“Through the Reeds”, our May Cover Photo & Story, from LA Life Photographer Lorraine Devon Wilke, truly soothes my soul.  You can’t help but love LA Life when you have such a plethora of marvelous events in our City of Angels.  And equally marvelous contributions from not just LA Life Photographer Lorraine Devon Wilke, but also LA Life Poetess Lady Penelope, LA Life Tasting Tomato Molly Cheek, LA Life Fashion Stylist Felicia Arlin, LA Life Featured Artist Annie Wood, and LA Life Theatre Maven Laura Foti Cohen. Happy May Tomatoes & Happy Mother’s Day to all who love, nurture and comfort!

Through The Reeds Cover Photo & Story

May has always been my favorite month no matter where I have lived.  It’s a month of peaceful transition to summer where so much around us is thriving and filling the senses with spring magic. That’s why I chose Through the Reeds, by LA Life Photographer Lorraine Devon Wilke , for May’s cover photo & story.  Be sure to check out Lorraine Devon Wilke’s marvelous photos on her webpage and browse her entire website as it reveals the vast tapestry of Lorraine’s amazing talents. And check out Lorraine’s new and terrific novel, “Chick Singer”.  It’s a must read, Tomatoes!

 Serenity. Peace. A deep breath. The soothing sensation of cool ocean breezes blowing back your hair, making your eyes close in a moment of stillness. You needed this walk today. There’s so much noise in the world, in our cultural conversations, that pulling away to immerse yourself in something, someplace, pristine and natural feels like the exact right antidote. You take off your shoes and walk through the sand, feeling its warmth and grit, twisting your feet deeper to leave footprints along the path. It’s a quiet day, perhaps a weekday when fewer people are out. Instead of the happy caterwaul of squealing children or the thwack of beach volleyballs, today’s soundtrack is the pitched calls of tumbling sea gulls, the occasional bleat of a passing boat. You watch the skittering of little sanderlings as they rush to and from the waves (always makes you smile), while a majestic pod of pelicans glides overhead on their way to a next stop. If you’re on Dockweiler Beach, you might suddenly see the huge shadow and hear the roar of a plane taking off from nearby LAX, swooping over the beach like a monster sea bird. But the noise is short-lived, you forgive it, as the relentless crash of waves overcomes that mechanical intrusion. And you walk on. Heading north now, you glance to your left, “Through the Reeds,” and spot a quiet lifeguard tower (it’s not quite summer yet!) set in perfect harmony between the reeds and the water. It’s a pretty image. You smile again … it’s a good day out here on the beach.  

Sonnets from Suburbia

OMG! This month’s Sonnet from Surburbia, “O God Forbid”, from our LA Life Poetess, Lady Penelope (aka Penny Peyser)  is so relatable and insightful.  It also gave me a great big chuckle making it a perfect sonnet.   Lady Penelope, AKA actress Penny Peyser is on the move again with her show Sonnets From Suburbia.  After a sold out run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (Winner of the ENCORE! award), 59E59 Theater in NY and a successful two week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival ‘24 she’s bringing her songs, sonnets and personal issues to the San Diego International Fringe Festival, May 16 – 24. Get your tickets for Sonnets from Suburbia ASAP! And for all things Lady P including her book collection, please visit https://linktr.ee/penpeyser. READ HER SONNET.

Tastes of LA: Socalo

My mouth is watering from reading Tasting Tomato Molly Cheek’s enticing review of Socalo. Molly expounds on its distinctive yummy flavors and a restaurant with a welcoming vibe.  Molly says it’s a real treat and she’ll be going back. That’s all I need to hear.  READ THE REVIEW.

LA Style Stories

This nude ensemble that our LA Life Fashion Stylist, Felicia Arlin, is donning exudes elevated sexiness in the LA Story, The Emperor’s Nude Clothes.  And the “back against the wall” dress she wears in “Grey Matter” is exquisite with just the right amount of sheen for a cool summer look. Felicia is the most amazingly insightful guide for helping you to find the right and most flattering style for you. I speak from my own experience. Check out my interview with Felicia and her website to learn more. Just sayin’, Tomatoes.  And remember I only highlight a snippet of Felicia’s amazing cur8edme posts so be sure to follow her on Instagram. READ ON.

Artist Corner: Annie Wood & The Crown of Clarity

“Be the Queen of You and put on your Crown of Clarity!” so says our LA Life Featured Artist, Annie Wood.  “The Crown of Clarity” is Annie’s latest mixed media mini painting in her Magical Minis series. This artwork explores themes of personal authority and self-discovery and not only captures the essence of self-empowerment but also invites viewers to reflect on their own journey towards becoming the ‘sovereign’ of their lives. It might be a mini but its impact is huge, Ladies.  I love it!

