All posts by J. Stern

TEA TRAVELS, Uncategorized

The Valley, A Lake, Tea

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Tea Travels has been on an adventure as late. We’ve been in the famed San Fernando Valley.  Home of Studio City, Sherman Oaks and the illustrious Encino. Home to hopeful artists, actors, producers, directors and stylists. Life is fast in the Valley.  It must be on the Grid for ambitious energy, because people drive like maniacs and dress like they just stepped off the pages of the latest fashion journal. 

Amidst all this ambition and high energy found in Studio City, Tea Travels has sought out the perfect cup of tea and the loveliest cafe’s.  Camped out in Studio City, we are thinking we will find a lot of themed cafes and funky downlow types of hangouts. It was hard to imagine a relaxing and simple tea room here. It doesn’t quite fit what’s cool. And by the way, can we still say cool and be cool? 

Finally found a great escape.  The Lakeside Cafe situated on a small lake adjacent to Los Encinos State Park right smack dab in the middle of a bustling civilization.  It’s not Studio City, but just next door. What used to be the headquarters of a vast sheep ranch that made early settlers wealthy beyond their dreams. 

The Lakeside Cafe is on the very busy Ventura Boulevard. As I headed West on Ventura Blvd from Studio City, I started to see scores of cafes; each with a unique theme.  I started to think it might make a good series, but reminded myself to stay present enjoying this moment and not lose sight of the task at hand . 

I reached the cafe and saws signs that directed cars to parking behind the gas station next door. I circled around the block and pulled into an almost full parking lot where it’s mandatory you valet for 3.00. That was fine. I love valeting and I think it’s worth every penny.  Especially in Los Angeles. It’s nice to know someone is keeping an eye on your car, that you won’t get towed,  the car won’t disappear or you get a whopping ticket. Parking is challenging in big cities and especially tricky here, I really think it’s worth the three bucks. 

The valet guy was really nice, beautiful smile and I felt like things were getting off to a good start.  There were a couple of entrances and I found the one to the hostess and asked for a table for one by the lake. We made our way out and there were about 50 ducks causing a ruckus over something. She laughed led me to some shade and explained that someone probably through some food over the railing that separated the lake from the restaurant deck. The ducks loved to rush over and quack like maniacs, all for a good time and a little attention. 

 

 

It was a brilliant sunny day. No clouds, the sky blue as can be and it was cool Spring day in May. The trees were a brilliant green. The lake itself originates from a warm water spring and the water is much like pond water, a greenish brown, home to many ducks, but no odor and the surface glitters like glass.  Across the lake the picturesque adobes of the ranch lay situated against vast green lawns. 

Above my table branches of gorgeous green foliage swayed in the light breeze. I ordered a tea with lemon, since I felt like I was catching a cold. It came out with a mug of hot water a slice of fresh lemon a small portion of honey and a tea bag of Earl Grey. It was the same brand I usually buy in the grocery store, but it was really refreshing and the whole setting made it very relaxing and unforgettable.  I instantly felt better after a few sips.  The restaurant was super busy and the menu was similar to a high end restaurant where you could have breakfast lunch or dinner.  I ordered a Turkey Club sandwich and the portions were generous and the food fresh and really good.

 

 

Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant with cafe items on the menu. The natural setting creates a backdrop to relax, socialize and enjoy the good things in life. I loved enjoying a simple cup of tea surrounded by ducks, water, trees and a beautiful view of historic adobes. It’s funny how many of the buildings are old in Los Angeles, but well-utilized.  Everything is imperfectly perfect while at the same time offering up eats in a class of their own.  I thought how wonderful life is, that places like this exist and how fortunate I was, to be in Encino and tea traveling my way across Southern California. 

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To Paris

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Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

I  just kept hearing my Mom saying you should go, you should go. You love it there. She was talking about Paris, France. I’m a very fortunate person. When I was young I sort of found a career that I knew existed, but never entertained realistically. I spent my high school years in Reno, Nevada. In Reno, gambling is legal and there where billboards on just about every road and freeway advertising the casinos and the shows. One particular billboard had a huge blow up of a showgirl in red feathers with a broad smile having the time of her life. I jokingly said to a friend one day as we were passing. by, ” That’s what I’m going to be” . Two years later, I found myself on the stage of the largest show in the world. It happened fast.

