Rainy Day at the Movies Part 2

An exploration of Los Angeles' film gems continues.

Gorgeous Historic Theaters

• The best way to experience these masterpieces is to subscribe to the Los Angeles Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats series, now in its 24th year, which screens classic films in the various historic theaters of Los Angeles. The preliminary schedule for this season is below. Tickets will go on sale March 31 for Conservancy members. As if the movies themselves weren't excellent enough to draw out the masses, the sheer beauty of these architectural landmarks will knock you out.

May 26           How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)         Los Angeles Theatre

June 2             Strangers on a Train (1951)                                                        Million Dollar Theatre 

June 9             American Graffiti (1973)                                                             Orpheum Theatre

June 16           The Graduate (1967)                                                                   Los Angeles Theatre

June 23           Flor silvestre (Wild Flower) (1967)                                             Million Dollar Theatre

June 30           Peter Pan (1924)                                                                         Orpheum Theatre

Film Club of Note

• LACMA's Film Club, newly minted after some controversy over the suspension of the museum's film programming, has roused the support of director Martin Scorsese, among hundreds of other Los Angeles film enthusiasts and cinephiles. LACMA is promoting the Film Club this February by giving away tickets to two Clint Eastwood screenings of your choice. Screenings of The Essential Clint Eastwood series begin February 12, 2010.

Rainy Day at the Movies Part 1

A rainy day in Los Angeles is the perfect time to explore its many film-related gems. This three-part series will do just that, covering outstanding independent theaters, historic landmarks dating back to the Hollywood Golden Age, local film festivals and screening events, and a profile of a seasoned actor who's created a community of filmmakers online.

First, some local plugs:

• ZUMA VIDEO & MUSIC While I do enjoy the instant watch feature of Netflix, nothing quite compares to roaming the aisles of a physical video store, scanning the covers for interesting titles and graphics, and engaging in a little people-watching while stumbling across long-forgotten favorites. Not a bad place to pop into for some cinematic fare while waiting for your order from Point Pizza.
• MALIBU CINEMAS This two-screen theater is right in the hub of the Cross Creek shopping center, often a site for local film star run-ins, and one of the few purveyors of out-of-this-world Malibu Toffee. 
• MALIBU FILM FESTIVAL Founded by David Katz, this showcase of international film from cutting-edge independent filmmakers is world-famous. The 11th edition of the festival is currently accepting film entries online.

Exceptional Independent Theaters

• The Laemmle Theater in Santa Monica always screens great independent art films. Right now it's showing A Single Man  (directed by fashion designer Tom Ford) and An Education, both of which I want to see! There are other Laemmles around town, too.
• The American Cinematique, a non-profit, has two venues - The Aero Theater in Santa Monica and The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. They produce a fantastic programming line-up, often with double-features and themed screening events. Two of the best places to see classic film on the big screen! Sign up for their newsletter to stay in the know. Volunteer opportunities, too.
• Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater - My friend introduced me to this historic site, home of the only silent movie theater in America still in operation. The first Wednesday of every month (as well as random Sundays) feature silent films and shorts, complete with live musical accompaniment! The whole experience is a hoot: the guy who plays the organ has been playing for about 80 years running, though his deft and expressive fingers don't show any signs of slowing! In addition to silent films, Cinefamily screens all kinds of weird and wacky films. Double feature Fridays and animation Tuesdays are other calendar highlights. Their website features a great collection of silent film excerpts for your YouTubing pleasure, with a bit of insightful background about each upcoming film.

• ArcLight Theater at the Cinerama Dome - No list of cinemas in Los Angeles would be complete without mentioning the ArcLight. The ArcLight is like the Rolls Royce of movie theaters. You walk in, you're impressed by the vastness of the "departure board" and its offerings, buy your ticket and select your seat (if you haven't already done so online), do a little pre-movie shopping in the bookshop, have a bit of wine in the bar, and then settle into a plush seat in an immaculate theater. Then your host greets you and stays in the theater to ensure a "perfect" movie-going experience. They take this experience very seriously, and even have a specifically designated website to point out all the unique features of an ArcLight visit. Pricey, but worth it. This particular location (there's another one in Sherman Oaks) utilizes the iconic 1963 geodesic Cinerama Dome, which, with its ultra-wide screen and domed ceiling, makes movie-going here an event.

