico – has beef tips, chilequiles and other assorted foods consumed in Manzanillo. Nachos, cheese and beans for breakfast, also, are the norm.

28. A Russian breakfast - oladi is the breakfast of  most in Russia. They’re kind of like like pancakes and Yorkshire puddings–hot, just fried and with a soft inside and served with soured cream, honey, jam or fresh berries. 

29. Breakfast in Vietnam – resembles a bit like Pho but consists of  meat along with a semolina/porridge mixture. The dish above is a  pork porridge. It consists of Chinese doughnuts, beansprouts, pork intestine stuffed with peppery pork mince, sliced pork heart, stomach slivers and blood pudding. Sounds interesting and delicious!

30. Breakfast in Peru – ceviche is always a sure bet here any time. Of course, for those who don’t know, ceviche  is a seafood dish made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. It’s delicious.

31. Breakfast in Bolivia – saltenas are a bit like empanadas crossed with Cornish pasties. It’s the normal Bolivian breakfast and it’s usually filled with meat and vegetables, and slightly sweetened with sugar.

32. An Egyptian breakfast - of course are Foul Madamas. It’s made from fava beans, chickpeas, garlic and lemon.

33. Breakfast in Japan - is tofu served with fish and rice. Soaked with soya sauce and there you have it.  

34. Breakfast in China – typically consists of  noodles, rice, sticky coated chicken and fried veggies. 

35. Malaysian breakfast –  is Mee – noodles mixed with egg, vegetable and aromatic spices.

36. Breakfast in Mongolia – will typically have boiled mutton with lots of fat and flour and maybe some dairy products or rice.

37. Breakfast in Belize - fry jacks are a Belize typical breakfast cuisine. They’re deep-fried pieces of dough that are often accompanied by beans and eggs, or jam and honey.

38. A Hungarian breakfast – always consists of Pogácsa.

39. A Korean breakfast – is mostly like their lunch and dinner in Korea. You’ll get a small plate of kimchi, a bowl of rice and a bowl of clear vegetable soup.

40. Breakfast in Pakistan - is Aloo Paratha–it’ s an Indian unleavened flatbread made by pan frying, wholewheat dough on a tava. Its dough contains ghee and the bread is usually stuffed with vegetables. It’s usually combined with butter, chutney or some other spicy sauce.

41. An Estonian breakfast – is curd cheese on a wheat bloomer – known locally as ‘cheese on toast’. The topping can be mixed with ricotta or fromage fraiche instead, if you prefer.

42. Breakfast in Jordan –Labneh, hummous and falafel are all popular choices typically served alongside olive oil, lamb sausage, jam and butter, turkey or beef mortadella.

43. Breakfast in Venezuela - mostly consist of empenadas. They’re filled with pastries, fresh cheese, minced meat and any combination of veggies and beans.

44. Breakfast in Colombia - Here, this changua dish is always and it’s made from milk, scallions and cheese.

45. Breakfast in Ghana - is waakye. It’s rice cooked in beans and is always at street stalls throughout Ghana. 

46. Breakfast in Uganda - here a popular dish across the country is katogo – it’s a combination of green cooking bananas mixed in a stew from beef or in a sauce from vegetables.

47. A Bahamas breakfast – a Bahamian breakfast it must contain grits. Grits are dried ground hominy, or corn. It’s mixed with boiling water and the grits becomes a porridge.  Now many people add prawns and meat to liven it up.

48. Breakfast in Costa Rica – Gallo Pinto is typical for breakfast in Costa Rica. It’s made from black beans, rice, sour cream, salsa and a corn tortilla. To top it off many Costa Ricans will then top it off with avocado, fried ripe plantain or cold meat on the side.

49. Breakfast in the Dominican Republic – is mangu. Mangu is made from mashing boiled plantains with butter and either salami, cheese or eggs.

50. A Turkish breakfast – the full Turkish breakfast consists of many varieties of cheese, butter, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, and spicy meat.

