LA and environs – Page 4

Bryan Ferry at the Bowl

Bryan Ferry performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday August 26 2017

Bryan Ferry and his orchestra together with the Los Angeles Philharmonics was performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday August 26 2017. Bryan Ferry was born in England on September 26 1945, he turns 72 this year in September. He was born in Washington County Durham, close to Newcastle upon Tyne – where incidentally another great performer was born, Eric Burdon. Bryan was born into a working class family, his father was a farm laborer. Bryan attended a Technical school and went on to eventually study fine art at the University of Newcastle. He moved to London in 1968 to pursue a career in music and initially upon arriving in London he worked as a Pottery teacher before becoming a full time performer.

Bryan Ferry still has his soothing crooner voice and is as good as he ever was. It was noticeable that as the show went on it got better and better. The performance at the Hollywood Bowl marked the ending of the U.S. tour. It is really great to hear the hits from the Roxy Music period performed live, such as ‘Avalon’ and ‘Love is the drug’. But there were many other tunes that also captured the audience’s attention, and of course the Hollywood Bowl is really the perfect setting for a performer like Bryan Ferry When you add the LA Philharmonics to his band, then greatness is the only result possible!

Here comes the rain again…

Rain in the morning of August 1 - Grand canal, Venice — Rain in the morning of August 1 – Grand canal, Venice

WE had a light summer rain this morning, quite enjoyable more of a sprinkling than an actual rain though…

Sitting on the dock of the Bay - Snowy Egret in Grand Canal enjoying the rain — Sitting on the dock of the Bay – Snowy Egret in Grand Canal enjoying the rain

Tilling the fields of Venice

The Los Angeles County department of beaches & Harbors are busy with, among other things, tilling in Venice. No, it’s not the same kind of tilling that goes on in the Central Valley where the most fertile growing grounds in California can be found and where a big part of the countries produce is grown. In Venice they are tilling the sand on the beach, to make it look nice for the visitors!

Venice was founded by Abbott Kinney in 1905 as a beachside resort town. Before Abbott Kinney came along, the Venice area consisted mainly of marshlands. When Abbott Kinney created Venice of America, he had Venice Italy in mind, he built canals, Venetian style buildings and an amusement park pier. There were cottages and tents for people to stay in while visiting.

For the opening event he even brought gondolas and gondoliers from Venice Italy to take people on Gondola tours of the canals. Abbott Kinney died in 1920 and left the running of the thriving resort to his eldest son. Shortly after his death there was a fire that claimed most of the pier and its attractions. The string of bad luck continued and shortly after the pier was rebuilt there was another devastating fire that leveled it all. This together with the failing infrastructure, new roads, sewers and water systems were badly needed, made the situation untenable. Venice was incorporated into the City of Los Angeles in October 1925.

Venice City Hall can still be seen at 681 Venice Blvd.

Venice Art – Just look down

Guy in glasses - Sidewalk art — Guy in glasses – Sidewalk art

Looking for art in Venice? – It’s everywhere, one way is to actually look where you are going, i.e. look down and discover some pretty awesome art that some “street artists” put there for your enjoyment. i think this is enjoyable, some people might consider it defacing of public property and I suppose in a strict interpretation it is, but then again the sidewalks aren’t exactly pretty to look at to begin with either, and i think this definitely enhances them!

Natures art - Iris — Nature’s art – Iris

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30