What can I say about Josette Leblond that has not been said. She is a culinary icon, with so much knowledge and wisdom, she is a true restaurateur She is just so fun and vivacious, she is a real people pleaser. When you meet her, you can tell that she loves what she does and has a shining personality. My longtime friend Pamela Clay is also a good friend of Josette’s, she sings at her fine establishment often, Pamela usually sings legend Edith Piaf’s repertoire. I saw that they were doing a Bastille Day party, but I was already engaged so I asked Josette is I could come in for a tasting, and she gladly said yes.
She runs a very tight ship and most of her staff have worked for her for a very long time. Jossette rules the roost, she is the boss, and everyone loves her.
The interior is airy and bright, with a true French Café feel. You are just transported back to Paris without the pricey airfare. The music is French pop, classical, songbook, it really sets the tone for the full French experience.
Part of her business is wholesaling their wonderful baguettes and other bakery items. Many of the best restaurants in Los Angeles and beyond serve her lovely bakery items. Carlos Alvarez cooks all of these wonderful baguettes, his baking day starts everyday at 5am.
Here’s What I Tried:
Croissant and a cappuccino, this is how I started my lovely lunch, a croissant, with homemade strawberry jam, and a cappuccino. Something i used to get all the time for breakfast when I lived in San Francisco both the croissant and the cappuccino here are just to die for. I loved every minute of it.
Onion Soup, topped with croutons and melted Swiss cheese. My dad and used to have a contest in San Francisco and throughout Paris to find the best onion soup. We found one that we really liked at Le Petit Cochon in Paris and the other one was Perry’s on Union Street in San Francisco, but I have to say the Normandie Bakery gave both a run for their money. The soup is very mellow and rich at the same time. it doesn’t have a big onion salty flavor, it’s subtle goodness. I would want to order this every time, it’s just that good. Too bad that my lovely father Philip could not have experienced this soup and the fantastic hospitality of Josette.
Escargot, with garlic, butter, parsley. Oh, my goodness, I really thought I was back in Paris, so authentic.
Niçoise Salad, with tuna, eggs, tomatoes, greens, and onion. this salad rocked my world, and the dressing is Josette’s house made vinaigrette, what a treat.
Merguez Plate, with beef and lamb sausage served with French fries. This is Josette’s favorite, and I can see why. These are made in house and have the perfect marriage of a beef and lamb combination. The fries are truly delightful, another great menu item.
Lasagna, delicious lasagna topped with homemade Provençal sauce. They serve you a nice size portion with rich meaty goodness, and the noodles still held up, it’s a great delicious dish.
Dessert:
Tarte Tatin, this is filled with luscious apples and very sweet, just anything they do at Normandie bakery is going to be awesome. There was a lady that picked up a full large tart for a party, and she was just happy to be sharing it with her guests. She and Josette talked about their great friendship while she waited for the tarte. I feel like everyone who comes in is going to form a bond with Josette.
Fruit Tart, this would be my go-to dessert item, the fruit manages to still be fresh even though it is glazed over with sugar. The crust is stupendous, and the crème is just luscious, a must have.
Crème Brule, the top is hard and will crack, but underneath is a rich silky, perfect custard that is out of this world, wow!
Chef Victor Gonzalez is the excellent executive pastry chef since 1994. My great server Mary Martinez was with Toast before Josette took it over, she is a 23-year seasoned employee.
Josette has a long-standing business relationship with Michelle Richard, selling her famous baguettes to this well-established restaurant and many others in the great Los Angeles area. She says she sells more then 2000 baguettes a day. Their croissants are just the best as well, the oven that makes their lovely croissants is called a Eurofour from France.
Josette came to America and did not speak English. She worked at the Queen Mary; it took her 2 years to learn English and she did it just by being around English-speaking people. Photos and TV shows of Josette are everywhere. Josette’s says, “When you give you get”. Josette is multi-faceted, besides her cooking shows on Youtube she also judge’s beauty pageants. She is a modern-day French version of Martha Stewart but with a lot more pizazz. Born in Paris, raised Normandie, she is the real deal. She is 74 years young and has so much energy, I really think that no one can keep up with her!
A friend on Facebook talked about this great new Italian cafe in the heart of Beverly Hills, I reached out to owner Nando, and he was so pleased for me to come and try his super authentic, delicious Italian food.
Castanea Sicilian Café Story:
The team behind this amazing café is Nando and Rose, happily married with one child. Both have Sicilian roots and were lucky to have spent every summer on the beautiful Island of Sicily. Their philosophy: If you create something the world has never seen before, there’s probably a pretty interesting story behind it. A typical Sicilian lightheartedness, delicious traditional food and the Italian coffee culture is what they grew up with, and what they both cherished most.
Castanea, meaning chestnut in Latin, is inspired by “Il Castagno dei Cento Cavalli,” the world’s oldest chestnut tree on Mount Etna in Sicily. Legend has it the tree sheltered a princess and her 100 horsemen during a sudden storm, symbolizing protection and timeless Sicilian heritage. Their name and design are inspired by this tree, the four chestnuts in their logo symbolize their heritage, strength, and resilience. The colors reflect the Italian flag, celebrating their Sicilian roots and the rich culture of Italy. The interior design brings a piece of Sicily to life, with walls adorned in patterns inspired by traditional Majolica tiles—an iconic symbol of Italian craftsmanship. Each detail creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, making you feel at home while you enjoy their offerings.
From Sicily to Stuttgart (Germany) Nando and Rose have really become super accomplished. First with their Venice Beach location, now Beverly Hills location, and Hollywood. This is their journey through family, food, and coffee. Nando with his family, who were already embracing and celebrating “il dolce far niente”, an Italian phrase that translates to the sweetness of doing nothing. In 1998, the idea of a cafe emerged from the desire to preserve their precious heritage by sharing it. They wanted to make it accessible to all those who need a little break from everyday life and want to immerse themselves in the world of Sicilian enjoyment. With a lot of love and dedication they blended their affinity for coffee, food, and Sicilian culture into an ambiance of warmth and kindness.
Here’s What I Tried:
Drinks:
Pistachio (iced), a creamy, comforting latte infused with the rich, nutty flavor of Sicilian pistachios. Made with smooth espresso, steamed milk, and a sweet pistachio blend, then topped with whipped cream, pistachio drizzle, and crushed pistachios. A luxurious treat that brings the warmth and flavor of Sicily to your cup. It is both scrumptious and hearty, it is just the perfect drink to be paired with all their lovely food items.
Cappucino:
A beloved Italian classic made with expertly brewed Morettino espresso, topped with perfectly steamed milk and a silky foam crown. Balanced, creamy, and aromatic, this cappuccino delivers a smooth yet bold coffee experience complete with delicate latte art for that authentic café touch. Ideal for breakfast or an indulgent afternoon break.
Focaccia:
Mortadella and Pistachio Focaccia, with soft and golden focaccia filled with pistachio pesto, mortadella, burrata, chopped pistachio, basil, and balsamic glaze. The focaccia is crispy and the of ingredients really put this sandwich on the top of my list.