Explore the Globe’s most Iconic Recipes from Around the World in 80 Dishes

Bon Appéti

 

 

 

100 Years of Paramount Pictures

January 26

For the next five months, on the last Thursday of each month, Film Independent at LACMA invites you to a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Paramount Pictures that will include a double feature of movies chosen from the studio’s archives. To kick off the Paramount Pictures’ centenary, the focus is on a pair of comedies created by the films’ female stars—women whose unique timing and specific approach to sexuality in film is groundbreaking for very different reasons. The first film is the unique and rarely revived A New Leaf, the 1971 directorial debut of Elaine May. In this odd and defiantly sweet take on a comedy of manners, Walter Matthau stars as Henry, a high-living player who has run through his entire fortune. This rake’s idea of progress is to seduce and marry the peculiar botanist and heiress, Henrietta (May). May’s film garnered her a WGA award for its script. In the second half of this bill, the seduction is on the other foot—that is, the slipper. In the 1933 comedy She Done Him Wrong, Mae West helped adapt the successful Broadway sex farce, “Diamond Lil” (which she wrote) that made her infamous. Speedy and hilarious, the 1890-set Wrong follows Lou (West) as she cuts a swath of larceny and lasciviousness through the Bowery, and her targets include a younger actor in his second role with his new stage name: Cary Grant.

7:30pm

A New Leaf

1971/color/102 min./digital

Scr / Dir. Elaine May; with Elaine May, Walter Matthau, George Rose and James Coco

9:15 (approximate start time)

She Done Him Wrong

1933/black & white/ 66 min.

Scr. Mae West / dir. Lowell Sherman; with Mae West, Cary Grant and Owen Moore

$7 for LACMA members

$5 for Film Independent, LACMA Film Club, and New York Times Film Club members.
Members of these groups will be required to show proof of membership when retrieving their tickets.

Tickets available to members Thursday, December 15 at 5 pm | Tickets available to the public Thursday, December 22 at 5 pm

Film Independent – History – About

The seeds for what would grow to be Film Independent were planted in 1981 when Gregory Nava and a small band of directors, writers, and producers began gathering regularly to share creative ideas and discuss ways to increase resources for independent filmmakers.

The non-profit member driven organization Independent Feature Project (IFP)/West soon emerged from these meetings with the mission to cultivate the careers of independent filmmakers, build larger audiences for independent film, and champion diversity in the entertainment industry. National recognition quickly followed when the organization took on production of the Independent Spirit Awards in the late 1980s and assumed ownership of the Los Angeles Film Festival in the year 2000.  In time, IFP/West would become IFP/Los Angeles and in 2005 it took on the name Film Independent—a more accurate banner for the spectrum of services the organization had expanded to include.

Today, Film Independent remains a collective of filmmakers, industry professionals, and film lovers, but encompasses a broad community of individuals who appreciate and sustain artist-driven filmmaking.  Film independent empowers filmmakers to tell their own stories, in their own voices and provides a support system in which their work can be appreciated.

Be independent. Not alone. Click here or call 310.432.1231 for information on becoming part of the Film Independent community.

Plenty! And you’ll find it all right here,  plus new February events.   Welcome to Travelin’ Local’s round up of  Music, Arts, Sports, Children’s Programs, Community Events and more.

Lonesome Traveler at Laguna Playhouse   Playing now thru Feb. 5

The Rubicon Theatre  Premiere Concert  is sparked with  “Tom Dooley,” “Goodnight Irene,” “Puff, the Magic Dragon” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “This Land is Your Land.” .Lonesome Traveler  traces our roots   from the backwoods of Appalachia to the nightclubs of New York and San Francisco; from the mid 1920s to the mid 1960s. Among forty classics you will find your favorites. From “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” to “Mr. Tamborine Man” to “Barbara Allen,”  come to enjoy.  Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach

Bill Maher, Irvine Improv, Sunday, January 22

Known for his political satire, Bill Maher is an American stand-up comedian, TV host, social critic an author. He targets religion, politics, bureaucracies, mass media, greed and people in positions of power.  Don’t miss  this evening with Maher.  Irvine Improv, 71 Fortune Drive, #841, Irvine.

LaLaLa Human Steps Irvine Barclay, Thursday Jan. 26

The U.S. premiere of a new work from Montreal, Canada. Edouard Lock’s latest major work, The New Work, is inspired by classic love stories, Dido and Agneas, and Orfeo and Eurydice, re-envisioned with lightning fast spins in hyper dynamic choreography. The Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA

Bowers  Museum’s  Warriors, Tombs and Temples, China’s Enduring Legacy, runs now through March 4. 

