ExperienceLA Blog - Experiencing LA Arts and Culture

Downtown LA: A Pleasant Surprise

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:16:00 PDT

(A plaza comes to life with food vendors, artwork, live music and art walkers at the Downtown Art Walk.)

I recall overhearing a sarcastic response to a suggestion that was made not too long ago. Someone suggested to a woman that she let her out-of-town guests know about upcoming events in Downtown LA. Her response went something like, "Yeah, I'll send my guests to Downtown LA. That's a good idea." At one point, I would have quickly shared that same sentiment. My first impression of Downtown, formed five years ago when I first arrived to LA, was not a positive one. Since then, the area has gone through a significant transformation. I've kept my mind open, and I'm glad I have. I had no idea how much Downtown LA really had to offer in the way of entertainment and nightlife. Sure, there was the Disney Concert Hall and Music Center, and the Staples Center and LA Live. For me, that was about it. Not a whole lot. Certainly not enough for me to have Downtown at the top of my mind when someone said, "Let's go out." That all changed last Thursday night when my husband and I finally attended a Downtown Art Walk.

I'll never know if it was coincidence, or fate that called us out that night. I'd heard of a variety of art walks, but hadn't actually been to one. One of my husband's good friends recently started a series of art work entitled, "WHITE-BORED," a fun play-on-words (white-bored, whiteboard...get it?). We received an invitation to attend a gallery opening where his works would be on display. It happened to be on the night of the Downtown Art Walk. So, we attended. And had a delightful time.

When we arrived at Gallery Row, there was an energy in the air that immediately enveloped us. We didn't really know what to expect, but were excited to dive right in. We started at ARTY, where our friend was showing his work. The walls were lined with diorama-filled bird cages (which we learned were part of the "Canary Suicides" exhibit), and whiteboards with morbid and graphic depictions (amusing and disturbing to see what one's mind can imagine when it's idle). The gallery was swarming with people admiring and appreciating the odd, but clever and thoughtful collections. And it was the same everywhere we went that evening. People were there not just to soak in some art and culture, but also to socialize and simply hang out and have a good time.

As we made our way down Gallery Row, the sounds of live music, the buzz of hundreds of conversations, and smells from various food vendors and restaurants filled the air. We arrived at Pete's near 4th and Main, apparently a hotspot for Downtown (the flat-iron steak and bleu cheese fries are a "recommend"). Our table was outside on the patio, a perfect spot to continue to soak in the remainder of the night's energy and excitement. My husband commented,"This is just as alive and vibrant as a night in Hollywood, but better. This is great!" We dined and watched as people strolled by, noted the Party Bus that made several trips around the area, and thanked Downtown for a wonderful evening.

(A gentleman enjoys the music of Rocky Dawuni at California Plaza.)

The next day, I discovered the Grand Performances "Summer Series" at California Plaza, a series of free, noon-time performances hosted by Grand Performances. I watched as kids and adults ate their lunches, enjoyed the sunshine, and danced to the music of Ghanaian-born, LA-based reggae sensation, Rocky Dawuni. I especially enjoyed watching a gentleman whom I dubbed "Dancing Man," as he added to the show with his graceful dance moves. As I listened to the inspirational and upbeat sounds of Dawuni, I reflected on my Downtown experiences. Although the messages aren't exactly applicable, the positive sentiment was certainly relevant; I kept my mind open and discovered a new, lively and fun world in Downtown LA. And yes, I will tell my friends, family and out-of-town guests to go hang out in Downtown. Take a podcast walking tour, visit Gallery Row, try some new cuisine, go shop at the Fashion District, spend an evening dancing with Dance Downtown, and so much more. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

-Julie

Ringling Bros in Los Angeles

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:20:45 PDT

A little bit of popcorn and some sweet blue and pink cotton candy can really make you feel like a kid again. And going to the Circus? Definitely helps. (Video and Photos after the jump!)

It's been years since I've been to the circus, so when the opportunity came to go to Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey's "Zing Zang Zoom", I was definitely not one to say no. I brought along others who were definitely not in the target age market for the Circus, but you know what - I think the Circus' target market is practically any age. Between the kid-friendly music, the beautiful and amazing acrobats, the magical tricks and animal tricks, you pretty much are guaranteed a show to please just about anyone.

Get a taste of the circus with the below, but the circus is in town all weekend at the Staples Center. Followed by Anaheim, CA on Jul 15, 2009 - Jul 26, 2009 and Ontario, CA Jul 29, 2009 - Aug 02, 2009.

Video clip:

Select photos:

-Charity Tran

Come Down Stage for Pershing Square Summer Season

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:15:38 PDT

Pershing Square is hosting "Pershing Square Down Stage Summer Concerts 2009," a tremendous variety of concert events this summer featuring a large mixture of artists and bands every week. But, more than just hosting one event per week they are hosting up to five FREE concerts per week varying in both time and day. So guess what? If you live, work, or just want to hang out downtown you have no excuse not to come! Especially considering the number of affordable lunch opportunities and fabulous restaurants in the Historic Downtown and it's already beautiful atmosphere, and add some music. It's just perfect!

And seriously, there is something here for everyone, so just skim down and look at the different days and explore the main website or day website linked to the individual events because you are bound to find something, whether you are….

Looking for some cool alternative music, a fun night in the city, or just something new? If so you should be more than interested in Pershing Square's "Spaceland under the Stars" evenings. These events take place Wednesday night between 8 and 10. Featured bands include (but are not limited to) 60 Watt Kid, Union Line and North Top. But for more information and date please check out the website!

Tired of your boring lunch routine sitting in the office staring at the computer? Or looking to spice up a lunchtime meeting? Or simply wanting to do something between lets say...the hours of 12 and 2 in the afternoon? Well then "Thursday Lunchtime Concerts" are just your thing - don't you think? I mean seriously who doesn't want to listen to Chelsea Williams, Tim Fagan, Loomis and The Lust and Eric & Judd? You know you do.

Fretting that you can't make Thursday lunch? That why there are "Thursday Sounds of Summer" evening events between 8 and 10PM. Just enough time to have a nice dinner at work before heading off to a concert. Don't you think? (and that goes for those of you not living in downtown too! With the redline it is easy to get to Pershing Square with more then enough time to eat during or before the show). Thursday nights will feature everything from the alternative rock styles of Rocco Seluca to the softer music of Maia Sharp and much more in between.

