UCLA Live presents DAVID SEDARIS!

UCLA Live presents DAVID SEDARIS!

Author, radio star and humorist David Sedaris packed Royce Hall on Saturday, June 28th in the final event of UCLA Live’s 2007-2008 season. It was a hilarious evening, featuring David reading new work and a selection of essays from his best-selling books, excerpts from The New Yorker and even his diary! The sold-out audience cheered as Mr. Sedaris took the stage, and the enthusiasm continued all night with constant laughs.

In addition to his published materials, Sedaris treated us to some essays that “don’t work” in print, such as a piece on one of his old teachers who pronounced “Nicaragua” in such a way that David would keep asking questions that required it to be the answer! His teacher pronounced it rolling the “r” and using the utmost care and Latino flair. David loved to hear him say “Nicaragua” over and over—and as he related the story, the audience did, too!

David has an engaging and quirky quality when he reads his essays, which are intelligent, sardonic (and just downright funny!) observations on the things he goes through in life. His piece on being seated in Business Elite on a flight from France to the U.S., sitting next to a Polish man sobbing over the death of his mother would probably make her turn over in her grave… laughing!

Sedaris’ new collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, has just been published. David is on a multi-city tour around the country, usually in a different city every day, except for the big cities, where he spends two nights. He told us that at book store signings he has sat as long as nine hours autographing for his loyal fans.

Some of his other bestsellers include Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. He is also an award-winning playwright and recipient of a Thurber Prize for American Humor. David’s original radio pieces can often be heard on “This American Life,” distributed nationally by Public Radio International.

Sedaris’ performance marked the end of a wonderful season for UCLA Live. Their new nine-month season will run from October 1, 2008 to June 20, 2009, and is set to include 94 performances, covering an eclectic variety of genres. Single events and nine series will feature theater, dance, spoken word, family, and music ranging from classical, jazz, and world to folk, roots, and electronica.

Audiences can look forward to extraordinary events such as evenings with Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icons Edward Albee and John Updike; the Southern California premiere of Kronos Quartet’s moving 9/11 commemoration “Awakening”; superstar Chinese pianist Lang Lang; the return of legendary barefoot diva Césaria Évora; “A Romantic Evening in Old Mexico” with Linda Ronstadt and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano; the reunion of former Miles Davis bandmates Chick Corea and John McLaughlin; and a UCLA Live exclusive event with director Werner Herzog. In addition, one of the most anticipated offerings is the Seventh Annual International Theatre Festival.

Information on these and all events, performances, dates, and ticket prices can be found at: www.uclalive.org.

Article by Marilyn Anderson

SECRETS OF THE TRADE

SECRETS OF THE TRADE

By Marilyn Anderson

The World Premiere of Jonathan Tolins’ “Secrets of the Trade” at the award-winning Black Dahlia Theater in the gentrifying Pico District is a drama well worth seeing.

Tolins’ new work is a powerful and sentimental insider’s journey down Broadway that helps us understand universal human themes through the eyes of gay men, who purportedly dominate the theatre industry.

John Glover gives a stellar performance as pompous veteran writer/director Martin Kerner, agreeing to meet a teen-age fan years after receiving the teen-ager’s flowery letter. We’re not sure why, but unfulfilled expectations are Kerner’s gifts.

The smart and ambitious young writer, Andrew Lipman, is played by Edward Tournier. Tournier excels, growing in stature from a manic 16-year old high school student, through college years, and by the end, a cynical 26-year-old Hollywood television writer.

Amy Aquino has been a favorite actress of mine for a long time, and she does not disappoint as Andy’s mother, Joanne Lipman. Fully committed to her only child, she becomes jealous of his relationship with Kerner.  Amy does three hysterical cameos, including a New York agent and the Faye Dunaway character, in a musical version of “Network.” Her “dancer” is a total hoot!

Playing opposite Aquino is Mark L. Taylor, whose laid-back role as caring father and understanding hubby serves as Kerner’s counterpoint. His tempered vigilance plays well against the emotion-ladened Andy/Kerner dialogues.

Rounding out the cast is Bill Brochtrup as the bittersweet Bradley, the director’s long-term, sympathetic assistant, who gave up his own creative dreams when Kerner told him, “You’d make a good . . . assistant!”

The Dahlia is a tiny space, yet the director, Matt Shakman, expertly manipulates the actors and sets into commanding scale as the story comes to life. You forget about size as the actors explode and plumb the depths of their characters in a totally free use of the space—behind a scrim, in the aisles, at a table—even on a table. In one scene, John Glover is literally curled up on a kitchen table the entire time—and it is truly magnificent to watch.  His presence is imposing, but never false. The entire production flows seamlessly—dialog, characters, acting and directing. It’s intense and powerful, but always natural.

Shakman adds some interesting directorial touches, including a delightful comic dialog where the egotistical mentor handily drops the names of a series of stars . . . whom we never hear. Instead, the waiter (Taylor) simply taps a spoon on a glass, which chimes every time a name comes up. It’s a perfectly timed, masterful sequence that leaves no face in the audience without a smile.

“Secrets of the Trade” runs through April 20th at the Black Dahlia, with the potential for a life well beyond that, likely to the New York stage. Tolins’ other plays have been successful. His “Twilight of the Golds” was a provocative piece with an interesting theme that was a hit at the Pasadena Playhouse years ago. It didn’t run long on Broadway, but became a television movie, produced by Garry Marshall.

The production in this small, black box storefront proves that size doesn’t always matter! This is a company that puts on exhilarating, first-class theater. There are only about 50 seats per performance, so you’d better book your tickets now for whatever production is next!

The Black Dahlia Theatre
5453 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-525-0070
www.thedahlia.com

RETURN – The Musical

RETURN – The Musical

Article by Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning

The Falashas are an ancient clan of Hebrews, possibly emanating from the tribe of Dan, who were sequestered to remote locations in Ethiopia because, like Jews everywhere, they were considered different. For reasons unknown, they were “strangers” in their own land and persecuted, isolated, and feared.

This new musical is based on Sonia Levitin’s award-winning book The Return, which recounts the story of the Falashas’ daring exodus from Ethiopia in 1984 and the secret airlift known as “Operation Moses” that saved 8,000 of them. Later, another removal brought the remaining 16,000 out of bondage.

RETURN the musical, premiering at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, is the story of their plight and flight, tellingly performed by an extremely talented and bright cast of about 25 actors. The sad but stirring tale is lovingly conveyed through song and dance in this feature event of the 2008 Festival of New American Musicals.

The story focuses on love of family and the hopes of one starry-eyed young woman to reach her potential in Jerusalem, and one old woman with the strength and determination to recognize her last opportunity for freedom.

The Edgemar is an intimate venue, and director/choreographer Donald McKayle does an exceptional job of making it come alive with the spirit and sounds of the Ethiopian village. It’s not surprising, considering his impressive background. McKayle is a five-time Tony nominee for Broadway shows, such as Sophisticated Ladies, It Ain’t Nothing But the Blues, and Raisin, which was awarded the Tony as Best Musical. He is the recipient of all kinds of awards around the country. He was honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as the “Master of African-American Choreography.”

