| Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s ROMANCE ON THE ROAD THE DRISKILL HOTEL
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the Driskill Hotel is within walking distance of the Texas Capitol Building, the Convention Center, and the city’s most popular music venues. Built over 100 years ago, it is an architectural gem with intricate interior design and décor that you must spend time exploring. Entering the lobby, you feast your eyes on the dark woods and elegant marble floors that add a welcoming feeling to this large columned, glass-domed showplace. Arriving the day after Christmas, we found the hotel overflowing with holiday cheer. Prominent was a beautiful Christmas tree, festooned with hundreds of lights, Do not pass up an opportunity to spend some time in the Driskill Bar on the mezzanine, a very popular and extremely comfortable area at all times of day or night. Hard-pressed to tell whether it’s the always-kept-busy piano-bar players who rotate daily or just the natural ambiance, we frequently commented that the seats was always filling the air. We were frequent visitors ourselves, as it is hard to ignore the hoards of happy holidayers as we passed by on the way to the elevator. Or perhaps it was the giant Texas longhorn steer staring down from the wall imploring us to sit awhile? Warning: Don’t look directly into his eyes; you won’t ever want to leave! Destination Hotels & Resorts has done a top flight job in making their rooms as comfortable as possible. Climbing into bed on some of the softest linens and soothing mattress, sleep came easy. Hard, was getting up the next day as we loved This thinking extends beyond their skill as innkeepers with two especially interesting amenities they feature for children and animals. First, the “Driskill Deputy” where children checking into The Driskill are deputized with a sheriff’s badge and given an official sheriff’s certificate from Colonel Jesse Driskill, the hotel’s founder. Later, the kids are treated to cookies and milk from 1886 Café & Bakery. We liked this and tried to score some cookies for ourselves, but they weren’t fooled by our “kid,” Boomer. However, their “Pampered Pet Program” supplied him with a specially designed pet bed, complete with The Driskill Hotel logo, doggie treats, chew toy and food and water bowls. The Driskill Hotel is truly pet-friendly, pampering our pooch with their presents. He wouldn’t share his cookies with us, either! We know Austin and we love the Driskill. Having to move on, we left it, as the cowboys say, “Grinnin’ like a weasel in a hen house.” You will, too. * * * |
Year: 2011
Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, Louisiana
Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD
HOTEL MONTELEONE
214 Rue Royale
New Orleans, LA 70130-2201
800.535.9595
www.hotelmonteleone.com
When you enter the lobby and walk though this magnificent hotel, it’s unlikely you’ll bump into any of the literary icons that are so much a part of its history. That’s because they’re all dead! But not the Hotel Monteleone. To the contrary, it is alive and burgeoning with a vitality that belies its 100 years of providing first-rate lodging to the masters and misfits that are an integral part of New Orleans history.
The Hotel Monteleone is one of only three hotels in the U.S. that has been designated a literary landmark. Granted by the Friends of the Library Association, only The Plaza and The Algonquin in New York share this designation.
At the Monteleone, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway and Eudora Welty are not just names on the doors. Each famously-named suite bears the moniker of an author that had a significant relationship with the hotel. To find out more, you should take the MP3 self-tour that, in about 30 minutes, describes the colorful history of this lovely hostelry. It’s free and well worth it!
The Hotel is owned and operated by the 5th generation of Monteleone heirs whose obvious sense of mission is to make their guests supremely comfortable and happy. That’s a chore
for most hotels these days in an industry dominated by huge chains and cold efficiency experts. We loved the warmth and graciousness that characterizes this elegant hotel.
Outside, the French Quarter may be bubbling over with tourists in various states of excitement and intoxication. Inside, the Hotel Monteleone is tranquil and sober, with a genteel mix of Southern charm and devilishness.
You don’t need to leave the hotel for an authentic feel of the New Orleans of the past. Just take a seat at the legendary Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge. You’re as likely to find yourself next to a famous celebrity as a local character with some inside diss on the City. As you turn one revolution every 15 minutes, it’s not the booze; it’s the bar that’s moving you. An architectural gem; study each detail, especially the hand carved chair backs.
Hop off the Carousel and head for the first-class Hunt Room Grill for a superbly prepared meal in traditional New Orleans style or Le Café for lighter fare. Not to be missed is their Breakfast Buffet. We celebrated our 13th anniversary breakfast here and were treated royally by Demetrius, whose life in NOLA is book-worthy itself. Tasting everything, our most highly-rated favorite was the Grillades (GREE-yahds), pork (or beef or lamb) combined with sautéed vegetables in a slow-cooked beef stock. Of questionable Bayou origins, it is typically served over grits or rice. Not controversial is its place on breakfast tables throughout New Orleans, in both modest homes and fancy restaurants alike. After two hours luxuriating on their delicacies, we rolled out of the hotel to walk it off, window-shopping along Royal Street.
New Year’s Eve in the New Orleans French Quarter is sheer chaos… of the fun kind. Topping New York’s Time Square, revelers are permitted to walk the street imbibing their
alcoholic beverage of choice. From the look of things, we were the only teetotalers out that night. Fortunately, the Monteleone is only a block away from the fray on Bourbon Street, and we headed back to our gorgeous suite to watch from above.
