Looking Back at 2008

HELLO, AGAIN
After sending out the 36th consecutive Monthly Update last January, I decided to skip February’s edition as a simple nod to Leap Day. Sometime over the summer I realized my nod had become a much larger tribute to Leap Year.

And what a year it was. The election, the Olympics, and the economy dominated much of our time and conversation but we still found the time to see friends and family, to take on new challenges, and to explore more of Los Angeles. Here’s a look back at 2008 in the Cameron/Utt household.

WHAT’S NEW?
In March we both started new jobs. Daryl left Disney Interactive Studios to become the Marketing Manager at ReelzChannel (check your local listings.) He works downtown at L.A.Center Studios, which is home to Mad Men and Numb3rs.

I’m at Universal Studios Home Entertainment working with the Curious George team. This Emmy-winning series is in it third season on PBS (check your local listings.)

Daryl and I succumbed to peer pressure and joined Facebook. It’s a swell tool for catching up with high school, college and work friends but I only check it casually.

The other new thing in our life is Mutineer Theatre Company. I could tell you all about the awesome people and the collaborative spirit of this new, non-profit company but why don’t you click on the website? It’s much cooler and you can see everyone’s pictures.

I’m the Dramaturge for MTC so I look for new plays and, in a production, my job is to make sure that the author’s purpose is clear and that the audience isn’t distracted by plot inconsistencies, factual inaccuracies, or unintended ambiguity.

Daryl signed on as Casting Director and did a great job with the auditions for our first production. It’s called Lie With Me and it was written by Keith Bridges and it opens in March. More details will follow.

In the meantime, you can join us Saturday, January 24 for The Launch Party. We’ll have live music, complimentary food and beverage, a silent auction and more for a $25 donation. Click here for details and RSVP information. If you’d like to donate something for the auction, call or send me an e-mail.

HAPPENINGS
July 10 Daryl celebrated his 40th birthday with dinner and friends at The Polo Lounge in The Beverly Hills Hotel.

July 29 we experienced our third earthquake since moving to LA. It lasted twice as long as the previous quakes or maybe it just seemed to since I was on the 33rd floor.

On September 2, Daryl became a proud uncle as his sister Annette gave birth to Cameron Clark Saunders.

October 25 we celebrated the wedding of our friends Byron and Shephard. This was a beautiful night with a concert, amazing food, old friends, new friends and lots of laughter.

November 4 marked the first time we were close enough to walk to the voting center and it was the first time we attended an election-night party.

INDUSTRY EVENTS
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences saluted Betty White for her 60 Years in Television. It was surreal seeing her and the entire cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show—even Rhoda and Phyllis—in person.

At another ATAS event, Shirley McLaine, Mitzi Gaynor, Toni Basil, Nigel Lythgoe and the Solid Gold Dancers all showed up to celebrate the history of televised dance.

Daryl was at the Academy’s salute to TV Mothers and enjoyed hearing stories from Marion Ross and Erin Moran of Happy Days; Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli of One Day at a Time; Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers of Leave It to Beaver; and Holland Taylor and Charlie Sheen of Two and Half Men.

Although the AFI Night at the Movies was something of a logistical nightmare, we managed to catch Jodie Foster, Jim Carrey, and Jenny McCarthy on the red carpet. The biggest thrill of the evening was being in the same room with Sean Connery as he discussed his classic film The Man Who Would Be King.

Daryl hung out with Lily Tomlin, Paula Poundstone, Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams and others at an awareness event for single payer healthcare reform.

CONCERTS
The Police ended their reunion tour at the Hollywood Bowl with Elvis Costello and Daryl was there to see it. We were back at the Bowl for Warner Bros Night at the Movies and I saw a program of German Romantics.

We went to The Forum to see George Michael in one of his few stateside appearances. It was a laid-back show but he sounded terrific.

We had a great time at the El Portal Theater as Debbie Reynolds sang, joked, recounted stories and shared film clips in her one-woman show.

I was in Santa Monica to see an all-Beethoven program at the opening concert of New West Symphony’s 2008/2009 season. It’s a solid ensemble with a terrific venue.

LOS ANGELES SITES
I finally made it to Skeletons in the Closet—the gift shop at the L.A. County Coroners Office.