Following the extraordinary 2008 Exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana partners with Houston Museum of Natural Science to show 200 newly discovered treasures from ancient Chinese tombs.   Debuting now in the U.S.,  these  ancient works of art come from  three dynasties of Chinese civilization. A priceless collection from  tombs that were built like homes for the daily rituals of the royal family and secrets of the silk road.   Bowers Museum,   2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA

Top Dog Underdog at the South Coast Repertory, runs through  Jan. 29.

This Pulitzer Prize drama  is an electrifying view of the gritty lives of two street savvy hustlers, Lincoln and Booth.  The New York Times calls it, “a thrilling comic drama….dazzlingly written!”  Bearing names of white men given to them by their father as a joke before he walked away,  the brothers never stop conning  suckers on the street and, ultimately, each other in this darkly funny drama of family grief and recovery.  South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

Tokyo String Quartet at Sokia Performing Arts Center, Aliso Viejo,  Feb. 9.

Known as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world, the Tokyo Strong Quartet was founded 40 years ago and has an international following.  They perform over a 100 concerts per season and are known for their critically acclaimed recordings and teaching record. Sokia Performing Arts Theater, University Drive, Aliso Viejo.

Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Mariott, Feb. 16-19

President’s Day Weekend  is a four-day festival of “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” jazz  with  big bands and duos, playing everything from Ellington to Sinatra. Stars include John Pizzarelli (Thursday) and Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Sunday). The Newport Mariott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport, CA

Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana,  Runs through April 15

Imagine humanoid robots translating languages, land speeders zooming down highways, and X-wing Starfighters guarding  the skies. Could these  Star Wars™ technologies  become  reality?  Find out in Discovery Science Center’s out-of-this-world exhibit, by Bose Corporation.

Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA

Surfcity USA Marathon, Huntington Beach, Feb. 5

California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon runs on Pacific Coast Highway past the Huntington Beach pier and through  legendary surfing beaches. The Surf City USA® Marathon includes the Free Wheelchair Mission 7th annual Run for Mobility as runners raise funds to send wheelchairs to people in need around the world.. Retro surf bands entertain with a Finish Line Festival  beach side beer garden.

Crystal Cove State Park’s January Tours.  Explore tide pools, learn about geology and gray whales and visit the 12 acre historic district of famed cottages.  The whole month is full of special guided tours. Crystal Cove State Park, 8471  N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

Cinderella Les Ballets De  Monte Carlo at Segerstrom Hall, Feb. 9 – 12

Sophisticated interpretation of this classic  fairy tale romance , choreographed by Jean-Christopher Maillot.  Exclusive West Coast engagement and Center premiere.  Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Laguna Art  Museum Annual  Auction 2012  – Feb. 4

From 6 to 9 p.m., a fast paced live auction will offer over 100 premier California artists’ works in an exciting silent auction. Sampling of cuisine from known local restaurants such as French 75 and Pelican Hill, select wines,  a live DJ with live art performances and an afterparty of desserts and cocktails will complete this major museum fundraiser.

Libraries and books are a passion of mine. As an advocate of good children’s literature, I made a resolution last January to visit as many libraries (especially their children’s departments) as I could in 2011, posting about each on my blog.

I didn’t realize at the time that my resolute passion would take me not only to many wonderful libraries in California(and one in Bloomington, Indiana), but to a Medieval monastery library in the Czech Republic.

Strawhov Monastery Library

Peace, awe, order and curiosity. Those are the words that came to mind as I stood staring into the doorways of two of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen: The Halls of Philosophy and Theology at the Strahov Monastery Library inPrague.

Walls lined with shelves, full of old books, above which were gilded wood carved decorations, and ceilings splashed with frescoes:

The library collection contains approximately 200,000 volumes, stored in the halls and adjacent depositories.  Many of the works were printed between 1501 and 1800.

My husband and I were being shown the sites of the charming Czech city of Pragueby, by our oldest son, David, who is currently studying two  semesters abroad at FAMU – The Film and TV School of theAcademyofPerforming ArtsinPrague. (He is enrolled as a student in the School of Film/Video Experimental Animation Program at CalArts – California Institute of the Arts – a college in Valencia, California, started by Walt Disney in the early 1960’s.)

