NEWS FEATURES

NEWS FEATURE

The Year Ahead in Entertainment

PHOTO CREDITS MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN, TAYLOR SWIFT TOURING, IMDB, THE PANTAGES

By Michele E. Buttelman

Signal Staff Writer

The New Year offers a variety of new entertainment options in 2023 from concerts to film to theater and beyond. It’s time to start planning your special event or date night calendar so you don’t miss the entertainment events you’ll want to catch.

Awards Shows and Film Festivals

The Golden Globes have come and gone, yet there are plenty of other awards shows waiting in the wings. The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live Sunday, Feb. 5, on CBS. Trevor Noah has been tapped to host. The Screen Actors Guild Awards are set for Sunday, Feb. 26, however the guild has yet to find a TV home for the 29th annual ceremony. The 95th Academy Awards will air live Sunday, March 12, on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will return as Oscar host. The 76th Annual Tony Awards will air live Sunday, June 11, on CBS from the United Palace in New York City. The 75th Annual Emmy Awards will air in September, but no date, or host, has been announced.

Concerts

Southern California will host a wide variety of concerts that should offer something for everyone’s musical taste.

The one concert you’ll need a fat wallet and good luck to score tickets for is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour coming to SoFi Stadium in August. Tickets sold out in minutes for Swift’s five shows. Always use caution when buying concert tickets on the secondary market. Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel Friday, March 10 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Reba McEntire Saturday, April 1 at Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles. Dead & Company May 19-20 at Kia Forum, Inglewood. The rock band comprised of original members of Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, and joined by John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti have toured since 2015 but they’re hanging it up in 2023. Shania Twain Sunday, May 28 at Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles. Foreigner British-American rock legends are hanging it up and in 2023 will be out on The Historic Farewell Tour. Monday, Aug. 21 at FivePoint Amphitheatre, Irvine. Metallica Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Ed Sheeran Saturday, Sep. 23 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood.

Movies

The slate of “most anticipated” films expected in 2023, tallied from a host of critics and film review platforms, relies heavily on superheroes, sequels, prequels, follow-ups, remakes and … you get the idea. The “opening” dates for some of these films may be “tweaked” as the year progresses. ‘80 for Brady’ Opening Feb. 3. Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, whose love for the legendary, seven-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback Tom Brady cuts so deep, they embark on a quest to Houston to see the New England Patriots play the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Opening Feb. 17. Delayed a year, but Paul Rudd is back with Bill Murray joining the cast in this third film of the series. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opening: May 5. The gang’s back together including “Groot.” ‘Fast X’ Opening May 19. Part one of the 10th installment of the “The Fast and the Furious” film franchise. Part two, rumored to be the last in the series, expected in 2024. ‘The Little Mermaid’ Opening: May 26. Live-action remake of Disney’s fish-out-of-water favorite. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Opening: June 2. The Oscar-winning animated “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was a big hit with critics and audiences. ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Opening June 9. The Transformers franchise takes another step back in time to the mid-’90s. ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Opening June 30. Harrison Ford reprises his Indian Jones persona, but this will be the first time a person not named Steven Spielberg directs an Indiana Jones film, the long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part

One’ Opening July 14. Expect Part Two in 2024. When this film opens Tom Cruise will have played Ethan Hunt for 27 years.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds &

Snakes’ Opening Nov. 17. “Hunger Games” prequel. ‘Wonka’ Opening: Dec. 15. Willy Wonka origin story. ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Opening Dec. 25. Jason Momoa returns to the world of Atlantis.

Theater

Pantages Theater

Feb. 2 - March 26 ‘Disney’s The Lion King.’ The World’s #1 Musical. July 11 - 30 ‘Beetlejuice The Musical.’ Based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film.

Ahmanson Theater

April 5 - May 7 ‘1776.’ A revolutionary new production with a cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender and ethnicity. June 27 - July 30 ‘Into the Woods.’ Direct from Broadway the critically acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning triumph is coming to the Ahmanson with the Broadway cast. 

