Girne Kalesi (Girne Castle)
May 25, 2009Nasty Little Secrets
May 6, 2009Acclaimed British playwright Joe Orton’s life has been the subject of a book and film (’Prick up Your Ears’) and now Lanie Robertson’s farcical play comes to Los Angeles for its West Coast première, fresh from its hit run off-Broadway. Orton’s story is an interesting one. He spent his adult years living in a tiny apartment in London with his lover Kenneth Halliwell, his teacher and inspiration – and then later his killer. The play charts Orton’s rise to fame and Halliwell’s descent into depravity. Brant Cotton plays Joe Orton.
Boston Harborfest
May 1, 2009Once of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the US takes place between June 28 and July 4 in Downtown Boston, featuring everything from historic reenactments to music and dance performances to fireworks and tall ships. Some of the more popular events include a chowderfest on July 2, which is a competition to find out which local restaurant has the best clam chowder, a fireworks ‘Skyconcert’ on June 29 over Boston harbour, and a ‘Children’s Day’ festival on Boston Common on June 29.
The Bigfoot Lodge
April 30, 2009The Bigfoot Lodge has quickly become a hipster hangout for the Los Feliz-Silverlake ‘Swingers’ crowd. Looking like a cozy lodge circa 1960s, the bar is replete with oversized chairs, plush couches, big booths, a stone fireplace and Smokey the Bear. The entertainment ranges from French jazz and bop to lounge music during the week, and from soul to Latin funk and glam rock on the weekends. With its unusual décor and music, it’s a lot of fun and a great for people-watching.
Hustlers Convention
April 23, 2009With the demise of Piper’s Ballroom, the popular Hustler’s Convention night has been relocated to Maxim’s, formerly a kitsch nightspot for the well-heeled, opposite the Opera. With its cheesy décor still in place, the club attempts to create an atmosphere of fashionable slumming, reminiscent of a 1970s Italian porn film. While it got off to a good start with a session by local legends Pulsinger & Tunakan, it remains to be seen whether the free massages between 10pm and 1am and the half-price cocktails before-midnight will keep the punters rolling in.
In A Soulful Mood
April 3, 2009The natural amphitheatre at Am Himmel in the rolling hills overlooking Vienna is the scene of a programme of jazz recordings by the likes of Keith Jarrett, Abdullah Ibrahim and Miles Davis are played over a magnificent soundsystem. Amidst the vineyards of the Cobenzl hill on the edge of the Vienna woods, punters can picnic with a splendid view over the city while soaking up some of jazz’s most relaxing sounds. The event draws attention to need to protect one of Vienna’s most beautiful areas and visitors are asked dispense with their cars and use public transport.
Tin heart
March 13, 2009
Taking a ride through the Swabian Jura region
March 10, 2009Of great interest also is the Silberwaren- und Bijouteriemuseum (Silver and Jewelry Museum) across from the tourist office which features real silversmiths silver in the traditional style. (Open W and Sa 2-5pm, Su 11am-5pm; entrance fee around $2.50) The tourist office right near the Marktplatz books rooms for a 5% fee and offers a large selection of maps. (Open M-F 9am-5:30pm, Sa 8am-noon, tel. 07171603455.)
For Swabian specialties, Gasthaus “Zum Lamm” is a must. They will offer you liver soup and tripe (cow intestine) bathed in a thick wine sauce washed down with the local beer. (Rinderbachergasse 19, tel. 071712661, open M 5pm-midnight, Tu-Sa 10am-2pm and 5:30pm-midnight, Su 11am-2pm.)
Both of these towns offer beauty and personality that can never be found in the big impersonal German cities. Their rich history and friendly locals make for an extremely charming jaunt.
BARCOS de ËPOCAS
March 9, 2009