In doing Internet searches about libraries for my blog, as well as sites to see during our travels, I had come across photos of the Strahov Monastery Library, and put it down as a “must see” for our trip.  The monastery itself was founded in 1143, and is the site of not only the beautiful Library Halls and Cabinet of Curiosities, but also The Basilica of Assumption of Our Lady Strahov Church, the monastic “St. Norbert’s Brewery” (yes, it was amazing), and an attached Museum of Miniatures.

Our visit to that monastery library left me wanting to explore more about the history of libraries. They’ve certainly come a long way over the centuries, these days often looking more municipal than museum-like, but they will always be an integral part of our history, culture, and communities.

Whether you frequent modern libraries in order to borrow free books, have a quiet place to read or do research, or so your kids can enjoy story time or free Internet, don’t forget to also visit historical libraries (in the U.S. and abroad), which are beautiful preservations of art and architecture, as well as “home” to books.

 EARLY HISTORY OF BOOKS AND LIBRARIES

From the start, civilizations needed some type of repository for their written works. The first “books” (mainly public records) were inscribed with a stylus onto clay tablets by the ancient Mesopotamians.  Some ancient library archives had shelves built in the walls to stack the tablets; others employed the use of baskets or earthenware jars.

Over time, literature developed – epics, myths, science, and history.  I’m sure most of us were assigned in school to read the Epic of Gilgamesh, the ancient Babylonian creation story, which was originally recorded on clay tablets!

In ancient Egypt, papyrus scrolls were used to write on. These were most often stored with labels attached, so the whole scroll wouldn’t have to be unrolled in order to identify its contents.

By 600 BC in ancient Greece, the first public libraries (in beautiful structures built by leading citizens) – as well as private and personal libraries – were beginning to flourish–with large collections of both fiction and non-fiction works inscribed onto parchment rolls.

The Chinese imperial library history dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-201 BC). The first library classification system in China was established during the Han Dynasty. The library catalog during this time was written on scrolls of fine silk and stored in silk bags.

 SOMETHING NEW:  CODEX

Beginning in the second century in Rome, literature, science, and technical information began to be recorded onto wax coated wooden boards, which were stacked and then bound.

These bound tablets became known as “codex”, with parchment eventually replacing the boards.

New libraries emerged in European monasteries during the Middle Ages, concentrating on acquiring and copying manuscripts in the codex form only (as opposed to on scrolls).

With the invention of the printing press by the German, Johannes Gutenberg, around 1440, mass-produced books in codex form became widely available to everyone – not just royalty, the church and scholars.

SOMETHING NEWER: THE DIGITAL AGE

In recent years, with the increased use of the Internet to gather and retrieve data, we’re now witnessing the birth of books in electronic digital format on glowing computer screens – “virtual” books.

However, as we advance forward into the digital age, let’s not leave behind our past!

You can be sure that the gradual shift to e-books and digital libraries will greatly impact our culture and communities.  Traditional book lovers and library enthusiasts like me can’t help but wonder how e-books will transform our physical experience with real books and our visits to libraries–after all, the original archives were “physically communal” places, not “digitally communal” files or websites.

I’m sure time will work out the balance of e-books alongside traditional codex books.  No doubt, through the digital world we have information instantly at our fingertips,; but how can we possibly resist the physical aspects of “real” books and the library structures that house them:

The touch and feel of pages to be turned, the smell of ink and paper and the shelves where these friends are neatly stacked.

 I plan to keep going to libraries in 2012.  How about you?

 LIBRARIES NOT TO MISS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (with exceptionally good children’s departments)

Los Angeles Central Public Library

City of Camarillo Public Library

Cerritos Library

Huntington Beach Central Public Library

Orange Public Library

 GOOD READS ABOUT LIBRARIES

-Source for the historical information in this post: The Library: An Illustrated History, by A.P. Murray.

-Find more about the history of the Strahov Monastery Library here.

-A great article by Lisa Newton from Travelin’ Local about Andrew Carnegie’s legacy of libraries in LA.

