Category Archives: Entertainment

June 21, 2025 · 19:56

The Final Play

Tonight we’re back at the Ahmanson Theater, probably for the final time for a while.

This is the last performance in this year’s program, and with the anticipated move to a Forever Home up in Hesperia or Apple Valley, we are not planning on renewing our subscription. If there’s something we absolutely HAVE to see, we can get tickets for a single performance and drive down to the big city for a weekend. (Ditto of course for hockey games, football games, baseball games, concerts, plays at the Pantages, etc.)

The Music Center here is about 2-3 blocks from City Hall and the areas where the ICE protests were earlier in the month. To no one’s surprise, despite the grotesque, horrible, and bald-faced lies being spewed by Faux News and ICE and the lower-than-whale-shit chucklefuck in the White House and all of his evil cult minions, LA did not burn down, there isn’t chaos and warfare in the streets, and the streets are not full of bodies. It was boring, except for the traffic getting into valet parking due to all three theaters being live tonight, along with the Disney Concert Hall across the street.

Enjoy your weekend, stay safe – I peeked at the news and it’s getting insane out there. Literally.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles, Photography, Politics

June 6, 2025 · 23:54

Pudding Brain

As Senior Director of Finance & Administration I often have a very full plate. To say the least. At the top of the annual list, especially in terms of stress and “challenges,” is the audit. Our auditors are good and generally nice folks who I get along with, but to be done properly the audit process by its very nature is … “thorough.” Think of it as being a bit like a colonoscopy without benefit of anesthesia, but everyone’s smiling and cooperative.

This year’s audit starts on Monday, so the last two weeks have been prep, prep, and more prep. Pulling documents, finalizing the year-end accounting, and so on. Tons and tons and tons of details, numbers, schedules, reports, and extra brownie points if the figures are actually accurate. (We do pretty well on that score, actually.)

But it does leave one with a bit of a “pudding brain.” Remember that classic of camp cinema, “Flash Gordon!,” the one with Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Brian Blessed, Topol, and Timothy Dalton? (An excellent film!) Remember the “scanners” working the consoles in the bowels of the war rooms of Ming the Merciless?

That’s me already… I’ve even got the haircut for it. (I have GOT to find me a pair of those glasses!)

However, I’m not so fried that I didn’t notice the date. Yes, 81 years ago our parents and grandparents and great grandparents stormed the beaches of Normandy. That’s important to remember. But more important personally, it was 25 years ago tonight that I went out on a first date with The Long-Suffering Wife. She says that her fear was that I would excuse myself to the restroom and then slip out the window and shimmy a couple stories down a drain pipe to abandon her there.

Obviously, I didn’t.

1 Comment

Filed under Entertainment, Family, Farce, Paul, Ronnie, Science Fiction, Silly Shit

May 31, 2025 · 20:00

Some Whacked Out Danish Prince Dude

Our final performance at the Mark Taper Forum this year (one more at the Ahmanson next month):

To recap, “Green Day’s American Idiot” was wonderful and “Fake It Until You Make It” was…not.

This is a “bold new reimagining” and so on, but Gina Torres is in it as Gertrude, so I’m along for the ride. “Depictions of blood and violence, themes of suicide, substance abuse, strong language, simulated sex acts, and nudity.” What’s not to love?!

1 Comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles, Photography

May 30, 2025 · 23:50

Murderbot

Have you read the “Murderbot” books by Martha Wells? No? Why the heck not? They’re WONDERFUL!

Are you watching the new “Murderbot” series on Apple TV? No? Why the heck not? It’s WONDERFUL!

(Have you noticed? There’s a theme here…)

I urge you to start watching the series ASAP, four episodes out, six (I think) to go in Season One, a new one every Friday. It covers the events of the first book.

Then go read the books, which go well beyond this first season’s story, and see why soooooo many people love Murderbot.

Just don’t touch them or make eye contact. They hate that…

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Science Fiction

May 11, 2025 · 23:56

Valet Musings

At the Ahmanson last night, dealing with the huge crowds for the Gold House Gala there, we used the valet parking. This is also a considerably easier arrangement for The Long Suffering Wife.

The play, “Life of Pi,” was very good, and the staging and animation of the animal characters was astonishing. We enjoyed ourselves.

When the play was over, the Gala was also letting out. Valet parking had quite the lineup waiting for cars to be delivered. While I expected to wait 20-30 minutes (or more) we only waited maybe ten minutes.

Two observations:

  1. In the long line of limos, Mercedes, Jaguars, BMW’s, and six-figure luxury cars of every description, it was a joy to see our little Hissy, our Honda Fit, pop up. She brought some much needed humility and real world class to the chaos.
  2. It was amazing how long some cars sat there waiting for their owners to pick them up. You turn in your ticket and then wait, so presumably if they show up with your vehicle, you’ve been there for a few minutes or more and are looking for your car so you can leave. Apparently not for the hoity and the toity amongst us. In particular, while waiting for Hissy, a Jaguar pulled up at the curb right in front of us (three lanes of cars moving through) and the valet driver shouted and honked and ran around asking folks to check their tickets for at least five minutes. Meanwhile, one of the three lanes is completely blocked. Suddenly this couple sitting on the benches right next to us startles to their feet and recognizes their car, not three feet away from them. REALLY??!! And then when they walk over and open the doors, NOW they see some friends and stand there blocking the sidewalk (and continue to block 1/3 of the valet lanes) while they schmooze. Really REALLY??!!! The entitlement and cluelessness was AWESOME! Or they were too drunk to recognize their own car and were now going to go get on the LA Freeways at 22:30. Or both.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Freakin' Idiots!, Los Angeles, Photography

May 10, 2025 · 19:58

Ahmanson vs Gala

Back at the Ahmanson. I’ve heard of this production but know almost nothing about it. Should be fun!

