LC Holidays and Museums 12 2022

Holidays and Museums

Add a little art, fun and culture to your holiday shopping

By Suzan Filipek

This year, make holiday shopping fun and easy by browsing in person or on line at any one — or all — of the five specialized museum shops on Museum Row. Here’s a sampling of what’s available. Get in the holiday spirit with the Corleone family at the Academy Museum of Mo tion Pictures, where there’s a wide collection of gifts com plementing the new exhibit, “The Art of Moviemaking: The Godfather.”

A limited edition of the 50th anniversary poster of “The Godfather” is $80; the “Corleone Family Cookbook” features “Leave the gun” can noli and more recipes that no one can refuse.

Other film-related merchan dise is available for all ages and includes clothing and jewelry. Children can learn about mar tial artist and Hollywood movie

star Bruce Lee in a hardback from the Little People, Big Dreams series ($14.39).

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6607 Wilshire Blvd., academymuseum.org. o o o

Craft Contemporary kicks off the season with a Holiday Marketplace preview brunch Sat., Dec. 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mingle with the city’s crafty crowd, enjoy a compli mentary cocktail and visit the colorful gift-wrapping station; for tickets, visit craftcontem porary.org.

The marketplace, which fea tures one-of-a-kind designs by Los Angeles-based artists, con

STYLISHLY SUSTAINABLE, this Kantha Orb hand-carved necklace (made of wood scraps) is at the Craft Contem porary ($55).

tinues through Sun., Dec. 4. Holiday ornaments include a modern take on a tradi tional Polish style, and there is a wide array of ornaments portraying personalities from Queen Elizabeth and Kobe Bryant to the Dalai Lama.

ICE AGE mammals, such as this three-toed sloth, can still be found at the La Brea Tar Pits.

and faux tiger rugs are also among gift options.

Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., craftcontem poraryshop.org.

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Creatures from the Ice Age, from sloths and mammoths to saber-toothed cats and more, are among finds at the store at the La Brea Tar Pits

Stylish and ethical jewelry (Please turn to page 4)

An adorable plush three-toed sloth is $25. The Mini Building Blocks Sabre-tooth is a chal lenge with 336 little blocks, $15, and a woolly mammoth wood ornament is $12.

“The Ugly Sweater Holiday Cards” ($25) read “Holiday cheer never goes extinct.” In deed.

Free shipping on orders more than $50. La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., tar pits.org and nhm.org.

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Salute the iconic installa tion on Wilshire Boulevard of 202 street lamps by artist Chris Burden with an Urban Light Pin. Made of cloisonné enamel with a silver finish, it sells for $10 at the LAC MA Store at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Afro-Atlantic Histories book includes more than 400 works and documents by more than 200 artists from the 16th to the 21st centuries ($69.95).

Bauer beehive mugs, made right here in Southern Cal ifornia and styled after the company’s vintage style, come in several colors ($32).

LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., thelacma.store.

THE GODFATHER turns 50. A limited edition of the anni versary poster at the Academy Museum features artwork by Sean Phillips.

ORNAMENTS at the Craft Contemporary Shop include a modern update on a traditional Polish style.

A CLOISONNÉ PIN after “Urban Lights,” the Wilshire Boulevard art installation, is at the LACMA Store.

1987 RUF CTR “Yellowbird,” the fastest production car in the world when it was intro duced, can be yours (in 1:64 scale) on sale for $16.99. More models, T-shirts and posters are in the store.

You also can pick up a pair of multifunction pliers in red and black, $4.99 on sale.

Petersen Automotive Mu seum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Petersen.org.

at a gallery and retail

By Helene Seifer

Freehand, a combination fine crafts gallery and retail store, has developed a reputa tion for exquisite artisan-made jewelry, glassware, ceramics, woodwork and textile art. Here one might select from plati num and diamond earrings, hand-hewn cutting boards, cast resin bangles and boldly patterned blown glass goblets.

Opened in 1980 by Carol Sauvion, herself an accom plished potter, Freehand showcases and celebrates craft artists from across the nation.

Passionate about the art of craft, Sauvion decided to spread the handmade gospel beyond the store’s walls.

In 2007, she premiered “Craft in America,” a Peabody Award-winning PBS television series. Its 27 episodes thus far delve into the lives and pro cesses of gifted and dedicated craft artists, many of whom have items for sale at Free hand. Adjacent to the store is an outgrowth of the television series, the Craft in America Center, which is dedicated to

exhibits, events and education al opportunities that elucidate the contribution of this art form to American culture.

Sauvion and her knowledge able staff can explain each artist’s oeuvre and help find the perfect present from the hundreds on hand.

