See the Stars On Screen and In Hollywood: Rooftop Film Club

Posted on by Diversions LA
Rooftop Cinema - Photos: Jack Burke
Rooftop Cinema – Photos: Jack Burke

When this old world starts getting you down, just like Carole King sings – go up on the roof! Even better, go up on the roof and watch a movie.

Where can you go to watch a film with the glittering skyline of Hollywood soaring around you? Have a gourmet burger, nitro frozen custard, sip mixologist specials, craft and specialty beer — all from the comfort of a luxurious striped Brighton Beach deck chair?

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That would be the Rooftop Film Club at The Montalban Theater, where an astro-turfed roof-top becomes the ultimate in plush outdoor movie going.

Yes, the weather has turned a bit chilly in LA but there’s a complimentary micro-fiber blanket to keep you warm. We were in great shape to snuggle up and enjoy a movie.

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We attended on Halloween, when the rooftop deck was decorated with fluffy ghosts and black cats, and many of the guests came clad in film-themed costumes- saw several Audrey Hepburn’s, and as the film screening was Beetlejuice,  a number of Michael Keaton clones.

I love outdoor films, and have long been a fan of the screening series in the unique and well curated Cinespia location at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. But there are always certain drawbacks that I reluctantly note there: the wait to get in and mad-dash for the best picnic spots, carrying your own chairs, packing your own picnic, and that occasionally robust group of chatty film-goers to avoid.

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Rooftop Film Club gives you great retro films, and the comfort of a theater – only even better. Cutting edge technology in the form of wireless headphones means the sound is always crisp and clear, and even if people are ordering drinks at the bar or munching on their popcorn, candy, or dinners, you can’t hear them. That might be the biggest selling point for me: outdoor experience, indoor audio.

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Speaking again of food, the provider is Haché LA out of Silver Lake, known for their delicious burgers. We loved the Veggie Burger, crafted from barley and leeks – no soy. A slightly spicy edge from their Karma Sauce added extra flavor to a crisp, tasty veg entree. Carnivores will be delighted with their gourmet steak burgers, too. All burgers come on a fresh baked and light signature bun, and include tomato, cheese, onion and lettuce. We also loved the tangy fresh guac and chips; the cookie butter frozen custard is wonderfully light and sweet. We combined our meal with Modern Times IPAs from the rooftop bar. While food service closes come screen time, the bar is open for additional libations. We tried the Beetlejuice-centric red pomegranate and champagne cocktail. All first rate, quickly provided, and just a short stroll down the aisle from our seats.

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Picture quality is excellent, screen-time is prompt, and what’s better than watching a movie under the stars, with pristine audio, great snacks, and – that skyline.

It’s kind of a thrill to look around you at Hollywood’s glitter – which does not, thankfully, impact screen image due to thoughtful screen positioning – and be watching something that Hollywood itself has crafted.

This is the last official weekend for Rooftop Film Club, with screenings tonight through Sunday of true Hollywood classics:

Friday, November 6, 2015: Casablanca, Saturday, November 7, 2015: Some Like It Hot, Sunday, November 8, 2015: Sunset Boulevard 

But if you can’t make it this season, there’s next spring, summer, and early fall to look forward to. Just be sure to put Rooftop Film Club at the top of your unconventional cinema list.

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Hollywood Forever: The King of Day of the Dead Festivals

Posted on by Diversions LA
Immortalis at Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever: All Photos - Jack Burke
Immortalis at Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever: All Photos – Jack Burke

There are many Day of the Dead Festivals throughout Los Angeles. This celebration of life, memories, and the soul that survives when the body departs is a key part of Aztec culture. Once held in August, the Spanish moved the holiday to November 1, to coincide with the very Catholic All Souls Day. Today, in Southern California, the celebrations begin before Halloween and stretch into November.

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October 24th was the date for this year’s Hollywood Forever Dios de los Muertos celebration, and it was a jam packed and eventful as ever. Titled this year the “Shamanic Visions of the Huichol,”  the Huichol were once considered a culture of shamans, and the sense of a conjured and dream like tribute was certainly a part of this year’s dazzling event. A mash-up of art scene, costume party, great music and dance, this is a “Deadman’s Party” even Oingo Boingo would be thrilled to attend.

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Naturally, the centerpiece here are the altars, crafted by a myriad of participants from individuals to art schools to non-profits.

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Also on display: amazing musical artistry on three separate stages throughout the cemetery. Among the musical highlights was the tempestuous, sensual vocals of Malena Durán, and the rhythmic, dream-like dances of the Libre Movimiento. Also on hand: authentic Mexican dishes from food booths – one highlight a UFO-sized quesadilla, crafts vendors offering handmade jewelry and clothing, and a central art exhibition in the Cathedral Mausoleum.

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A glimpse at some of the Mausoleum-housed curated art show.

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The event runs from 12 noon to 12 midnight. During the day, it’s a brightly colorful event in an appropriate setting.

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Fix Nation: among the stray kitties to be fixed are those that “haunt” the cemetery grounds. Great cause, for great paws.

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As night falls, colorful lights click on everywhere, vibrantly patterned light shows are projected on the walls of crypts, and glittering colored orbs float in the cemetery’s moat. A procession with Aztec blessings and dancers, costume contests, children’s art workshops, and of course, the stunning attire of both attendees and participants add to the experience.

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While there are other Day of the Dead celebrations throughout the Southland, the Hollywood Forever setting – punk rocker Johnny Ramone is buried here, as is Rudolph Valentino, and Mickey Rooney – make this experience hard to top. The beauty of the cemetery itself is offset by a truly magical experience that melds music, dance, lovingly crafted altars, costumes, and lights.

Live deliciously dangerously: take on the Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever.