Looking to get in touch with you super hero side? Cause lets face it we all need to be super human sometimes. That's why Pershing Square is providing us with a little bit of inspiration curtsy of "Friday night flicks" featuring our favorite superheroes from The Incredibles, the X-man Gang, to Superman and many far between. Sadly though we only getting to hang out with our superhero buddies between 8-10pm (but you can still be a superhero for the rest of the night-I wont tell).

Or thinking why there are not more events on the weekends so I don't have to wake up early the next day?! Well what can I say but "Saturday Night Pershing Square Downtown Stage" is here for you. This coveted Saturday night spot is featuring bands such as The Motels, Paula Cole (who did the theme for a little show called Dawson's Creek), and Upground. But again there are just so much more you got to look for yourself!

Just looking to get up and dance? Well that's why Pershing Square is also featuring "Swinging Dance Bands" between 4 and 6 pm on Sundays because who doesn't want to get up and dance. Some of these swinging bands include Savage City, Undercover and the Scott Martin Latin Soul Band.

And finally, wondering why there are not more kid friendly events? Well don't lose hope because there are two "Pershing Square Kids" events. The first on July 30th features Kids on Stage and Renee & Jeremy. The Second event on August 13th stars Rhythm Child and Jumbo Shrimp Circus.

So didn't I say there would be something for everyone? And I was correct right? The City of LA, Recreation and Parks Department and their Pershing Square Advisory Board have taken on this really ambitious summer program that they are very proud of and truly want people to enjoy. So please come to Pershing Square and support them. Pershing Square is extremely convenient from the Metro and for specific directions please use Metro Trip planner. So come on out, enjoy the music, the food and the experience. And if you have an iPhone or other mobile device, check out the free ExperienceLA WiFi.

-Aly

Photo by manna from the heavens from the ExperienceLA Flickr Pool.

Reflecting on the Michael Jackson Memorial

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:32:49 PDT

I don't really want to add to the legion of post-Michael Jackson memorial posts because, as I write this, I wonder what it is that I can say that might be different or even universal that isn't overwrought and overplayed. But having been among the lucky few who were able to go past the police-guarded barriers at Olympic/Figueroa on Tuesday - to literally cross the street and engage in an area that was part of a world event - I almost feel like it's less of a choice and more of a privilege that I get to speak from that perspective. And to be clear, I didn't get a "golden ticket"...

A day or so after receiving a nice cursory rejection email (I know they sent one to nearly 1.6 million entrants, but it was nice that they did in the first place), I pretty much figured I'd be watching the event from work on my computer. But the day before the public Michael Jackson Memorial service, I received an email from my GRAMMY Museum membership offering the opportunity to participate in a simulcast of the event in their Sound Stage theatre. Without a second thought, I leapt at the chance (literally) and headed out of my office to pick some tickets.

The next day I wasn't sure what to expect heading into Downtown - I was glad my mode of transit is the subway, so there was no traffic to deal with - but would there be as many people rushing down as anticipated? Or, for once, were people going to listen and follow Jan Perry's advice of staying home for the event?

And miraculously enough, people listened.

And the fact that people listened seemed to be the theme of the entire thing.

In my seat at the GRAMMY Museum Soundstage with other simulcast watchers, people listened to all the ways a world-known Pop Icon may have changed the world - whether it was as a musician to other musicians as a humanitarian to so many causes or simply as a human being who was a son, a brother, an uncle, and - as the world finally seemed to acknowledge in the final moments of that memorial - a father.

I admit, there were times where I shed many tears (ok, so I was a bit of a teary mess) and was grateful to be in a space where there were others who also openly mourned. Watching an online stream on your computer at work for work would not so much have been the place to do that, so I thank the GRAMMY Museum for providing that opportunity, for opening their doors so that some of their members could have the space to see the memorial and let go.

Over the last few days I've had the urge to shed tears over this situation - that tug of an ache in one's heart that simmers but never boils over. This was particularly true on the afternoon/night of his passing, as I participated in both a loud celebration of his life and a quiet mourning of his death (See "Not the Wrong Star..."). But I never shed a tear until the memorial service and I was glad to be given that time to do so.

In discussing with a friend recently about all this hoopla and "bandwagon fans", I can see how many might label me in that light. I can't say that I spent a lot of time contemplating about this pop icon prior to his death. I've always appreciated the music of Michael Jackson and I know that his music has influenced me throughout my life. Hands down his "Smooth Criminal" is my favorite music video. But is that the stuff worthy of experiences and memorial services and emotional tears? I'm not sure.

All I know is that regardless of one's opinion, I can't really fathom too many people who would be fitting of a memorial service like the one on Tuesday - full of song, history, love, and respect. I could name the people who participated in the event, who are also national or world icons, but, for a moment in time, they weren't just celebrities that people knew, they were mourners like everyone else.

The service reflected much of Michael Jackson's musical and humanitarian legacy. He was recognized as an icon of change. And if there's anything that I believe Michael Jackson wanted to ask of the world, he wanted most of all that we listen and understand and join together in peace.

And we did.

-Charity Tran

Let's give a Los Angeles "Lakers Girl Cheer" for Monty Python's Spamalot

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:24:44 PDT

That's right, after a four-year run in New York on Broadway, three-year tour and over a year in Vegas, the 2005 Tony Award winner for best musical Monty Python's Spamalot and their "Laker girls" have finally found a summer home in the Los Angeles Ahmanson Theatre. But unlike the Vegas show, the Ahmanson is hosting the full length Broadway production with all the songs, laughs, and killer bunnies that only Monty Python can bring you.

Monty Python's Spamalot is a parody of the cult classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail that makes fun of Holy Grail as much as it does musicals themselves. Spamalot focuses on King Arthur, Pasty and the Knights of the Round Table's quest for the Holy Grail. As well as their encounters with The Lady of the Lake, who sings about not being in the show enough, the Laker Girls (who sadly do not sport gold and purple), and The Knights who say Ni that demand King Arthur and his group to give him their shrubbery as well as put on a Broadway show. But the Knights warn that "you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews" which launches the musical into a whole set of other parodies.

Spamalot really is just a laugh out loud comedy enhanced by silly musical numbers and men doing the Can Can, meant to attract all audiences from musical lovers and Monty Paython fanatics to anyone looking for a good laugh. And no one knows this better than King Arthur himself, John O'Hurly, who is returning to the role after just concluding his run in Los Vegas. O'Hurly is best known for his role as J. Peterman in "Seinfeld" as well as being the winner of the first season of "Dancing with the Stars" - oh and, of course, as King Neptune on "Sponge Bob Square Pants." Other title characters include Merle Dandridge as The Lady of the Lake, James Beaman as Sir Robin and Jeff Dumas as Patsy. The fact is that Spamalot is "Not Dead Yet" and this is sure to be a knock out production. So come find your grail at the Los Angeles Ahmanson Theatre! The production runs from July 7th to September 6th. Come soon otherwise you might never have a stuffed cow launched at you.