Tonno Focaccia, with soft and golden focaccia filled with olive oil, tuna, mozzarella oregano, red onions, olives, tomatoes, arugula, and balsamic glaze. This is a tuna sandwich that you could only dream about, it hits all the right notes, a true winner.
Arancino:
Classico Rago Arancino, crispy rice ball filled with beef ragù, peas, and melted cheese. Served with tomato sauce. Subtle rich flavors and the ragu makes this arancini the best I have ever had!
Salad:
Salad Burrata Pomodora, a combination of simple ingredients, sweet cherry tomatoes, burrata, and baby arugula, with their signature balsamic glaze, every bite was perfection.
Pinsa:
Salame and Burrata Pinsa, with salami, creamy burrata, tomato sauce, and fresh arugula. The crust is other worldly, it is just so good.
Bianca Pinsa, with ricotta, mozzarella, pecorino, provolone, parmesan, lemon zest, and basil. This combination really got my taste buds excited, truly wonderful.
Dessert:
Classic Cannolo, a beloved Sicilian pastry featuring a crisp, golden-brown shell filled with rich, and sweet ricotta cream. Topped with crushed pistachios, chocolate chips, and a light dusting of powdered sugar, it’s a great way to end my glorious lunch.
Bombolone, classic Italian doughnut, soft inside, golden outside. with tiramisu gelato. What can I say – except for save room!
Market Items:
Truffle-Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil brings a rich, earthy flavor to your dishes, perfect for risotto, pasta, and sauces. Made with premium olive oil and fine truffles, it adds a gourmet touch to everyday meals. It really is so elegant and robust, just the perfect addition to any homemade pasta dish.
Balsamico Glaze, Antica Italia Balsamic Glaze is a rich, velvety glaze made with authentic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena I.G.P., perfect for enhancing both sweet and savory dishes. With no artificial additives, it adds a gourmet touch to salads, meats, cheese, and desserts. This was on my salad, and it is so amazing, I just had to try it on my own salads at home.
Pesto Potato Chips deliver the bold, herby taste of Ligurian pesto in a crispy chip — your gourmet Italian snack, anytime, anywhere. I am so hooked, it just has the perfect pesto flavors, so great!
Classic Potato Chips deliver Italy’s beloved golden crunch with just potatoes, oil, and salt — simple, authentic, and irresistibly crisp, just the best.
One of their staff members, Juhm Diallo made me have so much fun, he is just a very lively person, who will make you laugh and for sure put a smile of your face, I just adored him. But I have to say all of their staff members seem to really love their jobs and bring sparkle to everything they do!
The vibe is pure Italian down to their playlist which is old school Italian music, so fun! Everything about Castanea Sicilian Cafe is the real deal, if you have ever been to Italy then you would know, and if you haven’t even more reason to try this super authentic café
Locations:
Beverly Hills
252 S. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 08:00 PM daily
Castanea Venice Beach
1307 Ocean Front Walk
Venice, CA 90291 Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM – Fri – Sun 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Castanea Hollywood
615 N. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004 Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
There are quite a few of these outstanding Mexican restaurants with the same name around SoCal, but this one is an elegant, delicious dining experience. The others are the same ownership, but Cantina Frida, is really a step above the others. The others are a bit more casual. Cantina Frida prides itself on only using the best products and their menu is a bit more upscale. Whatever Cantina Frida claims to be, I can tell you hands down it is s wonderful dining experience. What you get here, is a special culinary approach to modern Mexican cuisine.
General Manager Israel Cuevas made my experience really great. I saw him at The Beverly Hills Chamber Appreciation event, and he was doing a great spread of lovely smaller finger foods. I tasted some of his offerings and was very impressed. He said for me to come in and do a tasting for my website and I jumped at the chance. What I did not know is how much attention Cantina Fridas pays to all of the details, with their remarkable presentation and delicious ingredients, all very high quality and most locally sourced. Then when chef Luis Beltran came out to meet me, he explained most of the dishes that I was interested in, and he curated a wonderful well-rounded tasting for me to be able to get the full experience at Cantina Frida, he did a great job.
Cantina Frida was inspired by the communal sharing plates that are traditionally served in the old cantinas in Mexico in an environment that brings friends and family together.
Their mixologists developed their cocktail menu taking the very best of regional Mexican favorites. They use only the finest top shelf mezcal and the most extraordinary, crafted tequilas. Mexican gastronomy is an art. Cantina Freda’s fresh taste is hand-crafted every day from scratch in their kitchen with the best ingredients SoCal has to offer.
Cantina Frida brings an exciting touch to traditional Mexican cuisine in a modern dining environment for everyone’s enjoyment. Whether you come for a taste from home or a memory of a beloved vacation, come to Cantina Frida to be transported by the aromas, sounds, flavors. You too will be so glad you did!
Here’s What I Tried:
Margaritas:
Berry Margarita, with Tequila, berries, oj reduction, and lime. You really get the full berry flavors with this margarita, so if you want one that is a bit sweeter and has loads of berry flavor then this margarita is the one to order.
Cadillac Margarita, with Tequila, oj reduction, lime, and grand Marnier. I always love the float of Grand Marnier on the top, it gives the margarita another dimension of flavor.
Cucumber Margarita, with silver tequila, infused with cucumber, Miel de agave, and lime. This margarita is bit more mellow than the others, but it is very drinkable.
Starters:
Guacamole, with avocado, onion, tomato, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime, prepared table side. There is something about table side guacamole, its old school and it just tastes better.
Ceviche Mixto, with fish, shrimp, octopus, avocado, pico de gallo, cucumber, lime juice, and olive oil. The presentation is just gorgeous, and it is so fresh and delightful.
Tostada Salad, spring mix, tomato, queso fresco, sour cream, avocado, rice, beans, and orange dressing. This would be my go-to salad, the dressing is sweet and savory, I just could not get enough!
Taco’s:
Zarandeado, with grilled white fish, guajillo adobo, avocado, crispy onion, and chipotle mayo. A very hearty taco, the fish is just out of this world.
Vegano Baja, with battered cauliflower, cabbage, onion relish, vegan roasted salsa, Pico de Gallo, and avocado. This is a great alternation for a vegan diner, it has great flavor and a hard shell for ultimate crunch, a real winner.
Main Dishes:
Combo Fajitas, with filet mignon, shrimp, grilled chicken, bell pepper, onion, tomato, handmade corn tortillas, Spanish rice, and pinto beans. The proteins are cooked to perfection, and super tender, a great filling menu item.
Enchiladas de Langosta, with two enchiladas, fresh lobster, chipotle-cream sauce, and white rice. The sauce is like lobster bisque soup, so rich and creamy, for me another go-to dish at Cantina Frida.
Dessert:
Mexican Chocolate Parfait, with creamy and intense chocolate mousse based with traditional chocolate candy, layered between vanilla cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. This dessert is just incredible, it melts in your mouth but also has an amazing texture of many layers, a must have!
Wine:
Hahn Chardonnay – Central Coast, CA. – 2022. This wine paired so great with the lobster, it is rich and creamy and was the perfect backdrop for any of the fish dishes.
