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Thursday, October 31, 2019

Halloween, from Celtic Roots to Corporate Enrichment. Oct 31 2019, special edition

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UPDATED EVENTS THROUGH MONDAY, Nov 4, are in this edition. 

A full update for November for will be along soon. Meantime, THIS IS our only updated source for this weekend's events. Things happening AFTER the weekend? A smattering of events into 2020 are in the previous edition, where THEY have been repeatedly updated.
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Today is October 31st, the traditional HALLOWEEN, a word condensed from "All Hallows Eve," dating from the usurpation of the ancient Celtic festival of "Samhain," (pronounced "sau-in," like sauerkraut). In ancient Ireland, ancestors and spirits were called upon in connection with the harvest, to invoke blessings and assure a bountiful year to come.

Along came the early church. It had a genius for retaining every "pagan" feast day encountered by reassigning it to one or another saint, thereby easily inducting the local populace. As in, why resist if you won't lose your times of glutonous feasting and drunken revelry?

Before the torture of the Inquisitions held sway, there was the pragmatism of an embracing usurpation.
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"To put the $8.8 billion being spent on Halloween in context, the budget for the entire National Park Service is only $4 billion. The U.S. spends less than $2 billion on flu vaccines."
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The Church had already transformed somebody else's feast day on November 1st. That time, having exhausted the available cadre of saints, they invoked creativity, calling it "All Saint's Day." Thus, it was a natural to make the usurped October 31st into "All Hallows Eve." After all, only by being among the hallowed dead could one qualify to become a saint. And with the existing supply depleted, more saints were needed, in case more indigenous feast days were encountered.

The whole idea of necrophiliac-based religion played well. It let them promote the Lazurus thing, and offered a touchstone to the "our Founder" iconography of the bleeding man suffering excruciating death, nailed to every church wall. That led to exploitable severed body parts that could be prayed-to as "Holy relics," lucratively producing pilgrimages to whatever church held them. After the 3-G's transoceanic invasions, undertaken for "God, Gold, and Glory," it really took hold. The whole pantheon of skulls and bones and blood played especially well in the gold-rich part of the Americas -- where Mayan- and Aztec- derived cultures honored their ancestors by digging-up their bones (and scaring their enemies half to death by doing that) with what eventually became Dia de Los Muertos. 

Of course, in Southern California, Dia de Los Muertos, like Cinco we Mayo, receive their biggest celebrations in the English-speaking world -- even as they struggle for cultural context relevant to their roots amidst alcohol-saturated celebrants. Very much like what happens every year with the Irish/Celtic St. Patrick's Day. It's a wonder somebody hasn't thought to bastardize things by selling green beer swilled from plastic skulls -- and we hope we didn't just give them any ideas.

So, is today's Halloween more Celtic, or more Meso-american? Well, the ancient roots are there, but the answer is, neither. Does that mean the early Catholic church gets credit -- something that would be hilariously ironic, given all the fundamentalist churches that rail against Halloween. As enjoyable as that would be, early Catholicsm only gets credit for being complicit, back-when. 

You already know the answer. Today's Halloween is mostly corporacratic, being second in economic worth only to secular Christmas. 

Halloween retail spending in 2018 was $9 billion. That was a slight drop from its biggest-ever record of $9.1 billion in 2017. So was the number of people celebrating in 2017, at 179 million. "They spent $86.13 each, another record," reported the ecomomic site The Balance dot com.

Jay L. Zagorsky, an economist at Boston University, writing in The Conversation, adds, the $86 for every person "includes a half a billion dollars on costumes that Americans are buying for their pets," which, he notes, is "double the amount they spent a decade ago."


While corporate-licensed ($-ka-ching!) comic-book-to-movie superheroes predominate with kids, the pet costumes of choice are innocent by comparison. Zagorsky says, "Pumpkins and hot dogs are the favorites."

Witches still figure in the iconography, but certainly not as costumes of choice. At least not until Trump figures a way to license them as a derivative of his constant alarmist whining about "witch hunts."

But all notions of dismissable frivolity end there. Zagorsky the economist slaps us all up 'side the head with this: "To put the $8.8 billion being spent on Halloween in context, the budget for the entire National Park Service is only $4 billion. The U.S. spends less than $2 billion on flu vaccines."

At that point, he characterizes Halloween as the "Day of the decadent."

We were gratified to see that he cites a book we have read. "In the late 1890s, an economist named Thorstein Veblen looked at spending in society and wrote an influential book called 'The Theory of the Leisure Class,' which explained reasons why people spend. It laid out the idea that some goods and services are bought simply for conspicuous consumption."

That phrase, "conspicuous consumption," doesn't get anywhere near the use that today's world warrants.

Conspicuous consumption, as Zagorsky explains, "is designed to show others you are rich, smart or important. In Veblen’s mind, conspicuous consumption was spending more money on items than they are really worth. Veblen pointed out that people buy homes with rooms that are rarely used, just to show off the owner’s wealth."


