Camerata Pacifica Delivers a Musical Valentine at the Huntington Library

By Ted AYALA Lovers of romance and music converged at the Huntington Library on Tuesday night for a Valentine’s Day concert by Camerata Pacifica. In its second concert of its 22nd season, this was a winning date with a thoughtful program of music that was capped by fine catered food, and the handsome surroundings of […]

Council Learns of Drop in City’s Investment Portfolio

By Ted AYALA The message from City Treasurer Ron Barucki to the City Council was serious but not dire when he announced to the City Council on Tuesday of a drop in value in the city’s investment portfolio. The portfolio closed the second fiscal quarter at $396 million, down $2 million from the end of […]

Pianist Esther Keel to take “Egyptian Strut” with PSO

By Ted AYALA Take a look at a symphony orchestra program featuring the debut concerto performance of a particular pianist and chances are the work you’ll be seeing printed before you will be the Tchaikovsky “Piano Concerto No. 1.” Or a Schumann piano concerto. Maybe Grieg. Or one of Beethoven’s. But outside of those, the […]

Music for Lonely Hearts and Those in Love

By Ted AYALA   It’s Valentine’s Day next week as some of you may know. For some, it’s a matter of life and death as forgetting this crucial date may result in a rolling pin to the head a la Andy Kapp from your significant other. For those of you still scrambling to find a […]

Criminal Justice Realignment Causes Council Concern

By Ted AYALA Cities across the state wait with nervous expectation of what may occur in the wake of early inmate releases. Last year Gov. Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. signed AB 109. Known as a criminal justice realignment, the program is designed to relieve some of the state’s budget burden by reducing overcrowding in […]

It’s Official: Starbucks Coming to Montrose

By Ted AYALA The City of Glendale has drawn the line dividing coffee lovers in Montrose right down the middle of Ocean View Boulevard. According to a report released late last Thursday afternoon by the city, Glendale has approved the use of the property formerly occupied by Color Me Mine at 2884 Honolulu Ave. as […]

Pacific Serenades Inaugurates 26th Season

By Ted AYALA Pacific Serenades, one of Southern California’s finest chamber music ensembles, opened its 26th season last week with four concerts devoted to the music of Ravel, Beethoven and local composer Laura Karpman. One of the most appealing facets of Pacific Serenades’ concerts – something that has surely ensured this organization’s continued good health […]

“Major Triad”: Synchromy, Symbiosis, and Music on Argyle

By Ted AYALA Above the main streets of Hollywood, where cars driven by Friday night club and bar hoppers crowded the streets, stereo systems thumping top 40 radio, music of another sort lured music lovers up the wending streets looming over the Hollywood skyline. A program of new music from local composers was held last […]

City to Conduct Road Diet Test on Honolulu

By Ted AYALA The Crescenta Valley area is about to get a little more accommodating to local bicyclists. Glendale City Council approved a road diet test to be conducted along Honolulu Avenue at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The road diet, which would be set from Las Palmas down to Ramsdell avenues would remove a […]

East L. A. Residents Confront Najarian Over Slur

By Ted AYALA Representatives and residents from East Los Angeles crowded into the Glendale City Council chamber on Tuesday, with several news cameras from local Spanish television news agencies in tow. The reason was over a remark that Councilman Ara Najarian had made at last week’s City Council meeting during a discussion on a signage […]