M. L. Johnson:

Earth Day, A Celebration of All Things Green

Get your green on for the annual Earth Day celebration, April 22nd. Help with beach clean up and recycling, learn about sustainability issues, admire eco-art, eat and drink organic, and support the continuation of Planet Earth. A few suggestions: The 10th Annual Topanga Earth Day (www.topangaearthday.org) is actually a two-day event (April 18th and 19th) among the oak groves and sea breezes at the Topanga Community House Fairgrounds. Festivities include educational presentations, eco-development...

April 9th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Mind Over Matters

For anyone who is stressed out over the economy or any other of life’s little annoyances, Los Angeles offers numerous resources for finding peace within. Aside from the many yoga classes taught all over town, there is another, lesser-known aide to angst. Part of the UCLA Health System, MARC (Mindful Awareness Research Institute) offers classes and lectures for the general public and all ages. Discounts apply to seniors over 65, students, and UCLA staff members, and work exchange and scholarships...

April 7th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

John Waters and his “Rear Projection”

Fans of once-off-the-wall and now-celebrated filmmaker John Waters should check out more of his creativity at the Beverly Hills branch of Gagosian Gallery. Opening on April 11th and on display through May 23rd, “Rear Projection” displays sculpture and photographs by Waters, the cult hero from Baltimore. The creator of such controversial films as “Pink Flamingos” and “Desperate Living,” as well as the wildly popular “Hairspray,” which made it to Broadway...

April 5th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Ivan Kane’s Café Wa s (this is not a typo)

Trendsetting entrepreneur, native New Yorker, and lover of all things Broadway, Ivan Kane is the name behind (and in) such successful nightclubs as Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay and Casino in Las Vegas. In Hollywood, at the illustrious corner of Sunset and Vine, Ivan Kane’s Café Wa s (no typo!) is a bi-level Bohemian-Broadway-style supper club that offers Los Angeles residents and visits a foray into a theatrical experience with signature cocktails, delectable dining, and glamorous...

April 4th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Roaming Away: Albuquerque

Less than a two-hour flight from Los Angeles, 300-year old Albuquerque offers its own scintillating blend of culture, history, diversity, and diversion. The city sprawls but it’s almost imperceptible thanks to low-lying architecture and distinctive neighborhoods that are ringed by wide-open spaces and intriguingly shaped peaks. And all that sky!–big, blue, and often punctuated with colorful bobbing hot-air balloons. Another big bonus: Albuquerque sits on historic Route 66. Favorite Pursuits: Ballooning....

March 31st, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Museum of Latin American Art

Established inn 1996 Located in Long Beach’s burgeoning East Village Arts District, the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is the only museum in the western United States that focuses solely on contemporary Latin American art. Housed within are a significant permanent collection and important traveling exhibitions, and the museum also presents special events and educational programs. Included in the permanent collection are more than 900 works of painting, sculpture, photography, video, and...

March 27th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Time for Pancakes, Everyone!

Pancakes are the ultimate “everything is right with the world” food. There’s just something about them. They’re round (usually), hot, filling, cheap, and conjure up memories of Sunday morning breakfasts when life was simple and the newspaper cartoon section was waiting to read. At the edge of West Hollywood, on the corner of Sunset and Fairfax, The Griddle Café serves up wonderful pancake creations (we’re talking buttermilk and pure maple syrup from Vermont) from early...

March 24th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

With the Family in Tow

Already Spring has sprung and in a blink it will be Summer – prime time for family outings, family reunions, family vacations, family everything. Here comes the short list of favorite family experiences to be had in, around, and out of the city: Catalina Island. Just an hour or so from L.A. by ferry, this island feels like another world. No worries about traffic plowing down the youngsters, sandy beaches, lots of comfort food and casual accommodations (even condos with kitchen facilities for...

March 21st, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Car Free, Carefree Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Car Free is offering some great deals for visitors who arrive sans wheels. This year-long promotion, designed an environmental initiative, is also mighty attractive during this period of recession. Here’s how it works: Purchase an Amtrak ticket on either the Pacific Surfliner (between San Diego and San Luis Obispo) or the Coast Starlight (between Los Angeles and Seattle). (Extra perk: those who book three days in advance via the Santa Barbara Car Free website get 20-percent off...

March 19th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

The Better Side of Riverside

Located approximately 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Riverside offers unexpected pleasures and treasures. 1. The Mission Inn. Now a luxurious 239-room hotel, the legendary Mission Inn had humble beginnings as a 12-room adobe boarding house. Turned into a grand resort hotel in 1903, this Mission Revival-style landmark has hosted 10 United States presidents and many other luminaries. Stroll the grounds, indulge in a spa treatment, and sample one of the hotel’s distinctive restaurants. The...

