Jersey comes to San Francisco for the Holidays!

By Marilyn Anderson

The smash Broadway hit “Jersey Boys” is having its West Coast Premiere beginning December 1st at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. “Jersey Boys” is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and how this group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.

They wrote their own songs, invented their own sound, and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they were thirty.  The familiar songs make audiences light up; there are lots of the Four Season’s greatest hits, such as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” Walk Like a Man,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.”

But this musical is more than just a bunch of “Golden Oldies” strung together into a jukebox musical. It’s a rousing, drama-filled musical that won four 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical; and it continues to set weekly box office records at the August Wilson Theater on Broadway. The show was directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, written by Academy Award Winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio.  It runs at the SHN’s Curran Theater in San Francisco from December 1st – February 11th .

What a perfect holiday present:   A trip to San Francisco and tickets to this amazing show!  Tickets run from $30-$90 and can be purchased online at www.shnsf.com, through Ticketmaster, or at the Orpheum Theater Box Office.   Los Angeles audiences will also have the chance to see “Jersey Boys” at the Ahmanson Theatre, May 25th -August 5 th .

SHN’s other show is a pre-Broadway musical production of Tim Burton’s whimsical movie, “Edward Scissorhands.” This magical adaptation was devised, directed, and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.  It runs through December 10 th at SHN’s Orpheum, after which it comes to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, running from December 12th – December 31st .

So make your plans to see some wonderful theater over the holidays and into the New Year.  It’s a present you can happily give to friends, to family —and don’t forget—yourself!

So have a Happy Holiday and head out to a great show!

Curran Theatre
445 Geary Street between Taylor and Mason
San Francisco, CA 94120
www.shnsf.com

Main Box Office
Orpheum Theatre Box Office
Corner of Hyde and Market at 8th Street
P.O. Box 7110
San Francisco, CA 94120

Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center

135 N. Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets (213) 628-2772

www.centertheatregroup.org

Phone: 415-551-2000 (recorded information)

Sister Act Is a Class Act!

At the Pasadena Playhouse until December 23rd

By Marilyn Anderson

When I heard that the movie Sister Act had been turned into a musical, I thought it seemed like a good idea that would make a good show.   After going to the Pasadena Playhouse, I realize it was a “perfect” idea that makes a fantastic show!   The production sparkles with fun, zest, and disco!   The plot follows the movie religiously—pun intended—with humor and style.   Remember the story of trashy nightclub singer Dolores Carter, who witnessed her boyfriend kill a man?   She goes to the police, who put her in hiding as a nun in a failing convent.   While she and the Mother Superior continually butt heads, Dolores ends up leading the nun’s choir.

It’s a simple story that simply works!   Add to that the most marvelous songs with clever smile-inducing lyrics that never cease to amaze.   Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glen Slater have created gem after gem; I can’t wait to get the CD and play it over and over!

The cast is terrific, belting out their numbers with skill and verve.   The nuns are great fun, particularly Amy K. Murray and Audrie Neenan.   When they do their first number, the show takes off and never stops.   The costumes are a big part of the show.   They’re fabulous and even funny, getting laughs just by being put on and taken off!    The direction, the choreography, the sets!   It all comes together perfectly, and it’s all capped (and I know I’m repeating it) with a collection of fantastic musical numbers with incredible lyrics.

Sister Act, the Musical is headed for Broadway, and I predict it will stay there a long time as an absolute treat for audiences.   So boogey on over to the Pasadena Playhouse for a religious experience that’s heavenly fun!

The show ends December 23rd—so see it before Christmas!

Pasadena Playhouse

39 South El Molino Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone: (626) 356-7529
Fax: (626) 792-6142
email: boxoffice@pasadenaplayhouse.org

www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

www.sisteractthemusical.com

Sister Act, The Musical moves to the Alliance Theater at the Woodruff in Atlanta, Georgia, and runs from January 17 – February 25

www.alliancetheatre.org

Phone: (626) 356-7529

MAGICAL SHOW “SNOWS” ON LOS ANGELES

by Marilyn Anderson

“Slava’s Snowshow” is an internationally acclaimed theatrical experience that has its Los Angeles premiere over the holidays.  It’s a spellbinding show that blends the art of clowning with stunning spectacle and inspiring visual images and fantasy.  Filled with humor, poignancy, and imagination, it uniquely captures and entertains the child in all of us.