Wendy Braun moved with her husband Tom in the 1980′s from Santa Barbara to Orange County, where they ended up staying to raise and homeschool their three (now grown) children. As a recent empty-nester, she stays busy blogging about children’s literature and working from home for a small publishing company. When she’s not reading or blogging, she enjoys traveling with her husband, walking in the hills above her home, visiting and promoting local libraries, cooking (as little as possible), and volunteering at a local soup kitchen. Once a week, you can find her at home serving coffee, tea, and goodies to her friends who (often with little ones in tow) stop by to experience good old fashioned, face-to-face conversation and time with each other. Her blog, “Good Books For Young Souls,” can be found at http://goodbooksforyoungsouls.blogspot.com/

Bowers Museum’s Warriors, Tombs and Temples, China’s Enduring Legacy, runs now through March 4th. Following the extraordinary 2008 Exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana partners with Houston Museum of Natural Science to show 200 newly discovered treasures from ancient Chinese tombs. Debuting now in the U.S., these ancient works of art come from three dynasties of Chinese civilization. Many have been unearthed from imperial, royal and elite tombs and from ancient Buddhist monasteries near the modern city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. A priceless collection from tombs that were built like homes for the daily rituals of the royal family and secrets of the Silk Road. Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA

Top Dog Underdog at the South Coast Repertory, runs through January 29th

This Pulitzer Prize drama is an electrifying view of the gritty lives of two street savvy hustlers, Lincoln and Booth. The New York Times calls it, “a thrilling comic drama….dazzlingly written!”  Bearing names of white men given to them by their father as a joke before he walked away, the brothers never stop conning suckers on the street and, ultimately, each other in this darkly funny drama of family grief and recovery. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,CA

Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Mariott, February 16th-19th

President’s Day Weekend is a four-day festival of “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” jazz with big bands and duos, playing everything from Ellington to Sinatra. Stars include John Pizzarelli (Thursday) and Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Sunday). The Newport Mariott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport, CA

Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana, Runs through April 15th

Imagine humanoid robots translating languages, land speeders zooming down highways, and X-wing Starfighters guarding the skies. Could these Star Wars™ technologies become reality? Find out in Discovery Science Center’s out-of-this-world exhibit, by Bose Corporation.

Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main, Santa Ana, CA

Surfcity USA Marathon, Huntington Beach, February 5th

California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon runs on Pacific Coast Highway past the Huntington Beach pier and through legendary surfing beaches. The Surf City USA® Marathon includes the Free Wheelchair Mission 7th annual Run for Mobility as runners raise funds to send wheelchairs to people in need around the world.. Retro surf bands entertain with a Finish Line Festival beach side beer garden.

Crystal Cove State Park’s January Tours. Explore tide pools, learn about geology and gray whales and visit the 12 acre historic district of famed cottages. The whole month is full of special guided tours. Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

Cats, Segerstrom Hall, January 17th-22th

Introduce your family to live theater with the magic and mystery of Cats. What began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber picked up a book of poems in an airport bookshop has become one of the longest running shows in Broadway’s history. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Segerstrom Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA

Lonesome Traveler at Laguna Playhouse Runs thru February 5th

The Rubicon Theatre Premiere Concert is sparked with “Tom Dooley,” “Goodnight Irene,” “Puff, the Magic Dragon” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “This Land is Your Land.” .Lonesome Traveler traces our roots from the backwoods of Appalachia to the nightclubs of New York and San Francisco; from the mid 1920s to the mid 1960s. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach

Cinderella Les Ballets De Monte Carlo at Segerstrom Hall, February 9th – 12th

Sophisticated interpretation of this classic fairy tale romance , choreographed by Jean-Christopher Maillot. Exclusive West Coast engagement and Center premiere. Segerstrom Hall, 715 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Laguna Art Museum Annual Auction 2012 – February 4th

From 6 to 9 p.m., a fast paced live auction will offer over 100 premier California artists’ works in an exciting silent auction. Sampling of cuisine from known local restaurants such as French 75 and Pelican Hill, select wines, a live DJ with live art performances and an after party of desserts and cocktails will complete this major museum fundraiser.

Special Foodie tip: New Umami Burgers coming to Anaheim Brewery, 336 St. Anaheim Blvd. and 610 N. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Umami’s fifth taste burgers are rated among the best in Southern California. Secret? They grind their own beef and pickle their own veggies.