Appointed with antiques and the most comfortable furnishings, high ceilings and French doors, the Ernest Hemingway Penthouse was our home for two marvelous nights. We especially enjoyed the Jacuzzi, wi-fi, cd player and flat-screen TV’s. Adjoining the rooftop pool and gym, our views of the city were remarkable.
There are many hotels in NOLA. If all you need is a room to rest your head, they’re easy to find. Very few are memorable, and even fewer have the charm, goodwill or lineage of The Hotel Monteleone, itself a destination, refuge, and frequent movie set location. You’ll find yourself seduced by its allure, not wanting to leave it. We sure didn’t.
If you’re thinking about a visit to New Orleans, the Hotel Monteleone is offering a special Summer Sizzle package from May 15 – Sept 30, 2009. Rooms start from $99; luxurious suites from $189, and they are pet-friendly, too! So grab a friend, your family, or Fido… and enjoy the French Quarter from Royal Street.
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Vivienne Westwood Trunk Show at EM & Co Review
There are a lot of reasons I like British designer Vivienne Westwood. The most obvious is the haute couture wedding gown worn by Carrie Bradshaw in the recent movie Sex and the City. That wedding dress has become widely recognized as one of the movie’s most iconic features. Westwood has won awards for her services in fashion, as well as her three-time win as British Designer of the Year. That’s why when I received an invitation to the Vivienne Westwood Trunk Show, held locally here in Los Angeles by EM & Co, I had to attend. The event was held just before the holidays in late November 2008. The clothes at the show were select pieces bought specifically for the store representing the fall 2008 and spring 2009 collections. Items from the Anglomania collection were worn by models who added to the eye candy of the gallery-like boutique. The catered event hosted a DJ and was sponsored by Modern Luxury’s Angeleno Magazine. It featured an Absinthe Bar from Mata Hari Absinthe Bohemian, Vodka cocktails from Marani Premium Vodka, and appetizers from Tasca Wine Bar.
The styles shown for the spring ’09 collection are the most representative pieces from the collection that show the essence of Vivienne Westwood’s styling and direction for spring ’09. We buy the collection pretty extensively, so the pieces shown represent about 70% of the styles in the collection (many of the styles are available in different colors & fabrics). -EM & Co Rep-
One of the highlights of the evening was the arrival of celebrity painter Biago Black’s painting of Vivienne Westwood. It is the latest piece in his collection currently at EM & Co, featuring iconic women. The large format captures the larger-than-life influence that these women have in defining style and creativity.
Biagio Black’s artwork, displayed at various special events in Paris and on both the East and West Coasts, has most recently been displayed at the “little black dress” charity event in Los Angeles. His art has been tied to fashion since 2005, when he first participated in “The Many Faces of LA Fashion Week” event presented by Ford Models and GM and an earlier ‘little black dress’ charity event. Black’s celebrity portraits have become collector items. -EM & Co Rep-
The event was packed with recognizable faces, including current and former members of the Pussy Cat Dolls (Melody and Carmit Bachar), not to mention Diva Zappa, Billy Duffy (The Cure), Dallas Harrison (VH1’s “Rock of Love” & “Charm School with Sharon Osbourne”), and more. Celebrity stylists, including several representatives from both print (People, Genlux, Beverly Hills Times,CA Apparel News) and online magazines (ifashionnetwork.com and Chic Today) were in attendance.
EM & Co supplies fashion-conscious shoppers with a well orchestrated mix of fashions from world class designers (i.e., Vivienne Westwood, Iodice, JC de Castelbajac, Beatriz), as well as innovative styles from emerging L.A. talent. Featuring over 30 lines from around the world in its gallery-like space, EM & Co is also an active supporter of local talent, hosting monthly art exhibits and other events featuring local artists and designers. Located on West Third Street for over three years, the boutique has established a fast-growing loyal following among celebrities and stylists who regularly come to find unique pieces and a well edited selection to suit many styles. EM & Co carries lines from around the world, including Ilaria Nistri, Luis Da Gama, Made, Twinset, Iro, Jean Paul Gaultier jeans line, Beatriz, Aoyama Itchome, Earth, Badgley Mishka, as well as local designers who create one-of-a-kind pieces: Galadriel Mattei, Kiki Designs Jewelry, Micha necklaces and bracelets, and casual chic pieces from Viereck). 90% of the jewelry in the store is from LA designers.
Guests enjoyed vodka cocktails from Marani Vodka and sampled powerful absinthe concoctions at the Mata Hari Absinthe bar. The truffle home-made potato chips and delicious risotto appetizers were provided by Tasca Wine Bar and Restaurant, located on West Third Street. The make-up for the three models that featured Vivienne Westwood styles throughout the evening was provided by the Make Up Art Group; the hair styles were done by William Williams of Hair by William.
Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples
Interview with Costume Designer of “The Starter Wife” – Agata Maskiewics
Interview with Costume Designer of “The Starter Wife” – Agata Maskiewics
Just how does a costume designer develop a character’s wardrobe? Agata Maskiewics, the lead stylist of Debra Messing’s character, “Molly Kagen,” shares her experience with Agenda . Styling a top actress like Messing on a hit mini-series that received 10 Emmy Award nominations, well, this Polish costume designer is fulfilling her dream. With her own unique “start” in the fashion industry, from the bottom up, Maskiewics talks about her inspiration, the role of a costume designer, and two common sense fashion philosophies to live by.
Where do you get your inspiration in styling Debra Messing’s character on “The Starter Wife?”
A lot of my inspiration for Debra’s character comes from fashion magazines. I look through
just about all of them and try to find a way to incorporate those pages and the runway looks into the wardrobe of Debra’s character, Molly Kagen. I also love watching women in Beverly Hills; Molly’s character is a combination of the many varieties of shopping and lunching ladies of Los Angeles. And since our production is in LA, I’ve had the incredible privilege to create Molly’s look by pulling from the latest offerings at high-end designer boutiques and upscale department stores.
How involved are you with the script for each episode? How far in advance do you plan Messing’s outfits?
Making a TV show is a very collaborative experience; I usually get the script for an episode two weeks in advance of filming. After reading through the script and making notes, we typically have a few meetings with the producers, director, and writer so we can discuss how best to get their ideas across. Some outfits I have in my mind for weeks, just waiting for the right scene and occasion to use them. I also have photos from earlier fittings and pick up different pieces of clothing a few days ahead of time, but the complete wardrobe for the episode pretty much comes together at the last possible moment.
What type of satisfaction do you get from being the lead stylist on such a popular show?
I must say my job is a tremendous amount of fun, even though there are certainly times of chaos. I love working with beautiful clothes and shopping, so that alone is a wonderful perk of the job. I really like seeing my ideas visualized on the screen and take a lot of satisfaction from that. And being able to design a show like “The Starter Wife” has been an amazing experience because I’ve had the opportunity to create fashionable looks along with a range of costumes for the many fantasy scenes Molly has throughout the season. Those are always a lot of fun and a challenge to figure out with each new script.
How has your education and experience led you up to this point?
I started working in the film & TV industry after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where I studied fashion design. Before that I went to art school in Poland, which is where I was born and raised. I started as an intern on a feature film and worked my way up holding various positions in the costume department. I think the experience of starting at the bottom and working my way up the ranks through the years has taught me just as much as my schooling. There is definitely something to be said for on the job training, and sometimes the best thing is to just get in the trenches and get that experience.
What other television shows or events have you worked as a stylist?
I have worked as an assistant designer on many different projects, the most notable being “CSI.” I then was the costume designer for “CSI: NY” and “Close to Home.”
What type of advice would you give someone who wants to be a celebrity stylist?
I’m not really a stylist; I am a costume designer. Although the two are often confused, there
is quite a difference between them. As a costume designer my challenge is to help create a character through what the actor wears. I don’t actually style celebrities. However, my advice for either area would be to make sure you have a passion for this line of work, the hours are long, and it’s not a glamorous lifestyle. It can be rewarding, however, and I am lucky enough to love what I do.
What are your fashion philosophies?
There are two main philosophies that I preach when it comes to fashion. One, make sure that whatever you are wearing fits you properly; nothing ruins an outfit faster than a bad fit. Luckily, it’s easy and relatively inexpensive to get the necessary fix, as any good dry cleaner can easily make basic alterations that will make all the difference. And two, always wear your clothes with confidence. Whether you are dressed in high-end designer pieces or a great find from the thrift store, walk tall and with a dazzling smile. Nothing sells a look better than confidence.
Elana Pruitt
How the World Stays Healthy
How the World Stays Healthy
How do those darn Europeans stay so healthy and lean? What are they doing and where can I get some? Who is the healthiest in the world? Obesity ravages the U.S. as now the number one most preventable form of death. How horrendous! Nationally and globally, heart
disease is the number 1 killer. We need to find out what these Europeans are doing fast and take notes. Let us visit the top 5 healthiest countries in the world and further explore what they are doing so right in order to make our wrongs just a bit less wrong so to say.
France
The French stand first on our list for their fantastic low rates of heart disease. Their secret lies in their slow dining habits, their amounts of walking, and their daily glass of wine. A French diet is widely known for having high amounts of fat, which is acceptable when combined with their other habits. A combination of small portions, longer mealtimes and extra walking incorporated regularly is the French lifestyle. By extending mealtime out the body is able to best assess when it is truly full, thus avoiding the empty calories of overeating. Overeating is notorious in the US simply due to the constant rush and supersized meals we have grown accustomed to. To cap off a day, our French patrons of health partake in moderate amounts of wine which are helping keep heart disease at bay. They are able to do this because they save so many calories throughout the day with the aforementioned. Only 7 percent of the French population are obese while we Americans push 22 percent and beyond, seemingly due to their ability to slow down and enjoy their lives, saving countless calories.
