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The SuihoEn Japanese Garden is a piece of Japan in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, the expansive 6.5 acre garden is ranked # 10 out of 300 public Japanese gardens in North America. It was designed by foremost Japanese garden expert Dr. Koichi Kawana. The Japan Foundation Los Angeles hosted a Geisha exhibition at SuihoEn featuring three talented young women: a “Maiko” or apprentice, two “Geisha,” and expert Peter MacIntosh. In Kyoto, the hub of Geisha culture, the word “Geiko” is utilized rather than “Geisha.” Geisha are trained in the traditional art of music and dance, and to be charming and entertaining. Both SuihoEn Japanese Garden and the Japan Foundation Los Angeles host events regularly, ranging from origami classes, to tea ceremonies, to manga. Both bring the brilliant culture of Japan to just a short drive away. Check out this documentary on Geisha by Peter MacIntosh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmH4mcTb6JE

OPA!
The Greeks love to party.  Community Greek festivals are generally held at the local Greek Orthodox Church.  But unlike other church festivals, the Greeks are just  getting started at noon and keep it going into the night. The young adult men and women start arriving when the sun is going down, dressed to impress. Greek music, dancing and food make it worthwhile, especially the home made Greek cookies: kourabiedes (walnut sugar cookies), melomakarona (spicecake & honey cookies), jam filled pasta floras and many varieties of baklava. Where does the word “Baklava” come from? Originally from the Mongol word “Bayla” meaning to tie-up. Who are some Greeks in our popular culture?   Tommy Lee, Jennifer Aniston, John Stamos, Rita Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Anthony Kiedis, Ariana Huffington and Betty White.  Betty White? Yep, her mother’s maiden name was Cachikis. What does “Opa! “mean?   “Opa” is one of those emotional expressions –  “oops” mixed with “yes, I dropped it and it broke in a million pieces but I am having so much fun I don’t care!”  Opa! What California city has the highest percentage of people with Greek ancestry?  Long Beach. Which city in the US has the highest percentage of people with Greek ancestry?  Tarpon Springs, Florida. Why? Sponge diving is an important industry there.  By 1905 a man named John Cocoris actively recruited Greeks to join the sponge diving industry there as divers and crew members. It is now a multimillion dollar industry there.

September 20-22

Pasadena Greek Fest  – Pasadena

St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church.  778 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena 91107

$4 admission. Fri 5-10pm, Sat 12noon – 10 pm, Sun 12 noon – 10pm

Great food, dancing, music, vendors. Opa!

http://pasadenagreekfest.org/

August 29th is Ingrid Bergman’s birthday. In honor of this day, can you imagine her in Burbank and Van Nuys? “Casablanca” was filmed in those two locations: Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank (the principal location), and one sequence was filmed at good old Van Nuys Airport. Van Nuys airport has been re-configured since then. The old runway and hangars are no longer there. The film started production in May of 1942. Picture Ingrid Bergman hanging out in the Valley! http://museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/2011/10/ingrid-bergman-and-humphrey-bogart-with.html Here’s a great piece from the CBC in Canada with some interesting side bits on Bergman and this great film. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/casablanca-at-75-fascinating-facts-about-one-of-the-most-famous-films-of-all-time-1.4413515

Labor Day is coming up, why not celebrate Jerk culture? Did you know: the word “Jerk” comes from the word “Charqui” – a word used in the Andes culture for dried meat. That term morphed to our word for dried meat: “jerky.” The biggest Caribbean population outside of the Caribbean is in the US (#2 Canada, #3 Spain, and #4 UK). Jerk spice usually contains chiles, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and garlic. It is a rub and can be a marinade or sauce. If scotch bonnet peppers are used – it is hot! Scotch bonnet peppers are Caribbean red chili peppers. At 350,000 Scoville Heat Units, they are hotter than the habanero (260,000 Scoville heat units). The more colorful word “jerk” came into our language in the 1880’s via steam locomotive slang for taking boiler water from a creek or “jerkwater.” It then got picked up in the carnival circuit and shortened to one of our favorite insults: “JERK!” Come on down to the UCLA Jerk Fest  –  Aug 31 & Sept 1 for some great music, food and culture.   http://www.jerkfoodfest.com