We've written about that in terms of nouveau riche tech millionaires from China, buying the universally large single-family homes in Arcadia, California, where the lot sizes are bigger than just about anywhere. The pattern repeats over and over: everything is a tear-down, and what replaces it is an ostentatious exercise in the ridiculous, with a catalog of incompatible architectural elements amassed into a 20,000-square-foot mansion that sits with half its rooms devoid of furniture.

Of course, that example is an aberration.

"If Veblen were writing about the world today, he would probably not focus on real estate. Instead, he might be using examples of people trying to attract attention on Instagram by dressing their pets in expensive costumes," observes Zagorsky.

He concludes, "Understanding how much people spend on holidays like Halloween and other activities is important because this shows what society values. And apparently, we value what others can see us consume."

Which tells all you need to know why there is a legislative movement throughout the 50 states and in Congress to move Halloween to the last Saturday of October, where even more economic worth can be extracted. So, unless you can invoke a horde of spirits to dissuade the movie-superhero-costume-clad celebrants -- whose purchase enriched the heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune -- Halloween will continue to expand its opportunities for cultural exploitation through extractive enrichment, and do so exponentially, beyond the corporate candymakers and the dentists.

Damn. It used to be such a fun night for kids carrying paper sacks, draped in bedsheets with two eyeholes cut through.

-- your editor
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CULTURE QUICKIES

"When politicians complain that tv has turned the proceedings into a circus, it should be clear that the circus was already there, and some of the performers were not ready..."

-- Edward R. Murrow
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Word for today

proditomania - (noun) The feeling or the belief that everyone around is out to get you.
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Our thoughts on two headlines this week...

"Why is Facebook trying to re-elect Trump?" (That's easy: because any of the Dem presidential candidates would emulate "trust buster" Teddy Roosevelt when it comes to breaking-up the insidious Zuckerberg empire based from his FB hegemony; just shut-off its cyber espionage and you put a stop to how it becomes a combination voracious money monster and bull-in-a-china-shop for anyone who pays one of its tentacle entities to unleash the kraken. Everyone should br horrified by Facebook's leading role in usurping our now-lost privacy rights. The Koch brothers, key Trump allies, buy and use Big Data that you falsely think is your private information, and they use it to benefit the top 1/10 of 1%-ers).

"Trump's approval rating may be headed toward shutdown territory" (he should realize that threatening not to sign any spending bills needed to keep the government open will bite him in the ass. In Congress, it translates to "we better impeach quickly," so his replacement can sign the emergency spending bill -- i.e., Continuing Resolution -- to keep the government open... otherwise, he blames the next government shutdown on "a dangerously obsessed congress" and makes it THEIR fault when nobody gets their government-employee paycheck, or their government payment for goods and services supplied by their small business, or the social security that enables old people to pay their rent and buy groceries--because in a complete shutdown, they won't even get the cat food they eat when they can't afford anything else).
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Best line of the day...

This goes to CNN's Jake Tapper. Following the vote by the House of Representatives on Thursday, he quipped:

"For those keeping record, D.C. has impeachments far more often than World Series titles."

Which is historically true. And therein is a story you should know and re-tell.

Before last night's win by the Nationals in Game 7 of the World Series, the last (and only) other win by the major league baseball team from the Nation's Capital was by the old Washington Senators in 1924. The last impeachment of a president was Bill Clinton, in 1998-1999.

Except that baseball history is not quite accurate. Hang on, we'll let you in on that.

Even if you take into account the last national championship for a DC baseball team -- which was not the Senators, but the Homestead Grays of the old Negro League, in 1946 -- impeachments are more frequent. We should add, the Grays were a powerhouse that became a baseball dynasty, playing at long-gone Griffith Stadium in Washington. The team played from 1910-1950, winning ten Negro National League Titles (1937-1945, 1948) and three Negro League World Series Titles (1943-1944, 1948).

Racially segregated sports prevailed until the Dodgers broke the color barrier with Jackie Robinson in 1948. (Which just about coincides with President Harry Truman ending segregation in the US military.) Since the end of the Negro League teams, one disgrace still remains: a great many athletes of superb accomplishment have fallen through the cracks of history. Bravo to the Baseball Hall of Fame, which has made great strides to right that wrong. The test of us still need to do a lot of catching-up.
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Concerts, festivals, &

