Friday, May 19, 2006
May 18-22: BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC: Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen
by Don Rose
(May 18, 2006: Los Angeles CA) Just saw a preview of the BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen Auto Museum, located at Wilshire and Fairfax. This show is, in a word, a must see. Okay, that's three words, but that’s my point: break whatever rules there are and get down to see this show. One of the best art events The LA Report has seen in recent months, because of the diverse works present and the quality of the exhibits. Some highlights include: one booth with the works of two genius artists - Bernard Pras (he perfectly arranges a myriad of colorful objects along with objects in his environment to create one-of-a-kind photos of famous folks - and the objects relate playfully to the subject) and Pavlos (unique works made solely from colored paper), both will expand your mind and Pras will make you think as well as laugh; the photomosaics of Robert Silvers, the surreal colorful paintings of Metin Bereketli (hollywoodpainter.com), Michael Hall's thick-stroke paintings with white gobs like vanilla icecream (imagine if Leroy Neiman painted guitars and other objects using ultrawide brushes), and in the Scott Richards art booth, two perennial favorites of The LA Report from exhibits at Bergamot Station: Patrick Hughes (master of visual illusion and perspective-bending paintings) and Carol Feuerman (who creates near-lifesize sculptures of people so realistic that many do double takes to make sure they aren’t real, and even after you see them, you still are not quite sure). Also loved the popping-off-the-wall Pop Art of Peter Stanick (coming to Museum Works Galleries on Melrose in a big L.A. show June 3, stay tuned for more details); visit his cool site to see more of his work (and remember to wear your headphones and flipflops – the site plays classic surf music as you, well, surf his site). While the art, as you can tell, affected me the most, there were also exquisite antiques throughout the hall, and fine jewelry in several booths.
The May 18 opening night gala featured fine food and open bar (Zone Vodka drinks featured, along with fine wine), plus live music that provided a perfect vibe. Celebs we spotted included Barbara Streisand, hubbie James Brolin, Stella Stevens, the always-tall John Philip Law (you know, star of Barbarella and other classics that thankfully were not forced into remakes), Tim Russ (excellent musician who lived long and prospered as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager), and always-amiable host/MC Fred Travelena (who wowed the crowd with, among other gems, impressions of NINE, count em, NINE presidents in under a minute – from JFK to LBJ to GWB, each doing a few words from the Inauguration swearing-in speech… no swearing needed to elicit laughs from this entertainer). Then there was the booth that featured a Mongolian musician in full regalia playing what looked like a cross between a clarinet and a French horn, then switched to a two-stringed guitaresque instrument as he sang polyphonically. A few feet away a woman painted live, using an attendee as muse and model.
Plus much too much more to mention. You simply must go. The LA Report rates this a must see and must go. Must we keep repeating ourselves?
More info at beverlyhillsclassicshow.com.
(May 18, 2006: Los Angeles CA) Just saw a preview of the BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen Auto Museum, located at Wilshire and Fairfax. This show is, in a word, a must see. Okay, that's three words, but that’s my point: break whatever rules there are and get down to see this show. One of the best art events The LA Report has seen in recent months, because of the diverse works present and the quality of the exhibits. Some highlights include: one booth with the works of two genius artists - Bernard Pras (he perfectly arranges a myriad of colorful objects along with objects in his environment to create one-of-a-kind photos of famous folks - and the objects relate playfully to the subject) and Pavlos (unique works made solely from colored paper), both will expand your mind and Pras will make you think as well as laugh; the photomosaics of Robert Silvers, the surreal colorful paintings of Metin Bereketli (hollywoodpainter.com), Michael Hall's thick-stroke paintings with white gobs like vanilla icecream (imagine if Leroy Neiman painted guitars and other objects using ultrawide brushes), and in the Scott Richards art booth, two perennial favorites of The LA Report from exhibits at Bergamot Station: Patrick Hughes (master of visual illusion and perspective-bending paintings) and Carol Feuerman (who creates near-lifesize sculptures of people so realistic that many do double takes to make sure they aren’t real, and even after you see them, you still are not quite sure). Also loved the popping-off-the-wall Pop Art of Peter Stanick (coming to Museum Works Galleries on Melrose in a big L.A. show June 3, stay tuned for more details); visit his cool site to see more of his work (and remember to wear your headphones and flipflops – the site plays classic surf music as you, well, surf his site). While the art, as you can tell, affected me the most, there were also exquisite antiques throughout the hall, and fine jewelry in several booths.
