Saturday Scenes

(The striking central red piece above is by the artist called Alonys (as are the ones surrounding). You can see more things of hers at her myspace space.)

Well, it’s been a busy week here, and I had tons of things to tell you in about five or six extra posts (beyond the quick ones I did) that never made an appearance. I had several for last weekend too. I ought to start by catching up from there. Here goes a bit of recollection and reflection:

Saturday was interesting since I ended up cramming three different activities into the evening, after a day of gardening and errands (mostly the latter), if I recall correctly.

The evening began (as it did the Saturday before) with a trip to an opening at an art gallery. This time it was downtown, near Gallery Row, (it is called Crewest) and it was featuring the work of some up and coming female artists. Overall, I was not overwhelmed with things I thought were great, but the exhibition was not without some interesting pieces on the walls (see above – some of her 3D sculpture-meets-painting works were fun too) and sometimes interesting people milling around. There was even a DJ, but sadly no wine (I’d been spoiled by the last gallery reception, I suppose.)

From there is was on to Hollywood to the Catalina Bar and Grill to see the trumpeter Roy Hargrove. If this is familiar, it is because I went last September to see him play here, and described it to you back then. On the way, on foot from parking near the Arclight, I passed the Sacred Heart church (conveniently almost opposite the Cat and Fiddle) which actually had its doors open and the lights on. I remark upon this since it is the first time I’ve ever seen this. Why at 9:45pm would they be open and on? Ah… the night before Easter. Looked in for a while to see what it was like inside, and I was also curious as to how full it was on this night. Not hugely, but a good amount of people it has to be said, considering (I am taking into account that it is a large church, and this is the middle of Hollywood). It brought back memories of my youth, and so I stood there for a while (since I was early for my destination) to see what I could see.

I arrived at the Catalina to find that I was only the second person to arrive for the second set thus far. This meant that I was second in the line which formed later while we waited for the first set to finish. This also meant that I got pretty much the best table in the house – the very same table I got last time in fact. It was an excellent show last time, and so I was hoping that it would be at least as good this time. I was not disappointed.

The show was very enjoyable, and I’ll show you some more pictures and ask you for help with a question later on. After the show I chatted to some people I met on another table for a bit, and then started my walk back. I could not resist stopping in at the Cat and Fiddle for a while. They have Hoegaarden there, which I’m rather fond of. So I sat there sipping one, looking around at the assembled revellers, reflecting upon the fact that it was Easter already, and the year is speeding along at quite a clip. Then they threw us all out at 2:00am.

And what am I doing this Saturday night? Uh… nothing as exciting a night. After a long (satisfyingly) physically gruelling session of grooming a huge hedge down in height by five feet, picking up a visitor at the airport and helping him get groceries, I’m writing this blog post in the evening while nodding off… this nodding business might be something to do with the hedge activity and the thoroughly enjoyable business of taking a friend to a couple of excellent bars last night for some good long conversation, not returning until it was 2:30am. I should do that more. It was an excellent end to a busy week, but more on that later. I should get to sleep now.

-cvj