According to the University of Pennsylvania and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, size does matter. Researchers compared the size of portions at 11 eateries in Paris and Philadelphia and discovered the average size of a French meal was 277 grams, compared with an American portion of 346 grams?a meal larger by 25 percent. Supermarkets also sold larger items in Philadelphia. “Of the 17 items Rozin picked out, 14 products were larger stateside. For example, a carton of yogurt was 82 percent larger in Philadelphia. A soft drink was 52 percent bigger.”
All information published in the September 2007 issue ofPsychological Science.
Japan
The Japanese are renowned for the long life span of their citizens. On average their life expectancy is over 86 years old, along with Japanese women holding the honor of longest life expectancy in the world. This honor comes from their low-cholesterol diets and high amounts of exercise. The Japanese diet is rich in rice, fish, and seaweed, which have long been known to keep heart disease and cancer in check. Their government has taken a fervent interest in keeping the blue collared employees active with government-sponsored pre-work workouts. This has helped many generations of Japanese maintain good health although the intentions of the government aren’t all noble; you see, a healthy employee is a productive employee, so it’s a win – win here. Unfortunately, Western influence is making its way into their lives by raising rates of diabetes, thanks to our high-fat Western foods taking over their shores. Seven million Japanese currently suffer from diabetes with it spreading faster into Asia and many other regions in the world.
Iceland
Iceland is known for hold the lowest infant mortality rate in the world due to its top notch natal care with just 2 deaths before the age of 5 (compared with the United States’ 7) for every 1,000 live births. Iceland offers extensive pre- and post-birth medical care funded by the government, explaining much lower levels of stress, not to mention the three months of guaranteed professional leave for each parent at 80 percent of their salaries. Studies have shown that the less stress or more control you have over stress in your life is directly correlated with a healthier weight and over all disposition on life. This basically implies that since you feel happier over all, you are much more likely to continue to take good care of yourself and respect your body.
Sweden
Sweden falls on our list for its h igh cancer survival rates and nearly 100 percent child immunization. Once again we can thank their government who spends nearly 14 percent only for healthcare. The country’s 9 million citizens receive cutting-edge medical technologies treatment, paying only 15 percent of the bill, if any at all. The people of Sweden are smart because they believe in holistic social care. There attention and care range from happier professional lives to better street lights in order to encourage evening walks, resulting in healthier, happier citizens, and of course, ultimately lower medical bills.
Italy
Italians round off our list with their extremely well rounded lifestyles. Italians first and foremost take great honor in being connoisseurs of food, and so expectedly they dine leisurely, savoring each bite they partake. Focusing on the enjoyment of the meal allows for better nutrient absorption, fosters sound eating habits, and of course, ensures that you stop when you are truly full to conserve calories. Italians eat only at mealtimes; and if they were to snack, their choice would most likely be fruits or nuts. The Italian culture believes in full balance of quality and quantity while enjoying simple, fresh food. They don’t diet, which is a fantastic idea due to the fact that radical unbalanced dieting usually does more damage to your metabolism than not dieting in the first place. An Italian meal is known for its daily fresh dark green veggies, rich fruits, and highly healthy unsaturated fats, such as virgin olive oil, a fantastic anti-inflammatory. To top it all off of course are the high amounts of walking about the city. Italians don’t seem to be in as much a rush as we seem to be. Maybe we should slow down a bit. Slowing down seems to be a running theme with these healthy Europeans.
http://www.johnpirelliosia.org/osia/Culture/how_italians_stay_slim.htm
Written by Anthony Heredia
Why is He Losing Weight Faster? How Girls Can Catch Up
Why is He Losing Weight Faster?
How Girls Can Catch Up
Welcome to a new year full of prosperity coupled with wonderful new levels of health, dear ladies of Agenda. We address the age-old question of why we cursed men hold this unfair advantage in the battle of the bulge and further yet, how to help you reap said benefits. The truth of the matter is that men do have major weight-loss advantages over you lovely ladies, combined with disadvantages as a woman. Fret not though, as there is always a way. The first male advantage involves body composition, enabling men to burn calories at an accelerated rate in comparison to women. Specifically, I am referring to greater amounts of muscle mass, extremely efficient fat burning marvels. Every extra 1 lb of lean muscle devours an extra 50 calories a day by simply existing. Might not sound like much, but should you add an extra 5 lbs of lean muscle mass to your body (which visually is one toner leg), you would burn an extra 500 calories a day. In one week’s time you will have burned 3500 calories, 1 lb of fat, simply due to you having one gorgeously toned leg. (I recommend you tone both together though. Might look odd if you don’t.) This either means you can eat an extra sandwich with 2 pieces of fruit, staying exactly the same size or change no eating habits and naturally lose nearly 1 lb a week. Not bad.