Fast forward 35 years and those shows have been retired. People aren’t into showgirls anymore and they are actually pretty tame compared to today’s entertainment. I was invited to a couple of really amazing reunions over the past year and half. The first one, I couldn’t make it and had to experience via hundreds of FB posts from old friends. It was amazing and I knew I had missed something incredible. The next one, I decided to cast of my doubts, my schedule and go for it.

It’s in Paris and it’s far to go, but this is my life and I think I should live it. There were many of us from around the world who were fortunate enough to experience a very special dance troupe that is almost gone now. We lived in the era of showgirls and caberet. We were taken under the wing of Margaret Kelly and woman who had talent and business acumen oozing from her pores. A former dancer from across the pond who made it big in Paris, France.

The Bluebell girls have filled the stages of the world’s nightclubs and theaters for decades. To understand what being a Bluebell Showgirl is, it’s helpful to know who Margaret Kelly was and how she started the most successful dance troupe in the world. Margaret Kelly (aka Miss Bluebell) was from Great Britain. She was an orphan born with polio who was placed in dance classes to straighten her legs. She eventually became a professional dancer and danced her way to Europe and eventually to Paris. She met her husband and became a member of the allied resistance during WWII. She risked her life to save hundreds of her neighbors, fleeing the Gestapo that invaded France. She was gorgeous, but tough. She lived through the ordeal and she continued to dance. She formed her own dance troupe and began to provide opportunities for other young hopefuls to make it on the stage. Once she chose you, you were hers and she would form you into a sophisticated Parisienne showgirl with the ability to dance upon any stage in Europe. Bluebells were often former members of the most famous ballets of the world. From the L’Opera De Paris to Bejart’s Ballet of The Twentieth Century.

Most of us were just regular girls at heart. We loved the same things that other girls loved. We had boyfriends at home, pets, families that loved us and we loved dancing. To be able to actually become a professional was a dream come true. Behind the shows, our lives were filled with trying to find an apartment close to the theatre to share with a roommate. Shopping for groceries and having Al Fresco dinner parties. Treating ourselves to French pastries found on virtually every street corner. There wasn’t a lot of shopping, because the pay was just enough to pay your rent, buy groceries and a metro pass. Even though we knew we weren’t getting rich, knowing that we had made it as professionals was enough.  

So, here we are again, decades later and we will reunite in the City of Lights to rekindle the days filled with dance, rhinestones, feathers and travel. Most of use barely out of puberty who took on the world with innocence and curiosity to find adventure and make a life. Besides all of these memories, we also have a love for Paris. A city that’s a Virgo. Beautiful, creative and mother to all.

Photo by Angelos Michalopoulos on Unsplash

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Un Biere Please

Summer is around the corner and we are about to say goodbye to the chill of Winter and Spring. Here is one last ode to chilly days, tea and beer.

What is it about a French cafe that brings to mind feelings of spring day, love in the air and delicious beverages and food? As Americans we see the cafe as a quaint location cozily sandwiched beneath and between old city buildings. Small round tables dressed in white table cloths strategically placed on the sidewalk to garner the best views of the Parisian street spectacle. But the true Parisienne cafe takes many forms; from a quiet place to relieve the stress of the day and drink a beer, to a meeting place for neighbors to have a bite or un cafe, a miniature cup of coffee with the strength of a full size American cup of coffee.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

This was my idea of the French cafe until one very cold winter I found myself in the streets of Paris that were almost completely snowed under. I was out walking with my chosen one. My destiny and I were moving with purpose. Underneath all the layers of clothes, my muscles were warm and toned and I was sweating into my underlayer of a t-shirt. It was a foray into distraction that was also a good way to relieve stress and get more exercise to keep in shape for my nightly show. I was working as a dancer in a cabaret six nights a week, with two shows a night and walking was a good way to stay limber.The sidewalks were coated with a layer of frost and a slim path peeked through the high banks of snow. The air was icy and snowflakes swirled about my head festooned with furry ear muffs and knit cap, my neck swathed in a thick scarf. Only my face was visible.

The streets were quiet and few ventured outside. Cars were garaged for the days as the streets were impassable. The streets of our quarter had not been cleared. It was the weekend and everyone sat cozily inside. If we were in London I would say the people were drinking tea and watching the tele. But France was different. The French didn’t seem to sit much. They seemed to like to be out and socializing, but not on this day so I was stumped.

