Where the Wild Things Are

“Where the Wild Things Are” is a celebration of imagination. While it may be too scary for children under the age of 10 anyone older will be missing out if they don’t go see it. Any parents who don’t take their children are missing an unusual opportunity to promote maturity and perspective in an entertaining and unexpected way.

Using a deceptively simple story line that everyone can relate to there are dimensions beyond the obvious touched upon and developed in this movie. Parallels cause role reversal. How strange does it feel when our parents words pop out of our mouths unbidden, unasked for? How often is this change in perspective experienced as a child?

Childhood is not all warm and fuzzy. In reality big, warm, fuzzy piles are fleeting, rare and somewhat smothering. Life is not all warm and fuzzy. People who love each other sometimes hurt each other especially when caught up by intense emotions. Going too far is easy to slip into, you can’t take it back, and is hard to extricate ones self from.

Seeking out new experiences like Bob and Terry changes perspective, it doesn’t change who one is but it can change how one sees the world. Change can be perceived as a threat by others.  Change can lead to lack of control. Frustration and hurt stemming from lack of control in a situation can be exhibited through anger, destruction and the desire to lash out and hurt in return. The balance between losing control, being controlled and learning control is a process that takes a lifetime to master, the scale balanced with maturity, empathy and knowledge. Realizing that control does not extend beyond one’s own fingertips is a difficult lesson to learn.

Simple situations, competitions, and challenges can spiral exponentially to a plateau where play crosses a line into hurt in a self sustaining escalation that is no longer fun anymore. Intent determines the line where hurt can be forgiven and where it can’t. It is easier to hug hurt close and ride the emotions generated than it is to let hurt go and move on. Someone allowing you to step on their head in retaliation does not give the same satisfaction and spontaneous absolution acting in the heat of the moment would. Being granted control is not the same as actually being in control.

A perfect world, a perfectly controlled world is a static world, an artistically beautiful diorama, awesome to perceive but unchanging, unchallenging, and unforgiving of imperfections.  The differences corresponding to individuality also create discord.  Imperfections can be perceived as negative character traits but perception and reality don’t always sync, whether one is filled with blood or sawdust, whether one is a king or a normal person, isn’t determined by perceived character traits however, the way others treat us is. Outer shells shown to the world are deceptive.

Is there any way back after going too far? Yes. Always. If love exists there is. Is there a place where only the things we want to happen, happen? In our dreams, in our imaginations, on television, in books and movies but not in real life. Should the pursuit of happiness be abandoned or is it enough in and of itself? Goals don’t have to be attainable to be worth striving for. By turning expectations upside down artistic dreams can be realized.

This is not a feel good movie. It is melancholy, giddy, scary and sad. It is controlled and wild, beautifully harmonious and darkly morbid and destructive. There are times when everyone needs to howl.  The impression is left that those who’s artistry and creativity went into the making of this movie “get it” and “it” is very hard to define. Let the wild rumpus begin.

Ruby Slippers & Kinky Boots

There is a store on Hollywood Blvd., Lady Studio Exotic Shoes, in which can be found some of the kinkiest boots on the planet. Towering stiletto heals, day glow neon colored boots, platforms, vynel, leather and plastic, if you can imagine it, it’s probably there.

If it’s true that shoes make the man or woman, in Hollywood at least, footwear has created timeless images shared by all. From Judy Garland’s ruby slippers to Julia Roberts thigh high boots signature footwear has made it’s mark on the big screen. During the height of the cold war ballet shoes faced off against tap building a bridge of mutual respect and showing we’re not as different as me might think. Dying with your boots on is a Western tradition that took on new meaning when Tommy took on Elton John at pinball.  Footwear completes and compliments a character.  White shoes, biker boots and stilettos tell vastly different stories about the person wearing them and the story being told.

The Bata Shoe Museum gives a historical perspective to the study of footwear. A used pair of combat boots at the Vietnam War Memorial strikes an unexpected chord of pathos and humanity.  Shoes have inspired superstitions from lucky horseshoes to caling out "baby needs a new pair of shoes" for luck when playing dice. They’ve inspired proverbs and fairy tales in many countries.  Sayings like "walk a mile in my shoes" or "I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes" are commonly used. 

You can have a pair of shoes but if you have two left shoes you tend to fall over.

Whether you get a good pair of walking boots, gladiator sandals or blue suede shoes there is a certain magic in finding the right ones. The shoe maker’s elves were there when times were tough and during the Great Depression shoe soup was always an option, however today’s footwear would probably hold less nutritional value being made mostly from synthetics instead of leather.  Gum shoes look for shoe prints and hope they don’t end up in cement shoes when investigating organized crime.  Puss in Boots had a wonderfully uncomplicated outfit and Crocodile Dundee had boots that perfectly fit his character.

