“California, that advance post of our civilization, with its huge aircraft factories, TV and film studios, automobile way of life… its flavorless cosmopolitanism, its charlatan philosophies and religions, its lack of anything old and well-tried rooted in tradition and character. “J.B. Priestley
Fly safe,
JAZ
Make America Hate Again
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.” Maya Angelou
It turns out that it was not just the economy that brought out the Trump supporters but the shame that the white working class had previously felt about themselves. The Right was very successful in campaigning on the premise that it wasn’t the white working class that failed but some other villain – Muslims, Jews, Liberals, African-Americans, Immigrants, Gays, Feminists, the Media – the list keeps growing.
The liberals and the media did not understand this deep level of classicism between the haves, have less or have-nots.
Right or wrong Donald Trump gave them back some pride. In doing that, he gave license to their rage and has done nothing to stop that.
I now live in an artsy, racially mixed (and by that I mean interracial couples) neighborhood. I am at the beach and there are many visitors on the weekends. I was walking my dog and there was a truck double parked facing in the wrong direction. A man driving by got out of his car to ask him what he was doing. They were both white. The truck was an Escalade type thing. The car was the cheaper Mercedes model. The Mercedes driver wore a Hawaiian flowered shirt. They were arguing and it was getting ugly. As is my New York custom, I crossed the street to avoid trouble. The truck driver yelled, “You are such a fucking faggot. You are a big loser. Did you vote for Hillary?”
The racism, sexism and xenophobia that Trump used to advance his candidacy had found its way to my street. When things happen right in front of you, it is hard to stay open and indifferent. White hate speech against white people in a very liberal neighborhood is new. It is nothing new for black or gay people anywhere. Venice is the kind of mixed arty community that people move into to avoid this. The big conversation among strangers here is how are the waves today or look at that sunset. The lid against hate has been blown off.
I still say that I wasn’t brought up to hate. I grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust, McCarthyism and my parents’ fears. I was raised not to sign anything, peacefully protest but not call too much attention to yourself by leading the march.
A younger couple had heard it as well and they walked up to me. He is blond. She is Asian. They asked how it started. “Stay safe,” they say when they walk away.
Fly safe,
JAZ
Eleven Photos Of The Venice Canals In California (Instagram at travelwellflysafe)
“Getting lost is the only place worth going to.” Tiziano Scarpa
Fly safe,
JAZ
Politics at the Academy Awards In Los Angeles
“If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.” Winston S. Churchill
First part written on Saturday
I do usually cringe when celebrities use award shows to promote their political views. Trump is all Americans talk about these days anyway so I don’t think we will get though the Academy Awards without him. The Trump supporters will be disgusted by the out of touch Hollywood elitists who are trying to tell the normal people what to do. The liberals will say the overpaid celebrities are making it worse. The ceremony takes place in California and Hilary won easily here so we pretty much know how they feel. I think a few will be brilliant and most won’t. Something political will happen with best Foreign Film. I liked Salesman the best so I’m hoping for a win. It would be cool if Moonlight won. Jimmy Kimmel is a given for political commentary, though he will probably tone it down for the event. I hope it doesn’t turn into and the best anti Trump moment is. I think the speeches will be more about inclusion and diversity. Some of us are still PC.
To be continued tomorrow
Sunday
Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The show was a bit more stripped down and low-key than usual. It was going along smoothly and predictably. Everyone I wanted was winning. Jimmy Kimmel was the Greek chorus. A lot of it was expected but he had a few really funny lines. In his praise of Meryl Streep for her many overrated and underwhelming performances (Trump tweet), he asked if she was wearing an Ivanka? He told all the people who worked for CNN and anyone with the word Times in their job – even Medieval to leave the room.
Viola’s speech was better than even I thought it would be. August Wilson would have been proud. Salesman won which it should have. The most powerful political statement of the evening was read for the film’s director Asghar Farhadi who did not come in protest of the travel ban. All the “immigrants’ (I know because they said they were immigrants – I wasn’t judging) expressed their disapproval and solidarity.
Hollywood did what it does best at the Oscars. Hollywood celebrated its own with beautiful dresses, humor, reverence and appreciation. The attention was focused on the people in the room and the magic and healing of movies. Candy was flying everywhere.