The May 18 opening night gala featured fine food and open bar (Zone Vodka drinks featured, along with fine wine), plus live music that provided a perfect vibe. Celebs we spotted included Barbara Streisand, hubbie James Brolin, Stella Stevens, the always-tall John Philip Law (you know, star of Barbarella and other classics that thankfully were not forced into remakes), Tim Russ (excellent musician who lived long and prospered as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager), and always-amiable host/MC Fred Travelena (who wowed the crowd with, among other gems, impressions of NINE, count em, NINE presidents in under a minute – from JFK to LBJ to GWB, each doing a few words from the Inauguration swearing-in speech… no swearing needed to elicit laughs from this entertainer). Then there was the booth that featured a Mongolian musician in full regalia playing what looked like a cross between a clarinet and a French horn, then switched to a two-stringed guitaresque instrument as he sang polyphonically. A few feet away a woman painted live, using an attendee as muse and model.
Plus much too much more to mention. You simply must go. The LA Report rates this a must see and must go. Must we keep repeating ourselves?
More info at beverlyhillsclassicshow.com.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
EVENT REVIEW: LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS, BOOK PRIZES & ROCK BOTTOM REMAINDERS
by Don Rose
(Westwood, CA : April 28-30) The annual LA Times Festival Of Books (took place once again in Westwood. What an event, where can I begin. Star authors, exhibitors galore, taking over the entire middle of the UCLA campus on two picture perfect LA days. At the annual LA Times Book Prizes Friday night, Joan Didion was honored as literary luminaries of every stripe came to celebrate the best in lit, then enjoyed fantastic food and drinks at the festive afterparty on the Royce Hall outdoor patio. Saturday night was the benefit for Dave Eggers' fine organization, 826LA, which provides free tutoring for teens -- and the "best selling" band Rock Bottom Remainders (comprised of best-selling authors) rocked Royce. Jake "Brokeback" Gyllenhall was one of the celebs in attendance, and the mix of comedy plus tunes worked well. The best part for me was the before-music comedic bits featuring Dave Barry (attention, Hollywood: give this guy another shot with his own TV show -- he is hilarious, and the Boomer generation is the true hot demographic right now, buds). Dave was introduced as if running for President; after walking up to the stage surrounded by sunglassed guards ("Secret Service" suits played by author Scott Turow and a couple other writers), Barry proceeded to lay out his agenda for America with laugh-inducing lines aplenty. He also took questions (via clever taped-video trickery) from Catherine Cryer and, yes, even Ted Koppell (a two parter from Ted: if you are elected, to quote the last line in the film "The Candidate", "What will you do now"? And then the second part: "What will WE do now?"). Funny stuff, and heck, Dave was so direct yet appealing you almost want to vote for the guy. In the music portion of the evening, Dave led the RBR band in a cute and clever ditty he wrote about his special Proofreading Lady ("...she nevers says 'Between You and I'). Legendary ex-Byrds-man Roger McGuinn, and CBS late late host Craig Ferguson, also graced the stage with the RBR regulars (sans Stephen King, who Barry admitted was "weird" -- see, he is so honest!). The LA Report highly recommends the FoB for next year; it is easily in the Top Ten LA Events every single year.
# # #
(Westwood, CA : April 28-30) The annual LA Times Festival Of Books (took place once again in Westwood. What an event, where can I begin. Star authors, exhibitors galore, taking over the entire middle of the UCLA campus on two picture perfect LA days. At the annual LA Times Book Prizes Friday night, Joan Didion was honored as literary luminaries of every stripe came to celebrate the best in lit, then enjoyed fantastic food and drinks at the festive afterparty on the Royce Hall outdoor patio. Saturday night was the benefit for Dave Eggers' fine organization, 826LA, which provides free tutoring for teens -- and the "best selling" band Rock Bottom Remainders (comprised of best-selling authors) rocked Royce. Jake "Brokeback" Gyllenhall was one of the celebs in attendance, and the mix of comedy plus tunes worked well. The best part for me was the before-music comedic bits featuring Dave Barry (attention, Hollywood: give this guy another shot with his own TV show -- he is hilarious, and the Boomer generation is the true hot demographic right now, buds). Dave was introduced as if running for President; after walking up to the stage surrounded by sunglassed guards ("Secret Service" suits played by author Scott Turow and a couple other writers), Barry proceeded to lay out his agenda for America with laugh-inducing lines aplenty. He also took questions (via clever taped-video trickery) from Catherine Cryer and, yes, even Ted Koppell (a two parter from Ted: if you are elected, to quote the last line in the film "The Candidate", "What will you do now"? And then the second part: "What will WE do now?"). Funny stuff, and heck, Dave was so direct yet appealing you almost want to vote for the guy. In the music portion of the evening, Dave led the RBR band in a cute and clever ditty he wrote about his special Proofreading Lady ("...she nevers says 'Between You and I'). Legendary ex-Byrds-man Roger McGuinn, and CBS late late host Craig Ferguson, also graced the stage with the RBR regulars (sans Stephen King, who Barry admitted was "weird" -- see, he is so honest!). The LA Report highly recommends the FoB for next year; it is easily in the Top Ten LA Events every single year.