Anyway, the most important thing to do right now is "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," which is why spoiling yourself with a dinner and show is good thing every once in a while. So do just that! With all the great restaurants downtown, many of which provide shuttles to the Music Center, there is no reason not to. Even better, avoid the hassle of parking and take the Metro to your downtown destinations! Just use the ExperienceLA Metro Trip Planner.

Oh, and just as a head's up, having seen the play in New York on Broadway and loved it enough to memorize all the songs (if you can't tell from all the lyrical references) I warn against sitting in the front row because if it is anything like the theater I saw it at, The Shubert Theatre (which I adore and has hosted two of my favorite shows and is right next to the best cheesecake place in New York Jrs), you might just get wet...but who knows? The LA Production might just have some new surprises in store!

-Aly

Artwork provided by the Ahmanson Theatre website.

Shakespeare Festival/LA presents "As You Like It"

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:24:31 PDT

After 23 years of fabulous productions the Shakespeare Festival/LA is doing it again by celebrating their 24th summer festival with the comedy As You Like It featuring the AQUILA THEATER on July 11th through the 19th at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Shows begin at 8pm and the box office opens at 7pm.

Shakespeare Festival/LA is an outstanding organization that seeks to help the community by bringing plays that they feel will be meaningful and relatable to the people of Los Angeles. As for the AQUILIA THEATER, they are a touring company which focuses on reinterpreting the classics and using new technology in order to broaden the play's audience, which is exactly the goal of Shakespeare Festival/LA. Both groups focus is to bring communities together to enjoy the arts and make them accessible to all people. Moreover, while attendance is free, you do have to pre-order tickets on their website because space is limited. Also, they are asking people to please bring canned food items which they will be donating to the Food Bank of Southern California.

As for the play itself, As You Like it by William Shakespeare is a hysterical production of love and mistaken identity. Two women, Rosalind and Celia are forced to leave their home and decided it is safest to disguise themselves as men in order to avoid harm. However, when they run into people from their past and others in the area, including Rosalind's crush, signals gets crossed and no one is quite sure who is in love with whom. Having read and preformed scenes from this play many times I have to say I highly recommend it. Even if you are not a big Shakespeare fan the physical comedy, love sick characters and comical situations will have you laughing out loud.

So please join Shakespeare Festival/LA for their celebration of their 24 years for a night of exceptional theater and laughs. In fact you can make a whole evening out of it. The Cathedral is conveniently located right by the Metro Red Line Civic Center stop so you can easily abandon your car and the hassle of parking and buy a subway day pass and explore the city. Or simply walk over to Chinatown for dinner from the Civic Center stop before the show. If you need more information on planning a subway trip you can use the ExperienceLA Metro Trip Planner to get directions from your area (Metro Trip Planner is also in beta testing with Google Transit if you want to try that tool!).

-Aly

Anime Expo 2009-The Enthusiasm Never Stops!

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:03:37 PDT

While it could be said the economy might have had a negative effect on Anime Expo (because of less sponsors, vendors and events this year), nothing could stop the unabashed enthusiasm of the con goers. This year cosplayers, those that dress in costumes, were more original then ever pulling from sources outside of the anime realm including video game characters, power rangers and the surprise hit of the season Vocaloids. More than that, even those not dressed up could be seen running around the exhibit hall looking for costumes or felt hats so that they to could join in the magic. No one wanted to be left out of the fun!

And more importantly no one was excluded. At Anime Expo, everyone's dedication and eagerness is embraced (although don't be fooled, people are opinioned and fights between ninjas and pirates are common) and all that is asked in return is that you try something new and different. Which is what I did. I set out to go to more panels then ever and sit in on video rooms for shows I hadn't seen, all so that I could have the full expo experience. I went to everything from industry to educational to just plain hilarious interactive panels and enjoyed each one, experiencing the vibes of the different crowds.

Needless to say this was an event (and shopping) filled expo that was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. For me, the best part about Anime Expo is going to different panels and hearing about new shows, meeting new people and really being able to interact with the characters I love and that's just what I did. Because really, that's what Anime Expo is about - it is a big party where you just get to be your enthusiastic fun self. You can dress up and enjoy being in character all day and having your picture taken. Or just go in street clothes or anime-themed graphic tees and be able to sneak past some of the fun madness that comes with cosplay. Either way it's a blast! You can even stay at a hotel near the convention center, that way the festivities are twenty four hour - and trust me, having done it, it is more fun staying in a hotel then commuting.

But what really keeps me going back to expo and what makes it so interesting are the panels. Because the con is not just about shopping (though that is easy to forget) but about learning and experiencing new things. For example, the industry panels are always slightly nerve-wracking because of the feelings of excitement and anticipation that lingers in the room as we hold our breath waiting for the announcement of our favorite anime or manga's latest release date and the new titles the company is acquiring. At the Viz Media Anime and Manga panel on July 3rd fans filled in an hour early all so that they could claim to be one of the first to hear about what is new. But in case you missed anything here is a brief recap:

Shonen Jump recently required the license to release a few new manga including Tegami Bachi and Yu-Gi-Oh! R. They also announced the future release of several movies and anime such as L, Change the World (which I saw last con and it is hysterical, I highly recommend it)and the second Bleach Movie The Diamond Dust Rebellion, which is set to come out September 28th 2009. What is special about this is a Bleach contest revolving around the movie's premiere and to learn more go to bleach.viz.com/rockstar. Some new titles for Shojo Beat are Beast Master and Cactus's Secret. And finally Viz Signiture is acquiring titles such as Ooku: The Inner Champers and What a Wonderful World! What is great about these panels is that they give descriptions of all the new manga, giving us new things to look forward to and making finding new series much easier.

Another Industry Panel was Funamation on July 4th who proved how involved they keep their viewers by announcing the license of Sengoko Basara which they acquired the rights to just that morning. Other announcements included the Season one box set of Dragon Ball Z and the second season of Gunslinger Girl.

I also attended two panels which were more on the educational side but in no way less interesting. On July 3rd I went to the "Manga as High Art" panel which discussed comics' position in pop culture and how in today's society. The speaker further went on to discuss the importance of the cartoon style of drawing and how the abstraction of it allows an individual to put themselves into the story. This involvement with the story is what attracts people to manga, comics and animation in general. Another panel was "Getting Paid to Work in Anime" on July 5th, put on by the Japanese Visual Media Translation Academy (JVTA). They went over different jobs involved in the production of anime, such as script translator, video editor, animator/graphic artist, producer and voice actor. And then compared these different key roles to subjects they offer which include translation, production workflow, script adaptation, voice acting and anime mythology.