events through 
the coming weekend 
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Thursday
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Continuing today, through Nov 3, FREE FESTIVAL:
7th annual "GRAND PARK DOWNTOWN DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" is a nine-day commemoration with eight film screenings, a centerpiece concert, homemade altars, live music performances, and participatory and exhibited art, celebrating a uniquely Angeleno tradition at two sprawling adjacent venues -- Grand Park, across from L.A. City Hall, and on the Music Center Plaza, both in downtown Los Angeles CA
*  See the Guide's full feature in the Sat, Oct 26 listings.
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Thu, Oct 31-Sun, Nov 3, LIVE THEATRE:
7:30 pm - Shakespeare's “MACBETH” at the Grand Annex, 434 W 6th St, San Pedro CA
*  Produced by "House of Bards," a new theater company.
*  Performances: Thu, 7:30 pm; Fri, 7:30 pm; Sun, Nov 3, 2 pm.
*  TIX: $30 gen'l; $40 reserved; $60 VIP deck table seating with a signed production poster; $20 student using 3WITCHES code when presenting valid student ID at the door. Tix at 310-833-4813 or www.grandvision.org
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November
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Continuing through Nov 3, FREE FESTIVAL:
7th annual "GRAND PARK DOWNTOWN DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" is a nine-day commemoration with eight film screenings, a centerpiece concert, homemade altars, live music performances, and participatory and exhibited art, celebrating a uniquely Angeleno tradition at two sprawling adjacent venues -- Grand Park, across from L.A. City Hall, and on the Music Center Plaza, both in downtown Los Angeles CA
*  See the Guide's full feature in the Sat, Oct 26 listings.
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Continuing through Nov 3, FESTIVAL:
"L.A. FALL FAIR" at La Prada Event Plaza in Whittier Narrows  Regional Park, South El Monte CA
*  This one brings unlimited carnival rides for adults and kids, live music on weekends, circus shows, and free parking, all for a $15 admission; Children under 36" tall are FREE. Pony rides extra.
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NOW OPEN, daily:
10 am-5 pm - "EGYPT'S LOST CITIES" exhibition at the Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley CA 93065
*  Akin to your best fantasies of Atlantis, these are artifacts recovered from beneath the sea.
*  One day as the Mediterranean sun beat down on the bay of Aboukir, two bustling cities of ancient Egypt slipped into the sea without a whisper of wind, buried for centuries.
*  These cities, before they sank beneath the waves, were known throughout the world as cultural centers of power, of wealth, of trade, and novel artistry. 
*  Time may have eroded the memory of a civilization, but not the mystery -- or the breathtaking artifacts -- of what it was.  
*  This exhibition runs Oct 5, 2019–Apr 12, 2020.
*  Open seven days a week, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
*  Facility features a nice cafeteria-style cafe.
*  TIX include the exhibition and the 125,000 square feet of all the permanent exhibits and displays, including Air Force One; you need to allow three to four hours to enjoy all of the galleries and grounds. Gen'l adm $29.95, discounts for youth, kids, seniors; active US military get in free. Free parking. Tix available in advance or at the door. It's worth adding the $7 "audio tour." Online adv. tix: 
https://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum/online-ticket-sales/
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Friday
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Fri, Nov 1:
7 pm - JAMES INTVELD plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE BAND play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia CA
*  Fun and friendly venue has two stages for nonstop music, pool tables, full bar (w/ drink specials - ask), and a menu with generous portions (two can share).
*  Bring earplugs. Seriously.
*  TIX, $15.
*  TIX here are always reasonably priced, with a substantial savings for advance online purchase, at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/arcadia-blues-club-red-entertainment-llc-10974346420
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Fri, Nov 1; FILM EVENT:
7:30 pm - "MAKING WAVES: THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND" with Q&As, in the "Conversations at ArcLight" series; a screening and Q&A with director Midge Costin, writer Bobette Buster, producer Karen Johnson, and special guests, at ArcLight Hollywood
*  Following the 7:30 pm show, 10/25 in Hollywood, 11/1 in Pasadena.
*  Both dates/both locations require special tix, so don't dawdle.
*  Film Synopsis: Examining how visionary directors work with sound designers to create the most exciting cinematic experiences. Also, featuring the latest discoveries and advances in sound technology to learn how sounds transform the cinematic experience.
*  Watch trailer at tix link, below.
*  TIX: for either Hollywood, 10/25, or Pasadena, 11/1, and list of participants at each location:
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Fri, Nov 1, FREE FILM EVENT:
7:30 pm - "SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE" screens for the 174th Consecutive "First Friday Film Night" presented by the Topanga Peace Alliance at the Topanga Library, 122 N Topanga Canyon Bl, Topanga CA 90290
*  The ROADS ARE OPEN and the red flag warning has been canceled for the Santa Monica Mountains.
*  This is a new documentary, screening with special guest Dr. Judy Alter, Director of "Protect California Ballots."
