By Charly SHELTON Christmas is a joyous time for Christians all over the world. Chanukah is a celebration for all Jews. Halloween brings happiness to goth fans once a year. Or as close to happy as they can get. And for nerds, there is only one time all year when we can truly celebrate, where […]
By Ted AYALA Shortly before the Milestone Theatre’s June 30 through July 10 run of Lisa Loomer’s “Distracted” at the Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre, I came across an oddly prescient article in the New York Review of Books. Under the title, “The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?” Marcia Angell reviewed a clutch of books […]
By Charly SHELTON Just to start off, let me say I am a huge Green Lantern fan. I have read all the comics and I wear the ring every day, no matter what. I am dressing as Hal Jordan at Comic Con and I will say the oath every chance I get, whether it is […]
By Ted AYALA Matt Catingub and the Glendale Pops Orchestra were a snug fit amidst the retro-themed décor of the Americana at Brand during their “Summer Night Swing” concert on Thursday night, June 30. The Americana’s architecture, a kind of idealized throwback to art deco styles of the 1920s and 1930s, was a most convivial […]
By Michael WORKMAN On April 28, 1997 game developer 3D Realms announced the sequel to the popular PC title “Duke Nukem 3D” entitled “Duke Nukem Forever.” But due to release date pushbacks, a game engine overhaul and legal conflicts, “Duke Nukem Forever,” it seemed, would never reach store shelves. Since its announcement, it has become […]
By Ted AYALA Under a tapestry of moonlight and stars on Saturday night, Classical Underground presented a mixed program of chamber and vocal music at Pasadena’s Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park. The program was a zesty mix of composers from different eras and genres: from Vivaldi to Scriabin, from Lutoslawski to Leonard Bernstein. Trumpeters Courtney […]
By Susan JAMES Fear not all you gamers, geeks and sci-fy seekers, the big bang that is the third installment of director Michael Bay’s “Transformers’” series is finally here. The ‘bot boys are back led by Optimus Prime on a mission to protect humanity and save planet Earth from the Decepticons. In case you don’t […]
By Ted AYALA The Los Angeles Central Library has been finding creative ways of keeping libraries relevant. One of the ways they have sought to do this is via their ALOUD series and their “This Is Your Library” programs which feature important figures from the region’s cultural movers and shakers. At the recent This Is […]
By Michael YEGHIAYAN The California Philharmonic brought the music of Beethoven and the Beatles to the Arcadia Arboretum opening their 2011 summer series. The Cal Phil was joined after the intermission by Beatles cover band The Fab Four, setting aside Beethoven to embrace the likes of Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper. The night also brought […]
By Susan JAMES Like all good summer popcorn movies, director Martin Campbell’s take on comic book classic “Green Lantern,” starring Ryan Reynolds, arrives on-screen with a bang and ends with a sequel. The first film since “Avatar” to use 3-D technology to its full potential, the story streaks across galaxies, loops solar systems and deletes […]