Darlene in the City
by Darlene Ford

Of Wine, Men and Song

Last Thursday, me, Lola & Sonya (the names were changed to protect the not so innocent) met at Duke's Hideaway for a creative professionals mixer. But we really would have swung by there anyway for the cheap eats & drinks. Ran into my friend Mayling. It was an interesting mix of the well-versed, well-dressed, and well-drinks. Me & Lola caught up over appetizers, martini's (hers) and champagne (mine, er, ours, since she helped herself to half of me Mumm's. Lola is quite the Champagne Bandit. But it takes our friend, Nadja, to tell you about that...) By the end of the evening, everyone was flitting, fluttering & flirting, doing the final cardswap, and promising to reconnect some time, some way

Friday, went to an Art & Wine Pairing Affair, sponsored by the Tilford Art Group (TAG), Just Wine & G. Garvin's. The event was hosted by Mathew St. Patrick (simply regal), Keith Hamilton Cobb (simply delicious) & Lee Gaither (simply unseen). On my way in, ran into one of the exhibit's featured artists, the talented Robin Strayhorn. One of her pictures has been calling out to me ("buy, buy, buy"), and I was there taking a third look at it.

Wine and Art...a perfect match. Heightens the experience of watching the single mingle and tingle. Which brings me to: Ran into a guy there with whom I had the two worst dates of my life. Dates so bad that it was kinda fun. You know, where you're just waiting to see, "What's next?". And just when you think it can't possibly get any worst, somehow it does? Let's call him "Three-Dollar Bill" (cuz I've never seen him spend more than $3 on a bill). I won't go into great detail. Suffice to say, Date 1 involved drinking himself to the point of 'worshiping the porcelain god' in a Thai restaurant bathroom at 4 am – actually locked himself in and would not come out! The highlight of Date 2 was him inviting me to the theater and not bringing any money... Um, that was it for me.

There were 2 other events Friday night but, since I had been up since 2:30 am, I opted to go home and sleep in preparation for...

...Saturday and another event at TAG. This time it was the exhibit's Closing Reception, and I had to take a 4th look at the Strayhorn. The atmosphere was relaxed and unstructured. Sipping 2-buck Chuck, popping grapes, nibbling on cheese...Just Folks. I didn't purchase the Strayhorn, but I carry it in my heart (sniff).

Saturday night, wearing a sarong and 2 orchids in my hair, I was ready for Harlem Nights "Tropica". Members of Blackweekly.com know that Harlem Nights is dance/mixer held the first Saturday of every month at floating venues around LA. Tropica was the theme for this end of summer blowout, where the beautiful and the bountiful presented in their tropical/summer wear. And they certainly generated some heat up in there. Next month, Harlem Nights will be held at the Wyndham Bel Age (cool). See you there.

Happy Hour at Duke's Hideaway

Recommended: Potstickers; Buffalo Wings (okay, not great, but they are only $2); Fried Oysters, when they have them [Warning: They are either plump & succulent, or big & bready, and even though they serve Buffalo Wings slathered in hot sauce, the server will tell you they don't have hot sauce for the oysters. I don't argue about this; I just bring my own hot sauce. There is also a sushi and a full menu available. Thursday – Saturday, there is a piano bar, and the chanteuse starts singing and playing around 8 pm.

This bar lounge is in the lobby of the Culver Hotel. The Munchkin actors were housed there during the filming of The Wizard of Oz, and they partied so hard that they did tens of thousands of damage. Can you imagine, Munchkins, partying like rock stars, tore that place up?!? It has since been beautifully restored, and there are cozy cushions, corners and couches. The ambiance is heightened at dusk, when the colors, details and lighting are at their best. The service is indifferent, the food inconsistent, but the price is right.

Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City 90232. T: 310-838-7963 - Happy Hour: Monday – Thursday, 5-7 pm. Half off on Well-Drinks and a special appetizer menu ($2 - $4). 2-hour Free Parking Lots located on Watseka and Canfield.

Tilford Art Group

Energy just emanates from the walls. (Is it the art? Is it that orange wall?) The TAG team is committed to making art accessible to the urban community, and have created an intimate, friendly space. The staff - most of whom are artists in their own right – offer insightful info about the works and the creative process. Each exhibit has a cohesive theme, and opening week there is a Gallery Discussion where their curator presents an overview of art movement featured.

5449 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019; T: 323-935-7397. Studio Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 12 – 7 pm; Saturday 11 am – 5 pm, or by appt. Call first, as each exhibit lasts for 1 month, and then there is 1 month before the next opening. Street and metered parking available.

Harlem Nights

Best people, best music, best vibe – Best bet. If you're not having fun, then you didn't bring it witchya.

First Saturday of every month, 8 pm – 2 am. Location varies.
www.blackweekly.com/harlemnights

Snapshots:
(That's right, I got an opinion on everything)

In Theaters:

I, Robot: I, LoveIt. Will Smith is perfect. (However, the robot is more lifelike than the female lead. I kept waiting for a Blade Runner twist and to see her wires.) For people who embrace The Future and who fear it alike!

Catwoman: Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, they're both so pretty, you want it to work. It doesn't.

She Hate Me: Hated it. Spike Lee offers something to offend everyone. Picking at the scabs of stereotypes ad nauseum, but not funny enough to be a spoof, and not smart enough to work as satire.

Fahrenheit 911: Michael Moore's cure for political apathy. Get worked up, then stand up.

Spiderman: Everything Catwoman aimed at but missed.

Troy: Not great, but great abs and great butt. Brad Pitt in various states of undress is, alone, worth the price of admission.

That's it for this month..."see you in the City"!

Archived Articles
Of Wine, Men and Song
L.A.nd of the Free?
Digital Schmooze on A Bunny Trail
Boxers or Briefs? In Praise of Both
GILT BY ASSOCIATION: Living My Life Like It's Golden!

About Darlene Ford

Darlene Ford is an award-winning Film Producer, Writer, Music Aficionado, World Traveler, and Gourmet.

The daughter of two party animals, some of my favorite memories of growing up in Detroit were of my Big Mama's Basement Parties. At least one Saturday night per month, people would flock to her pay-parties, where they could buy a home-cooked meal & drinks then ante up at the card & dominos tables. In the back room there was hi-fi music and/or a live band with dancing. (At one such party, my father wooed and won my mother.)

I always crouched down on a step peering in at the revelries -- of, often as not, sneaking all the way to the back room – then Big Mama would catch sight of me and send me off to bed. Of course, this only made me hungry to see more.