*  "Suppressed: The Fight to Vote," the new documentary by Robert Greenwald / Brave New Films, weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint an undeniable picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election. There, Stacey Abrams fought to become the first Black female governor in the U.S.
*  The issues Georgians faced – including polling place closures, voter purges, missing absentee ballots, extreme wait times and a host of voter ID issues – disproportionately prevented many students and people of color from casting their ballots.
*  The evening also includes selected relevant short videos regarding the voting process in America.
*  Before the film, they have announcements regarding upcoming events and actions for peace and social justice and a report on their "Military Opt Out" drive.
*  Throughout the program they feature discussions regarding the challenges to voting today.
*  Nationally recognized voting expert Dr. Judy Alter, Director of "Protect California Ballots," is an advocate of ensuring that all the steps of our election process are observed by public citizens, especially counting the votes on our ballots. She will discuss the serious problems with the new voting machines in L.A. county and actions we can take to protect our votes.
*  Doors at 7 pm, Veggie Snack Potluck at 7:15 pm, movie at 7:30.
*  For the potluck, try to bring your own bowl and cloth napkin, so they can reduce the waste created by this event
*  ADA compliant with plenty of easy parking, elevator access and headphones for those who need a little extra volume. The movie is in the meeting room, across the patio from the elevator and the top of the stairs.
*  Further info, contact Julie at 310-455-9389 or 310-463-3016.
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Fri, Nov 1:
8 pm - STEVE POLTZ plays the famous concert hall in back of McCabes Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica CA 90405
*  Tix selling fast for this one; don't dawdle!
*  TIX, $22.50, + $4.50 per ticket online or by phone. Adv. online at: https://www.store.mccabes.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=2356
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Saturday
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Late addition, up-top:
Sat, Nov 2, FREE DEDICATION:
2 pm - "PEACE AND LOVE" Sculpture by RINGO STARR gets its Public Art Dedication, by Ringo himself, at Beverly Gardens Park, Santa Monica Bl, between Crescent & Cañon, Beverly Hills CA
*  Legendary musician Ringo Starr, also known as Sir Richard Starkey, joins representatives from the City of Beverly Hills to officially unveil his “Peace & Love” sculpture which he has generously donated to the City.
*  IN ATTENDANCE: Sir Ringo Starr & Lady Starkey, Family & Friends; John Mirisch, Mayor of Beverly Hills, City Councilmembers, Community Members
*  Standing eight feet tall and weighing nearly 1500 pounds, the polished stainless steel sculpture replicates the hand gesture Ringo adopted in 1969. “Peace & Love” is a message that has become synonymous with Ringo’s name, and he has dedicated his birthday, July 7, towards spreading that message – last year celebrating “Peace & Love” events in nearly 30 countries around the world. Ringo hopes that this gift will be a lasting way to carry the message of Peace & Love forward in a place he has called home for many years.
*  There will be a red carpet and photo opportunity.
*  The Guide suggests you arrive early, as parking in the area will fill-up.
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Sat, Nov 2, FREE FESTIVAL:
11 am- 4 pm - 5th annual "GRAND AVE ARTS: ALL ACCESS" on Grand Avenue plus the L.A. Music Center complex, and the Central Library, downtown Los Angeles CA 90012
*  There's music, dance, film, hands-on artmaking experinces, and more, as Downtown L.A.'s annual free event provides an all-access-pass to the rich arts and cultural experiences there.
*  All events are FREE and open to the public.
*  Explore L.A.'s playground for arts and culture. Be curious, pop in and choose your own adventure at the cultural organizations along Grand Avenue. You can stop by the new beer garden presented by Spaceland, and a pop-up food court presented by DCBID for a bite and a beverage, complemented by KCRW DJs and a live mural painter presented by Arts Share LA.
*  Be sure to interact with the centerpiece events on the Music Center Plaza and in Grand Park on your Grand Ave journey, and note the events a few blocks away in the Main Central Library.
☆  -- CATEGORIZED FOR YOU, HERE'S WHAT THIS FEATURES...
■  MUSIC EVENTS...
*  "Voice Lessons with the Master Chorale" run 11 am-4 pm. Take a voice lesson with the Master Chorale. Sign-up (on their website, in advance) for one of the 15-minute group sessions, held from noon-3 pm, where one of their choristers will put your pipes through their paces. They tell us, "It’ll be a fun way — we promise! — to learn what it’s like to be a professional singer."
*  "Colburn School: Conduct Us" noon-1:30 pm, 200 S Grand Av. Become the maestro for a small chamber orchestra — no music experience necessary(!); on the school's lovely South Plaza.
*  "Colburn School: Chamber Music Performance" noon-12:30 pm, 200 S Grand Av., Main Plaza. Take-in a short concert of chamber classics on the Main Plaza, performed by Community School and Jumpstart students.
*  "Colburn School: Interactive Performance" 11 am-noon. On the school's lovely South Plaza (across the street from the Music Center), join Conservatory of Music students for a collaborative and interactive performance experience.
*  "L.A. Opera Backstage Tours" 11 am-4 pm, 135 N Grand Av. L.A. Opera is opening the backstage doors, and everyone is invited. Walk through the rarely-open-to-the-public backstage areas of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and hear about the creative process directly from the experts. Ever wonder how glass breaks on stage? See for yourself that, and more, with interactive demonstrations.