Photo by Fernanda Marin on Unsplash

After trudging along for sometime, the best part was at hand. It was time to nestle into a warm cafe; with something refreshing for my companion and something warming for me. The cafe was large and mostly empty, with the bar at the back. My partner went to the bar to order a beer and the waiter took my order of tea and a biscuit. The ceilings in the cafe were high and the whole interior was in shades of a warm honey and brown. The windows to the street were large and let in ample light near the front of the interior which became darker as one moved further into the space. We sat along a wall on a bench that was the length of the wall about 30 to 40 feet long. The bench was a cool maple leather. It was not so cozy, but it was a place to rest. My partner came back and waited for his beer. I didn’t see how a beer could be warming on this freezing day and it perplexed me. Soon the waiter arrived with beer and tea. We sat silent and drank. I ate my cookie feeling guilty, knowing that I would heavier and harder to lift when we went to work that night.

Photo by Bence Boros on Unsplash

He didn’t say anything. He drank and his skin began to blush and turn bright pink and his blue eyes sparkled and came alive as the beer hit his circulation, he relaxed and the blood flowed. He launched into the history of the Belgian beer he had chose and why it was the best. I listened attentively and dutifully and tried to absorb the details of beer making and the countries of origin. I learned that Belgian brewers made beer that was on the dry side and spicy. There were over 500 different types of Belgian beer. Different beers were served for various occasions and different glasses and syrups and flavorings could be added. To try and know the beers of Belgium, was a journey into the Belge psyche. The waiter eventually drifted over to our table and began to expound on what seemed a serious topic. Their voices were deep and serious as they conversed in French about things that were important to men on an icy winter day. I spoke some French, but not enough to really understand what was being discussed. Later on I would find out it was to do with the competition between the beers of France and Belgium and then later morphed into a discourse on bar fights.

We sat for hours and the wintery day played out it’s icy performance. As the tea and biscuit warmed my soul, I relaxed. The conversation that swirled around me was a comfort against the cold. Eventually, as our bodies warmed, we took off our hats, earmuffs, scarves and coats to reveal sweaters and wooly pants underneath. Nary a soul passed that window that afternoon. It was just us and the waiter on that white frost-bound day.

TEA TRAVELS

DTLA AND TARTINE MANUFACTORY

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Living in a large metropolitan area like Southern California has been compared by many to an adult Disneyland. There are so many things to do and different locales to experience. There’s mountains, beaches, urban jungles and beautiful pastoral small home towns. It’s a smorgasbord of experiences just waiting for the adventurer. Most recently I happened upon another new experience being offered up by Los Angeles’ progressive developers. In the heart of Skid Row, a beautiful, elite community has risen. Having removed the Skid, it is now The Row. DTLA THE ROW to be exact and it’s more than unique, it’s a glimpse into the future and possibly post-apocalyptic life for city dwellers.

The Row is located adjacent and between the Fashion District and well-known produce market of Los Angeles and next to the downtown. It’s situated somewhat at an angle to the old gargantuan American Apparel factory. If you are not familiar with this neighborhood, it can best be described as an uber urban, concrete jungle, lots of warehousing and graffiti galore. The Row is a 30 acre complex consisting of six old factory buildings that have been cleaned and polished to their former glory and adorned with cutting edge designs. There’s an immaculate 10 story garage for safe parking.

As you arrive at The Row, it’s evident that the surrounding area has been detailed as well. Formerly this area was full of foot traffic and busy. Lots of local workers and street people going about daily life. Now it’s devoid of activity sans for cars approaching and passing by.

 

 

Once you are parked and within the complex you are surrounded by modern art and landscaping. There’s a heavy bent towards artisanal production. The shops are mostly new and upcoming entrepreneurs with trending products. There are art galleries and several restaurants and cafes to choose from. I was ready for lunch, so I decided to go with Tartine Manufactory.

 

Tartine Manufactory is located on the ground floor of the first factory building. It has a wall of gorgeous windows, so that once inside, everything is infused with natural light as well as good strong lighting. To the left is a deli and store and to the right the restaurant and bar. The space is very open with little division between spaces creating a communal effect. The design is modern, utilizing wood and vases filled with flowers to bring a touch of earth into the setting.

The food is amazing and if I were to write about it, that would be a very long post in itself and I’m really not a food blogger. If I were to summarize my experience, it would be the food is incredibly fresh, complex, made with artistry, delicious and healthy. The menu utilizes Tartine’s bread in many of it’s recipes.

 

I didn’t tea travel here, but opted for a luxurious, thick, strong cappucino. It was fantastic. It was brewed to perfection and complemented the food that I chose off the menu that was made with Tartine bread.

