Thursday, July 23, 2009

It Flies AND It Travels!

On Tuesday, the Warner Grand Theatre's main curtain was replaced!

The aging red curtain was replaced with one looking golden to most of us.

The new curtain flies in and out, just like the old one did.

"Flying in and out" means something on a stage can be raised out of view or brought down from an overstage storage area known as a fly gallery and be viewed by an audience.

Things that are lowered to be viewed by an audience are "flown in" and when things are removed from the viewable portion of a stage by raising it out of sight, they are "flown out"

The new curtain can fly in and fly out, but it also is able to 'travel'

When something relating to stages or performances on a stage area move from out of sight and move from the sides and into a viewable area, it is said that those items 'travel'

The new curtain, when closed and viewed by the audience, can be made to open from the center to the sides.

The new curtain can either fly or travel, but it cannot do both at the same time.

Some of the more expensive ways for curtains to open and close allow for them to go up and down and from center to side at the same time.

The new one can't do that and that is probably a good thing because it was less expensive to purchase and will cost less to maintain over the coming decades.

One of the best things the new curtain will allow for is the ability to have only a portion of the stage viewable to the audience. It can be completely closed and then completely opened AND it can be completely closed and then only opened a small distance.

More options are now available at the Warner Grand and I hope everyone takes the opportunity to be entertained and informed by visiting this historic theatre, right in downtown San Pedro.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Pondering the Reemergence of Ponte Vista and Some Other Ponderings

They are baaaaaaaaaaaaaack. Actually they never left but it seems they went into hiding for a spell.

The Ponte Vista project comes back into focus with a new post at www.yourpontevista.com and some other revelations that can be read about at: www.pontevista.blogspot.com.

Now please ponder the concept of seeing The Dark Knight while the Sun still shines over the Warner Grand Theatre.

Two showings of the latest in the series related to Batman occur at 6 PM and 9PM on Wednesday July 22 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

Please ponder: http://www.cspnc.com/index.php where you can find a printable pass for two free entries to "Warner On Wednesdays" or WOW for short.

While pondering free tickets you may want to ponder the concept that free can cost more than $10.00 at WOW.

Let's say you want two movie admissions, two small sodas, and two small bags of popcorn.

If you use the free printable pass and still want the popcorn and sodas, the charge would add up to $12.00 at the concession stand, based on their regular prices.

Now please ponder the $10.00 Special. You would receive the two admissions, two small bags of popcorn, and two small sodas for less than using the free pass.

I don't care which option you choose, but I want you to know about pricing.

Regular admission tickets for each showing is $3.00 per person.

I am the fellow in the ticket booth you will see receiving either money or printed passes and I want you to have the best time possible.

If you are in a party of four persons, you may want to use the pass for two admissions and pay $10.00 for two other admissions and two sets of small popcorn and small sodas.

You are most welcome to print passes and come to different movies showing twice a Wednesday through the first half of September.

The Board of Governors of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council just voted to oppose the construction of San Pedro's fifth 7-11 which might be built on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 19th Street.

There was much to ponder during the lively discussions and comments from all over the room.

7-11 representatives stated they needed to have the convenience store open 24 hours per day, just like the other four are in San Pedro.

Since there are not other convenience stores in San Pedro other than 7-11, essentially they would be competing with themselves.

Noise, traffic, and possible unlawful acts around the proposed store provided interesting debate by almost everyone in attendance.

Have you pondered or wondered about what type of water is being used at the largest wading pool in the State of California? Strike that! I meant to write the largest fountain in the State of California. Does any of your pondering or wondering include what type of water is used to irrigate the new grass and trees in north San Pedro along Gaffey and THAT Welcome Park at the end of the Harbor Freeway?

The answers to those questions currently is potable water or the same type of water coming out of taps in homes and businesses in San Pedro.

There are plans to use reclaimed water at the three sites and other sites, and the pool/fountain did have reclaimed or gray water in it. But that is not the case at this time.

Now ponder on the fact that the city of Los Angeles has mandated a water conservation plan on everyone living in San Pedro. I think we can all agree we are in a long draught cycle.

Did it really make good sense to build a long park-like area along north Gaffey using the grass and other foliage used over more draught tolerant vegetation? How many of us use the north Gaffey parkland or the Welcome Park?

Perhaps the decision makers should have thought more about creating greater need for tap water on sites that have few visitors or could have been postponed until reclaimed water was available.

I use red apple in our parking area. It is really draught tolerant, but then again, I don't live within the limits of the city of Los Angeles.

Do you ever ponder about a land swap between the Port of Los Angeles and another entity to secure Knoll Hill for permanent ball fields for Eastview Little League?

Have you pondered on whether that private organization should have government agencies working on its behalf to provide the solutions it did not adequately plan for?

If a land swap does occur, I hope that OUR community get more benefit from the Port of Los Angeles than what the other entity gives up.

Music By The Sea has one last Sunday at Point Fermin Park this year.

