The Darjeeling Limited” doesn’t quite have the same rolling-on-the-floor hilarity as writer/director Wes Anderson’s previous film, “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” But the dry, quirky charm that sets Anderson apart is still there – and, for bonus points, Bill Murray gets an amusing cameo. Better yet, there’s also a dramatic undercurrent flowing gently beneath the humourous surface, quiet but unmistakably poignant. With a certain metaphorical quality to the film – for example, a train stands in for a car, which itself represents the journey, in what is essentially a road movie – “The Darjeeling Limited” is all about reconciliation.
Westside Calendar, 10.12.07
Saturday, Oct. 13
9 a.m. — “Westside College Fair, 2007.” West Los Angeles College hosts three-hour College Prep Workshop. Campus: 9000 Overland Ave., at Freshman Drive. Free.310. 287.4200.
10:30 a.m. — “Adult reading program orientation at the Culver City Adult School, 4909 Overland Ave. Also, Thursday at 7 p.m. Information: Danny Moynihan, 310.842.4300.
8 p.m. — “Clay,” a one man hip-hop musical, written and performed by Max Sax, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. Closes Sunday. 213.628.2772 or www.centertheatre.org
8 p.m. — Last chance to see “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” by Charles Dickens, at the Westchester Playhouse, featuring the Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Tickets: 310.645.5156.
Sunday, Oct. 14
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Iraq War Town Hall, featuring U.S. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Culver City) and U.S. Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, at Hamilton High School Auditorium, 2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. 323.937.4747.
3 p.m. — Santa Monica College Emeritus College Concert Band performs at the SMC Concert Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Free. 310. 474.5271 or smc.edu/emeritus/smce.html
Monday, Oct. 15
7 p.m. — City Council meeting, Council Chambers, City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd. Free underground parking.
Tuesday, Oct. 16
7 p.m. — Candidates’ Forum for the School Board election, co-sponsored by the PTA and the League of Women Voters, at Lin Howe School, Irving Place.
Thursday, Oct. 18
5:30 p.m. — Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce After-Hours Mixer at Azin Hair
Salon, 11740 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 205. Reservations: 310.481.0600 or westlachamber.com
7 p.m. — Candidates’ Forum for the School Board election, hosted by the Culver City Homeowners Assn., at the Vets Auditorium, corner of Overland Avenue and Culver Boulevard.
When Goth and Bellydance Meet – Part 2
In part 2 of our discussion on the intersection of bellydance and the goth subculture, Ariellah and I touch on more technical topics related to her dancing, as well as some of the larger issues and controversies that surround bellydance.
When Goth and Bellydance Meet – Part 1
Part 1 of 2. In the wake of my forays into gothic bellydance through DVDs such as Gothic Bellydance and Bellydance Underworld, I contacted Ariellah Aflalo – one of the country’s foremost bellydancers in the genres of gothic and tribal fusion bellydance and a featured performer on both DVDs. Ariellah graciously took time out of her busy schedule touring and teaching to discuss at length, via eMail, questions on the gothic subculture, bellydance, and how the two intersect for her.
Westside Calendar/ 10.04
Thursday, Oct. 4
12 noon — Weekly Lions Club meeting at Sizzler Restaurant, Fox Hills, on Sepulveda Boulevard, across from the Fox Hills Mall. Information: 310.287.1004.
8 p.m. —“Clay,” a one man hip-hop musical, written and performed by Max Sax. Nightly performances through Sunday, Oct. 14 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. 213.628.2772 or www.centertheatregroup.org
8 p.m. — “Gullivers' Travels,” presented by The Actors' Gang. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 at the Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd. Extended through Saturday, Oct. 27. 310.838.4264 or www.actorsgang.com
Friday, Oct. 5
12 noon — Forum for the five School Board candidates at the monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Sheraton Four Points Hotel, Green Valley Drive. Fee.
8 p.m. — “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” by Charles Dickens, presented by the Kentwood Players, at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Also Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2, through Saturday, Oct. 20. Tickets: 310.645.5156.
Saturday, Oct. 6
2 p.m. — “Puppetolio!” Musical revue by Steve Meltzer and his puppet troupe, also Sundays
at 2, Wednesdays and holidays at 1, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Monica Puppetry Center, 1014 Broadway, Santa Monica. Ongoing. 310.656.0483.
2 p.m. — “Hansel and Gretel,” by the Kentwood Players, at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Saturdays only at 2. Through Saturday, Oct. 20. 310.645.5156 or www.kentwoodplayers.org
Monday, Oct. 8
7 p.m. — City Council meeting to discuss proposed new mixed-use ordinance. Council Chambers, City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd. Free underground parking.
Westside Calendar/ 9.26
Thursday, Sept. 27
11 a.m. — Out-of-Uniform Fashion Show luncheon. Part of proceeds will benefit Police Dept., Fire Dept. funds. Luxe Summit Hotel, 11461 Sunset Blvd. Prepayment
required. No walkup tickets available. RSVP 310.481.0600 or info@westlachamber.org.
12 noon — League of Women Voters, Culver City Unit, monthly meeting. First of three programs on immigration. Julian Dixon Public Library, Community Room, 4975 Overland Ave. 310.397.4970.
6 p.m. — Housing Rights Workshop, sponsored by the Housing Rights Center, at the Vets Auditorium,Garden Room, 4117 Overland Ave. RSVP 800.477.5977, Ext. 19
6:30 p.m. — “Traveling Through Northern India,” a presentation by adventurer/photographer Rich Henke at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista. Free. 310.437.6680.