I sat at the counter and gazed out at the breezeway that was painted in bright neon colors in a geometric design. People strolled by, taking in the industrial architecture and the artwork that is everywhere.

It was a beautiful and unique place to take a meal. The Row itself, is on a trajectory of success. I heard that is swamped on weekends and an added attraction is Smorgasburg at the Produce Market next to The Row. It’s from 10am to 4pm and free. Smorgasburg hosts vendors selling artisanal goods and great food.

I love The Row. It’s so different and an entirely new experience. It’s good to see that people are reusing old spaces for beautiful new things. It’s urban renewal at it’s best and sets a new standard for bringing historic neighborhoods back to life.

Photo by delfi de la Rua on Unsplash

While relaxing at Tartine Maunufactory, I began to make a list in my head of places to take tea in Paris, France. I was excited to finally return to Paris for a reunion of dancers from around the world. There was Marriage Freres that has three locations in Paris. There is Laduree which has three tea rooms as well. There is also Angelines. I decided to try all three and plan to bring them to my readers in the Fall of this year. And maybe more.

 

 

TEA TRAVELS

Matcha Me

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Photo Jason Leung on Unsplash

 

 

 

It’s the color of forests, it tastes of plants and fresh air. When it hits your veins a sense of well-being that’s almost indescribable infuses your existence. I can’t remember where I was exactly, the first time I had Matcha Tea. I have a vague memory of being  with my son who had just gotten off work  from his barista job at Starbucks.   Maybe we were on the way to the movies and decided to go through the drive through. He ordered a Matcha. 

I asked for a taste and that was the beginning of a journey to experience Matcha in as many forms as possible.  I’m not the only one, the obsession seems to be taking over.  There are tea rooms everywhere now. In SoCal we started with traditional English style tea rooms. Lots of chintz, hats and lovely floral porcelain tea cups.  This has morphed into modern, bright  tea rooms with a health vibe where amazing creative menus are filled with Matcha, Boba and Salt Cream teas. You can also put Matcha in your ice cream, pastries and cakes and also cook savory dishes with it if you so desire. 

Meeting Matcha wasn’t a  dramatic event. Just a delicious surprise. It was like meeting a person that you get along with instantaneously and you always want them around from that day forward.

Matcha isn’t new, it’s an ancient tea. It’s origins are rooted in Japan somewhere between 1100 and 1200 AD. Since it’s discovery it’s been treasured for it’s health benefits. What makes Matcha so healthy?  Well, it’s the very definition of green. The plant leaves are grown in the shade, which slows the plant’s growth.  This results in increased production of theanine, which is reported to work on serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain and helps your body to manage stress.  Growing the plants in the shade also results in higher levels of chlorophyll which has been shown to reduce the risk of disease, detoxify the liver and speed healing.

Once the tea leaves are harvested, they are ground slowly to preserve the flavor of the tea. The best Matcha has a deep, sweet flavor.  There are three grades; Ceremonial, premium and culinary.  Most of all, it’s just delicious and the sense of well-being that hits your system is amazing and joyful.

I’ve had some interesting Matcha of late on my Tea Travels. I was in Los Angeles, just off Melrose Boulevard and I stepped into ALFRED’S TEA ROOM to sample their wares.  ALFRED’S is located on Melrose Place; the part of Melrose that is less than funky, but filled with gorgeous creative higher end boutiques. ALFRED’S is tiny and it’s all pink and it’s quite lovely. The hostess suggested their Coconut Matcha which comes in a real coconut. It’s cold, refreshing and I literally had a high, but relaxing,  energy level for the rest of the day.  It’s fun to sit at the petite counter and watch the fashionistas strutting and take in the beautiful art work that adorns the walls.  

 

More recently, I stopped in a DING Worldwide Teas near University of California, Riverside, in my home of homes, The Inland Empire. DING TEA is known for having harnessed the essence of nature and it’s tea is  grown in high altitude tea gardens in Taiwan.   It was a rainy day and packed full of students.  The host was extremely friendly and helpful.

I had a Red Bean Matcha Latte.  Again it was delicious and energizing.  It’s fun to grab a seat at the student tables and listen to the gossip in just about every language of the world.  

I think that Matcha is a great tea for travelers and you can get prepackaged single servings that you can easily mix into a water tumbler.   It’s relaxing, refreshing and keeps your happy vibe rolling while out and about.  