The reality is that I’ve always been a fan of the simple thank you at award shows. It was a simple thank you kind of night.
And then Oscar history was made. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway accidentally announced the wrong winner for best picture. I was worried when they came on. Warren always seems dazed to me and they are both way too vain to wear their glasses onstage. I was expecting some uncomfortable banter about that. After La La Land’s producers made their thank you speeches, they were told it was a mistake and Moonlight had won. “This is not a joke.” and I quote. Everyone was as dazed and confused as Warren (who apparently had been handed the wrong envelope). It was a perfect Hollywood Ending with a twist.
Fly safe,
JAZ
Sunsets from My New Life
“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.” Jo Walton
Fly safe,
JAZ
“Now, as we close one chapter, the pen is gradually inking up, preparing itself to write the next.” Mie Hansson
Fly safe,
JAZ
Ten Not Tourist Things To Do In LA On A Sunday
The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist.” Russell Baker
I love reading these lists about countries I am visiting and hope you will find this one helpful.
Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney
Venice of America” was created as a beach resort in 1905. The first grounds came complete with an aquarium, bath houses, and an amusement park. Developers dug several canals to drain the marshes. As the infrastructure and buildings crumbled in the 1950’s, the odd characters and artists found their way in. That mentality continued to the present, making Venice a melting pot of cultures, art and attitudes. The path and boardwalk along the beach with is vendors, restaurants, street performers, weightlifters, artists, tattoo artists, skaters, bikers and graffiti art make it great for people watching.
Abbot Kinney is one of the trendiest streets in LA right now. The downside is the overabundance of hipsters and horrible parking. It’s great to hang out, eat and shop. My favorite Abbot Kinney restaurants are Gjelina (http://www.gjelina.com) and The Tasting Kitchen (http://www.thetastingkitchen.com)
LACMA and La Brea.
Since they redid LACMA, (LA County Museum of Art http://www.lacma.org) several years ago, it is a cool, interesting space to spend a Sunday. Catch the latest exhibit, collection, film, or do a family activity with the kids. Sit in the courtyard and have a drink or coffee and plan your visit. I like to have brunch at one of the La Brea restaurants, Republique (http://republiquela.com) or The Sycamore Kitchen (http://thesycamorekitchen.com). If you are a mall person The Grove (http://www.thegrovela.com) is nearby as well.
Rose Bowl Flea Market In Pasadena
The super gigantic Rose Bowl Flea Market takes place rain or shine on the second Sunday of each month at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. There is a plethora of vintage items and vendors. It is great for people watching – the hip, the beautiful, the cool and the very strange are all shopping for that perfect find. I think the days of finding something really valuable are probably over but it is definitely the place where LA hipsters go to furnish their living spaces. It’s funny to see people grabbing things you grew up with and wondering if you shouldn’t have given them away back then. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Ride Your Bike From Santa Monica To Manhattan Beach .
The bike path runs along the Pacific Ocean from Pacific Palisades to Torrance. It is 22 miles (35 kilometers) long. It’s good to pick it up in Santa Monica and ride through Venice, Marina Del Rey and Playa Del Rey. Manhattan Beach is the quintessential LA beach town. It is what you expect a California beach community to look like when you move from the East Coast. The Beach Boys hung out here when they were young and it is credited to be the birthplace of beach volleyball ( now an Olympic sport). They have some really good restaurants. I like to go to MB Post (http://eatmbpost.com) and Fishing With Dynamite (http://www.eatfwd.com).
LA Dodger Game.
Baseball has always been a metaphor for America. The LA Dodgers (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la) have been a symbol of Los Angeles since they moved from Brooklyn. Dodger Stadium opened in 1962. It was built on the controversial Chavez Ravine, overlooking the city making it one of the most beautiful settings for a baseball stadium. It is a really fun Sunday thing to do – watching a game and eating Dodger dogs. The “Dodger dog” is a 10” frankfurter sold at Dodger Stadium during the games. It is probably not the best hot dog you will ever eat but it feels like it is when you are there.
