LA LIFE: Sunsets & Wine, A Very British Lesbian, Muppets, Hikes

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Breathtaking sunsets are plentiful in LA but one of my favorites is at Barnsdall Art Park.  On Friday summer evenings that is THE place to be for a sunset and a taste of wine Tomatoes. Fiona Goodwin has quite a hilarious and heart wrenching story to tell and her One Woman Show “A Very British Lesbian” at the Zephyr is not to be missed Tomatoes.  OMG! Steady yourself girls. The Muppets are in town and you can get up close and personal with them at the Skirball.  I do believe Miss Piggy is a Tomato by now ladies.  And it is definitely time tell you lovely Tomatoes to go “take a hike”.  Tee Hee! Read on and you’ll see what I mean.


Till August 31. Sunsets and Wine.

The Barnsdall Art Park has started up again for its 10th season and it is the perfect way for a tomato to de-stress and cool down on a Friday summer evening. Summer in LA is made even more enjoyable during the cooler evening temps with a glass of wine, food trucks, ice cream and a sunset to die for. These lovely wine tastings sell out fast so chop… chop… Tomatoes.

The summer-long series is a fundraiser for the magnificent Barnsdall Art Park, its projects, art programs, historic renovations and Gallery exhibitions.  Wow that’s a lot! Ongoing partner Silverlake Wine will curate their fine selection of boutique artisanal wines and there will be rotating food trucks available each week, but you are also welcome to bring your own picnic.  If you want to take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, you can do so at an additional cost. Sipping wine with a stunning view for a great cause is always delightful Tomatoes.


Take a Hike

If you are looking to take a hike Tomatoes, The Santa Monica Mountain Fund (SAMOFund) is a great resource for guiding you to great outdoor adventures.  Their calendar gives you the skinny with an informative list of varying events happening in the Santa Monica Mountains that might be right up your alley.  And that list includes hikes with a variety of levels that I think Tomatoes might enjoy.  June mornings are a perfect time to get acquainted with nature with a good walk.  What do ya think gals?

This month you’ve got a Saturday and Sunday walk at Trippet Ranch in Topanga on June 9 and 10,  a Beginner’s Bird Walk at Rancho Sierra Vista June 13 in Conejo Valley, an Audubon Birdwalk at Malibu Creek State Park June 17, a Summer Solstice Evening Walk at Franklin Canyon Park June 23 and the list goes on and on all year long. So, check it out Tomatoes and break in those walking shoes.


Sundays – July 1.  A Very British Lesbian

Many of you may know by now that I am an Anglophile. Someone who greatly admires anything British.  Well, I recently met Fiona Goodwin and loved her, not only because she is British, but because of her awesome wit and humor.  I could tell immediately that she would be a delightful stand out on stage and we are all very lucky that she is now performing her super funny, inspiring and shockingly honest solo play “A Very British Lesbian,”about saving one’s own life, at the Zephyr.  Everyone is saying you have to RUN to this show so take a quick breath and start running for Tickets.

Not to give anything away ladies but Fiona is a very British lesbian. Fiona wrote and stars in “A Very British Lesbian” directed by internationally acclaimed Wendy Hammer at The Zephyr Theatre. “Curtain Up”, in their review of “A Very British Lesbian”, gives Fiona Goodwin the title “Fab Fiona” and she is one Fab Tomato gals. But don’t just take my word for it…take it from Bonnie Priever the reviewer from “Curtain Up” who calls Fiona’s show, “extremely funny, droll, and acerbic… brilliant…and based on the audience’s reaction opening night, Fiona Goodwin is comparable to a Jerry Seinfeld or Sarah Silverman stand-up act… in a very British self-effacing style.  There’s not one dull moment, as the audience applauses and laughs throughout.  The direction by Wendy Hammers was phenomenal; the wardrobe and lighting were the icing on the cake!  Go see this play! You will not be disappointed.”

Need I say more?! Not only is she Fab Fiona she is also a Fab Tomato and as you well know ladies, we need to support other Tomatoes especially when they are as funny and talented as Fiona Goodwin is.


Thru Sept 2. Muppets Exhibit

How brilliant that The Museum of the Moving Image and The Skirball Cultural Center are making it possible for Angelinos to meet The Muppets and more than 25 historic puppets with “The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited”! In this exhibit, Tomatoes can also learn about Jim Henson’s groundbreaking craft of puppetry, the impact his genius and the genius of his collaborating artists had on contemporary culture as well as the marvelous contributions to the moving image.  It is definitely an exhibit that will thrill adults as much as kids Tomatoes because the products of Jim Henson’s imagination and artistry are timeless, ageless and universal.

The reviewers have raved that this is a stunning exhibit and The Skirball is the perfect home for it.  Jim Henson’s mission was to create a kinder, gentler more diverse and inclusionary world and those goals match perfectly with The Skirball’s mission.  At “The Jim Henson Exhibit” you can explore the character sketches, storyboards, scripts, photographs, costumes, film and television clips, and behind-the-scenes footage (a total of over 100 objects) from “The Muppet Show”the Muppet movies, and “Sesame Street” to “Fraggle Rock”, “The Dark Crystal”, and “Labyrinth”.  Since this is a very interactive exhibit you can even design your own puppet and try your hand at puppeteering.  Wow! Enjoy Ladies.

The Three Tomatoes LA Life editor, Debbie Zipp is your friendly guide to the best of everything in LA with a tomato style perspective. Debbie is an actor, producer, and writer. She is best known for her recurring role as Donna on the CBS series "Murder She Wrote" starring Angela Lansbury. She has had many other TV and stage roles and has starred in over 300 national TV commercials. As head of In The Trenches Productions, Debbie produced, directed, acted in many short films for her company. Her book, The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known was recently published.

Buy her book: The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known

Debbie Zipp

The Three Tomatoes LA Life editor, Debbie Zipp is your friendly guide to the best of everything in LA with a tomato style perspective. Debbie is an actor, producer, and writer. She is best known for her recurring role as Donna on the CBS series "Murder She Wrote" starring Angela Lansbury. She has had many other TV and stage roles and has starred in over 300 national TV commercials. As head of In The Trenches Productions, Debbie produced, directed, acted in many short films for her company. Her book, The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known was recently published. Buy her book: The Aspiring Actor's Handbook: What Seasoned Actors Wish They Had Known

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