And finally there are the hilarious interactive panels which allow the audience to endlessly question some of their favorite creators and voice actors on subjects ranging from their favorite shows or skits to "what they do to stay so sexy." The first interactive panel I went to was the Voice Actor Panel on July 5th which I highly recommend because whether or not you are familiar with the voice actors the audience is bound to come up with something fun. This year the guests included Kari Wahlgren and Cristina Valenzuela. Kari is best known for her roles as Fuu Kasumi in Samurai Champloo, Kagami Hiiragi in Lucky Star, and Robin in Witch Hunter Robin. She has also given her voice to over 90 video games. Cristina (more commonly known as Cristina V) is the less experienced voice actor, but that, however by no means makes her unknown. She has a huge online fan following for her unofficial voice acting work on youtube which she attributes as her break into the industry. Professionally she is best known for her work as Louise from The Familiar of Zero. These two women were very funny and willing to do a lot to please the enthusiastic audience including call friends and family members that could not be there.

Directly following this panel was one featuring the creative team of Robot Chicken which includes producers Seth Green and Matthew Senriech. This stop-motion show has won the hearts of many an anime fan through its hysterical pop culture parodies and endless variety of guests stars. These men were extremely funny and held nothing back in answering questions from the audience and discussing their creative process. They also made the announcement of their upcoming Robot Chicken Skate Park Bus Tour featuring the band Gym Class Heroes which will begin on July 25th at Comicon San Diego. The exact route of the tour will be available on Adultswim.com on July 9th. So really Anime Expo is basically a hysterical four-day long party where you get to meet some of the most amazing people in the industry, so if you didn't join us this year come next year for the 20th anniversary of Anime Expo because it is going to be amazing!!!

-Aly

Michael Jackson Memorial Info

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:45:31 PDT

Sometimes the LA Experience is something worldwide - and that definitely seems to be the case regarding Michael Jackson's Public Memorial, which is schedule to take place tomorrow, Tuesday morning at 10:00am (PST) at LA's Staples Center. Here is a gathering of informational links that might be helpful as the world says its formal good-bye to the King of Pop. We'll update this page if we get more information.

Blogdowntown - Logistics with road closures and more event participants.

General information from Pitchfork.com - includes potential/rumored events for the service.

LAist has public transit re-route information

Baltimore Sun has an article on TV channel coverage (please note that article times will be EST, but major network names should still be relevant), and some info on online streaming.

-ExperienceLA Staff

Go Metro with Google Transit

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:19:58 PDT

ExperienceLA.com has always been in support of adding Metro transit information to Google Transit (see our Metrolink on Google Transit post). We were given a hint of this possibility a month ago when L.A. Metro announced that it was releasing transit data for application development including GTFS (Google Transit Feed Specification). Now it's here!*

For those who haven't used Google Transit in other cities (New York and Chicago were among the places where it was pretty much a god-send for me and my iphone!), here's a quick how-to:

Note: Have you ever used it for driving directions? Yeah, pretty much the same deal.

1. Put in a starting address and a destination address. Toggle the drop-down menu of options to "By public transit".

2. The following is an example journey of "Hollywood & Highland" to the "GRAMMY Museum". You have the option of toggling different times. The mapping next to the transit instructions reveal the mapped route you'll be taking. If you press the "+Show Details" about your walk to the museum, you can get your walking directions.

How's that for going green in LA? All the more reasons to Go Metro.

-Charity Tran

*Please note that the current rendition is supposed to be in testing phase, but the functionality should still work. (See LAist)

Video: Impromptu Michael Jackson Memorial Dance Party

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:40:26 PDT

Following up on Charity's blog post "Not the Wrong Star..." post about being out in Hollywood on the night of Michael Jackson's passing, here's a clip of the dance party that ensued that evening in celebration of Michael Jackson's music.

Anime Expo 2009 coming soon!

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:20:11 PDT

One of the first big events for me this summer is going to be the upcoming Anime Expo convention, July 2nd through 5th, held for its second consecutive year at the Los Angeles convention center. This will be my fifth convention and, having traveled to Anaheim and Long Beach for previous festivities, I am happy to report that the LA has done the expo proud.

Yes, there was much huff and puff in 2007 when it was announced that it would be changing locations once again (because we were all still pining for the loss of the Anaheim Convention Center) but after the success of the 2008 convention there is no doubt of our joy at its return to LA. Personally I fell in love with the large exposition hall and conference rooms allowing more people to enjoy panels. Most of all I enjoyed Artist Alley being given its own exposition hall, allowing fans to actually shop and admire the artists' work rather then trying to avoid the over crowded halls that held Artist Alley in previous conventions. Finally, with the creation of LA Live and the abundance of activity and food in the area I have no doubt this year will be even better then the last!

This year at expo you can expect all of the classic events including AX Idol and the Masquerade. As well as concerts featuring Moi dix Mois on the 2nd at three pm (seating starts at one but remember to get there early if you want good seats!) and Morning Muse July 3rd at 2:30 (seating starts at 12:30). There will also be a wide variety of industry panels where you receive the first look at new shows being released in the United States or what is happening next on some of your favorites, different workshops to help improve your own skills, and video rooms (this year's big show will be Funamation's premiere of "EVANGELION:1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE"). And finally the 2009 guests of honor and industry guests include Seth Green, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Kevin Shinnich, Mike McFarland and many more.

For more information on this year's events and programs please go the Anime Expo website. It is well worth exploring because you don't want to miss a thing! So for all you anime fans out there I highly encourage you to come to Anime Expo at the Los Angeles Convention center this weekend! It is a lot of fun and worth it! Even if you are not a huge anime fan and only know a few titles it is still exiting being able to explore the exhibit hall merchandise and visit panels to learn about new shows. Moreover, it is a great place to make friends and become more knowledgeable about the world of anime. You can come for a day, the weekend, or the entire convention and tickets are still available online or at the convention that day. So come and enjoy the abundance of manga, anime, merchandise and cosplayers and I really hope to see you there!

-Aly

Hey! So just to quickly introduce myself I'm Aly and over the next 6 weeks I am going to be exploring Los Angeles as an Experience LA intern and reporting my museum visits, shopping trips, park adventures and other city encounters and events back to you. I was born and raised in the Valley but for college I decided to head east to New York City. So now that I am back in LA for the summer I plan to soak in all the California sun, fun and culture as possible!