With that sweet sentiment, I’m sending you on your Tea Travels with this beautiful pic of SoCal’s Inland Empire Apoppylypse.  Remember to head over to Victoriagoodsandtradingcompany.com to purchase your ownf lovely Matcha Making Set and your own personal set of Stainless Steel Save The Sea Turtles Straws-great for drinking Matcha. We will be traveling soon to Paris for more Tea Travels and will have inspired posts galore about Tea Travels and Tea discoveries in Paris. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEA TRAVELS

The Dickens Festival

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YEARLY ON OR AROUND CHARLES DICKENS’ BIRTHDAY-FEBRUARY 7TH

Each year the city of Riverside, California hosts the Dickens Festival.   The festival celebrates the life of the illustrious author Charles Dickens. The festival is now 26 years old and each year there are more offerings and fun things to do.   It’s usually scheduled very close to February 7, which is Charles Dicken’s birthday. 

This year, during the Dickens Festival, I found myself in downtown Riverside working on a photo shoot and decided to make my way over to the street festival portion of the festival. It was a Saturday and we had just come through the tail end of several  huge rainstorms that lasted for two weeks and drenched Southern California. 

The sun was out with beautiful puffy clouds passing over and the weather was perfect. I also noticed that a row of portable restrooms were available, which was really nice and there was access for those of various abilities.  The scene was full of people walking down the main thoroughfare, eating Victorian treats such as homemade scones and tea and shopping at the unique vendor stalls. There were people dressed up in all sorts of beautiful Victorian and Steampunk regalia. It was a feast for the eyes. If you love Cosplay, this is another great place to meet with your teams.

The stalls were varied and fascinating.  There was vintage jewelry, books, magic charms, a phrenologist,  toys and clothing.  There were stalls where you could wardrobe yourself in Victorian fashion or Steampunk fashion with prices ranging from 100.00 to 300.00 for the complete outfit. 

There were several venues set up for performances portraying characters in Dicken’s works.  When you enter the venues, you are immersed into the world of Dickens and Victorian England. Actors stay in character and draw you into the experience so much that you forget you have just strolled in from Riverside, California circa 2019. You can meet other great authors of the era such as Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Nicola Tesla and Jules Verne. There was the Royal Victorian Theatre, The Tea Corner and Hyde Park Corner, just to name a few. As I strolled down mainstream there were more than enough different and engaging performances to enjoy.

This is a family event and children have more than enough to do and see. I stopped to watch a Punch and Judy puppet show and when I turned around, I was also able to catch Queen Victoria in full regalia with her court promenading as well. Several people curtsied as she passed.  This is just a brief snapshot of the Festival. There is so much to do and it’s well worth the a weekend of your time if you love the works of Charles Dickens and want to immerse yourself in the era in which he lived and his famous literary works.   

For the best experience, I highly recommend staying at the historic Mission Inn which is adjacent to the festivities. It’s easy to walk to everything from this location and you can easily go back to the hotel whenever you need to rest.

For more information go to: http://dickensfest.com


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Stevie Taken-Passion And Opportunity Making Riverside Theatre Relevant

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Stevie Taken is probably one of the most unique, energetic and talented people I’ve ever met. I met her at a community event at a local museum in downtown Riverside. She was involved in a conversation about theatre and I joined in because it’s one of my favorite subjects. I immediately realized that her depth of involvement in Riverside’s theatrical world was significant and she was one of the key players. She spoke with passion and authority about different productions that were happening about town. I was struck by her friendliness and her ability to collaborate and draw people to her projects. More importantly, it was evident that she wasn’t out for fame, but for the love of the process and collaboration. She was involved in several projects that required many key players, crossing economic and cultural barriers that usually prevent communities from accessing the world of Art and Theatre.

Currently, Stevie is the artistic director of The Homespun Players in Riverside, California.   With the support of Patrick Brien, executive director of the Riverside Arts Council,  they obtained non-profit status and physical sponsorship from the City of Riverside.   For those who are not familiar with Riverside, it’s a fairly large Inland Empire city. The home of University of California Riverside. Despite it’s accolades for superior educational opportunities, Riverside maintains it’s small town artistic feel. It’s ranked by Forbes as the eighth coolest city in the United States. This has a lot to do with the bevy of creative communities that can be found in Riverside. The original citrus town humbly sits on the banks of the dried up Santa Ana River and the people of Riverside love theatre and almost anything to do with the Arts.  It’s somewhat of an oxymoron; a city that forged it’s success with farming; morphing into a cultural hub and being a major force in Southern California’s art scene. This is where Stevie comes in.

