The beauty of LA is that wherever you go something unique will catch your eye. Urban Art: Surreal, from LA Life Photographer, Lorraine Devon Wilke, captures that perfectly. Our LA Life Tasting Tomato, Molly Cheek, is singing the praises of another restaurant in Tastes of LA. LA Theatre Maven, Laura Foti Cohen is back with a wonderful interview in Theatre Buzz.  Holy Moly!… was my first reaction to Felicia’s fab LA Style Stories this week! Lady Penelope’s Sonnets from Suburbia certainly brought on a chuckle. And still lots to do and enjoy in the final weeks of summer.

Urban Art: Surreal, The Story Behind the Cover Photo

You might be surprised by where our cover photo from our LA Life Photographer Lorraine Devon Wilke was shot.  No matter the location of its origin, stunning and eye catching artistic images can be found in the most unlikely of places. And Lorraine always finds them. Be sure to check out Lorraine Devon Wilke’s marvelous photos on her webpage, Gals.

Walk down any city street in Los Angeles, turn your head in one direction or another; look up or down or around and you will surely see something that catches your eye, something beautiful, stunning; startling, artistic. Urban art is everywhere here and not always where you might expect it. Sure, dramatic graffiti will capture your attention, gingerbread houses with eclectic colors have high curb appeal, and the creative signs of clever shops can inspire a smile. But sometimes art can be found in places as prosaic and everyday as a passageway to a train track in Union Station, a typically utilitarian space that in a moment just happens to grab the color of nearby lights, shimmer in the movement of a camera shutter, conjuring up an image of walking down a ramp, holding a rail, illuminated by color, right into some mystery or adventure. We call this photo “Urban Art: Surreal.” 

Tastes of LA: Bacari

I LOVE everything about the new Bacari restaurant in Sherman Oaks but, of course, I’m not a food expert.  Enter our expert and LA Life Tasting Tomato, Molly Cheek. She found the tapas-style service with small plates allowing for more variety very appealing. Be sure to check out Molly’s review of Bacari, Gals. GET THE DETAILS.

Theatre Buzz: Rebecca O’Brien is Getting There

Of the 150 solo performances at the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Getting There, starring Rebecca O’Brien, officially won Best Solo Show.  Wow! Our Theatre Maven, Laura Foti Cohen, asked Rebecca O’Brien how she put together her award-winning show. We are so lucky Laura is sharing that wonderful interview with us, Tomatoes! READ MORE.

 LA Style Stories

In Elevated Casual, LA Life Fashion Stylist, Felicia Arlin, goes the distance in creating a striking elevated casual look by going beyond just throwing on some clothes. And the oversized trend for summer is sticking around for fall, Tomatoes. In Supersize Me, there’s a number of just rights and finding the right “right” is key in this trend. Remember I only highlight a snippet of Felicia’s amazing cur8edme posts so be sure to follow her on Instagram. READ MORE.

Sonnets from Suburbia: My Will

Nobody knows how to hold a grudge better than Lady Penelope, aka Penny Peyser.  She’ll even take that grudge to her grave as she proudly declares in “My Will”. Another of her unique sonnets that will tickle your funny bone. And don’t forget to order a copy of Penny Peyser’s (Lady Penelope) brilliant newly released book, “Sonnets from Suburbia: More Candles Than Cake”. WATCH THE VIDEO.

August 26.  Leimert Jazz Festival

The Leimert Park Jazz Festival is an awesome celebration of Jazz, Community, and Culture. Catch over 8 hours of an amazing array Jazz sets by renowned artists plus an arts pavilion, kids’ zone, wine lounge, and food trucks at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall. It all started as a neighborhood block party, but it became a premiere summertime event in the City of Angels.

Their mission is to celebrate jazz, community, and the cultural heritage of the historic South Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park. Admission is free, but VIP packages are available including shaded seating, drink tickets, and a meal.

Closing Sept 3. Breathing Joy and Light

This looks like it might have been part of the set of the “Barbie” movie.  However, it is part of The Skirball’s exhibit, Peter Krasnow: Breathing Joy and Light. Escape and wander through a world of bright and happy colors evoking optimism and joy—that were such an important part of artist Peter Krasnow’s work. Heads up… it is closing September 3^rd.