The Annenberg Space For Photography
Photography is my newest obsession and I just love this place. They have interesting exhibits and great lectures. It is located in Century City and admission is free. I often drop by for an hour and usually see the exhibits more than once. (http://annenbergphotospace.org)
It located near Century City Mall and you can run in and do some shopping and get some food. My new favorite Chinese restaurant is located here. It is called Meizhou Dongpo and is the first American outpost of a very successful chain restaurant in China which started in Beijing. They became famous because they catered the food in the Olympic village in 2008. Everything I have had there is delicious. I always look forward to eating there.
Malibu
Malibu is very relaxed on a Sunday. Walk on the beach. Watch the surfers and birds at the lagoon. Have brunch at the Malibu Beach Inn (http://www.malibubeachinn.com), Malibu Farm (http://www.malibu-farm.com) or Nobu (http://www.noburestaurants.com/malibu/experience/). (Nobu)
Walk around the shopping centers with their new stores. Maybe you will run into Caitlyn Jenner. I love the Malibu Farmer’s Market on Sunday as well. They have some great locally grown items. Sometimes I get fresh bread and cheese and make that a meal with all the samples they give you. Other times, I have one of the meals that they are cooking. As with all farmers markets, the best produce is in the morning and the best deals are at the end of the day.
Music Center
Growing up in NY, I love theatre and ballet. I’m a regular at the Music Center downtown (http://www.musiccenter.org) . Traffic in LA has gotten so awful that I usually go on a Sunday. I have brunch at a new downtown restaurant or go back to one of my favorites. Anything from chef Joseph Centeno – Baco Mercat, Orsa and Winston, Bar Ama or Ledlow always works for me (http://bacomercat.com). (Disney Hall)
The Music Center is one of the largest performing arts complexes in the US. It includes the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum and the newest building Walt Disney Hall designed by Frank Gehry. The center is home to ongoing community events, arts festivals, outdoor concerts, participatory arts activities and workshops, and educational programs. When I don’t stop for lunch I grab Tina’s Tacos and sit outside and watch people run in and out of the fountain. (Dorothy Chandler)
MOCA and The Geffen Contemporary
The Museum of Contemporary Art (http://moca.org) is right down the street from the Music Center. It’s fun to come down and see an exhibit after having dim sum in Chinatown. The best things in Chinatown are the art galleries where young LA artists show their stuff. You can still buy cheap made in China gifts and check out the herb stores with their dried mushrooms, tea leaves and goji berries. Every displaced New Yorker gets a favorite Chinatown restaurant when they move out here like they had in New York. You will hear a lot of New York accents on Sunday nights. Mine closed.
The Geffen Contemporary, which is MOCA”s very large exhibition space, always has interesting exhibits and is in Little Tokyo. I like to have sushi there and walk around the malls. It feels like Japan. I like Sushi Gen but I don’t like the lines. They open at 1115 if you get there early you can avoid the queue. (http://sushigen.org) Café Dulce in Japanese Village Plaza is the place for donuts afterward.
Early movie and dinner
No matter where I have lived, my favorite thing to do on Sunday is always an early movie and dinner at a local restaurant. My usual movie theatres are in Westwood which means Lebanese food at Sunnin (http://sunnin.com), Italian food at Palmeri in Brentwood (http://www.palmeriristorantespa.com) or the new Ingo Diner in Santa Monica (http://www.ingostastydiner.com).
Fly safe,
JAZ
Signs That You Are Still A Tourist In LA
Los Angeles was the kind of place where everybody was from somewhere else and nobody really dropped anchor. It was a transient place. People drawn by the dream, people running from the nightmare. Twelve million people and all of them ready to make a break for it if necessary. Figuratively, literally, metaphorically — any way you want to look at it — everybody in L.A. keeps a bag packed. Just in case.” Michael Connelly
You honk your horn in traffic.
You shop at the mall on Hollywood and Highland.
You are at the Fairfax Farmers Market on a weekday morning – hopefully not wearing cargo shorts and a fanny pack.
You haven’t worn jeans to a nice restaurant or the theatre yet. You haven’t been to the theatre in LA yet.
You still dress seasonally – wool in winter, white in summer. You haven’t figured out that its scarves, boots, flip-flops and tank tops all year round.
You haven’t been downtown or to a museum that isn’t the Getty .