L.A. Bus Tours: Not Just for Star Homes

In a well-advised move, the Los Angeles City Council announced today that it has rejected a proposal that would have eliminated funding for its $4 million-dollar-a-year art grants program. The proposal sought to discontinue the 1% earmarking of hotel room charges, in place since 1989. The Angeleno art community rallied to ensure such a rejection, urging art enthusiasts and citizens to participate in a letter campaign to the council, organized by Arts for L.A., an art advocacy group. ForYourArt, which produces maps and a weekly newsletter promoting patronage of the arts in Los Angeles, had posted the following appeal on its website, excerpted here:

As you know, arts and culture are important economic drivers for Los Angeles, and are an important part of our economic recovery... With no plan for reinstituting this dedicated source of revenue, this motion could mean the end of public investment for arts and culture for generations to come.

Now that the threat to the art grants program has been removed, the council can continue its important support of such landmarks as the Watts Towers and programs such as the MAK Center's upcoming "How Many Billboards? Art in Stead" project, a large-scale urban exhibition which debuts new work of 21 contemporary artists across billboards this Friday. This 5-week project will feature a special exhibition at the MAK Center, as well as bus tours for viewing the billboards across town.

Check out the map of the billboard locations, and plan to get out to see the art! Now you'll know what you're staring at while stuck in traffic.

MAK Center for Art & Architecture

835 North Kings Road
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 651-1510

First Vintage Fashion Expo of the Year

This weekend marks the first of three vintage fashion expositions at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. (Two other dates are scheduled for San Francisco). Vintage lovers from all over alight on Santa Monica for this spectacular event, paying extra for the early morning exclusivity of first pick. Burlesque star and fashionista Dita von Teese has been known to peruse the sale, joining the serious early bird crowd for prime shopping.

Here are this year's details:

Saturday, February 6, 2010 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at Pico & Main

• Early Buying: 9-10:30 am | tickets $20 at the door | Saturday only
• Regular hours: 10:30am-6pm | tickets $10 at the door

Sunday, February 7, 2010 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at Pico & Main

• Regular hours: 11am-5pm | tickets $10 at the door
• Students admitted free with student I.D. | Sunday only

Silver Lake's BYO Produce Phenom

Forage operates under a similar mindset as the Fallen Fruit collective: engage the community in the hunt for locally grown food. If you're a "home grower" of oranges, herbs, avocados, or exotic citrus, the Silver Lake restaurant is "actively foraging" for your "home crop". The chef announces via website "Forage me this!" with plans to create any number of delicious creations out of locals' "miniharvests". Once they've reported their goods by emailing Amanda, local foragers can redeem their crops for restaurant credit. Genius!

Foraging updates are also posted on the website, announcing any and all news relating to the forage process:

FORAGE RESPONSETUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 6:30 AM

Lemons

Status: In the Kitchen / On the Menu

Many home growers have been either reporting their lemon crop, or bringing in their lemons. The community has a lot of lemon trees. Now we have a lot of lemons. We've got lemons in the kitchen and they will be making it on to this week's menu.

Update: Lemon forager Sonja/Sonya, if you are reading this, or if anyone who knows you is reading this, we are looking for the spelling of your name. When we put your item on the menu, we want your name to be spelled correctly.

Update: Spelling of Sonya's name has been confirmed. Her lemons are on the menu as Sonya's Silver Lake Lemonade.

Update: Photo story on the making of Sonya's Silver Lake Lemonade

Update: Lemon Meringue Pie: Local lemons participate in this decadent conspiracy of tangy citrus curd and dreamy clouds of meringue, all embraced in a butter pastry crust.

Forage

3823 W. Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90026

323-663-6885

You can follow Forage on Twitter.

UPDATE: Here's a look at this week's menu highlights.

Spotlight on Fallen Fruit

I first heard about the artist collective Fallen Fruit last summer when they had an installation at L.A.C.E. Gallery in Los Angeles. The idea behind the show - using film and still photography to explore the social, political and pop history of the banana - both intrigued and amused me. With the catchy and provocative title "Are You Happy to See Me?" the project managed to be playful and engaging while examining a dark history. I always appreciate unique and innovative ways to make relevant subjects palatable - even savory! - for the masses, and United Fruit, the collective's first solo show, epitomized this for me.