Men have been genetically designed by nature to hold and build more muscle mass, testosterone being the key player in all this. Women on the other hand are predisposed to store and retain fat due to higher levels of estrogen, a hormone that works to keep the fat on a woman’s body so it’s easier for her to become pregnant. That means women have to work harder to lose weight at the same rate as men. Realistically, women do take longer to add on the same muscle a man undergoing the same approach would; yet she will reap the same benefits once packing that gorgeous muscle. Do take note to remember that the male body originated as an expendable yet efficient hunting, gathering, defending machine. Ladies, you were beautifully designed to survive and bring in new and wonderful life into our world. Aesthetics were unfortunately not part of the original grand scheme of things. Take up any complaints with the big architect on that one.
A second grand advantage revolves around men naturally designed for more active lives, combined with faster response to exercise. Women have a lower tolerance for exercise due to smaller lung capacity, leading women to feel as though they are working harder than men even if the women are working at the same level. This makes exercise feel extra difficult in heat and high humidity. Under strenuous, unbalanced conditions, a woman’s body will enter starvation mode easier than a male’s, slowing the metabolism to hang onto more fat in the hopes of self preservation. Research has found that on average the metabolism of a man is 5 to 10 percent higher than that of a woman of the same weight and height. The American Journal of Physiology found that women burn an average of 16 percent fewer daily calories than men. Researchers found that a woman’s resting metabolic rate was 6 percent lower than that of men, along with 37 percent fewer calories burned during physical activity. They inferred that women were simply not moving as much as the men, thus burning fewer calories.
A woman’s edge in weight management stems from her uncanny intuition. Women tend to be more attentive to what’s going on with their bodies and are better able to make the connection between food and emotions, a male weakness. Bottom Line: How to level the playing field.
- Fat-Ravaging Muscle. Build that fat-burning body sculpting muscle mass so that you can eat more guilt-free and reach the highest tiers of your physical goals. I recommend finding a good class in your gym, a credentialed trainer, or a fun DVD program. Strength training can be tricky and one of those things you don’t want to learn by trial and error, as you can get very hurt. Be safe, but go hard. You won’t regret it.
- Extend Your Cardio. New studies reveal that 60 minutes per day minimum for 5 days a week to reap the benefits you seek. Once you are happy with the body that is unfolding, you can pull back to maintenance workout time, which is 3 times a week at your 60 minutes. If you have trouble with that, increase your time incrementally, or dividing up the time in the same day is fine as well.
- Realistic Goals. A realistic rate of loss is 10 percent of your body weight over a few months or 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. Pushing your body to lose too much too fast with unhealthy tricks is the reason people yo-yo. Treat your body right.
Make healthy living a routine. Women are much more disciplined and patient than most men, so make sure to capitalize on this fact. Keep a food diary to keep yourself accountable, make healthy choices a habit as brushing your teeth so that you no longer think about it. It becomes second nature. Choose water over empty calories and educate yourself on all your new changes. Don’t just listen to us health nuts. We read the books, but if your interest should spark, ask why and find your answer. By educating yourself you become that much more committed to yourself. Not a bad investment, I say.
Written by Anthony Heredia
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
David Wroblewski
If your requirement for a good book is that it ends happily, you will want to skip David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. However, if like me you savor good writing for the sake of good writing, great descriptions of the Wisconsin countryside in the 1970s, descriptions of its memorable characters, and beautiful, free-flowing writing, you won’t want to miss it. All of these things kept me reading and hoping to be in the end rewarded for my patience and dedication. Besides, Oprah said it was a great book, and it’s rare that I have disagreed with her.
This is the tragic story of Edgar Sawtelle, a young boy born without a voice but with a special gift and love for training dogs. He is the only child born to parents who before his birth had undergone the loss of a number of babies either through miscarriages or still birth. Perfect in every way, but without speech, he learns to communicate with sign, both with humans and the Sawtelle dogs, a fictional breed of dogs that has been in his family for three generations.
My requirement for a good book is not that it always ends happily (thus is life), but that it ends satisfactorily. That does not happen here. After we journey with Edgar in his coming-of-age story, we return with him to his home where everything literally goes up in smoke. Even the records of five generations of Sawtelle dogs go up in flames.
Edgar’s father dies suddenly and mysteriously; but supernaturally, he returns to his son and tells him he was murdered. He is charged to find the evidence because no one will believe him without it. In town he encounters a store owner with whom he has another supernatural experience. From her he learns what the evidence of his father’s murder is that he should look for. When he can no longer stand being at home around his mother who has now befriended his uncle, he begins sleeping in the barn. When another fatal accident occurs, he flees, taking three of the dogs from the litter he has birthed and trained with him. On his journey he encounters Henry, and when he leaves to return home, two of the three dogs choose to stay with Henry. He finds the evidence he has been looking for, but what good is evidence if no one knows about it? Not even his mother.
So when everything goes up in flames, the dog that returned home with Edgar leads the other dogs away in the direction of Henry’s place, we suspect, as that is not really clear.
We are left with so many questions. Perhaps Wroblewski planned it this way for a sequel. Don’t count on it. What was the point of a coming-of-age story only to end with the death of the hero without his acting on the knowledge he has gained, especially about himself? Nothing is resolved, and I am left unsatisfied . . . because the book has ended with no plot resolutions.