Return’s cast members range from 11-year-olds to septuagenarians; and they are all excellent, with powerful singing voices. Terry Norman delivers a strong, nuanced performance as Desta, the young woman who’d rather pursue an education than marry. Paula Bellamy-Franklin plays the elderly grandmother, Weizero, with remarkable humor and grace. The dancers in the ensemble are from the Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

A few questions arise in the second act. It was sad to learn that Desta’s fiancé was killed after the couple finally resolved their salient issues of personal growth and marriage. The journey had matured him, and it seemed a shame to have him perish, just when we’d started to like him.

Unresolved, also, is what happens to Desta after she is stung by an insect. We expect her to become ill, or worse; but although her painful bite is brought up twice, it’s dropped and left up in the air as the curtain comes down.

Nonetheless, the audience leaves the Edgemar feeling inspired and entertained. RETURN is a moving and heroic musical that underscores the continuing effort for freedom in the world. It’s also a rare opportunity to see an outstanding cast of actors, singers and dancers “up close and personal.” Catch it before it closes on July 20th.

RETURN – The Musical
Book and Lyrics by Sonia Levitin
Music by William Kevin Anderson
Directed and Choreographed by Donald McKayle

Edgemar Center for the Arts
2437 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
For tickets: (310) 392-7327 or http://www.returnthemusical.com

Dates:
Thursday, June 5 through Sunday June 29 and Thursday July 10 thru Sunday July 20
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm
$34.99 for general admission and $17.99 for students

SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT (AS TOLD BY HIMSELF)

SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT:
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT
(AS TOLD BY HIMSELF)

This family-friendly adventure tale at the Geffen Playhouse stars award-winning actor Gregory Itzin, best known for his role as President Charles Logan on the TV show “24.”

In Shipwrecked, Itzin wows the audience in a commanding performance as adventurer Louis de Rougemont, a real life storyteller who captivated Victorian England with his incredible tales of survival that were published in The Wide World Magazine.

Other characters in De Rougemont’s adventures include his mother, his faithful dog, a crusty sea captain and some spear-wielding aborigines—all played by the versatile Melody Butiu and Michael Daniel. Daniel gets to show lots of tongue, but don’t worry—it’s canine tongue! Every time he impishly becomes Bruno the pooch and lovingly snuggles up to his master to lick him, the audience howls.

Director Bart DeLorenzo’s staging is dramatic and magical; it’s filled with adventure, style and excitement as well as unique lighting and sound effects, which the actors themselves create right in front of us! Under all the fun, there’s a timeless theme about truth, storytelling, and the meaning of celebrity.

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment was written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies, who was commissioned to develop it for the South Coast Repertory. Theproduction runs at the Geffen Playhouse until Sunday, July 27, 2008.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
310.208.5454
www.geffenplayhouse.com

Performances: Tuesdays thru Sundays; June 25, 2008 –July 27, 2008
Tickets ($35 to $79) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500.

Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain for $15.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
310.208.5454
www.geffenplayhouse.com

TASTING TAIWAN – A Tantalizing Tour of Sights, Nights and Tasty Bites!

Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

TASTING TAIWAN – A Tantalizing Tour of Sights, Nights and Tasty Bites!

By Marilyn Anderson

One of the perks of being a freelance writer is that you can be spontaneous. You don’t have to plan far ahead in order to “take time off from work.” Hey, I take off for years at a time! So when I got the opportunity to take a trip to Taiwan, leaving in ten days, I didn’t need to think about it – I just said, “Wow, I’m there!” I threw some travel pants in a bag, went to a clinic to get a typhoid shot with the longest needle I’d ever seen and pouff! I was ready to roll. The trip ended up being a whirlwind week excursion around the island of Taiwan, where I got to see all kinds of magnificent sights and eat my way across the country.

Some of you may remember that Taiwan used to have a different name: Formosa. Even now, the locals refer to it as Ilha Formosa which means “Beautiful Island” in Portuguese. It’s easy to see why.

Taiwan is an exotic country full of modern and vibrant cities, picturesque mountaintop villages and unique oceanside settlements. Visitors can experience different customs, diverse lifestyles, strange languages, and traditional Taiwanese culture and arts that have been passed down for generations. And of course, an array of exotic cuisines that will totally please and completely surprise the palate.

We visited a variety of specialty restaurants, from posh hotel dining rooms to local eateries to roadside stands, and even 7/11s, which dot the roads all around the country. Wherever you are, the tantalizing tastes of Taiwan are graciously provided by warm and hospitable people who take pleasure and pride in hosting their guests.

This issue features Northern Taiwan and the sophisticated and culturally diverse capital city of Taipei. Parts 2 and 3 in future issues will cover the Central, Eastern, and Southern parts of the island.

TAIPEI

We arrived in Taipei late at night after a 15-hour flight, and one of the things we all noticed as we drove into the city was that even at midnight, the place was jumping! Restaurants, bars, and clubs were open; lines of people were standing outside karaoke parlors; and we learned that if we wanted to go shopping no problem! That’s because Taipei has many night markets, famous for terrific bargains on clothes, toys, leather goods, and electronics, as well as food and snacks galore. There are also 24-hour-foot massage parlors, a 24-hour bookstore, Eslite; and even the parks had young men playing sports in the middle of the night! Our sleepy group passed on the late night activities and headed for the hotel, but you can be sure on my next trip, I’ll spend more time partaking of their rocking night life.

During the day, Taipei is a stylish and bustling city with plenty of attractions to keep every tourist happy. There are temples and festivals, museums and shopping, art and culture,flower and jade markets, and food from every corner of the world.

Following is a sampling of some of the fabulous foods we savored and the special places in Taipei
that served them.

SILKS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Grand Formosa Regency Taipei

The Grand Formosa Regency has eight restaurants, and their newest, Silks House, is where our group was treated to a veritable feast of never-ending courses. I counted 23! Some dishes looked and sounded like things we might normally eat, but others that looked new and peculiar went untasted, especially after we were told what they were!

Here are a few of the delicacies they served:

Crispy Eel Sprinkled with Sesame – Dee-lish!
Marinated Jelly Fish Mixed with Celery – Didn’t try it. Hey, I was stung by one once! Vegetable Soup served in a Pumpkin Shell – Divine!
Marinated Pig’s Ear with XO Sauce – It was pig, but I chickened out!
Steamed Winter Melon with Yunnan Ham – Excellent!
Baked Seafood with Cheese in Dragon Fruit – Delicious and bee-yootiful, too. Fermented Tofu – also known as STINKY TOFU – and there’s good reason! Roasted Farm Goose – Mmmm, mmm…

The waiters wheeled everything in on carts, and with some, such as the Roasted Duck Grand Formosa Style, we were treated to a show. First, the chefs presented the mouth-watering red bird with gorgeous crispy skin. Then, they sliced it up and served it on plates with scallions, sweet red bell peppers, sour ginger slices, and a special sauce, all in a light and puffy Chinese bun.

