The Passion of the Superman

Enjoyed seeing "Superman Returns" tonight. I thought it was a first-rate summertime-fun movie.

But what struck me was how much this telling of the Superman tale is an allegory for the Christ story.

• Sent by his Father (skillfully played by the late Marlon Brando) to our planet.
• Watches over us and protects us.
• Dies and is resurrected (hope that doesn't spoil the movie -- did you think Superman would actually die and stay dead?)
• He even hangs in the air in a pose similar to Christ on the cross.

Anyway, it's a good movie and I predict it's going to be a big hit. Seems like audiences are in need of a good Savior these days.

Eva Marie Saint as Mary, I mean Superman's Mother is wonderful.

However, Parker Posey as Lex Luther's moll steals the picture IMHO.

My Kind of Book Club

I'm not proud to admit it, but I rarely read novels. It's just not something I make time for.

However, I can always find time to eat in a restaurant made famous by a novel.

For instance, today I had an excellent lunch on Ellis Street in San Francisco at John's Grill, which shows up several times in Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" as a regular luncheon choice for detective Sam Spade.

It doesn't seem to have changed much since it opened in 1908, and if I were a San Francisco private dick I'd probably eat there often too.

The interior of John's Grill. 

What's the Big Seal?

Spent another day in San Francisco. I'm still here on Wednesday, flying home Wednesday night.

Went to see a movie at the AMC Theater on Van Ness tonight. For decades the space was a Cadillac dealership but now has been converted to a Crunch Gym and a movie theater.

Saw "Nacho Libre" which I thought was laugh-out-loud funny. Jack Black is much better suited playing a Mexican wrestler wanna-be than the lead character in "King Kong." 

They were already waiting in line at 6:15 p.m. for the 10:00 p.m. first screening of "Superman." 

I had a good dinner tonight at Tommy's Joynt -- which claims to be the original hof brau restaurant in San Francisco. 

Back In The City

Made my way up to San Francisco this morning.

I had every intention of going to a movie tonight. But after getting up at 4:30 a.m. to catch my 7:00 a.m. flight and then sitting all day in a stupefying meeting I just didn't have the gumption to go to a movie theater. Maybe tomorrow night.

Back to the Future

Junior Statesmen celebrated its 70th anniversary this afternoon with a Garden Party at the lovely Brentwood home of Eric and Rachel Kaganoff Stern.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti (a Junior Statesmen alumnus) presented Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the 2006 Junior Statesmen Outstanding Public Service Award.

At the event the Mayor was interviewed by Junior Statesmen's Southern California student Governor Robert Byrne and then he took questions from the audience. Acknowledging the number of students present, the Mayor said he preferred to take questions from the young people. After several tough, intelligent questions he congratulated the students on being so informed and articulate. And didn't that make the gathered alums proud!

A special thanks to SeaboardFarms who posted a comment asking if my AC is fixed! Do I know who you are? Thanks for asking. It got fixed Saturday morning and I've been enjoying it ever since.

The Mayor knows a photo-op when one jumps in his lap. 

Parking was provided by a company hilariously named "Valet of the Dolls." Their words -- not mine. 

A Classy Drama About Drama Class

Headed downtown tonight to see Alfred Uhry's "Without Walls" starring Laurence Fishburne as an effeminate drama teacher at a private High School in New York City in the 1970s at the Mark Taper Forum.

Uhry is best known for writing, "Driving Miss Daisy," and he has another winner here.

Fishburne's character, Morocco Hemphill, has to deal with two students -- one a drama teacher's pet and the other a cocky underachiever who skates by on his good looks (played by Matt Lanter, most recently of Commander in Chief.)

The fountain at the Music Center on a beautiful night in Los Angeles. 

Bitter: Party of One

Came home from San Francisco last night to find my air conditioner wasn't working.

Scheduled an appointment with my AC repair guy for after work today. Came home and waited and waited. Finally at 6:45 p.m. he called to say he'd be by Saturday morning.

Made my way to Dodger Stadium -- late.

Traffic on Sunset Boulevard was horrible.

It took at least 15 minutes to pay to get into the Dodger Stadium parking lot. The lot I like was full and I had to park in a horrible part of the lot far away from the Stadium.

The Dodgers gave Fernando Valenzuela Bobblehead Dolls to the first 50,000 guests. Apparently I was guest Number 50,001.

Forgot my camera at home. Couldn't take a picture of the guy one section over who passed out, remained unconscious as they carried him out and was so pale he looked like a cadaver. Nor could I take a picture of the one-year old in front of me who kept staring at me but wouldn't smile, no matter how funny a face I made.

At least the Dodgers beat the Pirates 10 to 4.

Don't Haight The Player

Between meetings today I had the chance to walk around The Haight in The City. It was The Lovely because The Weather was so The Beautiful.

Formerly the throbbing heart of the beatnik scene, The Haight seemed pretty re-gentrified to me.

Although this curious curio shop caught my eye, I didn't have any luck finding copies of the Wall Street Journal nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Made Me Look

Flew up to San Francisco tonight for some meetings tomorrow.

I try not to be too influenced by advertising -- but this one really caught my eye. It appears to be a real parking space in the middle of the San Francisco airport. It's advertising a new parking lot nearby. If I ever parked a car at SFO I would have checked it out for sure.

I like this view of two distinctive buildings in San Francisco -- one older and one newer. 

I asked the hotel concierge to recommend a homestyle Italian restaurant nearby and he sent me to Cap's Corner at Green and Powell. It was an excellent recommendation! 

Happiness is Being an "Uncle"

Spent a lovely evening with the Fanali family at Dodger Stadium tonight. We had dinner in the exclusive Stadium Club and then watched the tail end of the game on the Field Level. The Dodgers lost to the Mariners 9 to 4.

Interior shot of the Stadium Club. Not too crowded once the game got going.