For those of you who have pondered about parking in the area and feel you don't need to follow parking guidelines.....BE WARNED!

This coming Sunday and for Taste in San Pedro the following weekend, L.A. Parking Control Officers and tow trucks will be in the area.

I know there is not enough parking in the area for everyone who wants to come to the park. Please consider walking if you can or taking the bus, or arriving early enough to secure a reasonable and LEGAL parking spot.

This is my mid-summer pondering and  I will write more in the near future.


Thursday, July 2, 2009

Pondering Pedro For Facebook Members

Howdy to any and all San Pedro Group members of Facebook!

Whether you live here or not, San Pedro has been on your mind and is certainly in your hearts.

Some of you are active in OUR community (all of you are part of OUR community in some form or another) while many of you have moved away but still feel strongly about San Pedro.

San Pedro is a state of mind and heart no matter where its borders are.

There have been more issues circulating around OUR community for years now than there ever have been before.

For those of you who don't live in the area and haven't heard much news, here are some recent events and issues. Some will shock you and some are just "Pedro" things.

Union War Surplus is in the final stages of closing its doors forever. Within OUR community, the shock has subsided somewhat, but it will still be a sorrowful day when the locks are locked for the last time.

Of course we must thank the Kaye and Robinson families and the other who kept that institution here for so long.

Yes, Ramona's Bakery closed down years ago. However, it appears that at least some members of the Amalfitano Family will be opening a Bakery on Western Avenue........in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Did you know that a new public High School campus is beginning to take form on the Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur? The new site is slated to become an annex of San Pedro High School with two Magnet Programs, but we'll have to see if that happens along about 2013.

Our Waterfront Redevelopment Plan seems to be off again with the exception of a new marina currently being dug across a small channel from the main Cabrillo Marina. This is a big step forward as the plan inches its way along at far less than a slug's pace.

Have you ridden on the Red Cars? Yup, we've got two of them running on tracks at the Harbor and they may get their routes lengthened to get all the way from Wilmington to Cabrillo Beach!

Disney Cruises is going to have one of their smaller ships home ported in San Pedro hopefully beginning in 2011. It's going to be a trial porting and the ship will only be the 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder, I believe. It is smaller than the two 4,400-passenger ships Disney is currently having built.

Our downtown area is having a very rough time right now, but bright spots shine through the gloom and doom.

We have the Little Fish Theatre Company continuing to provide excellent entertainment including its association with the free Shakespeare By The Sea productions that are now hallmarks in live summer theatre.

Joining Little Fish is The Relevant Stage Theatre Company and everything associated with the Warner Grand Vision Foundation and the historic Warner Grand Theatre.

Boy do we have galleries in downtown. We also have plenty, repeat plenty of housing units that are brand new and waiting for occupants in the downtown area.

The sixteen-story Vue is by no means sold out yet and we have lofts for lease as well as regular condos/apartments that are impatiently waiting habitation.

Work is continuing at Cabrillo Beach with ramp improvements, beach improvements, and a greater appreciation of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

Did you now that the former Nike missle site on Paseo Del Mar is not the White Point Nature Preserve? Its 102 acres are available to take in nature using trails, vistas, and an under construction interpretive center. 

No, no ballfields or soccer fields are on the site, but it is one of the last open areas along the coast in the city of Los Angeles.

Nearby in Rancho Palos Verdes, there is Terranea. If you like a 6-ounce plastic cup of house wine as you stroll on the public paths at the very upscale hotel, golf course, and meeting facilities, just put your $13.00 on the bar and don't forget to leave a tip!

Of course the old Ocean Trails (Ocean Fails) golf course and clubhouse is now owned by "The Donald". The hole that fell into the Pacific Ocean has been repaired and now rich folks can play a round of golf.

Getting back to San Pedro, you can now enjoy a weekend tour of the Point Fermin Lighthouse.

The lighthouse, built in 1874 now is home to its original large glass lens. You can climb up to the cuppola where the lens once was and look at views we weren't allowed to access until just several years ago.

Bring a Kleenex or hanky as you tour Ports O' Call. Right now it is a shell of its former self, but there are a very few shops that you just might remember there. It is probably nothing like you remember, so think of it as a pilgrimage instead of a tourist stop.

Not surprising to just about anyone is that another individual 'fell' to his death at Point Fermin. What is less usual is that he did it on the west side of the park quite a long way from Sunken City.

There are now plenty of access routes into the fenced off Sunken City area, so it is easier for us oldsters to renew memories there.

I still don't know why the local newspaper continues to provide articles about folks who meet their end off the cliffs.

For those of you who haven't visited the Fort MacArthur Military Museum, it is open on weekends and you can roam by gun implacements and through tunnels and have fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean.

For locals who are still living in OUR community, we always need more volunteers to assist YOUR community in a great number of things. Don't be afraid to get involved.

Whether you call it "Pedro" "San Pedro" or make it sound like "Sahn Paydro" it is OUR community to cherish, remember, and help grow.

Always remember, OUR community is NOT  "San Paydro"!