Glendale’s Forest Lawn cemetery has a museum with rotating art exhibits. We wandered through the new Tiki exhibit and saw their impressive stained glass recreation of DaVinci’s Last Supper.

We visited the beautiful grounds of the historic Greystone Mansion which has appeared in films like X-Men and Ghostbusters.

Charles Phoenix’s Moonlight Roller Jubilee was equal parts slide show, organ recital, roller-skating performance and nostalgic kitsch. The event was so popular he created a Christmas edition.

Daryl got to tour the Bradbury Building. Although architecturally significant for its 1890’s design, the Bradbury is just as popular with fans of the movie Blade Runner.

We spent a beautiful summer afternoon with friends sailing from Marina del Rey to Malibu.

Rose Tree Cottage, one of our favorite haunts, moved into its new home. As difficult as it was to leave the old Tudor-syle house the new location seems to be working out pretty well. The tea room and shoppe were very busy during the holidays.

TRAVEL
We were in Las Vegas for a long weekend in April and Daryl returned in September to see Donny & Marie and Barry Manilow.

We spent the second week of September in Cancun. There was some rain and rough seas as Hurricane Ike made his way up to Texas, so we didn’t spend much time at the beach. Luckily the weather was clear the day we visited the pyramid and ruins of Chichen Itza.

In October, Daryl was in North Carolina to meet nephew Cameron for the first time and to attend his dad’s 70th birthday party. It was the first time his extended family was in the same room and nobody took a picture!

THEATRE
This year we saw 9 to 5, The Joy Luck Club, Spring Awakening, Ann Landers: The Lady With All the Answers, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Joan Rivers: A Life in Progress By a Work in Progress and the 16th annual Young Playwright’s Festival.

MOVIES AND TV
Some our favorites released this year (in no particular order) are Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Frost/Nixon, Wall-E, Bolt, Dark Knight, Hamlet 2, In Bruges, and Mamma Mia! Disappointments included Australia, Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones, and The Women.

We’ve only stuck with three of the new TV shows: CBS’s Worst Week, BBC America’s Gavin & Stacey, and—no one could be more surprised than me at this one—Fine Living’s Whatever, Martha.

08-08-08 was a great date to have a TV as the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics unfolded inside the Bird’s Nest. I was hooked as soon as those light-up drummers began the countdown, but the most memorable image of the night was Li Ning running the torch around the stadium ceiling. Awesome.

STAR SIGHTINGS
In Neiman Marcus, Daryl spoke briefly to Jennifer Lopez about the Christmas selection of Fortnum & Mason biscuits. While shopping in Whole Foods he bumped into Melora Hardin (Jan on The Office) and got to tell her how much he enjoyed The Dinner Party episode.

At the Arclight movie theatre in Hollywood, we either saw Cher or a surgically altered impersonator. We were in the audience with playwright David Mamet at an Upright Citizen’s Brigade improv show.

Driving through Los Feliz, we pulled up next to Hellboy Ron Perlman. At a drugstore parking lot, we took the space vacated by Fantastic Four star Chris Evans. At the LA Farmer’s Market Daryl saw Ugly Betty’s Ashley Jensen.

At the Las Vegas airport we congratulated Christian Siriano on his Project Runway win. At the L.A. Times Festival of Books at UCLA, I saw author Christopher Rice and Avenue Q’s John Tartaglia but Daryl got to see the man—the legend—Kirk Douglas.

Daryl got Richard Simmons to take a picture with Flat Stanley.

We were standing in the grocery section at Joan’s on Third wondering why it was so deserted…until Daryl realized he was standing between Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and their bodyguard. Like everyone else, we gave them their space. The next day the internet was abuzz with pictures of the couple leaving the store. We felt so trendy.

WHAT’S MISSING?
Normally, I include the names of friends and family members who accompany, invite, or visit us, each month, but in the interest of space, I’ve opted to leave those out. I trust you’ll forgive this omission.

THANK YOU
However, I can’t wrap up the wrap-up without thanking friends and family for calling, e-mailing, visiting, hosting, inviting, advising, listening, sharing, encouraging or for doing all the wonderful things you do.

Until next time,
James

Feb 2008: Leap Day

Check back this weekend.