Freehand is at 8413 W. 3rd St., 323-655-2607. Fine craft items are also available online at freehand.com.

tecture

By Nona Sue Friedman

Walt Disney’s fascination with European art and archi

is featured in a new exhibit at the Huntington

“LE CHATEAU DE LA BELLE au Bois Dormant, Disneyland Paris,” by Frank Armitage, is on exhibit at The Huntington. Courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering Collection

FREEHAND’S HANDCRAFT ED WARES are displayed on Third Street and are perfect for holiday giving.

Photo courtesy Madison Metro

THESE multifunction pliers at the Petersen Museum just might have it all.

Wintertime camps have playtime and fun for kids

By Nona Sue Friedman

A break from school gives kids the chance to explore new interests or just run around with friends after sitting so long in school. Following is a list of some camps in the area. Spots fill up quickly, so don’t hesitate to register if there’s interest.

Photography

Do you have an aspiring shutterbug? Atwater Photo Camp (APC) at 3015 Glendale Blvd. is the place for your child. APC empowers kids by teaching them how to “see” a picture and not just take a picture. During each four-day session, your child will learn location photography by wan dering the neighborhood and going on a field trip, and stu dio photography using on-site facilities. Each session culmi nates with an art exhibition for parents to view.

All skill levels are welcome.

Session One is from Mon., Dec. 19, to Thurs., Dec. 22, and Session Two is Tues., Jan. 3, to Fri., Jan. 6. Days run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids 8 to 16. A session costs $600.

Register online at atwater photoworkshops.com.

Natural History Museum

Let your kindergartenthrough-fifth-grader explore

behind the scenes at the Nat ural History Museum of Los Angeles County at 900 Exposi tion Blvd. The “Adventures in Nature: Secrets of the Muse um” camp takes place Thurs., Dec. 22, and Fri., Dec. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp ers will see what it’s like to be a real museum scientist by visiting the dino lab to meet a fossil preparator, seeing the mineral scientist use a special microscope to inspect gems, and exploring the 35-mil lion specimens housed in the museum.

The cost is $135 for members and $150 for non-members. Register at nhm.org.

Sports

Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center hosts “The best camp!” according to Floyd Thweatt, program coordinator. With more than 100 games in its arsenal, there’s never a dull moment. Days are filled from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with games, arts and crafts, food projects and sports. This winter camp includes a field trip each week. Pan Pacific has been rebuild ing its community since the summer, and lots of kids from the neighborhood participate in its programs. Don’t be sur prised to see some forgotten but familiar faces.

Kids 5 to 13 will have a blast here from Mon., Dec. 19, through Fri., Dec. 23, Tues., Dec. 27, through Fri., Dec. 30, and Tues., Jan. 3, through Fri., Jan. 6. The first week is $155, and the latter two weeks are $135 per week. Register online at laparks.org or do

it the old-fashioned way by walking in at 7600 Beverly Blvd. They love seeing people in person.

Got Game Camp (GGC) is turning Third Street Elemen tary, 201 S. June St., and Hancock Park Elementary, 408 S. Fairfax Ave., into camp

havens for winter break. Each campus provides the same program of active and cre ative scheduling. Everyone is welcome — it’s not necessary to be a student of the school. Campers ages 4 to 12 create their own days by choosing (Please turn to page 10)

A DINOSAUR VISITS with campers at the Natural History Mu seum camp. Courtesy of NHM

‘Gateway to Ice Age’ is designated a global geological site

By Suzan Filipek

The site of the sticky oil bubbling to the surface in our own back yard has made inter national headlines recently as being among one of the most significant geological sites in the world.

The La Brea Tar Pits, which is part of the Natural Histo ry Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), was listed among The First 100 Geo logical Heritage Sites by the International Union of Geo logical Sciences (IUGS). The group includes geoscientists from more than 120 coun tries.

The only listing in an urban area, the La Brea Tar Pits is identified as the richest Pleis tocene (Ice Age) fossil site on earth, and it has helped shape our understanding of climate change, according to the IUGS.

Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of the NHMLAC, said “This desig nation is especially timely considering our upcoming museum reimagining and renovation, which will help our organization better share the site’s critical research with the public.”

The Reimagine La Brea Tar Pits project is currently in the

Environmental Impact Re port (EIR) phase. A draft EIR is expected to be completed in early 2023; a public review will follow.

Bettison-Varga attended the IUGS’ 60th anniversary conference held in Zumaia, Basque Coast, Spain, at the UNESCO Global Geopark, where the list was announced.

She presented information at the conference on Oct. 27 about the geology, paleontol ogy and archaeology at the La Brea site, as well as its gifts to science and the work of its paleontologists and volun teers during the past 100-plus years.

