Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

I love a good vacation, like anyone else and this summer seemed like the perfect time to get one on, here goes…

Thursday – August 6, 2026 – Arrive in Rome, check into my Airbnb.  It is an old area but has been regentrified. it is filled with restaurants, plazas, fun stores, hipsters. Get settled in, then go for aperitivos, champagne and free cured meats, then went and had a gelato walked around this cute little neighborhood. Then went out for dinner at Nanzerella. Had meatballs and carbonara pasta, Bellissimo. Then took a drive to Trevi with a cab. There were so many tourists and witnessed a robbery in progress, which is so common there. I have been told to watch out at the local tourists areas.

Friday – August 7, 2026 – My jet lag was not great, but managed to see the Pantheon. It was very hot, but inside the Pantheon it was cool and beautiful. Such amazing history, such a stellar building. Roman architecture doesn’t get much more awe-inspiring than the Pantheon. Erected in the Field of Mars (Campus Martius), just outside the city walls where the Roman army used to train, the Pantheon was the centerpiece of an elaborate monumental theme park which marked Rome’s transition from a city of brick to a city of marble. The Pantheon’s famous dome, still the largest freestanding dome in the world, and imposing temple colonnade are now among the most recognizable icons of the Eternal City. But they mask a building with a fiendishly complicated history, which even the ancients writing 200 years after the Pantheon’s completion were debating. “Agrippa finished the construction of the building called the Pantheon. It has this name, perhaps because it received among the images which decorated it the statues of many gods, including Mars and Venus; but my own opinion of the name is that, because of its vaulted roof, it resembles the heavens.” Cassius Dio (Roman historian writing in the 3rd century AD) Our first clue to understanding the purpose of the Pantheon comes from the word Pantheon itself. The ancient Roman aristocracy was practically bilingual in Latin and Greek, and it was from the latter they derived the name of this temple. The Greek word for “all” was pan and the Greek for “gods” was theos. Hence the name and purpose of the Pantheon: as a temple built in honor of all the Roman gods.  Paradoxically, both the peace he’d brought and the war he’d fought to secure it. Entrusted with carrying out this building project was Marcus Agrippa, the emperor’s right-hand man, contemporary, and son-in-law through his marriage to Augustus’ daughter Julia.

The Pantheon of Marcus Agrippa – We don’t know much about what Agrippa’s Pantheon looked like. What we do know is that he hired some of the ancient world’s finest artists, like Diogenes of Athens, to decorate it. And inside stood a statue of Venus whose earrings were made from Cleopatra’s pearls. Agrippa built several other structures in the Campus Martius, including some public baths (the Baths of Agrippa) and the Basilica of Neptune, which housed artefacts from Augustus’ naval victory at Actium. In fact, look behind the Pantheon today and you can still see the remains of this Basilica of Neptune. Building the Pantheon – The original Pantheon was built around 25 BC in the wake of the first emperor Augustus’ victory over his famous rivals Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Not satisfied merely with winning, Augustus wanted to advertise his victory. So he financed an elaborate building project throughout the city, celebrating, paradoxically, both the peace he’d brought and the war he’d fought to secure it.

Entrusted with carrying out this building project was Marcus Agrippa, the emperor’s right-hand man, contemporary, and son-in-law through his marriage to Augustus’ daughter Julia.

Did some shopping in and around this area, the sun was blazing hot, temperature was 102 in the shade. I would tell my readers go to Europe in May or October, not August. This summer was unusually hot in all of Europe. This was the fifth heat wave since early June, and it is very humid, not like Southern California, more like Florida. There were also many wildfires, sounds familiar, and there is no Global Warming, really!!

I had a tasting at Il Vero for lovely Fettuccine Alfredo. Then took the golf cart in and around Rome and saw lots of highlights.  Golf Cart Tour: Witness the magical atmosphere as Rome slips into at dusk on this private nighttime golf cart tour. See the roman streets come alive with street artists and nightlife. See the incredible attractions of Rome all lit up, such as the Colosseum.  Some of Rome’s top attractions look even more incredible at night, such as St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona (Navona Square), the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Pincio, Janiculum, Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Sant’Angelo Castel. After pickup, hop aboard the golf cart and travel along the narrow characteristic streets and through the evocative squares. Get plenty of unbeatable photo opportunities as you see the beauty of Rome after sunset. It was a long day and night, I was exhausted, but it really gave me a birdseye view of what is all of the major tourist spots in Rome at Night.

Saturday – August 8, 2026 – I took most of the day to work. My travel companion went to the  “Bone Museum” in Rome is the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on Via Vittorio Veneto, not my cup of tea, but it was enjoyable just the same.

Sunday – August 9, 2026 – Got there early and went to the flea market. It was so hot and most of the items were Chinese imports, so my well thought out plans of doing most of my purchases here were to no avail. I did but some fun gifts and beautiful scarves, but no shoes and no luxury brands as planned. Went back to my room and then decided to do a late afternoon trip to the Vatican. https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/san-pietro

St. Peter’s Basilica is a massive Renaissance church located in Vatican City, serving as the center of the Catholic Church. Vatican City, an independent country inside Rome, Italy. Construction on the current building started in 1506 and finished in 1626. Famous artists like Michelangelo, Bramante, and Bernini helped design it. It houses Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, the Pietà. Entry to the church is free but expect long lines. You can book digital audio guides or dome access through the Official Website of St. Peter’s Basilica. I was really taken, they had a mass going with The Cardinal, he walked by me and gave me a blessing. I had a medallion of Pope Leo XIV around my neck that I had bought at a souvenir shop the day before. Sitting in the church pews I cried, it was all very moving to me. It just came over me, I do not know why, but I loved being there. One of my true highlighted in Rome.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (Italian: Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply St. Peter’s Basilica (Latin: Basilica Sancti Petri; Italian: Basilica di San Pietro [baˈziːlika di sam ˈpjɛːtro]), is a church of the Italian Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initially planned in the 15th century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the ageing Old St. Peter’s Basilica, which was built in the fourth century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.

Designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, with piazza and fittings by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Saint Peter’s is one of the most renowned works of Italian Renaissance architecture and is the largest church in the world by interior measure. While it is neither the mother church of the Catholic Church nor the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome (these equivalent titles being held by the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome), Saint Peter’s is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines. It has been described as “holding a unique position in the Christian world”, and as “the greatest of all churches of Christendom“.

Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus‘s apostles and also the first Bishop of Rome (Pope). Saint Peter’s tomb is directly below the high altar of the basilica, also known as the Altar of the Confession. For this reason, many popes, cardinals and bishops have been interred at St. Peter’s since the Early Christian period.

St. Peter’s is famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions. The pope presides at a number of liturgies throughout the year both within the basilica or the adjoining St. Peter’s Square; these liturgies draw audiences numbering from 15,000 to over 80,000 people. St. Peter’s has many historical associations, with the early Christian Church, the Papacy, the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation and numerous artists, especially Michelangelo. As a work of architecture, it is regarded as the greatest building of its age.

St. Peter’s is ranked second, after the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, among the four churches in the world that hold the rank of major papal basilica, all four of which are in Rome, and is also one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Contrary to popular misconception, it is not a cathedral because it is not the seat of a bishop.

View from the Tiber on Ponte Sant’Angelo and the Basilica. The iconic dome dominates the skyline of Rome. St. Peter’s is a church built in the Renaissance style located in the Vatican City west of the River Tiber and near the Janiculum Hill and Hadrian’s Mausoleum. Its central dome dominates the skyline of Rome. The basilica is approached via St. Peter’s Square, a forecourt in two sections, both surrounded by tall colonnades. The first space is oval and the second trapezoidal. The façade of the basilica, with a giant order of columns, stretches across the end of the square and is approached by steps on which stand two 5.55-metre (18.2 ft) statues of the first-century apostles to Rome, Saints Peter and Paul.

The basilica is cruciform in shape, with an elongated nave in the Latin cross form but the early designs were for a centrally planned structure, and this is still in evidence in the architecture. The central space is dominated both externally and internally by one of the largest domes in the world. Set into the niches of the dome’s four gargantuan support piers are colossal statues representing the four major holy relics believed to be held in the basilica: St. Longinus with his spear, St. Helena with the True Cross, St. Veronica with her veil, and St. Andrew, whose skull was possessed by the Vatican until the 20th century. The entrance is through a narthex, or entrance hall, which stretches across the building. One of the decorated bronze doors leading from the narthex is the Holy Door, opened only during jubilees.

The dome viewed from the Vatican Museum – The interior dimensions are vast when compared to other churches. One author wrote: “Only gradually does it dawn upon us – as we watch people draw near to this or that monument, strangely they appear to shrink; they are, of course, dwarfed by the scale of everything in the building. This in its turn overwhelms us.”

