بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Brothers and Sisters!!!

I pray Allah you all had a glorious and wonderful evening and morning as I had. I thank Allah!!!

Yesterday, last night, rather, I went to an “opera.” If you wanna call it that. It was a free presentation by the Marina Del Rey Symphony of “Aida,” starring a Black girl, which was a pleasant surprise! The whole opera takes place in Africa, so technically, THE ENTIRE CAST SHOULD BE BLACK. But you know that’s too much like right in Christian America.

The music was beautiful and another key character was Black as well, I think he was supposed to be Pharaoh. But I’ve been to an actual opera and was a little disappointed because they advertised it as “fully staged,” so I go thinking there was going to be a set and everything like a typical play/opera.

Another thing I noticed, and I might just be old-fashioned, but I think subtitles are cheating. In this age of technology and big screens to assist the audience in seeing the drama being carried out on stage, I guess operas have incorporated subtitles to assist audiences in following the storyline.

I guess it makes sense, now that I think about it… Gotta get with the program and keep up with changing times. It does not pay to stay stuck in the past, with some things. You’ll get stuck and buried. LOL That is how the Black Nation lives forever. We grow and change. So, I guess it’s alright to have subtitles. You have the Captain’s approval. Carry on.

But the focus last night was on the conductor and the symphony, instead of the storyline, so instead of the musicians being unseen in a pit somewhere, they were up on the stage and there was no set.

The vocalists just stood in the front of the musicians and sang their lines.

It was okay and I’m sure I will return because they have a lot of shows at this particular park. (This was the park where I missed Joe. 😥 ) I can’t think offhand of any shows coming up but they have more musical acts at the nearby Fisherman’s Wharf on the weekends. And, In Sha Allah, I’ll make it to some of those as well.

OH! I just remembered Arturo Sandoval is scheduled to be there later on this month. I might go see him instead of going to see this white jazz band at the Townhouse that plays Old School jazz. He adored Dizzy and Diz gave him his stamp of approval and that means a lot to me.

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This morning, I finally made it over to the Annenberg Community Beach House! On the outside, it looks like such a swanky place. You know the type of place that used to discriminate. And I love going to those types of places. So, I finally went and can cross it off my bucket list.

I was a little disappointed at it as well, because the bulk of the beach house activities are to be done OUTSIDE. And I was expecting more of a sitting room, cafeteria with a dining room type of beach house.

There is a cafe on the grounds but the eating is designed to be done on lawn chairs, picnicking type of thing.

There is also an art gallery and a “game room” for the kiddies, which can be converted into any type of activity room during other seasons of the year.

There was another community type room that was being rented out for a SMC government retreat; a pool; and my favorite – the last relic of the house’s former glory – the Marion Davies Guest House.

The property used to be the jewel of what was then known as Rolls Royce Row on PCH.

I arrived just as they were opening up and took a tour of the house.

I learned that Marion Davies was the mistress (whom the historical society refer to as “sweetheart.” They love her despite her sordid lifestyle) of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst.

He was a notorious adulterer and had had his share of showgirls, finally settling on Miss Davies. Since he owned so many publications and film studios, he was able to manipulate the press into only printing ravishing reviews for anything she did.

However from what the docent reluctantly told me, the movie “Citizen Kane” tells another story.

Anyway, it is a shame that the house was demolished in 1955. It would have made a beautiful community center, if the remaining guest house is any indication. Let me grab a photo. BRB

Sorry, if I posted too many photos for you. But I’m “The Architect’s Daughter” and I love architecture as well as interior design and I am fascinated with the details and care that used to be put into buildings.

Blame it on Allah and Islam. That’s where it originated.

Anyway, that small building on the very left of the picture and the pool are the only things that remain of this incredible house.

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• THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART – LOS ANGELES
• OH MY GOD!!!! THAT’S WHAT I GET FOR NOT CHECKING MY CALENDAR. WHY DID I MISS CAMERON GRAVES FREE SHOW LAST NIGHT?!?!? I AM REALLY KICKING MYSELF RIGHT NOW. I mean, I like Classical. But I LOVE JAZZ. And he is a new artist that I really wanted to see. When I went to Mack Avenue’s website, he came up! And I’ve never heard his music so I was really excited about seeing his show. And I missed it. Okay, I just went to YT to post a video and I know who he is. He played keys when I saw Ryan Porter and the West Coast Get Down. Now, I’m wondering if I should even care about him, because he looks like he’s one of those white guys trying to re-pass. LOL 😀 Well, at least I don’t feel so bad about missing his show.
• This is the Brother who designed my name logo. He is the first person to design the L.A. symbol differently than the one we all know and love that represent the L.A. Dodgers. THE SMALL SHOP. The shop is located on sixth street in dtla but I cannot figure out the website. I was hoping I could order something I saw in the window online but… I guess. ❤
• Okay, I figured it out and found what I wanted to buy, but I don’t think I want to spend my WHOLE check on it.
• I also wanted to write a disclaimer about The G autobiography. She was okay with the abomination and you KNOW that’s not cool. So I just skipped those parts in the book and I suggest you do the same.
• IDLEWILD, MICHIGAN – LUXURY RESORT JUST FOR US

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