Cantinas are popular across Latin America and Spain, and it’s perfect for the L.A. dining scene, where patrons flock to the lively atmosphere and excellent dining at Cantina Frida. Vicente de Rio of Frimex Hospitality Group is also the owner of five locations of Frida Restaurants, along with Taco Libre in the L.A. area and coming soon to Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. Now he has brought his vision for authentic food from Mexico City paired with a special, distinct energy.
Cantina Frida hits all the marks; you’ll find delicious elevated authentic Mexican food in a gorgeous setting that combines the style of fine Los Angeles dining with trendy cantina-style service. Their menu is a gastronomic journey through Mexico. Mixing authentic flavors that is both fresh and delicious, the best of the best.
There is an open kitchen with the perfect viewing of the stylized detail food. The interior is just gorgeous with so many beautiful design elements. It just has the most elegant touches to add to your overall dining experience.
Such an iconic artist, Neil Diamond is a sound that is only his. Bringing back Neil Diamond to those who do not know of his amazing singing and songwriting talents, is truly a blessing. Today’s youth only get to hear this kind of music royalty through their parents. Many parents expose their kids to artists that are no longer creating. Having this wonderful musical – THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL– A BEAUTIFUL NOISE – is really a great honor to Neil Diamond fans and to the man himself. Nick Fradiani who on his own is an amazing singer, but he really captures the essence of Neil Diamonds voice and dynamic on-stage persona. Truly one of the best shows I have seen in a long time! The first thing I did when I left the show was play Neil Diamonds greatest hits on my phone on YouTube!
About the Show:
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, stars “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani in the title role Hollywood Pantages Theatre ∙ July 8 – July 27, 2025 – 3 weeks only. “Close your eyes and you’d swear that Diamond himself is on stage performing his string of hits.” Forbes “It sends you home hungry to hear the albums again and there is no higher tribute.” The Hollywood Reporter “Fradiani’s portrayal of the young Neil Diamond is Tony–worthy. He effortlessly captures the icon’s heart and angst; he is simply fantastic.”
Broadway World Wednesday, June 17, 2025 – Producers Ken Davenport, Bob Gaudio and NETworks Presentations with Broadway in Hollywood are thrilled to announce that A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Hollywood Theatre. Nick Fradiani won the title of “American Idol” in 2015 and has since released his debut album “Hurricane” in 2016, featuring the hit single “Beautiful Life.” “Past My Past,” his second solo album, was released in 2022. He made his national tour debut in A Bronx Tale and his Broadway debut in A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, taking over the role of ‘Neil Diamond – Then’ in October 2023. The official announcement of Fradiani taking A BEAUTIFUL NOISE on the road in the title role was officially made by Ryan Seacrest on the season finale of “American Idol” on ABC TV in May 2024 after Fradiani took the stage for the first time since winning the title. He has since gone on to play the role across the country to rave reviews, breaking box office records and leading the show to recoupment in an unprecedentedly short amount of time.
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chartbusting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond’s story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America.
“Some of my most thrilling nights have been while I was on tour, bringing my music to audiences across the world,” said Neil Diamond. “Having A BEAUTIFUL NOISE go on tour is an honor and I can’t wait for audiences across North America to experience this show. I hope they enjoy it as much as I have.”
“The Biographical Drama Is A Heartwarming Celebration Of Mr. Diamond’s Uplifting Music And Inspirational Life.” -The Washington Times.
Like Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before it, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is an inspiring, exhilarating, energy-filled musical memoir, that tells the untold true story of how America’s greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career.
Producer Ken Davenport said, “Neil is one of the best live entertainers the world has ever seen. In his fifty-year career, he’s performed for millions of fans around the globe. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to honor his legacy than having A BEAUTIFUL NOISE touring North America, visiting the same cities where he gave so many people so much joy. Now, after a successful Broadway run, good times never seemed so good as A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, is at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
Producer Bob Gaudio said, “When Neil and I first started talking about making a musical using his music, I knew how daunting that would be. With Jersey Boys, I learned how vital it is to have a first-rate creative team making sure everything weaves together. We have that on A BEAUTIFUL NOISE—an incisive book that tells Neil’s story honestly, fantastic choreography, one of the best directors on Broadway guiding the entire production, and of course, Neil’s iconic songs.”
The tour cast is currently led by Nick Fradiani (Neil Diamond – Then), Robert Westenberg (Neil Diamond – Now), Hannah Jewel Kohn (Marcia Murphey), Lisa Reneé Pitts (Doctor), Michael Accardo (Bert Berns/ Kieve Diamond), Tuck Milligan (Fred Weintraub/ Tommy O’Rourke), Kate A. Mulligan (Ellie Greenwich/ Rose Diamond) and Tiffany Tatreau (Jaye Posner). Rounding out the company as “The Noise” are Joe Caskey, Cooper Clack, Chris Marsh Clark, Denver Dizon (Swing), Dale Duko, Deirdre Dunkin, Rene Mirai Guyon (Swing), Ginger Hurley, Jer (Swing), Spencer Donavan Jones, Zoë Maloney (Swing), Ellen McGihon, Thabitha Moruthane, Tasheim Ramsey Pack, Jeilani Rhone-Collins, Alec Michael Ryan (Swing), Vanessa Aurora Sierra (Swing) and J’Kobe Wallace.
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), choreographed by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and written by four time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Two Popes). The design team for A BEAUTIFUL NOISE features Tony Award winner David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony Award nominee Emilio Sosa (Costume Design), four-time Tony Award winner Kevin Adams (Lighting Design), Tony Award winner Jessica Paz (Sound Design), and Luc Verschueren (Hair and Wig Design). The production has Music Supervision and Arrangements by Sonny Paladino, Incidental Music and Dance Music Arrangements by B Brian Usifer, Vocal Design by AnnMarie Milazzo, and Orchestrations by Bob Gaudio, Sonny Paladino, and Brian Usifer. The team also includes Jamie Harrison (Illusion Design), Kathy Fabian (Production Properties Supervisor), Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger, CSA (Casting), Madeline McCluskey of Gentry & Associates (General Management) and Hector Guivas of NETworks Presentations (Production Management). The A BEAUTIFUL NOISE National Tour Director is Austin Regan, Tour Choreographer is Yasmine Lee, and Tour Music Director is James Olmstead. The A BEAUTIFUL NOISE National Tour Stage Management team is currently led by John M. Atherlay with Rachel Heine hel Heine and Kali Ashurst. The Company Management team is Erik Birkeland and Brad Siebeking.
THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL has raised over $750,000 for the Parkinson’s Foundation. For more information on how you can help visit www.abeautifulnoisethemusical.com/partners.
LOS ANGELES LISTING INFORMATION Dates: July 8 – 27, 2025 Theatre: Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Performance Schedule: Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30pm Friday at 8pm Saturday at 2pm & 8pm Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm Tickets: Online: BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com In Person: Hollywood Pantages Box Office (Visit website for hours).
