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Louisville Named Best Festival City

Posted on: December 14th, 2010 by wmapother 5 Comments

Readers know how I feel about my hometown of Louisville (aww). And I looking forward to spending the Holidays there again this year.

Well, the River City won an inaugural award recently, and who am I not to give a shout-out? It’s here on WFPL’s site.. (and I left the green lettering, in lieu of decorating my blog with wreaths..)

Louisville Wins Festival City Award

by Graham Shelby

Nobody throws a party like Louisville. That was one of the claims heard at a ceremony on Friday where Louisville received the inaugural the World Festival and Event City award.

Louisville competed with other North American cities with a population of over one million. The city was named the number one city in that category for supporting festivals and special events.

Steven Schmader is the president of the International Festival and Events Association. His organization sponsored the award and presented it to Mayor Jerry Abramson at the KFC Yum Center.

Schmader said the international panel of judges were impressed by Louisville’s understanding of the importance of festivals and events. “Louisville gets events. They understand how important they are to a community. They understand how to use them for the residents but also how to use them to attract visitors.”

The Humana Festival of New American Plays, the St. James Court Art Show and WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday were among the events singled out for recognition at the ceremony.

Now, they don’t mention the Flyover Film Festival, but you just know it was the deciding factor, right?

Posted in Louisville & KY

Denver, parte trois

Posted on: December 6th, 2010 by wmapother 5 Comments

So this is the third and final section of photos I’ll subject you to. On my last day in Denver I visited the Botanic Gardens. They were beautiful, especially given that it was early winter and most things weren’t, well, in full bloom.

It was late dusk, and I caught these trees (they could be Poplars or Palms, for all I know) illuminated by last few moments of daylight..

Until January 31, the Gardens are offering a special exhibit of some works of English sculptor Henry Moore.

In this photo to the right, the piece is the upper right is the same as the piece in the photo above..

If the sculptures mystify you, try this. The men’s restroom two urinals are placed against their far walls. Now ladies, men are not necessarily crazy about standing next to one another while they’re peeing, but this arrangement is perhaps a bit too coddling…as it were.

Posted in Photos by Wm, Places, Random

The Biggest Show

Posted on: December 2nd, 2010 by wmapother 4 Comments

There are some disadvantages to being an actor. Waiting by the phone like a fifteen-year-old girl is one. However, it does have its advantages. Like participating in the Big Shows of the Young Storytellers Foundation, which are an absolute blast.

The YSF is a 501c3 charity which brings writers and actors into LA’s arts-poor public schools for mentoring in storytelling. In one-on-one sessions writers help students create a short play over several weeks. Then, at a Big Show in front of the students’ families, actors (lots whom you’d recognize) are brought in to perform the plays.

They’re moving, nonsensical, and hysterical, often all at once. And the actors are encouraged to cut loose. We’re often told not to worry about having an honest moment. (Talk about freedom..)

Tonight is their Biggest Show 2010. I’ll be performing along some terrific actors: Andrea Anders, Ben McKenzie, Radha Mitchell, Stuart Pankin, Jason Ritter, Scott Weintraub, and Debra Wilson.

So if you’re looking for a good cause to support this Holiday Season.. (cough cough)

Posted in Charitable Causes, In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Stage

Tardy Thanks

Posted on: November 30th, 2010 by wmapother 4 Comments

Okay, so I’m a few days late on Thanksgiving. But I have a good reason: I was in Denver with my family, and all over Colorado the internets were down… Okay, moving on.

One of the many great things about gratitude is that it never goes out of style. Who ever heard of gratitude being unwelcome, right? So here, a few days late, are just a few photos of why I was feeling so grateful last Thursday. (I took a lot of photos, and I’ll probably fill the next couple posts with them. Be patient, gentle reader.)

These two (untouched) were taken on a cameraphone from the north side of the plane’s aisle. Fortunately, I had the window seat, or someone’s holidays would’ve started somewhat unpleasantly..

Suggested accompaniment (with apologies): Rhapsody in Blue.

Posted in Photos by Wm, Places, Random

Taxi, Anyone?

Posted on: October 2nd, 2010 by wmapother 7 Comments

The 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica is one of the too-few places in L.A. to get a somewhat urban experience (ie, Angelenos using their legs for actual walking). Buskers are almost always performing, and the other night this fantastic guy was dancing, or rather, swaying, solo.

The sign seems odd if you don’t get the joke. Taxi dancers were popular in old music halls. They were women who would dance with patrons. They got their name because the longer they danced, the higher the fee.

A link to the great Rodgers & Hart song sung from a taxi dancer’s perspective, Ten Cents a Dance, is here (sung in this version by Anita O’Day).

So, care to dance?

Posted in Los Angeles, Music, Random