Native Intelligence archive
for June 2014

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New girl in town

janie-taylor-fabric-iris.jpg Janie Taylor has retired as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet (at 33) and moved to Los Angeles. She talks about shifting her life and continuing to grow as a designer.

Just add water: Summer evening conversations at the Natural History Museum

waterglass2.JPG We talk a lot about water here. This summer you can join the conversation on Thursday evenings at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
ballet-Preljocaj-blue.jpg With each season Preljocaj produces a more elaborate but less interesting series of superficial vignettes that settle on acrobatics (not dance) and that show off bodies and focus on fetishes fit for Vegas.
The favorites the rest of the way appear to be Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and the Netherlands. The Americans may get their chance to play against more of those soccer powers on the sport's biggest stage soon.

Chicken Boy

LAO__chickenboy copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular weekly feature of LA Observed.

Two Geffen premieres, and two plays about addicts

swallow-foley-ds.jpg Geffen Playhouse is producing two premieres simultaneously. One of them is wonderful. The other isn't. Plus: Kudos on two plays moving up from LA's 99-seat world.

Kershaw's gem was great, but batters feared Nolan Ryan

nolan-ryan-plaque.jpg Was Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter more impressive than Nolan Ryan's 17-strikeout gem for the Angels in 1973? Ron Rapoport, who covered that game for the LA Times, considers the question.

Why worry about the drought when we've got the beach?

CaltransDroughtSign.jpg A roundup on the state of the drought and water in LA and the rest of California. There is a lot to worry about, but a lot that can be done to solve our water woes. And a silver lining to celebrate: clean beaches this summer.

Dig this! La Brea fossils are ready for their close-up

tar on the lawn3 6-14 - Copy.JPG This month, two long-hidden demonstration sites reopen at the La Brea Tar Pits. LA is oilier than a hedge fund manager with a portfolio full of credit default swaps.

Henry Waxman

LAO__HenryWaxman copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular weekly feature of LA Observed.

When summer meant fun

PF-SLOAN-jacket.jpg P.F. Sloan may be the most famous LA songwriter you never heard of. Fifty years after his first breakthrough hit, Sloan has re-emerged to reclaim his legacy in a new memoir.

Californians alive today will see unprecedented flooding from global warming

LongBeachCC.jpg Never before seen floods are likely to occur annually within the lifetimes of Californians now under 40 years old. Northern California will be affected much more dramatically than Southern California. But policies to adapt to climate change will affect us all.

Your Lost Angeles Times*

Times tweet 6-13-14 - Copy.jpg The digital medium is dangerous. Just ask the Los Angeles Times.

LA Pride Parade

LAO__PrideParade copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular Thursday feature of LA Observed.

Don Normark, photographer of Chavez Ravine was 86

don-normark-facebook.jpg Los Angeles artist J. Michael Walker writes about his friend, the photographer Don Normark, who died last week in Seattle.

What makes a good NBA head coach?

derek-fisher-jackson.jpg As the Lakers look to hire a new coach, they should examine traits of other successful coaching hires.

Overheard

Noon hour, corner of Ashland and Second Street, Santa Monica. Two middle-aged males stand with their bikes. One is black, one is white with a gray-blond ponytail trailing out of his helmet.
keillor-greek-grab.jpg Shirley hears the howls from the hills of Griffith Park and also checks out 'Horror Camp-Out,' 'Flag Day,' 'Beijing Spring' and more plays on stages around Los Angeles.

Sebastian Junger finishes with war in 'Korengal'

sebastian-junger-iris.jpg He made the companion film to "Restrepo" after the death in Libya of photographer and collaborator Tim Hetherington. "Korengal" seeks to show what war feels like.

Who says showbiz is cruel?

no-talent-parking-sh.jpg Steve Harvey's latest collection of photos, signs and quips about Los Angeles and beyond.