In a mini – mall outside of the Las Vegas Strip in Spring Valley / Southwest, lies an Italian food excursion that makes you feel like you’ve landed in Rome and not Las Vegas. The food, the hospitality, the entertainment, all rolled up into one big terrific experience.
Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar is a casual Italian restaurant established in 2021 by two sisters, Axenia and Marina Cobzac, from Moldova. Their Italian recipes are from North, South, and Central Italy. Chef Helio really implements old and new world recipes. Their product for their amazing dishes is, for the most part, imported from Italy. Offering the best wine pairing and variety of cocktail selection. From what I could tell, they have many repeat diners in and around the Las Vegas area.
Axenia came to the United States as an exchange student in 2012, in a summer program, and she didn’t speak English. Axenia learned English pretty quickly so she could have a chance at a brilliant career. She worked a few jobs in retail but found that Las Vegas was affordable and wanted to stay and become part of the business empire in the city. Axenia and her sister started Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar, which means sister in Italian, at the end of 2021. Covid was still lingering, but they made do with their recipes and this off the strip location. Many of their customers are from word of mouth, and from a prominent presence on social media. They were also on Fox 5 TV early on. The sisters live close to the restaurant, so it makes it very convenient for them to be ever present at their establishment. In their community, everyone knows them as the sisters. They are very close and do just about everything together. This sisterhood has brought a huge success story to their lives and to their restaurant.
Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar has entertainment every night. Tuesday, the night I was there, was violinist Harry Hovakimian. He started studying the violin at age 7. He won several city competitions and was accepted into the conservatory in 1986. Harry earned a Master of Arts in Music in 1991 and moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1998, Harry moved to Detroit, performing at the Russian Bear restaurant and teaching at AGBU Alex Manoogian School. He played at The Fiddler from 1999 to 2011 and composed music for films from 2010 to 2013.Harry released a Christmas album in 2011 and formed the jazz band Knights of Onyx in 2016, releasing “The More You Say” in 2018. He relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, where he continues to perform. His music was uplifting and a great backdrop to my amazing meal.
Here’s What I Tried:
Cocktails:
Espresso Martini, with espresso, vodka, Kahlua, and Baileys Irish Whiskey. This martini is super rich and smooth, like a milkshake, but even better.
Cosmopolitan, with vodka, triple sec, lime, and cranberry juice, served very cold and extremely refreshing, just perfect.
Traditional Vodka Martini, of course, I had to order my favorite cocktail, and it did not disappoint.
Antipasta:
Crab Cake, homemade crab cakes served with tartar sauce. It has good, subtle crab flavor, a nice way to start my meal.
Sauteed Mussels and Clams, cooked in a garlic white wine sauce, it has so much garlic, it is really lush and delicious.
Insalata:
Spinach Salad, with organic spinach, feta cheese, caramelized walnuts, cherry tomatoes, and pears, in honey lemon dressing. I loved this salad; everything was farm fresh, and the dressing really made it for me.
Primi:
Seafood Pasta, with homemade tagliatelle pasta mixed with shrimps, mussels, clams, and calamari, in red sauce. I would order this every time. The pasta was a bit al dente, and the seafood was so fresh, and it all tasted really fantastic.
Mushroom Risotto, with Italian risotto in creamy sauce, with sautéed mushrooms. This is a subtle flavored risotto, and a huge portion at that, it really hit the spot.
Lobster Ravioli in lobster sauce, huge round raviolis with a nice sweet light tomato sauce, a must-have menu item.
Secondi:
Seabass, with capers, saffron risotto, and broccoli. The seabass melts in your mouth, super fresh and tender, a fish lover’s dream.
Wine:
William Hill, Chardonnay, 2023, CA. This wine paired so nicely with the seabass; it is rich and buttery, just the perfect pair.
Cricova, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2024, Moldova. This wine went great with any of the red-sauced pastas.
The interior is very tastefully done, with Axenia doing all of the design herself. It is bright and cheery, but very elegant as well.
Axenia wants you to know that her dishes are all made from scratch and made to order; most other establishments in Las Vegas do not have freshly prepared foods. She wants her customers to feel like they are in someone’s home, to be super comfortable, and come back for more at Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar.
Next time you’re in Las Vegas and want to experience a traditional Italian restaurant where the locals go, that is away from the craziness of the strip, try Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar. Like me, you will be very glad you did.
Redlands is such a gorgeous place to visit or to live. The people, the scenery, it’s all so picturesque and pretty. Since I have been coming now for the last 3 years, I have seen many changes, but one thing is for certain: there is an ever-growing culinary scene happening here, and I feel like it is just taking hold. With Uncorked on State, you have a real hidden gem for wine aficionados; people who want to educate themselves in all things wine, or folks that just want a lovely meal paired with good wine, it’s all encompassing.
Uncorked on State has been open for over 2 years and has so many repeat customers, some of the regulars have standing dates at Uncorked on State. Owners Suzanne and Jake Doll really make their patrons feel very special. They take their time discussing all of their wonderful food and wine options. When you walk in, you get a unique vibe, one that elevates your spirit. They have wonderful world music playing, which also enhances the experience. Whether you’re on your own or on a date, or with a group of co-workers, you too will be super happy you walked in their door.
Here’s What I Tried:
Starters:
6 oz. Baked Brie and Crostini, with house-made mixed berry jam baked into the brie, served with crostini and roasted baby zucchini. This is a very decadent choice for a starter, but you will enjoy every bite.
Black Garlic Caesar Salad, with croutons, parmesan crisps, and house-made black garlic Caesar dressing. This salad is so different from your typical Caeser salad. The croutons are homemade, with this special dressing and the parmesan crisps, it’s just a symphony of delight in your mouth.
Pan Seared Scallops, with corn puree, fried onions, and pomegranate. The corn puree is light and creamy, with the sweet nuances of the pomegranate and onions, all with these out-of-this-world scallops, a must-try.
Mains:
Spring Vegetable Tagliatelle with a creamy Mornay sauce, served on house-made pasta, seasonal veggies, and scallops. I just love homemade pasta, and this one does not disappoint. The sauce is rich, and the scallops just pop in your mouth. What a treat! You can have your choice of other proteins if you desire, but I love scallops.
9oz. Cape Grim Filet Mignon, with garlic-infused pommes puree and roasted rainbow carrots. The filet is cooked to perfection, with the mashed potatoes and the sauce, it’s a real winner.
Dessert:
Lemon-Thyme Olive Oil Pound Cake. This is rich, buttery pound cake, infused with thyme, served with lavender honey mascarpone. This is a must try, it’s so complex yet delicate, and the cake itself is moist and buttery, just over the top fantastic.
Wines I Tried:
Whites:
Barnett Vineyards, Chardonnay, 2022, Napa Valley, CA. From the Sangiacomo Vineyard, this wine is a Carneros Chardonnay, known for its rich, layered flavors and aging potential. It paired so great with both scallop dishes. It is a bold fruit, forward-wine, not quite as buttery and creamy as most Chardonnays, but it paired great with most of my dishes.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer, Chardonnay, 2022, Napa Valley, CA. This wine got 92 Points from Wine Advocate: Robert Parker. It boasts seductive scents of ripe apricots, honeydew melon, apple pie, and poached pears with hints of cedar, honey toast, and crushed cashews. This wine for me was a wonderful accompaniment with the baked brie; it just added to the overall lush flavors of the cheese and the berries.