FREE MUSEUM DAYS

By Doña Uhrig

Sunday Signal Editor

After two years of cancellations, the annual 2023 SoCal Museums Free-for-All Day is returning on Sunday, Feb. 5.

The list of participating museums has not yet been announced, so keep a look out on their page at socalmuseums.org/annual-free-forall-23 for specifics.

Meanwhile, there are many museums in Los Angeles that are either free or offer free days on a regular basis. So, if the rain is keeping you more inside, you can still enjoy a museum.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Youth 17 and under always free 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles 90036

Info www.academymuseum.org/en/

Dedicated to the art and sciences of movies, the Academy Museum celebrates the past, present and future of moviemaking. If you’re a longtime LA resident, you’ll remember the redesigned building as the May Company. Today it houses the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater, the Shirley Temple Education Studio, the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the rooftop Dolby Family Terrace.

Agriculture Museum

Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. always free 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula 93060

Info venturamuseum.org/visit-agriculturemuseum

Just down the road in Santa Paula is the Agriculture Museum that tells the story of the rich farming and ranching history of the area. It is housed in the landmark 19th century Mill Building and features hands-on activities for children, a living beehive and a collection of tractors.

California Science Museum

General admission always free 700 Exposition Park Dr., Los Angeles 90037

Info californiasciencecenter.org

General admission is free, although there is a donation box. Some exhibits require a special ticket.

‘Fire! Science and Safety’ is one of the free exhib-

NEWS FEATURE

PHOTO COURTESY FIDM PHOTO COURTESY HAMMER MUSEUM PHOTO COURTESY HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

its where you can explore Casa Del Fuego, Apartment 911 as a fire danger detective. Your task is to seek out hazards so you can keep your family and pets safe. There are hands-on interactives that will allow you to safely create a fire and then practice fire-fighting skills with a fire extinguisher.

A popular special free exhibit is the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The Endeavour completed 25 missions, including the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Descanso Gardens

Free for all Tue, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free for children 12 and under Mon and Wed–Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge 91011

Info www.descansogardens.org

Descanso Gardens offers a unique landscape with its botanic collections and rare natural beauty. January blooms should include Camellias, toyon berries and winter annuals while February should bring magnolias, cherry trees and daffodils.

“Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art” exhibit will open on February 18 and last until May 21. “This exhibition from the Scripps College collection in Claremont, features common seasonal motifs, from a bowl with wisteria blossoms gracing the interior to maple leaves embellishing a kimono,” according to the gardens.

FIDM Museum and Galleries

Always free when there are exhibitions 919 South Grand Avenue. Los Angeles 90015

Info www.fidmmuseum.org

If you love fashion and design, check out the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum. FIDM, the school, was founded in 1969. Staff from the design department assembled a “study collection” for class room use in 1973. Five years later, the museum and library was established. Today, the museum holds more than 15,000 fashion objects dating from the 18th century to the present. There also are 200,000 special collection artifacts.

Hammer Museum at UCLA

Info hammer.ucla.edu

The Hammer Museum is dedicated to art and artists who, as the museum says, “challenges us to see the world in a new light, to experience the unexpected, to ignite our imaginations and inspire change.”

Some of its current exhibitions include “Joan Didion: What She Means” and “Eric-Paul Riege.” The Didion exhibit is a narration of the life of one artist by another and features around 50 different artists. Artist Eric-Paul Riege uses natural and synthetic materials to create woven sculptures that reflect on Navajo everyday life.

La Brea Tar Pits

Wednesdays are free for LA County residents, 3-5 p.m. 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036

Info tarpits.org

When is the last time you’ve visited the La Brea Tar Pits? Given the success of the tv show ‘La Brea,’ maybe now is a good time to visit it for the first time or reacquaint yourself with the “gateway to the Ice Age.”

Located in Hancock Park, the museum was selected last October as one of the first 100 heritage sites by the International Union of Geological Sciences.

In addition to the actual pits, you will be able to discover some of the artifacts that have been excavated there. At the Fossil Lab, visitors can watch volunteers and scientists clean and conserve fossils.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Always Free 100 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles 90036

Info http://www.lamoth.org/

This museum is the oldest survivor-founded Holocaust museum in the nation and houses the West Coast’s largest collection of Holocaust-era artifacts.

