Showing posts with label picnic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picnic. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Free Summer Shakespeare in the Park, LA


THE 2025 GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Indie Shakes Spring Campaign 2025
The fest includes Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare [or Edward DeVere or the klatch of writers that were borrowed and stolen from to make the Bard's canon] runs June 25 to July 27 (with no performance on July 4th due to fireworks, traffic, and picnics) with performances on Wednesdays through Sundays @ 7:00 pm.

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe runs from August 6 to August 31, Wednesdays through Sundays @ 7:00 pm.

Pack your picnic, shake out your blanket, and call your friends, LA’s biggest theater event of the summer begins Wednesday, June 25th!

SYNOPSIS

Love’s Labour’s Lost
: Four gentlemen commit to a celibate life of disciplined study, but the last thing they expect is a quartet of aristocratic ladies to sweep them off their feet. Shakespeare’s intoxicating wit meets Bridgerton’s spicy society drama in this lush, bawdy, and bittersweet romantic comedy.

Community Action Update: Art Break Podcasts
Doctor Faustus
: A mysterious scholar sets his sights on mastering the dark arts and strikes a deal with the devil to make the magic happen. Marlowe’s playful, seductive fever dream becomes a satirical, soul-stirring thrill ride where unchecked ego meets ultimate consequence. After all, when you play with fire…there’s hell to pay.

Alongside these extraordinary productions, ISCLA (the Independent Shakespeare Company Los Angeles) have special events all summer long, including workshops, theme nights, and community engagement activations.

Stay up to date by joining the mailing list, and hit the button for more details. See you at the park! Independent Shakespeare Co.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Summer begins: Buddhist Summer School



How many summers are there? There's cultural summer (starting on Memorial Day), meteorological summer (as the weather changes), seasonal (astronomical) summer (the real thing beginning with the summer solstice, June 21, 2025), and Indian summer (that lingering often very hot period after fall equinox). When school lets out for summer vacation, that's summer. The Los Angeles Unified School District just let out, so summer has begun...at least in Southern California, where it's kind of always summer.

Youth is wasted on the young who do not appreciate it until it's too late

Buddhist Summer School (Bhikkhu Bodhi)
American Theravada scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Buddha's Teaching: As It Is, 1: The Buddha

1. "The Buddha" taught by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Humble Dr. Bhante Bodhi, Maha Thera, Ph.D.
佛陀教育法音宣流集 The Buddha’s Teaching: As It Is. It was 1981 at the Washington Buddhist Vihara in DC when American Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Bodhi finished recording ten talks explaining Buddhist basics published in March 2008. The original set of recordings came with additional material, including a glossary of terms that no longer seems to accompany the distributed CDs.

He began conceiving of a set of talks in the fall of 1979 as a WBV resident, composing lectures on the fundamental teachings of what the Buddha taught as recorded in the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism.

Bhante Gunaratana, at the time the president of the Buddhist Vihara Society, suggested he record the lectures so that the monastery could distribute them as a set of ten cassette tapes, saving Ven. Bodhi from a wave of invitations to speak to his fellow Americans interested in understanding the teachings of the historical Buddha Gautama also known as Siddhartha and Shakyamuni.

Meditate LIVE with Bhikkhu Bodhi Wednesdays
It was the summer of 1981 in the monastery's basement when Ven. Bodhi recorded them using an ordinary, nonprofessional recording device. An enthusiastic lay supporter had the master copies reproduced in large quantities for distribution.

They have continued to be distributed on tape and as CDs for over a quarter century. Decades ago, a set arrived at the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara when the future Dharma editor of Wisdom Quarterly first heard them, crisp, in modern English, covering deep topics with excellent breadth and depth, not getting too consumed by the details except when it became necessary to clear up misconceptions about the Buddhist meaning of nirvana (moksha, vimutti, complete liberation). Meeting Bhikkhu Bodhi at the offices of the Buddhist Publication Society (bps.lk) in Kandy, Sri Lanka, he granted permission that we distribute these talks and we have ever since.

O, Buddha, what's the best gift? - Dhamma-dana
He was sure that it was not necessary as these talks were further refined and incorporated into his books and the explanatory notes of his many translations of the ancient Buddhist texts of the Pali language canon, but we assured him that these original talks were still very valuable to a basic understanding.

They are now considered “public domain” for anyone to copy and distribute freely as a gift of Dharma or Dhamma-dana (not for profit). The one condition is that they must not be sold. The tapes are now on CDs containing the original ten lectures, available freely at BAUS.org, Buddhist Association of the United States, Chaung Yen Monastery, Carmel, Upstate New York.

It is recommended that they be listened to as recorded in the original sequence.