Not the Wrong Star: Impromptu Memorial Dance Party and Parade for Michael Jackson

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:57:37 PDT

Yesterday as people reported fans at the wrong Michael Jackson star (that of the LA radio personality), I am happy to report that while it may not have been the King of Pop's actual Hollywood star, it wasn't really the wrong star.

I headed out on the Metro Red Line toward Hollywood around 10 after receiving a text from my friend who told me they were waiting for the boundaries to clear from the very unfortunately placed "Bruno" premiere - hopefully to clear around 11 or 12. As reports today indicated, it didn't happen at 11 or 12, but rather the next morning.

I'm not sure all that unfolded would have happened if we knew that timeline, maybe we wouldn't have even been there. Truth be told, there were less people than I would have imagined waiting to see the real Michael Jackson Hollywood star (and I'm not sure how many of those out-and-about were tourists), but there were enough - enough people who loved his musical legacy - to create the kind of synergy that makes things happen.

It began with a dance party on the corner of Hollywood/Highland. With an mp3 player and a speaker system, people slowly got out of their wallflower shells and began dancing to Michael Jackson's famous dance beats, singing along to "Billie Jean is not my lover...", and imitating the famous moves of Thriller. Things started really heating up when a fan, decked out in one of Michael Jackson's famous looks (as pictured), came out to strut his best MJ moves.

There's something about impromptu dance parties that kind of resonate a bit of magic. To make them happen, it takes more than just the people who set up the music and who have already planned to dance. There has to be something motivating others to join in. Since this was an impromptu memorial dance party, that motivation was definitely the memory of Michael Jackson. Sure, there were plenty of people standing by watching all of us letting loose, but I know I hadn't arrived planning to dance and others dancing probably hadn't either. But we did. For some, myself included, we probably couldn't help it.

At one point a man walked right through the dance circle with a "get out of the way" attitude. But we saw that even he, when crossing the street, danced to the beat like the rest of us.

Eventually, however, the crowd grew restless of waiting without any news and, in the hope that the real Hollywood star had been unveiled, my friend Nate rallied that we all have a dance parade down to the star. We all danced down Hollywood Boulevard toward the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, but were stopped short by barricades still up. We weren't stopped for long as the suggestion to parade down the Boulevard to the makeshift memorial was accepted by us all. While it wasn't exactly a coordinated replication of the "Thriller" music video (I saw those zombie hand movements, folks! I know people were hoping for it!), it was an impromptu dance party parade. Those passing us by cheered and we cheered right along with our dance moves and hand claps. Cars honked their horns in approval - at least, we hope that's why they were honking - and even the lights seemed to be in our favor as it was practically all green for those leading the charge.

All the while Michael Jackson's music poured through the speakers.

And when we landed at the other star, the volume lowered. The music slowed. With candles already lit, notes already made, people sat in contemplation - some wrote their own notes, said their own prayers.

So it wasn't the "right" star, and I'm pretty sure some might opine that most of us didn't know Michael Jackson as a person, so we shouldn't need to grieve. But the night wasn't about being in the right place or having a direct, personal connection to someone who has passed away. The night was completely about creating a space - to celebrate, to mourn - and making connections, finding others who needed to have that space too. And why? Because we do have a personal connection to this man, this icon, this King of Pop: his music is infused in us all.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.

-Charity Tran

Also make sure to check out The GRAMMY Museum's "In Celebration of Michael Jackson", the museum's exhibition featuring some of Jackson's most iconic wardrobe pieces.

Welcome Summer!

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:50:55 PDT

Griffith Observatory,
West Terrace

Greetings! As the latest addition to the ExperienceLA staff, I'm delighted to contribute my first official post to our blog.

Since joining ExperienceLA, my husband and I have been knocking off a bunch of things from our "LA must-do" list. We've experienced our first trip on the Metro (which is quite nice, I must admit), attended an event at the Ford Theatre, and more recently, spent an evening at the Griffith Observatory to celebrate the summer solstice (pardon the photos, as they were taken with my Flip Camera - not the best quality).

We've been meaning to get up to the Observatory since its re-opening in 2006, and like many, have put it off because we were "too busy". When I received an invitation to join the Observatory in celebrating the first day of summer last Saturday, I immediately told my husband, "Honey, we've got plans for Saturday night." After all, I was tired of this June gloom and wanted to let the Sun know how much I miss and appreciate it :)

Waiting for the Summer Solstice Sunset. The word "solstice" is derived from the Latin "sol," (sun) and "sistere," (to stand still).

Unfortunately, the clouds weren't cooperative, and we weren't able to see the Sun set on its designated line marking the longest day of sunlight for the year. But that didn't stop the crowd from coming. Families, tourists, young couples, and young adults gathered for the event (certainly not the crowd I was expecting, but nice to see such a turnout!). We stood outside, hopeful to see a little bit of sun, while one of the astronomers explained to us why it is the longest day of the year.

As 8:06 PM passed without any sun, I somewhat expected most of the crowd to head toward their cars. Both my husband and I were pleasantly surprised as people continued back inside the facility to do some learning. Up to this point, we'd spent most of our time outside enjoying the views of the city, so we ventured in as well. We appreciate learning, and were amazed at the quality of some of the exhibits and displays inside the Observatory. I mostly got excited because the kids around me were excited!

We spent the next hour touring through the main exhibits, and checking out the Zeiss Telescope. Since the clouds were out, we weren't able to see anything. The telescope was pointed at Saturn, which bummed me a bit because seeing the rings would have been neat. But, it's an excuse to return. We're looking forward to coming back during the day as well to see the Solar telescopes. It never occurred to me to visit an observatory during the day, or on a cloudy day for that matter.

This is one destination that's going into our regular rotation and on our list of things for guests to do. If anybody has any recommendations on when to go, what else we have to see at Griffith Observatory, staff members to meet, or how else we can make the best of our next visit, please share some ideas! And if you've never been, I highly recommend. Happy summer!

-Julie

Family Summer Fun

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:51:58 PDT

Summer is here and the Los Angeles area is filled with fun, family-friendly events and festivals to enjoy. Here are a few highlights.

Click Here for a full listing of all Kid/Family Friendly events on experienceLA.