It was founded in 1961 by local Holocaust survivors with the purpose of commemorating those who perished and educating future generations.

There are docent-led tours on Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. and Holocaust survivor talks at 3 p.m. 

NEWS FEATURE

Celebrate the Lunar New Year The Year of the Rabbit

By Michele E. Buttelman

Signal Staff Writer

In October Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law making the Lunar New Year an official state holiday in California. AB 2596 recognized Lunar New Year as one of the most important festivals celebrated across Asian countries and Asian communities. Festivities can last up to two weeks.

The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on Dec. 21. The date changes each year and usually falls sometime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.

This year the Lunar New Year will begin on Sunday, Jan. 22, and last until Feb. 5, the date of the rising of the full “Snow Moon.”

The law gives California state employees the option to use eight hours of vacation, annual leave or compensating time off in lieu of receiving eight hours of personal holiday credit to observe the Lunar New Year.

“Recognizing this day as a state holiday acknowledges the diversity and cultural significance Asian Americans bring to California and provides an opportunity for all Californians to participate in the significance of the Lunar New Year,” said Newsom.

Year of the ‘Water Rabbit’

On Jan. 22 we will say goodbye to the “Year of the Water Tiger 2022” and transition to the “Year of the Water Rabbit” according to the Chinese Zodiac.

The Lunar New Year celebrates a chance to leave behind the troubles of the past year and invite prosperity and good luck moving forward.

The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture. People born in a year of the Rabbit are called “Rabbits” and are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded and ingenious.

The year 2023 is seen to be a year of hope.

How to Celebrate

More than a billion people celebrate Lunar New Year each year with fireworks, parades and with the exchange of red envelopes filled with money.

Different cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year in different ways. Known as Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year or Spring Festival the celebrations often include dragon dances, remembering ancestors and family reunions. The celebrations often conclude with a lantern festival.

The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is a “must-do” dinner with all family members reuniting. It is common for family members to travel long distances to be with family for this important holiday.

Traditional Food

Dishes associated with luck, wealth, family and longevity must be included in the dinner. Food such as fish, dumplings, Nian Gao (a sticky rice cake) and spring rolls are believed to bring good luck for the coming year.

Many Lunar New Year foods are symbolic and how the food is served, such as a whole fish, or a whole chicken is important.

Serving fish, dumplings, fruit, a whole chicken, spring rolls, steamed pork belly and various vegetables are symbolic of increased wealth and prosperity. Long, uncut noodles are a symbol of a long life. Eating sweet rice balls is believed to bring family unity. Displaying and eating tangerines and oranges is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

SoCal Lunar New Year Celebrations

Disney California Adventure Park 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim 92802

Info disneyland.disney.go.com

Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit at Disney California Adventure Park from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15. This joyous celebration commemorates traditions of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, with Disney characters featuring Mulan, Mushu, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their festive attire, plus “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” two new culinary marketplaces (for a total of six), kid-friendly crafts, the Lucky Wishes Wall, and the return of “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” presented prior to “World of Color.”

LA Zoo Lights and Lunar New Year Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles 90027

Info www.lazoo.org

The Los Angeles Zoo is celebrating Lunar New Year as part of its L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow event. Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, through Jan. 22 the Zoo will host special activities including a glow-in-the-dark dragon dance parade, lion dance show, kung fu showcase and acrobatics, fan dancers, calligraphy, a Wall of Well Wishes, food trucks and more.

Golden Dragon Lunar New Year Parade Starting at Broadway and ending at Hill Street, Los Angeles 90012

Info culturela.org/event/golden-dragon-lunarnew-parade

The 124th Golden Dragon Parade will be held Jan. 28 from 1 - 5 p.m. presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. This colorful celebration along North Broadway in Chinatown has become the premiere cultural event in the Southern California Asian-American community. The Golden Dragon Parade remains the longest-running Lunar New Year parade outside China. The parade initially started in the late 1800s as a government response to help bridge racial divides and invoke greater understanding for the Chinese immigrants who came to Los Angeles.