Master Plan

To house the extensive col lections, the George C. Page Museum was established on the grounds in 1977. The reimagining project for the entire 13-acre campus on Wilshire Boulevard has been in the works since 2019. New York-based architecture firm Weiss/Manfredi was selected to create a master plan to im prove research facilities and collections space, expand ex hibits and unify the site — the Lake Pit, the tar pits, the lawn and the museum.

“The plan to reimagine La Brea Tar Pits aims to demy stify the science and seize this opportunity to educate visitors about the impacts of climate change, in the past and now,” Dr. Bettison-Varga said.

The site was created over thousands of years by crude oil seeping to the surface, as it continues to do at the still ac tive site. The sticky oil lodges in shallow pools, entrapping unsuspecting animals passing by; about 4,000 dire wolves lead the pack found in the asphalt, with saber-toothed cats and coyotes following in number. Small mammals, birds, insects and plants were also captured and add to the

treasure trove of fossils at the museum from the last 50,000 years.

The site is, literally, a gate way to the Ice Age. The La

Grier

decks its Victorian halls

Indulge in the holiday spirit in an 1898 Victorian home that is decked out for Christmas. The Grier Musser Museum, a Los Angeles historic cultural monument at 403 S. Bonnie Brae St., is having its annual celebration on Sun., Dec. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. Guided tours are at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Res ervations are necessary; call 213-413-1814. Tickets are $15 for adults; kids are $6.

HOLIDAY CHEER welcomes visitors to Grier Musser Muse um. Photo: Raymond Tejada

VIEW OF SCULPTURES of Ice Age-era mammoths in Lake Pit. Images courtesy of NHMLAC

ASPHALT being poured at the La Brea Tar Pits.

Brea Tar Pits is among eight IUGS sites selected in the United States including the Grand Canyon and Yellow stone. Visit tarpits.org.

New works channel timeless works by legendary playwrights

Henry James, Thornton Wilder and Victor Sardou. Pay attention, there may be a quiz!

2:22 A Ghost Story, at the Ahmanson through Dec. 4, written and directed by Brits Danny Robins and Matthew Dunster, respectively, aspires to be a psychological ghost story in the vein of Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw.”

Nice middle-class people con front their hidden terrors in a house that may or may not be haunted. Jenny and Sam (Constance Wu and Finn Wittrock) are gentrifying an old house, have a baby sleep ing upstairs, and invite Sam’s ex-girlfriend and her work ing-class boyfriend (Anna Camp and Adam Rothenberg) to dinner. Scary enough!

What should be a recipe for Jamesian tension is dissipated first by the Ahmanson’s enor mous stage (somebody could

have pushed walls in a little), the sitcom-level acting, and a script that mashes a yup pie “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and wannabe Noel Coward repartee for young alcoholics into a “ghost story” more suited for the remake of the “Twilight Zone” than the theater. The shocks come from blaring sound effects and blasting lights, not from the other world, where, I as sume James is spinning in his grave.

Music Center, tickets@ctg la.org, or 213-628-2772.

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No playwright is so gently American as Thornton Wilder, but author Jim Leonard (“The Diviners”) gives it a shot with his Anatomy of Gray, having its Los Angeles premiere with the Open Fist Theater Com pany to January 21. The play, which is a regional and col lege theater staple, tells the

story (in an “Our Town”-like way) of how a plague comes to the heartland and brings out the best and worst in the locals. Who survives, who dies, who moves on to tell the story, etc., runs dangerously close to a Hallmark Chan nel movie, but Ben Martin’s sharp-eyed direction and a committed and talented cast (there are two casts to share performances) keep the show honest and never maudlin. Mr. Leonard is no Thornton Wilder, but he tells his tale simply and effectively. It may be too sweet for us cynical Angelenos, but if you’ve had

your own experience with loss (in the last three years espe cially), the play will resonate with you.

Atwater Village Theater, 3269 Casitas Ave., 323-8826912, or openfist.org.

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Nineteenth-century French playwright Victorien Sardou, along with his mentor Eugene Scribe, was the master (if not inventor) of “the well-made play,” the kind of boulevard fluff that grabs the audience, holds it tight for 90 minutes, and then lets it go for dinner feeling completely reward ed and totally undisturbed. Despite her Pulitzers, Tony Awards and Genius grants, I’ve always felt that Lynne Nottage, whose Clyde’s is at the Mark Taper to December 18, is a master manipulator of audience emotions. In such plays as “Sweat,” Intimate Ap parel” and “Clyde’s” she gets

us to believe that there are real issues at hand, but by the time we get to the parking lot, we can’t quite remember what they were or why we cared.