A veritable fantasia on snow – the evening includes everything from squirt bottles, giant beach ball balloons, blinding fog, miniature houses with tiny lights – and a sensational climax with a heart-stopping snowstorm that engulfs the entire audience.

The creator, Slava Polunin, was born in a small town in Russia, and spent his childhood in forests, fields, and by a river – enjoying every winter in a world of snow. His love of fantasy and whimsy led him to become a clown and then to found his own theater company, which moved clowning out of the circus, onto the streets, and then into the major theaters of the world.

“Slava’s Snowshow” has been seen by audiences in 25 countries and 80 cities around the world and is the winner of the Olivier Award in London for “Best Entertainment.” The show continues its third successful year off-Broadway in New York – and now has a limited run of 31 performances in Los Angeles – from Tuesday, December 12, 2006 – Sunday, January 7, 2007, at UCLA Live’s Royce Hall on the UCLA Campus.

Bring your children – or just your “inner child” – for a magical and joyous snow-filled holiday spectacular.

Slava’s Snowshow

Dec 12 – Jan 7, 2007

Evenings and Matinees

UCLA Live’s Royce Hall

Tickets:

Online at www.UCLALive.org

Phone at 310-825-2101

In person at UCLA Central Ticket Office

or at all Ticketmaster outlets.

$32-$68; Student Tix & Rush $15-$20

DECK THE HALLS WITH BEADS & HOLLY – in NEW ORLEANS!

By Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning

New Orleans for the Christmas holidays! Why – you ask?  Isn’t it still under water?  Isn’t everything closed?  Isn’t it empty?  The answer is no, no and NO.  Instead, think go, go, and GO!

We went there recently – and WOW – it was the most fun we’ve had in an alligator’s age!  And when we hit Bourbon Street on Saturday night – it almost seemed like Mardi Gras – I can just imagine what the real Mardi Gras is like.

We were amazed at the crowds and excitement – and whole-heartedly joined in with wild abandon. At 9 PM a parade started down Bourbon Street with marching bands, clowns on stilts, folks in costumes and lots of smiling faces. Boosted by the NAR (National Association of Realtors) conventioneers in tow, thousands of revelers crowded through the French Quarter, dancing along with the parade and tossing beads this way and that – as people on the balconies above the street tossed even more beads downward.

Music blared from almost every doorway, attracting customers with shouts of “No Cover – No Minimum” as the festivities continued late into the night. We made sure to sample the music and drinks at a variety of spots. If you like Blues, Rock, or Soul—Bourbon Street is the place to be!

Food in New Orleans is fantastic. We love the Louisiana diet:  eat, eat and eat! There are lots of fried foods, of course—it’s a staple of southern cooking. But there is also plenty of fresh fish, vegetables and Cajun specialties that we find irresistible. Our resolution for the New Year – if you go to New Orleans, don’t start your diet until AFTER January 1st .

So here’s the holiday scoop for NOLA, as it now touts itself, standing for, obviously, New Orleans, LA.  Most hotels are open.  Most Bed & Breakfasts are open.  Most restaurants are open. Clubs are open.  Stores and attractions are open.  The people are friendlier than ever.  You’ll love them… and they’ll love you for coming and helping with the tourist revival of New Orleans.

One note of a serious nature to visitors:  Despite the joy of revitalization, the hurricane-damaged areas still cover a vast area. There is some effort being made at renewal, but overall the situation is sad.  It is highly recommended that you tour these areas for an awakening and remembrance, and to pay your respects to the lost souls who have moved on to another place. The tourist trade will help New Orleans and the people in it, so tell everyone you know to visit soon and often!

New Orleans is a wonderfully exciting and vibrant city, where everyone can let their hair down and lift their spirits up. So many things to do, places to go, and meals to eat!

So, don’t miss any of it – get your Santa to take you here for Christmas… and stay for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve.   Or make any day New Year’s Eve with a trip to this playfully decadent, spiritual, and alive city!

