Today would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday. There is a viral movement on social media asking everyone to donate just $5 to an animal charity to honor her memory. If you can afford to give more, do so, but the idea is that the littlest amount from many can make a big difference. Here are a few suggestions.
Actors and Others for Animals was founded in 1971 was to utilize celebrity to bring attention to the plight of animals. Betty White served on the Board of Directors and the organization created a Betty White Inspiration Award in her honor. DONATE
Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles works with a variety of animal rescue groups and city shelters with the goal of making Los Angeles a no-kill city. Best Friends hosts adoption and fundraising events, runs the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Mission Hills, and leads the NKLA (No-kill Los Angeles) initiative. Consider fostering a pet during this critical time. DONATE
Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change by Rosa C Norman
Sadly, the Kingdom Day Parade, Inglewood’s Kingfest and many other annual events have been cancelled this year due to Omicron, but you can still observe the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. in the safety of your home.
Celebrate Remotely
The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park will commemorate this day with this series of virtual programs. From 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. they will be holding a study group where you can “participate in a virtual community reading and discussion about King’s 1967 speech, “A Christmas Sermon on Peace.” Starting at noon, the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as well as a medley of classic spirituals and original compositions. RSVP and join the event here.
Now in soft opening mode, take-out eatery Tay Ho serves traditional Vietnamese street food, with cool, vibrant packaging that makes it extremely transportable.
Come celebrate Tay Ho’s grand opening in San Gabriel this Saturday, January 15, with hours of giveaways, including 100 complimentary entrées, 100 free drinks, and opportunities to win a 50” flat-screen, a Nintendo Switch, Apple AirPods Pro, and more.
The newest restaurant from a Vietnamese family that’s purveyed bánh cuon for generations, Tay Ho uses slow-cooked broths and handcrafted techniques to create bánh cuon with pork and mushrooms or Beyond meat; shrimp and sweet potato fritters; bánh xeo with mushrooms and tofu; garlic noodles with filet mignon; and much more.
Punctuated with live music from DJ SG, the festivities take place on January 15 from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Tay Ho is located at 529 East Valley Blvd., Suite 118B, in San Gabriel. The phone is 626.778.1000.
Orange Chickin’ Bowl at Veggie Grill. Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.
It’s Veganuary all month long. Why not celebrate with a BOGO meal offer at Veggie Grill on Wednesday, January 12?
The fast-casual plant-based chain has declared VG Rookie Day on January 12. Bring a friend who’s never been to Veggie Grill before, and with the purchase of one plant-based entrée, your friend will get an entree for free.
Choose from a burger, sandwich, bowl, or entree-sized salad. This offer is good for dine-in or take-out only– third-party delivery services are not included.
You might want to order the returning favorite: the Orange Chickin’ Bowl. Made with crispy, plant-based “chicken” glazed in orange sauce, along with tender garlic broccoli, brown rice, pickled Fresno peppers, and candied almonds, the flavorful, clean-tasting dish made me feel both energized and indulged. In addition, $1 from the sale of every Orange Chickin’ Bowl sold in January will go to Veganuary to support their cause of thwarting climate change.
The weirdest most unusual fellow that was ever in Kiss and made it into the band before they took off the makeup was the Ankh Warrior himself, Vinnie Vincent!
Everything about this guy is just…well, pretty weird. In his short time in the band, he co- wrote almost the entire Lick It Up album and proved that he was talented. But he just overdid everything and got kicked out. He played lengthy, bullshit shreddy guitar solos when he obviously could play better more melodically and simply. I saw him in concert with Kiss, and he was good. Until he just over-wanked it, which he did constantly. He formed his own over-the-top silly band afterwards, and eventually was kicked out of his own band/record contract. He has had a bad reputation for decades. He tried to sue Kiss numerous times.
But for whatever reason, his air of mystery, especially during his recent reappearance where he looked like someone’s aunt in a woman’s suit, has secured this somewhat bizarre fanbase that he has–people that are willing to fly to these well-chosen public appearances where he appears, without him playing music at all, and it’s just crazy. You can’t fault the guy for cultivating this sort of thing at all, so he is definitely the “wild card” Kiss member.
The other thing is, I honestly don’t know where the “musical genius” rep comes from, because I did search through the internet for hints of his genius and honestly didn’t find too much, a couple good songs here and there, but if you are expecting a Brian Wilson or Syd Barrett songwriting visionary to be revealed, look elsewhere.
My favorite thing he did aside from Kiss was to back the late Dan Hartman during his “Instant Replay” period, where he wore a chiffon top and looked like Lily Tomlin.
“Whirlybird” (2019, Kino Lorber) Polarizing documentary about Los Angeles reporters Bob (now Zoey) Tur and ex-wife Marika Gerrard, who redefined news coverage in the 1980s and 1990s by using a helicopter to provide a perspective that alternated between omniscience and espionage. Their white-knuckle coverage yielded a lot of iconic moments – O.J.’s flight in the white Bronco, the beating of Reginald Denny – but also helped to change the tenor and focus of the news from information to spectator sport. Director Matt Yoka alternates the action movie-styled coverage with personal details on Tur and Gerrard’s marriage and family (which included daughter Katy Tur, now an MSNBC reporter), which collapsed under Tur’s adrenaline obsession and internal conflict (Tur underwent gender transition in 2014); these moments offer sobering counterpoint to the lunacy of the news footage, and show how one fueled the other. Kino’s DVD is widescreen.
“Say Amen, Somebody” (1982, Kino Lorber) Sharp-looking transfer of director George T. Nierenberg‘s documentary on gospel music, which focuses two of its most celebrated performers (at least, within its own circles): singers Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie Mae Ford Smith. Through interviews and especially plentiful performances, Nierenberg gets to the heart of why gospel has such broad appeal outside of evangelical circles (there was a reason people flocked to the House of Blues’ gospel brunch, and it wasn’t the food): the raw intensity of the singing and the deep vein of sincere faith that runs through it and stands opposite to the spectacle of mainstream evangelical worship. Kino’s Blu-ray includes commentary by Nierenberg and many outtakes.
A challenging year is winding down and 2022 is right around the corner. Whether you feel like enjoying dinner at a special restaurant, venturing out to a festive rooftop, or getting takeout for an intimate, laying-low evening at home, here are a few ideas on how to spend a food-centered New Year’s Eve.
Experience a very special Japanese izakaya at the n/soto popup at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Beautifully situated in Little Tokyo next to the James Irvine Japanese Garden, n/soto’s multi-course meal features many traditional Japanese New Year’s dishes. In case you’d like to celebrate early, the same meal will also be offered on December 29 and 30. You can make your n/soto reservations on Resy.
A stylish, vintage-influenced New Year’s Eve can be yours at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Listen to classic jazz standards performed by The Satin Dollz, known for their ‘40s pinup style, and watch lively tap dancers. Festive holiday decor, a midnight countdown, and accompanying champagne toast are also part of the fun. Optional add-ons include a Satin Dollz VIP Experience and the Remy 1738 Cognac Package (featuring a bottle of Remy 1738, two bottles of Piper Heidsieck Rose Champagne, and an array of savory bites). You can make reservations via Resy.
Known for one of LA’s most stunning views, The Green Room, the hidden lounge at Burbank’s Castaway, is hosting a glamorous soiree on New Year’s Eve. Highlighted by a fireworks viewing from the venue’s famed hilltop patio, attendees will also enjoy a specialty cocktail, a bottle of champagne for every two guests, tray-passed appetizers from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., festive decor, party favors, and live entertainment that includes fire dancing, a DJ, and a giant champagne pouring performance. Tickets are $95, and more information can be found here.