The 23 entrees were followed by the dessert, which elicited a myriad of “oohs and aahs” from our group. Billed as “Seasonal Fruits with Crushed Ice,” it was much more extravagant than it sounded. Presented in a huge bowl, it had a surreal “halo of mist” floating over an enormous assortment of colorful fresh fruits, including some we’re not used to in the U.S., such as grass jelly, beans, and black tapioca. This fruit cocktail swam in a punch of crushed ice, condensed milk, and brown sugar. Palate-cleansing and refreshingly cool to taste, it was the perfect conclusion to a colossal feast.

For those of you who like to combine gourmet dining with sightseeing, a brand new Silks Palace just opened at the National Palace Museum.

SILKS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Grand Formosa Regent Taipei
No 41, Chung Shan N. Rd., Section2, Taipei 104, Taiwan
TELÅF886 2 2523 8000
http://www.grandformosa.com.tw

* * *

FIVE DIME DRIFTWOOD RESTAURANT

One of the joys of Chinese dining is getting your share of the food as the Lazy Susan spins around the table. At Five Dime, the courses just kept coming in the ultimate experience of “family dining.” Everyone got some of everything as the exquisite dishes were brought hot and steaming from the kitchen.

Some of our dishes included Spicy Chili Chicken; Prawns with Ginkgo and Lily; Floatingheart Stems with Fragrant Manjack Fruits, and Down-Home Sweet Potato Rice. However, when the strange-looking, purplish Sea Cucumber came twirling by, I admit to a surge of culinary cowardice. I smiled and said, “I’m simply too full,” and pushed the revolving tray on to the next guest!

Food aside, another great reason to go to the Five Dime Restaurant is to see the extraordinary architecture and learn about the owner, Hsieh Li-shiang. At eight years old, Hsieh built a tree house, which became her inspiration for the five restaurants she built in Taiwan. Without any formal training, she started designing buildings based on her love of nature. Driftwood and trees are an integral part of her work, along with colored bricks, oyster shells and rocks.

Hsieh designs every aspect of the restaurants herself, from the airy interior and nature-inspired exteriors down to the tables, chairs, and beautifully crafted plates and cups. Her first restaurant, Five Cent Driftwood House, was built for NT $200,000; and the newest, Five Dime in Taipei’s Neihu District, cost NT $6 million. Her restaurants are well-known landmarks of unique architectural style and fine cuisine, created and operated by an incredible woman with only a junior high school education.

I took some time to walk around each of the three floors of this fabulous restaurant, marveling at the unusual trees, pond, sculptures, and objets d’art. When you’re in Taipei, you’ll definitely want to visit Five Dime for both the delicious food and the unique and dramatic atmosphere.

FIVE DIME DRIFTWOOD
(02) 8501-1472
No.8, Lane.32, Sec.1, Neihu Rd., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.five-dime.com.tw/html/homepage.htm

* * *

Dinner with the Governor of Taipei County
VR GARDEN CAFE
Danshui, Taipei County

Less than an hour by MRT (Taipei’s rapid transit metro), Danshui is a historic riverbank city rich in diverse cultures and the clash of contrasting styles. New streets and old run parallel to each other along the riverbanks; historical monuments and religious temples abut modern shops; and contemporary coffee houses stand next to old Chinese style tea houses, along with stores selling an eclectic assortment of items like fish balls, confections, fish crisp crumbs, and antiques. It’s a soothing diversion from the intensity of Taipei.

The highlight of our detour to Danshui was being joined for dinner by the Governor of Taipei County, Hsi-Wei Chou, (Roy Chou). A charming and gracious host, Mr. Chou actually attended USC in his twenties. He and his wife greeted us by the wharf, and as we walked along the old street and up a steep path past some of their historical monuments, the local people were thrilled to shake his hand and snap cell phone photos. We continued up the windy walkway to Fort San Domingo, taking in other sights, such as the 1800s Canadian Pastor George Leslie MacKay’s wall, the British Consular Residence, Fu You Temple, and Oxford College.

After our walk we went for dinner at the charming outdoor VR Garden Café. Danshui is particularly proud of its local artisans and actively promotes them. At our dinner, three artists were featured showing their paintings and even offering us custom-made works of art on the spot.One of the artists, David Wu, had animal images with people’s names embedded in them. Since I’m the author of “Never Kiss a Frog,” I asked him to make me a frog with my name in it. Within a matter of minutes, I had my own personal David Wu Froggy, with “Marilyn” etched in its belly, to take home as a souvenir. Interestingly, Governor Chou is an accomplished artist as well, and I brought home a coffee-table book filled with stunning pages of his oil on canvas and acrylic on canvas paintings.

Our five-course meal at the Garden Café was served American style, with appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, and dessert. I was so busy getting my frog art that I didn’t write down what I ate. I just gobbled it up, savoring every morsel. Afterwards the artists treated us to atraditional tea ceremony, served with a teapot and plates made by one of them. Our delicious meal and special company was capped by a dramatic sunset and spectacular nighttime view of the harbor. In fact, one of Taiwan’s Eight Wonders is the “Danshui Sunset,” famous because at sunset, a leaf of golden rays shows up on the surface of the river.

* * *

PEARL LIANG CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Grand Hyatt Taipei

I love romance, and the Grand Hyatt Taipei’s beautiful restaurant Pearl Liang has a truly romantic history.

The owner, Pearl Liang, was born into a wealthy family in old Shanghai upscale society. She grew up in Taipei and later lived overseas in England, Switzerland, and the United States. While traveling to Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Pearl met her true love, an influential business tycoon. After marrying, they continued traveling the globe, attending lavish parties and collecting memories along with exquisite pieces of porcelain, art, books, and tableware. Hers was a true storybook romance, ending sadly and suddenly when her husband perished in an avalanche on a heli-ski vacation.

This is when Pearl returned to Taiwan to create Pearl Liang, an extraordinary restaurant, filled with her collectibles, in the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Nostalgic music from Pearl’s favorites—Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Billy Holiday, and Louis Armstrong—adds to the ambience. The restaurant combines her passion for entertaining with fine wines, designer fashion, and exquisite home-style Chinese cooking. Many of the secret recipes came from Pearl’s mother, all impeccably prepared in the old fashioned way: by hand on the table and in full view of the guests.

Although I didn’t get to meet Pearl on this trip, I hope to next time. Maybe we’ll be able to share some girl talk about Romance on the Road!

PEARL LIANG CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Grand Hyatt Taipei
2, Song Shou Road,
Taipei, Taiwan 11051
Tel: +886 2 2720 1234
http://www.taipei.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

* * *

THE GRAND RESIDENCE
Grand Hyatt Taipei

Speaking of romance, if you’re looking for a special location for your Destination Wedding or a marvelous rehearsal dinner, this could be the place!

The Grand Hyatt has an entire new wing for parties and events called The Grand Residence. Designed by international designer Tony Chi, this new architectural icon provides a beautiful and stylish atmosphere for large festive occasions or small business meetings.