In addition to its more traditional artistic endeavors, Fallen Fruit is an activist art project which promotes the utilization of "public fruit", fruit that grows on public property. The project began as a mapping of all the public fruit in the artists' neighborhood, and developed into a series of inspired projects all relating to fruit, and often with interactive features to engage the local community members. Check for a Fallen Fruit Public Fruit Map in your area. (For more about public fruit, look for upcoming post about Forage Restaurant).

Current projects include:

• Show Us How You Eat A Facebook-driven project asking the public to submit one-minute video clips of themselves eating
• The Loneliest Fruit In the World A film documenting a group of Norwegian berry-foragers
• Accion de Fruta Urbana A two-week residency in Madrid
• The Fruit of LACMA Includes art from LACMA's permanent collection, specially-commissioned pieces including fruit wall paper, anecdotes from the collective and more

LACMA and Fallen Fruit have recently come together for EATLACMA, and I can't wait to see the results! The LACMA website describes the collaboration between the collective and the museum thus:

EATLACMA is a year-long investigation into food, art, culture and politics. EATLACMA's projects consider food as a common ground that explores the social role of art and ritual in community and human relationships. EATLACMA unfolds seasonally, with artist's gardens planted and harvested on the museum campus, hands-on public events, and a concurrent exhibition, Fallen Fruit Presents The Fruit of LACMA (June 27-November 7, 2010). EATLACMA is curated by Fallen Fruit—David Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin Young-and LACMA curator Michele Urton.

The high profile of LACMA is certainly a tremendous boon for Fallen Fruit, whose collaboration has recently been featured on the local NBC website.

This weekend, EATLACMA kicks off its first two events in the yearlong series:

• Plant the Perimeter Fruit Tree Giveaway | Saturday, February 6 | 12noon | Free, no reservations | OFFSITE at Watts Towers Art Center and Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center | event will end at 3pm, or whenever trees run out
• Plant the Perimeter Fruit Tree Giveaway | Sunday, February 7 | 12 noon | Free, no reservations | BP Grand Entrance, Los Angeles County Museum of Art | event will end at 3pm, or whenever trees run out

For updates on where you can find public fruit in and around Los Angeles, follow Fallen Fruit on Twitter. Last week they publicized a fallen grapefruit branch, heavily laden with luscious citrus!

UPDATE: Great article about Fallen Fruit's project with LACMA here.

Giving Is the New Buying

Pepsi and Los Angeles-based GOOD have recently forged a relationship whereby the soft drink company will sponsor several funded projects facilitated by GOOD, the burgeoning change-agent platform for "people who give a damn".

In a recent report, Pepsi has announced it will forgo a $20 million dollar ad during this year's Super Bowl in order to divert those funds toward its "Pepsi Refresh Project", a charitable sponsorship in partnership with GOOD. This, to me, seems like a brilliant way for the company to not only keep Pepsi's brand in the public eye, but to associate it with cutting-edge efforts that are working to make the world better.

As a member non-profit world, its exciting to see a global power like Pepsi take the helm toward innovative ways to make a difference that is both profitable and sustainable. I hope other corporations take notice and follow suit. Often, these partnerships are charity-driven, such as in the UNICEF France doll project in which all the huge brands of France sponsored the creation of dolls to be auctioned for charity, and as in the Susan G. Komen Foundation's tie-ins with everything from yogurt to Major League baseball.

I like the hands-on approach Pepsi has taken, especially since the expertise is in the hands of GOOD. Pepsi will be giving away $1,300,000 a month - and the public can vote where those funds go. All you need to do is submit your email and create a password, and you can vote for up to 10 different projects in a day. (See below for some Los Angeles-based projects.) Read more about how it works.

Vote to support these local projects up for grants:

• EAT LACMA According to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's twitter feed, LACMA is "in the running for a grant to fund artists' projects, on-site gardens & public programs." For more information about this project, visit the LACMA website and follow Fallen Fruit on Twitter.
• SABEResPODER Create a digital handbook to the American Dream.
• LA CAUSA YouthBuild Send East L.A. dropouts to a green residency program at UCLA.
• Community Services Unlimited, Inc. Grow food, health, jobs and justice at an urban farm in South Central Los Angeles.
• Imagine LA Allow five families to permanently exit homelessness and poverty.
• Robert Essertier Manufacture a proven, extraordinarily efficient wind turbine.
• Give Your Sole Attend marathon races and collect shoes to give people in need in the U.S.
• FirstGlance Film Festivals KidFest Create a traveling children's film festival
• Ashley Lara Provide 6 Smartboards for for minority, low-income first grade classrooms
• West Valley Pop Warner Pay field usage fee for 175 football players and 50 cheerleaders.
• Springboard Biodiesel Build a network of low-cost, multifeedstock biodiesel production sites

As a sidenote to be explored in further depth in a future post, I'd like to also recognize Disney for it's "Give A Day, Get A Day" volunteer incentive program that has produced a tremendous response of volunteers at The Wellness Community-West Los Angeles, where I work. Like PepsiCo, Disney is utilizing not only it's substantial resources for good, but also spreading awareness for so many great causes. Bravo!

