Monthly Archives: June 2009

Events

ACS Relay for Life

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I noticed I’ve done quite a few stories on charitable events and organizations for Downtownster lately. When Stan hired me, some months ago, I said that I wanted to cover people. I’m like a portrait artist, in that I depend on the inspiration I get from the people I choose to write about, to fill my articles with life. My writing goes where the people go, and the people I’m meeting lately are coincidentally all involved in philanthropic pursuits. This is new territory for me, and I am very happy to be learning more about how downtown Los Angeles citizens give back.

It was at the Bottega Louie grand opening party that Stan introduced me to Carmen Rodriguez, the Assistant Vice President for City Bank. I floated around lost in the mingling crowds until Carmen took me under her wing and together we set about exploring the event together. Right away it was obvious that this was a woman who has many friends, is involved in many aspects of the community, and radiates life in all directions, like a bright sun.

When I got a forward from Stan asking me to write a piece on the upcoming American Cancer Society Relay for Life event downtown, I was delighted to see that my contact for the story would be Carmen. Continue reading ACS Relay for Life →

Sports

Heating Up The Ice

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Did you happen to catch last night’s Finals Game? 

Yes, there was a game last night. 

Wait, you mean you missed it?
Wow.

How could you miss the gutsy performance by the Pittsburgh Penguins as they took the Stanley Cup from the defending champion Detroit Red Wings? It was almost too perfect.

Hockey needed this series – something to remind fans this is a competitive and electrifying sport, something to solicit new fans and leave them wanting to see more. It was a fight to the very end.

Pittsburgh was literally against all odds Friday. They had not won a championship in 17 years. Detroit on the other hand, was looking for its fifth Cup since 1997, its 12th overall. Home teams had won 12 out of 14 times the Cup went to Game Seven. And prior to Friday’s loss, Detroit had only dropped one playoff game at home (11-1) Continue reading Heating Up The Ice →

Dining

Bottle Rock Media Dinner Review

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Upon entering the downtown Bottle Rock we were struck by stark modernity.  The room is made of cast concrete: bearing walls, interior walls and both cylindrical and square pillars supporting a twelve foot-high ceiling.  Straight ahead was a twenty-stool bar, half of which is dedicated to a show kitchen with pristine half-inch plate glass separating bar guests from the white-jacketed culinary staff.   The three-inch thick slab of bar top itself, as well as the low cocktail tables in the lounge and the bathroom counters, is made of a material we guessed could be the source of the wine bar’s name.  It is a sort of “bottle rock”.  This grey-based composite looks as though semi-precious stones are mixed in, such as tiger’s-eye, Lapis Lazuli and malachite but actually, it’s all recycled wine and beer bottles.  There are eighteen carefully chosen beer taps featuring several selections not even found at The Yardhouse. Continue reading Bottle Rock Media Dinner Review →

Good, Bad, and Ugly

So You Want To Be A Live Studio Audience?

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When a friend invited me to attend the first CBS studio taping of So You Think You Can Dance (now in its 5th season), I did not think of it as a journalistic opportunity. However, on reflection, I was given no notice or instruction toward discretion, nor was I consigned to a grim and lengthy legal disclaimer, so, despite my lateness, a post seems the order of the day.  Some of what I will say will be on view from 8 – 10 o’clock Wednesday on the FOX network, but I will make it my aim to enclose details that television viewers may be ignorant of. Even for fellow Angelenos, details of the movements and events inside a television studio lot are varyingly mysterious. Many have had their separate adventure to a taping of this or that, but, as I quickly found, separate shows offer separate experiences. No two are alike – or even similar. Continue reading So You Want To Be A Live Studio Audience? →

Arts & Culture

My Travels with Stan & Co. – Part Three

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As we came down the impassible sidewalks Stan addressed Ana and I thusly, “I’m kind of hungry.  How do you feel?  It’s almost nine and I haven’t eaten”.

“It’s almost nine?”  I said incredulously.

“Yeah, it is. Time goes by real fast on these Art Walks,” Stan explained.
 
“I could stand a bite,” said Ana with feminine reserve.
 
“I’m definitely hungry.  That’s why I was at the back of the gallery risking swine flu at the table with the crackers and dip,” I said enthusiastically.

“Should we go to the Nickel Diner?” asked Stan.  “Have you been to the Nickel Diner?” he continued, looking at us both considerately.  “It’s right over here,” gesturing with an open hand outstretched in a diagonal line from the near intersection.