Conceptually, The Grand Residence blends traditional catering and meeting space with an interactive open kitchen into a warmer, more hospitable environment. It’s almost like visiting someone in their elegant home. A section called “the glasshouse” allows hosts or their party planners to select their favorite tableware, décor, and gifts, which are on display. The dining rooms are Residence One, Two, and Three, as well as the most discreet one, called simply, The Residence. Its adjoining terrace features a spectacular view of Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building, which is next door to the Grand Hyatt.

Adjacent to the central kitchen is the tasting room, where hosts can have a grand time planning what they are going to serve their guests. Lucky them, they get to sample loads of absolutely scrumptious dishes!

I can attest to that, since our last night in Taiwan we had dinner at The Grand Residence. It was fun being able to walk over to the numerous cooking stations in the ultra-spacious kitchen as the chefs each put their individual specialties on our plates from cold appetizers, sushi, and salads, to delectable hot entrees to assorted dim sum and then some! I love to taste different dishes, and this was food heaven to me.

Check out some of the yummy entrees:

Grilled Lamb Loin on Warm Smoked Eggplant Salad
Pan Fried Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce –
Seared Beef Medallion and Duck Liver with Truffle Sauce
Wok Fried Prawns “Szechwan” Style
Stewed Pork Ribs with Rock Sugar and Chinese Tea
Sautéed Asparagus
Steamed Rice in Lotus Leaf

After tasting these and more, we went into the bar, which was specially set up for our desserts, including Chilled Mango Pudding with Sago and Coconut Jelly, Raspberry Tiramisu Slice, and Soft Chocolate Tart with Five Spice Cream. Did I say food heaven? Make that Nirvana!

The Grand Residence is an impressive and elegant new addition to the Grand Hyatt and an exceptional alternative to traditional hotel party rooms. Now, all I need is to plan my wedding there. I’m ready!

THE GRAND RESIDENCE
Grand Hyatt Taipei
2, Song Shou Road,
Taipei, Taiwan 11051
Tel: +886 2 2720 1234
grandhyatttaipei@hyattintl.com

* * *

TAIWAN TIDBITS

Taipei 101: Built to resemble a stalk of bamboo, this is the tallest building in the world, with the world’s fastest elevators. You reach the 89th floor observation deck in just 30 seconds!

The Grand Hotel: Built by Madame Chiang Kai-shek in the style of Beijing’s Forbidden City Palace, it stands majestically on a hilltop, offering spectacular views of Taipei.

National Palace Museum: This fascinating museum is the world’s fifth largest. It contains more than 700,000 artifacts representing Chinese art and culture from the Neolithic period to the end of the Qing dynasty.

Lungshan Temple: The Dragon Mountain meeting place of the gods known for the wealth of deities worshipped here.

Confucius Temple. This grand temple of the Jiangnan style was built in the first year of the Guanghsu period to worship Confucius. The annual ceremony of Confuscius’ birthday will be held on September 28th.

Night Markets: Don’t miss the excitement and energy of the throngs of people winding through the stalls with exotic foods, clothing and other bargains. The Shilin Night Market is the foremost among all the night markets in Taipei. I got a handbag for about $25 that I saw in the U.S. for $225!

Foot Massage Parlors: Taipei holds the world’s record for the most foot massages given in one day.

Tea Shops – A glorious history of tea growing exists in Taiwan, with tea shops all over, each with a counter for tasting, drinking, and talking with friends and servers.

Cosmetic Surgery: If you have some extra time for a little tightening here and there, medical costs are a lot less expensive in Taiwan. Surgical costs are generally half the price.

Wedding & Honeymoon Destination: Taiwan’s booming wedding industry is famous. Over 1300 wedding studios and packages include wedding outfits and costumes for the bride and groom and imaginative studio or outdoor photo shoots.
Taiwan High-Speed Rail: Asia’s newest bullet train.

Festivals – Throughout the year, there are Dragon Boat Festivals; Lantern Festivals; Flower Shows; Hot Spring & Fine Cuisine Carnivals; Music, Art & Cultural Festivals; and Kite Festivals.

Hotel Breakfasts: If you’re staying at one of the larger hotels that have a buffet breakfast, be prepared for a morning spread that includes not only the usual American fare, but also unusual breakfast delicacies from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.

Money Conversion: $1.00 US Dollar = NT $30.321 Taiwan Dollars
NT $100 Taiwan Dollars = $3.29804 US Dollars.

Want to visit Taiwan? Easy. There are 99 flights a day from the U.S.

Going to Asia? Stopover in Taiwan! Only $79 – “I Land” Paradise, Taiwan Special — US $79 per room/night including breakfast through December 31, 2008.

Stopover at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport? If you have at least a 7-hour layover, you can get a free half-day tour to Sansia / Yingge or Taipei City

And the winner is! The one-millionth, two-millionth, three-millionth, and four-millionth foreign visitors to Taiwan during their special promotional period in 2008-2009 will win a credit card good for purchases in Taiwan for NT $100,000, NT $ 200,000, NT$ 300,000 and NT $400,000! (In U.S. currency, that’s about $3300 up to $13,120!)

TAIWAN
Touch Your Heart
Tourist Bureau
www.go2taiwan.net

SOME GIRL(S) Written and Directed by Neil LaBute

SOME GIRL(S)

Written and Directed by Neil LaBute

Neil LaBute writes mean men.  Mean, but fascinating. I became a fan of Neil’s after seeing his first film, The Company of Men, which was both riveting and revolting at the same time.  Riveting because the story, dialogue, and craft were so exceptional; revolting because the male characters were such bastards.

In LaBute’s West Coast Premiere of Some Girl(s) at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, the hero is yet another cad. This time we don’t get to know the lead character, Guy, all that well. Instead, it’s his numerous ex-girlfriends that bring the story and emotions to the surface.  Guy visits his four exes in hotel rooms in four different cities where they each still live: Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.  Sam, Tyler, Lindsay, and Bobbi are the four women Guy dumped─all without explanation. Now, years later, just before he’s about to get married, Guy, a successful New York writer, returns to see each of them, purportedly to “make amends.”

Each woman represents a different stage of his life: Sam, the now-married-with-children ex-high school sweetheart; Tyler, the wild child of his college years who joined him in casual sex, fun, and drugs; Lindsay, a married college professor whowas cheating with him on her husband; and Bobbi, the grad school honey he was unable to commit to, even though she was the love of his life─and probably the girl he should have married.

The playwright has a flair for smart, pithy dialog, and Guy works his considerable linguistic skills, rekindling affairs of the past with each woman. Opening the emotional baggage of each relationship is an awesome task, well accomplished. However, it sort of leaves us wondering what these women ever saw in this jerk to begin with, and wondering why they would show up years later to see him again.  The obvious reason is that these women are as needy as Guy.  LaBute recognizes, with perfect accuracy, that while Guy is superficial and an opportunist, the women attracted to him are weak and still hurting after all this time.  They’ve come to see him with a curious chip on their shoulder, and to get closure for their pain from so long ago.  They want to feel better after his betrayal─even though years have passed and they’ve moved on.  Or maybe not.  There is a twist at the end, which seals the deal that Guy is not just seeking redemption; he’s carrying on the tradition of a perverse guy with warped interpersonal dynamics and selfish gain as his main motivations.

