Weekend Highlights (feat. Gwen, Chuck, Ani & a Cast of Thousands)

First soccer class with Zev, all daddy-and-me-style. Kid's a natural. Everything else pales, but a few other big moments from the weekend:

• Hanging around the playground when, hey look at that, Gwen Stefani's here with Gavin and Kingston, who's totally Zev's age. Gavin was on the phone talking about some iTunes acoustic set, and still did all the toy and trike wrangling. The rest of us tried to pretend that they, and the paparazzi, weren't there. Kinda awkward, especially when Zev totally snagged the swing Kingston was eyeing. Sorry about that, Gavin.
  
• The return of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. I'm not sure what to think about this Starbuck thing, either, madam president.
• The death of Northwestern's most famous alum, Charlton Heston. Too bad, also, that they're remaking all of his best movies. If they're not careful, gonna make him obsolete one of these days.
• Seeing Ani DiFranco. Again. Probably like my 10th time and I'm not kidding. Mayrav loves her, so I go. Not a bad show, not a great show. Orpheum Theatre downtown, wonderful ornate old place. Not really the best acoustics, but then maybe it was her crew. Yeah, let's blame those guys, and not the deco theater that's been here for a century.

Places in Los Angeles I Go to See Things and Do Stuff: THE HOTEL CAFE

If you've been to The Hotel Cafe, you know this: Great, great, great place to see and hear some music. Small space with a terrific sound. Meticulously curated array of up-and-coming powerpop types and singersongwriter types and all kinds of other types, too, if those types aren't for you. Plus, place was filled with Adults. Not Old People, but regular people who may not care that this is your first time in here and don't know to use the back door where exactly to pick up your Panini.

Anyway. Go here, see music. Pretty much any night is a good night. We saw four performances, each shuffled in and out on the hour

1. Guy with a piano, name of Aaron Beaumont.
2. Until June, band with a big urgent sound that I really dig. Maybe they're on the GREY'S ANATOMY soundtrack you have.
3. Lady Danville, fun, three playful, harmonizing kids who are wrapping up a residency deal at the Hotel Cafe this week. Love these guys. Didn't take much.
4. Ryan Calhoun, who, to reduce an artist to a simple comparison that may or may not be fair, sounds like Matthew Good (who had been on the same stage earlier in the week).
   

Also, civilized and even whimsical bathroom graffiti. Usually, but not always, a good sign.

More Scenes from the Windshield