January 2008: Roses, Films and a Road Trip

ROSE PARADE

My friend Cynthia and I wanted to see the Tournament of Roses Parade in person so January 1st started with the sound of an alarm clock at about 3:30 in the morning. We were in Pasadena by 4:30 driving past signs for $50, $40, and $30 parking. Luckily, we found a parking structure a block from the parade route that was only charging $10.

The parade route at that hour was a refugee camp. Tents, sleeping bags, coolers, and folding chairs filled the sidewalks and outside lanes of Colorado Boulevard. Some people were playing cards or just talking but most of these squatters were bundled up and trying to sleep. Smart folks had open pit fires or gas heaters to warm them.

The sun came up around 6:00am and by 6:30 the squatters began to break camp. Once the tents and tables were gone, there was more room for viewing. New groups came into fill the space but as crowded as it got, there was no serious rudeness or fighting. At 7:00am the only real problem was the 30-minute line for the port-o-johns. The Blue Angels flew overhead at 8:00am and the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade was officially underway. The first unit reached us a half an hour later. Here’s the official photo recap in case you missed the show.

PARADE TIPS
We sat on the south side of the Colorado to avoid staring at the sun. The TV cameras are on this side, too, so we had good viewing for most of the star talent including Grand Marshall Emeril Lagasse; Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath; and Dodgers alumni Tommy LaSorda, Fernando Valenzuela, and Steve Garvey.

We were across the street from a Famima! convenience store so coffee, water and breath fresheners were readily available in the early hours. We positioned ourselves in front of a brick planter so we’d have a place to sit while we waited.
The floats are amazing in person but they move pretty fast. Without the TV narration or souvenir program there’s no way to tell what natural materials have been used on each unit. The nerd in me missed that. On the plus side, the horses and the marching bands are much more engaging in 3-D.

Getting out of the parking structure didn’t take long but it did require patience. Once free of it we drove back on Colorado which was practically deserted except for garbage, abandoned chairs and discarded mattresses.

Unless you have VIP seating in the grand stands at Orange Grove and Colorado the best experience is still watching it at home on the hi-def channel in your pajamas. Afterwards, you can head down to Pasadena and wander through the floats at your own pace for about $10.

Except for the reek of the bacon-wrapped sausages being sold next to us, we had a great time at the parade. If the weather is good in 2009, I think we’ll be back in person. Thank you Cynthia for helping cross off another item of my 100 Things to Do Before I Die list.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE
I spent the second day of the year with our friend Juliet. I offered to take her over to the Showcase of Floats but she had her heart set on touring the entire length of Mulholland Drive. She had printed a guide from LAMountains.com, charged her digital camera and loaded her iPod with “Mulholland songs” like Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’. Who could say no to that?

Named for William Mulholland—the man who devised the Los Angeles aqueduct system–Mulholland Drive is fifty-five miles of winding mountain road that starts in Hollywood and ends at the ocean. There are plenty of scenic overlooks along the way and I think we stopped at every one of them. Most had parking spaces and historical placards or nature trails; a few were just gravel turnouts with generic signage. The Groves Overlook was the most frustrating since it was named for the trees that completely obscured the view.

We crossed over familiar roads like Laurel Canyon, Coldwater Canyon and the 405. There was a Walt Disney Drive on our route, too. Not long after that intersection Mulholland switched from two-lane blacktop to dirt. We drove about a mile before being met with a fire gate and the words “Restricted Entry.” We were bummed of course but our disappointment turned to curiosity when we noticed a side road and abandoned guard shack. We were at LA96C which was a NIKE missile control site from 1956 to 1968. After it was decommissioned, public bathrooms, picnic tables and handicapped parking were added to create what is now San Vicente Mountain Park. The dirt road we couldn’t drive on is a trail for cyclists and hikers. We spent about a half hour walking through the defunct military zone, reading the signs and taking pictures atop the three-story lookout tower. There was something to see at on every side, from downtown LA to the Encino reservoir to our eventual destination the Pacific Ocean

Because of the detour we headed down to Ventura Boulevard, had lunch at Jack in the Box, and then turned south onto Topanga Canyon Boulevard to rejoin Mulholland. We enjoyed this stretch through canyon country and even spent some time in Paramount Ranch. Although used primarily for westerns, the ranch has also starred as Colonial Salem, China, and the South Seas. Because of this history, park locations include Witches’ Wood, Marco Polo Hill and Ebb Tide Trail.
You can probably guess how Medicine Woman Trail got its name. The Jane Seymour series that ran on CBS from 1992 to 1997 was shot here. Neither of us watched Dr. Quinn but Juliet and I enjoyed walking through the Western Town set that doubled for Colorado Springs. I found this Dr. Quinn photo gallery and recognized a few buildings even though the town has since been altered for HBO’s depression-era series Carnivale.