Will he return to his New York fiancée, ten years his junior, and actually marry her?  I don’t think so.  But maybe that’s another play.

LaBute likes his actors, and has written a formidable vehicle to display their talents. The hardest working is Mark Feuerstein, whose edginess is palpable throughout, as he expertly manipulates each of his former lovers with skill and guile. Rosalind Chao, Paula Cale Lisbe, Justina Machado and Jaime Ray Newman give stellar performances as the women, each dealing with Guy in fully believable ways as their emotions unwind and unravel.

Contributing to the overall enjoyment of the play was the intimacy of the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at The Geffen. The audience becomes almost part of the story, as if sitting on the edge of the bed listening to a friend tell their tale of alienation and loneliness.  And how guys, both then and now, can be just plain mean.  Both women and men in the audience are able to relate─but hopefully they will return to their homes showing genuine love and tenderness to their mates. Geez, who am I kidding? It’s the proverbial battle of the sexes: Mars and Venus, or Him versus Her.  Some Girl(s)brings up lots of familiar issues, questions, and pointed conversation between couples─so don’t expect quiet time on the way home. You’ll be chatting and buzzing all night long.  Now, that’s what we call “good theater!”

Geffen Playhouse and Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater
10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, California 90024

www.geffenplayhouse.com

Phone: (310) 208-5454
Email: boxoffice@geffenplayhouse.com

Performance Schedule:

Thru Sunday, March 16

Tuesday – Thursday: 8:00 pm
Friday: 7:30 pm
Saturday: 3:30 pm & 8:00pm
Sunday: 2:30 pm & 7:30pm

Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson

Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress

Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress
Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson

She’s a super talented lady in a super tough business. So for the audience, it’s not just her jokes, but a glimpse into what Joan feels—and it’s emotional.  Getting older in show business isn’t fun. (But is it, anywhere?)

The jokes and revelations all take place in a dressing room at the TV studio where Joan is about to do her gig as a red carpet interviewer.  The other characters are there to aid and abet, but it’s Joan who takes the stage and keeps us totally absorbed from beginning to end.

The laughs are great as always.But this time, you leave knowing Joan just a little bit better—and we’re all the better for it. Kudos to Joan Rivers, who at 74, has braved the show-biz wars from comedienne, actress, writer and director; to playwright and book author; to jewelry designer, QVC queen, mother, and grandmother.  One could get exhausted just thinking about doing it all.  But Joan—well, she’s an amazing lady who has enriched our lives with laughter. And her Work in Progress at the Geffen is a terrific evening filled with laughs and more.  Thank you, Joan!

Others featured in the cast are Tara Joyce, Emily Kosloski, and Adam Kulbersh.

www.geffenplayhouse.com

Box Office Phone: (310) 208-5454
Email: boxoffice@geffenplayhouse.com

LOOK – the Movie

LOOK – the Movie…

LOOK Who’s Watching

Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson

The new feature film LOOK takes its title and concept from the fact that some 30 million surveillance cameras are out there in the world recording what people do literally everywhere they go. And it’s a fascinating LOOK. A variety of disparate characters are followed as they go through their daily lives─all seen from the point of view of security cameras in various places.

Initially, the characters seem like everyday folks─unremarkable at best─including two teenage girls, an office nerd, a yuppie couple with a child, a horny sales manager, and a convenience store clerk/wannabe musician.  In casting the roles, writer-director Adam Rivkin made a distinctive and excellent choice. Despite the fact that several well-known actors wanted to be in the film, the filmmaker resisted.  He chose to use unknowns, so that we, the audience, can watch each of them without the persona of a famous actor getting in the way.

Rivkin lets us take our time getting to know these characters, with no preconceived notions. As the movie progresses, all kinds of emotions are evoked. The audience is amused, intrigued, agitated, concerned, and provoked. But never bored.

The opening of the movie is titillating and comical.  With the introduction of each of the characters, the story becomes more complex. The tension builds and the individual stories gradually become intertwined and interlocked.

I refuse to give away any of the plot.  Suffice it to say, it’s got surprises, laughs, drama,satire, misogyny, and a harsh dose of reality. And like reality, it’s not neatly tied up at the end.

In addition to being about those omnipresent, all-seeing camera lenses and the fact that no one actually takes the time to watch what’s on them, it’s also about the secrets people keep from others, even those closest to them.  The movie works─and works wonderfully. You come out wondering about the people around you─the people you know and the ones you don’t, the guy next to you, and maybe even the person you’re with.  What’s their secret?  And what’s yours?

LOOK the movie… is definitely worth more than a LOOK

REDONDO BEACH, California

Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB – Redondo Beach, CA

A short way down the coast from Los Angeles is the beach town of Redondo Beach. Once a sleepy enclave of surfers and airline stewardesses (when they were called that), it now boasts of sky-high real estate and some hidden travel gems, perfect for a weekend escape.

One of these is the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club, located in King Harbor on the Pacific Ocean.  The hotel takes its name from the fact that while landlubbers may come by car, the wide berths and superior dock space of the marina ensure that even the biggest boaters have easy access as well. While we were there, many guests had come by boat and sought a luxurious night or two on shore.

With a first-class restaurant across the courtyard, we were looking forward to a great get-away-from-home-for-a-night, as we live only 10 miles away. The Portofino doesn’t disappoint.

Substantially remodeled at a cost of $11 million and operated by the capable Noble House Hotel Group, this once sketchy property is now a first rate inn. The new maritime look is handsome and warm with a soft yellow and blue theme.

Our room was filled with natural light and the sounds of sea lions cavorting right outside our window. A nice touch by the hotel is a poem about the sea lions in each room. Watching them is a treat, as was the 42-inch plasma television with DVD player we watched much later. We also particularly enjoyed lolling around in the hotel’s super plush terry robes, while surfing the Internet on their free wi-fi.

After checking in and watching the spectacular sunset, we took a stroll along the beach path to the Redondo Pier. The Pier in King Harbor is the center of the Redondo Beach ocean front. It’s an area of restaurants and pubs bordering the famous Los Angeles bike path, which stretches almost 25 miles from Malibu on the north to just below Redondo Beach on the south. It passes right in front of the Portofino, where bikes are available for free, anytime. We found this a great way to go to brunch the next day at one of the cafes near the pier.

After our walk, we returned to our room for a quick cat nap on the lushest of bedding and casually dressed for the evening ahead at their signature restaurant, Baleen Los Angeles.

A natural for air passengers to Los Angeles, due to its close proximity to LAX, desirable to boaters for the marina facilities at its front door, and a short drive for LA locals, the Portofino is a traveler’s trifecta.  We loved the sense of “quiet luxury” imbued in the newly remodeled rooms on the water and also their first-rate restaurant.  If you like the easygoing feeling of the seaside, a jaunt to the Portofino could be the perfect destination.

PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-379-8481
www.hotelportofino.com

BALEEN LOS ANGELES – Redondo Beach, CA

Across the courtyard from the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club, Baleen Los Angeles brings fine dining to King Harbor in Redondo Beach, California. Recognizable as the signature restaurant of the Noble House Hotel Group—we have found from prior experience—they succeed where others don’t, in serving food with style and elegance but without pretension.

Baleen is an inviting and handsome restaurant. Just entering relaxes you in a way few places do today. It seems more like a cozy living room than a highly functional dining emporium. We were thinking Bing Crosby and “White Christmas” as we were seated at a nice table close to the fireplace, which warmed our hearts on a chilly beach evening.

The menu is designed to do the same thing for your stomach, that is, warm and comforting food, but with an eclectic and fresh edge to it. Each menu item is a feast for the eyes as well as the palette, with creative presentation being the order of the day.

We started with the heirloom beet salad with pine nuts, feta cheese, asparagus, and aged balsamic vinegar. Tasty and unique with those oh-so-rare heirloom beets!  We also split the lobster and crab salad with light dill sauce, topped with caviar and pear balls on the side. Yummy!

baleen la cuisine1baleen la cuisine2

Baleen’s distinctive preparations and accompaniments make you want to try everything on the menu.  Our entrees included a perfectly prepared grilled char, with an edamame puree topping a crispy potato cake with fresh bok choy and mild ginger sauce. Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and trout and has a reddish pink color, clean taste and even texture. It was char par-excellence!

Nothing is more comforting than a great grilled steak. Our second entrée was their charbroiled rib-eye steak topped with a sweet roasted onion and cabernet reduction, and served with golden fingerling potatoes. Another extraordinary dish!

On our afternoon walk that day, we had both resolved, “No more desserts.” But tonight we realized our promise would have to wait—Baleen simply made it impossible to resist.

“Ever have “Blueberry Soup?” our waiter Joe asked. “Wow,” we said. In all our travels, we’d never come across it.  Convincing us we’d like it, he brought a deep dish consisting of cinnamon gelato, ground cinnamon, sugar, and white chocolate sticks in a “soup” of blueberries and sauce. Talk about licking our lips! This was an exceptional dessert that we highly recommend. As if that wasn’t enough, Joe also brought us another dessert, an utterly divine chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. As we finished our meal, all we could say was, “Ahhhhhh.”

Baleen Los Angeles is a place we will return to soon and often. This was our third meal at a Noble House restaurant and each one was as close to perfect as possible.

You also won’t want to miss the Living Room Bar. It’s in the same building as Baleen with comfy chairs and chaises overlooking the marina. The room features a three-story atrium and is a totally “cool” hot spot for cocktails.

Hotel breakfast is also served here.

BALEEN LOS ANGELES at the
PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
877-225-3365

For the Noble House Hotel visit, www.noblehousehotels.com.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Where to Stay:

Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites

The Coast Plaza is a great hotel choice for three main reasons: location, location, location.  Not as new as some other hotels around town, the Coast Plaza has so many positive features you will leave it loving it, as we did.

Coast Plaza’s rooms are spacious. Many are suites, and if you’re on the higher floors, you get a million dollar view of the mountains and bay. Lucky us, we were on the 33rd floor! It was breathtaking and enlightening to witness the weather changing, to watch sea vessels coming and going, and to gaze out at the miraculous sunsets. These moments were made even better as we shared a cheese plate and bottle of champagne from the hotel’s excellent room service.

Our one-bedroom suite had a roomy living room with a big comfy couch and two large armchairs, a desk, TV, and small dining table, as well as a full kitchen, stocked with plates and utensils. Oh, and they provide complimentary wireless, which would definitely cost you more at most other hotels.  They also have a free shuttle that takes guests to the town center so you needn’t take a cab.

For convenience, you can’t beat the shopping mall on the bottom floors with a market, and yes, even several movie theaters. There are a pool, sauna, and healthclub. They have two restaurants and banquet facilities that hosted a wedding while we were there.

The best part of staying here, though, is that you are in a real neighborhood. Walk out on Denman Street and find yourself surrounded with shops and restaurants of all kinds. You’re a local, not a tourist, in this part of the city.

Entrance to Stanley Park is a couple of blocks from the hotel. Do not fail to stroll, take a trolley tour, a horse and carriage ride, or rent a bike to see this large and wondrous park. Continue on down Denman and you run into Robson Street, Vancouver’s main street.

The Coast Plaza Hotel is a terrific, no-compromise pick for a Vancouver holiday. Experts at making you feel at home, they provide all the amenities expected of a top-flight hotel.

Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites

1763 Comox Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6G 1P6
800.716.6199
www.coasthotels.com/hotels/canada/bc/vancouver/coast_plaza/overview

Where to Eat:

Vancouver is a “food city.” There are so many great places in every neighborhood that finding a satisfying meal is easy. We discovered some absolute gems.

Salt Tasting Room

Salt Tasting RoomThis unique charcuterie in Gastown is located on a street called “Blood Alley.” That alone should make it worth visiting. Once inside, you realize you have found a place unlike any other.

The Salt Tasting Room doesn’t have an actual kitchen. Instead, all cheeses and meats are sliced at the front of the bar with a hand-slicer. There is a good reason for this lo-tech approach; it’s not a retro-trendy thing. Because their meats are cured, an electric slicer would heat up the meat as it was being sliced─in effect, “cooking” it─and alter the taste.

Salt Tasting RoomTheir menu is listed on a chalkboard taking up the entire back wall. This makes it easy to change the enumerable daily selections of cheeses, cured meats, condiments, and wine options. It took us quite awhile just to “digest” all the selections and variations.

Salt Tasting RoomUltimately, we left it up to our waitperson, Taryn, to make suggestions, based on our likes and dislikes. This is done willingly and almost lovingly as you sense the enthusiasm she has for the Salt Tasting Room and making her customers happy. She was thoroughly knowledgeable about the source, style, and manufacture of their meats and cheeses, explaining each of them and the kind of tasting experience we could expect.

Our choices of meats included wine-drenched prosciutto, smoked pork tenderloin, smoked beef tenderloin, and Italian country salami. Our cheeses were La Rippelle, a local artisanal goat, and a rich cheddar. Our condiments included roasted plums, cornichons, raw hazelnuts, quince paste, balsamic cabernet reduction, apricot-onion chutney, and concord grapes─all accompanied by a huge pile of light crusted white bread.

Salt Tasting RoomIf you’re at all like us and want to recall what you ate at the Salt Tasting Room, they make it easy for you. When the waitstaff serves the food, they place a chart next to your plate, listing everything you ordered, so you know which delicious morsel you are eating, and you can remember it later on.

Instead of ordering the individual glass of wine (or two) that usually carries us through a meal, we opted for the wine tasters. This is six 2-oz. portions of different wines specially selected to be paired with each meat or cheese. We each drank 3 samplers.

