MY URBAN KVETCH

Two Coasts, Two Artistic Celebrations

One of my friends recently called me "the, let's face it, basically bicoastal Esther Kustanowitz." (I can see how someone might think that...) But when two arts efforts came to my attention, one on the left coast and one on the right, it was one of those confluences of innovative and contemporary art and performance that I thought was worth a post.

Thanks to my myriad blog connections, I had already heard several times about Off the Wall: Artists at Work, an open-studio project featuring eleven artists working and performing in the galleries of The Jewish Museum in New York from March 16 through 27, 2008.  The project presents experimental work in performance art, video, fashion and music by a group of emerging artists, all 40 and under.The show also includes a lounge with space for visitors to sit, talk, blog and listen to music on mp3 players. Planned lounge events will be offered such as DJ sets, a poetry slam, a Russian-themed salon, a discussion with artists and exhibition designers hosted by NYU’s Center for Religion and Media, and discussions with groups from high schools and colleges.  Parties on two Thursday evenings, March 20 and 27, will feature collaborations with Off the Wall musicians and visual artists. And the event series will be liveblogged by Mobius, founder of Jewschool. Tickets and info here.

And while on the West Coast, I had a lovely oceanview lunch with my friend Susan Josephs, who is involved in a new dance project with Andrea Hodos, who is one of two artists-in-residence for Hebrew Union College in LA. I took some material back about the initiative, hoping to blog about it, and just this morning got a press release about it, so I considered that a sign.

Andrea Hodos is a performance artist and director of Moving Torah (which you can read more about here). Andrea’s company will be joined by rabbinic students in presenting the opening scenes of a new piece developed during her residency. "On Dry Ground" depicts the Israelites' journey across the sea, asking a central question, "How do we harness faith to move forward through fear?" (at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles)

So, Jewish art and creative expression is alive and well, on both coasts. Anyone want to report from the south, or the middle?.

Israelity Tour Video Rewind: Seattle

For those of you who missed us in Seattle...we were in San Francisco tonight, and will be in San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas later in the week. Want to see a bit of what life on the road is like? Check it out here:

An Open Letter to West Coast Famous Jews

[cross posted from the Israelity Tour blog]

Dear West Coast Famous Jews,

This means you, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Jason Segel and all the rest of those guys --you gave a shoutout to "Munich" in "Knocked Up," and now it's time to take your Jewish pride to the next level. Natalie Portman, you sabra you, can translate the lyrics for Zach Braff. Mia Kirshner, your new "L-Word" is "L'hitraot," so we'll see you at the show. Lisa Edelstein, it's time to leave the House and get out for an evening. Ditto to you, Paul Adelstein--leave Private Practice and bring your wife Paris Geller with you. Speaking of Gellers, Schwimmer, get your Friends together and come to Avalon. (Seriously--you already went to that Heeb party in New York last year.) Greg Grunberg, be a hero and join us, and bring J.J. with you if he's done destroying New York.

And as for you, Mark Zuckerberg, we at the Israelity Tour blog want to thank you for creating our events notification system, or as you call it, Facebook.

You work hard to entertain us and give us the tools we need to stay in touch with our culture and our lives. So come to the Israelity Tour. Seriously...it's hip-hop, funk and acoustic-style music plus Israel. In SF on February 10, in LA on the 16th and ending the tour in Vegas on the 17th. Plus, lots of other concerts and events between Seattle and Vegas starting this Wednesday. All courtesy of Birthright Israel.

Join us! Non-celebrities, click here. Celebs and/or publicists, RSVP here.

Almost Famous; Still Grateful

Wednesday morning, I leave for the adventure of a journalist's life and something I never dreamed was within my reach--going on a West Coast tour with a hip-hop act. OK, so it's an Israeli hip-hop act, Subliminal and the T.A.C.T. Family, and we're accompanied by hip-hop/funk band Coolooloosh and "Rosh Hashanah Girl" Michelle Citrin. Still, Subliminal's Israel's #1 hip-hop artist, so think of it as me being on tour with Eminem. (Sort of.) Sponsored by Birthright Israel, the tour hits seven cities for the Israelity Tour, Where West Coast Meets Middle East. You can follow all the action on our blog, buy tickets here, and read about us in the JWeekly here.

Before I go on the road and make all the hip-hop artists sing "Tiny Dancer" on the bus (see clip below), I just wanted to thank those of you who came to my presentation at the AfterWords session (the podcast is available on iTunes, and should shortly be available on the Skirball Center website).

The session provided me with a chance to delve into last week's Torah portion from a position of real inquiry, unfettered by fears of what my teachers would say in response to my questions; and also, coming in a week right after I lost a friend very suddenly, it was an honor to be able to dedicate my learning to his memory.