ABOUT: Bhikkhu Bodhi (born Jeffrey Block is born on Dec. 10, 1944) is a Jewish American Theravada Buddhist monk, ordained in Sri Lanka under Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Maha Thera. he now resides at Chaung Yen Monastery, Carmel, and still visits his former monastery, Bodhi Vihara (not named after him) in New Jersey. He was appointed the second president of the Buddhist Publication Society and edited and authored many publications grounded in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. He is the founder of Buddhist Global Relief a charity that funds projects to fight hunger and to empower women across the world.
  • Buddhist Summer School Committee ft. Bhikkhu Bodhi (The Buddha's Teaching: As It Is, Talk 1: The Buddha), Wisdom Quarterly; Alice Cooper, "Schools Out for Summer"; Last Day of High School vs. College

Friday, May 30, 2025

Party: Oh Happy Days Reunion (6/1)




WHAT HAPPENED?
Building may be gone, spirit lives on
Potluckers gathered to cook on four separate stoves in a very green garden with wild birds singing that made the mindfulness instructions seem easier to incorporate. New stimuli in an unfamiliar garden allows all of the senses become alive to what the feet are feeling (sensing), what fragrances of vegan food cooking are wafting, what sights and sounds are being taken in with new faces and networking opportunities, old friends and new fellows in acts of collective compassion, and finally the many delicious flavors from the grill, gluten-free vegan protein doused with Korean BBQ sauces over brown rice angels hair noodles and fresh kale, strawberry cheese cake from Silverlake. The sixth sense (the mind) had many delights to watch dispassionately with great interest but not self-interest, not "How does it relate to me?" reckoning, measuring, surmising, simply taking in. The health community in Altadena-Pasadena has remained cohesive and strong with loving bonds for Oh Happy Days Vegan Cafe and grocery. Music, slam poetry, and heartfelt talks were featured as we ate more than we could comfortably hold -- Korean, Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican, all-American grilled veggies, baked potatoes, kombuchas, punches, teas, and all of the usual entrees. The guest of honor was overwhelmed with the show of affection and enthusiasm for bringing back the store.

Survivor John Hopkins
Once upon a time, there was a vegan restaurant, grocery store, and vitamin shop in Altadena (Los Angeles) called Oh Happy Days.
It was in a time warp and felt like a den of vegetarian hippies and an old-timey General Store after hiking down on Lake Avenue from the Cobb Estate (home of Groucho Marx) and White City, looking down on LA, Orange County, even Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island.

We are all Friends in the new Los Angeles
The local Native Americans -- now called the Kizh (Tongva, Gabrielenos) -- must have loved the view of their land next to Hahamog'na (headwaters to the LA River starting Pasadena, near the Rose Bowl), east of the Tataviam Tribe in the Valley (Fernandeño), They would have loved it more if they could eat here with the hippies and health conscious.

Burned in Eaton Fire

The shop burned down in the Eaton Fire, along with the owner's Altadena home, vehicles, and those of his workers. Read all about his harrowing survival:
The comeback Reunion/Potluck
John Hopkins controls the music like The Fonz
Clearing the Eaton Fire debris has taken months, due to its size and also clearing Pacific Palisades. But things are developing apace.

In the meantime, before it formally reopens, Oh Happy Days is returning to its monthly Potluck Parties with a REUNION (with music and mindfulness meditation) at nearby home:

Sunday, November 19, 2023

FREE Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck (11/23)

Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Seven, Jen, Ashley (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Why do meat eaters complain about hair?
This is a free vegan event with a raw vegan, desserts, main dishes, all the sides, drinks, kombucha, sun tea, juices, fruit, and every culture's vegan dish being shared by participants. FACEBOOK.
This event is posted at WisdomQuarterly.com and many other places and annually welcomes hundreds of attendees. It is open to all, vegans, nonvegans, intermittent fasters, vegetarians, omnivores, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Ever think of eating vegan?
It is Los Angeles's biggest and longest-running SINGLE DAY VEGAN TRADITION, the biggest vegan potluck of the year, a tradition that has been going for more than 25 years.

Come share some delicious vegan foods, connect with beautiful people, enjoy the outdoors while saving the environment. There is live music, performances, drums, and an open mic. Bring chairs, blankets (since most of the picnic tables are filled with potluck dishes), musical instruments, frisbees, balls, yoga mats... Family-friendly, great for kids and well-behaved dog companions on leashes.

WHAT DOES "VEGAN" MEAN?

Bring the guacamole, chips, and hot salsa.
Vegan means completely free of meat (any animal products like mono and diglycerides, lard, butter, milk, nonvegan flavoring, fish, eggs, dairy, honey.

Vegan means NO animal products of any kind at all. Organic, chemical-free, GMO-free, "natural" flavor and MSG-free foods are preferred and encouraged.

Cooked and raw vegan food is welcome. There will be a space designated for raw items: Please only place your dish there if EVERY ingredient in it is 100% raw (no pasteurized or commercially canned or jarred foods are raw).

