MiceAge

-
-
Disney Tickets
Universal Studios Tickets
Sea World Tickets

OrlandoFunTickets.com






Hello Dear Readers! This week Pressing Matters is all about theatre, art, merchandise, and food, here are our subjects: • The Hollywood Fringe Festival • That master of miniatures, Olszewski, is making an appearance at Disneyland • Why are all the cool things just for the kiddies?  Or ... Toy Story Shoes every Toy Story-lovin’ kiddy needs • The Vader Project • Food trucks show up at NELA • APs are you ready for World of Color? Got your special glasses? Your glow merchandise? • Preview of Disneyland 55th Merchandise to be on the lookout for  • It’s not far from Disneyland, seriously, you need to check this place out – a recipe from my new favorite restaurant.

I love theatre and I especially love it when I can support the smaller theatres that are usually staffed by hard-working artists doing what they love. Have you ever heard of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival? A friend has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of times and hearing his tale of the experience, well, it sounded like it was a fabulous event to go to. For those who aren’t familiar with the Fringe Festival, here’s the scoop:

The Fringe concept was incubated in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1947, eight performance groups appeared uninvited on the “fringes” of the exclusive Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has since grown into the largest arts festival in the world with hundreds of artists, thousands of performances, and millions of patrons every summer. It annually grosses over $100 million for the local economy and remains the biggest tourist draw in the UK.

So now, we have a Hollywood Fringe Festival: an annual celebration of the emerging arts. Environments for the Fringe include both traditional and unorthodox venues; fully equipped theatres, street corners, clubs, bars, and places unexpected. Performances are self-produced by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers. In the spirit of most Fringes, participation is open and uncensored. A couple of MiceChatters are also Fringers (Is that a word? No? It is now). Head on out to the upcoming Hollywood Fringe Festival and give them some support:

Defending Against Eros:  Three One Act Plays -- Inspired by Bouguereau’s painting, “A Young Girl Defending Herself Against Eros,” three playwrights with completely different styles present one acts about a repressed cop forced to acknowledge denied love, secretive Gods finding their humanity, and co-dependency addicts discovering their faults. This evening of one acts is a part of the first ever Hollywood Fringe Festival and is produced, and partly directed, by MiceChat's very own MaryAnn in Wndrlnd! It includes plays written by MiceChat's ShockerBatman and AnimationStudio. 

Tickets are $10 and the show takes place June 17-19 at 7 PM, and June 20 at 1 PM at East Theater in Hollywood, CA. For more information visit this link.


I’ve never met anyone who isn’t crazy about the work of artist Robert Olszewski. Even if you don’t collect his pieces, I’m pretty sure you’ll admit it’s amazing stuff. Mr. Olszewski will be making an appearance at Disneyland this coming Saturday, June 12th to say hi to his fans and sign his newest creations:

Olszewski Studios is pleased to announce Disney Artist and Miniaturist Robert Olszewski will be signing his latest art product releases at Disneyland Resort's Disneyana Shop on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 9 AM to 11 AM. The three new releases include a Main Street, U.S.A. Collection piece, and two new Gallery of Light pieces. 

For more information visit this link.


You know ... it seems to me that the kiddies are the ones who get to bounce in the bounce houses and have cool t-shirts and stuff and we adults get, what... mortgages? Once again, there’s something new and it’s offered only in kiddy sizes. Get these and your little one will be stylin’ when you take him or her to see Toy Story 3:

Toy Story 3 Woody Shoes by Adidas from the Adidas Toy Story 3 Collection -- Suede leather is embossed with our hero, and the denim-lined collar folds down for a cool alternate look in a durable design tough enough for today's kids. $55 in kid size $40 in toddler size (style varies slightly)

They’re pricey, but dang, they’re cute! Why don’t they make these in adult sizes? For more information visit this link.


We’ve got another Star Wars item this week and I expect you to properly hum along as you did last week for those cookie cutters, because we’re going to talk about Lord Vader again.

Have you heard of The Vader Project? I’m fascinated by it:

The Vader Project features 100 of the best underground artists and designers working today. For this unique project, each artist customized a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet featured in the STAR WARS films. Some of the artists involved with the project include Shag (below, right), Paul Frank, and Simone Legno from Tokidoki (below, left).

Ultimately, the Vader helmets will make their way to Philadelphia where they will then be auctioned off, but before that happens you can see them right here in LA:

The Los Angeles Preview Exhibition is free to the public with an opening reception on June 11 from 6-10pm. The show will also feature a 200-plus page, full-color, limited edition catalog that is being produced for the auction and is available for pre-order now. On June 12, the space will present a catalog signing event with over 20 participating artists in attendance beginning at 2pm on June 12. The Los Angeles Preview Exhibition will be open June 12-20 daily from Noon to 6pm.

