Hello Breeps!
THE USA won’t choose its President for another twelve months but the election season is already well under way. On Tuesday we saw Hillary, Bernie and the other Democratic candidates discussing such topics as climate change, woman’s right to choose, gender equality, war and the country’s gun laws. Ironically on my way to see the play “These Paper Bullets’ at the Geffen, the sound of real bullets began ringing out all over Hollywood as traffic was bought to a standstill. An armed man was on the lose in Westwood, opposite the UCLA campus and a customer was shot and killed at point blank range at the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. Now we know the dangers of choosing to live in Los Angeles and that these things sometimes happen. But something must be done and soon. I know each time these senseless acts of violence happen our president gets up there and says how disappointed he is and mentions that the law has to change, but he is faced with an uphill battle with a majority of Congress who just want to shut him down. Being president is never an easy job but when the majority in Congress is held by the opposing party it’s even harder. Most of the candidates on that stage in Nevada last Tuesday were big on gun law reform and figuring out a way to stop firearms being so widely accessible. It can’t come any sooner for me. It’s easier to get a gun than it is to drive a car, and that is something I think must change. Forget the constitution, that was written three hundred years ago. Stop supporting the NRA and let’s raise our voices to make a change.
Back to the podiums, I was also relieved to see there was no bashing of each other, or races and gender-baiting on the night and that the Democratic party behaved like adults, each having a chance to put their case forward as to why they should lead the party, so whoever gets in will know that they will have their party’s full support. Voting for the policies of the party have never been truer in this case, and now we just have to decide on who will be the better leader. Unless you’re voting for Donald Trump that is, nevertheless good luck to them all.
Broad appeal
If you don’t know me by now, you will not know my love for art and museums and I’m extremely EXCITED at our city’s lastest museum opening. As if we needed more proof that we live in a new gilded age, The Broad Museum (www.thebroad.org) has just opened in a swanky new $150 million Diller Scofidio + Renfro building on South Grand Avenue, right across the street from MoCA. Eli Broad’s priceless 20th-century art collection is now on display, (free of charge, now and forever). Mr. Broad is the first man in history to create not one, but two Fortune 500 companies – first real estate, then insurance and his amazing collection is a marvel with thousands of pieces from established and new artists. INSIDER TIP: Plan some extra time for the line outside and make sure to arrive earlier in the day if you want a spot in Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. These spots fill up fast.
And for those of you who enjoy some great live music with their art (and who doesn’t?), this Sunday night at 7.30pm Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Christian Scott will perform at the Broad.
Birthday brekkie
Just two weeks ago I enjoyed a birthday serenade at our weekly Breakfast Club, and this week it was time for my partner in crime, Eileen Lee, to get the same treatment. The always-on-hand, lovely and kind Bernard Skibben was there to lead the chorus. For those who have never been but would like to start joining us on Tuesdays, we’d love to see you! Remember we start at 9.30am at Cecconi’s restaurant, 8764 Melrose Ave in West Hollywood (at Robertson). And don’t worry if you’re running late –you can pop in at anytime up till 11am.
I look forward to seeing you around town. Take care and keep your wits about you.
Cheers!
Craig Young
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