Here are some of the great things you can enjoy in New Orleans:

The Grand Victorian Bed and Breakfast

Located on St. Charles Street in the Garden district, a fun trolley ride slightly west of downtown, The Grand Victorian was designed and built in 1893 by New Orleans architect Thomas Sully. Several years ago it was lovingly restored by Bonnie Rabe, our gracious innkeeper.

This Victorian jewel features beautifully restored interior details, period furniture and an indefinable “warm and fuzzy” feeling, making your stay that much nicer. Amenities include free wi-fi for laptoppers, a house computer for checking your email if you left your laptop home, and an ample continental breakfast.

Our stay in the Nottoway Suite was reminiscent of apartment living in another era. Except we had such hi-tech niceties as a completely separate a/c system and a huge hot tub in the bathroom, features not normally found in your typical Victorian B & B. We were made to feel as comfortable as being at home. There are 8 rooms and suites, all named after the grand plantations that lined the Mississippi River, some of which still operate as tourist locations.

We can wholeheartedly recommend The Grand Victorian to anyone seeking lovely, comfortable, and reasonably priced accommodations. It would be a cozy and intimate setting for your Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.

However, if B & B-ing isn’t for you, the city has thousands of rooms available at hotels in the French Quarter and downtown.

The Grand Victorian Bed and Breakfast

2727 St. Charles Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70130

800-977-0008

www.gvbb.com
The Court of Two Sisters

Justifiably renowned for their daily Jazz Brunch Buffet, this beautiful and friendly restaurant offers a sumptuous spread containing almost every edible concoction man can prepare.   In the morning, the buffet features made-to-order omelets, Eggs Benedict, sausage and bacon, grits and grillades, and shrimp and veggie pastas with a creamy Alfredo sauce.   The afternoon’s sampling includes Creole jambalaya, turtle soup, oysters Bienville, Duck a l’Orange, and Shrimp Etouffee.   There’s also a cornucopia of delectable cold salads and appetizers.

The desserts were in equal abundance:  pastries, fruit, cookies, ice cream, you name it.  We had to force ourselves to “suffer” through the Oreo Cookie cake and several brownies.  And we couldn’t leave without a taste of their unique “King Cake,” a colorfully iced coffee-cake ring symbolizing the Mardi Gras tradition.

But what makes this world-famous restaurant truly special are the romantic outdoor courtyard, attentive service, and musical trio that plays softly elegant New Orleans jazz while you dine.  We think you’ll agree… it’s a glorious place for a holiday feast!

The Court of Two Sisters

613 Royal Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 522-7261

www.courtoftwosisters.com

Acme Oyster House

We have never passed by this historic oyster bar when there wasn’t a line outside.  No matter, it moves fast and with other people chatting all around you, you’re seated in what seems like a flash.  Don’t like lines?  Walk right in and sit at the bar.

We like the small bar section in front of the “shuckers” – a friendly bunch of fun-loving guys who shuck and “plate” the oysters you are about to eat – and provide entertainment at the same time with a constant rap of amusing banter.

Mostly raw or fried favorites populate the Acme menu, but all is first rate. After a dozen raw, we opted for a dozen char-broiled. What a treat this dish is! Somehow they all “slide” down easily and taste delectable.   Dennis likes the raw ones and washes them down with Abita Amber, a Louisiana specialty beer – but I prefer them cooked.  Hmmm – this Christmas, instead of chestnuts roasting on an open fire… how about oysters!

Joey K’s

Heading up Magazine Street in the Garden District one night, we passed what looked like your typical neighborhood tavern. Except, this place was packed. Every table was full of happy faces downing beer from chilled, thick glass mugs and eating voraciously.  With a recommendation from a friend, we figured how we could go wrong?

The menu is standard diner fare but sprinkled with some specialties like Trout Tchoupitoulas.  There are Daily Blackboard specials like brisket, lamb shank, white beans with pork chops, or jambalaya. We sampled the pork loin special with green vegetables and the pan-fried trout topped with grilled veggies and shrimp.

Don’t expect gourmet fare here, but for a satisfying meal in a very pleasant atmosphere, Joey K’s is AOK!