The nave which leads to the central dome is in three bays, with piers supporting a barrel vault, the highest of any church. The nave is framed by wide aisles which have a number of chapels off them. There are also chapels surrounding the dome. Moving around the basilica in a clockwise direction they are: The Baptistery, the Chapel of the Presentation of the Virgin, the larger Choir Chapel, the altar of the Transfiguration, the Clementine Chapel with the altar of Saint Gregory, the Sacristy Entrance, the Altar of the Lie, the left transept with altars to the Crucifixion of Saint Peter, Saint Joseph and Saint Thomas, the altar of the Sacred Heart, the Chapel of the Madonna of Column, the altar of Saint Peter and the Paralytic, the apse with the Chair of Saint Peter, the altar of Saint Peter raising Tabitha, the altar of St. Petronilla, the altar of the Archangel Michael, the altar of the Navicella, the right transept with altars of Saint Erasmus, Saints Processo and Martiniano, and Saint Wenceslas, the altar of St. Jerome, the altar of Saint Basil, the Gregorian Chapel with the altar of the Madonna of Succour, the larger Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, the Chapel of Saint Sebastian and the Chapel of the Pietà. The Monuments, in a clockwise direction, are to: Maria Clementina Sobieska, The Stuarts, Benedict XV, John XXIII, St. Pius X, Innocent VIII, Leo XI, Innocent XI, Pius VII, Pius VIII, Alexander VII, Alexander VIII, Paul III, Urban VIII, Clement X, Clement XIII, Benedict XIV, St Peter (Bronze Statue), Gregory XVI, Gregory XIV, Gregory XIII, Matilda of Canossa, Innocent XII, Pius XII, Pius XI, Christina of Sweden, and Leo XII.

At the heart of the basilica, beneath the high altar, is the Confessio or Chapel of the Confession, named in reference to the confession of faith by St. Peter, which led to his martyrdom. Two curving marble staircases lead to this underground chapel at the level of the Constantinian church and immediately above the purported burial place of Saint Peter. Pope Gregory XVI granted a “perpetual privilege” in 1836 authorizing any Catholic priest to celebrate Mass at the altar in the chapel.

The entire interior of St. Peter’s is lavishly decorated with marble, reliefs, architectural sculpture and gilding. The basilica contains a large number of tombs of popes and other notable people, many of which are considered outstanding artworks. There are also a number of sculptures in niches and chapels, including Michelangelo‘s Pietà. The central feature is a baldachin, or canopy over the Papal Altar, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The apse culminates in a sculptural ensemble, also by Bernini, and containing the symbolic Chair of Saint Peter.

Monday – August 10, 2026 – Checking out of my lovely Airbnb and getting a driver to the Port of Civitavecchia, which is the primary cruise port serving Rome, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the city center.

Our lovely ship The Queen Victoria, was birthed there. Upon entering I met our stateroom steward – Celeria. A lovely elder Filapino lady who would be taking care of me there the whole seven-day cruise. I went down to the buffet and indulged my tastebuds and my senses. After that I found the promenade with the lounge chairs and told my travel companion – “if you can’t find me at all on the cruise this is where I will be”. I love the 3^rd floor promenade on all cruise ships; it is where you can walk or lounge and watch the sea go by. I went to the pool and took a nice hot tub. Dinners on the ship were well presented and delicious, my favorite part of our dining experiences, dinner. I slept really well. My bed was like a soft puffy cloud.

Tuesday – August 11, 2026 – I had room service breakfast brought in and loved every minute of it. Some part of the breakfast is English, but some of it is typical American fare. We were at sea all day, so you can check out all of the fun things to do at sea. I took a chorus singing class and then I went and had high tea. A lot of food today, I also had a delicious sit-down dinner before checking out some of the onboard entertainment.

Wednesday – August 12, 2026 – We docked in Tarragona, I took a shuttle off the ship, went to their little walled in village. I met Charlie a gal from Seattle who had just recently moved to Barcelona to get away from our current administration. In Tarragona I did a little shopping. I bought a beautiful back suede handmade bag, and I some gifts to take home. My rule of thumb, when traveling if you see something you like, buy it then and there. You don’t know if you will make it back to that store, and comparison shopping in Europe is a waste of time. So, you like it, buy it!!! Heading back to the ship for the solar eclipse. My travel companion was eager to photograph the eclipse, he had a lot of camera equipment that he had to figure out how to use it. We had burgers at the pool and then my travel companion headed up to his perch for the viewing of eclipse. I went back to the stateroom and relaxed. By 7:30pm, I went up to the top deck, which was all set up for viewing. Everyone had the special glasses. We watched the solar eclipse. It was one of the most miraculous things I had ever seen in my life. The eclipse lasted for 1 solid minute. It was just amazing. We had full view with no cloud cover until the sun went complexly went down and then the clouds appeared to be blocking the rest of the eclipse show. You can feel a total shift, the air is different and it gets kind of spooky, with the light dimming. But really it is an experience that you cannot describe, it’s just the feeling of how every changes leading up to it, during totality and then after. Something I probably will not ever experience, so I am very grateful!

Thursday – August 13, 2026 – Our next stop was Mallorca, I took an excursion. We went to the little town of Valldemossa. A hill town, with lovely views and Cathedrals, very sweet. I went shopping and had the perfect cappuccino. We then went to a castle as well, very fun. Back on the ship had a nice dinner then saw the tap-dancing show.

Friday – August 14, 2026 – I really do love the times when we are at sea, you get to slow down and enjoy the various activities that ship has to offer or just lollygag and do nothing. I saw the show “Come From Away”, which was really fantastic.

Saturday – August 15, 2026 – To get to any excursion you had to take a tender, so for me this was a golden opportunity to stay on board, do laundry and lounge on the promenade. There were so many fun activities going on around the ship in the water that I just loved hanging out and seeing all there was to see in the tiny port of Villefranche-Sur-Mer port- French Riviera located in a deep natural bay between Nice and Monaco. My excitement was watching a lifeboat be put in the harbor and then taken out. But this is what I needed, a day to watch the world go by.

Sunday – August 16, 2026 – We docked in the port of Marseille, I took an excursion. The bus went to the old port where we were able to get out and do some shopping, have an ice-cream and a cappuccino and go to a soap factory. A great day was had. Those Spaniards really love those hit summer beach days. Seeing all of the beach goers, sunbathing on the rugged rocks. My last night on the ship, I had dinner with my new friends Eric and Nicole, eclipse buddies from New Mexico. I was so enamored by them; he actually bought a high school in New Mexico and turned it their residence. I went back to my stateroom and packed everything up to exit the ship for Barcelona the next day.

Monday – August 17, 2026, took a cab to my Airbnb in the Sagrada neighborhood of Barcelona. A great apartment with two decks. One of the decks had a retractable awning and an outdoor dining set, where you could see the ocean. But the windows and deck in the primary bedroom had an amazing view of the Sagrada Familia which was only one block away. I took a tuk tuk tour and saw all of Barcelona and then went to a lovely restaurant for Paella and Salad.

Tuesday – August 18, 2026 – I did the Sagrada tour inside and out. It just is something to behold, pictures do not do it justice. Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, or simply Sagrada Família, is a Catholic church under construction in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, it is the tallest church in the world. On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a basilica. In 2005, parts of the Sagrada Família (Nativity façade and Crypt) were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under “Works of Antoni Gaudí“.

On 19 March 1882, construction of Sagrada Família began under the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the church’s crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Relying solely on private donations, Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, anarchists from the Iberian Anarchist Federation (Federación Anarquista Ibérica, or FAI) set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí’s original plans. In 1939, Francesc de Paula Quintana took over site management, which was able to go on with the material that was saved from Gaudí’s workshop and that was reconstructed from published plans and photographs. Construction resumed with intermittent progress in the 1950s. Advancements in technologies such as computer-aided design and computerised numerical control (CNC) have since enabled faster progress, and construction passed the midpoint in 2010. In 2014, it was anticipated that the building would be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death, but this schedule was threatened by work slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The central Tower of Jesus Christ reached structural completion on 20 February 2026, when the final piece was installed, and it was inaugurated and blessed by Pope Leo XIV on 10 June 2026 during his visit to Spain, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death. The tower, with a height of 172.5 m (566 ft), makes the Sagrada Família the world’s tallest church.

Describing Sagrada Família, the art critic Rainer Zerbst said “it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art”,^[17] and Paul Goldberger describes it as “the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages”.

Though sometimes described as a cathedral, the basilica is not the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona; that title belongs to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.

History:

Sagrada Família was inspired by a bookseller, José María Bocabella, founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). After a visit to the Vatican in 1872, Bocabella returned from Italy with the intention of building a church inspired by the basilica at Loreto. It was to be an “expiatory temple“, funded entirely by donations from persons seeking to counter a growing rejection of the Catholic Church and its values. The apse crypt of the church was begun on 19 March 1882, on the festival of St. Joseph, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, whose plan was for a Gothic revival church of a standard form. The apse crypt was completed before Villar’s resignation on 18 March 1883, when Antoni Gaudí assumed responsibility for its design, which he changed radically. Gaudí began work on the church in November of 1883 but was not appointed Architect Director until 28 March 1884, the Cathedral of the Paupers, by Joaquim Mir, 1898

20th Century:

On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked: “My client is not in a hurry.” When Gaudí died in 1926, the basilica was between 15 and 25 percent complete. After Gaudí’s death, work continued under the direction of his main disciple Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudí’s models and workshop were destroyed during the war. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the plans that were burned in a fire as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940, the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Garí and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buïgas. The director until 2012 was the son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol. Armengol began introducing computers into the design and construction process in the 1980s.

