Moi and our super-duper contributors are back! Photographer Lorraine Devon Wilke’s brilliant cover photo, “Goddess”, reminds me how lucky I am to be a goddess living in a city of angels…remember you are goddesses too, Tomatoes.   Back from her triumphant run at Edinburg Fest, Poetess Lady Penelope has a great sonnet for you. Guest Artist Annie Wood shares her fab “Welcome to Hollywood” series.  Check out Theatre Maven Laura Foti Cohen’s insightful stage reviews. Our expert Tasting Tomato Molly Cheek has got the skinny on a delish French Bistro. And there’s no shortage of wonderful happenings in LA. Enjoy!

“Goddess”: Cover Photo and Story

Lorraine Devon Wilke, our fantastic LA Life Photographer, reminds us of who we are as LA Tomatoes (Goddesses) in this incredibly artistic, creative and culturally diverse city. Truly…a city of angels and art that is ever changing and surprising. And you will love Lorraine’s story that is an informative and gratifying read.  Be sure to check out Lorraine Devon Wilke’s marvelous photos on her webpage and browse her entire website as it reveals the vast tapestry of Lorraine’s amazing talents.

One of the great gifts of living in a vibrant, robustly creative city like Los Angeles is you never run out of ways to view, experience, enjoy, and engage with art. Of every kind. Music, architecture, literature, and, of course, street art. Even the graffiti here can sometimes set your brain on fire or make you want to laugh out loud. It seems whatever art you come upon, it’s sure to capture your attention, provoke some thought, or just delight you in unexpected ways. Today’s photograph is aptly titled, “Goddess,” and it’s part of artist WRDSMTH’s permanent installation spread throughout downtown Los Angeles (the “wings” are the colorful addition of artist Colette Miller). There are eight pieces all together (we featured another one back in February of 2023); this one on the corner of Hope and 8th has been the setting for countless photo ops since it appeared; even the day I was there to shoot this photo there was a line of, mostly, young women waiting to step in front of those wings for an artfully composed portrait! However else you may choose to experience your art, I’ve learned there’s so much of it to enjoy by just traveling the streets of this amazing city, whether walking, driving, or flying by on a city bus.

 Sonnets from Suburbia: An Appeal to Rockstars

If you are like me and find having to go out late in the evening bothersome you will definitely relate to the hilarious sonnet “An Appeal to Rockstars” from our esteemed LA Life Poetess Lady Penelope.  Penny Peyser (Lady Penelope) has outdone herself with “Sonnets from Suburbia: Romance Dance”. It’s masterful, brilliant and an easy and deliciously entertaining ride.  If  you haven’t already, don’t forget to order a copy of Penny Peyser’s first brilliant book, “Sonnets from Suburbia: More Candles Than Cake” to add to your collection, Tomatoes.  Read the latest sonnet.

Guest Artist Corner: Art by Annie Wood

“Welcome to Hollywood” is a new artistic series of 12 x 12 mixed media oil paintings on museum-series archival wood panels from the uber talented LA Life Guest Artist Annie Wood. How can you not fall in love with these exquisite portraits of women who came to Hollywood to be in the pictures.

 With an eye on movement and texture, Annie’s goal with this series is to create thought-provoking pieces about the pursuit of Hollywood dreams.  She hopes to portray the emotional landscape of transition and uncertainty by blending mixed media, visible textures, and a dreamy, muted color palette.

Annie also wanted to give the portraits of the women (who came to Hollywood to be in pictures!) a timeless feel. Mediums used: acrylic paint and inks, book pages from an art book Annie accidentally left out in the rain, spray paint, gold leaf, pastels, oil paint and rich gold oil pigment.

Welcome to Hollywood is a series of paintings on wood, made in Hollywood, about Hollywood, by Annie Wood, who was also made in Hollywood.:)

Annie Wood is an internationally exhibited mixed-media artist living in her hometown of Hollywood, California so as an LA native she is Super LA. Annie Wood is interested in reexperiencing her dreams by painting them, daydreaming new ones, finding order in chaos and chaos in order, seeing familiar things in new ways, and creating visual stories that make people feel peaceful, make them wonder, remember, and pause. You can see all her creations at Annie’s online art gallery  and purchase a piece at anniewood.com.  And you can also subscribe to her free newsletter How to Love the World with poems, stories, short films and art from Annie to you. 🫶🏼

Tastes of LA: Zinqué

Our ever so discerning LA Life Tasting Tomato, Molly Cheek, embarked on a journey with low expectations but was delightfully surprised by Zinqué and both its locations.  According to Molly and Foodie Friend #4, lots of “oohs” and “aahs” were had on this yummy culinary trip. Thanks for your insight, Molly! Read the review.

Theatre Buzz

Our wonderful LA Life Theatre Maven, Laura Foti Cohen, highly recommends two new theatre pieces, God Will Do the Rest and  The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latiné Vote now playing. I’m very excited to share Laura’s theatre reviews where she has been reviewing theatre prolifically for five + years at the Larchmont Buzz.   I thoroughly trust Laura’s impeccable opinion when it comes to theatre worth seeing, Tomatoes. Get more details.