The musical destruction of Los Angeles

kahane.jpg There is a darkness at the heart of Gabriel Kahane's lilting, lyrical, loving art songs to Los Angeles. His new concept album "The Ambassador" joins the venerable tradition that Mike Davis dubbed "the literary destruction of Los Angeles," which Davis himself relished.

Opera showdown: Are women fickle, immoral and crazy?

cosi-dp.jpg The Phil has done it again -- mounted a compelling "Così" that changes the atmospherics from rococo farce to today's social currency. Plus 'Thäis' and 'Streetcar.'
640px-WC-2014-Brasil.svg.png The World Cup starts in Brazil on Thursday, June 12. Amid social turmoil and construction problems, the world will be taking much of the next four weeks off to follow their favorite team.

Dodgers get a "D" for defense

dodger-caps-mannequins.jpg With the Dodgers failing to meet expectations, one could look at their defensive woes as a reason for their struggles.

Canoga Park Memorial Day parade

LAO__Shriver.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular weekly feature of LA Observed.

A day at the museum for three Los Angeles designers

ko-ear-cuff.jpg Clare Vivier, Anita Ko, and George Esquivel were invited to peruse LACMA's permanent collection for design inspiration.

Jenny Price is back at it on the LA River, Malibu beaches, and more

jennyprice.jpg The author, environmental historian, advocate, and LA Urban Ranger is back in town between fellowships at Princeton and in Munich, and working on new projects on the LA River and Malibu Beach access. We caught up with her between scouting trips to ask her thoughts about the latest big news on river restoration, what she's got up her sleeve, and when she's coming back to LA.
KCET control room
kcet-rehearsal-control.jpgA peek inside the TV station's Burbank studios.
Whitt's Wood Yard
whitts-wood-yard.jpgElon Musk wants to drill here at Pico and Sepulveda.
BCAM
bcam-stairs.jpgThe Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA.
David Hockney at LACMA
hockney-arrives-lacma.jpgThe artist arrives to open his latest exhibit.
Mountain lion family
mountain-lion-family-martinez.jpgFrom Robert Martinez's trail cam in the San Gabriels.
The power of 'pluribus' plays
Allegiance-9-(1).jpgDon Shirley on theater in LA
Macy's winds down
mannequin-graveyard-macys.jpgThe store in Westside Pavilion has closed down.
Streetscape: Westwood
westwood-sky-lao.jpgWestwood Boulevard looking north and a little bit skyward.
Streetscape: East LA
la-luz-del-mundo.jpg Iglesia La Luz del Mundo, East 1st Street.
Sign from LA's past
loves-bbq-valley-relics.jpg Sign from an old Love's BBQ restaurant at the Valley Relics Museum in Chatsworth.
Visiting her old ballet costumes
melissa-barak-cost-iris.jpg Melissa Barak at LACMA Chagall exhibit with the artist's memorable designs.
Engine Co. 17
engine-co-17-side.jpg Inside the long-closed Arts District fire station on Santa Fe Avenue.
Wilshire Grand Center lobby
wilshire-grand-lobby-wall.jpg Visitors check out the wall-mounted sculpture by artist Do Ho Suh.
Barnsdall Park
barnsdall-park-trees.jpg Under the trees.
Inside Hollyhock House
hollyhock-columns.jpgPhoto taking was allowed for one weekend. So we did.
Streetscape: Lincoln Heights
el-milagro-market.jpgProductos Mexicanos at El Milagro Market on Avenue 18.
June 6, 1968
rfk-hearse-wide-lapl.jpgThe body of Robert F. Kennedy leaves Good Samaritan hospital. More pics
Streetscape: DTLA
spring-street-bike-lane.jpgSpring Street bike lane.
Palm weeds of Santa Susana
santa-susana-palm-weeds.jpgOak trees, sandstone ridges and fan palms? Ugh. More
Streetscape: West LA
405-at-smblvd.jpg405 North at Santa Monica Boulevard.
Hills turning brown
grman1.jpgThe hills above Gorman.
Arcana Books
arcana-books.jpgIn the Helms Bakery complex in Culver City.
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