21st Century:

New stonework at Sagrada Família (left) is visible against the stained and weathered older sections (right).

The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. In 2002, the Sagrada Família Schools building was relocated from the eastern corner of the site to the southern corner and began housing an exhibition. The school was originally designed by Gaudí in 1909 for the children of the construction workers.

As of 2006, work concentrated on the crossing and supporting structure for the main steeple of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave, which will become the Glory façade. Computer-aided design technology has allowed stone to be shaped off-site by a computer numerical control milling machine, whereas in the 20th century the stone was carved by hand. In 2008, some renowned Catalan architects advocated halting construction to respect Gaudí’s original designs, which, although they were not exhaustive and were partially destroyed, have been partially reconstructed in the early 21st century.

Since 2013, AVE high-speed trains have passed near Sagrada Família through a tunnel that runs beneath the centre of Barcelona. The tunnel’s construction, which began on 26 March 2010, was controversial. The Ministry of Public Works of Spain (Ministerio de Fomento) said the project posed no risk to the church. Sagrada Família engineers and architects disagreed, saying there was no guarantee that the tunnel would not affect the stability of the building. The Board of the Sagrada Família (Patronat de la Sagrada Família) and the neighborhood association AVE pel Litoral (AVE by the Coast) led a campaign against this route for the AVE, without success. In October 2010, the tunnel boring machine reached the church underground under the location of the building’s principal façade. Service through the tunnel was inaugurated on 8 January 2013. Track in the tunnel makes use of a system by Edilon Sedra in which the rails are embedded in an elastic material to damp vibrations.

The main nave was covered, and an organ was installed in mid-2010, allowing the still-unfinished building to be used for liturgies. The church was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 November 2010 in front of a congregation of 6,500 people. A further 50,000 people followed the consecration Mass from outside the basilica, where more than 100 bishops and 300 priests were on hand to distribute Holy Communion.

Japanese artist Etsuro Sotoo working in a gypsum workshop in 2010 for sculptures to this church. In 2012, Barcelona-born Jordi Faulí i Oller took over as architect of the project. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and Josep Maria Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades.

Chief architect Jordi Faulí announced in October 2015 that construction was 70 percent complete and had entered its final phase of raising six immense steeples. Those steeples and most of the church’s structure were planned to be completed by 2026, the centennial of Gaudí’s death; as of a 2017 estimate, decorative elements should be complete by 2030 or 2032. Visitor entrance fees of €15 to €20 finance the annual construction budget of €25 million. Completion of the structure will use post-tensioned stone.

Starting on 9 July 2017, an international mass is celebrated at the basilica every Sunday and holy day of obligation, at 9 a.m., and is open to the public (until the church is full). Occasionally, Mass is celebrated at other times, where attendance requires an invitation. When masses are scheduled, instructions to obtain an invitation are posted on the basilica’s website. In addition, visitors may pray in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and Penitence.

The stone that was originally used in the construction came from Montjuïc, but as quarrying progressed to deeper levels, the stone became increasingly fragile and an alternative source had to be found. Since 2018, stone of the type needed to complete the construction has been sourced from the Withnell Quarry in Brinscall, near Chorley, England.

On October 30, 2025, Sagrada Família became the world’s tallest church after a part of its central tower was lifted into place and reached 162.91 m, surpassing Ulm Minster (161.53 m). The tower reached its full height of 172.5 m on 20 February 2026. The tallest central spire (reaching 172.5 meters) represents Jesus Christ. Gaudí specifically designed this tower to be one metre shorter than Barcelona’s Montjuïc hill, believing that his man-made creation should not surpass God’s natural work. On 10 June 2026, Pope Leo XIV blessed and inaugurated the completed Tower of Jesus Christ at the basilica during his visit to Spain, coinciding with the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death.

When I think of the fact that Antoni Gaudi thought up all of the details in this cathedral it is just astounding. This is a site not to be missed.

I went to the W Hotel down at the beach and went to a lively spot Gallito. The food was great and there is just so many things happening at the beach communities in Barcelona, you have got to go when you’re traveling, and it was so much fun seeing all of the beautiful people in Barcelona at the beach.

Wednesday – August 19, 2026 – I went out to the Gaudi residence Battlo and did a tour, then went to the top and had a cappuccino. I toured around the area which has very high-end stores. Then we raced home to get dressed for my last night of Flamenco. The dinner was delicious. three appetizers, salad, gazpacho and then fish and steak. The dancers were all very young. They had three singers, three guitars and four dancers, all were very talented and made for a great entertaining experience. Dancers: Maria Martin, Tere Salazar, Alba Rubio, Joni Cortés. Singers: Mariano Santiago, Antonio Cortés, Chel de la Miguela. Guitars: Falete Perona, Carlos López, and Miguel Rasero. The whole night was very reminiscent of my time at La Bodega with my dad Phil in San Francisco. He loved Flamenco and this was his spot to eat Paella and watch great guitar and flamenco dancing. He was in the room with me at Pablao Di Carmen that night.

Thursday – August 20, 2026. Coming back on American Airlines was a real horror story, I am not going to get into all of it but just say that the delays were so bad and I will never fly this airline again. I am happy to be home, but the flights back were long, uncomfortable, arduous, and could have been made so much nicer with a little bit of TLC from their staff. Traveling can be very tiring, it was good to have my travel companion with me, to compare stories and experience some of these great adventures. If you get the opportunity to travel to Europe, bring an open mind and a very full wallet, you too will have the time of your life.

*Some Content Was Taken off of Various Websites.

I am a very big lover of all things Italian, especially their food. When I started this European journey, I was so pleased when owner Ines Di Lelio invited to me to come in and try my most favorite pasta – Fettuccine Alfredo, in the restaurant where it was originated in. Wow, what an amazing offer. But what I did not know was how elegant and charming this Italian staple would be. My favorite Fettuccine Alfredo was from a longtime San Franciso establishment called North Beach Restaurant. But there is something very different and spectacular about the cheese that they use in Rome. I think because it doesn’t have to travel and it is made in Italy is just tastes so much richer, creamier and better. The fettuccine at Il Vero Alfredo was – hands down – amazing, the best. I will always be in awe of whatever it was that they did to their dish that was so different from anything I have ever tried back in the States.

Their History and Some Fun Facts:

It all began when his wife Inés gave birth to their firstborn son. The woman was very weak after giving birth to little Alfred II, and her husband, worried about her health, did everything he could to help her regain her strength with healthy and nutritious food. It was then that the idea arose for the dish that would later become famous throughout the world. With his own hands, he prepared fettuccine made with semolina and seasoned with fresh butter and Parmesan cheese. Then, he prayed to Saint Anne (patron saint of women in childbirth) and served the dish to Agnes, saying, “If you don’t like it, I’ll eat it myself!” Not only did she eat them with gusto, but she even suggested that he add them to the menu of his small restaurant. In Alfredo’s life, these two “simultaneous births”—his son and the “blondes,” as he affectionately called his fettuccine—became the cornerstone of his worldwide fame. His tireless work, coupled with great enthusiasm, attracted customers from all over the globe.

Years passed and then came the war, which marked a turning point in Alfredo’s life. Alfredo, I decided to retire from the stage, leaving the position to his worthy heir, Armando, as Alfredo II, at the establishment on Via della Scrofa. Thanks to the experience he had gained over time alongside his father and his undeniable charisma, he always greeted his customers with a splendid smile that appeared beneath his mustache “in the style of Umberto,” the same one that would later become the symbol of “Alfredo.”

The restaurant at Augusto Imperatore Square, 30. In 1950, Alfredo I decided to take the reins again and opened a new restaurant at Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 30, where the family tradition continues today, first with his son Armando, who left the premises on Via della Scrofa, and later with his son Alfredo III and his sister Inés Di Lelio. From father to son, from son to grandson, the Alfredo family became a true dynasty. Alfredo III, heir to the talent of his grandfather and father, has the merit of having worthily continued the path laid by his predecessors, taking the name of this historic restaurant throughout the world.

The Gold Cutlery:

Gift to Alfredo Di Lelio from Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Another decisive milestone in his successful and fulfilling career was his encounter with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, the two famous American silent film actors. After enjoying his succulent and original dishes during their honeymoon in Rome at his restaurant on Via della Scrofa, which opened in 1914, they presented him with two gold utensils in recognition of his warm and friendly hospitality. The set consisted of a solid gold fork and spoon engraved with the inscription: “To Alfredo, the King of the Noodles.” This inscription was read by all the illustrious figures who had the honor of savoring his magnificent fettuccine with these utensils fit for a “king of taste at the table.”

Here’s What I Tried:

Starter:

Assoluto di Gambero, Carpaccio di Gambero rosso di Mazara del vallo in purezza, Mazara del vallo, red prawn carpaccio. Red prawns are a delicacy in the Mediterranean. The first time I had it was in Cinque Terre, and then I was just in heaven. It is served raw and the shrimps are delicate and so fresh; it is a great way to start my incredible tasting.

Beef Carpaccio Manzo, Rucola e Grana, Carpaccio di manzo Angus, servito con scaglie di grana, and rucola e citronette. Beef Carpaccio, Angus, served with parmesan flakes, rocket salad, and citronette. The delicious, cured beef and the arugula salad with the parmesan cheese, is for sure a must have.