What makes Stevie so special? It all started when Stevie was  a child growing up in  Riverside. She was one of five siblings raised by parents who loved the arts. Parents who encouraged their children to study dance, acting and the stage. Going as far to build a stage in their garage with lighting and a disco ball for dramatic effects.  Stevie and her two younger siblings were all high energy and spent their days in a whirlwind of planning shows and performing them for anyone who was interested in their performances.

As Stevie grew, she continued to follow her love of performing and was involved in productions throughout her high school studies. She began her college education at Riverside Community College where she overcame intense struggles with math (A very common problem for artsy right brained people) to earn entrance into Cal State Long Beach’s baccalaureate program for Performance and Directing. At Cal State Long Beach. She studied under professional working actors and directors who had graduated from prestigious performance schools such as Juilliard and Yale. The students produced and directed weekly showcases to develop and refine their directing chops. In 2007-08, while at Cal State she was among a peer group of 16 who established the Alive Theatre Group and after graduating produced and directed local theatre. Her first show being iShow. The show’s theme was based on our culture’s fear of and obsession with technology.  Then during 2008, the United States economy collapsed.  Stevie decided to head back to Riverside, bringing her talent with her. This led to more traveling to work in the tourist industry. In Alaska and Hawaii she utilized  her skills to engage people and sell them entertainment opportunities such as whale watching excursions. She loved this work, but Alaska turned out to be life changer. Due to the unusual cycles of day and night and the pathological effect on the human sleep cycle, Stevie health suffered. She decided to head back to a healthier environment in Southern California. 

Stevie found herself, once again in Riverside and pursuing her dream of a life in the theatre. She ended up at the Mission Inn, where she became a waitress and tour guide. She loved the work and the flux of interesting people from around the world that flowed through the doors of the art-filled Mission Inn.  There was a never-ending stream of visitors from the world of arts, theatre and history. While working, Stevie continued to pursue the arts and took Los Angeles based acting classes.  She  took classes with Hugh O’Gorman, who was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble and owner of a successful actor’s studio which bases it’s theory on the works of Chekhov and Stanislavsky.

In 2013, while working and taking Los Angeles based theatre classes, she formed a local group with fellow thespian, Erin (Maxwell) Maroufhkani. Initially, they performed in backyards as The Backyard Players. The first show was performed in the backyard of renowned local celebrity and artist, Tiffany Brooks.  Tiffany Brooks’ gorgeous paintings embellish the interiors of the Mission Inn and The Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. It was an economical way to establish the acting company and develop a grassroots following.  It was a humble start and the group was dedicated. Their first show was Metamorphoses by Tony award winning, Mary Zimmerman. A complex piece, utilizing Greek Mythology to embody several plays within a play. Following Metamorphoses was Shakespeare’s A Midnight Summer’s Dream.  With each performance, their popularity grew and their name was changed to The Homespun Players inspired by a line of one of the character’s in the play. “What hempen homespuns have we swaggering here?”

The next three years were years filled with success. In 2015, Stevie and her colleagues shared their success with the city and produced a children’s show based on Grimm’s Fairy Tales. The show played at the Riverside Art’s Museum and raised over $750 to fund art scholarships for children.  Following this project, in 2016, Taken and colleagues produced Riverside’s Shakespeare In The Park, which had a successful run for two years. Due to construction restrictions and funding hurdles, Taken’s group was forced to discontinue the project and they moved on to new venues. Their most recent productions were Medea in October 2018, performed at The Box and Performance Anxiety, performed at the Menagerie. Performance Anxiety is  slated for it’s next performance at  Back To The Grind on March 23, 2019.

When interviewing Stevie, it was a lot to take in. There are so many key players and it’s obvious the success of Stevie’s group is due to collaboration and community.  Stevie exudes an aura of gratitude for what she and her cohorts have accomplished. She is constantly bringing forth names of people and organizations that have contributed to the success of her productions.  She remains humble,  matter of fact and realistic about producing successful theatre.  It’s a huge undertaking and she does it solely for the love of the theatrical arts and bringing excellent theatre to the communities that make up Riverside.  I asked Stevie what her goals were for the coming next few  years. It turns out, her next goal is huge and a step away from the world of theatre. For the past two years she had been drawn into the political spectacle that currently has the United States under it’s sway.  The Women’s March and surge of women representatives in Washington D.C. have  inspired her to make a spontaneous and organic decision to run for the office of Ward III City Council Person of Riverside.