The Fowler Museum explores global arts and cultures with an emphasis on works from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, past and present. The Fowler enhances understanding and appreciation of the diverse peoples, cultures, and religions of the world through dynamic exhibitions, publications, and public programs, informed by interdisciplinary approaches and the perspectives of the cultures represented. The Fowler provides exciting and informative exhibitions and events for the UCLA community and the people of greater Los Angeles and beyond.

Their current exhibitions include:

- Exhibition Info

- Pacific Standard Time

- Closing Weekend Festivities (January 6-8 2012)

In conjunction with the Getty’s now world famous city wide exhibition, Pacific Standard Time, The Hammer Museum is presenting the show: Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles 1960-1980

This comprehensive exhibition examines the incredibly vital but often overlooked legacy of Los Angeles’s African American visual artists, featuring works from public and private collections located across the country, some of which have not been seen for decades and were previously considered lost.

Now Dig This! will feature artists including Melvin Edwards, Fred Eversley, David Hammons, Maren Hassinger, Senga Nengudi, John Outterbridge, Alonzo Davis, Dale Brockman Davis, Noah Purifoy, Betye Saar, and Charles White, displaying their artistic progeny for putative perpendicular happenings to bring forth all donnections among individuals and groups of different ethnic origins.

This multicultural ([Ed.Note] Oh lord, component will bring to light a significant network of friendships and collaborations across racial lines, while underscoring the influence that African American artists had on the era’s larger movements and trends. [Ed.Note] Skip the last paragraph–it means nothing.

[Ed.Note] Why do curators and Museums have to “break down” their art exhibitions into ethnic, cultural, and racial lines? It’s almost as if they’re perpetuating the inherent institutional bias that’s been so prevalent in our society–and the world–for a very long time and a day. I can just hear it now:

“Oh so you’re a black avante grade Artist!” and other such nonsense—Hmm, Art is Art is Art.

This comprehensive exhibition examines the incredibly vital but often overlooked legacy of Los Angeles’s African American visual artists, featuring works from public and private collections located across the country, some of which have not been seen for decades and were previously considered lost.

Now Dig This! will feature artists including Melvin Edwards, Fred Eversley, David Hammons, Maren Hassinger, Senga Nengudi, John Outterbridge, Alonzo Davis, Dale Brockman Davis, Noah Purifoy, Betye Saar, and Charles White, presenting their creative output alongside parallel developments and teasing out the connections among individuals and groups of different ethnic origins.

This multicultural component will bring to light a significant network of friendships and collaborations across racial lines, while underscoring the influence that African American artists had on the era’s larger movements and trends.

EVENTS

10/02/2011
11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Museum Free Day Through the generosity of Bank of America, the Hammer Museum is pleased to offer complimentary museum admission on Sunday, October 2 to celebrate the opening of Now Dig This! Art & Black Los Angeles.

10/02/2011
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Exhibition Walkthrough with Curator Kellie Jones Exhibition Walkthrough with Curator Kellie Jones.

10/02/2011
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Opening Day Performance: KISS Now Dig This! artists Senga Nengudi and Maren Hassinger perform a collaborative project with Ulysses Jenkins in which they reimagine their works.In conjunction with the exhibition Now Dig This!

10/05/2011
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Twenty Twenty Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson premiere Twenty Twenty, their new multimedia performance about black music created and fostered in L.A. from 1960 to 1980. Smith and Thompson are.

11/01/2011
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Constant Elevation Renowned poets Jayne Cortez and Kamau Daaood are joined by emerging L.A. poets Thea Monyee and Javon Johnson for an evening celebrating the art of the spoken word. Hosted by Shihan Van.

11/13/2011
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

High Voltage: The Watts Legacy Co-presented with the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA Dr. Darnell Hunt, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, moderates.

11/15/2011
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Taste and Style Just Aren’t Enough Gallerist Alonzo Davis, and collectors Vaughn Payne and Joy Simmons join curator Franklin Sirmans and art historian Karin Higa.

Each concert brings a different country to light.

This week, on January 14^th, you can enjoy the Khac Chi Ensemble & Korean Classical Music and Dance Company at the W. M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Khac Chi Ensemble performs the music of the mountain people of Vietnam featuring rare instruments such as the dan t’rung – a suspended bamboo xylophone – and the dan bau – a one-stringed zither. The energetic rhythms and fascinating timbres offer intriguing glimpses into Vietnam’s rich musical traditions.