# # #
EVENT REVIEW: LOHAS 2006 Annual Conference
by Don Rose
The annual LOHAS conference (April 2006) was wonderful as always, and bigger than ever. Great crowd; dynamic, focused people on a mission. Steve Case, ex-head of AOL (now running Revolution Living and leading Lime (www.lime.com)), gave a passionate speech, comparing the maturing of the LOHAS philosophy and its assimilation into mainstream culture to that once-fringe phenomenon called the Internet. He also mentioned investing in this cool concept where you sign up to become part of a network allowed to use a fleet of cars around a city for short bursts of time, in between public transport, using a car only when you need to, so that a couple dozen people can in effect share one car, cutting down on all the bad effects of too many cars on the road (Flex Car has ads at UCLA, and indeed does seem well suited to students without budget or space for owning a car). The LOHAS setting was beautiful at the Miramar Hotel; in addition to the talks, bungalows hosted themed rooms, including a mini-Japanese expo (saw tile made from plankton that, when wet, dries ultrafast - when sprayed, it is dry in 10 seconds!)... a relax room with PC's, teas, TV's... and a gifting room for VIP's with goodies ranging from Yoga and Narnia DVD's to Biota water (Biodegradeable Bottle - boffo!) to Tom's toothpaste, LOHAS short-sleeve T's and assorted teas (a lot of T's and teas at this conference; speaking of tea, google Steaz green tea soda). Nighttime reception Thursday was warm, friendly, and I liked the Organic furnitute (you heard right). Also loved the magazine titles on display (Ode, Plenty, Worthwhile, among other holistic and green-themed publications). All in all, I rate LOHAS a highly recommended event for 2007 (which will be the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, a theme I hope they explore somehow). www.lohas.com
The annual LOHAS conference (April 2006) was wonderful as always, and bigger than ever. Great crowd; dynamic, focused people on a mission. Steve Case, ex-head of AOL (now running Revolution Living and leading Lime (www.lime.com)), gave a passionate speech, comparing the maturing of the LOHAS philosophy and its assimilation into mainstream culture to that once-fringe phenomenon called the Internet. He also mentioned investing in this cool concept where you sign up to become part of a network allowed to use a fleet of cars around a city for short bursts of time, in between public transport, using a car only when you need to, so that a couple dozen people can in effect share one car, cutting down on all the bad effects of too many cars on the road (Flex Car has ads at UCLA, and indeed does seem well suited to students without budget or space for owning a car). The LOHAS setting was beautiful at the Miramar Hotel; in addition to the talks, bungalows hosted themed rooms, including a mini-Japanese expo (saw tile made from plankton that, when wet, dries ultrafast - when sprayed, it is dry in 10 seconds!)... a relax room with PC's, teas, TV's... and a gifting room for VIP's with goodies ranging from Yoga and Narnia DVD's to Biota water (Biodegradeable Bottle - boffo!) to Tom's toothpaste, LOHAS short-sleeve T's and assorted teas (a lot of T's and teas at this conference; speaking of tea, google Steaz green tea soda). Nighttime reception Thursday was warm, friendly, and I liked the Organic furnitute (you heard right). Also loved the magazine titles on display (Ode, Plenty, Worthwhile, among other holistic and green-themed publications). All in all, I rate LOHAS a highly recommended event for 2007 (which will be the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, a theme I hope they explore somehow). www.lohas.com
EVENT REVIEW: MASTERS OF HORROR Season 2 Launch Party
by Don Rose
Masters of Horror Season 2 Launch Party -- presented by IDT Entertainment and Industry Entertainment -- welcomed VIPs and other guests to promote its new slate of shows on Showtime with a killer party at Hollywood's Ivar club -- a cool celebration of the horror genre and the highly anticipated sophomore season of the horror anthology film series. Attendees I spotted enjoying two levels of food, drinks, go-go dancers and video highlights included director Joe Dante and several other luminaries of the horror field. And the classic horror DVD's given out to guests as parting gifts: very nice touch indeed. A terror-ific time was had by all.
