Archive | February, 2008

Venice Art Walk – May 18, 2008

John Braheny and I have volunteered to work at this incredible art show for the past 14 years (skipping once or twice) and have always found this one to be top-notch.

Just as you’d expect, if you know anything about Venice, California, the art is kooky, but often luxurious, and includes a jaw-dropping array of talent & crafts that you just can’t find anywhere else (we’ve looked).


Put the date on your calendar (Blackberry)
now if you’re anywhere in the Los Angeles area, or are planning to be.

The Venice Art Walk features self-guided tours of more than 60 local private working studios and homes of notable Venice artists and private collectors.

Sunday, May 18th, 2008 – 11am-6pm

Where to go when you arrive:
(Tickets/Info and site of the silent auction):
Westminster School
1010 Abbot Kinney Road
Venice, California

A major reason for the exceptional distinction of the Art Walk is it’s location in Venice, home base of many of the West Coast’s best loved artists: Charles Arnoldi, Ruth Weisberg, Laddie John Dill, Martha Alf, David Hockney, Richard Serra, and many others.


The event also features a food faire, located at the Westminster School, offering gourmet cuisine, an al fresco cocktail garden and live music performances. The event benefits the Venice Family Clinic, the largest free clinic in the United States. They
provide medical care to uninsured individuals and families in Los Angeles County who would otherwise have no access to health care. (from their brochure)


It’s only one day (Sunday, May 18, 2008) unless you purchase special tickets to participate in more exclusive activities on the day before. Tickets for Sunday are usually a bit pricey (around $50) but are well worth it — and it’s deductible — for a good cause. Or, you can do as we do, volunteer preceding or during the event, and get in free! They can always use an extra hand.

Prepare to hunt for a parking space. You’ll be doing a LOT of walking, so wear comfy shoes, and bring hike-like supplies: water/granola bars, etc. Fortunately, shuttle buses roam the streets (you need your badge to ride those).

The whole event is very well organized. However, much as you try, you’ll never be able to see it all in one day…so, when you buy your tickets, study the program guide and choose the artists’ studios you’ll want to see first. This event is not for sissies! (And sure, you’ll see some stuff you don’t like, but the stuff you DO like will definitely be worth the trip!

Enjoy!

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Beverly Hills Affaire in the Garden – May 2008


Several of you have asked, as you know I try to attend (or volunteer for) as many art shows as I can during the Spring … and I thought you’d like to add this one to your calendar now, so it won’t pass by you again. It also happens in October, just in case you miss this one.

This FREE show, The Beverly Hills Affaire in the Garden, is held along 4 blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, in Beverly Hills, California, and is one of our very favorites.

Prices range from not too expensive all the way to ohmygosh. And yes, a variety of food is available for purchase at different booth vendors. Parking is available along the neighboring streets, or you can pay for parking in lots. Or maybe, I should say, you can pay lots for parking, heh heh.

The show features art by more than 200 exhibitors from around the nation, who showcase their work in photography, painting, sculpture, watercolor, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, drawings, graphics and prints.

May 17-18, 2008 – (Sat./Sun.) from 10am to 6pm.

Enjoy!

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Julie Sinatra



While we were in the Sedona area of Arizona, we visited our long time friend, singer/songwriter, Julie Sinatra. You might know her – she’s a daughter of Frank Sinatra – and has such a great story to tell, that she wrote a book about it, called Under My Skin …

Pictured, January, 2008 – Julie Sinatra, John Braheny, and myself.

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Arizona Songwriters Event Participants


As many of you know, John Braheny and I participate in the annual Arizona Songwriters Gathering each January … and always have a wonderful time there. (It’s in the Phoenix area.)

I took this photo at the event,
January 19, 2008.

Left to right:
James Marovich, (music business attorney, who answered legal questions in his workshop), John Braheny, (songwriters’ consultant and author of The Craft and Business of Songwriting, who gave a workshop on song craft), Jon Iger, brilliant president of the Arizona Songwriters Association, which has been thriving for 30 years!) and hit songwriter, Ray Herndon, who performed some of his excellent songs in concert at the event. Fun!

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Arizona Photos – Jerome – January 2008



I just thought you’d like to see the view we had of the full moon coming up as the sun was setting on the mountains, from our friends’ house in Jerome, Arizona.

Also, a photo of some Saguaro cactus on our trip back to Los Angeles. These are always mysterious to me, since I grew up in the Southern USA, far from anything like this, except for seeing them in Western movies and TV shows.

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The Vegetable Orchestra

I usually don’t post links to YouTube, because, gosh, you’ve already got too much to do … however, I can’t resist this one, “The Vegetable Orchestra.”

Watch how these musicians (in Vienna, I believe) select vegetables from the market, carve them into musical instruments and play them in concert.

Gives a totally new meaning to playing with your food.

About 6 minutes…”The Vegetable Orchestra” —
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfYt7vRHuY

Enjoy!

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World’s Largest Record Collection

When John and I moved last year (still within Los Angeles County), we re-discovered our record collection — 30 linear feet of vinyl albums — and decided we just HAVE to go through them at some point, to see what we can sell/give away/toss/keep. We still plan to do that, some day soon (smile).

So, yesterday, when I heard on National Public Radio about Paul Mawhinney in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh-based publisher of the Music Master record price guide, and his collection of 3 million records and 300,000 CDs (that he’s planning to offer for sale on Ebay), I couldn’t help but share his story with you. Click below for the article, by Eliot Van Buskirk, in Wired:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/02/worlds-largest.html

Enjoy!

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