Reviewed by Lee L. Peoples
My Interview with Matt Ventimiglia of the Griffith Observatory
Matt Ventimiglia is a man who has hitched his wagon to a star, literally, from traveling the globe to see the eclipses in the best possible locations, as near as Baja, California, to remoter places like Australia and the high Arctic Ocean; a star gazer who shares with others his vast knowledge of the universe. When talking with Matt, it is difficult to spend less than an hour listening to his fascinating stories about the universe. He is an expert on film, an excellent photographer, and, what I believe to be, a true renaissance man in an age where the mediocre is more the norm than not.
I met Matt Ventimiglia at the Griffith Observatory recently, one Saturday in January. He was behind the information desk answering one technically challenging question after another being thrown at him from my sister’s father-in-law, who used to work as chief engineer for a contractor of NASA during the early years of space travel. I was engaged in listening and adding a few volleys of my own while discovering that Matt had a keen interest in following eclipses throughout the world. He’s been to seven thus far, from Australia to Zambia. He’s worked at the Griffith Observatory since it reopened in 2006 and has known its current director, Edd Krupp, for 20 years. He understands the heavens and quotes poetry. He is a science fiction buff and has actually worked with the likes of Ray Bradbury for a thesis he’d written on “The Adaptations of Moby Dick,” and he met Leonard Nimoy as an extra in a documentary filmed at the Griffith Observatory and shown in its Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater.
I was intrigued by Matt’s statement that we are all made of stardust and are all a part of this vast universe. We talked about the continuous present of Bruce Kawin, professor of literature and film studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder. [Check out his books at Amazon.com, especially Telling it Again and Again: Repetition in Literature and Film (1972)] and compared it to totality, the point when the sun is completely eclipsed by the moon or where the full moon can be eclipsed by the earth’s shadow, rendering the moon dark. (As seen from the moon, the sun is being eclipsed by the Earth . . . .) Totality is the point where it seems you are witnessing eternity.
Matt is a graduate student studying paleontology at CSUN (California State University
Northridge) and is very busy. I was very fortunate that he found the time to speak with me about his travels, astronomy, literature, film, and the Observatory. What follows is our dialogue.
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How long have you worked at the Griffith Observatory? What are your most memorable moments?
I’ve worked there for about three years although I’ve patronized the place ever since moving to Southern California in 1979 and have known its current director, Dr. Ed Krupp, for nearly 20 years. Most memorable moments include watching the last transit of Mercury (Nov 8, 2006), seeing Comet McNaught (Jan/Feb 2007, visible in broad daylight through binoculars), and lecturing to the public in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. I met Leonard 
Nimoy while appearing behind him as an extra in the documentary film we show in his namesake theater. Finally, I always enjoy it when succeeding to explain in simple terms a scientific concept or natural fact a patron was previously unaware of. You can always tell when you’ve achieved success by the way they offer sincere thanks. This is very satisfying.
What are you doing there now, and what are your future plans and adventures? And you also referenced Carl Sagan for one of the shows.
I recently filled in for a few of the “Let’s Make a Comet” presentations in the LNEH theater when the “trained” presenters couldn’t attend. But these programs are now being presented only for school groups on weekday mornings, so I won’t be doing it again until possibly Spring Break or summer when regular public “holiday” programming resumes.
I only wish Carl Sagan were alive to see what a monster he’s created . . . ME! I spoke with him several times over the years before he died, but I don’t think he would have remembered me among the throngs of his admirers.
I work Observatory weekends for the remainder of this month but will limit my time to Fridays or Sundays only during the spring semester.
I understand you follow eclipses worldwide. Tell me about your first eclipse in 1991.
I had no idea what to expect other than the photos I’d seen. It was a long one, nearly 7 minutes of totality, seen from a cruise ship between Baja and mainland Mexico. I was not planning to photograph the eclipse, just watch it with a spotting scope, but then realizing I would have plenty of time, I attached a camera and captured a pretty good shot at 400mm. It was a surreal experience watching the eclipse next to John Astin (Gomez Addams on the TV show “The Addams Family”), whom I’d met on the cruise!
What brings you back again and again?
The glory of it all . . . !
Why is it so addictive?
There’s no describing it in words, but when you see your first, you’ll understand . . . !
Totality sounds so romantic, like the point in time where everything stops. Explain “totality” and what your experience is at totality.
I remember one elderly Englishman in a documentary called “The Great Eclipse,” by far the best documentary on eclipse watching, the “Woodstock” of eclipse films . . . secondhand
VHS tapes may still be available . . . check Amazon.com, who described it as feeling like he was about to die. You could do nothing to stop it, but time itself seemed to freeze . . . .
I know this is not what totality means, but I think I’ll change the meaning a bit for a poem or song.
You’re not far off the mark. Also, a tradition for lovers has developed: to “pop the question” following totality, during the exit diamond ring, especially if the guy doesn’t yet have the ring to produce. The eclipse diamond ring becomes the proxy . . . .
Would you consider shooting a documentary about one of your eclipse cruises?