We continued our drive on what was now Mulholland Highway and passed by Ed & Vern’s Rock Store, a mobile home park, and two huge satellite dishes. The rest of the drive was deserted conservation area and it was hard to believe that we were still in LA County. We crossed the Pacific Coast Highway at Leo Carillo State Park and got a few pictures before the sun went down. Then we headed south for delicious crab soup at Bob Morris’ Paradise Cove Café Malibu.

With our photo stops, meals, cultural visits and the detour, we spent about seven hours on our Mulholland drive. Juliet is so easy to hang with and always prepared! She even sent these links to the National Park Service’s downloadable maps showing trails and roads. Just for fun, she included this Wikipedia entry that discusses Mulholland Drive in pop culture. Thanks for a great day, Juliet!

CASA BIANCA
That evening, Juliet, Daryl and I went to Eagle Rock to sample the very popular Italian restaurant Casa Bianca. Our meal was fine but it wasn’t worth the 45-minute wait in their cramped lobby. We’d go back if it was less crowded, but Casa Bianca is either closed or it has a line. They should change their name to “DMV.”

Waiting for a table, the three of us were walking around the neighborhood when the flashing lights of a police escort came over the hill. Was it the mayor? The governor? No, it was the City of Glendale Rose Parade float making its way to downtown Glendale. Juliet got to do both things after all.

HERITAGE SQUARE
That weekend, Daryl and I went to Heritage Square Museum which is located on the 110 about a mile east of where it intersects the 5. Eight historic structures have been moved to this slim piece of land to create a museum of life in 1800’s Los Angeles.

Except for the traffic rushing by on the freeway the museum feels like a street my great, great grandparents might have walked along. The tour starts at the train station and ends at the church. In the middle are five houses and a barn. Only one of the houses is truly complete inside. The rest are slowly being refurbished as funds become available.

The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 and has free parking. The online tour includes information and pictures of all eight structures which are best appreciated in person on a sunny day. A normal visit should last about an hour but we were there twice that since the tours, box office, and gift shop were being handled by one person.

EL TEPEYAC and GALCO’S
That night Diana, Daryl and I were at our friend Christie’s for a Wii trivia throwdown.

Christie had stopped by El Tepeyac Cafe which is rated as one of LA’s Best places for authentic Mexican food. She opened the to-go box and inside was the largest burrito I’ve ever seen. I think it covered two burners on the stove. The cashier told her that this size would feed four people so Christie bought two. Ay Carumba!

Luckily, the burrito was big on taste, too, but we barely finished two-thirds of it. We washed it down with drinks from Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. They specialize in hard-to-find nostalgia and regional brands like Bubble Up, Nehi, Sioux City Sarsaparilla, and Jeff's New York Coffee Egg Cream Soda. There are so many varieties it’s no wonder they’ve been operating since 1897. They should open a branch at Heritage Square.

Christie picked up a few bottles of Cheerwine (a North Carolina favorite) for Daryl. I recommend the Blenheim Ginger Ale and the Plantation Style Mint Julep. I was curious about Delaware Punch but decided to save that for another day since our evening of fun, food and fizzy drinks went pretty late. I hope we can do it again soon. Thank you, Christie!

PALM SPRINGS INT’L FILM FESTIVAL
Daryl and I joined my Uncle Carl the following weekend for our annual trip to the Palm Springs International Film Festival. With hundreds of titles to choose from we narrowed it down to seven.