Joey K’s Restaurant

3001 Magazine Street

New Orleans

(504) 891-0997

Table One

While just across the street from Joey K’s, this restaurant is miles away in style, ambiance, and menu.  Part of a family of locally owned restaurants, Table One is an ambitious attempt at gourmet greatness on the local level. It’s a beautifully designed space with both upstairs and downstairs dining and a long attractive bar area on the first floor.

The menu is limited, but Chef Gerard Maras has filled it with a variety of fresh tastes for almost anyone.  Unfortunately, the night we were there, they were out of several dishes, not specials, but standard menu items, which surprised us.

Almost filled up from non-stop eating for the past several days, we decided to share a few dishes between us.  First, we tried the Fresh Sea Scallops, with frisee, Belgian endive and Italian parsley, dressed with lemon verbena caper sauce. We had asked what “fried New England Style” meant, and our server assured us it meant they were sautéed in a pan, not deep fried.  Unfortunately, they came deep fried and were rather tasteless.

The salad of Bibb lettuce with roasted beets, fresh “fine herbs” and naval oranges, dressed with orange blossom vinaigrette was well presented and tasty, but not overly special.

Our entrée of duck with plum sauce and boiled apples was also well presented, with a nice-sized portion.   Our first few pieces of duck were excellent, tender, and perfectly done. But the remaining slices were tough and neither juicy nor tasty. We tried to imagine how some of the duck was so succulent and the rest… NOT.   Maybe it was on the run… hoping to escape being someone’s Christmas dinner-to-come.

The choice of wines by the glass were limited but well chosen. Although it didn’t end up being our favorite place, this restaurant deserves another try.

Table One

2800 Magazine Street (Cross Street: Washington Avenue)

New Orleans, LA 70115View Map

(504) 872-9035

Pizza on Magazine Street: Rocky’s and Reginelli’s

There are several Italian eateries as you roam along Magazine Street, and we visited two of them.

Rocky’s interior is mostly dark wood, with private booths and a variety of things hanging on the walls. There is an open kitchen and you can watch them create your own pizza.

They have an extensive selection of “gourmet” pizzas and we ordered a Cajun Pizza with loads of seafood sitting on top.   Other originals include the Muffaletta pizza and the wild Tchoupitoulas with pepperoni, Italian sausage, red peppers and jalapenos. The menu also includes focaccia sandwiches, salads and pastas.

We thoroughly enjoyed the comfort, quality and care that the young college-type pizza pros served us.   We left with smiles and full stomachs, and highly recommend this local stop.

While Rocky’s is more of your old-fashioned pizza parlor, just up the street is a new, more stylish retro-deco eatery called Reginelli’s Pizzeria.

With bright pastel colors and oddly shaped tables, this is the newer, hipper version of Pizza “Parlorology.” Cool and comfortable, we ordered salads, pizzas and drinks and were more than pleasantly surprised with our meal. Our great surprise came when Dennis asked for a glass of Abita amber and got a full pitcher for $2!

Neighborhoods need little places like this, where the tables are full of young people enjoying life and getting the best in foods. As satisfying as our meal was, our server made it even better.

Waitress Stephanie was as fresh as a daisy and sweet as the tiramisu. She loved helping us and accompanied every trip to our booth with a smile and desire to be helpful. Recently graduated from Indiana University, she had planned to move to Los Angeles, but came to NOLA instead by accident. I think her mistake was fortuitous. She loves New Orleans and makes her customers feel extra welcome.

Rocky’s Gourmet Pizza	Reginelli’s Pizzeria
3222 Magazine Street	741 State Street at Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115	New Orleans, LA 70118
504.891.5152	504.899.1414

Café du Monde

High on your list of not-to-miss NOLA landmarks should be this historic spot in the French Quarter. Open 24/7 and bustling every one of those hours, this is the ultimate fried dough (called Beignets here, not donuts) and java house in the city. Since 1862, Café du Monde has been pleasing locals and tourists alike with its Beignets (fried, rectangle-shaped doughnuts covered in powdered sugar) and cafe au laits. Also available are fresh-squeezed orange juice, regular and chocolate milk, hot chocolate and soft drinks. Sit on the patio or indoors and watch the world go by. You’ll love the laid back atmosphere and white-jacketed servers working their way around the crowded tables – no matter how late at night or early in the morning it is.   A great stop for some more sweets and coffee after all that New Year’s Eve partying!

