Despite having heard rave reviews of “The Hunger Games” from two readers in two generations who really loved Harry Potter, I sniffed at the book covers with a certain disdain – kids killing kids? Sounded too violent and… offensive to …
The Hunger Games: Who Should Watch?
3.22.12
On the Communities We Create
I walked a half-marathon this past weekend, as part of a team to benefit Lupus LA. Twenty five of us walked/ran our way through LA’s streets, encouraged by rowdy crowds along a colorful route through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, …
Lady Gaga’s BORN THIS WAY Foundation and a new film called Bully
Bullying is in the news right now — from Harvey Weinstein’s championing of a new film called Bully**, and Lady Gaga’s brand new project, the Born Like This Way Foundation. Every parent thinks about this issue from time …
Rediscovered: Photographs of LA, San Francisco and NYC
In 24 hours, I came across articles describing the recovery of black and white photographs of three American masters — Ansel Adams, Robert Frank and Arthur Tress. A strange convergence of timing – but, what a great chance to glimpse …
2.22.12
For the Love of Lincoln
The artist Maira Kalman spent a year blogging about democracy for the New York Times, and her stylish and witty illustrations and personal observations were aptly turned into a book called The Pursuit of Happiness. Along this journey, …
Your Week with Marilyn
I never really lost my head over anything to do with Marilyn Monroe — other than Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind.” But the screen siren is hard to ignore this season; I loved My Week with Marilyn, and …
1.31.12
SNEAK PEEK: Frida Kahlo and the female surrealists
I got a look at LACMA’s new surrealism show this week. In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States, which opens on Sunday (1/29) and runs until early May, is significant for being the …
1.27.12
Beauty and the Beast in 3D is a Little Too Real
“Mummie, are bad guys real?”
It’s the sort of question you don’t want to answer as a parent. Up there with am I going to die someday and does Santa really exist. You want to be honest, but you don’t …
Domestic Archeology: Yarn Bombing and Pinterest
My daughter is home from college on a long holiday break, and after a stint of rejoicing in the delights of her hometown (visiting favorite restaurants with other college cafeteria-weary freshmen), she has invested herself in a major purge of …
