Maria’s Thursday Three

(Flickr pic by ruimin84.)

1. The Walt Disney Concert Hall Rooftop: Add this to your list of free things to do in L.A. The roof is a pleasant spot to spend some time on a weekend, as you’re surrounded by beautiful trees and plants, a mosaic flower fountain and a children’s amphitheater. With benches and small tables scattered around, I’m always thinking about going there with a picnic lunch.

2. The Black Apple: One of my favorite artists from Etsy is The Black Apple’s Emily Martin. She captures a perfect blend of melancholy and groove in her art. Consider getting this print or this one.

3. “Lost”: It was satisfying seeing Desmond make contact with Penny, despite that crazy radioactive time travel plot bend. Do Sun and Jin round out the Oceanic Six? And are Desmond and baby Aaron the seventh and eight survivors? Does evil Ben count?

Maria’s Thursday Three

(Flickr pic by ruimin84.)

1. The Walt Disney Concert Hall Rooftop: Add this to your list of free things to do in L.A. The roof is a pleasant spot to spend some time on a weekend, as you’re surrounded by beautiful trees and plants, a mosaic flower fountain and a children’s amphitheater. With benches and small tables scattered around, I’m always thinking about going there with a picnic lunch.

2. The Black Apple: One of my favorite artists from Etsy is The Black Apple’s Emily Martin. She captures a perfect blend of melancholy and groove in her art. Consider getting this print or this one.

3. “Lost”: It was satisfying seeing Desmond make contact with Penny, despite that crazy radioactive time travel plot bend. Do Sun and Jin round out the Oceanic Six? And are Desmond and baby Aaron the seventh and eight survivors? Does evil Ben count?

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: Grizzly Bear with the L.A. Phil

Check out Brooklyn-based quartet Grizzly Bear, featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic, at Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 1.

Here’s the write-up:

Brooklyn’s lo-fi atmospheric quartet, Grizzly Bear, co-headlines with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an awe-inspiring yet intimate evening of sensory immersion. The first half features the orchestra playing selections hand-picked by Grizzly Bear and the LA Phil, reflecting classical music’s influence on the band’s sound. Grizzly Bear’s full set follows, showcasing their dreamy melodies, adventurous instrumentation and seductive vocal harmonies.

More details here.

Want a pair of tix? Drop a line to our Franklin Avenue e-mail, and Blogger Toddler will choose a name at random. Thanks for reading!

The Only Film Festival Where Crying, Talking and Sleeping During a Movie Is Deemed Acceptable Behavior

(Flickr pic by Stephanie Asher.)

As I wrote last week, we took Blogger Toddler to his first-ever movie featival this weekend.

Crowd at the REDCAT

The Third Annual International Children’s Film Festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) gallery features films geared toward a wide range of kids. We attended the entry “Four-Legged, Finned and Furry Friends,” a series of animal-themed animated shorts geared toward kids three and up.

The shorts were mostly cute — some educational, most humorous. Some had no dialogue; most others were in English. (Just one — a fun entry from Sweden — was subtitled.) The hour-long show was just the right length: Evan (and virtually every other kid in the room) was starting to get antsy at the end. Evan’s not a big fan of dark theaters; with a crowd so young, I’m surprised they didn’t keep the lights dim.

Lucky for us, we found street parking for free; otherwise, parking is $8 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Screenings are $5 and continue over the next two weekends. (“Four Legged, Finned and Furry Friends” next runs on March 1 at noon.)

REDCAT lounge

The Only Film Festival Where Crying, Talking and Sleeping During a Movie Is Deemed Acceptable Behavior

(Flickr pic by Stephanie Asher.)

As I wrote last week, we took Blogger Toddler to his first-ever movie featival this weekend.

Crowd at the REDCAT

The Third Annual International Children’s Film Festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) gallery features films geared toward a wide range of kids. We attended the entry “Four-Legged, Finned and Furry Friends,” a series of animal-themed animated shorts geared toward kids three and up.

The shorts were mostly cute — some educational, most humorous. Some had no dialogue; most others were in English. (Just one — a fun entry from Sweden — was subtitled.) The hour-long show was just the right length: Evan (and virtually every other kid in the room) was starting to get antsy at the end. Evan’s not a big fan of dark theaters; with a crowd so young, I’m surprised they didn’t keep the lights dim.

Lucky for us, we found street parking for free; otherwise, parking is $8 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Screenings are $5 and continue over the next two weekends. (“Four Legged, Finned and Furry Friends” next runs on March 1 at noon.)

REDCAT lounge