Flair Cleaners, Southern California’s leading eco-friendly dry cleaning business, announced its third annual Flair Care Package Drive, beginning May 13, in conjunction with the USO Greater Los Angeles Area.  This annual event commemorates Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day and pays tribute to America’s military.  In addition to the drive, Flair will clean or launder up to five shirts, blouses or pants for all active duty military personnel and veterans at no charge May 24 – 26, 2013. Flair is proud to provide discounts year-round to our military and complimentary American flag cleaning.

“This annual event is our family’s way of demonstrating our ongoing support to our servicemen and women and their families, a tradition that started more than 50 years ago with our complimentary flag cleaning,” said owner Gary Futterman.  “We consider it a privilege to work with our communities and our customers to collect much needed supplies for the USO through our annual Flair Care Package Drive.”

Flair Care Package Drive

The annual Flair Care Package collection event is one of the largest collection efforts in Southern California, designed specifically to support the USO’s effort to send essential supplies to soldiers stationed both here and abroad.  Residents and businesses throughout Southern California are being enlisted to donate supplies for active duty military personnel that will offer a “touch-of-home,” regardless of where they are deployed.  Donations can be brought to Flair Cleaners in Santa Monica May 13 through Memorial Day weekend. 

Everyone who donates will receive a certificate for 50% off dry cleaning as a thank you.  Items needed for the Flair Care Package drive include water and individually packaged snacks, personal hygiene supplies, music, and DVDs.  A complete list can be found on the Flair Cleaners Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/flairdrycleaners.

“USO Greater Los Angeles Area, which serves more than 110,000 military personnel and their families annually, is delighted to once again partner with Flair Cleaners in this drive for our troops,” said Executive Director Bob Kurkjian. “We receive no government funding and rely entirely on the generosity of patriotic citizens and philanthropic businesses like Flair Cleaners to help provide the ‘touch of home’ that the USO is famous for.”

About Flair Cleaners

Since 1958, Flair Cleaners, a family-owned business, has delivered on its promise to provide exceptional quality and personal service that brings new “life” into its clients’ wardrobes and home accessories.  With five locations – Burbank, Studio City, Valencia, Santa Monica, and Redondo Beach – Flair Cleaners has earned a reputation as a trusted pillar of the community through its family’s commitment to eco-friendly cleaning, contributions to education, veterans, and charity organizations, and outstanding quality that helps customers look their best.  For more information on Flair Cleaners, its community service or its green environmental practices and awards, visit www.FlairCleaners.com, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/flairdrycleaners.

About USO Greater Los Angeles

USO Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit organization, lifts the spirits of more than 110,000 troops and their families annually throughout the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. The USO is anchored by airport centers at LAX, Ontario and Palm Springs as well as outreach at military bases. USO staff and 500 dedicated volunteers provide high quality, critical support and morale boosting programs and services to troops and the wounded, ill and injured military and their families, and families of the fallen. USO Greater Los Angeles Area receives no funding from the federal government or Department of Defense, relying on the generosity of individuals, corporations, community organizations and philanthropic giving to support its work. Since 1941, the USO has been on the ground everywhere our troops are, from the far reaches of the world to our very own backyard. Learn more at www.BobHopeUSO.org.

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) in just the past five years (BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), Rogue Machine returns to kick off their 2013 season with the Los Angeles premiere of Dying City by Christopher Shinn (OBIE winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist).

A psychological showdown of wits when, unannounced, Peter shows up at his sister-in-law’s apartment. Having not spoken since the funeral of her husband, Peter’s twin brother, the two now face-off as questions surrounding the suspicious death resurface through flashbacks and old letters. A transfixing and intimate play from a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

DYING CITY opens May 18^th and runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013 (Memorial weekend performances on Thursday, May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm only. No performance on June 24^th). ROGUE MACHINE is located at 5041 Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90019.  Tickets are $30. Reservations: 855-585-5185 or at www.roguemachinetheatre.com

WHAT:                          A collection of artwork by students in 9^th – 12^th grades that includes painting, drawing ceramics, printmaking, photography and digital will be on exhibit. The end of the school year culminates with an opportunity for Archer student artists to display their work in a professional setting. Guest jurors Soshanna Wayne (Shoshanna Wayne gallery) and Patti Marcus, former director of The Gallery at The Archer School for Girls will be awarding first, second and third place awards. Additionally, there’s an award for “Fan Favorite” selected by the students who cast their votes for their favorite piece of art. The Gallery is curated by students as part of the school’s gallery management program.