Family Events:

Cinderella: The Musical at the Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage

The Pied Piper at Theatre West

Dreaming of India: A Cultural Block Party at CAFAM

Schoolhouse Rock Live Too! a the Greenway Court Theatre

Summer Camps/Classes:

Culture, Craft & Cars Summer Camp at CAFAM and the Petersen Automotive Museum

KidsMuse Summer Camp at the Fowler Museum

Musical Theatre Classes with Bound for Broadway

Classical Spanish & Flamenco Dance Classes for Kids

Free Events:

J.U.i.C.E. Hip Hop Jam Sessions

Summer Movie Nights at the Paraiso Town Center

Summer Neighborhood Arts Project from Inside Out Community Arts

Cymbeline the Puppet King by The Actor's Gang

Festivals:

Bridge USA Samurai Summer Festival 2009

Zenshuji 51st Obon Festival

Long Beach Taco Festival

Long Beach Crawfish Festival

24th Annual Children's Festival of the Arts

48th Annual Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival

The Original Long Beach Lobster Festival

Museums:
Many museums and theaters have recurring family events.

The GRAMMY Museum introduces different genres of music through Hammer Museum has Getty Center has Family Art Stops, a 30-minute hands-on gallery experience, and Family Art Labs, a free workshop.

The Getty Villa has Art Odyssey for Families and Art Quest, both hands-on art learning experiences.

Kids can experience the Gold Rush days at the Autry National Center.

Enjoy family concerts with the Ford Theatres.

We Tell Stories have free shows throughout the LA area.

The Southwest Museum of the American Indian has Let's Make History, with a gallery tour and a take-home project.

Have a Peek at Family History at the Pasadena Museum of History.

The Bird and The Bee at Descanso Gardens

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:15:23 PDT

We've got another cool ticket giveaway to close out your week! This one's for the music duo: The Bird and The Bee. On Thursday evening, June 25th, the Descanso Gardens will be filled with the sounds of cool art-pop music. Los Angeles' own Inara George combines her whispery wry vocals with Greg Kurstin's catchy mod, tropicalia, electro jazz keyboarding. Your evening plans are complete with barbecue, wine, beer and signature cocktails, which will be available for purchase.

The catch with this give away is that it will end on Monday, so hurry! We've got 10 pairs of tickets to give away. Visit our website, and check out the promotions page. Tickets are also available for purchase for $12 through TicketWeb.

LA's Historic Movie Palaces

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:29:40 PDT

In five days, I managed to visit three different historic movie palaces in Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Theatre, The Million Dollar Theatre, and the El Capitan. I hadn't planned on this at all, but I don't regret any of the time spent for a second.

I first ventured off to my second round of Last Remaining Seats - watching "Cabaret" with my friend Lark. As per usual it began with a line wrapped around the corner. She had never visited one and, of course, the Los Angeles Theatre being my favorite, I had to immediately show her the ballroom, the awesome bathroom, and the children's play room. Then we sat down to our seats to admire the elaborate theatre inside before the show began. In addition to a humorous promo for "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Cabaret" co-star Michael York introduced the show and provided us with amusing tidbits of information. Do you remember the part where his character drops the slice of cake on Liza Minelli's Sally Bowles? Total well-played accident. We followed up the show with a meal at Pete's - per looking at our options from "Nights on the Town" flier. (See my previous Last Remaining Seats Post with more info on "Nights...").

Special Note: By the way, tickets are still available for tonight's June 17th performance of Macunaima at the Million Dollar Theatre.

Speaking of the Million Dollar Theatre, I had never been there until last Saturday when I won tickets to "The Magic of Tony Curtis". Upon arriving, there was a line outside the door and classic cars and people in costume next to the theatre. The theatre is one of the first movie palaces built in the US and is across the street from the Bradbury Building. It was built by Sid Grauman (Do you know Grauman's Chinese Theater? Yeah, that Grauman.). My friend Katie and I were at the theatre for the screening of "Houdini" which included magician Curtis Lovell performing a "Houdini" water stunt and an appearance by Tony Curtis himself. Tony Curtis said, "I'm glad to be alive in Los Angeles." I say, "Me too!"

And while "Houdini" and "Cabaret" are classic films that bring an extra flair to the historic movie palace, my third movie - Pixar's "UP" - seems a very unlikely candidate for that kind of setting. But if you venture out to the historic movie palaces of Hollywood - that's exactly the opportunities that are provided. One of the most well known is The El Capitan Theatre, which not only feature Disney's latest flicks, but also a pre-show of organ music a la Disney which fit more for the adult-age crowd who knew more of the songs and a "What Time Is It?" medley of music that fit the more "High School Musical" generation in the seats.

But whether one's experiencing movies old or new, in Downtown LA's Broadway or in Hollywood, there's something about historic movie palaces that call out to Los Angeles being home. Maybe it's the image that Los Angeles can't - and why should it? - shake of glitz and glamour and movies. A legacy like ours seems to deserve so many beautiful homes reflecting the history that so many people know of this place. I can't help but believe that part of that knowing of LA history and legacy is sitting in those historic movie palaces and enjoying not just a movie, but the location itself at the same time.

-Charity Tran

Ticket Giveaway: Emmylou Harris/Patty Griffin/Shawn Colvin/Buddy Miller

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:08:04 PDT

What better way to kick off the first official week of summer than with a concert at the Greek Theatre? An evening under the stars filled with the sounds of Americana. Methinks I sense a ticket giveaway...ExperienceLA is running a VERY short ticket promotion for next week's concert at the Greek: Three Girls and Their Buddy, featuring Emmylou Harris,Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller. The four artists will perform songs from their respective albums, and literally share the stage as they participate in each other's songs (I can't recall the last time I was at a concert where everyone on the bill was on stage at the same time throughout the night).

Ok, details: we've got two (2) pairs of tickets to giveaway. The promotion closes on Friday at 5 PM. The concert is next Wednesday, June 24. You can enter the promotion here. And if you know people who might enjoy this concert, share the goodness and pass this message along to them :)

Patti Austin at the Playboy Jazz Festival

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:11:44 PDT

Daood interviews the great Patty Austin who will be at the Playboy Jazz Festival on June 13th-14th.

DAOOD: My very special guest has made 17 albums, won a Grammy for best jazz vocal album "Avant Gershwin", has performed duets with James Ingram, George Benson, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, and Johnny Mathis. She is the god daughter of Quincy Jones and the legendary vocalist Diana Washington. Yes, it is none other than the legendary vocalist Patti Austin.

PATTI AUSTIN: That would be 20 albums, try to keep up with us.

DAOOD: Yes Ma'am. 20 albums ok.

PATTI AUSTIN: That was 5 years ago, we had 17. We're working, we work every day in New York where I am from. (We both laughed)

DAOOD: What do you love most about the Playboy Jazz Festival?