Although I am somewhat of a trained filmmaker, I actually prefer still photography because of its ability to freeze and preserve moments of time.
During our discussion at the Observatory, you quoted a verse to me by Walt Whitman about a blade of grass being made of stardust and compared it to people being made of stardust. Could you expand on that?
The quote is from “Leaves of Grass”: “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars.” But Whitman didn’t mean that grass was made of stardust. He just meant that grass was as interesting to him as stars. I’d agree on some level, but I also think we are actually made of stardust, born from the Big Bang and nuclear reactions within stars, the heavier elements coming from supernova . . . . Whitman also wrote a poem called “I Heard the Learned Astronomer,” where he disparages science and scientists. The caricature of his astronomer is a guy too obsessed with numbers and seemingly oblivious to the beauty of the universe. I can forgive Whitman for that, though. He just met the wrong astronomer, and first impressions are always blinding . . . .
I understand that you are studying paleontology. That seems very different from astronomy. What draws you to that field of study?
Both subjects are similar in that they involve processes spanning extreme passages of time, but also because they both try to ask the most mysterious questions: How did life come about and develop into what it is today, and is there life elsewhere in the universe?
You mentioned your interest in math. What specifically do you love and dislike?
I like the way it models how the mind works; its attempt to order things with symmetry and logic and the joy you get learning something new through derivation or visualizing geometrical relationships. I don’t like long, tedious calculations with long, tedious numbers . . . .
Tell me a little about your first thesis, “Adaptations of Moby Dick” from your degree in cinema history and criticism, 1984.
I wrote it while consulting with author Ray Bradbury, who wrote the screenplay for the 1956 John Huston film starring Gregory Peck. Bradbury is still a close acquaintance. In fact, I’ll be calling him at noon today. Looking back on it now, the thesis is rather wordy and immature. Yet because it was apparently the first thesis to cover the topic of film, theatrical, musical, comic book and illustrated adaptations, it was mentioned by Prof. Elizabeth Schultz (University of Kansas) in her book Unpainted to the Last: Moby Dick and 20th Century American Art.
You mentioned your love of a very unique instrument you play, called the 
Theremin, and that i t is in two theatrical films that you know of,The Delicate Delinquent, starring Jerry Lewis, and a foreign film (Argentine) La Nina Santa (The Holy Girl), where a street musician plays the Theremin. What do you love about the instrument, and would you be willing to record a song or two?
There are also documentaries such as “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey.” What I love about it is the tonal quality, like a violin with one string, using vibrato to emulate the human voice. I also have fond memories of its use in 50s science fiction film soundtracks, although
this is considered rather vulgar by some , but the Theremin is no longer used as a serious concert instrument; so why not celebrate its place in popular culture?
Yes, I would love to record . . . when I can find the time to practice . . . ! I’m a bit rusty right now.
When we spoke at the Observatory, we talked about the eternal now. You quoted from the movie, The Thin red line. Could you expand on that?
The monologue from The Thin Red Line that most relates to this question is when Pvt. Witt describes watching his mother die and how she seemed to accept it calmly. Witt mentions never seeing any sign of “immortality” in his daily experience, but hoped he could face his own death with the same “calm, because that’s where it is, the immortality I hadn’t seen . . . .”
I don’t really know how one can apply the concept of “continuous present” (see critical writings of Bruce Kawin) to my philosophy of life other than to savor pleasant moments and measure them unflinchingly next to the unpleasant.
Where have you traveled to see the eclipses?
1991 Cruise ship Viking Serenade off Baja between mainland Baja and the Gulf of California
1996 The one I took my parents to, seen north of the Galapagos Islands aboard the tour boat Corinthian
2001 in Zambia near Lusaka (the capital)
2002 in Australia in the southern Outback
2005 North of Pitcairn Island on the cruise ship Paul Gauguin
2006 North Africa in Libya, south of Tobruk
2008 in the high Arctic Ocean
Where will you see your next eclipse?
My next eclipse trip will be in July, a cruise from China to the eclipse maximum southeast of Japan. The tour will begin in Beijing at the Great Wall.
Tell me about your most memorable eclipse moment.
The most interesting one seen from northern Iceland in 2003 on the last day of May, rising before annularity, appearing like a neon hula hoop, partially obscured by clouds. I loved the coincidence of seeing the annular solar eclipse (a solar eclipse in which the moon covers all but a bright ring of the sun around the circumference of the moon) from Iceland on the same day as in the movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), on the “calends of June” (The last day of a month is called the “calends” of the next month; for example, the 31st of June is the calends of July) that the expedition enters the earth from inside the caldera of Snæfellsjökul, a name which refers both to the icecap on top and the summit of the volcano. The film version altered the novel’s calends of July (the 31st of June) to June, the 31st of May. I just loved the coincidence of seeing the annular solar eclipse from Iceland on the same day . . . .
Annular eclipses seem to be very special. How many have you seen?
I have seen a total of four annular eclipses, two on the Pacific coast (California and Mexico), one in New Mexico, and one in Iceland.