Salt Tasting RoomThe Salt Tasting Room isn’t just eating─it’s an experience─and definitely a fun and delectable one! It’s an opportunity to taste new foods in a truly fun way. The couple at the next table was equally delighted with their selections, and we ended up making friends and sharing some of each other’s dishes and wine, too!

We were thrilled with the Salt Tasting Room─and left full and extremely happy! It’s that kind of place─friendly with food extraordinaire!

Salt Tasting Room
45 Blood Alley, Gastown
Vancouver, BC V6B 1C7
604.633.1912
www.salttastingroom.com

Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club

Capones was the first restaurant in Yaletown. When they opened in 1993, the area was empty industrial buildings and warehouses. Now it’s one of Vancouver’s coolest neighborhoods, with apartments, restaurants, shops, and throngs of people lining the streets. Capones is the place to go to listen to music while you dine.

Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz ClubCapones is a long narrow restaurant with the feel of a New York cabaret. Extraordinary mural lined walls, mirrors and a brick bar contribute to a warm ambience, ideal for casual dining. A tiny kitchen pokes out of one wall only a few feet from where you’re eating and offers many delectable and unusual selections.

Musicians perform at the end of the room, in another alcove with tables in front. You can opt to be close in, club-style, or farther away, where you still enjoy the music in the background. We chose a spot near the kitchen where we could watch the band as we ate our dinner. We enthusiastically devoured both the music and our dinner!

The menu had many unique choices. Our seared calamari appetizer, prepared in oyster sauce and served with a cucumber wrap, was unusual and tasty. The house salad was a bountiful bouquet of fresh greens topped with cashews, strawberries, goat cheese, and grapefruit vinaigrette.

For entrees, Dennis selected the beef tenderloin with roasted vegetables, and I had the seafood medley over Algerian couscous. I especially loved the couscous. Need I say, no doggy bags were needed.

Dessert anyone? Well, let’s just say Capones has the richest chocolate combo of mousse, truffles, and brownie we’ve ever tasted, along with a light raspberry mousse and, of course, a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the side. Dennis, a devout chocolate lover, was in heaven, and I felt good because, since I’m not a chocolate lover, I could finally save a few calories!

Capones feels good, sounds better, and tastes great. A winning combination, further complemented by an accommodating and professional staff. The food, ambiance, and music served up at Capones made for one exceptionally enjoyable and relaxing evening. Try it. You’ll agree!

Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club

1141 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
604.684.7900
www.caponesrestaurant.net

La Terrazza Restaurant

On our last night in Vancouver, it was raining hard. But we couldn’t let that stop us from going out for a romantic dinner at La Terrazza Restaurant, located in Yaletown. The complimentary valet made it easier, providing an umbrella to walk us to the door from our car.

The simple exterior of the building belies what’s waiting inside. You are immediately struck by the elegance of the room, which has been decorated like an opulent Italian Villa.

Terrazza RoomThirty-foot high ceilings soar up to paintings of cherubs cavorting in the sky, creating a humorous and apocryphal effect over the restaurant. Below, diners are seated in a spacious dining area filled with white linen-covered tables, containing the most sparkling glass goblets and silverware we’ve ever seen. Place settings for each person included five glasses of various sizes and a ransom’s worth of silver.  Question: Where is Amy Vanderbilt when you need her?

The three owners pride themselves in each area of their expertise, and the wine, food, and management of the restaurant reflect the highest level of professionalism.

Terrazza wine selectionThere is an ample selection of wine displayed and racked all around the restaurant, providing only a hint of the restaurant’s impressive 1500 item wine list.

Upon sitting, we chose a Chianti Classico to warm things up, and then feasted our eyes on their menu.

suggestions from our server, Gina, who is the sister of the chef/owner, Gennaro Iorio. Who should know better what to expect from the kitchen, other than, perhaps, his wife? We opted for lighter dinner choices, having eaten our way through Vancouver in the previous three days.

Our appetizer was a shared portion of imported Buffalo mozzarella cheese resting comfortably on locally grown heirloom tomatoes and splashed with Gennaro’s special salad dressing. Whoever invented these beauties belongs in the food hall of fame. This fruit is truly nectar from the food gods.

We ordered fish and fowl entrees. The locally caught trout was sautéed and draped in a sauce of roasted cherry tomatoes, complemented by sautéed spinach and roasted baby vegetables. The Cornish hen came dressed with a balsamic reduction and adorned with roasted baby vegetables. Both preparations were exceptional and cooked to perfection, giving us the indelible sensation of pleasure and contentment on a cold and dreary night.

Our waitress, Gina, would not let us leave without tasting her brother’s chocolate soufflé cake with fresh berries and vanilla ice cream. Terrazza dessertShe literally forced us to indulge, so we acquiesced and sat cheerfully enduring the “pain” of this luscious dessert.

La Terrazza is one of a handful of restaurants that consistently make the local “best of” lists. With new places opening almost weekly, the competition for top chef is a constant struggle. At La Terrazza they make it seem easy.

La Terrazza

1088 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 6J5
604.899.4449

www.laterrazza.cam

Joe’s Grill

A simple name and a simple spot… for a simply delicious breakfast! Down the street from the Coast Plaza Hotel are numerous places bustling with early morning diners. We had spotted a striped awning the night before and vowed to go there the next day, without knowing why. We knew we had “guessed” right when we saw how packed it was inside. And how everyone was happily diving into their morning meal!

Joes Grill cuisineJoe’s menu offered loads of choices. We brought hearty appetites, so it didn’t take us long to decide. Their omelets are beautiful. Dennis’s sautéed spinach with garlic omelet was perfectly made and packed with fresh spinach inside the omelet wrap. “Bennys” is their catch-phrase for all the different preparations of Eggs Benedict they offer. My “Benny” had the traditional poached eggs on top of a thin crab-cake. I love to try variations on things, and I enjoyed being able to have a crab-cake for breakfast. It was crispy on the outside, filled with real crab, and overall a tasty treat to start the day.

Joe’s is small and frequently packed. We found a table and had barely squeezed into our seats when our waitress brought coffee and water. Service was prompt and courteous. A definite “come back” place.

Joe’s Grill
948 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC
604.642.6588

Hon’s Wun-Tun House

Hon's Wun-Tun in VancouverCheap. Fast. Good. Generous portions of fresh Chinese food served steaming hot. Hon’s is known for their dumplings: pork, beef, chicken, or vegetarian; served pan-fried (potstickers), steamed, or with soup. There is a large selection of vegetarian dishes. Hon’s is always crowded, but the waits are short. A great spot anytime.

Hon’s Wun-Tun House
1339 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC
604.685.0871

Where to Go:

The Yale Hotel

After dinner, we headed out for some music. We love the BLUES─and lucky for us, not too far away was Vancouver’s biggest and best blues club.

The Yale Hotel dates to the mid 1880s, when it served as the temporary home of workers clearing land for the new community of Vancouver. Over the years it has burned down and has been rebuilt, and has housed all sorts of hard scrapple laborers who contributed to the growth of the city. At night it became a haunt for those seeking the wild nightlife for which Yaletown was known.