“Clyde’s” is a sandwich shop run by an ex-con, Clyde, (Tam berla Perry) and staffed by ex-cons who make the sand wiches. Clyde is as oppressive to her staff as a white boss might be. The staff (Kevin Kernely, Reza Salazar, Nedra Snipes, Garrett Young) want fulfillment in their work and love in the food they make. Each sandwich is a matter of principle (usually followed by a confessional monologue). The conflict is obvious: will the former convicts allow themselves to be their best selves, even at the risk of los ing their jobs? The answer is — surprise! — yes. Ms. Not tage, like Sardou, is a master of dramatically having your cake (or in this case, sand wich) and eating it, too. We get issues, laughs, touching moments and triumphs. The program even provides a list of sandwich shops to try later. Nothing in the play will spoil our appetites.

Music Center, tickets@ctg la.org, or 213-628-2772.

Okay, no quiz! It’s the holi days. Enjoy them and be safe!

Windsor Square residents’ art loans

enhance exhibits

By Helene Seifer

Two current museum ex hibits are enhanced by the loan of art pieces from the personal collection of Wind sor Square residents Steve and Lizzie Blatt.

For the Museum of Contem porary Art’s (MOCA) recently opened “Henry Taylor: B Side,” a 30-year retrospective of the Los Angeles portraitist Henry Taylor, the Blatts loaned an oil portrait of Khalil Joseph, who, with his late brother, founded the now closed Underground Museum.

In the Skirball Cultural Center’s “Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories,” the Blatts provided a 2019 quiltcum-sculpture named “Fool’s Gamble” by Sanford Biggers.

The work is made from an antique quilt, birch plywood and gold leaf.

PAINTING of Khalil Joseph is on loan at MOCA.

© Henry Taylor. Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth

Theater Review by Louis Fantasia

Winter camps

(Continued from page 5)

activities of interest including basketball, flag football, kara te, dance, theater, arts and crafts and games unique to GGC. There is something for everyone.

The day runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with after care available for an additional fee. Sessions are weekdays, Mon., Dec. 19, through Fri., Jan. 6. The cost is $425 weekly or $95 daily. Register at got gamecamp.com.

Art Art camp at a real art muse um?! Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. welcomes children to immerse them selves in art for a week. Kids 6 to 8 will draw inspiration for mixed-media projects by wan dering to different exhibits

in the museum and walking around the grounds. Kids 9 to 12 will explore storytelling through artwork at the “Afro Atlantic Histories” exhib it. After viewing the exhibit, they will create their own

multimedia pieces. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Mon., Jan. 2, to Fri., Jan. 6. Each session is $375 for members and $425 for non-members, and all sup plies are provided.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

There is a virtual camp option as well, Mon., Dec. 26, through Fri., Dec. 30. Check LACMA’s web site to register for all camps at lacma.org.

Robertson Art Zone at 1046 S. Robert son Blvd. is all about creating thoughtfully inspired art — and lots of it.

Each week’s theme is curat ed by owner Yael Lichaa, who finds a meaningful book, hol iday or saying to relate to the week’s work. Days are jam-packed with a plethora of imaginative fun in many media. Kids ages 5 to 12 work with magic clay, tie-dye, paint, beads and so much more.

Come to this camp week days Mon., Dec. 19, through Fri., Jan 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Four-day sessions cost $460 with the option to add a fifth day for $120. Register at

Huntington

(Continued from page 4)

Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (The Hun tington) at 1151 Oxford Rd. in San Marino.

“Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts,” correlates with his company’s numer ous films and theme parks.

The international exhibit was organized with the Metropol itan Museum of Art in New York and the Wallace Col lection in London. It is on display from Sat., Dec. 10 to Mon., March 27.

Approximately 50 works of 18-century European art, many taken from The

robertsonartzone.com.

Horses

Perhaps horses are piquing your child’s interest. Winter break at Traditional Equitation School at 480 W. Riverside Dr. in Burbank is the place to go. There are three one-week ses sions, Mon., Dec. 19, to Fri., Jan. 6, where your child, aged 5 to 12, will groom, feed, learn to care for and ride a horse. The camp day also includes arts and crafts, water activities and a group game.

Each week is $625 and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with extended care for an addition al fee. Register at ridetes.com.

Gymnastics

JAG Gym, at 8640 Hayden Pl., is one of the premier gym nastic studios in Los Angeles. Activity options include tra ditional gymnastics on the floor, bars, beam and rings, and Ninja-style gymnastics (an obstacle course-inspired sport). There’s also a bounce house and arts and crafts. Your child will be busy! The daily fee for ages 5 and up is $198. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit jaggym.com to register.

Huntington’s collection, are included along with numer ous hand-drawn specimens of production art from the Walt Disney Company.