 

Stevie has realized that she has a  desire to give back in a new and different way.  She believes that there are huge groups from various segments of the Riverside population that are not represented. She wants to include those people in building a future for their community together. Her perspective of the the current political climate in the United States is a large factor in her bid for City Council Member.  She wants to be a part of the political landscape that is working diligently to fight current negative trends that reflect hate and resistance to positive and progressive change. In conjunction with her foray into the world of politics she is working on producing “12 Angry Men performed by 12 Impassioned Women”. This piece is usually  read by an all women cast and conveys the power one person can have when they speak out in the judicial system. The event will be held on Saturday, April 6th @ 2pm at Poly High School’s Littleworth Theater, tickets are $6 and are available at Eventbrite, or at the door. This production is a collaboration with Theatre Spree and The Homespun Players, they are inviting all of the women running for City Council throughout Riverside to participate. 

cleardot.gifTowards the end of our meeting, I wanted to find out what made Stevie who she was and fueled her desires and ambitions.  I wanted to know those key attributes that made her so successful and so loved.  She told me that she’s never been one who thinks very far into the future. Her goal is not to do theatre just to do theatre, but to do what she feels most passionate about in the present moment. Stevie has a philosophy about theatre people. That is, theatre people are among some of the best people on the planet. They love to help others, they love having fun and making other’s laugh and feel good. And best of all, they are everywhere you go, so no matter where in the world you find people, you will find theatre people. Her main goal was to create access to the world of theatre for everyone.

To find out more about the upcoming performances of the Homespun Players, go to: www.homespunplayers.com

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Raining Here

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Photo by Matteo Catanese on Unsplash

There’s been a lot of rain so far this year in Southern California. We have a weather! It’s not unusual, but last year was a long, hot, difficult year for many around here. When people think of Southern California, they usually think of endless sunshine, palm trees, beaches, sundresses and shorts, but that’s just a slice of life. We actually have four seasons. Winter here is cool, sometimes raining, maybe one day of snow down into the valleys and coating the local mountain ranges. The winter skies are the clearest and the best. Everything is clean, shiny and views are amazing. Then there’s spring, which is glorious as new life bursts forth. Hundreds of species of birds come out and their songs fill the air serenading everyone as the earth starts to warm again in this part of the world. Flowers galore, tropical and roses, bright and beautiful. Next, summer comes and with it the heat. It can hit with a blast in the hundreds and was up to 130 last year in the desert. In the IE up to 117. It’s languid, luxurious and if you get your schedule right, relaxing and enjoyable. Last, and my favorite, fall. Excitement is in the air as we cool and the holidays are approaching.

Fast forward to today- it’s winter and it’s raining. It’s heavy, in sheets, forming curtains and washing away everything. There are leaves, branches, garbage everywhere. Pools and puddles of water sitting clear and cold. The earth dark and wet- oversaturated. The birds are out and reveling in the wet air. They bathe in the fresh water, flocks of seagulls soar on currents gusting along up in the clouds. The emergency alert system is sending out flash flood warnings to everyone’s cell phones. It’s hot tea weather that softens the icy edges of the rain.

Photo by Corey Agopian on Unsplash

The moisture in the air, the lack of sunlight and the constant pitter patter of raindrops create a quiet, thought provoking mood. Thoughts rambling slowly over everything in your life. It gives our sun soaked brains cool relief and time to drift around savoring ideas we usually don’t have time to mull over.

We love the rain in So Cal. It’s like your favorite relative or friend that you only get to see a few times a year. The visit is brief, refreshing and reminds you of why you love the rain. It doesn’t stay long enough to really cause any lasting changes. It’s a reminder of renewal, new life and changes to come as Spring lies sleeping and waiting around the corner. Rain washes away the debris and brings promise of a new day. The seasons still exist and we are still here.

Photo by Corey Agopian on Unsplash

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Balancing Ambition

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Photo by Leio McLaren (@leiomclaren) on Unsplash 

I was recently contemplating ambition and the force of nature that compels human beings to push forward or not.  Pushing forward meaning working towards goals and how we choose to move towards these goals.  We live in a culture that celebrates hard work and success.   Our success is often defined by what we own and what title we hold in our chosen career.  Did you attain fame or notoriety? Where do you live, what kind of dwelling do you live in? How hard did you have to work? Are you working now? Just a scant few of the thousands of ways that success can be measured.     

