By Ted AYALA “What is that music?” my father called out from the living room one weekend afternoon back in 1991. “I’m playing a video game,” I answered. My father – a severe man who held a profound disdain for my obsession with video games – stepped into my room. Immediately I froze. “The music […]
By Charly SHELTON Two out of five men don’t wash their hands after going to the restroom. That figure comes from mashing together several figures from studies placing the number anywhere from 77% down to 50% (just search the Internet with “Average that men wash hands”). So let’s say two out of five men don’t […]
For those of you who finished our summer scavenger hunt, thanks for playing! As promised, you will be receiving a completion certificate via email in the upcoming weeks. We will be holding another treasure hunt in October, themed for Halloween. So keep an eye out in the Crescenta Valley Weekly. Please forgive any spelling errors […]
By Charly SHELTON Earlier this summer, we went to E3 – the Electronic Entertainment Expo – to see the newest video game releases and newest gadgets coming up. Then we took you to Comic-Con to see the new everything else that will be found in movies, comics, games and pop culture. Now for our final […]
By Ted AYALA Summer is often a time for leisure for many people – but not for Sonia Marie de León de Vega. For nearly a quarter of a century, she has been the engaging and energetic music director of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra, whose home is Occidental College’s Thorne Hall in Eagle Rock. Over […]
By Ted AYALA There was a sense of optimism wafting between the notes on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. On the stage set up on the stadium’s lawn were the Pasadena Pops and its music director Marvin Hamlisch. Hamlisch has much to take pride in. His inaugural season with the Pops has been an undisputed […]
By Ted AYALA A handful of concerts from local musical organizations will be bringing this year’s summer concert season to a close this weekend – and the timing couldn’t be better. With temperatures this weekend expected to soar into the 100s in the valleys, this is the perfect opportunity for local music lovers to venture […]
By Ted AYALA One of my most memorable – and surprising – musical experiences was when I heard a powerful and searching performance of Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 at the Alex Theatre last spring. Memorable because Schumann as a symphonic composer could often be his own worst enemy, scuttling brilliant thematic and structural ideas […]
The dog days of summer need not be comprised of hot dogs alone. Home grill masters increasingly are spicing up a great American tradition by adding the flavors of the world to their summer meals. The healthy results are also delicious. “You can turn your backyard fare into something extra special with a little flavor […]
Comic giant’s New 52 campaign revisits iconic figures’ beginnings. By Charly SHELTON DC Comics was never really my favorite. Marvel had Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk and Fantastic Four. Why would anyone want to read about anyone else? Batman has no powers, Aquaman has powers but who cares (the Justice League is based on a […]