The exhibit brings to light the many ways Walt Disney was influenced by his stint as an ambulance driver follow ing World War I and then his ensuing trips to Europe. On view are porcelain figurines and Rococo paintings that influenced many of Disney’s creations.

There is a fully illustrated catalog about the exhibit for sale that would be a welcome gift for any Disney fan on your gift list.

Purchase tickets in advance at huntington.org.

GETTING PHYSICAL during flag football at Got Game Camp. Courtesy of Got Game Camp

By Nona Sue Friedman

The holidays wouldn’t be complete without a visit from the sugar plum fairy and her promenading cakes in “The Nutcracker,” would it? Although you can see the traditional bal let version of this story all over town, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, at 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park, has been per forming its rendition for more than 50 years. People who saw the show as children are now taking their kids.

See the toys dance, watch the waltzing flowers and gig gle with the mice as intricate set pieces create the dreamy environment.

This popular show and yule tide tradition for many native

Angelenos sells out annually. Snag your seat for $25 at bob bakermarionettetheater.com.

The show runs now through Sun., Jan. 8.

is Dec. 4, 5 at All Saints’ Church

By Nona Sue Friedman

All Saints’ Church at 504 N. Camden Dr. in Beverly Hills will host two free music fes tivals this month. At “Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols,” on Sun., Dec. 4, at 5 p.m, you will be immersed in a dark ened church lit by candles while listening to readings interspersed with singing of hymns accompanied by live orchestral music. A reception will follow this approximately one-hour-long event.

A “Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” on Sun., Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. is mod eled after one made famous at King’s College in Cambridge, England, on Christmas Eve in 1918 and really gets you in the holiday spirit.

Join the fun! Learn more at allsaintsbh.org.

Magic, repertoire ‘Shine’ on Dec. 9

Hancock Park’s resident magician, Bernie Shine, is set to return to the El Portal The atre on Fri., Dec. 9, following a recent sold-out performance at the same venue.

The veteran magician and raconteur mixes magic and

mentalism with an enter taining repertoire and lots of surprises.

The show is at the Monroe Forum at the El Portal The atre, 11206 Weddington St., in North Hollywood. For tick ets: tinyurl.com/56rzkh2j.

Giant koalas and flowers glow bright at Los Angeles Zoo

By Nona Sue Friedman

Looking for a kid-friendly activity over winter break?

Zoo Lights, 5333 Zoo Dr. in Griffith Park, is the place to visit. The creators have made what was already terrific into a fabulous immersive experi ence.

The newest addition to the illuminations are the larg er-than-life flora and fauna LED-light displays. More than 30 animals, coupled with blooming flowers and tower ing trees, glow throughout the zoo. See giant koalas, con dors, lemurs and orangutans.

Walk through a wisteria light tunnel while the real animals snooze nearby.

The exhibit runs through Sun., Jan. 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets start at $27 for children and $34 for adults. Visit lazoo.org to purchase tickets.

TOYS LINED UP during a performance of the “Nutcracker” at Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

Photo by BBMT

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY sparkles during a show at Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

Photo by Lisa Whiteman

DOGGONE great magic by Bernie Shine will be on stage Dec. 9.

By Suzan Filipek

After a two-year hiatus, enthusiasm is bubbling as the curtain is set to rise on the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet production of “The Nutcracker.”

This year’s production — the school’s 20th — will feature four performances on Dec. 10 and 11 with 96 stu dents from the school and guest Yui Masuda visiting from Tokyo to perform the role of the Prince.

“Yui spoke no English when he arrived, but the students found a way to welcome him

into their midst. His parents and grandparents are coming from Japan to see his perfor mances,” Pamela Daukayev told us.

Masuda shares the coveted role of the Prince with Zarek King, 15, who has studied with Marat since he was 11 years old and now is a student at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACH SA).

Students come all the way from Santa Monica in the west and from Glendale in the east, many times a week, for classes and rehearsals, Pa

mela tells us. Dancing in this year’s production are eight students from Immaculate Heart, three from St. James’, 11 from Marlborough, two from John Thomas Dye, and others from International School of Los Angeles / Lycée International, Lycée Français, LACHSA and Harvard-West lake.

Grace Tankenson, who lives on Lucerne Boulevard, will dance Snow Queen and Dew Drop in this year’s produc tion. Local Lola Vernetti will perform Spanish and Arabian dances in the ballet.

“Audiences at Sunday’s per formances may be treated to a surprise appearance of a star — we can’t say if the visitor will be from the North Pole or perhaps a famous ballerina,” Pamela told us. She added, “Marat, who spent his career as a star of the Kirov, will re prise his role of Drosselmeyer with his students at all perfor

mances. The dancers cannot wait to perform for you!”     Performances will take place on Sat., Dec 10, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sun., Dec 11, at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The four performances will be at the Luckman Fine Arts Com plex at Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., just east of Downtown.