Rombauer, Chardonnay, Carneros, 2023, Sonoma, CA. One of my go-to Chardonnays forever, with its ripe fruit intensity, hints of vanilla oak, a creamy midpalate, and a buttery finish, all supported by bright acidity, tying it all together. The creamy, oak, and vanilla flavors went so well with the Caesar salad, and of course, the scallops.
des Deux Roches, White Burgundy, 2022, Burgundy, FR. Those who read my reviews know that I am a huge fan of California wines, but hey, you’ve got to step outside your comfort zone sometimes. This wine has most of the elements of a French White Burgundy, with a bit of herbs and grassy flavors, it enhanced the pasta and scallop dish. It just fills your palate with nice aromas and textures that you don’t get from a California Chardonnay.
Red’s:
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs, Red Blend, 2022, Dry Creek Valley, CA. This wine was filled with rich, cheery flavors, and it was just the perfect pairing with the filet. It captures all the nuances in the steak and the sauce, but also blends well with the overall taste and flavors, such perfection.
Klinker Brick Old Ghost, Zindandel, 2021, Lodi, CA. What a treat to try a new Zinfandel that I have never tasted before. This wine has some strong characteristics, more so than most Zins. It’s got bold tobacco flavors coupled with all of the cherry nuances that most Zinfandels have. It was another great pairing with the filet. I will put this down on my list to visit when I am wine tasting in Lodi.
The décor is so fancy, very elegant, but also very functional. Suzanne did most of the designing; she had some help, but really had her own ideas in mind of how she wanted Uncorked on State to look and feel. She accomplished a beautiful, friendly atmosphere, that really makes you want to come back for more. Suzanne and her husband, Jake, decided to retire and move away from Brentwood in Los Angeles to a more peaceful life in Redlands. They saw a for-rent sign of a well-known wine shop and decided to try their hand at the culinary business. Suzanne’s love of wine and her knowledge catapulted her dream into a very successful restaurant. She attended a Sommelier school at WSET, outside the UK, which is an online education process that gets you certified. Now she’s pairing all of the wines with delightful chef-inspired dishes. You just can’t go wrong. You can take her suggestions on with what to pair or go on your own whims. Whatever you choose, you will be overwhelmed with goodness and enjoyment. Suzanne is very philanthropic; she helps with many local charities and loves to give back to her community.
Their very young Head Chef – Samantha Flores, known as Sam, is just so creative, she is one of Redlands’ most exciting new culinary talents. Her combination of ingredients and delightful presentation is reason enough to come in and try Uncorked on State, but if you need more convincing Suzanne’s got it all covered. Suzanne says, “I want my customers to come to Uncorked on State and relax, reset, and be a well-received guest in our establishment. Enjoy a much-deserved glass of perfect wine, with superb ambiance, great service, and of course our very elegant menu, but you will see that you can also come casual, it’s all about comfort here at Uncorked on State.”
What a joyous, fun romp through our beloved Beatle Sgt. Pepper and beyond. The costumes, the choreography, the amazing dancers, all a wonderful experience. Mark Moriis has done it again, just genius.
About Pepperland:
Pepperland is a Mark Morris Dance Group production in association with American Dance Festival, Durham, North Carolina; BAM, Brooklyn, New York; Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity with the Sony Centre, Toronto, Canada; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley, California; Celebrity Series of Boston, Massachusetts; The City of Liverpool, England, U.K.; Dance Consortium UK; Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven, Connecticut; The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; La Jolla Music Society, La Jolla, California; Meyer Sound, Berkeley, California; Seattle Theatre Group, Seattle, Washington; Segerstrom Center for The Arts, Costa Mesa, California; UCSB Arts & Lectures, Santa Barbara, California; and White Bird, Portland, Oregon.
Pepperland is supported in part by Friends of MMDG, the Howard Gilman Foundation, PARC Foundation, and New Music USA. Music commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. The premiere engagement was supported by funding from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation.
“Pepperland” is choreographer, Mark Morris’ unique tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a joyous romp through the Beatles’ beloved, groundbreaking concept album – a playful and often poignant production bursting with energy and buoyant creativity, brightly colored costumes, and spectacular ensemble numbers.
Created at the request of the City of Liverpool to kick off its Sgt. Pepper at 50 Festival in May 2017, the evening-length work features an original score by composer Ethan Iverson interspersing arrangements of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “With a Little Help From My Friends”, “A Day in the Life”, “When I’m Sixty-Four”, “Within You Without You”, and “Penny Lane” with six original Pepper-inspired pieces intended especially for Mark Morris’ profound understanding of classical forms: Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio, and the blues.
An unprecedented chamber music ensemble of voice, theremin, soprano sax, trombone, two keyboards, and percussion teases out and elaborates on “Sgt. Pepper’s” non-rock and roll influences. This colorful new piece resounds with the ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity for which the company is known.
The work also playfully evokes multiple aspects of the era, with colorful, mod-inspired costumes by Elizabeth Kurtzman, scenic design by Johan Henckens, and lighting design by Nick Kolin.
Mark Morris said, “The music for ‘Pepperland’, arranged and extrapolated from tracks on The Beatles, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is important to me because of the enormous impact the album had on popular culture at large. ‘Beatlemania’ in the UK and particularly in the US was a pivotal event in the turbulent social/political semi-revolution of the late 1960s.”
He continued, “As a very young person, I was dazzled and confused by the music. I loved it and I loved The Beatles. Then, over the years, I lost touch and lost interest partly because of overexposure. When I was approached to participate in the commemorative project in Liverpool, I re-examined the recording and found so much of interest in it that I eagerly took on the big project of turning these very familiar songs into an evening length music and dance show. ‘Pepperland’ is the exciting result.”
Ethan Iverson said, “The ‘Pepperland’ score is a suite of chamber music performed by some of New York City’s finest iconoclasts. Half the piece is arrangements of the songs we all know, half is brand new danceable pieces responding to the strong undercurrent of classical music present on the original album.”
Renowned choreographer Mark Morris continued to explore the relationship between movement and music with “Pepperland,” which pays homage to The Beatles’ 1967 trailblazing album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Often hailed as the first-ever “art rock” album, the Beatles’ groundbreaking work pushed the recording-studio technology of the late 1960s to the limit and is widely regarded as the best rock n’ roll album in history.
Music: Original songs by The Beatles, arrangement by Ethan Iverson, Original compositions by Ethan Iverson, Choreography: Mark Morris, Set Design: Johan Henckens, Costume Design: Elizabeth Kurtzman, and Lighting Design: Nick Kolin.
Music: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magna Carta, With a Little Help from My Friends, Adagio, When I’m Sixty-Four, Allegro, Within You Without You, Scherzo, Wilbur Scoville, Penny Lane, A Day in the Life, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Band: Clinton Curtis, vocals; Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Rob Schwimmer, theremin; Ethan Iverson, piano; Chris McCarthy, keyboard; and Vinnie Sperrazza, percussion.