*  "L.A. Phil: Toyota Symphonies for Youth Workshops" 11 am-3:30 pm, 135 N Grand Av. Experience the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s "Toyota Symphonies for Youth" activities at a Music Center Plaza pop-up. Immerse yourself in hands-on workshops, including art projects, an instrument petting zoo, and more. Recommended for children ages 5 to 11. First come, first served.
*  "Colburn School: Chamber Music Performance" 1:30 pm-2 pm, 200 S Grand Av, Main Plaza. Hear Conservatory chamber groups.
*  "Sing-along with Leeav Sofer" 2 pm-3 pm, at the Colburn School's Thayer Hall, 200 S Grand Av. Enjoy a family-friendly sing-along with choral instructor Leeav Sofer.
*  "Colburn School: Concert Band Open Rehearsal" 2 pm-3:30 pm, in Zipper Hall. Hear the Community School’s Concert Band in action.
*  "Colburn School: Open Choir Rehearsal" 2:45 pm-3:30 pm, 200 S Grand Av. In  Mayman Hall, drop in to hear the Community School’s talented Concert Choir.
*  "Colburn School: Music Academy Young Artist Performance" 4 pm-5 pm, in Thayer Hall, 200 S Grand Av. Listen to pre-professional Music Academy students perform a delightful mix of repertoire.
■  THEATRE & DANCE...
*  "Center Theatre Group Family Fun" runs 11 am-2 pm, in both the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, 135 N Grand Av, Los Angeles. Join the Center Theatre Group Family Fun with activities based on upcoming shows, including STING starring in "The Last Ship," AUGUST WILSON’s "Jitney," MIKE BIRBIGLIA’s "The New One," MATTHEW BOURNE’s "Swan Lake," and the world premiere production of "King James." Plus, you can spin Center Theatre Group's prize wheel to win Taper or Ahmanson tickets and other fun treats.
■  ARCHITURE & ART...
*  "Central Library Art & Architecture Tour" 11 am-noon, & 2 pm-3 pm, 630 W 5th St. Come join a free docent-led Art & Architecture Tour of the beautiful and historical Central Library. Tours meet at the Library Store.
■  MUSEUM & FILM...
*  "MOCA: Free Museum Admission and More" 11 am-4 pm, 250 S Grand Av. Free museum admission, activities for the whole family, food and drink, and a special screening to celebrate Merce Cunningham’s centennial.
*  "REDCAT -- Adelita Husni Bey: CHIRON Exhibit" noon-4 pm. The Gallery at REDCAT presents this exhibition that includes the West Coast premiere of Husni Bey’s most recent film and installation "Chiron" (2019), commissioned and premiered by the New Museum in January 2019. "Postcards from the Desert Island" (2011) and "2265" (2015), two of Husni Bey’s most important past works, are shown as well.
■  FILM EVENTS...
*  "Merce Cunningham Films" screen 11 am-4 pm in MOCA's Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 South Grand Av, presented by "Dance Camera West." It's a selection of short films made by The Merce Cunningham Company highlighting Cunningham’s legendary work as a choreographer and filmmaker, as part of a citywide event taking place at USC, UCLA, and CalArts.
*  "Family Films" run 11 am- 4 pm in Redcat, 631 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA. REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts, presents a selection from the annual "REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival." Audiences of all ages can enjoy short animated films highlighting the most innovative and magical techniques, as well as mesmerizing live-action films from around the world.
■  ARTS POTPOURRI...
*  "The Broad: Family Weekend Workshops" 11 am-4 pm, 221 S Grand Av. Make your own art-inspired souvenirs and participate in a cooking demonstration with acclaimed restaurant Otium at The Broad’s event. Walk-up entries available on a first-come, first-served basis. The workshops are for families with children ages 3 and up.
*  There are FIVE "Día de los Muertos Art Workshops" on the Music Center Plaza and in Grand Park, running all day. Join in the family-friendly celebration of Día de los Muertos with art making. Explore three art workshops on The Music Center Plaza guided by professional artists: guests can make a mini piñata, decorate a sugar skull mask, or create a portable sound maker. Hop over to Grand Park for two more art workshop stations: The Sugar Skull station for drawing and painting sugar skull artwork with salt and watercolors, and the Papel Picado station for creating traditional decorative crafts made by cutting elaborate design into sheets of tissue paper.
*  "MOCA: Art Workshops & Activities" noon-4 pm. Join the MOCA Education team for a workshop that plays with concepts of color, design, mood, form, and texture in response to the current exhibition on view. Using various materials, participants will construct a large, communal artwork, as well as individual pieces to take home.
*  "Baile Folklorico" in Grand Park, with multiple performances between
1 pm and 3 pm. Enjoy a Mexican Baile/Folklorico dance performance by Grupo Folklórico Huitzillin. Formed in 2019 and based in the San Fernando Valley, Grupo Folklórico Huitzillin showcases Mexican folk culture through colorful traditional costumes along with highly choreographed and exaggerated dance movements. Multiple short performances.
*  "Altars of Día de los Muertos" on display in Grand Park, all day. Visit Grand Park's Downtown Día de los Muertos to celebrate the annual commemoration. In partnership with Self Help Graphics and Art and LORE Media and Arts, the park presents more than 35 altars created by local artists and community groups.
*  "Central Library: Sugar Skull Workshop" 2 pm-4 pm, 630 W 5th St. Join an all-ages workshop to decorate your very own sugar skull in the 2nd Floor Rotunda; first come, first served.
*  FULL INFO & SCHEDULES (without our handy categorization) at: www.grandavearts.org
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Saturday's concerts, etc...

