Features
Into the Beautiful North at Central Works
Central Works’ closes its 2016 season with new play, “Into the Beautiful North”, written by nationally known playwright Karen Zacarías and based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize finalist Luis Alberto Urrea. The script is inspired by the classic Hollywood western “The Magnificent Seven,” which was adapted from Kurosawa’s, “The Seven Samurai.” With the multitude of theatre choices in the Bay Area it’s hard to find one that illustrates the life of Latinos. This one fills that void, at least for a short term.
Canyon dig it! – Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve
It might not be Yosemite, but Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve in San Diego has plenty of beautiful trails to explore. One of the best ways to see this 4,000 acre suburban wilderness is on a moderate 7-mile (round-trip) mountain bike ride.
The Art of the Brick
If you’ve ever played with Legos you’ll remember the feeling of accomplishment when your imagination came to life in your hands. In time, you outgrew the brightly colored block toys unless you’re like Nathan Sawaya. After years of creating with Legos as a hobby, he quit his corporate lawyer job to become a full-time Lego artist. This fascination of creating with Legos on a bigger scale has made him renowned around the world. At his current traveling show, The Art of the Brick, you can get up close with his work.
American Tumbleweeds – Book Review
American Tumbleweeds by Marta Elva tells the story of the Ramirez family who reside in El Paso, Texas during the 1960’s. They often split time between Texas and their patria Juarez, Mexico. The story revolves around the coming of age of Inez, the border town, and how adult decisions affect children. That’s the simplified way to describe the book, as it’s hard to encapsulate all the intricacies that are involved in growing up bi-cultural and in Inez’s case, empathetic.
Chihuly Garden and Glass – Seattle, Washington
Visiting Seattle, Washington on limited time? You can easily visit two locations in one day in addition to the infamous Space Needle. One of those is the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition that opened in 2012. For frequent travelers the sculptures will immediately look familiar as Dale Chihuly’s artwork is dispersed throughout the world in small to large venues. This exhibit is exclusively dedicated to his work.
Queer Diversity Shines Through
2nd Annual Queer Fashion Week celebrates its second year as the Bay Area’s premier queer fashion event, celebrating diversity and the expression of individuality. For more information visit www.queerfashionweek.com.
Bridget Jones’s Baby – Film Review
It’s been 12 years since we last saw Helen Fielding’s infamous character Bridget Jones, the wait is over and she has returned and is somewhat better than ever. In the third installment of the series, Bridget Jone’ss Baby, directed by Sharon Maguire, who by the way did not direct the second, which we will pretend never existed at this point, because it could possibly be one of the worst sequels in movie history, comes back and is now 43 years old and at a completely different stage in her life.
Disney’s Queen of Katwe Receives Standing Ovation
The stars of the movie came out for the 2016 Toronto Film Festival at Roy Thompson Hall. The cast, filmmakers and real life stars received a standing ovation from the audience. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. theaters in limited release on September 23, expanding wide September 30, 2016.
Sully – Film Review
True heroes rarely want accolades and admiration, think police officers, fire fighters, doctors, etc., most of them are quick to say that they were simply doing their job. In Clint Eastwood’s new film, Sully, he depicts the pilot Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) as a stoic, no frills type of hero. This isn’t a film about a man wearing a cape saving the world, it’s about a man who saved dozens of lives or “souls” as he says, and lived to tell the story that would forever define his life.
Gutenberg! The Musical!
The famously funny improv and sketch comedy troupe, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, created and performed Gutenberg! The Musical!, a silly comedy about two writers who dream up what they believe to be the best musical ever written in history. The show has gone on to win dozens of awards and has been performed off-Broadway for years. The musical comedy is now making waves in San Diego. Produced by the Backyard Renaissance Theater Company, a group whose motto is “art to the gut,” Gutenberg! The Musical! certainly provides that feeling to audiences.