Gran Frito Alfredo with 1 Suppli, 1 Fried Mozzarella, 1 Courgette Fower with Battered vegetables, according to season. The flavors are very subtle and the breading is so light and fluffy, another stellar dish.

Caprese Shot, with Pomodoro Marinato Tomato and mozzarella millefeuille, basil pesto, taralli, and a cold shot of tomato cream. The presentation is really what this dish is all about. The tomatoes and cheese are stacked high with a very wonderful pesto sauce, just spectacular.

Fettuccine Alfredo, this is the star of this show. They do table side service and their signature dish, it is just the best. Trust me on this and try it. You know what they say, “When in Rome”. Well, this is just what you want to sink your tastebuds into in this fabulous city.

Wine:

Prosecco – Osservatorio Del Reasolo Prosecco Superiore Docg. A great way to start my culinary journey, bubbly, effervescent, hits all the right notes.

Chardonnay – Cantina Tramin – Kellerei Glarea – 2024. This wine went so great with the Fettuccine, it has the very thing you would want in an Italian Chardonnay.

Dessert:

Gelati Vanilla, their gelato did not disappoint, rich, creamy, just what the doctor ordered.

Mango Ciocclato e Cocco Cremoso ai Mango Cioccolato Fondente e Salsa ai Latteai Cocco. Their presentation in all of their dishes is just amazing. A perfect way to end my glorious meal.

Alfredo Di Lelio, when he was just a child, had a great desire to work and a great passion for the culinary arts, which led him to success and worldwide fame, starting with a small family restaurant in Piazza Rosa, next to the current Colonna Gallery, and the rest is history. Such an historic place, just walking inside makes you nostalgic for real Italian cuisine. So many photos of celebrities that have frequented this establishment. The décor is very elegant; you can tell much thought was worked into every detail.

At Il Vero Alfredo people are proud of the work they do, and they convey it to you with simplicity and love. Their staff is very accommodating. I truly enjoyed a unique culinary experience at the historic restaurant where the original Fettuccine Alfredo was born. Simple ingredients, absolute quality, authentic hospitality: Italian cuisine like you’ve never tasted before.

For the most outstanding dinner this is the place to be. This would be my go-to restaurant when I am in the eternal city. I have been reviewing now since 2011, but what makes my job so fun is to be surprised like what I was offered at Il Vero Alfredo. Elegant, classy, and the best Italian flavors ever, I am officially spoiled! For now, I can only dream about how my taste buds were treated to one of the most wonderfully impressive Italian dining experiences. Until next time, Ciao!

Il Vero Alfredo

Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 30, 00186

Rome Italy

• Some Content Was Taken Off Of Their Website.

There is a lot of street food vendors in and around Los Angeles. In the very hipster part of Melrose is a hidden gem. I met Doborah Pierce the night before at a Whispers show at the Saban in Beverly Hills waiting in line of the bathroom. She said I have been cooking all day and just had to get out and have some fun. She told me where she cooks and invited me to stop by for a plate. Well, the one thing I know for sure about Deborah is that she is a very hard worker, besides her food stall on Melrose she also is a limousine driver 2 days a week. I stopped by on Sunday at 3:30 after the world cup was over. She has a big, huge cast iron skillet cooking up some lovely fried chicken. She gave me a piece with some of her homemade macaroni and cheese, and with every bite I was truly in heaven. The chicken is succulent and perfect, and the macaroni and cheese was simply out of this world. She also cooked up some amazing fish and her renown spaghetti. Which is really fettuccini with a sauce – that has smoked turkey and sausage in it. It is very delicious and extremely filling. Her fried fish is off the charts as well. It is seasoned to perfection, light and flaky, just fantastic. Her menu is substantial; I will come back another time to try more goodies. Her spot is really a gem in this neighborhood. She has a very minimal set-up, and unbeknownst to me she doesn’t have to pay any monies to set up to the city. Her food is just so delicious, you have got to try it. She is no stranger to all things Hollywood, having worked in catering for many years in film and television. You will feel like someone has done some home cooking just for you, and its right there on the sidewalk in The Melrose district. But this new endeavor is Deborah doing her own thing, and if you are lucky enough to find her and taste her wonderful cuisine you will be coming back for more. This is street food at its best, tell all of your friends and family that Deborah Pierce and Top Shelf are not to be missed!!

Top Shelf – On Melrose and Spaulding @Topshelfcaterer

This show was led by the genius Artistic and Music director Rachel Worby. All about a singer songwriter – baring her soul – Joni Mitchell. Defiantly Joni is a Los Angeles concert series celebrating music icon Joni Mitchell. Produced by the MUSE/IQUE arts organization and held at the Mark Taper Forum, the July 2026 shows highlighted her fierce focus on being true to her art and refusing to compromise.

Joni Mitchell revolutionized American songwriting, charting a course for future musicians to take ownership of their artistry. Joni is defiant, an artist who always prioritized her authenticity over compromise. Celebrate the unparalleled influence of Joni Mitchell, the woman who continues to blaze the trail for female artists. Defiantly Joni is an intimate tribute to Joni’s unique genius and a testament of the cultural milieu and musical streams that fed into her art, and then poured out of Laurel Canyon, and into a surplus of other genres and artists.

The shows ran from July 11 to July 19, 2026. They mixed live music, storytelling, and history. The setlist featured classic hits like “Both Sides Now” and “A Case of You”.

The show featured: Vocalists Chris Pierce and Effie Passero, The DC6 Singers Collective, and the MUSE/IQUE Orchestra.

I can’t say enough about both Chris Pierce and Effie Passero’s vocal range and abilities. Each one just nailed it. Setting the tone was Joni Mitchell’s widely celebrated masterpiece “California,” sung by Effie Passero, what a great way to start the show!

Such a talented group of musicians, it was just so delightful to see and hear all of the stories, songs, artwork, and everything in between that highlighted Joni’s life. Now this is my 3^rd show by MUSE/IQUE. Every show is uniquely its own, from the music, the subject matter, the performers, it just is such a blessing to be fortunate enough to feast my eyes and ears on such a wonderful artistic endeavor.

The Artists:

Chris Pierce (vocals)

​Chris Pierce has been a singular voice in American roots music for more than two decades. Over the course of eight solo albums, many side projects, and more guest appearances than most could do in one lifetime, his powerful songs have given voice to the voiceless and shed light into dark and hidden corners of the American dream. His new record Songs for the Heavy Hearted releases on August 21, 2026.​ @iamchrispierce on socials @chrispierce

Effie Passero (vocals)

Effie Passero is a singer/songwriter, based in Puerto Vallarta, MX. After appearing on American Idol’s revival back in 2018, she received multiple accolades nationwide. Now a staple member of Postmodern Jukebox, she has performed worldwide from the Sydney Opera House to Royal Albert Hall. Her debut album Grace will be releasing in its entirety early 2027. @effiepassero

DC6 Singers Collective (vocals)

​​​DC6 Singers Collective are a Los Angeles-based ensemble with roots in a cappella, gospel, doo wop, and R&B, but they fuse styles to transcend boundaries. They have collaborated with global music legends such as CeCe Winans, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Michael Bolton, and institutions like the San Francisco Symphony and LA Opera Orchestra, and were recently heard on the Oscar-winning soundtrack for Sinners, performing at this year’s Academy Awards.​

@dc6singers on socials

Presented in Partnership with CTG​​​

​Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theatre company and programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions

Proudly Sponsored by Classical California​

Classical California is now easier than ever to enjoy, with a new unified website and a brand-new app that brings together the former KUSC and KDFC services into one statewide home for classical music. Listeners can explore what’s playing, discover hand-picked programs from friendly hosts (no algorithms, just humans with good taste), find arts events, and stream anywhere, anytime. It’s all free, listener-supported, and designed to make everyday life more harmonious. Visit classicalcalifornia.org or download the Classical California app to listen.

Run don’t walk to anything Muse/Ique does, you will love it and be so pleasantly surprised! https://www.muse-ique.com/

Muse/Ique

Mark Taper Forum

135 N Grand Ave,

Los Angeles, CA 90012

What a great show, filled with faith, spirit and wonderful talent. Starting off with “Call of Champions” – Music: John Williams – Hymns of Praise.  Very historic seeing that the bowl just named its stage The John Williams Stage. Williams relationship with the Hollywood Bowl began in the late 1940s, as a teenager attending concerts. A decade later, he appeared on its stage as a pianist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1977, Zubin Mehta, realizing the power of Williams’ compositions, conducted his music from Star Wars at the Bowl—marking the first time a movie score was given the same treatment as concert music. The following year, Williams made his conducting debut at the Bowl, and for five decades since, Hollywood’s greatest composer and its most famous venue have been inseparable.   On November 9, the Hollywood Bowl stage was dedicated to Williams in honor of his considerable contributions to the venue, the LA Phil, and orchestral music. Hosted by LA Phil President & CEO and Board Chair Jason Subotky, the private dedication ceremony marked the unveiling of the new stage signage in front of a crowd that included the honoree and his collaborators, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss, Thomas Newman, and David Newman.