The longest-running “Nutcracker” production in Southern California returns to the Broad Stage in Santa Monica this month. The lav ish, traditional production by the Westside School of Ballet features more than 85 dancers, including three from local schools: Jenne Shim, 15, and Ava Bakhshandehpour, 15, both of Marlborough, and Lux Saevitz, 10, of St. James’.

The Broad Stage is at the Santa Monica College Per forming Arts Center, 1310 11th St., and performances are Sat., Dec. 3, and Sun., Dec. 4, at 1 and 5 p.m.

Tickets are $50. Visit west sideballet.com.

Ebell celebrates holidays in style

By Helene Seifer

The Ebell of Los Angeles Hol iday Luncheon & Boutique will dazzle with a panoply of artisanal gifts on Wed., Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free shopping extravaganza will include jewelry, hand bags, soaps and fashion items.

Hark! Angelic voices of the Ebell Chorale will herald the holidays in a free program of traditional carols and sea

sonal music, “The Season of Chorale Concert & Tea,” on Thurs., Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.

“We are thrilled to open our doors to the communi ty for the holiday season,” states Ebell President Laurie Schechter. The Ebell of Los Angeles is located at 743 S. Lorraine Blvd., 323-931-1277. For information on these and other events, visit ebello flosangeles.org.

Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller

Sunday Eucharist 11:00am Wednesday Eucharist 8:30pm Lectures • Fridays • 8pm 3363 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater, Los Angeles • 323-467-2685

Sunday Eucharist 11am Wednesday Eucharist 8pm Lectures • Fridays • 8pm 2560 N. Beachwood Dr., Hollywood • 323-467-2685

THIS YEAR’S role of the Prince will be shared by Zarek King, (shown above as the Pirate in 2019’s “Nutcracker” production) and guest Yui Masuda.

LOCAL DANCERS, left to right: Jenne Shim, Lux Saevitz and Ava Bakhshandehpour.

Photo: Daniel Chiswick

Finn Juhl for Baker Furniture, Inc., Armchair, model 400-1/2, designed 1951, Milwaukee Art Museum, bequest of Dr. Lucille Cohn, photo © Milwaukee Art Museum, by John R. Glembin; Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Designs, Købenstyle casseroles and pitcher, designed 1955, private collections, photo © Milwaukee Art Museum, by John R. Glembin; Kaj Franck for Nuutajärvi Glassworks, Goblets, model KF 486, designed 1968, these

By Suzan Filipek

A new Greek takeout and delivery place will have all of the farm-fresh food that Larchmont Boulevard’s Le Petit Greek is known for, be cause the new spot has the same co-owners at the helm.

The fast-casual Greek Eats at 8236 W. Third St. is ex pected to open in early 2023

pending city permits, Nora Houndalas told us.

Greek Eats’ menu will be similar to the one at the 34-year-old restaurant on Larchmont, with an empha sis on salads, kebabs and appetizers.

“It will be the same Greek food — fresh produce, pas ture-raised meats — that we

are known for.” “Everything is as clean and fresh as you can get,” she said.

Co-owner Dimitris Houn dalas grew up working in his parents’ restaurant in Greece, where he learned early on about farm-to-table cuisine before it was a trend. Farmers markets were the only mar kets, he says on the Le Petit

Greek website.

Coincidentally, Greek Eats’ Third Street location was the previous home of clothing store Wittmore, now lo cated on Larchmont just a few stores north of Le Petit’s longtime home on the Boulevard.

Petersen Museum’s Meyers Manx Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch

By Helene Seifer

After years of sitting empty, the former Drago Ristorante space in the Petersen Auto motive Museum has been transformed into the Mey ers Manx Cafe. Designed as an homage to Bruce F. Mey ers, creator of the Meyers Manx original dune buggy, the space is decorated with surfboards and dune bug gy-related photographs and news clippings and has a chill California beach vibe.

Open for breakfast and

lunch, the menu features such fare as a $13 breakfast burrito, $14 crispy chicken sandwich, $15 burger and $6 kids’ cheese quesadilla. Plans are underway to expand to a still casual, but more sophis ticated, dinner menu.

“Manx Merch,” as it’s called, is for sale and includes sweat pants, T-shirts and a $50 Meyers Manx model car.

Meyers Manx Cafe, in the Petersen Automotive Muse um, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., 323-999-3242.

Right: GREEK EATS, a new, fast-casual place to open on Third Street at Harper Avenue.