Archer’s DANCE SHOWCASE will also take place on the same evening making it a vibrant night of Archer culture.

The evening’s events are proudly sponsored by Caffe Luxxe.

WHO:               Archer students, family, friends and art enthusiasts and more.

WHEN:             Opening reception, Thursday, May 23 at 6:30pm to 8:00pm. By appointment thereafter until September 1.

WHERE:           The Gallery at The Archer School for Girls: 11725 Sunset Blvd, L.A. CA 90049.

PRICE:             Admission is free and open to the public on May 23 and by appointment thereafter by contacting: info@archer.org.

About The Archer School For Girls

Founded in 1995, The Archer School for Girls is an independent school that provides a 21^st-century college preparatory program for students in grades 6 through 12 in an environment that explores and refines the ways girls learn best. Cultivating a strong sense of individuality, personal identity, independence, a sense of global engagement and an array of leadership opportunities define each student’s experience. For more information, please visit our website at www.archer.org or call 310-873-7000.

About The Gallery

The Gallery at The Archer School for Girls provides a unique opportunity to experience the work of well-known artists. In addition to viewing diverse rotating exhibits, there are panel discussions and artist dinners, which bring collectors, gallery directors, artists, and curators to campus. The Gallery was established in 2006 and has featured works by more than 30 well-known artists.

The Gallery affords Archer students the opportunity to study the organization, management, and operation of a contemporary art gallery. Students develop the skills required to curate exhibitions, conceptualize and direct the installation of artwork in the gallery space, prepare educational materials, publicize and archive information related to each exhibition, and serve as docents.

The Gallery at Archer and its Student/Docent Curator Program serve as a model for local public and private schools. Archer’s Gallery Director and students have reached out to other schools to assist them in starting their own Gallery and Student Docent/Curator Programs. The outreach includes providing the information, guidelines, and mentoring for other educators to start their own program as well as ongoing guidance on how to effectively integrate it into their curriculum. Our students have also presented at local events, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Public School Evening for Educators in the Arts.

For media relations, contact Christina McIntosh Director of Communications and Marketing at:

Tel 310-873-7025 Cmintosh@archer.org

Friday 5/24, 4-6pm

Cost: $10. Pregister at 1527 4th St. or online at: https://recenroll.smgov.net/adet.sdi?activity_id=33062 – acct. creation req’d.

Or drop in for $12 cash at the door – call (310) 458-2239 to make sure there’s room.
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Learn about photographic techniques and thematic considerations, then put your knowledge to work taking digital photographs capturing the colors, shadows, reflections and vistas where the sea meets the sky (and the shoppers hit the streets) on the bluffs of Palisades Park and streetscape of Ocean Avenue. Bring your smartphone or digital camera. Participants can upload their photos to an album at facebook.com/1450ocean for sharing and discussion. This workshop is open to all, no experience required. Smartphones are preferred for ease of upload, but digital cameras and other phones can be used (please bring a USB transfer cable).

Fabian Lewkowicz is a professional photojournalist, event, portrait and commercial photographer whose work can be seen internationally. As a freelance press photographer, his work has been published in the Santa Monica Daily Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica Observer, and the Los Angeles Times and has been picked up by the Associated Press (AP). Fabian publishes SantaMonicaCloseup.com, a photo journal of everyday life in Santa Monica that receives visitors from 205 countries worldwide and gets about 1000 hits per day. He is an active member of the community, and currently serves or has served as a board member for the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Visitors Center, Santa Monica Kiwanis Club, the Santa Monica Police Activities League, Santa Monica Family YMCA and the Santa Monica College General Advisory Board. He contributes to numerous charities and non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay, American Red Cross, Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club and many more. Fabian’s photos are currently being exhibited at Santa Monica Place in The Marker on the third floor. His work is also on display at the California Heritage Museum and the Santa Monica History Museum.