Sat, Nov 2:
5 pm - PATIENCE CHAITEZVI MUNJERI plus MASANGA MARIMBA play Jake's Way Playground, 18420 Sandy Dr, Santa Clarita CA 91387
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Sat, Nov 2:
6:30 pm - STEVE POLTZ plus JACK TEMPCHIN play the Poway Center for Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Rd, Poway CA 92064; 858-668-4797
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Sat, Oct 2:
7 pm -  HONEY WHISKEY TRIO play the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena CA; reservations by phone only, 7 days, 10 am-10 pm, at 626-798-6236.
*  Winners of several awards including a National Vocal Championship, they also play a nice array of acoustic instruments.
*  Through their powerful, yet sweet amazing folk harmonies, body percussion, haunting melodies and vitality on stage, The Honey Whiskey Trio always captivates and moves their audiences.
*  They sing with charming originality based on a musical lost world, in defiance of, and with no apology to, a modern era sheep-dipped in commercial sameness.
*  They create, arrange, and explore music from the front porches, music halls, and hymn books of early America, sharing it with students, adults, and life-long music lovers across the United States.
*  Highlighting the musical traditions of American Folk Music, they are musical storytellers varying their repertoire with strings, harmonies, simple wind instruments, song and stomp.
*  Alumni of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, the trio -- Courtney, Ann Louise & Christina -- met in school and began singing together in each other’s living rooms as an emotional and musical release.
*  In 2013, after seeing the impact of their music on the contemporary A cappella community, these sisters in song solidified their style as American Folk and picked up instruments to further enhance their vocally-driven sound.
*  Maintaining, throughout their professional career, a passion for music education and community outreach, are things that continue to drive them.
*  This act always sells-out here. Don't dawdle.
*  TIX, $20.
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Sat, Nov 2:
7 pm - SHAWN JONES BAND plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE BAND play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia CA
*  Fun and friendly venue has two stages for nonstop music, pool tables, full bar (w/ drink specials - ask), and a menu with generous portions (two can share).
*  Bring earplugs. Seriously.
*  TIX, $10.
*  TIX here are always reasonably priced, with a substantial savings for advance online purchase, at:
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Sat, Nov 2:
7:30 pm - HIROYA TSUKAMOTO plays the "Wooden Hall Concerts" series at the Alhecama Theatre, 914 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara CA 93101
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Sat, Nov 2:
7:30 pm - CAFÉ MUSIQUE plays the "South Bay Community Concert Association" series at Redondo Beach Union High School Auditorium, 1 Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach CA 90277
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - SUZZY ROCHE & LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE play the famous concert hall in back of McCabes Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica CA 90405
*  Tickets: at press time, venue website shows "not currently available," so check with them directly.
*  TIX, $26.50, + $4.50 per ticket online or by phone. Adv. online at:
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Sat, Nov 2, FESTIVAL:
8 pm - "SOKA BLUES FESTIVAL" presents TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS in the Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Dr, Aliso Viejo CA 92656; 949-480-4278
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Sat, Nov 2, pseudo festival:
8 pm - "SINNERS & SAINTS SOIREE -- ALL SOULS ’ DAY ROOTS MUSIC CELEBRATION" with THE STORYTELLERS plus THE RATTLESNAKES and SUGAR IN THE GOURD at Molly Malone’s, 575 S Fairfax Av, Los Angeles CA 90036; 323-935-1577
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - AARON NEVILLE DUO plays the CAP UCLA series in Royce Hall on the UCLA Campus in Westwood CA 90095; 310-825-4401
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm-11 pm -  KEN O'MALLEY & FRIENDS bring their authentic and original Irish music to the Tam O'Shanter, 2980 Los Feliz Bl, Los Angeles CA 90039.
*  It's Ken's last show here for 2019.
*  Enjoy the venue's full menu and full bar in the pub area.
*  This charming Scottish themed restaurant, part of the Lawry's family, has been an L.A. landmark since 1922.
*  No cover/no age limit.
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - SOUL SACRIFICE, Santana tribute band, plays Alvas Showroom, 1417 W 8th St, San Pedro CA 90732; 310-833-3281
*  TIX, $25, at: https://alvasshowroom.com
NOTE what's coming up; get tix now, at their website, and don't dawdle:
  •  Fri, Nov 8, 8 pm, PATSY O’BRIEN & DICK HENSOLD bring their Celtic music to Alvas.
  •  Sun, Nov 24, 4 pm, ACOUSTIC ASYLUM, featuring SUPERTRAMP guitarist CARL VERHEYEN, returns.
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - PERLA BATALLA presents her acclaimed concert, "THE MUSIC OF LEONARD COHEN" in the intimate Grand Annex, 434 W 6th St, San Pedro CA 90731; 310-833-6362
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - BLUE SUMMIT plays Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City CA 90230; 310-398-2583
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - LUIS MUNOZ plus LOIS MAHALIA & TEKA play the Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 W Ojai Av, Ojai CA 93023; 818-516-6642
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Sat, Nov 2:
8 pm - JOHN ZIPPERER plus JASPAR LEPAK play Russ and Julie’s House Concerts in Oak Park CA (Agoura Hills/Westlake Village area).
*  Reservations get directions at 818-707-2179 or rsvp@houseconcerts.us
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Sunday