Why You Should Go to Vernon, California – DABSMYLA Before and Further

Posted on by Diversions LA

 

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DABSMYLA's Before and Further - All Photos: Jack Burke
DABSMYLA’s Before and Further – All Photos: Jack Burke

Just south east of downtown LA’s arts district lies the industrial enclave of Vernon. A tiny town with political corruption battles, a few fast food eateries, and lots and lots of warehouses and factories. So why do you want to go there?

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Photo: You might just be able to own chairs kind of like those – Modernica is producing some limited edition recreations.

For DABSMYLA’s astonishing installation art takeover of a factory workplace at the  Modernica furniture factory.

Blacklight room
Blacklight room

What is DABSMYLA? It’s a who, or rather two who’s, a thoroughly blended duo of married artists. A true creative partnership, the couple has melded not just their names but their artwork, and created among other works this 4,000-square-foot installation that looks like something you might’ve dreamed as a movie set.

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And it’s only there until November 15th, so don’t hesitate to grab your significant other, friends, family, and camera to go see it.

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Don’t worry about things like parking and admission costs: there’s plenty of the former in a guarded lot adjacent to the structure, and none of the latter: it’s free. Less crowded than the Broad and a super-fresh interpretation of modern art.

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“Before and Further” is the title of what could be the home of the Cat in the Hat if he was hip and kind of into the 60s.

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Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and furnishings that include limited-edition fiberglass shell chairs available for purchase through Modernica are all a part of the artists’ collaboration with Modernica.

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Inspired by DABSMYLA’s own shared process of creation, Before and Further is a house that has modern asethetics, pop art, giant cat faces, binoculars trained on a tiny elf figure perched on the roof of an opposite structure, a black light room with glowing cartoon faces, a black and white television running video art, a hi-fi portable stereo you can listen to, a secret movable clock and peep hole through which you can view the artists’ workshop.

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Look behind the clock and peek inside: we did!
Look behind the clock and peek inside: we did!

The duo call the piece an “adventure in modern living and artistic partnership,” for visitors it’s a wonderful mash-up of the surreal and the real. It’s the Modernist movement, its a gentle promo for original Modernica furniture creations, its a transformation that Alice in Wonderland would appreciate after going through the looking glass.

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What would you do if you could completely gut and revitalize a creaky 1930s era Spanish Revival house perched on the lot of a factory where the furniture is made one piece at a time?

Chances are, you might have thought of something like this. If you’re DABSMYLA of course.

If not: visit 2901 Saco Street in Los Angeles Thursday through Sunday from noon til 7 pm UNTIL NOVEMBER 15th.  Yes, it’s lit up at night. No, you can’t live there, no matter how much you want to. Besides, do you really, really want to live in Vernon?

 

Turtle Wayne and Catherine Kaleel at Daniel Rolnik Gallery

Posted on by Diversions LA
Daniel Rolnik with Turtle Wayne - all photos: Jack Burke
Daniel Rolnik with Turtle Wayne – all photos: Jack Burke

The Daniel Rolnik Gallery is something of an anomaly on Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica. It’s cutting edge, ever-changing catalog lets visitors browse art as they would records at Amoeba Music, and the small space showcases some mega talents.

Rolnik Gallery
Rolnik Gallery

Owner Rolnik has been at this beach-side location for a year. “I go on road trips and I find artists I love. From Portland to North Carolina to Dallas to Anaheim, I find great works and exhibit them,” he says. In his browsing bin of artists currently there’s Otis Parsons’ instructor J.T. Steiny working in water colors to memorialize a departed pet, Catherine Kaleel’s zany “Romantic Donuts” series, the block prints and paintings of Krossd, and the holographic images of Tripper Dungan. He features low-gram movement artist Jessika Adams and Jeremy Novy who works on wood.

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“I know what I like and I go for it,” Rolnik says. “I’ve written for thirty different art magazines, the L.A. Weekly, Jewish Journal. I was called the world’s most adorable art critic, but so much that I loved was unobtainable. I’m trying to change all that, walk out here and get something you can obtain.”

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Turtle Wayne, with 80,000 Instagram followers, is one such obtainable artist. He creates whimsical pieces centered on, yes, turtles. His solo show features originals, prints, sticker packs, shirts, and sketch books.

Turtles by Turtle Wayne
Turtles by Turtle Wayne

“I draw turtles. I draw anything or anyone turned into a turtle. It’s become my identity, it’s how I relate to the world. I put poetry and humor into my work,” Wayne attests.

Based in San Francisco’s East Bay, he was drawing turtles only as a warm-up for other commissions, and the concept started as a joke. “But now,” he notes, “I have close to 2000 turtle pieces posted on Instagram. And you can see thousands of turtle ideas that people can suggest. People like turtles – that’s the whole interaction.”

Rolnik with Catherine Kaleel and her romantic donuts
Rolnik with Catherine Kaleel and her romantic donuts

Catherine Kaleel says the point of her pieces, which include detailed images of nostalgia-infused cassettes is “good humor. Everyone can relate to my work. I’m pretty much laughing the whole time I’m making my pieces, it’s sort of my Prozac creating these paintings.” Currently in the masters program at the Laguna College of Art and Design, the SoCal native has crafted nostalagic images since 2011.

“I don’t feel like fine art and low brow have to be separated. My work is a combination of the two,” she explains.

Kaleel, Rolnik, and visitor Tyrone
Kaleel, Rolnik, and visitor Tyrone

It’s a combination that works for the Daniel Rolnik Gallery itself, where new works and exhibitions pop up with frequency and panache. Check out Turtle Wayne and other artists daily from 3-10 pm at 1431 Ocean Ave. Ste. 1800 in Santa Monica.

  • Genie Davis; all photos: Jack Burke