Jumping in mud puddles wearing a yellow pair of rubber boots may seem like defeating the purpose of wearing them to begin with but it is glorious fun. Not too many year ago Converse and Keds were the only athletic shoes available now the market is flooded with options.  Children play at being adults by wearing a pair of their parents shoes. Evolving into parents they find out how big those shoes really are to fill.

Shoes protect us from the elements, they help shape the way we want the world to perceive us. The right pair of shoes inspire confidence. But sometimes, the best feeling of all, comes when we take off our shoes and walk barefoot in the grass.

From Shakespeare to Star Trek

Every year West Hollywood pulls out all the stops and holds their annual book fair. Something new and exciting that keeps one enthralled, intrigued or laughing can be found there every year.

Past Book Fairs have featured autograph sessions with political writers such as Gore Vidal who was as out spoken in his younger days as he is today and continue to be controversial with such authors this year as Jordan Elgrably, Mir Tamim  and Reza Aslan.

Last year Ray Bradbury spoke of his early years when another young man by the name of Hugh Hefner published his short stories in an up and coming men’s magazine and Lucile Ball was his landlord. This year Carol Channing and Bruce Vilanch spoke at the Entertainment Pavilion keeping the audience in stitches for an hour. Their frank discussion of back stage antics and promotion of the arts in public schools earned them a standing ovation and left the audience wanting more. Carol sang gospel and a song promoting the arts in schools. She talked of working with Ethel Merman and Ann Miller, Andy Rooney’s Sugar Babies and Love Boat. Carol may have outlived the competition but she certainly never let the parade pass her by.

Nicholas Meyer talked about directing and how, as a child he sat next to Albert Einstein at dinner, found a hair on his food, said so out loud, and was told by Einstein “Shhhhhh… not so loud or everyone will want one.” His works are a combination of different approaches to a common theme, the contrast providing richness and depth that would otherwise be missing. “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” with Sherlock Holmes visiting Sigmund Freud starring Alan Arkin and Nicol Williamson (a Shakespearian actor who’s version of Hamlet is widely acclaimed to have rivaled that of Richard Burton), has its roots in Meyer’s father being a psychologist and likening his craft to detective work. The subtitle of The Wrath of Khan, “The Undiscovered Country” is Shakespeare’s way of describing death in Hamlet but also references Eden and becomes politically topical for it’s time with the concept of virgin territory corrupted by two massive forces fighting for dominance regardless of the harm done in their wake. All art forms are influenced not only by the past but also by our perception of it. The “what if” aspect of successful fantasy has a basis in actual, literary or artistic history, it has to have a jumping off point to make a connection the audience can relate to. It is influenced by our current body of knowledge combined with present forces and past history then takes a step beyond.

There is a little bit of everything at the West Hollywood Book Fair, from comic books to politics, from poetry to television, from Edgar Allen Poe to the Brady Bunch, mystery, drama, fiction and fact, the influence of women and alternative lifestyles are all represented. Writers are the foundation, the inspiration and the imagination of Hollywood. The Book Fair brings writers, actors, comedians and politicians of all kinds together in one venue that celebrates the arts and imagination originating with the written word.

Pianos and Piñatas on Wheels

This past Saturday downtown Los Angeles went from ghost town to race town as the Red Bull Soap Box Derby hit the streets. Trying to get an unobstructed view, more than 110,000 people climbed speakers and light poles and lined the barriers twenty deep from the starting line on Grand Avenue to the finish line on 5th Street.

I don’t think this was what he had in mind when Myron Scott started the first official All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio in 1934. Throughout it’s early years the derby was marketed as patriotic and idealistic stressing team work, sportsmanship, courage, individuality and the pursuit of dreams. People were so scandalized in 1973 when a participant at Derby Downs was caught cheating that his guardian was indicted for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This modern day derby held in Los Angeles retains the individuality, creativity and team work but in an entertaining world of twisted and amusing grown up visions and dreams. With names like America’s Economy; Banana Hammock; Big Pianists; Crash & Burn; Ludicrous Speed!!!; Pole Position; Shaken, Not Stirred; Team Wild Things; Buccaneer Biddys; The Human Factor and Rehab Projects these weren’t your average soap box racers. From pianos to piñatas, heavy metal to country and rock, pole dancers to firemen, 40 teams came over the rainbow and from galaxy’s far, far away to compete. The winning team Ironheade hit 46 miles per hour to take the lead.