Korean Classical Music and Dance Company

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company performs both folk and court styles. Using a 12-tone scale instead of the Western diatonic scale, the company performs authentic music and exquisite dance that originated with the ancient culture’s royal dynasties.

Even though these performances are free, you still need to get tickets. Head to Grand Avenue at 2^nd Street one hour before each scheduled concert time, which are at 11:00am and 12:30pm.

Workshops, designed to let children explore the featured culture through unique art-making projects such as calligraphy, puppets, musical instruments, accordion books, textile projects and more, are available on each concert day and are also free.

There is no human endeavor that is not intimately affected by it, and for it to succeed, local citizens and concerned communities need to be intimately involved in the process. of changes to zoning and land uses

It is evidently more and more necessary to educate those who are directly affected by it and concerned with any new modifications and changes to these laws that are fundamental to our city’s well being–and, as we shall see, it is our legislative bodies that may or may not bode well for our future; or retard our progress, and above all, as the “Occupy Movement” has shown us, it is ultimately the American citizens who must have a seat at the table and have a say in the democratization process in our society and what goes on in our everyday lives.

These rights which we hold inalienable are still intact. But, as with any large cosmopolitan city, we’re now seeing that all too frequently, the average person is being locked out of the process in the future quality of our way of life–and how our most fundamental property rights as citizens will be affected due to the actions by the City of Los Angeles’ Zoning and Amendment Codes and procedures.

Currently the City of Los Angeles has begun the most significant revisions to its zoning codes since 1946.

About a dozen different ordinances are slated for revision that has the potential to significantly affect the quality of our neighborhoods, which, will then, dramatically affect tens of thousands of buildings over time.

And with that, ultimately it’s our communities and way of life that’s affected.

There remains currently grave concern that many of the proposed changes to Los Angeles’ current zoning laws will weaken or eliminate important protections, and subsequently have severely negative impacts to our residential communities and commercial districts.

From the Los Angeles Times: “Like every municipality, we’re looking at ways of increasing revenues,to change zoning laws to allow the big guys in. “Every dollar is stretched thin.”

“So much for big development plans. Across the country, cash-strapped communities are welcoming slot machines, tattoo parlors, landfills and other businesses they shunned in the heady days of the real estate boom. Nationwide, nearly 90% of city officials polled said their communities this year are in worse financial shape than in 2009, according to a survey from the National League of Cities. About 79% of cities are cutting personnel.

California municipalities are particularly hard-pressed. Proposition 13, passed in 1978, capped annual real estate tax increases, forcing cities to increase their reliance on sales taxes to fund public services. In addition, state legislators in recent years have taken to balancing California’s books by delaying the distribution of tax revenue owed to local governments. (Proposition 22 on this year’s ballot seeks to end this practice.)”

“Cities are desperate for new businesses that create jobs and pay taxes, especially in this economic environment,” said Larry Kosmont, whose real estate advisory firm, Kosmont Cos., helps businesses take advantage of development incentives. “They’re trying to be creative.”

In Central California’s San Benito County, whose 14.8% unemployment rate is one of the highest in the state, officials recently opted to allow more garbage from outside the county to enter a public landfill. Importing trash isn’t the sexiest of economic development strategies, but the projected half-million dollars a year of extra revenue will help keep libraries open, Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said. “It’s not a cure-all for our budget woes, but it does help,” he said.

Officials in Whittier want to allow oil companies to drill on land set that was previously set-aside for a park. Some residents are up-in-arms. But Whittier’s sales tax revenue is down 25% since its peak in 2007-08.

Travelin’ Local thinks its bad public policy to alter our physical environments for the worse to solve Los Angeles’ fiscal woes. Other alternatives should and must be sought. Changing or altering the very nature and essence of what our neighborhoods look like without intelligent planning is bad public policy by the City of Los Angeles to alter and change Zoning and other laws for short term gain which will give many neighborhoods and communities here long term pain.

Working within community groups, city council and existing laws, we’ve worked hard to achieve as optimal as possible livable and sustainable communities as a key component of a vibrant and cosmopolitan city like Los Angeles.