Photo by Adam Jang on Unsplash

Ambition is a force of nature.  It moves like a river with an unrelenting force; yet delicately molding and shaping what it flows over. It’s a dance of intricate moves and balancing.   Similar to a professional ballerina who performs a high releve on her toes and holds a graceful arabesque; looking fragile and effortless, but requiring intense strength and complex coordination. It’s a perfect game with all the right moves, the team moving expertly through each of their positions and meeting the goal.  

As we move toward the goal, there are twists and turns and setbacks, but the river still flows and the key is to move with the flow and don’t stop moving.  Let life takes it’s course and you end up in wonderful places.  You pass through dark places too, but it’s all transient; sometimes when the bad part is over, it’s almost as if it were a dream.   

How much is enough and will ambition fade out and diminish as we age? How long are we willing to stay on the treadmill of life or how long will life let us stay there?   As our bodies lose strength and vitality, our minds and spirit grow stronger and balance is maintained. Some say that once you have had the career, the family, that there’s nothing else, but I beg to differ. There is more, so much more.

  

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

There is the celebration of life that we wake up to everyday.   If we wake up, we are alive and we choose the day ahead.  Yes, the circumstances may seem bleak, but as long as you are living, things will most likely change, because life is always changing.   And then there is beauty, all around and free.   It make just take a tweaking of your perspective, but it’s there.

Ambition is human and it’s fluid.  We balance ambition carefully to create the perfect equation for success,  whatever that means to us.  It’s different for everyone.  My choice is to flow with my ambition and have faith that I’ll get there. Stay open to all possibilities and opportunities for growth, sometimes even the scary ones.   Change, growing is challenging and as we gain years and experience in life the challenges grow greater and make life exciting and worth living.   So we grow, we change and hopefully keep the balance. For that in it’s self is everything.  

A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them- 

Liberty Hyde Bailey

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Doors Open Riverside Coming May 11, 2019, 10am to 4pm.

 

Once again, the public will have free access and tours of Riverside’s most iconic historic buildings. Doors Open was inspired by a French event that has swept Europe. This will be the third year for Doors Open Riverside.

Once a year Riverside celebrates it’s beautiful historic architecture with the Doors Open event. It’s an alluring evening for those who love history, architecture, mystery and all things beautiful. The doors to Riverside’s most iconic buildings are opened to the public with free tours that are gateways to Riverside’s illustrious past. Few today know that Riverside was once the wealthiest city per capita in the United States and that statesman, land developers and a who’s who of the gilded age flocked to Riverside for business, respite and entertainment.

The architecture of Riverside is eclectic and much of it was created by illustrious and famous architects. There are buildings that were designed by Myron Hunt, Julia Morgan, Arthur Benton, G. Stanley Wilson, Peter Weber and many others.

I love volunteering for this event. It’s a fast paced, fun and exciting night. It’s usually in the middle of the week, after work and school. Even though it’s at a very busy time, people come from far and wide to experience the beauty of old Riverside. It’s starts at six in the evening when the tours begin. The tours are usually short in duration and present the historical and architectural highlights of the building. There are approximately 20 buildings to see, so it’s a race to see how many you can actually tour within the allotted four hours the buildings are open.

The best part is meeting the people that have journied to see these fabled buildings. I’ve met so many wonderful and interesting people from all walks of life that love history just as much as I do and are fascinated by architecture. Many of the guests recount personal stories that took place in the buildings. Stories that have been passed down through generations in their families. People also come to see the buildings they have passed by for years and wondered what was in it and who created it; coming to satisfy their curiosity.

The grand dame of the night is The Mission Inn Hotel, created by Frank Miller in 1903 and finished in 1931. A magical wonderland of architectural styles from all over the world. Frank Miller loved the people of the world and devoted his life to promoting peace and building a beautiful community. His legacy is the Mission Inn and speaks for itself. During Doors Open a mini tour is provided that gives a good overview of Frank Miller’s vision and a primer of the varied architectural styles gleaned from around the world. It’s a teaser for a 75 minute tour that is presented seven days a week by the dedicated Mission Inn Foundation for a nominal fee.

The Doors Open event, held every May, is just one of the wonderful events held annually in the Inland Empire and makes the I.E. such a fantastic place to live.