Faux meats made of pea protein are great fare.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

There's an open mic for entertainers
No fee to attend, but to participate bring a 100% VEGAN dish to share, using your best judgment in the practice of health and safety protocols. Hand sanitizers will be available. Please attend only if healthy (no symptoms).
  • Park rules: No alcohol
  • For each person attending, alone or in a group, please bring a vegan dish to share that will serve at least 8-10 people that is ready to serve.
  • For example, if there are 2 people in a party, please bring 16-20 servings. 
WHAT DOES "VEGAN" MEAN?

Not exploiting animals is vegan.
Vegan means completely free of meat (any animal products like mono and diglycerides, lard, butter, milk, nonvegan flavoring, fish, eggs, dairy, honey. Vegan means NO animal products of any kind at all.

Organic, chemical-free, GMO-free, "natural" flavor and MSG-free foods are preferred and encouraged. Cooked and raw vegan food is welcome. There will be a space designated for raw items.

Please only place your dish there if EVERY ingredient in it is 100% raw (no pasteurized or commercially canned or jarred foods are raw).
BRING INGREDIENT LIST

Please list your dish's ingredients.
Please bring an ingredient list to help those of us with allergies to wheat, barley, rye, oats, buckwheat (all of which are full of harmful plant lectins like gluten, avenin, gliadin, and fagopyrins, which are really bad for health as they strip the villi from the intestines).

NOTE: There is no such thing as "gluten-free oats" NO matter what the package says because the gluten in oats goes by another name (gliadin or avenin). The label claim is just about cross-contamination with wheat. When wheat is completely avoided, there's still all that oat-gluten (lectin) in oats.

There will be quiet park meditation, too.
See Dr. Joel Wallach's criticalhealthnews.com to see how much harm oats (and other popular grains) are causing as they stick to gut and strip the villi. Eat the Asian way, advises Dr. W, with rice instead glutens and lots of sweet potatoes, which are not potatoes.

TO PREVENT PAPER AND PLASTIC WASTE, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN REUSEABLE PLATES, BOWLS, CUPS, EATING AND SERVING UTENSILS.

SPECIFIC LOCATION
Dr. Will Tuttle spoke in 2022.
Enter Cheviot Hills Park (aka "Rancho Park") at the north entrance on Motor Ave. (the first entrance south of Pico Bl.) When entering the park, there is a parking area on the left. Drive past it and follow the road to the NEXT parking area, which is a few hundred feet down. Walk to the picnic tables across the grass behind the baseball field. Signs that say "VEG" will be posted pointing the way. (There is another picnic area at the far end and close to the parking lot that is not our picnic area).


EVENT PLANNING AND COORDINATION
Dr. T's book World Peace Diet
Spread the word. Feel welcome and even encouraged to support the community that attends. To volunteer, please send an email to: veganthanksgivingla@gmail.com

DISCLAIMERS: Unless otherwise stated, organizers and participants do not assume any related legal obligations, responsibilities, or liabilities, but all are expected to behave in a civil and orderly manner and adhere to all event policies. Participation is at every person's own risk. Indoor activities, outdoor activities, in-person social interactions and sharing foods have some associated risks, including injuries, allergies, transmissible illnesses, and food poisoning.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Autry Native American museum at 35 (9/30)

Autry Museum (autry.org, 9/30/23); Xochitl, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Blackfoot tribe members protecting their ancenstral land, Glacier Nat'l Park, Montana, 1913.
Say something, Chief. I'm recording.
The Autry in Griffith Park: Special 35th Anniversary (with tickets priced as if it were 1988). Join the Autry (with consumed the Southwest Museum's extensive American-Indian collection) for a day full of fun celebrating the Autry's 35th anniversary, with family-friendly activities museum-wide.

Special 35th-anniversary ticket prices are the same as they were when the Autry first opened in 1988.
  • Trunk Show featuring local artist Laila Asgari
  • Wild Horse Singers and Dancers
  • Native Voices performance
  • Presentations from Karla Buhlman and Rob Word
  • Docent-led tours and trick ropers
  • Carnival on the Lawn with games
  • a Petting Zoo,
  • Bouncy Houses,
  • a mechanical bull, and
  • a Ferris Wheel
  • Market Vendors and Community Partner booths on the Lawn
  • Live Music,
  • Photo Booth,
  • Game lounge (corn-hole, Jenga, shuffleboard, giant Connect Fours)
  • PBS SoCal Daniel Tiger Meet and Greet downstairs in the garden
  • Family Play Space with educational activities for kids and families
  • Food trucks and [toxic] Fry bread…and so much more
See schedule and location of performances and activities. (Times and locations will be updated daily , so stay tuned for updates if it rains). SCHEDULE OF EVENTS... Details