Wednesday, January 11, 2006
JAN 11: DESIGN MATTERS (AND IS VERY INTERESTING) at PDC
"DESIGN MATTERS" Conversation Series continues Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 7 PM.
Location: Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA.
Admission: $12; students and seniors, $5 MOCAD members, free.
Title: "WHERE STUFF COMES FROM"
A toaster is not just a toaster, but a map to the world according to Harvey Molotch, author of the award-winning “Where Stuff Comes From: How Toasters, Toilets, Cars, Computers and May Other Things Come to Be As They Are” (Routledge, 2003). In this conversation, the second of the Museum of California Design’s series DESIGN MATTERS, Molotch, a particularly perceptive observer, will explore the ways in which the look, the touch, and the mechanics of everyday products reflect our culture and our economy. He believes that if we want more socially and environmentally benign products, we need to understand our current product system in order for a new design politics to result in a better world. Bill Stern, director of the Museum of California Design, will moderate the discussion.
Harvey Molotch is Director of the Program in Metropolitan Studies and Professor of Sociology and Metropolitan Studies at New York University and was Professor of Sociology and Chair of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Michigan and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Among Molotch’s numerous awards is the 2003 Lifetime Career Achievement Award from the American Sociological Association (Urban & Community Studies Section).
Location: Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA.
Admission: $12; students and seniors, $5 MOCAD members, free.
Title: "WHERE STUFF COMES FROM"
A toaster is not just a toaster, but a map to the world according to Harvey Molotch, author of the award-winning “Where Stuff Comes From: How Toasters, Toilets, Cars, Computers and May Other Things Come to Be As They Are” (Routledge, 2003). In this conversation, the second of the Museum of California Design’s series DESIGN MATTERS, Molotch, a particularly perceptive observer, will explore the ways in which the look, the touch, and the mechanics of everyday products reflect our culture and our economy. He believes that if we want more socially and environmentally benign products, we need to understand our current product system in order for a new design politics to result in a better world. Bill Stern, director of the Museum of California Design, will moderate the discussion.
Harvey Molotch is Director of the Program in Metropolitan Studies and Professor of Sociology and Metropolitan Studies at New York University and was Professor of Sociology and Chair of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Michigan and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Among Molotch’s numerous awards is the 2003 Lifetime Career Achievement Award from the American Sociological Association (Urban & Community Studies Section).
For more information about the DESIGN MATTERS conversation series log on to www.mocad.org or call 323.930.2700. This series is sponsored by Super-Max® Corporation.
JAN 11 - FEB 26: Remembering Ricky Nelson at MTR
Remembering Ricky Nelson at MTR
Museum of TV and Radio, Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills
January 11 to February 26, 2006
Wednesdays to Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
The rarely seen documentary, It's All Right Now Rick Nelson, which was produced by acclaimed filmmakers Lynne Littman (Testament) and Taylor Hackford (Ray), will screen along with an original 1966 musical, On the Flip Side, that stars Nelson and includes songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
www.mtr.org
Museum of TV and Radio, Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills
January 11 to February 26, 2006
Wednesdays to Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
The rarely seen documentary, It's All Right Now Rick Nelson, which was produced by acclaimed filmmakers Lynne Littman (Testament) and Taylor Hackford (Ray), will screen along with an original 1966 musical, On the Flip Side, that stars Nelson and includes songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
www.mtr.org
Monday, January 09, 2006
ROSE BOWL RECAP 2006
For your reading pleasure, here is perhaps the only Rose Bowl review on the entire Web done in haiku. Ready? Here goes:
Texas won. Tis true.
USC: lossless no more.
Vince -- in-vince-able.
What's that? My haiku is great, but what about the Rose Parade, you say. Well, I like the idea of putting a full day between the Parade and the Bowl, it gives each event a chance to shine, rain or shine. One site I recommend for more info on the parade is the Wikipedia page about the Tournament of Roses Parade. There, you can learn all about the History, the Parade, the Bands, Grand Marshals of the Parade, the Floats, the quantity of flowers, notable recent floats, and more.
Wikipedia -- what a wonderful winning way to learn on the World Wide Web. Check it out.