Ana said she hadn’t, as did I, but I added: “I read your review of it though…sounds good.”

We were all in agreement as we reached the corner of Spring and 6th and turned toward Main. Continue reading My Travels with Stan & Co. – Part Three →

Sports

Stan’s Push for Stan’s Cup

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Yesterday, Stan (Stan Lerner) asked me to write about the Stanley Cup. At first I thought he was speaking about some shameless self-promotion. Then I thought, “Well, there is the original bowl, the authenticated Cup and the replica at the Hall of Fame.” Of course, I’m kidding.  But when you ask the average person their favorite hockey team, they might chuckle.

The truth is hockey does not get the attention it deserves. Seriously. Have you seen a game? Have you seen a game live? It’s incredible.

The atmosphere is unmatched and you actually feel like you are feet away from the action. And of course, humans are for some reason intrinsically attracted to violence. As we all know, hockey harbors bare-knuckled showdowns.

But professional hockey also showcases athleticism and skill. Yes, there is sport behind the squabble. Did you realize the Stanley Cup Finals are underway? Continue reading Stan’s Push for Stan’s Cup →

Thought Tools

Weightless Work

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Terry really didn’t feel like mowing the lawn. Nevertheless, he cranked up the mower and got to work.  For the first half hour Terry grumbled.  During the next half hour, he was silent.  An hour into the job, he began to whistle and then to sing.  When the job was done and his lawn looked like a golf green, Terry was so elated he was sorry his work was finished.

Just occasionally, when we undertake a much detested duty, we find the task sweeping us along in a rapture of enthusiasm.  Wouldn’t it be useful if we knew how to approach all our tasks so they lift us and carry us along to completion as a cresting wave carries the ebullient surfer towards the shore? Continue reading Weightless Work →

Sports

Show Some Enthusiasm – USC’s Floyd Resigns

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About a year ago, USC basketball coach Tim Floyd was offered the coaching job at Louisiana State, his alma mater. Floyd respectfully declined, saying, “This is my last job at SC.”

In April, Floyd turned down an offer from Arizona to fill a vacancy created by the departure of longtime head coach Lute Olson.

“This is still my last job,” he said.

Floyd may be correct in his statement. He resigned Tuesday in the midst of an NCAA investigation. The investigation stems from allegations that Floyd gave money to a “handler” under the agreement O.J. Mayo would sign with USC. Continue reading Show Some Enthusiasm – USC’s Floyd Resigns →

Events

No Place Like It

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At a fashionably late 7:30, the downtownster crowd of three left the wine tasting and headed to the Emerald City, recently relocated to FIDM. We sauntered up to the tables with the all important lists, past a half dozen Dorothy’s and dropped our names. The proverbial little green door slammed shut as we realized our names never made it to the press or guest list. My feet started to ache in my impossibly high red heels.

“We are from downtownster.com, here with Judy Yaras,” said Stan.

“Now that’s a horse of a different color, go on in.”

We turned to see just a glimpse of a 70-foot, neon green hot air balloon that tinted the entire entryway emerald. I was dressed to the nines in my heels and slinky black dress feeling 5-years-old smack in the middle of my favorite childhood musical. I wanted to skip down the yellow carpet, try on all the sparkly red shoes and ride off in the balloon. This night was a dream in the making from our first step inside.

We took in the scene for a second, checking out who all the cameras were clicking for, soaking in the giant image of Dorothy and her traveling friends on the balloon, then made our way to the bar where we uncovered another gem of the evening. Continue reading No Place Like It →

Good, Bad, and Ugly

MOVIE REVIEW: DOWNLOADING NANCY–good

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Leave it to Maria Bello to tackle one of the most challenging and controversial film roles of the year.  Always known for her diversity, not to mention gutsy, fearless and often eclectic performances, with DOWNLOADING NANCY, Bello reaches the pinnacle of her thus far seen vast talents, turning in a performance as Nancy that is mesmerizing, disturbing, interesting and dripping in Oscar gold.

Nancy is a severely disturbed young woman with sadomasochism rooted deep in her psyche.  Stemming from painful sexual abuse as a young child at the hands of her uncle, Nancy’s perceptions were inexplicably altered for life, causing her to understand that pain is pleasure and pain is love and that by allowing someone to cause you pain when it gives them pleasure is a way of returning love. Continue reading MOVIE REVIEW: DOWNLOADING NANCY–good →