Shortstop knocked out in his best year; scandalous Murdaughs

War on the Diamond (9/10): 90 minutes. NR. Prime. This fascinating doc umentary tells the story of Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman, the only MLB player ever to die playing baseball, combined with a history of the rivalry between the Indians and the New York Yankees over the years. But the rivalry takes second place to the story of Chapman, who was a lovable, handsome, extremely popular player who had a storybook mar riage with a beautiful woman from a wealthy family. At the time he was hit in the head with a pitch from Yankee pitcher Carl Mays in 1920 he was batting .303 and in the midst of his best year, a pennant-winning and World Series-winning (over the Dodgers) one for the Indians.

Low Country: The Mur daugh Dynasty (9/10):

Three-part series of 50-min ute segments. TV-MA. HBO Max. On June 7, 2021, South Carolina attorney Alex Mur daugh called 911 to report the murders of his wife and son, Paul, in Islandton. Thus opened the scandalous story of the Murdaugh (pronounced Mur-dock) legal clan, expos ing the unfettered criminal activity that the powerful and arrogant Murdaughs had conducted for decades over three generations, running roughshod over the small community. It is not a failing of the legal profession that is limited to this situation, however; witness the kid gloves with which the Cal ifornia State Bar dealt with the apparently thoroughly corrupt Tom Girardi, who was held as a paragon in the Los Angeles legal profession for decades, despite continu ing complaints filed against

him. We need more of these exposés, and this is one not to be missed.

Immediate Family (9/10): 102 minutes. NR. Director Denny Tedesco’s follow up to “The Wrecking Crew” (2008), this tells of the session mu sicians of the ‘70s and later — four talented musicians who not only played backup on hit records, but also toured with artists like Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. The fami ly consists of drummer Russ Kunkel, bassist Leland (Lee) Sklar, guitarist and producer Danny “Kooch” Kortchmar,

and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. They are all interviewed to gether and separately in depth and tell fascinating tales of their experiences.

But also interviewed are Ronstadt and Taylor and Car ole King and Don Henley and Stevie Nicks and Keith Richards and Lyle Lovett and others who uniformly sing their praises. For anyone in terested in the music of the last part of the 20th century, this is a must.

She Said (8/10): 129 min utes. R. Another “All the President’s Men”-type jour nalism story, this time about two reporters’ investigation into the disgraced Harvey Weinstein that launched the #MeToo movement. Excellent performances are by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as the intrepid New York Times journalists who continue to dig deep into the scandal de

spite the victims being bound by secrecy agreements. The pace keeps up throughout the more than two hours runtime.

The Vatican Girl (8/10): Four-part series. Netflix. On June 22, 1983, 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi disap peared on her way to a flute lesson. The Orlandis were among the few families who worked and lived within the Vatican. This is a byzantine tale of puzzling intrigue with twists and turns involving the Vatican itself, a shocking implication of moral corrup tion in an institution that holds itself as the arbiter of morality.

I Am DB Cooper (7/10): 100 Minutes. NR. DB Cooper became one of the most fa mous fugitives in history after hijacking a plane and bailing out in the middle of Oregon. This is the story of two bounty hunters who find an old man, Rodney Bonnifield (played by himself), who claims to be DB Cooper, so they investi gate the man’s story. Told in flashbacks, the young Rodney (Ryan Cory, in an impressive performance) is shown as a troubled man with a lot of en ergy, but the old man’s claim is told with notable certitude. It’s an interesting tale.

The Menu (7/10): 117 min utes. R. This is a clever satire of celebrity chefs and cuisine snobs combined in a maca bre tale about a young couple which goes to a remote island to dine at an exclusive restau rant when things gradually take a terrible wrong turn. Highlighted by fine perfor mances by Anya Taylor-Joy as a guest and Ralph Fiennes as the chef, it’s a tense tale of claustrophobic dread.

Rivals (6/10): Quarterly TV series of two-hour segments. Bally Sports. I’ve only seen the first of this series, Michigan v. Ohio State. I was expect ing to see some of the great plays and great games from this rivalry with prominent participants commenting. Guess again. This is an intel lectual examination of what constitutes a “rivalry,” set ting specific parameters that a contest must satisfy before it can qualify. So, if you are hoping to see a lot of football, forget it. This is action-chal lenged. There is a lot of talk with some prominent partic ipants commenting about the competition, not the games themselves. There is little on the not-so-burning question, “Is this a rivalry?”

The Crown: I have only seen one episode of the new season of this heretofore exceptional series, but it is deeply marred by atrocious casting. Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies were remarkable in their sim

At the Movies with Tony Medley

Head to the hills for dinners with spectacular views

Guests arrive for the holi days expecting entertainment and sustenance in equal mea sure. One option for keeping visitors wowed is to head to the hills for dinner with a spectacular view.