Then the choir sang “Alleluia Fanfare and Praise the Lord Almighty”, music, German Hymn Tune, Text, Joachim Neander, on to Join “We Now in Praise and Sing” – Music: Spanish melody, text: William E. Hickson. Next Stephanie J. Block, and her husband, Sebastian Arcelus, “The Story Goes On”, From Baby, music David Shire, Text Richard Matlby, Jr., “It Takes Two”, From Into The Woods, Music and Text – Stephen Sondheim. Stephanie J. Block and her husband, Sebastian Arcelus. They are a prominent, real-life married couple in the Broadway community. Key Highlights & Collaborations, Into the Woods: They famously starred opposite each other as the Baker and the Baker’s Wife in the acclaimed 2022 Broadway revival and subsequent national tour of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical. Wicked: Both have separately starred in Wicked on Broadway—Block as Elphaba and Arcelus as Fiyero. The Tabernacle Choir: In late 2025, they were featured as the guest artists for the famed Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s Christmas concerts.

Then Music Masters, many songs sung by Tabernacle. David Foster and his wife Katherine McPhee sang The Prayer, from Quest for Camelot. Music and text by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, Sung by Katharine McPhee and Daniel Emmet. Somewhere, From West Side story Music, Leonard Bernstein, Text Stephen Sondheim, Arrangement, David Foster, sung by Katharine McPhee.

David Foster, 76, and Katharine McPhee, 42, are a married musical power couple. They originally met on American Idol in 2006 when Foster was a guest mentor and McPhee was a contestant, later reconnecting romantically and marrying in 2019. They share one son and actively tour together. Their Unconventional Love Story – The couple first met on Season 5 of American Idol in 2006. They maintained a platonic friendship for over a decade—Foster even played the piano at McPhee’s first wedding in 2008. Following the end of McPhee’s marriage to Nick Cokas, their relationship turned romantic, leading to a public debut in 2018 and an intimate wedding ceremony in London on June 28, 2019. Despite their 34-year age difference, the couple has built a blended family. Katharine gave birth to their son, Rennie David Foster, in February 2021. Rennie is their first child together, though David Foster has five daughters from previous relationships: Sara, Erin, Jordan, Allison, and Amy.

The Bonner Family sang, “You’ve Got Soul,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. Some more songs from the Choir before Donny Osmond did some showstoppers.

Donny’s New song: “Start Again”, music and text Donny Osmond and Jonas Myrin, and then 2 songs from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and then he joined a children’s choir from Los Angeles for “I Am a Child of God.”

Donald Clark Osmond (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, actor, television host and former teen idol, a true legend. He gained fame performing with four of his elder brothers as the Osmonds, earning several top ten hits and gold albums. In the early 1970s, Osmond began a solo career, earning several additional top ten songs.

He hosted the 1976–1979 variety series Donny & Marie, with his sister, Marie Osmond. The Donny & Marie duo also released a series of top ten hits and gold albums and hosted a syndicated and Daytime Emmy Award–nominated 1998–2000 talk show. Donny & Marie headlined a Las Vegas residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas from 2008 to 2019.

He also competed on two reality TV shows, winning season 9 of Dancing with the Stars and being named runner-up for season 1 of The Masked Singer. He also hosted the game show Pyramid from 2002 to 2004. Donny currently has sold out performances for his solo residency at Harrah’s in Las Vegas, a must-see show.

The choir ended with 2 beautiful poignant pieces. “Amazing Grace”, and “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. This show is just perfection, I was so happy to see it and write about it for my website.

Mack J. Wilberg – Musical Director  (born February 20, 1955) is an American composer, arranger, pianist, conductor, and choral clinician who has been the music director of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) since 2008.^[1] He was a professor of music at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1984 to 1999.

Ryan Murphy – Associate Music Director – Ryan Murphy was appointed associate music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on March 27, 2009. In this capacity, he is responsible to assist Mack Wilberg, music director, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in rehearsals, concerts, tours, and the weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. He also serves as the conductor of the Temple Square Chorale, the preparatory ensemble for new singers in Choir service.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: Songs of Hope Benefit Concert. A century after its first appearance here in 1926, The Tabernacle Choir returns for a special benefit concert uniting breathtaking music with humanitarian purpose. Featuring guest artists Donny Osmond, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Stephanie J. Block, and Sebastian Arcelus, the evening will celebrate hope through music on one of the world’s most iconic stages. Ticket revenue will benefit trusted charities caring for women and children worldwide, with donations matched 100%. Continues tomorrow. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, in collaboration with the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music Trust, performed two nights at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, on June 24–25, 2026. “You could feel the joy and the excitement of everybody,” said Elder Gérald Caussé of the  Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who attended the concerts with his wife, Valérie. “This concert is a way to testify of Christ because caring for those in need is at the center of the gospel.” Marking 100 years since the Choir’s first performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 1926, this historic return united music and humanitarian purpose in a celebratory concert benefitting women and children around the world. One hundred percent of ticket sales revenue from the concert will be donated to CARE, Helen Keller Intl, and The Hunger Project. These trusted charities work with Caring for Women and Children, an initiative led by the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The effort focuses on improving the health, education, and well-being of women and children. The Church will match the revenue from concert ticket sales, thereby doubling the charitable contributions associated with the event.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson expressed her gratitude for this benefit concert at a press conference prior to Thursday’s performance. “Thank you for supporting this glorious cause to lift and support women and children everywhere,” said President Johnson. “I know that the hope of these women around the world will be realized because we brought together a beautiful humanitarian cause with the remarkable talent of these good artists.”

Watch parties of these concerts will continue to be held over the next few days around the United States, and many will be joined with a service project. President Johnson shared how a watch party in Honolulu encouraged attendees to bring food, toothbrushes, and other items to be donated to the homeless in their communities.

“This concert is not just a one-time event; it’s really a call to action and an invitation to identify the needs of those in our own community that could use our help, with an emphasis on blessing the lives of women and children,” said President Johnson.

The concerts were sponsored by the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music Trust, and its president Scott Sperry knows the power of music. “Music has the power to heal, to bring hope and unite people in ways that few things can,” Sperry said. “It is our collective desire that these concerts will inspire hope, joy and peace.”

Elder Caussé extended an invitation to all who watch the concert. “Listen to this music with the spirit of the Lord and embrace the values that will be exemplified in the music — values of peace, values of love, values of hope,” said Elder Caussé. He continued, “We hope everybody will find a renewed hope in their lives, that they can walk the way the Lord has encouraged us to walk.”

The Music

The Choir was joined by guest artists Donny Osmond, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Daniel Emmett, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus and the Bonner Family. Each artist performed selections from their own musical and professional repertoire.

Osmond says, “It was a night that I will never forget,” said Osmond. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with The Tabernacle Choir probably five times now, but I’ve got to tell you, last night was the ultimate. If you take one word out of all the excitement of last night, it’s a word of hope and the world needs that right now,” said Osmond. “I love that the Church is giving people hope.”

Stephanie Block, joined the Choir in singing “It Is Well with My Soul.”

Block thanked those in attendance for their willingness to support the benefit concert.

“You are truly making a difference in childhood nutrition, mortality rates, clean water, medical services, and new mother education,” said Block. “It takes a village to make a difference. Thank you for being that tonight.”

“This is the cradle of a lot of music that we sing and love from Hollywood,” said Chathun Nielsen, a member of the Choir. “To be here at this iconic place that gives us so much music and to give a little bit of ours, it’s really incredible.”

The “Songs of Hope” tour lasted four years and began in Mexico City, and the Choir has since visited Manila, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Lima, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. Choir President Michael O. Leavitt believes the world tour fulfilled its purpose. “It has been a remarkable four years, but I think we delivered on the theme. We actually delivered messages of songs of unity, of peace and of hope,” said Leavitt. “Our entire experience affirms for us that hope is found in Jesus Christ.”

*Taken From Church Of Jesus Christ – Of Latter-Day Saints.

This show had a little bit of everything. One thing is for certain – you left The Hollywood Bowl realizing that there is renewed hope in the world and that uplifting faith-based music will make your heart feel open and enriched with possibilities.

The Hollywood Bowl

2301 Highland Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90068

I have been a customer to Bao Dim Sum for many years, and have seen all of its incarnations. But I have to say that it is always delicious and something I crave. The best news it that it is 2 blocks away from my place in West Hollywood. The atmosphere has changed, but the star of this show is always their delectable dim sum as well of their new menu items.

Manager Julie was my guide and she delivered. She helped me decide what cocktails to order with my food, as well as wine pairing. She has been with the restaurant for a very long time, she has seen every phase that Boa Dim Sum has gone through. From the past owners – to the new ones. Once thing is for certain, their attention to detail in their authentic Chinese recipes – will keep you coming back for more.

Here’s What I Tried:

Cocktails:

Bao Pina Colada, Rum Haven Coconut Rum, Lime, Simple Syrup, Pineapple, and Coconut Milk. This is my go-to cocktail. Its sweet but not too sweet. It has got plenty of coconut goodness, it goes down super easy.

Honey Ginger Mojito, Flor de Cana Rum, Ginger Elixir, Lime, Simple Syrup, Mint, Honey, and Soda. Another great cocktail, with so many delicious ingredients, makes my mouth super happy.

