March 7, 2014
Big Bands, Big Music & Odd Bits

 

This weekend there's snow in the mountains and it's sunny at the beach. Get high as a kite in Redondo Beach at the 40th Annual Festival of the Kite on Sunday.   

 

BIG BAND SWING:

MOUNTAIN HIGH:   

  • Saturday take a free field trip to Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.
  • Saturday and Sunday get high on music at the MinusZero Music Festival at Mountain High in Wrightwood.

ODD BITS:

  MORE:

 

EVEN MORE: Some things are always fun to do... Check out our Places to Go Anytime and Things To Do pages for plenty of ideas that are available on a regular basis.

  • KIDS STUFF - Shows, activities, teas and more for families with toddlers, tykes and teens.
  • ART - Painting classes, gallery openings and new exhibits.
  • MUSEUMS - We have wonderful museums and they are always worth a visit - many have special events.

MARCHING TOWARD SPRING: The MARCH CALENDAR is now available 

  HorzLine

 Find more? Check out our Editor's Picks selected at the start of every week.  

  

DiscountsDISCOUNTS - there are some really good ones right now. From whale watching to kids shows to festivals... entertain yourself at a discount. All at very reasonable prices. Even better, most of the discounts offered are direct from the event/activity producers and do not involve additional fees to receive the discount.

  

TIP OF THE ICEBERG: you'll find lots more events and other things to do near you - on our neighborhood and regional calendar links at the bottom of all Eye Spy LA web pages.


Have a GREAT Weekend!

 
Wendy Graf's "Closely Related Keys" at the Lounge Theatre by M.R. Hunter
 
Closely Related Keys

 

Playwright Wendy Graf's compelling drama about a pair of unlikely half-sisters hits every note, just not always with equal measure in her world premiere at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.
 
Directed under the keen and sensitive eye of Shirley Jo Finney with Diarra Kilpatrick (LA Weekly and NAACP award-winner from last season's hit "In the Red and Brown Water") starring as Julia-a brash, workaholic corporate attorney, Graf has a veritable dynamic duo maintaining a pleasing rhythm, even when occasionally the play loses its own intrinsic tempo in its overpower.
 
Widely known and well-esteemed for portraying fiercely determined women in such works as "Behind the Gates," and "No Word in Guyanese For Me" starring Anna Khaja (currently in the Fountain's "My Name is Asher Lev"), Graf's marked ability to illuminate the feminine psyche is matched by her intrepid fascination with differing cultures through the tension of the foreigner. Combined, it makes for an intoxicating social commentary about the 'Other' underscored by a rich veracity to her characters. In "Closely Related Keys," all these elements are present, but instead of unfolding fluidly, the conflicts rival each other...
 

 

 

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Captured Aural Phantasy Theater presents the "Forbidden Love" Show

Forbidden PhantasyEnjoy vintage tales from the darkside of Hollywood and romance - uncensored and LIVE! Captured Aural Phantasy Theater presents the FORBIDDEN LOVE SHOW at the historic El Cid for 1 night only, this Sunday, March 9!
 
This eclectic theater troupe uses their signature retro-radio style to create a unique and hilarious variety show that is entertaining for fans of theater, comic books, and yesteryear. This live performance of stories are pulled from vintage, mid-century romance comic books, but these aren't heart-warming tales - these are the comic book love stories that were banned for being too racy! Along with multi-media comic book performances, the evening includes comedic acts, prizes and the finest live music. Spend the evening with Captured Aural Phantasy Theater for naughty, uncensored entertainment!
 
 

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"The Trip Back Down" Stuck in Neutral by M.R. Hunter

 

The Trip Back Down
Sometimes, you can't go back. John Bishop's 38-year-old drama about a down-on-his-luck stock car racer receives a thoughtful but frustrating revival at the Whitefire Theatre. Ironically, the main impetus of the formulaic storyline cruises down memory lane as Bobby Horvath (Nick Stabile) returns to his hometown of Mansfield after a near fatal accident on the track and perpetual failure.

 

Playing on Broadway for two months in 1977, "The Trip Back Down" probably had more muscle in its own time than it does now. It's stout and unwieldy plot would benefit from a major overhaul by restoring the predictable drama from its clunky 2.5 hours to a lean, mean 90 minute machine. As it stands, the play putters along aided by the efforts of a strong ensemble pushing it forward
...
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House of Blues Crossroads Restaurant at Downtown Disney in Anaheim by Valerie Mitchell

House of Blues Food
Crossroads at House of Blues has a new menu created by Chef Aaron Sanchez who you may have seen on the Food Network. There are Southern classics and modern dishes including steak, seafood, burgers and vegetarian options.
 
We started with the portobello sliders and spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips. Both were excellent. The marinated portobellos were full of flavor and would also work well as an entree. Spinach dip is a favorite of mine, so I order it often. This was absolutely superb and might be the best I've tried... 
 


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Eyestrology: Happy Birthday Pisces! by Cici Psy-Chic

  

Pisces Koy Fish

Happy birthday to celebrity March Pisceans: Ron Howard (3/1), Daniel Craig (3/2), Jessica Biel (3/3), Patricia Heaton (3/4), Eva Mendes (3/5), Shaquille O'Neal (3/6), Bryan Cranston (3/7), Aidan Quinn (3/8), Matthew Gray Gubler (3/9), Chuck Norris (3/10), Johnny Knoxville (3/11), Ron Jeremy (3/12), Dana Delany (3/13), Billy Crystal (3/14), Eva Longoria (3/15), Curtis Lovell III (3/16), Mia Hamm (3/17), Queen Latifah (3/18), Bruce Willis (3/19), Spike Lee (3/20)

 

 
Ole dreaded Mercury is in retrograde until Feb. 28. That means an uptick in delays, miscommunication and technological snafus. This would be an ideal time to lay low and take a personal assessment about springing forward come March. It wouldn't be a bad idea to hit the gym or join in a yoga class to get our bodies beach-ready. Relaxation and rejuvenation is the best way to beat the retrograde blues so book a day at the spa or grab a pal for a mani/pedi. The best way to deal with our anxiety is by nursing ourselves into better form, face and fashion. Get the detailed forecasts for all of the signs...
 

 

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ABOUT EYE SPY LA
 

Eye Spy LA has been the online Local's Guide to L.A. since 2003. Content is written, edited and maintained by locals and focuses on local and nearby events and the local creative community.

 

Editorial policy: Eye Spy LA editorials are stories written about places, entertainment and events that we go to. The opinions are those of our editorial staff and the writer of the piece. Calendar listings are ads posted by the people producing events and activities in the local area. Each week we pick and recommend events and other things to do based on our experience or sometimes because they look particularly unusual, unique or in some other way interesting. We do not recommend them based on any fees they may or may not have paid us for advertising.

 

You'll always find the latest events & activities plus commentary about where we've been at eyespyLA.com - updated daily. 

 

Andrea Kirk, publisher (editor@eyespyLA.com)

 

Eye Spy L.A. EYE SPY LA CONTRIBUTORS:

 

M.R. Hunter - editorial and reviews

Mark Share - reviews

Kelly Hargraves - dance and reviews

Leena Deneroff - food adventures

Charles Phoenix - retro slide of the week