PATTI AUSTIN: The thing I love best about the Playboy Jazz Festival is, for me, the word "jazz" does not define the music, it defines an attitude so we're going to jazz the crowd up with my hits as they say. Although I don't do medleys, the new stuff we're working on that's going to come out on a project more pop orientated that I'm working on. We're going to do a couple straight ahead jazz things kind of modern jazz pieces and probably not Avant Gershwin. I know we're going to have at least 6 maybe 7 or 8 background singers, an 8 piece band.

PATTI AUSTIN: We're going to rock the cast at The Grove - 17,000 people you've got to make it rock. Mostly it'll be large and we want to get people up on their feet and grooving and rock' in out with Bowl Soul.

DAOOD: From the many hits that you've had will "Razzamatazz" be included?

PATTI AUSTIN: We only do "Razzamatazz" and "Test of Time". We are going to throw in some other songs that people always ask for me to do like "Carnival" and "Broken Hearts, Broken Dreams", surprises and new stuff. "Lean on me".

I'm not going to tell you about the encore but everybody knows it, and everybody loves it. I will say this, I already recorded it and it's on a compilation album. You could figure it out. I will also perform "Baby Come to Me", "How Do You Keep He Music Playing" and you know I might get sexy, sexy and throw in "The Heat of Heat" for everybody. I always get asked to sing that because I seldom sing that anymore. That is...pretty much going to be the show and a couple of tunes that I love and never recorded; wished I had, and we do it in the show and people love them I got to tell you. I've been opening my show with a tune called "Loving Is Really My Game" (Originally performed by Belita Woods of the group Brainstorm) is from my all time favorite dance songs. That's how I open up the show. It's so funny the audience doesn't know what the hell I'm going to do because I do so many different kinds of music. We are going to have a great, great time. It's a tremendous time coming to the Playboy Jazz Festival. If you've never been there before you must come this year. It will churn you up, fire you up for the rest of this year. I promise you.

DAOOD: I plan on attending, this will be my first time, but going back to the opening song “Loving is Really My Game" that is funny you should open up with that song because when I'm on the treadmill that's usually the song I'm listening to. That's a great song!

PATTI AUSTIN: That's a great song with great arrangements! Doesn't that song just fire you up? That's why I've been doing [that song] for years.

DAOOD: Yes, it does fire me up and everyone I know loves that song. My final question is, what are your keys to success?

PATTI AUSTIN: My primary key to success is surrounding myself with deeply intelligent, soulful, honest people who do not allow me to go astray. The world that is all about being astray, which is the entertainment business. If you are a performer you're a ham, an egotist; you are constantly in a state of levitation, and you need everybody and everything around you to ground you. Otherwise you get carried away with the nonsense. I have a tremendous group of people that keep me on the ground. I did a show the other day, this guy was saying to me: "I can't believe you walked in here alone." Part of the reason I'm still here 54 years later, is I have no freakin' entourage . Entourage is there to stroke you. I'm not on this planet to be stroked. We're on this planet to be learning, so you can't do that if everybody around you tells you, "You are so cool; you're all that and a bag of chips," no, you're not. You have two ears and one mouth, listen more than you talk.

Fonseca: First Latin Artist Featured on the GRAMMY Museum Sound Stage

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:48:53 PDT

My Spanish isn't all that great, but my ipod is no stranger to Spanish-language music and rhythms. So when I heard that there was a Latin Grammy Award-winning artist - Fonseca, to be exact - at the GRAMMY Museum's Spotlight program, I was more than happy to be in the audience for that experience.

The audience was all a-buzz waiting for Fonseca to arrive. GRAMMY Museum Sound Stage events are great for both long-time fans and new ones alike - the setting provides long-time fans a greater sense of intimacy with one of their favorite artists and the interviews/music on the Sound Stage let new fans get to know the artist and their music right away.

Chief Curator Ken Viste did a great job interviewing Fonseca. He began with questions regarding Fonseca's musical influences - a little bit of the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Columbian/Latin music. One of the best parts of questions related to the beginnings of an artist's songwriting are first songs. Fonseca's was about TV!

In his discussion with Viste, Fonseca elaborated a lot about his songwriting process. He has no particular method and generally doesn't like to push any song to reveal itself.

Much of the interview also touched upon Columbian music which, Fonseca expressed, had a lot of storytelling in it. He also discussed his (and other Colombian artists') desire to bring forth Columbian music to the masses, to show what a positive force it was, in light of other socially negative imagery that has emerged from the region.

Other artists I've seen at the GRAMMY Sound Stage have discussed specific aspects of American history and other regions of the United States in their interviews. Placing Fonseca's story as an artist, and one from Columbia, against these reveal differences, but ultimately similarities. The best thing about having gone to a number of these artist interviews is that a universality is revealed, the similar ways in which different artists make their music and the similar goals they each share, despite having different sounds, different audiences, and even different languages.

Fonseca's musical set - which had the largest band the stage has seen yet - was pretty amazing. His work holds as much diversity in sound as is revealed in his approach to life - "life inspires me". He had all the elements from the audience: foot-tapping, people dancing, people singing along. For those familiar with Fonseca's music, his setlist included "San Jose", "Gratitud", "Paraiso", and "Hace Tiempo". It was definitely a great start to Latin artists featured on the GRAMMY Sound Stage.

-Charity Tran

Gregorio Luke's Life-Size Murals of Diego Rivera

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:33:56 PDT

On a cool Southern California summer evening, perhaps one of the best things you can do for yourself is to go outside and experience LA art and culture. One of the best (and most beautiful) places to do this in LA is the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. But this isn't just your typified Hollywood of Walk of Fame sidewalks and the bright lights of Hollywood Blvd. Think of a smaller Hollywood Bowl, tucked into the natural landscape of LA. Think about a place where you can see dancers, hear singers, dance to the songs of others, enjoy a movie with friends and a glass of wine - and even experience visual art from around the world.

And if there's anyone you want to be the guide to your journey of art, that man is Gregorio Luke. He is not your boring art history professor.

This past Sunday (you may have gotten tidbits following the experienceLA.com twitter), I (and many others) journeyed around the world with Luke at the helm - journeyed around the world through the life, times, and art of Diego
Rivera.

There were bonus items for the night - Diego Rivera's daughter Dr. Guadalupe Rivera and his grandson were guests and a Chiliean band opened - but the heart of the event was in the beautiful work of Rivera on display (courtesy of a big screen) and Luke's impressive delivery.