Cafe du Monde

800 Decatur Street at St. Ann Street

New Orleans, LA 70116-3306

(504) 581-2914

The Funky Pirate

Blues, blues and BLUES!   We love the blues – and try to find the best clubs in every city we visit.   We actually discovered The Funky Pirate on a pre-Katrina trip several years ago.   So we were absolutely thrilled to find it was still here – along with their main blues-belting guy – Big Al Carson.

From the outside, this club doesn’t look much different than all the other dark, smoky, music joints on Bourbon Street.   It’s when you step inside and capture the image of Big Al sitting ruefully on a huge chair, filling every inch of the room with a haunting blues sound, that you know you have found heaven.

He is the essence of the blues musician, digging deep into his 550 pounds of soul, and mesmerizing everyone within hearing range. You can dance or just listen – but don’t miss this place when you come to New Orleans.

Funky Pirate

727 Bourbon Street

New Orleans, LA 70116View Map

(504) 523-1960

Editorial Description

Pat O’Brien’s

This bar experience is all about fun. Any one of the taverns in the FrenchQuarter can pour a pint, but Pat O’Brien’s pours more, much more. We spent our time at the Piano Bar, directly across from the people-packed Main Bar, where talented singers belt out tunes like home runs in a fun and pleasing way. It’s a party as everyone participates in the mayhem, and you forget about going anywhere else. It’s no wonder that the line for this venue often goes around the block, but the wait is worth it.  A highlight of the Patio is the flaming fountain, a unique water fountain with fire emerging from its center. Don’t forget to take a picture; your sweetie will love the romantic gesture.   Or, like we did, ask a waiter to snap a photo of the two of you enjoying a holiday hug.

Pat O’Brien’s Bar

718 St. Peter Street

New Orleans, LA 70116
504.525.4823

www.patobriens.com

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro

We didn’t get to Snug Harbor, but friends of ours went there to seeCharmaine Neville, cousin of Aaron Neville, perform. She’s among the many New Orleans talents who regularly grace the stage, including Ellis Marsalis, Astral Project, and Jesse McBride.

It has a reputation as the city’s most prestigious jazz club, and includes three sectons:  a cozy restaurant with candlelit tables; a bar area; and a performance club with seating on two levels.   Apparently, a lot of young jazz musicians frequent the place – and bring their instruments, ready to jump up on the stage at a moment’s notice.  Next time we visit, we’ll be sure to check it out.  How about making a date to meet us there!

Snug Harbor

626 Frenchmen StreetNew Orleans, LA 70116

504.949.0696

info@snugjazz.com

Celebration Tours

This company offers a variety of city tours in a 12-passenger van.  We took the Katrina Recovery Tour, and learned a lot from our driver and guide, Ozzie Laporte.  He knows and loves his city, and you can sense the concern in his voice as the tour winds its way through the French Quarter and away from the now-lively downtown, to the outer sections known to millions of TV viewers as the Lower 9th Ward and 17th Street Canal.

Here, the devastation of 16 months ago is a daily reminder of the worst natural disaster to ever hit the United States. We were stunned by the scope of damage and destruction levied on these areas. Approximately 200,000 evacuees of the storm have not returned to the city; and seeing these areas, you will understand why.  From here, we were taken back to see the other active sections of the city.  Ozzie’s colorful narrative told all about the history of each site we passed, and helped us understand and enjoy the background and beauty of New Orleans.

We recommend this tour to see the progress New Orleans has made in just one year.  It’s a tale of two cities.  You see the devastated areas, then go to the uptown area and the Garden District, ultimately ending with a positive look at one of the most unique cities in the world – New Orleans!

Celebration Tours

1229 St. Thomas Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Toll-Free: (888) 587-7115

Phone: (504) 587-7115

www.celebrationtoursllc.com

Other attractions in or near NOLA:

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Audubon Zoo

Beuregard-Keys House

Blain Kern’s Mardi Gras World

Cajun Pride Tours

Destrehan Plantation

Hermann-Grima House

House of Blues

Laura: A Creole Plantation

Louisiana Children’s Museum

Louisiana State Museum-New Orleans

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Save Our Cemeteries

Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion

…. And many, many more!