weekend, part i.

A weekend of classical music...sounds like a blast, right? It does to me!

Los Angeles has a small (compared to New York, Chicago and London) classical music scene, but it's vibrant, eclectic and often on the cutting-edge, focusing on new composers and the avant-garde. I dig it, and there's SO MUCH going on this weekend, I just had to share. Everything from an opera by a 12th century feminist to an opera with a 60s cult film as its backdrop.

Er...there's a lot between those two operas, so take a look.

Cantoris Los Angeles presents Ordo Virtutum, by the Benedictine nun, mystic, writer and composer Hildegard von Bingen. The play will be accompanied by an ensemble of medieval instruments. If you're looking for an introduction to opera, this may be it, as it's only a little over an hour.

Friday and Saturday, April 25th-26th, 7:30 p.m., at the ProCathedral of St. John on West Adams Boulevard. Get all the details here.

Nun, writer, composer and all-around badass Hildegard von Bingen

On the other side of town, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in the Palisades presents Violin Fest, celebrating four centuries of violin music and featuring Salastina Music Society co-directors Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar. For details and tickets, go here.

Salastina's Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar

I've blogged frequently about the Jacaranda Music Series, so you know I love it. This season's finale features none other than the magnificent Lyris Quartet performing quartets by my favorite composer Sofia Gubaidulina--plus works by Schnittke, Pärt and Prokofiev.

And if that wasn't enough, the Lyris also kicks off the premiere concert of the new Contemporary Performance Collective. Tune In features the works of many Los Angeles composers performed by local musicians. I am VERY excited about this. Sunday, April 26th, 8pm at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Silverlake. More details and ticket information here.

Classical musicians are remarkably photogenic, no?

Sunday also marks a new Classical Music in Historic Sites concert from the Da Camera Society. The Italian Saxophone Quartet will perform pieces by Morricone, Piazzolla and Gershwin at the stunning Bradbury Building in DTLA. More info and tickets here.

The Italian Saxophone Quartet plays Sunday

This is the one I'm all over--the American Cinematheque and Los Angeles Opera have joined forces in an opera/film mash-up. Hercules vs. The Vampires, an early '60s Mario Brava cult classic, inspires the new work by L.A. composer Patrick Morganelli.

Again--this is your chance to see an opera that isn't 18 hours long with multiple intermissions, and bonus: the tickets are very reasonable, so you can sit down front! That's what I'll be doing on Sunday.

Sliding into next week, LACMA hosts Celebrating Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 29th featuring LA Phil concertmaster Martin Chalifour, along with members of the Angel City Chorale and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, performing works by Schoenberg, Stravinsky and more. Info and tickets here.

I said it before, I'll say it again: classical musicians are TRÉS photogenic.

Come back tomorrow, where I'll continue with weekend, part ii (the non-classical music edition--WHAT!).

Love, Lexa.

double feature #3.

Well, hey. Here we are again.

I have a confession to make to you, dear readers. As it pains and embarrasses me to admit, I feel I must be forthcoming. Ready?

I had never seen Harold and Maude until this week.

I know, I know. It's blasphemous--absurd, even. But I am happy to come clean and THRILLED that I've finally experienced this little slice of Hal Ashby genius (in my defense, I've always been a big Shampoo fan).

So, humor me for a moment, while I rave about the brilliant, faked-death set pieces, the dichotomy of Bud Cort's baby face and deep, sexy voice, computer dates--in 1971(!), and the wonder that is the delightfully-named Vivian Pickles.

OK, I just had to get that all out. Let's move on.

I rounded out this week's Double Feature with a viewing of Being There. It seemed only logical. My friend Tori had loaned it to me for my convalescence, and it was sitting atop the TV, begging me to pop it in to the blu-ray.

I loved this movie--and I don't generally care for stories about the Village Idiot or the Holy Fool, but Being There transcends with a quiet story, a deceptively subtle performance by Peter Sellars and an especially winsome Shirley MacLaine as a D.C. trophy wife.

Photo via National Geographic.