Through interesting side stories, quotes, and a humorous demeanor reflecting his passion for the art, Luke brought Diego Rivera's artwork to life on the Ford stage. He began with the story of Diego Rivera's life, shown through art by Rivera, of Rivera, and photographs relevant to his life. Luke continued on about Rivera's work - provides tantalizing bits of information, pointing out key aspects of Rivera's work. The only flaw I found was that it all seemed to leave the audience wanting to know more, to linger longer at the art Luke brought to the Ford through the magic of digital media.

Luckily, Gregorio Luke will be at the Ford for two more events this summer with the art of Rufino Tamayo (July 12th) and Miguel Covarrubias (August 16th).

-Charity Tran

Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Exhibit at FIDM Museum

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:28:08 PDT

This will be a very short blog posting, as the Ruby Slipper Exhibit that opened today at the FIDM Museum is only there for 10 days closing on June 21, 2009. This Wizard of Oz related exhibit which has been travelling around the country for the last 6 months is nearing its end. The exhibit itself is contained in 2 rooms in which Warner Bros. Consumer Products asked some of the best designers around to design their own Ruby Red Slipper for this exhibition to promote the 70th Birthday DVD and Blu-Ray editions of Wizard of Oz that is scheduled for release on September 29, 2009. In addition, you will find the four finalist from a FIDM student competition for a dress inspired by the movie. The winning FIDM dress and designer gets to go to New York for the Ruby Slipper Exhbit's next stop.

I had a chance to attend the opening gala of the exhibit and here is a link to all of the pictures I took that night. Towering over FIDM that night was a hot air balloon promoting Wizard of Oz. The FIDM Museum is open until 9 pm on the monthly Downtown Art Walk night which is on Thursday, June 11. 2009. I have been told that there will be a shuttle connecting the Historic Downtown part of the Art Walk to FIDM and the 7th/Fig Shopping Center. You can also check out the latest hot restaurant in Downtown LA after visiting FIDM by walking the two blocks over to Bottega Louie which is at 7th and Grand.

Ticket giveaway for Global Pop: Wheesung & Lena Park In Concert at the LA Music Center

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:20:21 PDT

Hey ExperienceLA blog readers! We're excited to let you know that we've got a pair of tickets to give away to next week's Global Pop event at the Music Center. That's next Friday, June 19 at 8:00 PM at the Music Center.

If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing an international pop concert, the Music Center's Global Pop series is a great way to do that without having to spend the bucks to travel overseas. The evening promises to be an enjoyable one, starting with Global Social, an opportunity to engage and connect with members from the Korean community. Representatives from Khype, Korean American Music Foundation, Koreatown Youth and Community Center, Korean Cultural Center and Kollaboration (check out their upcoming Hip Hop & Laugh Off event) will be present. The highlights of the night include two of Korea's hottest young stars in music - Wheesung and Lena Park. Both of these talented musicians have done a tremendous job at exposing Korean pop music, having worked with other international artists and performing at major global events.

The promotion ends on June 16th. Visit our website for more details on the giveaway, or to get more information about the concert. And even if you don't win our giveaway, you can still purchase tickets. Good luck!

Ziggy Marley at Club Nokia

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:29:13 PDT

Having just walked out of Club Nokia for an Erykah Badu concert nearly twelve hours earlier, I headed back there the following morning for an entirely different event: The GRAMMY Museum's "Music Explorations" family program featuring Ziggy Marley. Same venue, different cast.

Those who have probably been at Club Nokia for a "way over the age of three" event, are probably wondering how a family program might fare in the same space. It does very well actually.

The general admission area provides ample room for kids and parents to go up near the stage. The outdoor balconies are perfect for setting up places with kids crafts (a bunch of little kids making drums). And - perfect for any kid event - plenty of room for them to run around...with instruments in hand.

The event opened up with Rhythm Child warming the audience up with songs that reminded me of modernized versions of my Wee Sing tape cassette days (I'm sure all the kids there would be "tape cassette, what's that?"). Their songs included a seven-year-old on vocals and a three-year-old "rocking it out guitar".

Ziggy Marley and his band followed - continuing the family fun atmosphere - with songs from his new children's album. His songs were about trains and his own alphabet song, sure to not only teach a thing or two but to provide a great reggae-flavored musical experience. His set also included songs by his famous father, much to the delight of parents who were sporting Bob Marley-friendly shirts and the like.

While all the kids may not have been paying attention and might not have truly grasped what reggae is, the purpose of educational programs like these are at the heart of this blog/website - the experience. Maybe one of them, running around with his or her self-made (Mom or Dad helped!) drum will be citing Ziggy has an early influence.

-Charity Tran

Photo Credit: Flickr - Eric Richardson of Blogdowntown.com

Free Shuttle Service to the Ford Amphitheatre

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:29:23 PDT

This summer take the Metro to the Ford Theatres! Satellite Parking & Shuttle Service for Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season.

The Red Line provides service between downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, connecting Union Station, the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood and North Hollywood. A free shuttle to the Ford stops at the Universal City Metro Station at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga in the "kiss and ride" area.

Parking is free in the Metro Station lot.

Evening performances only.

View Ford Theatre events on ExperienceLA.

More information on the Red Line Metro Rail.

Red Line Metro Rail (Subway) + Ford Shuttle = A Great Evening!

Erykah Badu at Club Nokia

info@experiencela.com (ExperienceLA Staff) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:42:01 PDT

If Friday night at Club Nokia is indicative of anything, Erykah Badu is a singer, songwriter, and poet. She even dances and poses for pictures with glitz, glamour, and sass. But really? Erykah Badu controls music, time, and space.

The moment Badu stepped onto the stage, she commanded it. As she went through her repertoire of music, each piece traveled you through time - the present, the past ("let's go back...") - pushing you forward toward the future of seeing the night as her whole musical canvas.

Each song rode a different wave, reflecting the musical diversity, history, and multiple strengths of Badu, but they all fit like pieces of a puzzle. Visually matching all of this was her costume changing - kimono and silver cap shed to black dress and silver cap to no cap and in her encore, a bright dress.

We went back with Badu and came back with Badu. And somewhere in all that music - a heart string was tugged, a memory evoked - and she sang to you, for you, for that part of you that heard that song for the first time and in that now.

You might have said, "That's my song!" And, in a way, it's true. In the magic of Badu as both maestro and musician, you can believe she's singing that song for you.

Ultimately, Badu is an ironic chameleon. She doesn't change herself to match the backdrop. She changes everything else to reflect her songs and her stories and her show.

And you? You're not safe from change either, but that's okay. You just enjoy the ride.

-Charity Tran