YaleNo longer a hotel, the Yale has become a mainstay for rhythm and blues bands and their followers from around the world.

The Yale recently built its own recording studio in the basement where stable boys used to groom horses. Today the Yale records “live” performances to promote up-and-coming local blues players and to raise funds for charities.

The Yale showcases different bands every night, and we were fortunate to see two terrific local groups. The first band was “So Tight featuring Miss Nadine.” Nadine is a trim little pistol of a singer with a whoppingly big and beautiful voice. She performed many numbers, selecting covers from Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. Helping her soulful vibrancy reach her audience, she is accompanied by five seasoned musicians on sax, bass guitar, piano, guitar, and drums.

Adding to her mystique is Nadine’s background. Days, she works as a longshoreman.What’s more, she is a single mother with three children: a 4-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 17-year-old with her own baby. So, Nadine is a grandmother, but belting out those numbers with power and verve, she’s mainly one hell of a singer!

The second band we heard was “Brickhouse,” consisting of six hot musicians with a huge repertoire of original music. Known for innovation and complexity, their sound is rich, raucous and righteous. Listening late into the night, we left exhausted and exhilarated by their creativity and enthusiasm.

This part of Yaletown is still a little on the seedy side, but the Yale Hotel is a musical safe harbor for any and all visitors to Vancouver. Remember, this is Canada, all incredibly safe and civil.

The Yale Hotel
1300 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
604.681.9253

www.theyale.ca

Tours by Trolley or Double Decker Bus

The best way to familiarize yourself with any new city is to have someone else do the driving and point out all the important sights for you. Limo too expensive? We think so, too, and chose the upper deck of an English-style double decker tour bus, since the weather was so good. You can also take an old-fashioned San Francisco-style trolley. We were treated to endless and interesting banter from Bob, our driver and guide. Bob showed us all the essential locales in about two hours. We would spend the next couple of days visiting individual sights.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Vancouver Art GalleryLocated in the midst of downtown, the Vancouver Art Gallery was a lively place on our visit. Originally designed as a courthouse and then renovated into a museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery is home to a large collection of works by Canadian painter Emily Carr.

It also hosts rotating exhibits ranging from Native masks to video installations. We were treated to a superb collection of European painting and sculpture from the Cleveland Museum of Art, entitled “Monet to Dalí.” The exhibition included key works by Manet, Monet, Cézanne, van Gogh, Rodin, Picasso, Dalí and other renowned artists. Well worth the $15 entry fee.

Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6Z 2H7
604.662.4719

Granville Island

Granville Island, VancouverGranville Island, an eclectic collection of restaurants, quaint shops, theaters, hotel, housing, galleries, and industry, is easily reachable by aquabus or car and bus. For “foodies” in Vancouver, the Granville Island Public Market is nirvana. We wandered around the island, going in and out of the various buildings and bought some wonderful pottery in my (Marilyn’s) favorite subject: frogs.

All great cities have great farmers’ markets, where the best products are made and eaten while fresh, and where the city’s top chefs find fresh local ingredients. The Granville Island Markets is one of the best. The food choices here are unlimited; you can find almost anything that is edible, waiting fresh and delectable.

We had to go back twice to coddle our taste buds, each visit lasting only as long as it took to over-indulge. Our sampling included:

Blueberry bread with white chocolate icing

Peach and tarragon cake

Pesto and tomatoes foccacia

Apple bread with caramel and sesame seeds

Brownie with chocolate chunks and white sugar

Local peaches, apples and blueberries

Raw oysters and steamed clams

Smoked salmon

Sausages

Coffee

Rolaids!

The best thing to burn those calories after eating all the Granville Island Market’s goodies is a stroll around the island. Fairly compact, it’s easy to cover the place in a short while and explore the various buildings, watch students watching you, and walk along False Creek. Stop at the Granville Island Information Centre near the Public Market for a free map.

Stanley Park

One of the largest urban parks in North America at about 1000 acres, Stanley Park has activities that can fill your whole day. Chief among its attributes is its downtown, easily accessible location.

Stanley Park, VancouverA peninsula sticking out into English Bay, it is mostly surrounded by water, where its most famous feature can be found. Something like 8 million visitors a year come to walk along the five and a half mile seawall. Others seek to safely ride bikes for hours, visit the gardens, restaurants, or take a guided tour like we did.

We chose the two-hour horse trolley ride around Stanley Park. Our driver, who was there because she loved the horses, was anticipating a more serious job – as a trained helicopter pilot waiting to get into the military.

Stanley Park
Located at the north foot of Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Ten minutes from Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has been trekked across by millions of visitors since 1889. Crossing a huge ravine, it’s fun to walk across this historic bridge and then traverse the Treetops Adventure, a short boardwalk that’s high up in the treetops of ancient conifers. Incredible views and fresh air!

Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Road
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1
604.985.7474

www.capilanosuspensionbridge.com

Spas

Given the healthy Vancouver lifestyle, it’s no wonder spas are flourishing here! The city’s day spas are swamped with Vancouverites (male and female), getting wrapped in seaweed, slathered with Moor mud, exfoliated, massaged, manicured, pedicured, purified, revitalized, and refreshed! There are many to choose from all around the city, and many hotels also have in-house facilities and services available.

Neighborhoods:

Vancouver is a city of neighborhoods, each with a variety of interesting features, restaurants, and feel. Get a city map and enjoy!

West End

Our hotel, the Coast Plaza, was located in this neighborhood, which feels very much like New York City, with high-rise apartments and streets filled with people at all hours of the day and night. Off the main thoroughfare are lower density residential areas of lovely Edwardian homes and parks. Nearby are Stanley Park and English Bay.

Chinatown

China Town in VancouverSoak up the scents and sounds of North America’s third largest Chinatown, located in downtown Vancouver. Find your Zen at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Classical Chinese Garden, or check out the displays of crimson barbecued duck, coils of spicy sausages, and stores brimming with silk, jade, and trinkets. Stop for lunch in one of the traditional dim-sum houses.

Gastown

Gastown has history and the kind of old-fashioned architecture, including a real skid row, in the midst of downtown.  Home to the Steam Clock, which sounds Westminster chimes on 5 brass steam whistlers each 1/4 hour; Blood Alley; the Europe Hotel, dating to 1892; and a statue of the colorful saloon owner, “Gassy” Jack, for whom the area was named.

Gastown is a charming mix of old and new with cobbled streets, antique gaslights, Victorian architecture, and a unique tangle of mews, courtyards, and alleys pleasantly gentrifying into new housing shops and restaurants. Daily walking tours through the area are a must-see.

Yaletown

Yaletown, Vancouver’s former warehouse district, is now the city’s coolest neighborhood.  Now adorning the original manufacturing buildings are high-end designer shops, excellent restaurants, and the local Mini dealership.  Extending from downtown to the water’s edge along False Creek, new housing, parks and office towers bring a new vibrancy to a once rundown railroad yard.