Lychee Martini, Stoli Vodka, Lychee Liqueur, and Lychee Puree. A beautiful cocktail, with a nice color and lovely lychee on top.

Appetizers:

Shrimp Egg Roll, I just love these, they are jam packed with flavorful shrimp, a no brainer starter.

Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant. This appetizer is rich and fragrant, with a perfect sweet sauce, just divine.

Dim Sum:

Juicy Korean BBQ Beef Dumplings, they serve these in their own individual tin foil holders, and they are simply the best.

Chefs Specials:

Half Lobster with Black Pepper Beef Fillet, with Steamed Rice. The lobster is sumptuous and the beef has such an amazing sweet flavor. This dish is a win win.

Kung Pao Delight, Calamari, Fish Fillet, and Shrimp. The sauce in this dish is just spectacular, and the fish really sets this dish apart from any other Kung Pao I have had before.

Rice and Noodles:

Combination Fried Rice, with Beef, Chicken, & Shrimp. The rice was simple and flavorful. A real taste treat.

Crispy Seafood Noodles, lots of fish, calamari, and shrimp with a clear sauce, just delightful.

Wine:

Chardonnay, Calera, Central Coast. This wine is delightful, creamy, buttery, just perfect with the lobster.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Raymond Collection. This is the wine to drink with the Black pepper beef fillet, it is well balanced and has some nice notes of berries, coffee, with a deep rich smooth texture.

About Bao Dim Sum House

Steamed to Perfection – Dim sum was never meant to be fancy. It was tea and small bites, a kind of pause in the day—born in roadside teahouses along China’s Silk Road where travelers rested their bones over warm brews and delicate dumplings. But over time, what began as a gesture of hospitality became a ceremony of its own: the clatter of steamer lids, the passing of plates, the unscripted rhythm of a meal designed for sharing. It’s a cuisine built on repetition and memory—on folds practiced a thousand times, on broths that whisper more than they shout.

At Bao Dim Sum House, that rhythm plays out daily in the soft glow of a dining room that’s served Los Angeles for over 15 years. It’s not the loudest place on the block, but you’ll find it by the line out the door and the scent of something honest in the air—plump har gow, tender shumai buns that crack just slightly under the touch. This is food with roots, food with lineage. Food that knows where it came from.

Here, dim sum isn’t reimagined. It’s remembered. And it’s served the way it always should be hot, fresh, and with the unspoken invitation to stay a little longer than you planned.

Bao Dim Sum House is a modern Cantonese dim sum restaurant located on Beverly Blvd. in the heart of West Hollywood, just minutes from The Grove and Beverly Center. Inspired by the flavors and hospitality of Hong Kong, Bao brings handcrafted dim sum, comforting Cantonese dishes, and shareable plates to one of LA’s most vibrant dining neighborhoods. From hargow, char siu bao, xiao long bao, and golden potstickers to crispy scallion pancakes, spicy wontons, noodles, cocktails, and family-style table spreads, their menu is designed for guests to gather, share, and discover something craveable at every turn.

Whether guests are joining Bao Dim Sum for weekday lunch, happy hour cocktails, a casual dinner, or a special group celebration, Bao Dim Sum House offers a warm, stylish, and approachable dining experience rooted in tradition and made for the way LA dines today. Bao Dim Sum showcases the authentic Cantonese dining experience. With its wonderful handcrafted dishes, cocktails, and warm stylish interiors, it promises to be a memorable lunch or dinner. Being so close to the Beverly center and Grove, it is a must visit dim sum destination in Los Angeles.

Whether you are craving great dim sum and Chinese cuisine or your meeting friends for an affordable happy hour – Bao Dim Sum will meet all of your needs. A pretty swanky atmosphere, with lots of room for large parties and delectable food. Next time you’re in the mood for marvelous Asian cuisine check it out, you will be so glad you did.

Happy Hour: Every day except holidays. Monday-Friday 5 PM-7 PM and Saturday-Sunday 3 PM-6 PM. Features $10 select cocktails and $7 select drinks.

Weekday Lunch Combo: Available Monday-Friday 12 PM-3 PM, except holidays. A great-value weekday lunch option.

Private Dining: Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate dinners, and group gatherings in our private room for up to 48 guests.

Catering: Pick-up, delivery, and off-site catering available for offices, celebrations, and special events.

Dine-In, To-Go, Delivery & Catering: Bao Dim Sum House is available for everyday cravings and special occasions.

Bao Dim Sum

8256 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90048

323-655-6556

Monday-Thursday: 12 PM-3 PM, 5 PM-9 PM

Friday: 12 PM-3 PM, 5 PM-10 PM

Saturday: 12 PM-10 PM

Sunday: 11 AM-9 PM

baodimsum.com

• Some Content Was Taken Off Of Their Website.

“Chi mangia bene, vive bene.” He who eats well, lives well.

When you think of your childhood, you think of that one Italian restaurant you would go to for special weeknight dinner, for me it was Sorrentino’s on La Cienega in the Pico district, in Los Angeles. My grandfather would take us every Wednesday, and I would have the scampi. I loved my shrimp back then! Well, those kinds of comfort food memories are ingrained in our psyche and our muscle memory. So, when I started eating the wonderful food at Johnny Russo’s Italian Kitchen, I was brought back to a time of love and comfort every Wednesday growing up. These kinds of memories are really what makes life so special, and they have a certain place in our heart. If you want those amazing memories coming back to life in real time, then you must give Johhny Russo’s Italian Kitchen a try.

You really feel like home here. The staff was so fantastic, with Alicia Dietronico guiding me through my Italian feast, I was really made to feel like I was basking in all of the glory of a good home cooked Italian meal. Alicia was born in Banning and has worked for Johhny 25 years off and on. She had the most fun voice, a perfect Jennifer Tilly rendition, with all of the high notes and nuances. She was equally beautiful and helped me understand all of the little fun facts about Johhny and his terrific restaurant.

Here’s What I Tried:

Cocktails:

Traditional Martini, the perfect cocktail, 2 olives, just the right amount and olive juice and vermouth, this one hit a home run.

Mamba Martini, Stoli Vodka muddled blackberries lemon juice and simple syrup. This cocktail is very drinkable; it is thirst quenching and delicious.

Orange Blood Elderflower Martini the northern salt, blood orange, gin, Florentine, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and moaning lavender. A stunning cocktail, served in a proper martini glass.

Appetizers:

Sampler Basket, a tasty combination of their mac n cheese bites, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks and potato wedges, served with marinara sauce. You really get a little bit of everything, share this one with your friends.

Calamari, an Italian basket of lightly breaded squid fried to a golden brown, served with choice of tartar sauce or cocktail sauce. Nice large rings and no tentacles, it’s really delightful.

Soup and Salad:

Antipasto Salad, on a bed of crisp salad greens topped with fresh mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives, ripe tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese, served with salami rolls, dill pickles, pepperoncini and choice of your favorite dressing. It has a little bit of everything; I love this salad with their homemade ranch dressing.

Caprese Salad, sliced fresh Mozzarella with fresh sliced tomato and balsamic vinegar. A nice way to start my illustrious meal.

Italian Wedding Soup, (a house specialty!) homemade, with only the freshest ingredients available, served with your choice of a homemade roll or garlic toast. They out did any wedding soup  before with this one, it is just that good.

16 Bean Soup with brisket, such a marvelous soup, nice home cooked flavor and the brisket was fall of the bone tender.

Pot Roast, fresh beef slow roasted to perfection, served with sauteed mixed vegetables-so tender it will fall off your fork! Well, this dish is one my grandmother used to make, and Russo’s version did not disappoint.

Chicken Piccata, boneless, tender white chicken breast sautéed in a creamy lemon sauce, prepared with white wine, basil, fresh mushrooms, and capers, served over a bed of rigatoni pasta. The flavor of this dish is what I crave, and the mushrooms add the right amount of texture, just the best.

Pasta:

Linguine with Clam Sauce, bed of linguine pasta served with white clam sauce. This is a dish I remember my mom making in my childhood and I love it just the same.

Fettucine Alfredo, creamy sauce, just the best of the best. If I was stranded on a deserted island this would be my comfort food.

Specialty Pasta:

Baked Ziti, tender ziti pasta with Ricotta cheese and marinara sauce covered with Mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection. Served in a casserole, it will make you wish for your Italian Nonna to come walking in the door.

Potato Gnocchi with tomato marinara sauce, with mushroom and garlic. This is a great rendition of this world-famous unique pasta; you can change sauces if you like another one better.

Entrees:

Ribeye Dinner, 12 oz. rib eye steak, well marbled to ensure excellent taste and tenderness, grilled to your specifications.  With sautéed vegetables. Wow what a steak, cooked medium rare and grilled with love, it is another of my have-to-have menu items.

Halibut Dinner, A flaky and delicious, delicate fish carefully grilled to perfection, with sautéed vegetables. This would be the menu item to order for the fish lover.

Eggplant Parmesan, breaded eggplant with marinara sauce, Mozzarella cheese, and shredded Parmesan cheese, served with a side of pasta. A true Italian staple, done right – it will blow your hair back, mine is till blowing!