LISTS

The following is an exercise inspired by Umberto Eco's guest curation at the Louvre, on view in Paris through December 13, 2009. In a fascinating interview with SPIEGEL, Eco attests to the "irresistible magic" of lists and explains the paradoxical manner in which the list is both a liberating and limiting tool, used to express the infinite in a finite way. Here's a cool video featuring Eco and his interesting take on lists.

A List of Lists: Men Describing Qualities of Women

1. Cake, "Short Skirt, Long Jacket"

I want a girl

with a mind like a diamond

who knows what's best

who gets up early

who stays up late

with fingernails that shine like justice

who's fast and thorough and sharp as a tack

with a short skirt and a long jacket

2. Kings of Leon, "Milk"

She saw my comb-over

Her hourglass body

She had problems with drinking milk and being school-tardy

She'll loan you her toothbrush

She'll bartend your party

3. Bob Dylan, "Just Like a Woman"

She takes just like a woman, yes, she does

She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does

And she aches just like a woman

But she breaks just like a little girl.

4. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"

Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,

Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,

Ain't nothing please me more than you

5. Tom Jones, "She's a Lady"

Well she knows what I'm about,

She can take what I dish out and that's not easy

Well she knows me through and through,

She knows just what to do, and how to please me

She's a lady. Whoa, whoa, whoa, she's a lady

6. Elton John, "Tiny Dancer"

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band

Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man

Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand

And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

7. The Rolling Stones, "You Got the Silver"

You got my heart, you my soul

You got the silver, you the gold

You got the diamonds from the mine,

That's alright, it'll buy some time

Perhaps a list is the best way to approximate je ne se quois ...?

PC Greens - Healthy Outpost on the Coast

I LOVE Pacific Coast Greens. They sell all the healthy food that I can't find at Ralph's or Pavillions. I picked up some raw/vegan goodies yesterday and the whole shopping experience made me so happy! Everything smells so good and fresh in there!

Here's what I got:

• four different flavors or Larabars (to taste test)
• 24 oz of Evolution's Pink Grapefruit juice (I am addicted)
• Sunshine Burger patties in the Garden Herb flavor
• Kombucha in the Raspberry flavor
• ready-made raw kale salad

Pacific Coast Greens

22601 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265-5856
(310) 456-0353

"World's Most Stylist Cities" according to Forbes

Here's a piece of an article written in Forbes detailing the world's most stylist cities. (Los Angeles was deemed #6.)

"Why the rush of talent flowing out of Los Angeles? The same could be said of all the other cities on the list, actually. Style-conscious cities, in general, benefit from the disruptive innovation a financial downturn often conjures. While the recession has undoubtedly hurt all of these cities' economies, it's also allowed creative types to take chances and chase their dreams simply because there's less to lose.

What's bad for the economy, it seems, is good for style. And every city on the list--whether it's geared more toward architecture, fashion, or product design--has something the Parisians understand better than anyone: je ne sais quoi."

This falls in line with the idea behind 'creative as savior' that I mention in "Detroit, the new Brooklyn?". Creative-type/Creator creates Something where there once was nothing. Artist conceives design that attracts attention, attention begets buzz, buzz generates revenue, revenue attracts other artists, and the process continues and evolves, constantly filling vacuums.

If a void (absence of money, restrictions, occupation) paradoxically creates space for Creation, this is good news for our economy. If artists are the creators who renew society and generate intellectual and economic momentum, then there is all the more reason to fund the Arts.

Here's the complete list:

10. Barcelona

9. San Francisco

8. Madrid

7. Tokyo

6. Los Angeles

5. Rome

4. London

3. New York

2. Milan

1. Paris

Do You Need An Ass-Kicking?