And although the class isn't happening till tomorrow night, I received word that the Improv for Daters session at the JCC is sold out. So if you wanted to join us and didn't reserve a spot, let them know you'd like to see me back on the calendar for summer or fall...and thanks for the support!

So unless I get subsumed into the T.A.C.T. Family as an MC--hey, you never know what can happen on the road--I will continue to blog, at a somewhat reduced rate here, but certainly in other places. Stay tuned for an exciting two weeks!

And now, that clip:

Reunited...California Dreamin' and more...

If you've been paying attention, it's been a bit of a crazy month for me. But it was also a lot of fun, with me and Lindsay (check out her project here) hanging out with Jewish professionals who are the leaders of tomorrow, and networking like crazy people. This video gives you a glimpse, and makes me think that sometimes I use words that people don't understand. But mostly, it lets you in on a little bit of the fun. Shabbat shalom!

The Wandering Jewess Goes to Nashville

If it's not Shabbat, I must be traveling somewhere. Bag's getting packed, SuperShuttle's been reserved, I'm trying to figure out what to wear when I appear on a conference Jumbotron at the Nashville General Assembly, you know, regular Saturday night activity.

Luckily, this caps a month of constant traveling, packing and unpacking, hotels and people's Aerobeds (thanks, Blogmama, Becca and Ruthie!)...all because of my involvements with Jewish things. Santa Monica for PLP; Los Angeles and San Francisco for ROI; New Brunswick for the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival; and now Nashville for the GA.

I believe I may collapse when I get back Tuesday night. But in the interim, if you happen to be at Opryland, come to my Monday morning session, 9am, also featuring West Bank Story's Ari Sandel, and the Orthodox Anarchist, who will apparently be representing neither Orthodoxy nor Anarchy; and consider attending the Tuesday morning salon on Jewish peoplehood, featuring me and some of my ROI/young Jewish leader friends. Blogging may be as light as the networking is intense. So be prepared.

Back from the Cliffs of Insanity

I guess it was partially my fault. What I knew of the PCH was the jovial, sun-laden route of SmashMouth's "Pacific Coast Party." I had been on the PCH around Malibu and that seemed like a lovely drive. It would be coastal, and longer than the straighter Highway 5, but wasn't it worth it to experience the beauty of the California coast?

Frankly, one of us should have realized that it was a bad idea. Maybe when the fog rolled in. Or when the sun went down an hour early (thanks, Daylight Savings Time!) leaving us in the pitch black. Or when we saw the signs: "low shoulder," "falling rock zone," and some sort of twisted snake of a sign informing us of the twists and turns ahead. Or maybe when everyone we spoke to in advance of the trip expressed their surprise that Lindsay and I had decided to drive from San Francisco back to Los Angeles via "the scenic route."

And scenic it was. Especially if it was a scene from a Hitchcock movie. (Warning: the following story may not be suitable for parents and other nervous readers. But seriously, don't worry. The shrieking eels don't get us. We're fine, really.)

Bloglull, LA-style

Standing here over a snazzy black MacBook, I understand all you MAC people. But it's so expensive. And it bothers me that the black version is more expensive. I mean, that's just discrimination. A white laptop doesn't go with my fall (or winter or spring or summer) wardrobe, so that's just fashion punishing me again.

Anyway, I just wanted to apologize for the lull in blogging while I've been in Los Angeles...one would think that wireless would be easily accessible, but apparently my ancient computer doesn't like most wireless networks, which is frustrating. So I grab the connection when and where I can, and spend the rest of my time scoping for celebrities. Just kidding. Well, kind of. I did see Danny Bonaduce at sushi (which almost rhymes) with Hilary, but so far, the celebs seem to be avoiding me. Aside from Heidi Klum, who'll be at the Victoria's Secret across the street in about an hour, which is good because she's been totally avoiding me, and she borrowed some sweaters from me that I totally hope she hasn't stretched out like she always does...models are the worst at stuff like that, jeez.

If you'd like to read about one of the things that I've been doing, check the ROI mini-reunion post here.

More posts to come next week,. If you see Brad and Angie, tell those mofos to answer their cellies. Peaceful Shabbat y'all. Catch you at the start of what is hopefully a smog-free and a fires-free week in California.

London Calling

I might as well face the fact that Kvetch Across America is no longer an apt description of where I'm headed. But bear with me as I figure out the name of the new category and as blogging becomes even lighter due to an out of town business trip.

And by the way, to those of you "playing along at home" with this post, the answers are: London (for business), Jerusalem (for other business), and Brandeis University (for a special program).

Cheers, mates--will blog when I can.

Decipher My Summer

First stop....an audio clue:

Second stop.... a visual clue:

Third stop...a brainteaser:

Leonard Bernstein, Abraham Maslow, Eleanor Roosevelt, Dennis Ross, Mitch Albom, Tyne Daly, Marta Kauffman & David Crane, and Debra Messing.

Correct answers and more complete details to come next week.