Chicken Parmesan, breaded, boneless white chicken breast baked with marinara sauce, Mozzarella cheese, and shredded Parmesan cheese, served with a side of pasta. Who doesn’t love chicken parm? And the pasta is other worldly.

Shrimp Scampi, with jumbo succulent shrimp sautéed in a lemon butter wine sauce, served over a bed of linguine. The shrimps are plum and super flavorful, one of my go-to menu items for sure.

Side Order:

2 Meatballs, 2 huge meatballs in a rich marinara sauce, baked to perfection.

Pizza:

All Meat Lovers, Pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and sausage. The combination of meats is wonderful, and very filling. Their crust is what you are really coming here for.

Michael’s BBQ Chicken, BBQ sauce, grilled chicken, tomatoes, green peppers, and melted cheese. I just love the sauce, and the rest of the toppers are fresh and inviting.

Mom and son, Mona and David were sitting across from me, their pizza came steaming hot and they told me how much they love coming here for their wonderful pizza, they were right!!

House Specialty Grinders:

Hot Beef Dip, tender roast beef with mustard on an oven-toasted French roll, served with a side of Au Jus and a pickle. All oven-roasted grinders are served on a French roll with potato chips and a side of pasta salad. This is a very hearty sandwich, I would say try this for lunch, it is filling and just right.

Dessert:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake. Crunchy, tasty, everything you would want in a cheesecake. A great way to end my meal.

Spumoni ice Cream, another memory from my childhood, just spectacular.

Johnny lost his father when he was 14. There were 5 children, his mother had to become the bread winner and work. She did have some great family recipes. His older sister Florinda was a really bad cook, so in survival mode Johnny took over those duties. He says, “When you cooked, you didn’t have to do dishes and you always got more food, so it was a win-win for sure.”  Whatever you try here at Johnny Russo’s you will be in for a treat. They give you huge portions, the prices are so good, and everything is made from scratch.

About Johnny Russo’s

Johnny Russo’s has been part of the past for over 38 years Johnny was raised in the Italian food industry following in the footsteps of his mother’s grandparents who were from Palermo, Sicily. 1987 he moved to the pass area with his wife Jane and their three sons Joe, Johnny, and Michael. Presently his oldest son Joe his wife Teresa and his four grandchildren reside in Surprise, Arizona. His love for community is shown by his involvement with local churches, Banning and Beaumont school districts, San Gregorio Pass Rotary Banning in Beaumont, Chamber of Commerce, The Planning Commission, Special Needs Programs, Youth Sports Teams, Carol’s Kitchen, and Table of Plenty. The food is primarily Southern Italian with numerous pasta sauces, grinders, pizza, steak, and seafood. Enjoy lunch or dinner for a taste of Italy.

They pride themselves on unique cuisine owned and operated by John and Jane Russo. Russo’s serves homemade Sicilian-style food. “Be a guest in our home when you come to Russo’s you are not merely a paying customer, but a guest in our home. You are a guest that we are going to feed and make very happy. The only difference between this home and a real Italian home is when you say you are stuffed we will actually stop feeding you.You will find dishes here that have been in our family for generations.”

Johnny had another restaurant back in the 2005, it was opened for 12 years, called Lil Russo’s. He really prefers to have one main place and works hard to keep it servicing his community. He should know what makes a restaurant successful he’s has been doing it at this location for the last 39 years. Johhny was a successful food salesman in the Italian food industry in the greater Los Angeles area before coming to Banning. Johnny takes pride is being at his restaurant most days. He adores his customers. He is truly a family man, but he says, “I kiss more women in one day, then most men kiss in a year.” He greets all his female customers that way, including me. He is a sweet man, full of things to say about his adoring family, and the historic Johnny Russo’s Italian Kitchen. His wife Jane does some of the bookkeeping and payroll, you can tell that she is his rock, and that he really loves her. Jane and Johnny have had 45 years of bliss. He has around 25-27 employees and is a great boss. Alicia told me so. Johnny is really committed; he is in the kitchen every day at 6:00 am making his bread and pizza dough. …There is also something that Johnny offers that’s called Russo rewards you get great benefits all you have to do is sign up you receive valuable coupons in the mail, you receive birthday, anniversary, holiday and special events coupons. You can accumulate points for every dollar that you spend. It’s just a no brainer to go ahead and join.

(I always have wine with my meal, but the cocktails were so delightful I really forget to order any. Now in hindsight I have looked at their wine list, and they do have some remarkable choices, and all are very affordable, next time I will give their wine list a whirl.)

Johnny Russo’s

1335 W Ramsey St., Banning, CA. 92220

(951) 849-9131

Mon–Sat

Pickup: 11:00am–8:30pm

Delivery: 11:00am–8:30pm

Sun

Pickup: 4:00pm–8:30pm

https://russositaliankitchen.net/

I have been coming to this wonderful restaurant for close to 10 years, since its opening. I had a dear friend who lived around the corner, so it was always our go to place. The food is fresh and always good. It is very healthy, especially if you’re a lover of fine Mediterranean fare. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, they do cater and facilitate special events.

Here’s what I tried:

Breakfast:

The Works Burrito, with 3 scrambled eggs, topped with cheddar, cheese, bacon, black beans, brown rice, and tater tots, topped with house spicy pomegranate sauce. This is really everything you would want from one meaty size burrito. It is a huge burrito and very filling.

Hummus and Lavash, a delicious blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and middle eastern spices. The humus is very creamy, with a nice delicate flavor of the chickpeas, you cannot go wrong with this menu item.

Asian Salad, with Romaine hearts, red and white cabbage, carrots, red bell peppers, noodles, mandarin oranges and toasted honey peanuts with house made sesame dressing. It is a very healthy scrumptious salad. It will make you very happy.

Pasta, Penne Pasta, with turkey marinara. Penne pasta served with house-made turkey marinara sauce, topped with parmesan cheese and basil. This would be my go-to dish, the sauce is so robust and heart, with the turkey marinara it is just spectacular.

Drinks:

The Perfect Latte, it is served in a huge cup and has the right amount of frothed milk.

Matcha Latte, this is a sweet drink, but it hits the spot.

Sparkling Wine, this for sure was a highlight. It’s I very light and drinkable, makes me want to have a glass with every lunch.

Desserts:

Cheesecake, creamy smooth, with a nice, sweet vanilla flavor.

Chocolate Chip Cookie, the softest most delectable cookie ever.

Carrot Cake, the perfect cream cheese frosting, a wonderful rendition of this dessert staple.

The atmosphere is very bright from all of the ambient light, it is on a corner lot, so you get to see all of the action from the big glass windows. There is also a nice wrap around patio on one side of the building, and another one near the parking lot. You can park for an hour free as well. It’s got some very fun décor that makes you feel like you are in a marketplace and not just a café. It is very friendly, you can also do your work here, they have great WIFI access. It can also be a place to come to watch your favorite sports teams, with 2 huge flat screen tv’s. Recently the Metro Rail opened up its La Cienega and Wilshire station, during their opening party Continental Kitchen served delicious complimentary chicken, vegetables and rice. When I saw owners Reg and Anna that day, they suggested that I come in and do a review, boy was I glad I did.  I am so sure that they will be getting lots of new business from the subway being right across the street.

Continental Kitchen is where wonderful Mediterranean food and approachable dining meets the renowned energy of Beverly Hills. A local neighborhood favorite, serving up satisfying, well-executed meals in a relaxed yet lively atmosphere. Located on Wilshire Blvd., this place gives their customers generous portions, and very friendly service. When you step inside the vibe feels warm and welcoming, the Madadian family will take really good care of you. The aroma of thoughtful flavorful cuisine, and the kind of environment that suits a causal meal with friends, a family outing, a first date, or a quick stop fir a cup of joe.

A small sidebar, when I realized that Anna and Reg’s last name is Madadian, I asked if they were any relation to Andy Madaian, singer known as Andy. Often dubbed the “Prince of Persian Pop,” Iranian-Armenian American singer-songwriter is a global icon with a career spanning over four decades. They said yes to my amazement. I was Shani Rigsbee, Andy’s wife and did represent her as well as him in some shows.  I went to New York for a media trip a while back with Shani. They both were lovely clients and am so happy to say that I was their publicist.

Continental Kitchen

8300 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills, Ca 90211

323-433-4131

https://continentalkitchen.com/

Alicia Keys’ hit Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen runs at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through June 21, 2026. The semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in 1990s New York features new music and greatest hits from Keys and is currently making its Los Angeles debut.

Hell’s Kitchen is a coming-of-age Broadway musical loosely inspired by Alicia Keys’ youth. It follows 17-year-old Ali as she navigates New York City, defies her overprotective mother, and discovers the power of love and music under the mentorship of an inspiring piano teacher.

Hell’s Kitchen is a jukebox musical built on the music and lyrics of Alicia Keys, with a semi-autobiographical plot about her upbringing in Manhattan in the 1990s.The musical, with a book by Kristoffer Diaz, initially ran at The Public Theater in October 2023,^[3][4] having its Broadway debut at the Shubert Theatre on April 20, 2024, followed by a cast recording on June 7, 2024.

