BCAM Born at LACMA

The Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) is now open at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The $56-million, three-story museum is the first new art museum built in LA since the world-famous Getty Center opened in 1997. Boasting 60,000 square feet of exhibition space, BCAM is one of the largest column-free art spaces in the U.S. BCAM's opening installation includes works by such esteemed artists as Richard Serra, Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The opening of BCAM marks the completion of LACMA's first phase of a multi-year transformation to expand, upgrade and unify its six-building, 20-acre campus. Budgeted at $156 million, the first phase also features the completion of a 15,375-square-foot, glass-enclosed BP Grand Entrance Pavilion, a covered concourse linking the western and eastern sections of the one-third-mile-long campus and public artworks designed by internationally acclaimed artists. With the opening of BCAM, LACMA now leads the field in devoting a greater share of its space and programming to contemporary art than any other encyclopedic museum.
www.lacma.org

Winter Springs Summer Garden

The "Garden of Flowing Fragrance," a three-acre Chinese summer garden, is set to open Feb. 23, 2008 at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. This is the first of nine gardens - four seasonal and five special collection gardens - that will encompass the Huntington's new 12-acre Chinese Garden. The newly opened garden will be the largest classical garden outside mainland China and one of the largest of the Huntington's 14 specialized gardens. The Chinese Garden will include a lake, tea house, pavilions and bridges within a landscape of plants native to China. Elsewhere on the grounds, the Huntington Art Gallery, built in 1911 as the residence of Henry E. Huntington (1850 - 1927), is set to re-open on May 28, 2008, following a $20 million renovation. Visitors will enjoy an enhanced experience with one of the nation's finest collections of European art, as well as a more accurate portrayal of the lifestyle enjoyed by one of the early 20th century's most prominent millionaires.
www.huntington.org

New Hotels Emerge on the LA Scene

Chic new international brands and cushy redoes keep LA's hotel scene fresh, hip and world class. Downtown's Little Tokyo is now home to the Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens. Formerly the New Otani Hotel & Gardens, the hotel features 434 guest rooms and 20 suites, including three wonderfully unique Japanese suites. In January 2008, Langham Hotels purchased The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa and is expected to invest $25 million into upgrading the hotel's facilities. The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena offers more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space, along with 380 rooms, suites and cottages. In April 2008, LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels will re-open the Bel Age Hotel as The London West Hollywood, following a revamp by an award-winning team including Chef Gordon Ramsay. Also in April, the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles - Westwood will open under the management of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. It will have 268 rooms and suites, a destination spa and a high-end, chef-driven restaurant. In summer 2008, the new 300-room SLS at Beverly Hills, formerly Le Meridien at Beverly Hills, will open following a major transformation. As the first of a new luxury hotel concept by SBE Hotel Group, it will be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
www.kyotograndhotel.com
www.langhamhotels.com
www.thelondonla.com
www.thewestwoodhotel.com
www.sbeent.com

Method Fest Celebrates 10 Years

The 10th anniversary of the Method Fest independent film festival - the nation's only major film festival honoring the actor - will take place March 27 - April 3, 2008 in Calabasas. Named after a famous school of acting, this indie fest is a "discovery festival" and puts its focus on acting, looking to discover breakthrough performances by bold new actors and help launch the works of young, fresh filmmakers. "We also delight in sharing career-defining performances of established performers and in showcasing outstanding indie projects by well known directors," said Don Franken, Method Fest executive director. Tenth anniversary highlights include a celebration of the top 10 films and 10 finest performances from Method Fest films, and a first-ever Community Day showcasing community-oriented films and localized short film programs, in addition to 30 feature films, 50 shorts, filmmaking seminars, workshops, parties, Indie Music events and the Youth Outreach program. Method Fest has launched more than 85 films and brought attention to actors including Naomi Watts.
www.methodfest.com

Cultural Roundup

LA's rich history and entertainment leadership inspires a year-round agenda of world class performances, exhibits and festivals. Here's a sampling of what's next:

Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956 - 1966
Skirball Cultural Center
Feb. 8 - June 8, 2008
Featuring more than 160 artifacts, including handwritten drafts of classic songs, the exhibit chronicles the rock star/poet's first 10 years as an artistic innovator and compelling voice of social conscience. www.skirball.org

Festival of New American Musicals
March 4 - July, 2008
Among the dozens of performances and venues spread throughout Southern California, "Klemperer's New Clothes" will be at Birmingham High School (May 2-10) and the LA Master Chorale will perform "The Grapes of Wrath" at Walt Disney Concert Hall (May 18). www.lafestival.org

78th Blessing of the Animals
Olvera Street, Downtown
March 22, 2008
Festively adorned animals and their human companions gather in the historic Plaza for a procession and blessing by Roger Cardinal Mahony. Everyone is invited to bring their pets. Cultural entertainment and a petting zoo add to the festivities of this age-old, pre-Easter ceremony. www.elpueblo.lacity.org

"Keep Your Pantheon"-- World Premiere
Kirk Douglas Theatre
May 11 - June 8, 2008
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, playwright and screenplay writer David Mamet, this is a rousing comedy about the fortunes and misfortunes of an acting troupe in ancient Rome. www.centertheatregroup.org

"9 to 5" -- World Premiere
Ahmanson Theatre
Sept. 3 - Oct. 19, 2008
Starring multiple Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee, Allison Janney, the musical follows the plot of the much-loved 1980 motion picture; featuring new songs, music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. www.centertheatregroup.org

LA Opera 2008/09 Season
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Sept. 6 - June 21, 2009
LA Opera Company general director Placido Domingo has announced the 2008/09 Season, featuring seven new productions to be staged by acclaimed directors, including Woody Allen, David Cronenberg and Robert Wilson. Productions include Il Trittico, The Fly and Madama Butterfly. www.laopera.com