You are still having lunch at the Ivy for celeb sightings. The food is not as good as it used to be. You get excited when you see Richard Dreyfus at the drug store, Meg Ryan at Barneys or Madonna at Kabbalah. i have to admit I was happy when I saw Elton John having lunch with the kids.
You get excited when you see Tyra Banks online for the bathroom at the Arclight. You do go to the Arclight and not the “Graumans” Chinese theatre right?
You don’t have a favorite Mexican restaurant.
Everyone knows the driving shortcut you have just found.
You rarely use valet parking and prefer to find a spot on the street.
You have not yet been on a juice fast.
You are not worried by the lack of rain.
Words like Santa Anas, fire season, earthquake kits and did any one feel that? are not part of your regular vocabulary yet.
You leave your car on South Beverly Drive and walk to Rodeo Drive. You still leave your car in one place and walk to all your errands if you can. You attempt to live somewhere where you are near public transportation.
You have not perfected your spray tan color yet.
You have barbecues in the winter. You still get a bit sad that there is no snow on Christmas.
You have not bought a winter coat even though there are days you need it.
You still prefer to eat in the restaurants that have a view of the ocean even though others are better and less expensive.
Fly Safe,
JAZ
How to Annoy People In Los Angeles, California
“Los Angeles is a large city-like area surrounding the Beverly Hills Hotel.” Fran Leibowitz
Leave your turn signal on for ten miles. Drive very slowly in the fast lane.
Talk about how much better New York is and how more real New Yorkers are. Fill in any other state or country here.
Say that the acting business is all about luck.
Ask us about celebrity dieting, gossip, their fitness DVDs or their clothing lines. Most of us don’t care about them on the way up or the way down.
Tell us again that people don’t walk here. We haven’t heard it before. Add that our public transportation sucks,. We know that is why a lot of us don’t use it.
Which would be another complaint. The traffic is really bad for us also.
Yes we have traffic for no apparent reason at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Complain about the air pollution. We know because we don’t have good public transportation.
Ask us if we know someone more important who can read your script.
Take up the whole lane with your bike and don’t pay attention to traffic signs. (that means you Mandeville Canyon riders)
Name drop celebrities or ask us who we know.
Bring up juice fasts, vegan restaurants, or talk about how much better your Mexican food is. (unless you are actually from Mexico). My kids who were born and raised in Los Angeles are serious carnivores.
Bring up new age anything, psychic pet healers, yoga, Pilates. bar method, Scientology , Kabbalah, acupuncture, Tai Chi or ask about mercury in retrograde. Everyone does not like to talk about it.
Ask us if we drive to the gym. We do. Sometimes we go to lunch and pick up our kids in our workout clothes. I drive to walk my dog.
Tell us that you think that you look fat when you are thinner and more fit than we are.
Ask if the construction on the 405 affects us. It affects me every day and night.
Tell us there is no culture here. There is plenty but some of it you have to look for.
Insult our artists. Some of them matter. Some of them you have heard of. All of them are cooler than you.
Leave the movie theatre as soon as the film ends. We like to read the credits and see who we know on the film and we don’t like you walking in front of us when we do.
Talk really loudly on your cell phone in a public place about all the movie business related things you are doing. We know it isn’t true.
Say you haven’t had any work done. We know that isn’t true also. We are from LA and we are professionals at being able to see that.
Ask questions about surfing, skating or being blonde. We all can’t answer those.
Make comments about our weather. We live here because we like it.
Ask us why we wear jeans in nice restaurants. Because we can. We also wear boots, scarves, shorts and bathing suits year round.
Ask us why we wear Uggs and flip flops everywhere. I don’t know.
Ask us if we are ready for the “big one”. If you need to know, go on facebook. Every time there is a tremor everyone reports it – as in “Did anyone else feel that?”
Fly Safe,
JAZ
Ten Mondays Of Santa Monica Sunsets Taken With My Cell Phone
“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”Robindranath Tagore
I have an appointment in Santa Monica on Monday afternoon. The parking lot got very expensive and annoying. I started to park one block away on the street. This is what I saw when I came back to my car on these last ten Mondays or this is what I was missing by parking in the lot.
When I am traveling I always remember to watch a sunset. In my real life, so many things get in the way. I need to remember that this amazing event happens every day.
Fly Safe,
JAZ
Travel Well, Fly Safe 
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