Restaurant: Chichen Itza

A great reason for going out to MacArthur Park is Chichen Itza Restaurant. The Kick Off Party for the MacArthur Park Levitt Pavilion (concerts start 3 July 2008) featured a tasting menu and I’d be willing to go to the restaurant with friends to try more of “The Flavor of Yucatan.”

We had little cups of sopa de calabaza (butternut squash soup), crema de chaya (chaya is a leafy green vegetable like spinach and native to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico), ensalada de jicama (citrus jicama salad), ceviche de camaron (shrimp ceviche), cochinita pibil (slices of toasted bolillo topped with pork baked wrapped in banana leaves) brazo de reina (hardboiled eggs, chaya, pumpkin seed tamal(e) steamed wrapped in banana leaves) and chile xkatic relleno (blonde chiles stuffed with albacore cooked in tomato sauce).

It’s been a long time since I’ve had Latin American food that had a real bite. Oh when my throat was suddenly on fire and the heat slipped down to my stomach…I wanted more! The sopa de calabaza was creamy and not sweet. At first I thought the server said cha as in tea and it looked like Japanese matcha, but it had a creamy texture and not the bitterness of matcha (thick Japanese tea ceremony tea). The pibil pork was so tender, contrasted by the crunch of the toast and the squeak of the pickled red onions.

I’m a real fan of tamales and with a little extra spice had a delicate taste that vegetarians will love. They do have a veggie menu and two locations. I was warned that the chile x’katic relleno was spicy, but this was a wonderful mouthful–it looked like a jalapeño popper but milder and no cheese! And the cheese fan that I am, I didn’t miss it.

Chichen Itza is the name of an ancient Mayan ruin that was apparently an important part of the Northern Mayan network.

2501 W 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
tel 213.380.0051
fax 213.652.5002

The Huntington: “This Side of Paradise” (Ends 15 Sept.)

On one side of paradise, you can be a star easy…no ifs ands but plenty of bare butts. As the lady with the sour face shows, you can become a media star if you’re in porn because all porn “actors” are stars. There is definitely a dark side to the paradise of Los Angeles and the art exhibit, “This Side of Paradise: Body and Landscape in L.A. Photographs,” tastefully considers that aspect. (By tasteful, I mean while you can’t take your kids to porn without getting arrested, you can take them to this exhibit at the Huntington).

I do wonder where that woman is. Did she ever think her face would be plastered all over Pasadena? Probably not.

We do also get to see those that made it such as Marilyn Monroe (featured in two photos although one just shows her toe tag), a young Sammy Davis Jr. and we see other less famous people. Famous photographers such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston as well as anonymous photogs are represented showing Los Angeles as divided up by the categories: Garden, Dwell, Move, Work, Play, Clash and Dream). No photos of nearby Santa Anita as a so-called transfer center for Japanese and Japanese Americans, but race and racism isn’t ignored.

Whatever your dreams are or were, wherever in Los Angeles your work or play, go see this wonderful exhibit and remember what was and is Los Angeles.

Free Your Hands: Free Headsets

I heard about this on TV. I thought if it’s a news program, this program must be legitimate.

So I signed up and paid postage and sure enough…I got a head set for the cost of postage.

Conspiracy theorists may believe this is some sort of mind control system just as there’s probably something in the water besides coffee at Starbucks, but if you’re seriously married to your cellphone, check these people out:

FreeHeadset.org.

Remember on 1 July, hands off your cellphone or hand over your money to pay tickets!

Free Swing Dance&Concert: Chinatown!

Swing Dance because swing is as Chinese as chop suey?

I’m not sure of the reasoning, but what could be better than Chinese noodles after sweating, hopping and jumping to big band sounds? It’s all about New Chinatown (which I thought was in Monterey Park but that’s a minor quibble when you put the word free anywhere).
Saturday June 28
FREE 7pm-11pm
at Chinatown Plaza featuring Live Swing Music with the Jonathon Stout Swing Band

Free Admission and Swing Dancing

Chinatown celebrates the 70th anniversary of “New Chinatown.”
at Central Plaza enjoy 1940’s style big band music and dancing, cocktails from the era, a video montage of the many movies shot in Chinatown, and a narrated video presentation of historic photos. A “Best Costume Contest” will be held to judge those who choose to come in 1930’s or 1940’s attire. Other entertainment will feature Chinese martial artists, lion dancers, and book-signings and readings by authors whose books celebrate Chinatown history.

951 N. Broadway Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Parking around the area is plentiful, and the festival is also easily accessed via Metro Gold Line rail from the Chinatown Station.

The event will be kicked off with the re-dedication of one of the original plaques—recently discovered buried in storage—and an original replica on which is inscribed the words “Dedicated to the Chinese Pioneers Who Participated in the Constructive History of California.” This plaque was originally dedicated by California Governor Frank Merriam on June 25, 1938. The Governor was joined by a host of local dignitaries including Los Angeles Mayor F.L. Shaw, Republic of China Consul T.K. Chang, Princess Der Ling of China, actress Anna May Wong, and artist Tyrus Wong. In Governor Merriam’s words, New Chinatown “represented a monument to those Chinese who played such an important role in building the West and a lasting evidence of American Chinese amity.”