Sept 20 -22 LA Food Bowl

Tomatoes are in for a weekend of eating, drinking, and celebrating the best of the L.A. culinary scene, set against the iconic backdrop of the Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot at the LA Food Bowl presented by City National Bank and benefitting the LA Food Bank. Grab your tickets today ASAP!

⁠Indulge in dishes, bites and drinks from Michelin-starred maestros to culinary icons in the amazing LA culinary scene. All ages are welcome and remember the proceeds help the LA Food Bank in its mission. Since 1973, they have distributed more than 1.9 billion pounds of food, working to mobilize resources to fight hunger in the community.⁠

Through Sept 29.  Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Exhibition

Only 9 days left to see the first major international tour of “Mickalene Thomas’s: All About Love” magical exhibition at The Broad. It is… “A visual must-see” according to the Los Angeles Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times says it’s “The antidote we need for healing and redemption and truly being able to love others and ourselves.” Wow!

 If you need further motivations to visit…there is free access all day on Thursdays and Saturdays, Ladies.  With over 80 works spanning 20 years of Thomas’s career, the exhibit will explore themes of sexuality, memory, and more. Thomas first gained acclaim for her large-scale acrylic paintings of Black women in states of leisure and repose. Depicting women with confident and assured expressions, the subjects of her works are often seen in domestic interiors from Black America, claiming the agency of womanhood while deconstructing the art historical canon.

Sept 27-29.  Little Women Ballet

The Little Women Ballet returns with its second installment in the trilogy at the Heritage Square Museum.  In this immersive experience, new and true fans of the beloved novel, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, are transformed into active participants traversing the grounds and historic manors of Heritage Square. What fun!

Each performance is entirely unique featuring a different season, music, desserts and refreshments, and different parts of the Little Women story told through dance. You can meet all the characters up close, go on an immersive walking tour of the Heritage Square Museum and join the cast in Victorian dancing at the end of each performance.

Sept 26- 29. The Other Art Fair

Los Angeles’ favorite independent artist showcase, The Other Art Fair presented by Saatchi Art, caters to everyone with a carefully curated selection of over 140 independent artists. Thousands of art pieces all under the roof of Barker Hanger in Santa Monica along with unique immersive experiences. It’s a fab cultural experience, Tomatoes.

Whether you’re a first-time art buyer, seasoned collector, curator, investor, gallery owner, art lover or anything in between, you are guaranteed to find something to add to (or start!) your collection. Plus, live DJ sets, event tours, conversations with some of the art scene’s leading names, live art activations and a fully stocked bar awaits you.

Wednesday Afternoons Music in the Chinese Garden

There is an abundance of reasons to visit The Huntington Museum and Botanical Gardens but their Chinese Garden, aka the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, is a fav with its jaw-dropping beauty. Every Wednesday afternoon traditional Chinese music is performed with a different solo musician each week for Music in the Chinese Garden. OMG how magical is that Tomatoes?!

Definitely going on my favorites list. The 12-acre Garden of Flowing Fragrance includes a lake, seven pavilions and five stone bridges, built by more than 60 Suzhou artisans from materials sourced, fabricated, and shipped from China. Add luverly melodies on classical instruments to this incredible landscape and you will be transported to a new dimension, Gals.

September 28. World Gorilla Day

Walk on the wild side, Tomatoes, to celebrate World Gorilla Day with a fitness-and-fun-filled exploration at the LA Zoo that  inspires and educates. Who doesn’t want to hang with gorillas and find a way to help them.

Follow their self-guided tour to see western lowland gorillas and other primates, uncover fascinating facts, and count your steps along the way. With engaging animal keeper talks, special feedings, and enriching activities, this event promises a wild adventure. The L.A. Zoo and its partner, the GRACE Center, will showcase the urgent efforts to save gorillas, one of the most endangered species in the wild. All daytime activities and programming are free with paid admission.

Sept 20, 21, 22.  Pasadena Greek Festival

Tomatoes can visit Greece without ever leaving the City of LA. The Pasadena Greek Fest, hosted by the community of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena, will be a ton of fun with a plethora of mouth-watering classic Greek dishes along with authentic Greek wines and spirits. Yum! Yum!

They’ll serve refreshing frappés and smoothies and there will also be live music by the Olympians to add to the experience. Watch dance presentations from award-winning groups or join in. There will definitely be plenty for the kiddoes to do in the fun zone.

Sept 28. Montana Avenue Art Walk

Time to go shopping Gals! Yay! 100 + visual artists will be displaying and selling their work at Montana Avenue’s signature annual event, the Montana Avenue Art Walk. The charming 10-block open air destination will be closed to cars transforming the street into an exciting experience that will be alive with color and sound.

Local vendors, a thoughtfully curated wine garden, activities for kids, live music and more, will round out the experience. The great shops and restaurants along the way will be open during the event as well. And the Montana Avenue Art Walk is free, of course, Gals