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Today is our least-favorite day of the year, because last night reverted the clock to the barbarity of "standard time." How utterly uncivilized. Within a month, it will be dark at 5 pm, and precious few of us will enjoy any sunlight after work. The only decent argument anyone every mounted in favor of the cause of "the winter of our discontent" was that kids should not depart for school in the dark. In California, THAT was solved last week with passage of a new law, requiring school start times to be later. (As usual, the other 49 states need only catch-up.) So now, if we encounter any celebrants for the changing of the clock to "winter" time, we will envision enacting that classic cartoon solution of pulling out a glove and slapping them with it. In cartoons, one barbarity deserves another. And anybody who celebrates the return to standard time must've taken a wrong toin at Alba-kirk-key.
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Sun, Nov 3:
Noon-2 pm - THE FLAW (aka MURPHY'S FLAW) plays "Bluegrass Brunch" with special guest LANCE BILLITZER on Guitar & Mandolin, at Viva Rancho Cantina, 900 W Riverside Dr, Burbank CA 91506 (next to the L.A. Equestrian Center)
*  Plenty of free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl (both venues share the lot).
*  Never a cover charge, but it is a restaurant & cantina, so plan to buy something to eat or drink.
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Sun, Nov 3:
2 pm - FORTUNATE SON: TRIBUTE TO CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL play a matinee at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena CA; reservations by phone only, 7 days, 10 am-10 pm, at 626-798-6236.
*  Venue impresario Bob Stand calls them "The Best In The Nation...  America's Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival," selected by AXS-tv’s "The World Greatest Tribute Bands" to appear in their own, live and televised concert.
*  In fact, the band has become widely-recognized as the Nation’s #1 tribute to CCR.
*  Brad Ford, Mike Franceschini, Dan Murdy and Ron Ota have been playing the beloved music of CCR for well over 20 years now. They've performed all over the world and continue to travel, year-round, ensuring that the gritty songs of John Fogerty and CCR remain alive, well, and kickin’.
*  In this all-acoustic show, you’ll hear all your favorite CCR and Fogarty hits, including "Born On The Bayou," "Green River," "Bad Moon Rising," "Lodi," "Lookin’ Out My Back Door," "Proud Mary," "Centerfield," and "Have You Ever Seen The Rain," and many more.
*  TIX, $20.
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Sun, Nov 3, FESTIVAL:
3 pm - "SOKA BLUES FESTIVAL" presents the TAJ MAHAL QUARTET at Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Dr, Aliso Viejo CA 92656; 949-480-4278
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Sun, Nov 3:
4 pm - WOWAKIN TRIO & PIOTR ZGORZELSKI play in San Diego at 5041 Caywood St, San Diego, CA 92117; info & reservations:
twigbot@hotmail.com
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Sun, Nov 3, FILM EVENT:
6 pm - "BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHÉ" screens followed by a Q&A with director Pamela B. Green, with Rosalie Varda & Joan Simon, in the "Conversations at ArcLight" series, at ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 W Sunset Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90028; 323-615-2550
*  Pamela B. Green's energetic film about pioneer filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché is both a tribute and a detective story, tracing the circumstances by which this extraordinary artist faded from memory and the path toward her reclamation.
*  Watch the trailer at: https://youtu.be/4iH1sKdwi9k
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Sun, Nov 3:
7 pm - "THE BIFFLE & SHOOSTER BILLION DOLLAR SHOW," before going national, rrives at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena CA; reservations by phone only, 7 days, 10 am-10 pm, at 626-798-6236.
This is outstanding stuff, a time machine to the heyday of Vaudeville. And if you're saying to yourself, "Never heard of 'em," well, hold-on-thar', not so fast. You have, by other names. Consummate artists are ever-changing. That certainly applies to WILL RYAN, who owns pieces of several GRAMMY awards, and we've raved about several of his other musical incarnations with his stellar musical cohorts. Those include writing and playing live -- in the Motion Picture Academy Theatre -- the entire soundtrack for the just-restored, first-ever, full-length Western movie, a jewel of the silent era.
*  Thus, when you see Will's self-penned promo, it'll make sense to you. Well, sort of. Here goes: "You’ve seen them on the radio, you’ve smelled them on the screen, you’ve even heard their comic books – now see them In Person: Benny Biffle and Sammy Shooster!"
*  "Benny Biffle" and "Sammy Shooster" have prepared one of the funnest evenings in the history of evenings – and it’s ONE NIGHT ONLY! But they are not alone:
 •  Guitarist, banjoist, whistle-ist John “Presto” Reynolds will amaze with his musical offerings!
 •  Television’s Saratoga Ballantine will delight with her songbird stylings, comedic blatherings, and thespianic flauntery!
 •  Hollywood’s Michael Schlesinger will simply confound!
 •  And, of course, Kino comedy stars, “Hollywood’s Looniest Comedy Duo,” and “Broadway’s Bad Boys” Biffle & Shooster – In Person - will bamboozle, perplex, befuddle, and hilarify with their songs, routines, inexplicabilities, and surprises!
Seriously, THIS show is a MUST-SEE, because Benny and Sammy’s bags are packed for the mystic far-off East (well, New York and Florida, actually) and this will be Biffle & Shooster’s last California appearance of 2019! Be there, or be -- left out and disappointed when others tell you about this show.
*  TIX, $25.
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Sun, Nov 3:
8 pm - AARON NEVILLE DUO plays the Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Av, Solana Beach / San Diego CA 92075; 858-481-9022
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Sun, Nov 3:
8 pm - BIG DADDY plays the famous concert hall in back of McCabes Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica CA 90405
*  TIX, $25, + $4.50 per ticket online or by phone. Adv. online at: https://www.store.mccabes.com/cart.php
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Monday
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A few QUICKIES to start your Monday and your week...