“Salsa” – it’s the chunky, spicy sauce that makes chips disappear out of the basket. It is also a dance that serves as the perfect way to work off those chips. So what is Salsa dancing? Here are a few quick things to know: Salsa, Spanish for “sauce,” takes the name of the dance from music and rhythms originating in Africa and Spain. It germinated in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and as soldiers, tourists, and jazz musicians visited and returned home to the US, they brought the dance with them. Later in the 1970’s, it hit the perfect beat with the disco era. Did you know there are at least 7 styles of Salsa? Best known are “NY style” (also known as “Mambo”) which hits the beat on 2 and 6. “LA Salsa” hits the beat on 1 and 5. There is also Casino /Salsa Cubano, Miami style, Colombian style, Rueda de Casino and Ballroom. Can you dance alone? Well, it is a partner dance and who doesn’t want to be spun around? Is it easy? All I can say is that it is fun, the dancers who know what they are doing are happy to show you the ropes, and I guarantee you will work off the chips and salsa after one dance! The Autry Museum has their Sizzling Summer Nights on Thursday nights through August 22 with live bands. Orquesta Son Mayor on Aug. 15, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca on Aug. 22.

What a great weekend Aug 10 and 11. From the beach in Venice to the Ventura coast, we can experience counterculture that made it to the mainstream. Venice goes back to Vans’ seminal skatepunk days of the late 70’s, Oxnard shows off their best in Lowriders. The neon beauties from the 40’s-60’s that dot the city will be shown off during the Glendale Neon Tour. Japanese culture will be celebrated across Little Tokyo during the Nisei Festival. For those who prefer plants over people – Westwood hosts Plantasia. See all details and more great things to do in the Events section.

Nisei Week in August is a celebration of Japanese American culture.  Two events are coming up this weekend August 10 and 11: Nisei Week in Little Tokyo http://www.niseiweek.org/events-festival/ and the USC Pacific Asia Museum  in Pasadena’s Free Second Sunday “Art & Food”https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/

“Issei” were the first generation immigrants from Japan, and their children are “Nisei” meaning second generation.  Started in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles in 1934 by the Japanese American Citizens League, this year marks the 85th anniversary. The festival is the longest running Japanese festival in California. Only during the WWII years when Japanese and Japanese Americans were sadly sent to internment camps did the festival not happen. At the Nisei festival, you will find colorful streamers, traditional dancing, music, food, martial arts demonstrations, and a parade. The Pacific Asia Museum’s program is free. Discover how food inspires art and cultural identity.  
The site of the Tuna Canyon Detention Center is here locally in the foothill community of Tujunga. Once a Tongva village, later the internment camp, then a golf course and now in limbo. Advocates continue to fight for historical designation. If you want to read more about Tuna Canyon Detention Center: http://www.tunacanyon.org/

LOWRIDER

The Lowrider was born out of Latino culture in Southern California back in the ’40s. It came into global consciousness in 1975 with War’s hit “Lowrider.”  What defines a Lowrider is a car modified with air suspension shocks which raise and lower the car allowing it to “bounce.”  The ethos is “low and slow” – the Lowrider was designed to slowly cruise and show off the magnificent body, paint and rims. Slow is cool.  Each Lowrider is a work of automotive art.  The creativity and ingenuity come from within the community, learned and passed down. The old Imapala rescued from the junkyard becomes the belle of the ball. Old skool music goes along with the cruise.  El Monte, Whittier, Pomona, Compton and are Oxnard hubs for Lowriders.  August 11 3rd Annual Lowrider Car Rally – La Gente Car Club – Oxnard. Free admission, car registration benefits the school. Fred Williams Elementary School, 4300 Anchorage St., Oxnard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDGz0Lqwr1U

Camarillo is in Ventura county and named for founder Don Adolfo Camarillo. Originally one of the last of the Mexican land grants (Rancho Calleguas), the land was owned by the Camarillo family since 1875. Don Adolfo took it over in 1880. Don Adolfo loved horses and he purchased a Spanish blooded white stallion “Sultan” in 1920. Sultan was bred and that began the Camarillo White Horses. After nearly 100 years, the legacy of Sultan lives on. After Don Adolfo’s daughter Carmen passed away, the family sold the horses out of necessity. The current owners retain the “family” relationship and you can see the horses together at the Santa Barbara Fiesta Days parade, the Camarillo parade and the Rose Parade. They are a magnificent sight.