Mica Bernas, Karlie Budge, Zack Gonder, Kyle Halford, Colin Heininger, Sarah Hillmon, Courtney Lopes, Dallas McMurray, Alex Meeth, Sloan Pearson, Brandon Randolph, Robert Rubama, Christina Sahaida, Joslin Vezeau, Noah Vinson
Original music by The Beatles. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission from Sony Music Publishing. “A Day In The Life”, “Penny Lane”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “When I’m Sixty Four”, “With A Little Help From My Friends” Courtesy of MPL Communications, Inc. (ASCAP)
Mark Swed said in the Los Angeles Times, “… “Pepperland” is “Sgt. Pepper” at 50, looking back with irresistible fondness — what fun it all was — but also with wisdom, knowing that it was real and was something to get hung about. Every single move in the dance is, while being utterly musical, entirely unexpected.”
Sarah L. Kaufman said in the Washington Post, “It is, first and foremost, an exuberant celebration of the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. It rolls at you with wave upon wave of creative wonders and sheer delight and it is utterly mood-improving. It could possibly change the way you look at the world. The overarching sense is that you’re hearing and viewing this well-known album through a kaleidoscope. Chances are you will hate to see it end.”
Judith Mackrell said in The Guardian, “Visually, the work is on a cusp between Carnaby Street and Woodstock. Its 15 dancers are dressed in neon-bright suits and miniskirts, and its movement is predicated on a neat, strutting language of disco and jive … Pepperland feels like a gorgeously entertaining and witty homage to its source. It also has just the right amount of sentiment. When Morris allows his dancers to stand and sing quietly along with, ‘A Day in the Life,’ he shifts the mood to one of pure, tearful nostalgia. Suddenly we’re transported back to that moment 50 years ago.”
Rachael Goldberg in Broadway World said, “a bright, vivid performance that’s just edging into trippy … the synchronized group dances are only outdone by the staggered dances, which show off the company members’ tremendous skill. The fact that they make complicated choreography look so simple and effortless is a testament to their abilities, as the entire performance is demandingly fast and complex. And yet, it’s impossible to doubt that each member is clearly having the time of their lives on that stage. A crowd-pleasing evening of dance and color.”
About Mark Morris:
Mark Morris, praised as “the most successful and influential choreographer alive and indisputably the most musical” (The New York Times), was born on August 29, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, where he studied with Verla Flowers and Perry Brunson. In the early years of his career, he performed with the companies of Lar Lubovitch, Hannah Kahn, Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble. He formed the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) in 1980 and has since created over 150 works for the company. From 1988 to 1991, he was Director of Dance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, the national opera house of Belgium. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Morris is also an acclaimed ballet choreographer, with twenty-two works commissioned by ballet companies worldwide.
Noted for his musicality, Morris has been described as “undeviating in his devotion to music” (The New Yorker). He began conducting performances for MMDG in 2006 and has since conducted at Tanglewood Music Center, Lincoln Center, and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). In 2013, he served as Music Director for the Ojai Music Festival. Morris also works extensively in opera, directing and choreographing productions for The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, English National Opera, and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, among others.
He was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 1991 and has received eleven honorary doctorates to date. He has taught at the University of Washington, Princeton University, and Tanglewood Music Center.
He is the subject of a biography, Mark Morris, by Joan Acocella (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), and Marlowe & Company published a volume of photographs and critical essays entitled Mark Morris’ L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: A Celebration. Mark Morris: Musician-Choreographer, by musicologist Stephanie Jordan, was released in 2015. Morris’s memoir, Out Loud, co-written with Wesley Stace, was published in paperback by Penguin Press in October 2021.
A Doris Duke Artist, Morris is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.He has received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society, the Benjamin Franklin Laureate Prize for Creativity, the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award, the Cal Performances Award of Distinction in the Performing Arts, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Gift of Music Award, and the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award. In 2015, Morris was inducted into the Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Morris opened the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2001 to provide a home for his company, subsidized rental space for local artists, community education programs for children and seniors, and a school offering dance classes to students of all ages and levels of experience with and without disabilities.
About Ethan Iverson:
Pianist, composer, and writer Ethan Iverson (arranger, piano) first came to international prominence as a founding member of The Bad Plus, a game-changing collective with Reid Anderson and David King. The New York Times called TBP “Better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60’s jazz and indie rock.” During his 17-year tenure, TBP performed in venues as diverse as the Village Vanguard, Carnegie Hall, and Bonnaroo; collaborated with Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, and the Mark Morris Dance Group; and created a faithful arrangement of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and a radical reinvention of Ornette Coleman’s Science Fiction.
Since leaving TBP, Iverson has kept busy. In 2017, he co-curated a major centennial celebration of Thelonious Monk at Duke University and premiered the evening-length Pepperland with the Mark Morris Dance Group. In 2018, he premiered an original piano concerto with the American Composers Orchestra and released a duo album of new compositions with Mark Turner on ECM. In 2019, he released Common Practice with Tom Harrell on ECM, standards tracked live at the Village Vanguard. In 2021, he released the big band work Bud Powell in the 21st Century and was featured on the March cover of DownBeat.
In 2022, he released Every Note is True on Blue Note records, an album of original music with Larry Grenadier and Jack DeJohnette. Iverson has also been in the critically-acclaimed Billy Hart quartet for well over a decade and occasionally performs with elder statesmen like Albert “Tootie” Heath or Ron Carter or collaborates with noted classical musicians like Miranda Cuckson and Mark Padmore.
For almost 20 years, Iverson’s website Do the Math has been a repository of musician-to-musician interviews and analysis. Time Out New York selected Iverson as one of 25 essential New York jazz icons: “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition—the most admirable sort of artist-scholar.” Iverson has also published articles about music in The New Yorker, NPR, The Nation, and JazzTimes.
About the Mark Morris Dance Group and MMDG Music Ensemble:
The Mark Morris Dance Group was formed in 1980 and gave its first performance that year in New York City. The company’s touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities in the United States and around the world, and in 1986 it made its first national television program for the PBS series Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG was invited to become the national dance company of Belgium and spent three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
The Dance Group returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Based in Brooklyn, New York, MMDG maintains strong ties to presenters in several cities around the world, most notably to its West Coast home, Cal Performances in Berkeley, California, and its Midwest home, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MMDG also appears regularly in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Fairfax. In New York, the company has performed at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, regularly performs at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’s Mostly Mozart and White Light Festivals, and collaborates yearly with BAM on performances and master classes.
From the company’s many London seasons, it has received two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Critics’ Circle Dance Award for Best Foreign Dance Company. Reflecting Morris’s commitment to live music, the Dance Group has featured live musicians in every performance since the formation of the MMDG Music Ensemble in 1996.