I came across a lovely article in the New York Times by ovarian cancer survivor and Indiana University Professor of English Susan Gubar. Living with Cancer: Practicing Loss, quoting the Elizabeth Bishop poem One Art, poses that our losses in life can be mastered, as an art.

Professor Gubar has also written a memoir about her cancer journey, which my mom promptly sent to my Kindle after I posted the NYT article on Facebook. I really want to read it, however, one reviewer posted on Amazon that if you are currently going through cancer treatment, you may want to wait until you are in the clear. I may take that advice.

My first chemo wig...what do you think? I wanted to go all the way, and I'm loving the look. But the temps have already reached 100 degrees here in L.A., so I may just stick with my light-as-air silk scarves. Still, it's nice to have a statement wig in my Chemo Chic arsenal.

Speaking of Chemo Chic, I've decided on my go-to look for Summer 2014: maxi dress, which--let's face it--is basically a socially-acceptable nightgown, statement necklace, colorful bandana and easy shrug (for when the AC gets chilly). I've tested the schematic out a few times already and gotten quite a few compliments. It's a go.

So, here is my weekend roundup. If I could be out doing fun stuff around the city, this is what I would be doing. There's a lot I need to get through, so stay with me!

Tonight and tomorrow night, check out the inaugural True Romance Fest, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Tarantino/Scott film, hosted by Bronson Pinchot at the iconic Safari Inn where it was shot.

The weekend also kicks off a trio of Philip Glass concerts at UCLA as part of the L.A. Phil's Minimalist Jukebox program. Tonight features Glass's opera set to Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast, followed by concerts on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday is California Book Store Day--yea! It's just like Record Store Day, but with books--and independent powerhouses Skylight Books, Book Soup and Vroman's will all be participating.

Skylight Books via Time Out.

Also on Saturday night, violinist Vladimir Spivakov conducts the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra at the gorgeous Wilshire Ebell Theater. I thought this looked like an interesting option off the beaten path of classical music in L.A., plus a chance to experience a (or an?) historic space.

While I'm treating my cancer, I'm on disability, which comes to me every couple of weeks on a Bank of America debit card. It's very convenient, and the great state of California hasn't let me down yet, for which I am grateful.

So, I was also delighted to learn that the first weekend of every month is Free Museum Day for Bank of America cardholders. I thought this Sunday would be the perfect opportunity to take in the Gehry-designed Calder and Abstraction exhibit at LACMA,

Gehry and Calder. Photo via LA Times.

After all that excitement over the weekend, you may be exhausted. I understand. So, rest on Monday, and then get ready, because there are two exciting events happening on Tuesday night.

Take in one of my all-time favorite movies Manhunter at the Egyptian Theater. Before there was Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, there was (IMHO) the far superior Brian Cox as one of film history's most chilling villains. This is a rare chance to see this Michael Mann masterpiece on the big screen, followed by a talk with Maynard Keenan from the band Tool.

"Dream much, Will?"

But if face-chewing serial killers don't get you all rarin' to go on a Tuesday night, then Disney Hall is the place to be for the L.A. Phil's Green Umbrella Series. I love these intimate, avant-garde concerts that showcase the works of modern composers performed by members of the Philharmonic. Tuesday's show features conductor Jeffrey Milarsky leading pieces by Birtwistle, Messiaen and the West Coast premiere of Joy by Magnus Lindberg.

Composer and conductor Magnus Lindberg.

That's all for now. Have fun this weekend. I'll be back soon.

science & art.

This past week was pretty wonderful. Let's take a look.

Last Tuesday, I attended a lecture at LACMA called "The Intersection of Science and Art" with LACMA CEO Michael Govan and the Director of the Griffith Park Observatory, Dr. E.C. Krupp.

Much of the talk centered on the James Turrell Retrospective that I'm hoping to see before it closes, and the Alexander Calder exhibit. It was exciting seeing two of L.A.'s greatest intellectuals (and no, that is not a joke or an oxymoron) bantering about the relationship between science and art, jumping through history, from the time of the ancient pyramids to Turrell's modern-day installations.