Based on the Skirball’s extensive collection of Peter Krasnow’s work, Rene Reizman writes:  “As a teenager, Peter Krasnow fled the pogroms in Ukraine to study painting in America. His artwork responded to the times and his environment, from realistic depictions of his glum Jewish immigrant community to forlorn portraits in a post-impressionist style. But after Krasnow relocated to Los Angeles, his work transformed into bright, energetic hard-edge celebrations of life. This is the era celebrated in the exhibition, Peter Krasnow: Breathing Joy and Light’ at the Skirball Cultural Center.” Sounds like a thumb’s up, Tomatoes.

Through Oct 1. Living in a Wildlife Corridor Exhibit

This stunning mural, by muralist/street artist Jules Muck, is just one of the many art works on view at The Living in a Wildlife Corridor Exhibit at the historic Boddy House in Descanso Gardens. The interactive and multisensory exhibit explores what it means to coexist with LA’s immense and precious wildlife.  Just another reason to visit the ever-beautiful Descanso Gardens, Ladies.

Through the lenses of talented wildlife photographers and camera trappers, via the paint brushes and canvases of local artists, and through the stories and wisdom of the Tongva people who have stewarded this land for millennia, visitors will see our wild surroundings from an entirely new perspective. All brought to you by Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy.  I just bought my tickets, Tomatoes.

Wednesdays Culture Break

What’s Culture Break LA, Tomatoes? It’s a lunchtime musical performance picnic featuring live music, performance art and more—all conveniently located near the easy-to-use regional connector stops along the Metro all across Downtown. It started this past Wednesday and will continue every Wednesday and…It’s FREE! Yay!

So, mark your calendar for August 30 ^rh when the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra performs at Plaza de California. Culture Break LA is the ultimate fun midweek event in DTLA. Bring your own picnic or grab lunch from the nearby local restaurants for a pop-up outdoor picnic and embrace the DTLA’s cultural tapestry and enjoy diverse performances.  It’s brought to you by Central City Association of Los Angeles, produced by NOW Art, dublab and Downtown Works ⁠Official Transit Partner Los Angeles Metro⁠. Wow that’s a mouthful.

Every Saturday and Sunday. Santa Monica Pier Tours

September 9, 1909, is the day our iconic and magical Santa Monica Municipal Pier opened to welcome visitors for the very first time. This beloved pier has provided countless and fascinating memories.  You can peer through that significant history with Santa Monica Pier Walk through History Tours, Tomatoes.

A super-duper way to uncover the stories that shaped the Santa Monica Pier that we know and love.  I have no doubt that it is dang interesting. And enjoy the wonder of the ocean views while you are at it.

Los Angeles Central Library Exhibits

Our very beautiful and historic LA Central Library is not just filled with an amazing array of books, but it serves up so many of our city’s insights and stories with its exhibits. LAPL 150 Our Story is Yours: A Los Angeles Public Library Sesquicentennial Celebration and Los Angeles: City of Cars ,opening August 28, are both exhibits exploring our vibrant Angeleno history.

LAPL 150 Our Story is Yours: A Los Angeles Public Library Sesquicentennial Celebration is an exhibition of images and objects of LAPL history from its earliest days until now, which celebrates the story of Los Angeles through the lens of the library. Two hundred citizens gathered to create the Los Angeles Library Association, which in 1878 would become the Los Angeles Public Library. Wow! Such a powerful exhibit.

By 1910, Los Angeles was the seventeenth largest city in the nation. Out West reported in February 1913, “There is not more than one horse-drawn vehicle to every twenty motors, and the horses delay traffic frightfully in that rapidly moving city.” There would soon be more cars per capita in Southern California than any other part of the country.  The answer to how and why LA became so obsessed with cars lies in the exhibit Los Angeles: City of Cars. You will be fascinated and surprised.

August 27 Topanga Vintage Market

If you’re a vintage and flea lovin’ Tomato, then the Topanga Vintage Market Sunday August 27 in Woodland Hills might be right up your alley. According to LA Magazine it’s “LA’s Flea Of Fleas” with over 200 sellers of vintage and antique Everything.

Plus, dozens of local artists and makers, 4 super food trucks, and live music! This vintage market, the 4th Sunday of every month, includes thousands of vintage treasures in fashion, furniture and jewelry and more from the 1800’s to the 1980’s.  I hear the dealers are very friendly and always up to bargaining. Time to get your dealing game on Ladies.