Outside it’s busy. “Gold House” is having their gala and they’ve taken over the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the entire plaza between the theaters. Traffic and parking have been affected in turn.

Big money, apparently. Megan Thee Stallion is apparently their GOH tonight (we didn’t see her).

Rich or poor, it’s good to have boatloads of money! Or so I’ve heard.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles, Photography

April 26, 2025 · 22:35

2025 LA Times Festival Of Books

After a long, stressful week, what I want more than anything is to sleep in late and then do nothing except sit on my butt, with maybe a nap or two thrown in for good measure. Which is why I got up at 7:00 AM this morning, got dressed warmly (it was cold and rainy) and headed out for a day of “adventure.”

A couple of subway rides later (NO WAY I was going to try to mess with traffic and parking at a huge event in a crowded part of town when the Metro dropped me off at the front gates!) I was at the entrance to the USC campus for the first time in my 50+ years here. I’ve been across the street to the Coliseum a few times, and to the Science Museum down the street, but never actually on campus.

Nice place I guess, big bucks and an attitude to match at every turn, but at least the rain had stopped by the time our first event was over.

The occasion was the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which I’ve wanted to attend for years. The crowds and size are a bit daunting, easily 100,000+ per day there, maybe as many as twice that or more, but the USC campus is a big place, so it never got too awful. Lots of food trucks and a ton of booths and vendors – I didn’t get any books, knick knacks, shirts, or anything else, but next time I might not be so lucky. Next time I might come with a wish list of books that I need to pick up, but then I’ll have to carry them around and lug them on the subway…

The first panel we saw was moderated by Wil Wheaton, with favorite author John Scalzi, and new-to-me author TJ Klune. Talking about how to write speculative fiction in our bizarre political and social era. Excellent discussion. Baseline assumption as stated by Scalzi, “FASCISM FUCKING SUCKS!” No argument here!

Our second panel was the main reason that I got off my ass and made it to the event this year. Writer Chuck Wendig was there, the first time I’ve ever been able to see him live.

This panel was moderated by Ivy Pochoda, with Danielle Trussoni and Nikki Erlick also participating. It was about “magical objects” being used in their speculative fiction or horror novels. Another excellent panel, and I’ll need to be picking up some of the books from Ms. Trussoni and Mrs. Erlick to see what they were talking about, their novels sound fascinating.

(Photo: Michi Willett)

So, a good day of adventuring! Off my ass, out of my comfort zone, out doing interesting and stimulating things, and meeting up with Wonderful Daughter Two for the day. And I got all of my steps in for the day, and then some. Even my watch is happy!

Tomorrow I’ll sleep in late and then do nothing except sit on my butt, with maybe a nap or two thrown in for good measure. Maybe.

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Family, Los Angeles, Paul, Photography, Writing

February 16, 2025 · 23:22

Paul Was WRONG – February 16th

Let’s be clear, the fact that I messed up isn’t worthy of a headline all in and of itself – that’s a pretty common experience, actually.

But this one was rather glaring and I’m pissed about it, so it’s earned.

Yesterday’s post went on and on about LA’s “Great Park” and how most of LA doesn’t seem to know that it even exists. Well, that’s in part because it’s the Grand Park, not the “Great Park.” Specifically, the Gloria Molina Grand Park.

(Image: Google Maps)

FYI – Gloria Molina was a prominent local politician who was on the LA County Board of Supervisors for 23 years and also served on the California State Assembly and the LA City Board of Supervisors.

And, to be fair, there *IS* a “Great Park” just down the freeway a bit, in Irvine, in Orange County. Still, I shouldn’t have gotten them mixed up.

Also, one final bit, which I don’t often do – a big thumbs up to go see the current production at the Ahmanson of “Sondheim’s Old Friends” starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. It’s at the Ahmanson through March 9th, then in New York City starting March 25th. GO!! It’s spectacular! Over the past several years that we’ve had season tickets for the Ahmanson we’ve seen some amazing productions (and one or two clunkers) but last night had to be one of the best. Highly recommended.

I will now go have myself flogged for yesterday’s egregious error.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles

October 5, 2024 · 19:54

The 2024-25 Ahmanson/Taper Season Begins

Starting with a performance at the Mark Taper Forum.

A MUCH smaller space than the Ahmanson.

And while it might again be pushing 100°F in The Valley, down here in Downtown after sunset it’s downright chilly.

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles, Photography

August 3, 2024 · 19:43

Ahmanson – End Of Another Season

I’m often referred to as being clueless, so we’ll see if being here tonight helps.

I do wonder if the finale and resolution changes from performance to performance – has anyone else seen this production so we can compare notes?

LATE EDIT – I checked with one of the ushers about the ending changing from show to show. “Sadly, no!”

Leave a comment

Filed under Entertainment, Los Angeles, Photography