I’ve decided to focus on my personal blog, so I’ll merge the two, and include things to do in LA on that one, and will no longer be posting here.

Here are the documentaries features showcased this year:

Dirt! The Movie
Garbage Dreams
Hunting Down Memory
Kimjongilia
Living In Emergency: Stories Of Doctors Without Borders
Racing Dreams
Rock Prophecies
Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie
The Sari Soldiers
Severe Clear
Smile ‘Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story
Split Estate
Soundtrack For A Revolution
Sunrise/Sunset: Dalai Lama XIV
Sweet Crude, Tapped
Yes Madam, Sir

They will also be showing 10 documentary short films including:

Far From Gone
Ingelore
Point of Entry
Salt
The Solitary Life of Cranes
Women Rebels

Here is the fine print from Docuweek’s page:

Each film runs twice daily at the ArcLight Hollywood and the IFC Center. Tickets for individual films at the ArcLight Hollywood are $12 for general admission, $9 for ArcLight/IDA members, as well as seniors and students. Tickets for individual films at the IFC Center are $12.50 for general admission, $9.50 for IDA members and $8.50 for seniors and children. Tickets can be purchased at the respective box offices, or at www.documentary.org/docuweeks09. A complete schedule and additional information about each film can be found on the International Documentary Association’s website at www.documentary.org or call 213-534-3600 x7447 for ticket information.

Click here for Directions and Parking.

This is a definite “LA MUST”: the Hollywood cemetery summer movies in the Cinespia series.

This Saturday, August 1, is the absolute classic must-see movie: Some Like it Hot!

It’s a hilarious comedy, Marilyn Monroe’s best movie, with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon fleeing for their life dressed as a female jazz band. It’s a 1959 Billy Wilder cult classic, and if you haven’t seen it, you have to mosey on down, this is where it’s at, you can get details on how to park and directions here, and here is the information about the screening:

This means you won’t see anything new here until August, but I’ll be updating my personal blog very regularly, so that all of you can experience my home and see what Congo looks like, and travel around France with me.

I’m excited to share that adventure with you.

See you in August!

It has the laid back casual atmosphere of a college bar, but with a crazy California Mexican flavor, and some weeeeeeird items on the menu (like crocodile meat). Great sandwiches and pies, and a really fun decor. The crowd is a mixture of PCC students and Pasadena regulars and sports fans who come for happy hour.

They also have a red button you are not supposed to press, under any circumstances.

Do not press the red button.

Just don’t.

You’ve been warned.

The Gamble House is one of the most outstanding examples of the American Arts and Crafts style. There are many houses in Pasadena that are Craftsman houses, and I posted an article about Bungalow Heaven last month, but the Gamble House is the best example, it’s open for public tours, and it’s entirely decorated in Art Deco style inside. All the original architecture is still intact, whereas a lot of the Greene and Greene houses still around have been gutted and the walls painted white.

This is what the inside of Craftsman bungalows used to look like:

The Gamble House tours are a feast for the eyes and you’ll learn so much. The docents are very knowledgeable.

Location and info:

4 Westmoreland Place
Pasadena CA 91103
tel. (626) 793-3334

Hours (they’re very limited, read carefully):

• Guided tours are one hour long and are from 12-3 PM Thursday-Sunday.
• Weekday tours every 30 minutes, weekend tours every 20 minutes.
• Tickets go on sale on tour days in the Bookstore at 10 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
• If you want a ticket come early. The tours are limited.
• DO NOT wear heels. You must wear flat shoes (heels could damage the wood floors)
• No advance reservations except for 2 PM tour, so if you want to reserve, just call.
• Closed on major holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Admission prices:

• Adults: $10.
• Persons 65 or over, and full-time students with ID: $7.
• Children under 12: free, and must be accompanied by an adult.
• 2 p.m. reservations and group tours: $12.50 (see below).

The Silent Movie Theater is one of Hollywood’s most beloved and exceptional landmarks.

From the website:

Built in 1942 by John and Dorothy Hampton, The Silent Movie Theatre ran for decades as the only fully functioning silent movie theatre in the country. It has been fully restored to its original, vintage 1940s art deco design, along with a brand new screen and sound system, to help a new generation enjoy the pleasures of cinema in a beautiful theatre.

Here are some of the showings for May and June.

Silent Wednesdays:

5/20: It’s the Old Army Game (Louise Brooks series)

5/27: Beggars of Life (Louise Brooks series)

6/3: Laurel and Hardy shorts (Silent Clowns)

6/10: Michael Winslow: Man of 1,000 noises (Silent Clowns series)

6/17: Mack Sennett shorts (Silent Clowns)

6/23: Our Gang shorts (Silent Clowns)

Address and phone number:
611 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 655-2510

The exhibit is called Sight Unseen and is hosted at UC Riverside. This is the type of photography that is pushing the limits of the genre now.

The show has its own dedicated page here, and I urge you to read the description of the exhibit in the about page.It’s extremely moving.

You can hear an interview with the curator, Douglas McCulloh on offramp with Steven Cuevas here.

“I photograph what I imagine, you could say I’m a bit like Don Quixote. The originals are inside my head.”  -” Evgen Bavcar (photographer featured in Sight Unseen exhibit)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW:

Tuesday – Saturday
12 – 5pm

FIRST THURSDAY
12-9pm (6-9pm FREE)

FIRST SUNDAY (February, March, April, May, October, November, December)
12 – 5pm (FREE)

CLOSED
Sunday, Monday, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

ADMISSION
General Admission: $3
Seniors (60+), Students with I.D., Children under 12 and Members: Free

MAP is here

I went to a Chivas game last night at the Home Depot center in Carson, and everything about it was great. Traffic was nonexistent, parking was easy, the stadium was clean, the food was good, the atmosphere was FUN, lots of kids and families, and fun halftime games.

Tickets start at $15, this is the Chivas site. Go! It’s a great time.

Here is a longer video!