And for a great Rose Bowl related story, about one of the greatest hoaxes of all time, which occurred at the Rose Bowl, read all about it at this cool site. Terrific tale, you'll love it.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
EVENT REVIEW: FABULOUS...PR THROWS FAB BASH FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE '06
by Don Rose
Picture this. December 31. You want to send the year off with a bang, at an event that has class, celebs, adventure, scenic view, warm atmosphere AND temperature -- wine women and song -- you know, the whole shebang. Well, thankfully, I was able to experience all that, and more, for I had the pleasure of attending what was arguably the best party in Los Angeles this past Saturday night (if you weren't at the Playboy Mansion, but that is not a public party, to be fair -- and even a male journalist of my lofty stature is not likely to score a ticket unless I sprouted 44DD's). So, where was I, you ask? At the wonderful New Year's Eve bash thrown by Fabulous...PR and Anouar Productions, held at the mansion compound of Eddy and Lucas (names that hipsters and partiers will recognize as hosts of many a swell soiree in LA).
This was not only a very well attended party (around 1900 people during the night), but also a fun fete with great energy (lubricated by the lovely libations that flowed free all night, once you paid your fare for this E-ticket exclusive bash). There were several areas of the hilltop house to go explore, mingle, dance and drink. Also mucho appreciated was the fact that the whole affair was tented, Astroturfed and heatlamped, since it was a cold and rainy night (not to be too Hemingway here -- but more on the wetness later).
There was also a VIP section upstairs, often populated by the celebs who graced the party. They included: actress Natasha Henstridge and her posse (she really looks great, I must say, including excellent posture, which I mention because beauty is one thing but posture and poise is so rarely mentioned anywhere anymore, hence Henstridge always stands out in my book, or at least in my articles).... and there were the Duffs (no, not the heads of the Duff Beer empire, I'm talking Hilary and Haylie, two of the hottest celebutantes in the Hollywood acting arena).... and there was also the guy who played Pedro in Napoleon Dynamite (also known as Efren Ramirez, and I wonder if he made anything from all the ND film spinoff toys I saw overflowing from every store during the holidays -- okay, we know the answer, so let's move on). Also attending were Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Korn, The Pussycat Dolls, a rising young singer named MYC, and Mr. Chris Judd (when he was with Ms. Lopez, why no "Juddifer" shirts?). In addition to the great party, and the chance to stay dry and warm all night, folks who walked the red carpet got another present: cute wristband wristwatches (white stretchy band with watch embedded inside, cool).
I also got to talk with a great guy named Dan Studney, co-writer of REEFER MADNESS; his version (inspired by the thirties cult film) began life as a musical in New York and went on to become an award-winning film on Showtime. It's now on DVD. (Reefer Madness, Weeds... is Showtime becoming the hippest thing on TV or what? Or is it hippiest? I predict it will become either the highest rated network, or the highest.) Another interesting guest I chatted with at the party was Alex Lightman -- technexpert, futurist and book author who runs highly successful conferences exploring the development of newer faster better Internet technologies. If you ever bump into him, first apologize, then ask for 5 minutes of his time, you will learn something.
After spending time interacting with the eclectic crowd and its wide range of attractive and lively guests, we all enjoyed the fun fashion show that showcased beautiful clothes -- as well as supercute bikinis by AnaShe.com (which in retrospect was perfect attire given the wet weather of the evening). After the fashion, 2005's final seconds finally came and went, 2006 arrived on schedule, and the merriment continued into the wee hours -- but no one was really concerned about calendars, it was all about having a good time. (Speaking of time, did you hear the one about Greenwich Mean Time beating up Father Time? Now he's doing time. But that's another story...) Sponsors for the event included AnaShe.com, fashiontv, J.Lazaro and 944 Magazine (a spiffy glossy laid out for guests to read on the comfy Mondrianesque "bed-couches" located in the main area of the party).
All in all, the bash was a huge success. Twas a job well done. Very well done. This was no easy feat, considering the rainy conditions. Sure, a lot of events claim to be "Rain or shine", but they can't always deliver. In fact, New Year's Eve saw two major LA events cancelled (the "Giant Village" downtown and "Gridlock" at Paramount). So, mega kudos to Tracie May and her company, Fabulous...PR, as well as to Anouar Productions and house hosts Eddy and Lucas, for doing what it takes to make sure the event happened on time, with all going off as planned, with minimum hassles for guests. Look for their future parties during this new year; a splendid time is guaranteed for all.
(Final note: working the red carpet at the event was one of my fave photogs, Michael Bezjian; party images are viewable at MichaelBezjian.com -- pix picks from NYE 06!)
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Don Rose is Editor In Chief of “The Rose Review”, an online magazine available at www.therosereview.com . He also serves as writer and editor for “New News Network”, at trrnnn.blogspot.com . He may be reached at ddrose@aol.com .