This artwork features a figure cloaked in regal attire, crowned with a golden diadem that symbolizes mastery over one’s own life. The figure’s face, rendered with introspective hues of blue and white, gazes directly at the viewer, conveying a silent but powerful assertion of identity.

The use of vibrant, contrasting colors and expressive brush strokes around the figure suggests a dynamic interplay between the inner world of the subject and the outer forces of life. Bursts of orange, green, and yellow around the garment evoke a sense of vitality and the flourishing of the spirit. The unexpected appearance of a hand with a magnifying glass near the figure’s eye adds an intriguing element of introspection and self-examination.

The bold, textured layers and the energetic mark-making resonate with a call to embrace our personal narratives, highlighting Annie Wood’s signature style of combining chaos with stillness to reveal deeper truths.

Annie Wood is an internationally exhibited mixed-media artist living in her hometown of Hollywood, California so as an LA native she is Super LA. Annie Wood is interested in reexperiencing her dreams by painting them, daydreaming new ones, finding order in chaos and chaos in order, seeing familiar things in new ways, and creating visual stories that make people feel peaceful, make them wonder, remember, and pause. You can see all her creations at Annie’s online art gallery  and purchase a piece at anniewood.com.  And you can also subscribe to her free newsletter How to Love the World with poems, stories, short films and art from Annie to you.

Theatre Buzz: Just Like Us & Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Our LA Life Theatre Maven, Laura Foti Cohen, has not just one but two extremely favorable theatre reviews for you, Tomatoes.  Laura gives you the skinny on “Just Like Us” at the Los Angeles Theatre Center through May 18^th which is particularly pertinent today. And if you love the magic of Harry Potter then  “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”  at the Pantages Theatre through June 22^nd is right up your alley .  Laura Foti Cohen is an experienced and talented playwright herself and serves on the creative team as playwright/producer with the NEO Ensemble Theatre as well as working as a freelance writer, editor and consultant. She’s also a playwright affiliated with Theatre West. READ ON.

Every Friday May & June Jazz at LACMA

FREE Friday night “Jazz at LACMA” performances are back celebrating L.A.’s finest jazz musicians on LACMA’s Smidt Welcome Plaza. And the Jazz talent performing is definitely out of this world. A lovely evening under the beautiful LA sky with stellar music. What could be better, Tomatoes?

The jazz musicians featured are such legends as Wayne Shorter, The Yellowjackets, Quincy Jones All Star Orchestra with John Clayton, Arturo Sandoval, Jeff Lorber, Billy Childs, Tierney Sutton, Ernie Watts, and many more. You definitely might want to fit this into your busy schedule and make your reservations now, Tomatoes.

 May 3 & 4. Pasadena Artazan Show

Let’s get shopping, Tomatoes and the Artazan Show is the ideal place to shop for Mother’s Day, Tomatoes. The “Artazan Contemporary Handcraft Market,” at the Pasadena Convention Center, encompasses all the handcrafted media you could possibly imagine with over 200 exhibits. Now that is a big WOW!

Artazan was established by artisans who were inspired by the Arts & Crafts Movement. The show offers a range of products, designed and created by independent artisans, studio artists, and small production workshops, similar to those found in the traditional sidewalk art shows of Paris.

May 4. Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Women Artists

“Breaking Barriers: Sophie Fremiet and The Rise of Women Artists in Europe” will delve into the transformative moment at the turn of the 19^th century when over a thousand women artists in Europe contributed more than 7,000 works to London’s and Paris’s premier exhibitions and sold their art in unprecedented numbers. Be there in person at the Getty Center or online at home to learn all about it, Tomatoes.

The Speaker, Paris A. Spies-Gans, is a historian of art with a focus on women, gender, and the politics of artistic expression. Paris A. Spies-Gans will expound on this era to upend longstanding assumptions about women’s opportunities and wrongly forgotten triumphs.

May 11.  MOMentum Place for Mother’s Day

Join the Theatricum Botanicum on Mother’s Day for “MOMentum Place” for a very special & magical celebration of Mom’s everywhere.   LA Aerial & Acrobat performer Lexi Pearl hosts an afternoon of astounding and awe-inspiring aerial and acrobatic performances that bring a sense of wonder and beauty.

The feats will amaze beyond your wildest dreams. I have no doubt it will be a supremely entertaining show. For an extra treat, enjoy a scrumptious brunch in Theatricum’s rustic gardens before the performance.

Through August 9. New Exhibitions at the Hilbert Museum

FIVE incredible new exhibitions are now on view at the Hilbert Museum! The Hilbert, which is free, is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of California Narrative Art.  A haven to explore the diverse artistry of California and experience the unique perspectives of California Art. The Hilbert Museum is a wonder, Tomatoes.