Location/Hours: 1450 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica CA 90401 in Palisades Park between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd. Open for class registrants Mon – Fri 9am – 3pm & Sat 11am – 4pm. All are welcome to visit the Camera Obscura during those hours; leave a picture ID with staff to access.

Registration

Online: create an account and view classes at recenroll.smgov.net. Sort by location to view “1450 Ocean”. Note that it can take up to 24 hours to create an account. Website takes credit card payments. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

In Person: For cash or check, advance registration accepted at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St., Santa Monica CA 90401 (just south of Broadway), between 8:30-5pm M-Th & every other Friday. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

Day-of: Call 310-458-2239 to confirm availability; plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of class with cash payment.

Refunds/Transfers: A $15.00 processing fee applies for each activity session refunded. Refunds/transfers will be issued only if requested within one business day after the first class meeting. Requests must be made in person or by mail, fax (310-899-0840), or email communityclasses@smgov.net.

Parking and Transport: Parking is free for first 1.5 hours in Parking Structure 7 (off Broadway west of 4th) or 8 (off 2nd St. north of Colorado) adjacent to the Santa Monica Place Mall. The next hour is $1 followed by $1.50 every 30 min. thereafter to a maximum of $14. There are also meters on Ocean Avenue, $2/hr maximum 2 hours. Buses that serve 1450 Ocean include Routes 1, 7 and Rapid 7, 10. Visit bigbluebus.com for more information.

General Info: For more information about classes and registration, please contact Community Classes at (310) 458-2239 or communityclasses@smgov.net. http://facebook.com/1450ocean

Beach Cities Symphony Concert Friday, May 24, 2013

The Beach Cities Symphony will play its last free concert of the season on Friday, May 24, at 8:15 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College (intersection of Crenshaw and Redondo Beach Boulevards) in Torrance. The program, conducted by Barry Brisk, features the 2013 winners of the Artists of the Future Concerto Competition sponsored by the South Bay Branch of Music Teachers Association of California. Soloists ranging in age from 11 to 17 will play music by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky. Also featured: Overure to La gazza ladra by Rossini and Slavonic Dances #s 2 & 8 by Dvorák.  Special pre-concert lecture for young audience members at 7:30 in the mezzanine lobby. Admission to pre-concert lectures at 7:30 and to the concert is free; on-campus parking is $2. Phone (310) 379-9725, 310-539-4649, or see BeachCitiesSymphony.org for more information.

The Los Angeles Children’s Theater’s magical production of the classic fairy tale Cinderella features three real sisters in the leading roles.

The lovely and talented Ashleigh, Beau and Brooke Dawson play Cinderella and her two evil stepsisters with the realism only possible with three real sisters! 

LACT’s Cinderella is filled with miracles and wonder.  This enchanting production features dazzling magical tricks, delightful dance numbers, extravagant costumes, enchanting scenic and lighting design, and memorable characters.

Cinderella shares a glorious dance with the Prince, but then is discovered as a ragamuffin in a ragged dress.  Will the Prince love her when he finds her? Was she the thief who stole the glass slipper…or the future Princess? Will the Prince even let her try on the glass slipper in such a state as she is?

Come see this delightful and “true” version of Cinderella at the Little Theater. Great for all audiences ages 3 and up.

Saturday 5/25, 2-4pm

Cost: $5. Pregister at 1527 4th St. or online at: ow.ly/jkTWg – acct. creation req’d. Or drop in for $5 cash at the door – call (310) 458-2239 to make sure there’s room.

