Lorraine Devon Wilke’s cover photo, “Egret Angled”, is elegant and beautiful in its simplicity. We have a fantastic new contributor, Tomatoes! We are launching Theatre Maven Laura Foti Cohen’s new column, LA Theatre Buzz. Yay! You’ll love Felicia Arlin’s LA Style Stories.  Lady P is back. “Women Defining Women” is a new LACMA exhibit. Vroman’s Bookstore hosts authors Lisa See and Christina Lynch. Butterflies are soaring. “Taste of a Nation” will be yummy. And summer traditions return with “Last Remaining Seats” and “Outdoor Movies at the Skirball”.

“Egret Angled” The Story Behind the Cover Photo

Long before the City of Angels was a thriving mecca of creative and urban industry, its bucolic, rural environs were abundant with farms and wetlands. Though much of that landscape was sacrificed in the development of what is now the world-class city of Los Angeles, many essential nature sites remain, sustaining habitats for flora and fauna of every kind. At the Ballona Wetlands in the Playa del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles, one of the most elegant of wetland creatures, the egret, is captured soaring against a backdrop of sunset clouds in this image titled, “Egret Angled.”

This week’s gorgeous cover photo “Egret Angled” from our LA Life Photographer, Lorraine Devon Wilke, not only reflects the lovely cloudy and cool weather we’ve had but is singular in the variety of emotions it stirs in me. I’m sure you will experience that as well, so gaze away.  And be sure to check out Lorraine Devon Wilke’s marvelous photos on her webpage, gals.

LA Theatre Buzz

I am excited to announce we are launching the “LA Theatre Buzz” column today! The marvelous Tomato, Laura Foti Cohen, will be our LA Life Theatre Maven, covering and reviewing the LA theatre scene.  I am pleased as punch that Laura is joining the LA Life Newsletter creative team.  She is in the know when it comes to LA Theatre, and you will love what she has to say. Read her first post, “Who Runs LA Theaters?” Read on.

LA Style Stories

Our LA Life Fashion Stylist, Felicia Arlin, really rocks her vintage finds in “Vintage Shopping” and “More Vintage Shopping”. Both garment pieces are classically gorgeous and and are so flattering on Felicia’s body frame.  I love their beautifully luxurious and carefree feel. Shopping vintage is good for small businesses and gives you a little treasure from the past.  Remember, I only highlight a snippet of Felicia’s amazing cur8edme posts so be sure to follow her on Instagram. Read on.

Sonnets from Suburbia

Lady Penelope simply can’t abide any more bad news in “Overload”. And don’t forget that Lady Penelope, aka Penny Peyser, will debut her new show, “Sonnets from Suburbia,” tomorrow June 3rd at the esteemed Hollywood Fringe Festival with following performances on June 15 & June 23rd.  It will be fabulous, Gals, so get your tickets ASAP ! Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow! Watch the sonnet video. 

June 6 & June 14.  Women Authors Discussion

Vromens Bookstore are hosting 2 wonderful author discussions in the next two weeks.  NY Times Bestselling Author, Lisa See, will be discussing her new novel “Lady Tan’s and the Circle of Women” on June 6. And on June 14th, Glynis Costin will be in conversation with author Christina Lynch about her latest novel “Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure.” Both authors feature profoundly strong lead female characters in their novels, Tomatoes. Gotta love that!

“Lady Tan’s and the Circle of Women” Tan Yunxian is born into an elite family and yet is haunted by death, separations, and loneliness. She is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations–looking, listening, touching, and asking–something a man can never do with a female patient.

“Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure” finds Sally Brady in the middle of a war armed only with lipstick and a sense of humor? Abandoned as a child in Los Angeles in 1931, dust bowl refugee Sally Brady convinces a Hollywood movie star to adopt her and grows up to be an effervescent gossip columnist secretly satirizing Europe’s upper crust. By 1940 saucy Sally is conquering Fascist-era Rome with cheek and charm.

June 11.  LA Taste of the Nation

Eat, Drink, Have Fun and Do Good at LA’s “Taste of the Nation” fundraising event for No Kid Hungry. No kid should go hungry…EVER…but tragically they do.  By attending “Taste of the Nation” you can help in the most deliciously rewarding way. It’s an experience that will truly inspire you, Tomatoes.

“Taste of the Nation”, back in Culver City, will feature dozens of the LA area’s top tastemakers and renowned No Kid Hungry chef supporters from across the country who lend their talents and passion for ending childhood hunger in America. It will be awesome!

Through August 31. Soar

Beautiful wings of color have returned to South Coast Botanical Garden with the popular “Soar: Tropical Butterflies” exhibit. Yay! And the Botanical Garden is absolutely gorgeous right now with all its spring and early summer blooms, Tomatoes. And this year they’ve added a brand-new experience for you.

This year, guests have the opportunity to feed the butterflies! Wow! Oh Wow! Purchase the Butterfly Feeding Experience for an additional $6 and choose from a flower vial or ring filled with nectar to use while inside the pavilion to help entice butterflies to come close to you for the optimum and most immersive experience. That deserves another…Wow! Soar gives you the exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the life and colors of these amazing tropical butterflies. You will be soaring with the thrill of this butterfly experience as you witness these fluttering beauties of nature at every stage and unique aspect of their lives. Relax and enjoy all this stunning exhibit and garden have to offer.

June 3 – June 17. Last Remaining Seats

“Last Remaining Seats” from the LA Conservancy has been described as magical, special and unlike any other event in Los Angeles.  It’s not just about seeing a classic film on a big screen; it’s about enjoying that fab film in a gorgeous historic theatre or perhaps we should we say …Movie Palace. Tickets always sell out fast, Tomatoes…hint, hint. It’s truly a movie experience unlike any other.

The Los Angeles Conservancy launched Last Remaining Seats in 1987 to draw attention to the spectacular yet overlooked and underused historic theatres of Los Angeles.

June 9, 23, July 7. Outdoor Movies at the Skirball

“Outdoor Movies at the Skirball” is an exciting way to experience movie magic with the added bonus of sitting under the stars.  It’s a great lineup of 3 beloved films (“Roman Holiday,” “High Noon,” and “The Way We Were”) that are all related to the Skirball exhibition: “Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare”! Immerse yourself in Hollywood history with these incredibly timeless films, Tomatoes!

Arrive early so you can visit the “Blacklist” exhibition and the other exhibitions. Grab a drink or cocktail, popcorn and watch the sun fade behind the hills.  What a perfect summer evening.