I also had the chance to see a preview of Tartuffe at A Noise Within in Pasadena. I have loved Moliére ever since I rocked The School for Wives in high school. He is like the grand daddy of the sitcom--it's non-stop hilarity, hijinx and it all rhymes! If Moliére were alive today, he would be one of the top dudes in Hollywood.

Photos via A Noise Within

The production was fantastic and lots of fun. A Noise Within never fails. Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott lead an outstanding company and consistently perform some of the best classical theater in the Los Angeles area.

I was also excited to discover that Tartuffe is a 1925 F.W. Murnau film.

But, alas I missed an exhibit of never-before-seen photos of a very young Prince at the Mr. Musichead gallery in Hollywood. Actually, I missed it because I wasn't invited to the private opening. However, the photos are on display until (around) March 20th.

I came across a Hollywood Babylon-esque and beautifully written blog called The Chiseler, "Forgotten Authors, Neglected Stars and Lost Languages Rediscovered." The latest entry is a somewhat disturbing article that touches on Shirley Temple, Gravity's Rainbow, Lolita, Graham Greene and Woody Allen, plus a less-disturbing piece on Mexican film noir.

I was thrilled to see that Ricky's Fish Tacos has returned to Virgil Avenue. I had heard he was booted from the neighborhood a while back and now stationed in Chinatown. I was so glad he was back. You can see where he's serving on Twitter: @RickysFishTacos (and I highly recommend you do).

The finest fish tacos in town--and that's saying something.

I also read this wonderful Buzzfeed piece on the literature of True Detective. So many intriguing books here--a few I've read and many I've never heard of. I love the idea of "Southern Gothic film noir with a touch of the occult." In fact, I think it's my new middle name. That is a rabbit hole I can dive into.

One book of note on this list is Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. You can also check out the stunning 1979 film adaptation of it, too, by John Huston and starring the delightfully creepy Brad Dourif. Before there was Steve Buscemi, there was Brad Dourif.

Like so many, I was saddened by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and in his honor, I watched Synedoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut. It's a film that works and doesn't work, is compulsively watchable and completely inscrutable--all in the most over-the-top kind of way and anchored in every scene by Hoffman.

For the record, two of my most memorable PSH performances are a couple of his early cameos: one as a feral teenager in a vintage Law&Order episode, The Violence of Summer, and one scene from a little-known indie movie called My New Gun, starring James LeGros and Diane Lane.

I have some mixed feelings about the unseasonably warm winter this year. Sad that I only wore a sweater for maybe two days in the last two months. Sad that we are experiencing one of the worst droughts in the last hundred years. Happy because the beautiful flowers are already in bloom...

...and the rain is coming!

That's all for now. TTandCF will be on hiatus for a week or so, but I'll see you soon.

love summer.

In this edition of "love," we talk the joys of summer, many of which I experienced while my dad was in town this past weekend.

1. Love trying new vegan food. Sage--you always come out on top.

The perogies at Sage. God help me, they are delicious.

We also tried a new place in Highland Park--Cinnamon--although it's been around for awhile. Cinnamon is more of the old-school variety of veggie/vegan restaurants. My vegan posole came with a big heap of soy meat, which I don't care for. But the salads, the tostadas and the tamales were pretty good. Cinnamon will do in a pinch.

2. Love tomatoes.

A big pile o' heirloom tomatoes.

3. Love andirondack chairs. Check out these creations made of skateboards at the (new?) Caffe Vitta in Silverlake. Speaking of which, when did Uncle Jer's close? I always liked that place.

4. Love hikes in the Hollywood Hills. We referred to Charles Fleming's The Secret Stairs of Los Angeles, and explored a trail through Bronson Canyon.

Where do they lead?

Bougainvillea in orange and white tipped with pink. 

Spider web gates and heads perched on walls.

5. Love flowers, flowers everywhere.

A wall o' jasmine taller than me. Like living inside a scented candle.