We’ll be making hats and accessories using recycled and repurposed materials to create fabulous creations from ordinary cast off items. Please feel free to bring materials to share and/or a current craft project to hang out with too!
…
Los Angeles native and cultural renegade Marcus Kuiland-Nazario is a veteran of the Los Angeles performance scene. He is one of the founding artists of 18th Street Arts Center, Highways Performance Space and Clean Needles Now. Marcus plays on many teams in town including REDCAT, Community Arts Resources (CARS), The Library Foundation of Los Angeles and Un-Cabaret. His performance works have been featured in festivals both here and abroad including L.A.C.E, Track 16, Machine Project, The Mark Taper Forum, Outfest’s Platinum Series, ICA London, and the Rompeforma festival in San Juan Puerto Rico. He has taught at Otis College of Art and Design, Highways Performance Space and Beyond Baroque Literary Foundation. Crafternoon is a traveling craft experience for adults, and has touched down at REDCAT, Outfest, The Echo, El Chavo and Stories bookstore, among other L.A. hot spots.

Location/Hours: 1450 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica CA 90401 in Palisades Park between Broadway & Santa Monica Blvd. Open for class attendees Mon – Fri 9am – 3pm & Sat 11am – 4pm. All are welcome to visit the Camera Obscura during those hours; leave a picture ID with staff to access.

Registration

Online: create an account and view classes at recenroll.smgov.net. Sort by location to view “1450 Ocean”. Note that it can take up to 24 hours to create an account. Website takes credit card payments. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

In Person: For cash or check, advance registration accepted at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St., Santa Monica CA 90401 (just south of Broadway), between 8:30-5pm M-Th & every other Friday. Bring cash to cover material fees on the first day of class.

Day-of: Call 310-458-2239 to confirm availability; plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of class with cash payment.

Refunds/Transfers: A $15.00 processing fee applies for each activity session refunded. Refunds/transfers will be issued only if requested within one business day after the first class meeting. Requests must be made in person or by mail, fax (310-899-0840), or email communityclasses@smgov.net.

Parking and Transport: Parking is free for first 1.5 hours in Parking Structure 7 (off Broadway west of 4th) or 8 (off 2nd St. north of Colorado) adjacent to the Santa Monica Place Mall. The next hour is $1 followed by $1.50 every 30 min. thereafter to a maximum of $14. There are also meters on Ocean Avenue, $2/hr maximum 2 hours. Buses that serve 1450 Ocean include Routes 1, 7 and Rapid 7, 10. Visit bigbluebus.com for more information.

General Info: For more information about classes and registration, please contact Community Classes at (310) 458-2239 or communityclasses@smgov.net. http://facebook.com/1450ocean

The Los Angeles Children’s Theater’s magical production of the classic fairy tale Cinderella features three real sisters in the leading roles.

The lovely and talented Ashleigh, Beau and Brooke Dawson play Cinderella and her two evil stepsisters with the realism only possible with three real sisters! 

LACT’s Cinderella is filled with miracles and wonder.  This enchanting production features dazzling magical tricks, delightful dance numbers, extravagant costumes, enchanting scenic and lighting design, and memorable characters.

Cinderella shares a glorious dance with the Prince, but then is discovered as a ragamuffin in a ragged dress.  Will the Prince love her when he finds her? Was she the thief who stole the glass slipper…or the future Princess? Will the Prince even let her try on the glass slipper in such a state as she is?

Come see this delightful and “true” version of Cinderella at the Little Theater. Great for all audiences ages 3 and up.

The 3rd Annual Westside Shodown Standup Competition.
Come vote for your favorite comedian!
Winner gets $500 cash, a paid gig at LMU, meetings with CAA, WME, Consortium Ent. and Levity Ent.
To submit go to westsidecomedy.com/shodown

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary & Mausoleum will host the 75th Annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27th at 11:00 a.m. Please join us for a Condor Squadron Fly-Over, unveiling of the Woodlawn Commemorative Wall design, guest speakers, music, and tours of the Cemetery!