8 p.m. — Clay,” a one man hip-hop musical, written and performed by Max Sax. Nightly performances through Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. 213.628.2772
or www.centertheatregroup.org.
8 p.m. — “Gulliver's Travels,” presented by The Actors' Gang, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, at the Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd. Extended through Saturday, Oct. 27. 310.838.4264 orwww.actorsgang.com.
Sunday, Sept. 28
8 p.m. — “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” b y Charles Dickens, presented by the Kentwood Players, at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Through, Saturday, Oct. 20. Also Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2. Tickets, 310.645.5156.
Monday, Oct. 1
7 p.m. — “City Council meeting, Council Chambers, City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd. Free underground parking.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
7:30 p.m. — Culver City Garden Club monthly meeting. Guest speaker, Jose Avila, from Westchester Garden Center. Veterans Memorial Building, Garden Room, 4117 Overland Ave. Free. Information contact Larry Ebner atlarryebner@netscape.net
Wednesday, Oct. 3
6:45 a.m. — Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce First Wednesday breakfast atThe Olympic Collection, 11301 W. Olympic Blvd. (at Sawtelle) 310.481.0600 or www.westlachamber.org.
Westside Calendar/ 9.19
Thursday, Sept. 20
5:30 p.m. — Culver City’s 90th Birthday Celebration at The Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd., sponsored by the Culver City Historical Society. An evening of live musical entertainment, noshes and a no-host bar. Raffle and live auction of “Tom and Jerry cartoon cell by animation artist Martha Sigall and a Culver City landscape by local artist Vivian Matheson All proceeds go to help the Society’s preservation efforts. Information, Judy Stangler at 310.206.6716 or email her at jstangler@international.ucla.com.
5:30 p.m. — Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce After-Hours Mixer, at the Men’s and Women’s Health Centers, 116645 Wilshire Blvd., Suites 775 and 1120 (between Barrington and Barry Avenue). RSVP 310.481.0600 or www.westlachamber.org.
8 p.m. — “Clay,” a one-man hip-hop musical written and performed by Max Sax. Nightly , performances through Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. 213.628.2772 or www.centertheatregroup.org.
8 p.m. — “Gulliver’s Travels,” presented by The Actors’ Gang, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, at the Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd. . Extended through Saturday, Oct. 27. 310.838.4264. orwww.actorsgang.com.
Saturday, Sept. 22
Yom Kippur
Sunday, Sept. 23
12 noon — “Taste of Santa Monica Festival” at the historic Santa Monica Pier, including wine garden, live music and chef demonstrations from 40 Los Angeles restaurants. West Pier Parking Lot Santa Monica Pier, at the end of Colorado Boulevard. Fee. 310.393.9825 or www.tasteofsantamonica.com.
1 p.m. — “Made In Culver City,” a free day-long film festival presented in honor of the city’s 90th birthday by the City of Culver City, and the Culver City Redevelopment Agency in association with the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Films include Tom and Jerry cartoon, “The Cat Concerto,” Laurel and Hardy ‘s “Putting Pants on Philip,” “Hog Wild” and “County Hospital” in the Council Chamber. Screenings will be at 1, 3and 5 p.m. Feature film, An American in Paris, at 7:30 in the City Hall Courtyard. 310.253.5716 or www.culvercity.org.
Monday, Sept. 24
7 p.m. — City Council meeting, Council Chambers, City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd. Free underground parking.
Tuesday, Sept. 25
6 p.m. — -”Women and Money,Maximize Your Money, Gain Financial Freedom” Westside Women’s Network. Dinner at the Olympic Collection, 11301 W. Olympic Blvd., at Sawtelle. 310.481.0600 or www.westlachamber.org.
2 Days in Paris Unlike, Say, 2 Days in Culver City
I love movies like this; dialogue-driven and character-focused, with a breezy theatricality that is almost documentary-like in its style. As with Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Julie Delpys 2 Days in Paris is a film involving two people talking. And like Richard Linklaters films, Julie Delpy is one of those two people. But one difference is that this time the very skilled Delpy is the writer and director (as well as editor and composer). Another is that unlike the bittersweet romance of Linklaters films, 2 Days in Paris is about self-inflicted obstacles to meaningful love as the films couple, fresh from an unsuccessful trip to Venice, spends two confrontational days in Paris before heading home.
Verheyen Band Closes the Concert Series Tonight at 7
How quickly Closing Night of the outdoors summer concert season has arrived.
Eight weeks slipped away in a finger-snap.
At least tonights 7 oclock performance in the Courtyard of City Hall spotlights one of the most popular ensembles in the history of the Culver City Music Festival the Carl Verheyen Band.
They specialize in rock, blues, jazz, Cajun and country music.
So what is left?
Mythili Prakashs Dazzling Dance
[Editors Note: Stree Katha was performed at the Electric Lodge, Friday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 19.]
You know the feeling, Im sure. Somebody an acrobat, an athlete, a musician, what-have-you does something so astonishing, so remarkable, that you say to yourself, I wish I could do that! Whether you do or not is, of course, beside the point; the sentiment is really one of awe at something that moves you deeply and obviously cannot be done by just anyone. Classical Indian dance (like Bharatanatyam), particularly when performed live by skilled dancers like Mythili Prakash, inspires that sort of awe in me.