Since the Model T first came off the assembly line in 1908 people have been fascinated with how fast they could get gravity driven vehicles to go. So embedded in American culture is the soap box derby that even the Smithsonian has a racer in its collection and there is a Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame. Events nationwide go through a sanctioning process to qualify, conforming to uniform rules and racing conditions. From it’s beginning during the great depression it was billed as an all American pastime for fathers and sons to participate in. Although not quite a He-Man Women Haters Club the first girl did not compete at Derby Downs until 1975.

What ever country or state you build your racer and compete in, from Japan to Germany, from New Zealand to the United States be sure and bring the family along to watch the race. Soap Box Derby cars are as fun to watch as they are to build, bringing out that often forgotten inner child in all of us.

Departures, Arrivals and Journeys

Union Station in downtown Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful railroad stations in the United States. Although there have been trains in Los Angeles since 1906, Union Station was not built until 1939. It just celebrated it’s 70th birthday this past May. The windows are arched, the floors are marble, the seats are leather, and the ceilings are 50 feet high with chandeliers. Its architectural style is a mixture of old and new, Spanish Colonial Revival, Streamline Modern, Art Deco and Moorish styles are all part of the eclectic mix. 26,000 passengers a day go through and weddings, banquets, concerts and films take place here. One whole section of the station is portioned off and devoted solely to filming scenes that occur in train stations.

Trains have been used in films since The Great Train Robbery featuring the rag time music of Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller was filmed in 1903. There have been crazy trains, peace trains, soul trains, ghost trains and trains that keep rollin’ all night long. Trains have been the site of famous parties, mysteries, political campaigns and secret service spy head quarters.

Train stations invoke pictures of arrivals, departures, connections and memories of childhood.

There is something about train stations and trains that bring on day dreams and fantasies. With names like Sunset Limited, Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, Texas Eagle, California Zephyr and Silver Meteor it’s hard not to imagine wonderful vacations to fairy tale castles.  Famous trains like the Orient Express can carry us off on mysterious adventures have inspired movies since 1927. The Orient Express is featured in books and magic shows while the Hogwarts Express is a ride into a magical realm unlike any other and the Cannonball Express represented adventure of a different sort.

While everyday chores keep us back, ground us in reality and day to day needs, the sound of a train whistling in the distance can invoke feelings of breaking free or be a reminder of the freedom we lack.

Here's hoping  the President's plan for a high speed rail line comes to fruition and railroads once again come into their own bringing a little bit of elegance, style and romance back into our lives.

79 AD

What is it about ancient Rome that still fascinates and entertains over 2,000 years later? Spending an afternoon at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibit: Pompeii and the Roman Villa is an experience not to be missed. Fascination with “the last days of Pompeii” is legendary, from poems to books, from rock bands to operas, films, documentaries, television shows, stage shows and even fire works displays have been based on the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. Even John Hollerbach of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory who is working on treadport (a walking  simulation effect for virtual reality) chose pre-eruption Pompeii as a subject for his test applications.  There is a tragic romance about the 2,000 who died that day, 1,930 years ago. Ten percent of the population of Pompeii perished in three meters of ash and from 1748 when their remains were first discovered to this day the fascination with them has continued.

Even the discriptions of the homes found there are stories in themselves. The houses uncovered were named by the archiologists for their occupants: the house of the scientist, house of the gem engraver, house of the artisan, house of the tragic poet and house of the golden bracelets (where the body of a woman wearing heavy gold bracelets was found), for their decoration: house of the black wall, house of the little fountain, house of the citharist, house of the gilded cupids, house of the fawn, house of the colored capitals, house of Orpheus, house of marine venus, house of the wounded Adonis and house of the citharist and many more.  These homes were decorated in the height of fashion for their day. One house had a bathroom floor of silver, another a swimming pool 195 feet in length. Interior gardens were taken for granted. In the Villa dei Papiri alone, 1,800 papyrus scrolls and 100 statues were found. Love, myth and theatre were common themes for decoration and art, sexuality and culinary talent flourished and were catered to.

The populace of Pompeii were a varied lot: slaves, aristocrats, wealthy merchants, soldiers, politicians, gladiators, pirates, prostitutes and artisans. It is estimated that about 20,000 people lived there and although there have been over three dozen eruptions of Vesuvius since 79 AD, including one in 1631 that killed over 4,000 residents, it is the catastrophy of 79AD that captures the imagination. Pliny the Younger, an eye witness to the tragedy was the first to write about it in a letter.   His Uncle, Pliny the Elder was one of the victims. It is estimated that the column of ash was 20 miles high and the eruption lasted over 19 hours.