6. Love taking Friday off and going to a museum.

So, I finally made it to the Kubrick exhibit at LACMA. I'm embarrassed it's take this long. The exhibit was inspiring--and overwhelming. A full history of his filmography, it was a tribute to Kubrick's obsessive research and attention to every detail of his film.

So many mementos and artifacts--where to even begin? I think my favorites were Saul Bass's poster designs for The Shining with Kubrick's comments on them and the correspondences between Stanley and Nabokov.

What was flabbergasting was that the most research Kubrick did was for a film about Napoleon that never made it to the screen.

Needless to say, it's time to catch up on the films I have yet to see: Barry Lyndon, Full Metal Jacket and yes, A Clockwork Orange. The last two always scared the bejeezus out of me. I really want to watch Eyes Wide Shut again. And check out the documentary, Room 237.

7. Love tacos.

Stopped by the new Guisados in Echo Park. So good. Arguably the best tacos in the city, but that's not saying anything new. No chips and salsa, because this is the real deal. But you don't really need them, because the tacos are made with thick masa shells.

8. Love sci-fi movies.

One word: Cumberbatch.

Saw Star Trek: Into Darkness. Sigh. Where do I start with this? J.J. Abrams is the master of the cinematic adrenaline rush, but Lord, I wish he would learn what a story is--and then read a couple. And experiment with some character development. That would be nice.

The heir apparent to Spielberg he is not, despite his desperate plea. But what's fascinating to me is that today's generation of filmmakers (and tomorrow's) have a life experience that has solely been formed by movies and television. Take a filmmaker like Tarantino, who has the self-awareness to understand this and infuse his art with it, along with healthy doses of creativity, imagination and individuality. Abrams demonstrates none of this in his work. Plus, there isn't a shred of the intellect or emotional resonance of the TV series. He makes a nod to it in the very beginning--and then seems to dispense it--with a smirk.

He's a star. And don't you forget it.

But Into Darkness is all about Cumberbatch, who is mesmerizing, despite being given so little to work with. Yes, he looks like an otter--or more accurately--an eel in a wig. And there was a comment strain on Gawker where it was posed he is "human cilantro"--either you want Cumberbatch in every movie ever made, or you cannot fathom why he is allowed on screen. There is no in-between.

I am all for the Cumberbatch, in case you haven't noticed. And I love cilantro, too.

9. Love pizza.

Pre-Star Trek, I was excited to try the new Stella Barra next door to the Arclight. It is excellent! I'm a bit loathe to include any write-up of a chain restaurant on the blog, but I have to admit, the Lettuce Entertain You places do a pretty good job, and they seem to allow some individuality between their different spots. I had to try it, because I've heard so much about Stella Rossa in Santa Monica. But driving to Santa Monica is like driving to Vegas.

We had the vegan Pizza Rossa, which was wonderful. However, a gluten-free option would be cool.

The extra-thin Pizza Rossa.

10. Love the ocean.

I've never been a big beach person, but I would like to change that this year. I think I may have mentioned that in my last post, but it's worth repeating. We headed up to Point Mugu at the Ventura County line, which is a bit of a long (but incredibly beautiful) trek. First we stopped for lunch at Neptune's Net.

This is a "I Can't Believe I've Never Been to..." place. It's delightfully tacky and crowded with leathery-skinned, tattoo-ed, dirty-ponytailed bikers and surfers. The reasons I am not a beach person. Snobby, but deal with it.

The food is ok.

Overrated. I would opt for this place instead.

Sycamore Cove at Point Mugu State Park was awesome. We went on a Monday, so there were only a few people (and dogs) there. Peaceful. My own dog has never seen the ocean, so it was an exciting rite of passage. The waves freaked her out, and she kept running away. I kept pulling her back towards them, and we both got soaking wet. Then she rolled around in the sand. Rinse, repeat--until she got the hang of it.

Aside from the distance, I could see myself becoming a regular here.

Not a bad way to spend a Monday.

As always, thank you for reading! I'll be back with more this week. xoL