Our hands-down favorite was The Pool. It was a small story about Venkatesh, an illiterate hotel worker in India who is preoccupied with a backyard pool outside of town. The owners return and Venkatesh slowly ingratiates himself by helping the father clear the yard and by befriending the daughter. Simple performances, great camera work, solid script and winning score—which you can hear at the website—come together to create a sensitive film whose characters stay with you. Indian film fans will recognize Nana Patekar.
Hats Off! is a pleasant documentary about 92 year-old actress Mimi Weddell. She got into the business at the ripe old age of 65 the week after her husband’s funeral. Unsentimental and always in motion, Mimi lives by the motto “Rise Above It!” The camera follows her to auditions, movement classes, photo shoots and Elizabeth Arden beauty treatments as friends, family and colleagues share anecdotes about Mimi. There are also clips of her working opposite Will Smith in Hitch and playing Stanford’s grandmother on Sex in the City. The film was sold out so we had to sit in the third row but we had the best seats in the house once the film was over. Ms Weddell came down to the front of the theater amidst a standing ovation and took questions from the audience. She is an awesome lady.

Sparkle is an English comedy about a cater-waiter who meets the girl of his dreams while he’s still involved with his boss Stockard Channing. Except for a misleading title, we recommended this one, too. The story and the performances by Bob Hoskins, Shaun Davis, Anthony Head and others, were top-notch.
Boystown tells the darkly comedic story of a real estate agent so fixated on populating his predominately-gay neighborhood with the young and fit that the older residents who refuse to sell to him end up dead. A sad-sack driving instructor, his unrelenting mother-in-law, her comic-book obsessed son and a germ-phobic investigator complicate his plan in this strange but sweet tale.

Before the Rains is listed as a Merchant-Ivory film even though Merchant, Ivory, and their screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, weren't involved. Set against the fight for Indian independence, this tragic love story was bogged down by a sluggish script and an overdone score. The only highlights were beautiful location work and a great performance by Rahul Bose.
The Stone Angel was my least favorite film even though it had Ellen Burstyn, Dylan Baker, Luke Kirby and Juno’s Ellen Page. To avoid moving into a nursing home, Burstyn’s character escapes to a deserted lakeside cabin. The trip causes her to reflect on her disapproving father, an alcoholic husband, the gossipy town and her ungrateful kids. Skip this one and rent The Trip to Bountiful for which Geraldine Page won her Academy Award.

The first Best Actress Oscar went to Janet Gaynor for her work in the 1927 silent Seventh Heaven. This hard-luck melodrama has broad performances common to the era but Gaynor won us over with her more natural style. If only the newly-commissioned score that accompanied this screening had been as subtle. Fun fact: A couple audience members had seen the movie during its first run.
Uncle Carl managed to fit in Breakfast With Scot which he described as a sentimental TV movie and Pistoleros a terrific Danish actioner in the vein of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The 2009 Festival is already scheduled for January 8 through 19 and I’m sure we’ll be there. Titles and tickets will be available on the festival site around Christmas. Thanks, Uncle Carl!

VISITORS
The following week, our friend Tahmina, was in town for a busy week of meetings. We hadn’t seen her in three years and it was so fun catching up over dinner. Thanks for making the time, Tahmina!

My sister Gail arrived last week after a fourteen-hour train/bus/metro/pack mule/dog sled trip from San Francisco. Even though we were in the wettest LA January since 1970-something, Gail spent her first day at the Getty Center under brilliant blue skies. It was so clear we could see from the snow-capped mountains to Catalina Island.

We took her to Oinkster in Eagle Rock for Carolina Pulled Pork sandwiches and Belgian Fries. In Pasadena, we visited The Gamble House and did some shopping in Old Town. On her last full day, Gail and I headed to Joshua Tree to spend a sunny, windy day with Uncle Carl and his two dogs. And then, before we knew it she was flying home to snow-covered Iowa. It was a great visit and we hope to see her again real soon.

LA FASHION DISTRICT
Gail is a big sewer (get your mind out of the gutter). In addition to catching her up on the previous two weeks of Project Runway, we took her to the LA Fashion District. Spread out over ninety blocks the area is said to be the largest selection of textiles and notions in the United States. We only went to a few fabric stores but Gail found what she wanted at a good price. It wouldn’t fit in the luggage she brought with her, so we ducked into Santee Alley and found a $20 suitcase for the flight home.

STAR SIGHTINGS
We saw Kaye Ballard at one of our Palm Springs screenings.
While at the Getty we saw Amazing Race 4 winner Chip Arndt.
Peter Paige sat behind Gail when we were at Toast Bakery Cafe.

NEXT MONTH
February is already filling up. Tell you all about it next month.
Until then,
James