The original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions received positive reviews by theatre critics, considering the musical among the best examples of the jukebox musical, while Maleah Joi Moon, Shoshana Bean, and Kecia Lewis were praised for their acting and vocal performances. The productions received nominations and won at the Lucille Lortel Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Awards, and Grammy Awards. At the 77th Tony  the Broadway production garnered 13 nominations, winning Best Leading Actress and Best Featured Actress.

Development:

In 2011, Alicia Keys was involved as one of the producers and music composer of the Broadway play Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond.^[8] Although it was critically acclaimed, the play closed due to financial failures in the box office at the Cort Theatre after 24 preview performances and 92 regular performances.^[9] In a 2023 interview for Ebony, Keys explained that she was inspired by its “story about a Black family in Martha’s Vineyard” and that at that time “there was less diversity in so many ways, particularly in film and television, and definitely in theater”.

Production history:

Keys, Greif, Blackstone and Brown at the show’s one-year celebration in 2025.

Off-Broadway (2023):

Keys began developing the play in 2011, and that year Diaz was attached to the project. In 2018, Greif was appointed as the musical’s director. By February 2023, the main roles were cast, and casting call for remaining roles was released on February 6 and auditions were held on February 17, 2023, at Actors’ Equity New York Audition Center.

In June 2023, Keys announced she had written her first jukebox musical, Hell’s Kitchen, inspired by her own life and career in New York City. According to Keys, the musical is a “love story between a mother and a daughter”, and in an interview on Good Morning America, she stated that the play describes “the experience of growing up in New York City, really chasing a dream, trying to find who you are, discovering your identity, and really following your heart, ultimately”.^[18] Tickets went on sale in August 2023. The production was originally set to run from October 24 to December 10, 2023, but on September 12, a two-week extension to December 23 was announced. In October 2023, another two-week extension to January 7 was announced. The play featured some of Keys’ best-known songs, as well as new music written by Keys specifically for the play. The musical began previews on October 24, 2023, at The Public Theater with an opening night of November 19.

Broadway (2024–2026):

On December 4, 2023, Keys announced that the production would transfer to the Shubert Theatre on Broadway. The show began previews on March 28, 2024, with an opening night scheduled for April 20, 2024. Casting was announced on February 7, 2024. Further casting was announced on February 26, 2024, with Rema Webb joining the cast as Crystal, Nyseli Vega as Millie, and Takia “Tiki” Hopson joining the ensemble. The rest of the cast was the same as the Public’s run, with production and design workers transferring as well.^[26] On March 22, 2024, Keys performed the song “Kaleidoscope” with the musical’s lead actress Maleah Joi Moon and the cast on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The production closed on February 22, 2026 after 23 previews and 767 regular performances.

North American Tour (2025):

A touring production of the musical began at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio on October 10, 2025. It is scheduled to tour 30 cities in its first year. Tennis player, Serena Williams joined the producing team for the national tour.^[29]

South Korea production (2026):

In April 2026, South Korea‘s musical and performance production company S&Co annunced that the musical would premiere at the GS Art Center in Gangnam District of Seoul on July 24, 2026, with last show on November 8, 2026.^[30][31]

The Story:

Set in the 1990s in Manhattan Plaza (an artist-subsidized building in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood), the plot centers on a vibrant, rebellious 17-year-old girl named Ali. Her world revolves around a few core dynamics:

Mother & Daughter: Ali lives with her fiercely protective, overworked single mother, Jersey. Jersey struggles to allow Ali independence—partly due to her own past—causing a rift between them.

First Love: Ali falls for Knuck, an older man and local street/bucket drummer. Jersey heavily opposes this relationship, seeing echoes of her own disastrous past with an unreliable musician.

The Power of Piano: Seeking an outlet for her teenage angst and rage, Ali meets Miss Liza Jane, an older neighbor and no-nonsense piano teacher. Through Miss Liza Jane, Ali learns how to channel her emotions into playing the piano.

Community & Growing Up: Ali witnesses’ racial injustice in the city firsthand when Knuck and his friends are harassed by police. She must navigate family trauma, loss, and the sudden re-emergence of her estranged father.

Through heartbreak and reconciliation, Ali ultimately finds her identity, pursues her musical dreams, and reaches a fragile understanding with her mother. The story is set to a score of Alicia Keys’ greatest hits like “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Empire State of Mind,” alongside entirely new tracks.

Behind the Show:

Creator: 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys.

Book: Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz.

Director: Four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.

Choreography: Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown

Also we were so lucky because Alicia came to the curtain call, amazing!

May 26 – June 21, 2026

Hollywood Pantages Theatre

6233 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Tuesdays–Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM2 hours and 35 minutes (includes one intermission)

• Some Content Was taken Off Of Their Website.
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The San Francisco Symphony’s Măcelaru Conducts Dvořák’s New World performance on Saturday, May 23, 2026, featured Romanian conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the world premiere of Tyler Taylor’s Embers, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Simon Trpčeski, and concluded with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9.

Overview:

Just how American is the New World Symphony? Although many listeners swear that they hear snatches of such classic folk tunes as “Turkey in the Straw,” “Three Blind Mice,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” Dvořák later claimed that the Ninth’s title was meant only to describe “impressions and greetings from the New World.” Kicking things off with a commissioned premiere by Tyler Taylor—the 2024 winner of the Emerging Black Composers Project—Romanian conductor Cristian Măcelaru leads the San Francisco Symphony in a rousing and profound program that also boasts Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto, No. 1, spotlighting Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski. The piano tumbles recklessly, sings ardently, mimics, mocks, and pounds until the meter-juggling finale drives home the happy ending.

Concert Extras:

Saturday and Sunday: An Inside Music Talk with composer Tyler Taylor, winner of the 2024 Emerging Black Composers Project, in conversation with Benjamin Pesetsky, was presented on stage one hour before the concerts.

Program:
Cristian Măcelaru conducting

Tyler Taylor

Embers (2026)
San Francisco Symphony Commission and World Premiere
Commissioned as part of the Emerging Black Composers Project

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Opus 1 (1891/1917)
Vivace
Andante
Allegro vivace

Simon Trpčeski piano

Intermission

Antonín Dvořák

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Opus 95, From the New World (1893)
Adagio–Allegro molto
Largo
Scherzo: Molto vivace
Allegro con fuoco

Artists:

Cristian Măcelaru – Conductor

Simon Trpčeski – Piano

The piano was technically perfect, played by Simon Trpčeski with great volume and energetic passion. The audience was very appreciative and was rewarded with two encores. There were lots of audience members who knew these pieces very well and came to hear these various new renditions. Most people in the audience did not know his work, because he is a new composer, but they knew the main number. The opening piece was the premier by composer Simon Trpčeski, which was a $15,00.00 commission from the Symphony. He said he was very happy to receive the grant due to the fact that he needed a new car. He was an award recipient to a scholarship to the Virginia Academy of Music. I am an aficionado of the Antonín Dvořák piece.

Symphony No. 9, From the New World, and it was done to perfection. The orchestra was very tight. Part of the New World Symphony uses a white color, a tune, a phrase, a musical, a melody that was sometimes attributed to being from the folk tune “Going Home” when in fact ‘Going Home’ was written by one of Dvořák’s contemporaries, who made a popular tune out of it.

Davies Symphony Hall is iconic. The Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall is a 2,743-seat concert hall located at 201 Van Ness Avenue within San Francisco’s War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. Opened on September 16, 1980, it was built at a cost of $28 million to give the San Francisco Symphony a dedicated permanent home.

The Need for a Dedicated Home. For over half a century, the San Francisco Symphony (founded in 1911) was forced to share the neighboring War Memorial Opera House with the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet. This arrangement caused severe scheduling conflicts and prevented the symphony from operating on a full-time, year-round basis.

Design and Construction, discussions for a second performing arts venue began in the 1960s, but the project ultimately required massive private fundraising. The hall is named for philanthropist Louise M. Davies, an oil heiress who contributed $5 million toward the construction.

Architects: The modern venue was designed by Pietro Belluschi in collaboration with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Building-within-a-Building: Designed to harmonize with the Beaux-Arts architecture of the surrounding Civic Center, the building was uniquely engineered with a massive, curved glass façade and an inner shell that insulates the auditorium from city noise and vibration.

Acoustic Renovations

When the hall first opened, its acoustics received mixed reviews because sound did not properly diffuse through the space. In 1992, the symphony underwent a successful $10 million acoustic renovation. Acoustician Larry Kirkegaard installed a massive acrylic acoustic canopy suspended above the stage and reshaped the side walls, drastically improving the hall’s warmth and resonance.

Notable Features & Milestones

The Organ: Davies Hall houses one of the largest concert hall organs in North America. Manufactured by the Fratelli Ruffatti firm in Italy, the massive instrument features nearly 8,000 pipes and was installed in 1984.

The MTT Era: The hall’s legacy is heavily intertwined with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, who served as the orchestra’s Music Director from 1995 to 2020, ushering in a golden age of American and contemporary music performances.

What a great concert, truly the best of the best, worth every minute.

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Ave.

San Francisco, CA.

94102

(415) 864-6000

https://www.sfsymphony.org/

Photo credit by William C. Turner

• Note Some Content Was taken Off Of Their Website.