Tales of orgies, corruption and greed have been used for centuries to rationalize the destruction of the city dedicated to Aphrodite. The story of Pompeii invokes thought of life and afterlife, public life and private life, virtue and corruption, the elite and the slave. The extremes of the city and its abrupt end fascinate. There is even a syndrome named after it, Pompeii syndrome where "people on the verge of extinction ignore all signs of coming doom".

If you can't get to the exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art take a virtual vacation to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii (40”45’04 N x 14”29’25 E) or if you are feeling really adventurous travel to the tallest known volcano in the solar system. Wonder, drama, tragedy, riches, sex, beauty, danger, Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii have captured the imagination for almost 2,000 years.

Fresh Food and Fresh Faces

The search for fresh, affordable produce has lured many away from mega-chain stores and out into the fresh air markets. Even Beverly Hills has a farmer’s market but my favorite is the Hollywood Farmer’s Market that stretches from Hollywood Blvd. to Sunset down Ivar St. If you don’t want to go out and catch your dinner yourself, the Hollywood farmer’s market is the ideal place to go. Like a microcosm of the city itself you can find an abundant variety of foods available there. 

The overwhelmingly delicious smell of fresh peaches mingles with that of freshly cut herbs and fresh baked bread. There are figs and dates still attached to the branches they grew on, grapes of every variety, Japanese melons, Dragon fruit, Ambrosia cantaloupe, rhubarb, passion fruit, honey, apples, oranges, lemons and nuts.

There is a regular cornucopia of vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, garlic, beans of every variety, squash flowers, varicolored potatoes and an overwhelming choice of tomatoes.  There are Peruvian hot peppers, dandelion greens, watercress and cups of raw cane juice. Clover sprouts and mung bean sprouts, rye, pinto and black bean sprouts, fluffy mix, pea greens, and wheat grass sprouts are ripe for the picking.

Potted herbs are available to plant or freshly cut and ready to cook with. There is oregano and basil to season Italian food. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme bringing back memories of yesterday and are revamped and updated to fit today. Tarragon, lemon verbena, sweet lime, mint, dill and cilantro are just a few of the varieties displayed. There is lavender tea, licorice tea, sage tea, sage incense, bath salts, scented soap and potpourri.

Flowers make a colorful splash with marigolds, daises, gladiolas, and roses intermingled with giant clover thistles and bamboo plants.

If you’re not a vegetarian there is bison meat. Quail eggs, brown eggs and white eggs are fresh from the farm. There are oysters, clams and fish of every variety on ice. There is organic apple wood to flavor BBQ and fresh made pasta to cook with tomatoes. There is Jersey cheese and goat cheese straight from the farm.

Bands play at each end of the market and interspersed between the booths. With a country string band at one end, a Greek band at the other, African drums, Indian music and the occasional acoustic guitar player, music permeates the air.

Prepared foods are many, with the Kim Chi seller next to the bagel joint. Mango crepes and gourmet tacos standing side by side with the potato nacho vender. West African food is across from Greek. Rotisserie chicken and a mobile gourmet coffee bar share the corner.

Hand made jewelry stalls, some traditional and some not are abundant, with serapes and rugs across from flowered crosses, stars of David and ankhs sharing the same table. Hand thrown pottery and gorgeous wooden bowls are available along with every wooden utensil you could ever possibly want.

The individuals strolling the aisles are as varied as the produce exhibited. An old man using ski poles for canes makes his way past a young man in a black skull T-shirt with a mowhawk pushing a baby stroller. A young lady in spiked heels and sundress strolls past a much pierced and tattooed young man in pirate punk atire reading out loud from Ms. Piggy’s cookbook at the library cookbook fund raiser stall.

From the Iron Chef to Hell’s Kitchen people are fascinated and entertained by food. Food is everywhere, from the ancient world of Rome to the fantasy world of J. R. R. Tolkien, from earth to outer space the appreciation of food is a universally understood, universally appreciated, universally shared experience. One of the seven deadly sins being eating too much food, a much greater sin is not sharing when others don’t have enough. Food doesn’t have to be fancy or huge in portion to comfort, it doesn’t have to be healthy to be appreciated. If we are what we eat than Americans are quite multifaceted with enough variety and depth to keep boredom at bay for quiet a while.

Although Jonathan Swift would have gone hungry at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market, John Belushi probably would have found it a bit boring and Kermit’s nephew was safe for the moment, it’s wonderfully refreshing, exhilarating and inspirational to see so many different and unique varieties of food, music, hand made goods and people in one place at one time. The only offering missing was a good bottle of wine to enhance our dinner giving it that perfect touch, fine food, fine wine and fine companionship always bring. We may not always be at the top of the food chain but we certainly know how to eat and how to make even finding ingredients for a meal an experience to remember.