The 5 new exhibitions include: Sunlight and Shadows: Emil Kosa Jr., California’s Golden Coast, The Los Angeles River: An Unexpected Beauty – Paintings by John Kosta, Surfin’ Cinema: Surf Movie Posters, and Body of the World: The Californian Landscapes of Inna Jane Ray. Founded nine years ago through the ongoing generosity of art patrons and philanthropists Mark and Janet Hilbert, The Hilbert Museum at Chapman University represents the only museum in the world committed to tracing the rich, iconic history of the Golden State from the late 19th century to the present day through works by leading California Scene artists and Hollywood studio artists and animators. It will make you beam with pride.

May 14-Oct. 8. Concerts in the Dome

When we think of observatories in Los Angeles Griffith Park Observatory first comes to mind. However, we must never forget the magnificence and significance of The Mount Wilson Observatory as a scientific marvel. And guess what?! They present “Afternoon Concerts in the Dome” in their breathtaking vaulted dome of the historic 100-inch telescope!!!  Need I say more?

So, on May 14^th, Ladies, the modern-day temple to science in the mountains above Pasadena presents the first of the 6 Mount Wilson Observatory concerts, so you might want to book your reservations ASAP.  Each concert is still curated by Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan, herself an award-winning cellist.

May 17. Clarkia Festival

Join the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden hosting “The Clarkia Festival” and spend the day in this amazing garden celebrating nature with the gorgeous Clarkia wildflowers, engaging activities for all ages, music, and more!

The Clarkia festival is a powerful platform to connect participants with the environment, share knowledge about sustainability, and create lasting memories.

May 17 & 18. Beverly Hills Art Show

The “Beverly Hills Art Show” is a great way to spend an afternoon, walking and gazing at amazing works of art, featuring over 300 artists from California, in the center of the city. Yep!  Beautiful art and tons of talent, Tomatoes!

The Beverly Hills Art Show is produced by the City of Beverly Hills. All of the fine arts and crafts are original, ranging from the traditional to the very contemporary, and are represented by the artists themselves. A Wine and Beer Garden, demonstrating artists, children’s activities, gourmet food trucks and several community exhibits can be found as well. And admission is free!

May 17-18 Bug Fair

The thought might drive you a bit buggy, but bugs make the world go-round and The Natural History Museums “Bug Fair” just happens to be the biggest bug festival in North America with over 1 million species exhibited including our local LA bugs. Wow! Methinks adults and kiddos alike will love it!

The Bug Fair, with a plethora of important exhibitors, one-on-one interactions with museum research and collections staff and a variety of activities, can help you co-exist more easily with bugs and help understand they are so vital to our well-being. You’ll gain insight you never had before about bugs so you can begin to appreciate them…perhaps.

Outdoor Movie Screenings

As always,  I give credit where credit is due so FYI, Tomatoes, Secret Los Angeles has the ultimate guide to Outdoor Movie Screenings.

May 23-25 Little Women Ballet

The Little Women Ballet Spring Immersive Experience returns to the Heritage Square Museum.  In this immersive experience, new and true fans of the beloved novel, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, are transformed into active participants traversing the grounds and historic manors of Heritage Square. What fun!

Each performance is entirely unique featuring a different season, music, desserts and refreshments, and different parts of the Little Women story told through dance. You can meet all the characters up close, go on an immersive walking tour of the Heritage Square Museum and join the cast in Victorian dancing at the end of each performance.

May 21-26. LA Fleet Week

“LA Fleet Week” is a celebration of our U.S. armed forces at our nation’s #1 port, the Port of Los Angeles. Active military ships are heading to our shores along the LA Waterfront and will open their doors for public ship tours, military equipment demos, airshows, live entertainment and educational activities to help the public gain a greater appreciation of the men and women serving our country.  What’s not to like Tomatoes?!

It’s also a great chance to enjoy America’s Port and our beautiful waterfront. The festival, with live music, entertainment, and food trucks, is free and so are the tickets for the ship tours. Besides the Port of Los Angeles hosting LA Fleet Week, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Navy League, U.S. Marines, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, USO, Downtown San Pedro Business Improvement District, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, and Battleship IOWA are partners in this festival as well. Geez that’s a mouthful but darn impressive gals.

May 24, 25, 26 Topanga Days

Yay! It’s time to celebrate Mother Earth with the 50th annual Topanga Days!  The 3-day festival, nestled in the mountain beauty of Topanga Canyon, will satisfy your nostalgic Bohemian needs. A plethora of artisans, music, crafts, food, and fun for the whole family await you, Ladies.

May 28-30 Fiesta Hermosa

Whoop, Whoop, Tomatoes! For 52 years, “Fiesta Hermosa”, has been filling Hermosa’s streets with art, music, food and fun. Fiesta de las Artes, as it was originally named, celebrated artisan culture and welcomed visitors to the beach to shop and enjoy the art. Enjoy the treasured tradition, Tomatoes, in this lovely beach town with Fiesta, Southern California’s largest beachside arts and craft festival.