Various community groups who’re fighting these proposed changes should raise public consciousness that’s so important for Los Angeles to remain on the right path toward a more livable, sustainable, and less congested community oriented city in order to keep our current standard of living for all our residents who comprise the most important component for all our communities and infrastructure.

To gain a deeper appreciation of why we must strive for our most important objectives vis-à-vis Los Angeles’ future, the following essay by Martin Ridge, a former Senior Research Associate at the Henry E. Huntington Library, who had enjoyed a distinguished career there as a teacher, scholar, author, and editor of American history– with a special emphasis on the American West.

It serves as a testimonial for the proper urban planning of Los Angeles as a model city for the future,

To wit:

Our previously published story entitled:

Revisiting Eden: Los Angeles, A City of the Future, 1950-1990

I immediately fell in love with his words and thoughts about our great city, Los Angeles, Revisiting Eden, a City of the Future.

It isn’t often that we find an opinion that so closely matches what we know to be in our hearts and minds–so Travelin’ Local thinks it’s important to re-publish Mr. Ridge’s Essay.

Lastly, we can have ‘non-sprawled’ urban areas, even where the density is not particularly high:

Conversely, a mix of land-use types (residential, employment, shopping, etc.) puts a variety of activities – not just a variety of buildings all housing the same activity – in close proximity, shrinking the distances among multiple types of destinations.

And a well-connected, grid-like street network ensures that physical proximity actually translates into easy accessibility by offering multiple, direct routes among destinations. That is, it means short point-to-point distances are also short walking, biking, or driving distances that may not require a trip out onto the regional highway network.

And by putting dense, mixed-use, well-connected neighborhoods near transit creates yet another option for getting to desired destinations that are farther away.

Los Angeles is a good example of a city characterized by large amount of high-density sprawl. But if we measure sprawl by population density, LA would not sprawl at all. In fact, it would be the least sprawling urbanized area in the country. How can Los Angeles be so dense and yet also exhibit so many characteristics associated with sprawl, including high levels of car travel (both in per capita and absolute terms) and low rates of walking, bicycling and transit ridership?

Density by itself—the simple ratio of population to square mile—is not a very useful way to measure sprawl. What matters is the distribution of density, or how evenly or unevenly an area’s population is spread out across its geographic area. If we look at the density distribution in Los Angeles, we notice that its suburbs are much denser than those of other large U.S. cities, such as New York, San Francisco or Chicago.

These high-density suburbs compensate for the comparatively low density of LA’s urban core, and, in so doing, increase the average density of the area as a whole.

The LA region’s combination of high, evenly distributed density puts it in an unfortunate position–it suffers from many of the problems that accompany high population density, including extreme traffic congestion and poor air quality–but lacks many of the benefits that typically accompany more traditional versions of dense urban areas, including fast and effective public transit and a core with vibrant street life. Los Angeles has, to borrow a term coined by urbanist William Fulton, “dense sprawl.”

Therefore, with our dense sprawl and our need for better not worse City Planning, now is not the time for altering Los Angeles’ Zoning Codes, especially with the new push by Hollywood and the CRA to push for “Elegant Density.”

Most of us find nothing elegant in density despite the bureaucratic nonsense espoused by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, accommodating expected population growth by building mixed-use projects around transit hubs. And there is definitely something to be said for so-called smart growth, offering residents the option of using transit instead of cars.

“If this is the season to be merry, many residents of Hollywood did not get the memo. Instead, they got a community development plan they look upon as their very own nightmare before Christmas.”

“It happened earlier this month, when the Los Angeles City Planning Commission approved zoning changes that could make it easier to erect skyscrapers in the heart of Hollywood, forever changing the scale of a historic neighborhood with international cachet. They say the high-rises will block views, throw shadows and obscure the landmark Capitol Records building, and make already unbearable traffic even worse.”

Elegant density?

“What you’re talking about is the rape of Hollywood,” said a spitting mad Sarajane Schwartz.

Like others, she considers the plan a license for developers to virtually have their way, with more access to taxpayer handouts through the Community Redevelopment Agency.

“What we have is no plan at all,” said George Abrahams. “Let us build a tower unto heaven. That’s the CRA plan.”

Crosby Doe scribbled a message on his business card and handed it to me. “This is not a planning document,” he wrote, “but rather a development rights Ponzi scheme!!”