O.C. Lantern Festival 2023 Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626

nfo www.pacificsymphony.org/lantern-festival2023

Free family event Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Lantern Festival, which can be traced back 2,000 years, marks the return of spring and the reunion of family. The act of lighting and appreciating lanterns is a way for people to let go of the burdens of their old selves and express their best wishes for themselves and their families for the future.

Pacific Symphony and South Coast Chinese Cultural Center/Irvine Chinese School join in presenting this free family-friendly festival with music, dance, art making, riddles and food.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Select General Admission $0.00 ticket when asked to choose your seating section. 

NEWS FEATURE

SCV Speed Dating: The Fast Way To Meet Your Match

During the event, couples meet for five to six minutes. The women stay seated while the men rotate. Participants make notes on cards and indicate whether or not they are interested in meeting a person again. SCV Speed Dating Co-owners Ivan Pecel and Breanne DeMack give instructions to participants during a speed-dating session held recently at Lucky Luke Brewing Company in Santa Clarita. PHOTOS BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

By Rylee Holwager Signal Staff Writer

Approaching someone at the bar in a flirtatious manner is nerve-wracking. Swiping right and talking to someone for weeks to then learn they weren’t the person they were online is disappointing. Going on a date to then discover immediately there is no connection leaves you stuck with them for hours.

Knowing all the struggles of dating, Breanne DeMack and Ivan Pecel brought back something from the 1990s — speed dating.

“People were just complaining about not being happy with online dating, and we were just like, ‘Why don’t we just start speed dating?” said DeMack.

DeMack and Pecel worked together, using DeMack’s marketing skills and Pecel’s social ability, to co-found SCV Speed Dating.

“It was a way to bring people back to in-person dating,” said DeMack.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-founders and daters at their event noticed a big shift in the world of dating.

People were forced to meet people online, but coming out of the pandemic, people are still utilizing dating apps as their reliable source of dating.

“Nobody goes to the clubs and bars,” said aspiring dater Veronica Morales. “If you’re gonna have a drink or dinner with friends that’s fine, but you don’t go thinking you’ll meet ‘him.’ It’s not the same anymore.”

DeMack and Pecel saw a problem, want and demand, and felt that there was nothing like their vision in Santa Clarita.

SCV Speed Dating hosted its first event in November and continuously sells out of spots.

There are two gender categories — male and female — with three age categories: 25-39, 35-49 and 45-59. The age categories are not definitive and participants can choose whichever age category they want. For each age category, there are six to 10 participants per gender.

Participants are given a free first drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, a mini notecard and, for the men, four unique questions that are completely different from everyone else, to ask if they wish.

Each participant will get to meet every participant of the opposing gender. The date lasts five to six minutes until the men rotate while the women stay seated.

“We’ve heard a lot of horror stories about really bad first dates and if one of these dates goes bad, it’s five minutes then the next,” said Pecel.

While rotating, participants can take notes on their date and check “yes” or “no” if they would like see their date again.

DeMack and Pecel take the cards at the end of the night and send emails to connect those who mutually answered “yes.”

“You need to make sure you invite us to any of your weddings,” said DeMack and Pecel to the participants.

This dating model takes away a lot of the nerves with the initial approach.

“This is appealing because it makes the approach a whole lot easier,” said participant Joshua Bevan. “There’s no rejection.”

“We’re getting a bunch of people that want to date,” said Pecel. “We are marketing this as, ‘What do you have to lose?’ You have everybody here that wants to meet you.”

DeMack and Pecel have been met with many compliments about their new business venture. They said that they have seen participants talking after the event up until they leave, heard participants going on multiple dates and see them coming back to meet more people.

“It was a lot of fun. I’ve never done that many dates in a day,” said returning, aspiring dater Marisela Morales.

The only “complaint” they have received is that there should be more time. But that’s not the point of speed dating, is it?

For more information, to view upcoming events and purchase a spot, visit www.scvspeeddating.com. 