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MARIGOLDS, SUGAR SKULLS & COPAL

Dia De Los Muertos is when those of us living remember our deceased loved ones. This is actually not a “day,” it is three days and this year starts on October 31 and ends on November 2. Families create colorful, individualized altars for loved ones (including pets, yes this is SoCal). There are specific elements key to this period of remembrance which echo back to the ancient Mesoamerican times. Some of my favorites: Aztec Marigolds (Targetes Erecta) – these tall, golden flowers are sacred and used for decoration and medicine. The color and scent guides the spirits to their “ofrendas” (altars). Copal is known as the “Frankincense of the Americas.” This is a resin that comes from the Bursera Bipinnata tree. The resin is burned for religious purposes and is known as food for the deities. Calaveras de Azucar are sugar skulls. The skull symbolizes death and rebirth. In addition to Olvera Street downtown, Silver Lake will host their day on Friday November 1, Sunset Triangle.

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Scottish for the day at the Highland Games

There is nothing like bagpipes and drums to suddenly reactivate the DNA hidden deep in our bones. Even if you’re not Scottish, or not sure, the annual Ventura Seaside Highland Games is a great cultural celebration. The pipes and drums, the tartans, the scent of fish and chips, all under swaying palm trees and blue skies at the Ventura seaside. 5 Factoids: 1) Ladies must be mindful to wear your tartan sash pinned to the right shoulder. Only female chiefs, wives of chiefs or wives of Colonels of the Highland Regiment are given the honor of pinning to the left shoulder. 2) Threadcount indicates the number of stripes of the warp and weft in sequence and the number of threads in each stripe. This is the “DNA” of a tartan. 3) Tartans, with their threadcount specified, need to be registered to the Tartan Registry in Scotland to be “official.” 4) Although we associate the tartan with Scotland, earlier examples have been found in western China from 3,000 years ago, in Austria from around 1200 BC, and the oldest Scottish one in Falkirk, Scotland is from 3rd century BC. 5) You don’t have to be from Scotland, or even a terrier to be “Scottish” for the day. Seaside Highland Games, Oct. 12 & 13 in Ventura. https://seaside-games.com/

A lovely lassie at the Ventura Seaside Highland Games, Ventura, CA
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Wine, Piano and Couch

You think Gen Z’s are the only ones who like to sit on couches and be entertained? We older, wiser Gens like to sit on couches too – and we are quite demanding about the content! Yes, we want our content alive and kicking right in front of us! Not just any content either – we want professional, classically trained musicians and well-tuned instruments. We also want our wine, our friends, maybe something sinful to eat and we want dogs, yes, we want big dogs wagging their tails and begging for our attention while we watch professional musicians play! If this is also your idea of fun, you’ve got to attend a Groupmuse chamber concert. They are in neighborhoods throughout the Southland, and they are hosted by people like you and me – “just folks.” Groupmuse’s tagline is “Chamber music house concerts with your friends.” Groupmuse started in Boston in 2013 by professional chamber musicians gathering for informal performances for friends. It has now grown to several cities throughout the US and we have a thriving scene here in SoCal, with Ventura County now on the Groupmuse map!  The musicians are from the US and abroad. The talent is truly exceptional.  Check out Groupmuse here: https://www.groupmuse.com/about LA and Ventura County people – there are 2 performances coming up in Camarillo with Spindlewood Chamber Music Society on October 19 (pianist Cem Oslu) and November 17 (the fabulous pianist Ian Scarfe). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0wmdZ_vUL4&list=UU4FNvFDFkTJKyEvaQV2j3VQ&index=4

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RED LEAF HUNTING TIME!

October in SoCal is a confusing time. The day time  temperatures reach the  80’s, yet the evenings and mornings starting to demand the blankets to be pulled out and we put on our sweaters and sweatshirts. We do have a change of seasons, but it’s more a state of mind.
In Japanese culture, this time of year is called “Momijigari” or red leaf hunting season.  The custom started back in the Heian Period (794-1195) and it celebrated the maple leaf turning the beautiful red during the autumnal season. The red leaf  color and shape was included in art, clothing and even food. Usually around this time of year,  gardens host Japanese themed days where Taiko Drummers perform and “ikebana” (flower arranging) demonstrations are held. 
Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge will be hosting two days of celebration on October 12 and 13. Descanso has a long association with Japanese culture. The Japanese Garden opened in 1966, and one of the key people involved was Frank Kuwahara, the general manager of the Southern California Flower Market. The garden was designed by Eijiro Nunokawa and the teahouse was designed by Whitney R. Smith. Over the years, additions have been made: a bridge, teahouse and courtyard complex.  Today, it is a relaxing place where you can enjoy the Koi fish. Descanso is a wonderful place to celebrate Momijigari.