For information on location of the exhibit and how to purchase the catalog visit: http://thevaderproject.com/ or have a look at their Facebook page.


Saturday, June 12th, see some art and try out some food when NELA, Northeast Los Angeles Arts Association, celebrates Second Saturday Gallery Night. The local galleries will throw open their doors to visitors and the gourmet food trucks will roll up to feed everyone:

NELA Art, Second Saturday Gallery Night: A night of fun, food and art :) Come out and enjoy some of LA's best and up and coming food trucks who've paired with some of the best galleries in Los Angeles! The NELA community is close to Pasadena, Glendale, DTLA, Silverlake, SFV, Hollywood and the San Gabriel Valley :) We hope to see you here in our very welcoming community

For details about specific times, galleries, & food trucks, visit the Trucks Roll On NELA Facebook page.


The Disneyland merchandise folks are rolling out whole line of Summer Nightastic! goodies for you so you can ‘glow like never before’ Now, I’m not sure I want to glow like never before but hey, maybe you do. There’s new glow “stuff” -pins, and Summer Nightastic tees. Starting June 11 and continuing through June 17th (or while supplies last), Annual Passholders will receive a pair of paper optic-like Summer Nightastic! glasses with any single merchandise transaction at select merchandise locations.

While I don’t think that’s a real incentive to make a purchase, many moons ago I got a pair of those glasses at Walt Disney World and I have to admit, they sure can be fun, and just maybe, they’ll make that hideous Glow Fest stuff plastered all over the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in DCA look a little prettier. One can only hope. For more information on where to find everything and a list of the standard restrictions, visit this link.

And ... looking forward to July 17th ... the Merch people have released a couple of photos of items that’ll be on hand for Disneyland’s 55th. What caught my eye was the ceramic reproductions of Disneyland’s classic popcorn box (above) and beverage cups by artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily:

Join us as we celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Disneyland with a special appearance and signing by Artists Dave Avanzino, Jody Daily, Kevin Kidney and Noah. Saturday, July 17, 2010, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Disney Gallery, Main Street, U.S.A. For more information visit this link.

gástrō pùb
noun Brit. a British term for a public house
that specializes in serving high-quality food.
ORIGIN 1990s: blend of gastronomy and pub.

I’m always on the lookout for a good restaurant in the vicinity of Disneyland and a few miles to the east of the resort area in Old Towne Orange, you’ll find my new favorite eatery, Haven Gastropub. It’s a pub atmosphere with a great selection of beers and even greater food prepared by executive chef Greg Daniels. It may be part pub, and a lot of the clientel are 20-somethings, but it’s still family friendly (they make a great mac n cheese) and I see babies there every time I go.

I’m a huge fan of Haven Gastropub’s tarte tatin which is served with bleu cheese ice cream (sounds weird, but believe me, it’s heaven) and there’s also a caramelized bacon ice cream I hear is to die for. Last week I got to try the Jumbo Prawns wrapped in Applewood-smoked bacon (below). They’re served with cheddar cheese grits & a rustic tomato salsa and cilantro oil ... gourmet comfort food! Chef Daniels has shared his Jumbo Prawn recipe on Haven Gastropub’s Facebook page so you can check it out.

If you’re visiting Disneyland and looking for a restaurant that’s not the same old tourist fare, make the approximately 6 mile trip over to Orange and give Haven Gastropub a try. But be advised though ... it’s super busy nights and weekends, but it’s worth the wait. 190 South Glassell Street, Old Towne Orange, CA 92866, 714 221 0680. For more information visit: http://www.havengastropub.com/

And that should do it for this week's...

If you'd like to submit something to be considered for the column, please send it to both Sue and Al at the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] with the words "Pressing Matters" in the subject line. Due to our already extensive email loads we won't be able to acknowledge each submission, but those under consideration may get a note from us asking for more details. Representatives from the items chosen are invited to answer questions from readers at the forum linked at the end of each column.

FTC-Mandated Disclosure: As of December 2009, bloggers are required by the Federal Trade Commission to disclose payments and freebies. Sue Kruse and Al Lutz did not receive any payments, free items, or free services from any of the parties discussed in this article. They pay for their own admission to theme parks and their associated events, unless otherwise explicitly noted.


Let's Discuss!

Click on this link to discuss this article on MiceChat!

© 2010 Sue Kruse

-
CONTENTS | LEGAL  
MiceAge