For those of you who don't know about Jenna Phillips or her amazing program "Mission Possible", check her out immediately. I've been attending her outdoor workout sessions on and off for about a year, but keep myself in line by reading her blog on new foods she's trying, health tips and other motivational tidbits. She is the most positive, bubbly, insightful trainer who really walks the walk. I can't wait to do a whole week with her!

www.jennaphillips.com

@JennaPhillips

Update: She now has an exclusively dedicated Twitter feed for Mission: Possible called @YouArePossible.

Detroit, the new Brooklyn?

Now, some people compare downtown Los Angeles and even Venice Beach to various cities in Brooklyn, and I dislike the patronizing insinuation that L.A. is only a lesser version of New York. However, I can appreciate the notion that somewhat dodgy towns can re-invent themselves with the arrival of avant garde (or, perhaps more accurately - struggling artist) inhabitants. Both Downtown and Venice have been re-born in this manner, and both boast an increasinly rich variety of culinary and cultural offerings. (Of the two, I prefer Downtown).

The latest broken-down city to herald the emergence of broke, young artists is none other than Detroit, Michigan. What a tremendous boon for the city who has seen nothing but turmoil, unraveling hopes and bankruptcy the last few years. With the Kresge Foundation's grant of $450,000 to 18 visual artists, it appears a similar renaissance could be on the horizon for Motor City, as well. See Flavorwire for more info.

On a selfish level, I like to think of the young, poor and creative as the saviors of society. With little in the way of responsibility, and few materials to tinker with, these are the ones who dare to think outside the established order. Few distractions and even fewer restrictions in the presence of a burning desire to survive spark some of the world's best ideas. Desperation can also be debilitating, so keep it coming, Patrons of the Arts.

(Note to L.A.'s resident billionaires - Grab a clue from Eli Broad (the man knows a thing or two about smart investments) and support your city's art scene! MOCA, LACMA & others are more than storehouses of pretty crap - they fuel dreams and inspire revolutions. Duh.)

Photograph by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre

Continuuing the Conversation about CORKBAR

Corkbar now has a special night called "Test Kitchen Tuesdays". The chef (Albert Aviles) prepares taster-sized portions of "new, market-driven" dishes that aren't yet featured in the regular menu. Each item is $2. Been meaning to go back to check this out! (FYI, this goes on every Tuesday, starting at 5pm, until the food runs out).

I've also been meaning to check out Gjelina in Venice. Carlo Mondavi (of Mondavi winery) recommends the food. I'll also have to check out Continuum!

Corkbar

403 W. 12th Street (South Park section of DTLA)

Los Angeles, CA 90015

213-746-0050

UPDATES:

Corkbar now features jazz on Sundays from 5-9pm with great wine & beer deals AND delivers locally!

Profane Oversight!

Tony's is my new favorite bar.

While The Varnish is still my favorite place to weave glamour and subterfuge into my life, and reigning home of the best hand-crafted cocktail, I love the masculinity of Tony's and how I feel being amidst it.

It's in the Arts District downtown, though at night the surrounding area is pretty deserted. The decor, ambience, menu, music and manager are all perfect and lovely and just right. Tony's has been reclaimed by Cedd Moses and the 213 group, and I'm sure that it will be reaping the rewards of foresight sooner than later. I don't know if a downtown neighborhood saloon could get any more neighborhood-y or saloon-y.

Ode to Cheese

Went to Andrew's Cheese Shop on Montana yesterday for the first time, and fell in love. Both Andrew and his many cheeses are so delightful, and I'll be going back soon!

I got some cheese to go with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon I had and those chocolate caramels with the salt on top. I think they are made in Seattle. Anyway, the cheese is of the Langres variety and here's what the little notecard Andrew gave me reads:

"Very rare washed-rind cow's milk cheese from Champagne, France. Pretty flavors of fried eggs and butter. Dump some Champagne into the concave top before you eat this cheese if you want to freak out."

Ah, who doesn't want to 'freak out' over cheese?! Andrew is a doll - he even makes his own mozzarella. I'll be going back for some of that...

Today I was running errands for work around Cedars and stopped into Petrossian for lunch. I've been meaning to go there for a while now, and knew the minute I took a look at the menu that I was in heaven - I ordered the 321 Salad with smoked salmon, avocados and burrata. Splendid!! Savored every bite. Kind of pricey, but so worth it. It felt so decadent for lunch, especially when a chocolate truffle preceded the bill.

Los Angeles, I love you.