“New Chinatown” was an enclave of restaurants, shops, offices, and residences, which replaced an older settlement which had been displaced by the construction of Union Station. “New Chinatown” was billed as the first modern American Chinatown owned and planned from the ground up by Chinese. Today, “New Chinatown” is known as Central Plaza and is home to old and new establishments including curio shops, restaurants, bars, art galleries, and Chinatown’s trendiest boutiques.

The plaza that was dedicated seventy years ago became the heart of a much larger Chinatown, and today forms the backbone of a vibrant and expansive Southern California Chinese American community.

The 70th Anniversary of New Chinatown is presented by the L.A. Chinatown Business Improvement District with cooperation from the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, the Chinese American Museum, the L.A. Chinatown Corporation, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles.

Downtown Dance: Free Dance (every other Friday)

This always creeps up on me because it starts in May when I’m usually busy with other stuff.

Tonight, 27 June 2008, is swing and I’m not even planning on going!

Downtown Dance features different types of dance styles. They bring out a floor and they allow you to check your jacket and bags–something that Paseo Colorado hasn’t thought of yet. They also always have a beginners lesson.

Going–take the Gold Line though it’s better to go in a group since you have to walk from the Red Line a block and it’s sort of dark. Cost is $5 for an all day Metro pass and you can always have a light dinner in Chinatown, Little Tokyo or Olvera Street.

There’s always a nice breeze and if you can’t remember the steps–fall back on what you know…even if it’s that high school two-step slow dance. No one cares.

JULY 11 is Bollywood/Bhangra featuring DJ Sandeep Kumar
JULY 25: Samba
AUGUST 8: Zydeco featuring TLou and his Superhot Zydeco Band
AUGUST 22: Cha Cha & Salsa
SEPTEMBER 5: Argentine Tango – a special evening at BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall
SEPTEMBER 19: Disco

Free Music Concerts: Levitt Pavilion in Los Angeles (from 3 July)

I went to the Kick-off party, more about that later. Going is a snap–take the Gold Line to the Red Line and get off at MacArthur Park/West Lake.

The Levitt Pavilion is on the other side of the park near the corner of West Sixth and Park View. The Metro station lets you out near a 99 Cent store. I’d be leery about returning home alone. Best to go with a crowd of friends.

Wednesdays: Musica Latina 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays: World Music 7:30 p.m.
Fridays: Night Rhythms 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays: American Roots 7:30 p.m.
Sundays: Children’s Nights 6:30 p.m.

Free Concert in Pasadena: Brooke Rame 27 June (Friday)

I’m not exactly in love with Paseo Colorado. It’s not as interesting as say Horton Plaza or Westside Pavilion in terms of architecture, but during the summer they have free concerts.

On Friday, 27 June 2008, they have Brooke Rame at Garfield Plaza from 7-10 p.m. Who is she? Accordig to her Web site she does “acoustic pop, and similar to the music of Jewel, Shaw Colvin, Alanis Morissette, and Sarah McLaughlin.”

Next week, though, Paseo Colorado begins to really swing. More on that later!

Free Music Concerts in Pasadena: Levitt Pavilion

Yes, free is, BTW, my favorite four-lettered word. Sale is another one.

During the summer, I like to use the word free as often as possible.

If you didn’t figure out from Make Music Pasadena, the title sponsor, Levitt Pavilion has free concerts all summer long–from Wednesdays to Sundays. Monday and Tuesday you can clean house and do laundry.

The place: Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park. That’s a stop on the Gold Line.

Wednesdays: Children’s Night 7 p.m.
Thursdays: American Music 7:30 p.m.
Fridays: World Beat 8 p.m.
Saturdays: Musica Latina 8 p.m.
Fridays: Jazz Night 7 p.m.

Art Equipment for Sale: Art Glass Business Closing

I spoke with Stephen Schlanser and he still has lots of stuff. And there are some things that I think can be used for both silver and glass.

1. small kiln 10x10x10 Cress 11VAC $250

The others are very large 20x20x24 $1100 and up

2. bowl molds (different sizes) $5-$15. He has from small to gigantic. I priced the small range.

3. kiln shelves with patterns for slumping glass
Some of the patterns are like parallel lines, intersecting lines and wobbling lines

There are also kiln shelves of different shapes (circular and rectangular)
I got one for soldering.

$5-$25

4. He also has lots of glass…1/4 inch, 3/8 inch and 3/4 inch clear in various sizes. He said he’d make it a good price because he still has loads of stuff.

5. He also has plenty of bowl seconds that have no sandblasting.

6. He has a few very large sandblasters in case anyone is interested.

His email is: PASADNA@aol.com
Stephen Schlanser

This is on the corner of San Gabriel and Walnut. Tell him I sent you!

He’s there M-F from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Theatre Opening – “Earth and Sky” @ Sierra Madre Playhouse

If you know me, then you know that Law&Order holds a special place in my heart along with Sherlock Holmes. Murder, mayhem and the men and women who deal with the perps always interest me.

On Friday night, 27 June 2008, at 8 p.m., the Sierra Madre Playhouse’s production of “Earth and Sky” by Douglas Post opens. This like “Beau Jest” is a love story, but one most tragic. Sara falls in love with David. David gets murdered and Sara wants to find out why. Curiosity killed that cat; will it also kill Sara?