MMDG regularly collaborates with renowned musicians, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, and jazz trio The Bad Plus, as well as leading orchestras and opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, and the London Symphony Orchestra. MMDG frequently works with distinguished artists and designers, including painters Robert Bordo and the late Howard Hodgkin, set designers Adrianne Lobel and Allen Moyer, costume designers Martin Pakledinaz and Isaac Mizrahi, and many others. MMDG’s film and television projects include Dido and Aeneas, The Hard Nut, Falling Down Stairs, two documentaries for the U.K.’s South Bank Show, and PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center.
In 2015, Morris’s signature work L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed, il Moderato, had its national television premiere on PBS’s Great Performances. While on tour, the Dance Group partners with local cultural institutions and community organizations to present arts and humanities-based activities for people of all ages and abilities.
The MMDG Music Ensemble, formed in 1996, is integral to the Dance Group. “With the dancers come the musicians…and what a difference it makes” (Classical Voice of North Carolina). The Ensemble’s repertoire ranges from 17th and 18th century works by John Wilson and Henry Purcell to more recent scores by Ethan Iverson, Lou Harrison, and Henry Cowell. The musicians also participate in the Dance Group’s educational and community programming at home and on tour. The Music Ensemble is led by Colin Fowler, who began to collaborate with MMDG in 2005 during the creation of Mozart Dances.
About Wallis Center for the Performing Arts:
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) was lauded by Culture Vulture: “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who was The Wallis’ 2015/2016 Season Artistic Advisor, described the venue as “one of the best in the country, allowing for an unparalleled intimacy between [the artist] and the audience.”
Since its doors opened in 2013, The Wallis, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international performers share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. Distinguished by eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented nearly 500 theater, dance, music, film, cabaret, comedy, performance arts, and family entertainment programs, boasting nominations for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, as well as six architectural awards.
The breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, was named after philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, whose original $25-million-dollar donation was instrumental in transforming the beloved former 1934 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) into an arts complex. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF: architects), the restored building features one of two sets of eight towering original WPA frescos, these by Charles Kassler, remaining in the entire California Federal Building system. The Wallis’ lobby, now known as Jim and Eleanor Randall Grand Hall, serves as the theater’s dramatic yet welcoming entryway to the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater; the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater; an inviting open-air plaza for family, community and other performances; and GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, where learning opportunities for all ages and backgrounds abound. Together, these elements embrace both the region’s history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for Los Angeles area visitors and residents alike.
Daphna Nazarian is Chair of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and Robert van Leer is its Executive Director and CEO.
This show is so iconic, to witness this New North American Tour of the Iconic Tony Award-winning musical at The Dolby Theatre ∙ May 7 – May 18, 2025 – is astounding.Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in this new production just as you remember it and just when we need it most. This celebration of family, optimism, and the American spirit remains the ultimate cure for all the hard
knocks life throws your way.Some highlighted cast members for me were Annie-Hazel Vogel, Miss Hannigan – Stefanie Londino, Oliver Warbucks – Christopher Swan. Sandy – Kevin. All of the cast members are fantastic, but these 4 had my undivided attention. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as, “One of the best family
musicals ever penned!”, ANNIE features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977
Tony Awards® for their work. The original production of ANNIE had its world
premiere on Aug 10, 1976, at the Goodspeed Opera House (Michael J. Price,
Executive Director) and opened on Broadway on April 21, 1977, at the Alvin
Theatre (Neil Simon theatre). It went on to win the New York Drama Critics
Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical,
the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album, and seven Tony Awards, including Best
Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin
Charnin). It closed on Broadway after playing 2,377 performances.ANNIE was revived on Broadway in 1997 and again in 2014.
It has been made into a film three times (1982, 1999, 2014) and was most
recently featured as a live television production on NBC. The show remains one
of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever; and has been performed in 28
languages, and running around the world for about 45 years. THOMAS MEEHAN (Book) is a three-time Tony Award winning
librettist for the Broadway musicals Annie, 1977; The Producers, 2001
(co-written with Mel Brooks); and Hairspray, 2003 (co-written with Mark
O’Donnell). He collaborated on many Broadway musicalsincluding I Remember Mama;
Ain’t Broadway Grand; Bombay Dreams (with Meera Syal); Cry Baby (with Mark
O’Donnell); Young Frankenstein (with Mel Brooks); Elf, The Musical (with Bob
Martin); Chaplin (with Christopher Curtis); Rocky; the upcoming Dave, The Musical
(with Nell Benjamin); and the off-Broadway musicals, Annie Warbucks; Death
Takes a Holiday (with Peter Stone) and the upcoming The Lady Eve (with Maury
Yeston). He was a long-time contributor of humor pieces to The New Yorker,
which were published in a collection entitled Yma, Ava, Yma, Abba, Yma, Oona,
Yma, Ida, Yma Aga… and Others, by Simon and Schuster. Mr. Meehan, in
collaboration with the poet J.D. McClatchy, co-authored the libretto of the
opera 1984, composed by Lorin Maazel, first performed at London’s Royal Opera
House at Covent Garden in 2005. He was an Emmy Award-winning writer of
television comedy and a collaborator on screenplays, including Mel Brooks’
Spaceballs, To Be or Not To Be, The Producers, and One Magic Christmas. He was a
member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.MARTIN CHARNIN (Lyrics). Martin’s career in the
entertainment industry began in 1957 when he created the role of Big Deal (one
of Jerome Robbins’ authentic juvenile delinquents) in the original company of
West Side Story. He played the role for exactly 1,000 performances. Since then,
he has been involved in over 140 theatrical, television, film, and night club
productions as a director, producer, composer, or lyricist. He is one of the
dozen people who have won Emmys, Tonys, and Grammys, and the Peabody Award for
Broadcasting. Annie, which came to Broadway in 1977, originally ran for 2,377
performances and has been revived there three times. He directed Annie 19
times (after directing the original production in New York), in London,
Montreal, Amsterdam, and Melbourne, as well as Annie’s 14 national U.S.
companies. He collaborated with Charles Strouse, Vernon Duke, Marvin Hamlisch,
Mary Rodgers, and twice with Richard Rodgers on I Remember Mama and Two by Two.
He wrote for, or directed, Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Jack Lemmon,
Ann-Margaret, Jack Benny, Anne Bancroft, Betty Hutton, Sutton Foster, Sarah
Jessica Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bebe Neuwirth, Barbra Streisand, Johnny
Mathis, Larry Kert, Chita Rivera, Jane Lynch, Tony Bennett, Jason Alexander,
and Jay-Z, among countless others, and for his wife, Shelly Burch (who
originated a leading role in the original company of Nine). Most recently,
“Tomorrow” from Annie became one of the 100 most-performed musical numbers in
the last century. CHARLES STROUSE (Music). A graduate of New York’s P.S. 87,
Townsend Harris H.S., and the Eastman School of Music, Charles has studied
composition with Aaron Copland, Arthur Berger, and David Diamond in the US and
Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Charles has composed copious chamber music, two piano
concertos, a string quartet, and two operas. After which, being broke like most
composers, he was a rehearsal pianist and dance arranger for many shows, played
in bar rooms, ballet classes, at weddings, and strip joints (a particular boon
for one who was to write the music for the film The Night They Raided
Minsky’s). One morning in 1960, he awoke to find he had written (with Lee Adams
and Mike Stewart) Bye Bye Birdie (Tony Award), which is still among the most
performed musicals in America, followed by Golden Boy with Sammy Davis, Jr.