First...

We commented yesterday on the barbarity of the return of "standard" time. We didn't mention that it is the primary cause of a real, recognized medical condition called "Seasonal Affective Disorder," or "SAD" for short. Also informally know as "Winter Blues," it effects four times as many women as men, primarily hits people 18-29, and has been identified as a chief factor in childhood obesity. Medical specialists are big advocates for you to go outside during your morning coffee break, stretch that time to 20 minutes, and get in direct sunlight the entire time. They are also big advocates of year-'round Daylight Saving Time.

Second...

Believe it or not, the endless presidential election season is now inside a year to election day. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, and it can't come soon enough for us.

Third...

Today marks the birthday of one of the greatest humorists in American history. Here's a sample of his wit:

"A king can stand people's fighting, but he can't last long if people start thinking."

-- Will Rogers, humorist (born Nov 4, 1879, died in a plane crash in 1935).


Fourth...

A must-know word, to deal with our puerile president...

"Puerile" (PYUHR-ill, or PYUHR-ile)

Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, mid-17th century
 

Meaning:
1. Showing immaturity; silly or juvenile
2. Relating to or having the characteristic of a child

(Today's selection on "Word Genius.")

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Mon, Nov 4:
8 pm - F/E/A/T/H/E/R plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena CA; reservations by phone only, 7 days, 10 am-10 pm, at 626-798-6236.
*  An East Coast indie folk outfit touching on themes ranging from conceptual to emotional to abstract, F/E/A/T/H/E/R "will break your heart and make you laugh within seconds of each other."
*  NYC based, F/E/A/T/H/E/R is currently extensively touring the U.S.
*  More at: www.feather-music.com
*  TIX, $18.
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Continuing: through &
beyond this weekend 
_____________________________________________

NOW OPEN, daily:
10 am-5 pm - "EGYPT'S LOST CITIES" exhibition at the Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley CA 93065
*  Akin to your best fantasies of Atlantis, these are artifacts recovered from beneath the sea.
*  One day as the Mediterranean sun beat down on the bay of Aboukir, two bustling cities of ancient Egypt slipped into the sea without a whisper of wind, buried for centuries.
*  These cities, before they sank beneath the waves, were known throughout the world as cultural centers of power, of wealth, of trade, and novel artistry.
*  Time may have eroded the memory of a civilization, but not the mystery -- or the breathtaking artifacts -- of what it was.
*  This exhibition runs Oct 5, 2019–Apr 12, 2020.
*  Open seven days a week, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
*  Facility features a nice cafeteria-style cafe.
*  TIX include the exhibition and the 125,000 square feet of all the permanent exhibits and displays, including Air Force One; you need to allow three to four hours to enjoy all of the galleries and grounds. Gen'l adm $29.95, discounts for youth, kids, seniors; active US military get in free. Free parking. Tix available in advance or at the door. It's worth adding the $7 "audio tour." Online adv. tix:
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A full roundup of November is in the works. Meantime, the previous edition has a smattering of goodness ahead, into 2020.
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As always, we have lots of MUSIC NEWS features in the works, and they'll be along as we get them dressed, shoes tied, cowlicks combed down, bowties cranked straight, and strings tuned.
_________________________________

'Til we catch ya on the flip side...
as Buford the Wonder Dog looks on 
and in our best Kathy Baker
"Hee Haw" voice: "THAT's all!"
Stay tuneful!
_________________________________

On to the necessary boilerplate...

Boilerplate? What "boilerplate"? Where's the main pressure gauge? And the firebox?

Who came up with that goofy term for the basic essential informational stuff...

Alright already, it's right down there...

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

LEGALESE, CONTACTING US, 'N SUCH...
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS – and views of interest to artists everywhere – more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers -- and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music. That includes both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues (now undergoing a major update), and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues from the monumentally large to the intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops, conferences, and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the swamp water roots of the blues and the bright lights of where the music is headed now.
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We'll be back again soon with music news and more "News of the Non-Trumpcentric Universe." (c)
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