March 17th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Bubbles (Not the Financial Kind)

Santa Ana’s Discovery Science Center is always intriguing, perhaps never moreso than during the cheery Bubblefest XIII, held 4-19 April. International bubble artist Fan Yang reveals and revels in everything having to do with this colorful and feel-good art form/science. Fan Yang — holder of 16 Guinness Book World Records — enthralls audiences four times daily with such wonders as smoking, bouncing, and spinning bubbles in addition to forming a bubble carousel. Bubbles within bubbles...

March 15th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Best People-Watching Places

All of L.A. is a plethora of people watching, but the Top 10–according to your beloved expert, and in no particular order–are as follows: 1. Venice Beach (view location). The boardwalk, characters, architecture, the beach. 2. Sunset Strip (view location). The nightclubs, dandy cars, cool boutiques, rock stars. 3. Hollywood Boulevard. Old Hollywood vibe, the theaters, walkers walking the walk of fame. 4. Beverly Hills (view location). The bejeweled and fashionable, wonderful shops, the...

March 14th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Vacations for the Star Struck

Most visitors come to Los Angeles with hopes of spotting celebrities. The usual possibilities are studio tours, TV audience, peering into the windows and patios of well-known restaurants. And, as I’ve said elsewhere (I think), you really have to imagine how celebrities look sans make-up, couture fashion, and lighting. The answer: different, very different! Possibly complete unrecognizable. However, there are some almost fool-proof ways to catch a glimpse of big-name stars in all their frou...

March 12th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

What’s New in West Hollywood

West Hollywood, one of L.A.’s most famous neighborhoods that includes the illustrious Sunset Strip, continues to offer new places to see and stay and plenty of interesting things to do. 1. Andaz West Hollywood (view location), 8401 Sunset Blvd. Part of the Hyatt chain, the 14-story Andaz offers big views of the hills (as in “The Hills” TV series) and the city from its rooftop deck with a swimming pool. 2. Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood (view location), 1020 N. San Vicente...

March 9th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Eating Cheaply in Los Angeles

Long known as a city for well-heeled foodies who will pay a small fortune for teeny plates of nouvelle cuisine, Los Angeles is also a land filled with cheap and filling meals and snacks. Just look around. Almost every neighborhood will have the usual fast-food Meccas as well as ubiquitous Mexican take-out establishments. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and the like–along with rice and beans–will set you back less than five bucks and keep your belly full throughout much of the day. And,...

March 5th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Historical Los Angeles

Although much of the city may appear modern (at least until the style changes), L.A. has a variety of official and privately placed historical markers. For all you history buffs: 1. Bella Union Hotel Site in the 200 block of N. Main St, Los Angeles. A social and political center, the Bella Union was where the first Butterfield Overland Mail stage from the east arrived after departing St. Louis (1858). 2. Hollywood’s First Major Film Company Studio, 2100 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Legend...

March 2nd, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Song, Dance, Theater–Forget Your Troubles

Put turbulent times on hold, at least temporarily, with a foray into L.A.’s lengthy list of entertainment options. We’ve ferreted out some “feel good” performances that will help erase the recession blues. Through 22 March, the Laguna Playhouse (www.lagunaplayhouse.com) presents “Ella,” an uplifting musical that lauds Ella Fitzgerald “The First Lady of Song.” More than a dozen tunes include such toe-tappers as “The Old Black Magic,” “How...

February 26th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

Fillmore & Western Railway Company “Movie Trains”

Centered in the rolling hills of the San Fernando Valley, the Fillmore & Western Railway Company (www.fwry.com) offers 30 miles of controllable track, rolling stock that ranges from circa-1860 to modern equipment, and has been the scene of numerous film productions. In addition, the company offers rides and excursions on its collection of vintage and antique pieces for off-the-beaten-path adventures. On the schedule for 2009: Weekend scenic excursions on 1930′s passenger coaches or open-air...

February 25th, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

St. Elmo Village, the 40th Anniversary

This little-known enclave in the mid-city area shows how a once-blighted community can thrive when a community bands together for change. The “village” actually began as a small group of dilapidated dwellings on St. Elmo Drive, eventually encompassing the surrounding neighborhood composed of mostly African American and Latino residents. In the mid-1960s, inspired by nephew-uncle visual artists, Roderick Sykes and Rozzell Sykes, the villagers banded together to turn their surroundings...

February 23rd, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More

It’s Oscar Night! Again.

Whether you’re hanging out near the Kodak Theatre or watching from home on TV, the biggest Hollywood entertainment event enthralls viewers worldwide. The Red Carpet entrances (and catting, er, chatting about the designer duds and bling) are a highlight for many. Then come the breathtaking, heart-pounding nominations. The hosts/hostesses vary, but tonight’s choice–Hugh Jackman–will be easy on the eyes. And, when it’s all over and the celebrities have departed in chauffeured...

February 22nd, 2009 | Los Angeles | Read More