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“Descend, bold traveler, into the crater of Snæfellsjökull, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the calends of July, and you will attain the centre of the earth; which I have done.”
– Arne Saknussemm of
Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne, 1864
After spending time with Matt Ventimiglia, I believe I just ascended from the depths of the earth to encounter a taste of the heavens. And you can read his article about his last eclipse adventure in “Griffith Observer,” a monthly issue put out by Griffith Observatory. Details at http://www.griffithobs.org/
*Note: Matt Ventimiglia works as a tour guide for Griffith Observatory, however he is not an official representative.
See the image gallery related to this interview
Interviewed by Lisa Trimarchi
Insights – Righteous Wars
| Righteous Wars
I have heard reports of the conflict on the Gaza Strip, and I know there are justifications on both sides for the continued dropping of bombs. One is the occupied, and the other is the occupier. Both are harassing each other. I know how I would feel if my freedom were taken away: I couldn’t feed my family and I couldn’t get proper medical care. I would feel desperate. I know also how I would feel if I had to run to a shelter every day, my neighbor’s child was killed by a terrorist’s bomb, or the place I go to shop was blown up by a suicide bomber. I would want revenge. I understand the anger on both sides. However, from the perspective of an outsider, I wonder if there is any other way to solve these problems than by the dropping of bombs and the use of white phosphorous. When you bomb your enemy, you create more enemies for generations to come. So it is on both sides: hatred and violence fueled by a seeking of retribution for the killing of innocents. The sad thing about that is that when you become the aggressor, you become like the very enemy you detest. You become enmeshed in the tar of distaste by killing innocent children, women . . . ? civilians that appear a lot like the ones you lost. And where is the end to revenge? It is a faulty premise to assume that if you hit your enemy with an iron fist so severe as to insure your enemy cannot retaliate, your enemy will not retaliate. I heard an argument recently that intrigued me. Instead of isolating and imprisoning your foes, why not talk to them and include them into your society? That way you could get to know each other and learn to live together. We have the same problem here in America. We want to isolate ourselves from those “others” across the border, across the sea, in our own cities across the tracks and in the ghettos. Until we realize that those of us that we choose not to see are also our brothers, we will always be in conflict, because that person wants what you want, an equal chance at the resources that provide you with a good quality of life. If this man cannot feed his family, cannot safely educate his children, and cannot safely get needed medical care, this man will more than likely become your enemy. If this woman finds that each of her children dies a violent death, she will not only help your enemy but take up arms herself. People do not easily accept a lesser status in society while they see others doing well. They begin to think that they should have what you have, and they will seek to obtain it. What are we going to do with that fact? How can I feel satisfied with my level of comfort when others are suffering so much? We must find a way to include others in our prosperity and well being; and believe me, a warm bed, a dry roof, and plenty of food are prosperity enough for some. Can’t we at least share that much? Can’t we also provide the same level of safety and education that we enjoy and have access to? Can’t we rise above ourselves and live peacefully by negotiation and dialogue rather than by the use of weapons and bombs? There are no righteous wars, only a descending into depravity by continuing to kill, murder, and maim innocents in the effort to obtain land, resources, and political advantage. Shame on us until we learn to live in peace and communicate even with those we find the most distasteful; because until we do, we are doomed to extinction at our own hands. Lisa Trimarchi |
Where in the World Would You Go for Inspiration?
I have never been out of the country. Unfortunately, my fear of flying (well, fear of going down is more like it) has hindered my exploration of the world. About five years ago, I could have traveled with a friend, and a group of other Jewish adults, to the motherland – Israel. For the most part, it was a free ticket because it involved committed studies and group activities. Now, I kick myself. My hairdresser, whose homeland is Jamaica, always reminds me that I am welcome to go with her whenever I want to – she goes at least once a season, and says that she can just see my sitting by the clear, blue water writing in my journal. And that I CAN imagine.
So with 2009 here and incredible opportunities that have been finding me, I must overcome all of my “what ifs” so that I can fully enjoy the twists and turns of life – and be ready for anything and everything.
Having attended several LA Fashion Week shows through Agenda, I can only imagine the beauty and excitement of Milan Fashion Week. I also envision how it would feel to stroll and skip on the streets of Paris, and then maybe make a trip from there to Brazil so that I can bask in the sexiness of babes and beaches.
While I understand that international travel has its own challenges, frustrations, and even dangers, the inspiration from visiting another country would do wonders on my soul; interesting trips and experiences would only inspire me as a writer, a business owner, and as a person who wants to know what it feels like to be a foreigner. I firmly believe that men and women who seek success can only do so by expanding their horizons and creating new friendships and industry relationships at every chance they get.
And what better way to do so than in a new place where you can open your eyes to new styles, new languages, new mannerisms, new senses of humor, a new fashion of politics, and new (tasty!) dishes.
Think I have a thirst to travel? You can bet your Manolos on that.
If you have a great international traveling trip that you would love to share with Elana, please contact her at elana@talkingchic.com. She may even quote you in her next column!
Elana Pruitt