In the 1980s my husband and I used to occasionally ascend the Hollywood Hills to Yamashiro , the ersatz Japanese mansion with an outstanding view of urban Los Angeles.

Completed in 1914 for Asian art collector brothers Adolph and Eugene Bernheimer, the Yamashiro estate, accord ing to DiscoverLosAngeles. com, featured 30,000 vari eties of plants and trees, a private zoo, gold-lacquered rafters and an imported Jap anese pagoda, still there and thought to be the oldest structure in California. Over the years, Yamashiro changed hands several times and spent

time as a Hollywood celebrity club, an apartment building, a military school and possibly even a brothel. In the 1960s it became a restaurant. In 2012 it joined the National Register of Historic Places.

The property is impressive, but we were repeatedly disap pointed to find that the food was decidedly not.

Just prior to the pandem ic, Vallerie Castillo-Archer became Yamashiro’s first female and Filipina Ameri can chef, and she revamped the menu. Now, in a partially post-pandemic world, having a cocktail and dinner in a Hollywood fantasy version of Japan seemed promising, so I gathered some friends for a mid-week girls’ night out at Yamashiro.

Unfortunately, the food is still mediocre. We were there during DineLA week and found the $65, four-course menu dis

On the Menu by Helene Seifer

appointing. Beef or chicken yakitori (skewers) were too chewy, the Chilean sea bass lacked caramelization from the miso-mirin marinade. However, the shrimp and veg etable tempura was crispy and tasty. Chef Castillo-Archer started as a pastry chef and the dessert options were pretty but meh. Lemon biscuit cake with green tea ice cream and strawberry gazpacho felt like disparate elements in search of a whole taste; vanilla crème brûlée was stodgy.

Our waiter recommended ordering a $28 Chef Val roll, saying that “every bite is a

taste of the entire restaurant.”

Indeed, the roll had a little of everything: raw salmon, tuna, Hamachi, avocado, serrano peppers, truffle aioli, spicy mayo, eel sauce and crispy onions. It sounded dreadful, but we went for it anyway, and it was the best dish of the night. The fish was fresh, the assortment of seemingly ran dom sauces somehow worked well together.

Despite disappointments, holiday guests would relish a roll and a cocktail, miles of sparkly string lights and the breathtaking view.

Yamashiro, 1999 N. Syca more Ave., 323-466-5125.

Another hillside restaurant we used to frequent is the Bur bank institution Castaway . After a while we could no lon ger justify eating bad food as a trade-off for a gorgeous view, so we replaced our lofty ambi tions with earthbound ones,

finding delicious dinners in landscaped patios in the flats.

Then, in 2018, Castaway fin ished a $10 million renovation, shedding the vaguely tropical look and menu for a modern, more meat-centric presence with a dry-aging room, a com mitment to moderate pricing and a menu featuring some of the greatest hits from con temporary restaurants, such as $18 crispy Brussels sprouts, $19 salmon tartare and an eight-ounce Snake River Farms wagyu for $38.

We decided to give Cast away another chance. A long winding road through the Verdugo Hills brought us to the sprawling redone restau rant, and we were seated on the terrace with a clear view over the valley. Over cocktails (smoky mezcal with triple sec, rosemary and fruit, $22, for him; $16 vodka, pome granate liquor, Cointreau and citrus for me) and appetizers, we watched the sky turn pink and orange as the sun set over the San Fernando Valley.

The food, under Chef Ricky Reyes, has indeed greatly improved. Yellowtail aguachile with yuzu kosho, fresno pepper, cilantro and avocado mousse, $19, was refreshing and delicious. The $22 steak tartare with quail egg had very good quality prime beef. Tempura calamari presented a pile of breaded and fried squid rings for $22. They gilded the lily a bit with abundant squirts of citrus Buffalo aioli, but it made a nice nibble nonetheless.

All in all, with its combi nation of enjoyable food and spectacular view, Castaway is a real guest-pleaser Castaway, 1250 E. Harvard Rd., Burbank, 818-8486691.

Movies

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ilarities to the dashing Prince Philip, but Jonathan Pryce completely misses the mark, playing him as an unat tractive old man. In the last two seasons, Josh O’Connor was spot-on as Prince Charles. Dominic West replaces him, and his movie star-handsome, manly appearance is jarring and not even close. But worst of all are the players for Di ana. Emma Corrin was, well, spectacular as the Princess, capturing her beauty and cha risma; it was hard to believe Corrin wasn’t the real Diana. Corrin’s replacement, Eliza beth Debicki, can’t even qualify as a pale imitation. I don’t un derstand why Corrin needed to be replaced. From what I’ve seen from this episode, it’s a good thing this series is winding down, after such im pressive first four seasons.