(Tony Nomination). Then came, Applause (Tony Award), It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane,
It’s Superman, Rags (Tony Nomination), and Annie (Tony Award). In between, there
have been scores for movies, including Bonnie and Clyde and All Dogs Go to
Heaven. Throughout his career, Charles has received the Richard Rodgers, Oscar
Hammerstein, Frederick Lowe, and the Leonard Bernstein Awards for musical
achievement. He is married to director/choreographer Barbara Siman and is the
father of Benjamin (attorney, author, composer), Nicholas (psychotherapist),
Victoria (screenwriter), and William (also a screenwriter).JENN THOMPSON (Director) is thrilled to be helming the
National Tour of Annie after having appeared as Pepper in the original Broadway
run. Recent credits include a World-Premiere musical about another indomitable
red-headed orphan; Anne of Green Gables – A New Musical at Goodspeed Opera
House, the very same theatre that premiered Annie more than 45 years ago. Other
shows at Goodspeed include: Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma! And The Music Man. Other
recent credits include Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Musical at Children’s Theatre
Company in association with Kevin McCollum and Buena Vista Theatrical as well
as Chains for Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre, where Jenn’s 2016 production of
Women Without Men garnered both Lortel and Off-Broadway Alliance Award
nominations for Outstanding Revival as well as 5 Drama Desk Award nominations
including Outstanding Director and Revival. In addition to extensive
productions in NYC, Jenn’s work has been seen at theaters across the country,
including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Denver Center, Hartford Stage,
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Portland Stage, City Theatre, Theaterworks
Hartford, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and many more. Jenn is married to
actor Stephen Kunken; they live in Brooklyn, NY, with their daughter Naomi. This
is for Martin, Charles, Tom, and Peter. jennthompsondirector.comPATRICIA WILCOX (Choreographer). Broadway: Motown the
Musical (Astaire Award and the NAACP Award for Best Choreography), and A Night
with Janis Joplin. Off-Broadway/National: Little Shop of Horrors, An Officer
and a Gentleman, Children’s Letters to God, Bowfire, Blues in the Night (NAACP
Nomination), Seussical. Regional: A Swell Party (The Kennedy Center), The
Secret Garden (DCPA), The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie (Goodspeed Opera
House-Connecticut Critics Circle Award), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (CTC), Peter and
the Starcatcher (Pioneer), Camelot (NSMT), Jesus Christ Superstar (Sacramento
Music), Hair (ATC), Guys and Dolls (Paper Mill). Winter Olympics: Choreography
for Ice Dancing. PattiWilcox.com WILSON CHIN (Scenic Design). Broadway and Off-Broadway: Pass Over (Broadway, Lortel Award nomination), Next Fall (Broadway), Cost of Living (Manhattan Theatre Club), A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet (DR2), Space Dogs (MCC), The Thanksgiving Play (Playwrights Horizons). With director Jenn Thompson: The Secret Garden (Denver Center Theatre), Oklahoma!, and Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed Musicals). Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Eine Florentinische Tragödie/Gianni Schicchi (Canadian Opera, Dora Award). Film/television: Pass Over (dir. Spike Lee), “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO), “Blindspot” (NBC). Eastern Region Board member.What a great show, filled with funny bits, great songs, wonderful talent, everything you would want from a Broadway Musical, run don’t walk to see ANNIE.
*Note: Some content was taken off of their website.
I have done reviews now at many of the new eateries at Redlands Public Market. But what I love about Redlands Natural Market is how I was treated. Owner Jim treated me like a queen; he made sure I knew about all the products and was able to enjoy some nice menu items. I really appreciate all his knowledge about the natural food business and how products affect your well-being and health. Jim is a wealth of knowledge; he takes pride in his products and letting people know why they should try them. But besides all that, the food was remarkable and vegan. Deli meats were perfect. Most of the time, I couldn’t tell that they were plant-based. When I was done with my tasting, I didn’t feel full and bloated; I felt light and healthy. This is what everyone should want to feel like after they’ve eaten a big lunch. Jim takes pride in helping others attain their health goals. This type of market should be in every food court across America, because fast food has become such a big part of American life, but as we know, fast food is unhealthy. There are lots of food stalls at Redlands Public Market that have upscale food choices as well as fried foods. It really depends on what you are hankering for, but for me, the obvious choice would be to come here and get one of their delicious deli sandwiches with plant-based meat products – how could you go wrong?
Here’s what I tried
Drinks:
Pop & Bottle Golden Chai Tea Almond Tea, very delicious, not too sweet, just incredibly satisfying, a great beverage.
Wildwonder’s Pineapple Paradise, effervescent fruit-forward flavors, very refreshing.
Just Iced Tea, I would order this every time, it’s just that good.
Snack:
Pan’s Mushroom Jerky – Teriyaki, a good alternative to meat jerky, sweet and salty – it hits the spot.
Sofia’s Corn Chip totopos, the best corn chips ever. Go there just to buy these to take them home!
Salads:
Chicken Caesar Salad, with fresh romaine, Kelly’s Croutons, in-house made Caesar dressing, and Scratch House shaved Parmesan. It’s all plant-based, vegan, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and gluten-free. Sandwich:
BBQ Brisket Sandwich, with plant-based beef by Chunk Foods, Redlands hot sauce’s cherry chipotle BBQ sauce, smoked plant-based gouda, and banana peppers. This would be my favorite sandwich; it’s sweet and tender, with fall-off-the-bone plant-based brisket, and it’s just fantastic.
Wrap:
Chicken Wrap, with blackened chicken by Beleaf, plant-based mozzarella, tomato, plant-based romaine shreds, and a Caesar dressing. A very hearty wrap, with nice texture and flavor, and it keeps you full but not uncomfortable.
Flatbread:
Wild Mushroom flatbread, a blend of lion’s mane, blue oyster, and pink mushrooms with plant-based mozzarella, and Italian herbs. Served on Redlands Natural Market unique pinsarella pinsa crust. I just loved this menu item; it is a must-try.
Dessert:
Gelatys, Gelato Pop, Coconut Breeze. At only at 170 Calories, it’s a great, ending to my marvelous meal.
Nats Rawline, Raw Cakes Lime & Mango GF DF Vegan. This is a wonderful cake, with nice fruit flavors, what a treat.
Their location is right when you walk in the front door, and they do a lot of product tastings right there when you enter the market. The foot traffic is just amazing, and anyone who passes by is curious and wants to check Redlands Natural Market out. So, getting the word out about alternative healthy eating is easy. The combination of plant-based products and creative menu items would make any non-believer very happy. Once I was done with my tasting I felt rejuvenated and content. Sometimes, from a meat menu, you feel too full and not as healthy. This food guarantees you to have a happy, gratified stomach. Really, it’s so worth a try. There are many new places to try, but at Redlands Natural Market, you can get a perfectly satisfying meal and or products to take home, and feel like you have done a good thing for yourself and your overall health.
