It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Santa Monica 5000

(top) Athletes run on Barnard Way during the fourth annual Lexus Santa Monica 5000 on Sunday, October 11, 2009. (above) Haron Lagat, 26, who hails from Kenya, wins the fourth annual Lexus Santa Monica 5000 with a time of 14:07  on Sunday, October 11, 2009 and received a $1000.00 check. Santa Monica 5000 is sponsored by Lexus and Ed Hardy Sport, proceeds from the race will benefit Saint John’s Health Center.

Posted on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 12:55PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

LIFT-OFF

(top) Joe "The Marine" Montemorra, 34, lifts 231.25 pounds during the Venice Recreation and Park's Special Needs Athlete Lift-off at Muscle Beach on Saturday, October 10, 2009. (center) Matt Eanbbell, 21,  lifts 137 pounds during the Venice Recreation and Park's Special Needs Athlete Lift-off at Muscle Beach on Saturday, October 10, 2009. (above) Ara Krakorian, 34, lifts 181 pounds during the Venice Recreation and Park's Special Needs Athlete Lift-off at Muscle Beach on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

 

Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 05:11PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

RAISING THE ROOF

Crew from Cirque du Soleil  raises its trademark blue and yellow 'Grand Chapiteau' (big top) at the Santa Monica Pier on Friday, October 9, 2009, in anticipation of the Santa Monica Premiere of KOOZA, a Cirque du Soleil big top touring show.
 
The Grand Chapiteau stands 66 feet high, 167 feet in diameter and is supported by four masts, each 80 feet tall. The Big Top seats 2,555 people in a climate-controlled  environment. The Big Top raising requires a team of approximately 80  people. The entire site set-up takes seven days and includes the installation of the Tapis Rouge VIP tent, entrance and rehearsal tents, box office, administrative offices, and a kitchen and dining area for cast and crew. The “village” is transported from city to city in 50  tractor trailers.
 
KOOZA will have its private preview on Thursday, October 15 and will   perform through Sunday, November 29, 2009 at the Santa Monica Pier.

KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

Posted on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 02:48PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

HOLY DAY

(1)  Student Rabbi Menachem Levitansky from the Chabad House  builds a Sukkot at the Fireside Convalescent Hospital on Thursday, October 8, 2009, during a Sukkot party. A sukkot is an outdoor hut that is covered with vegetation. (2) Levitansky gives a "Blessing on the Lulav" to Mr. Shapiro at the Fireside Convalescent Hospital during Sukkot on Thursday. (3)  Levitansky sings with Fireside Convalescent Hospital's Jewish residents  during a Sukkot party on Thursday, October 8, 2009. (4) Student Rabbi Menachem Levitansky from the Chabad House dances for Fireside Convalescent Hospital's Jewish residents during a Sukkot party on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, also known as Sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is harvest festival commemorating the booths in which the Israelites resided during their 40 years in the wilderness, lasting for either 8 or 9 days and beginning on the eve of the 15th of the month.

Posted on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 09:21PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Sukkot at SMC

Rabbi Eli Levitansky, Director of  Chabad at SMC (right) gives Rabbi Julie Pelc, (left) Director of Hillel of SMC, a  "Blessing on the Lulav" at Santa Monica College on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Sukkot  (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, also known as Sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is harvest festival commemorating the booths in which the Israelites resided during their 40 years in the wilderness, lasting for either 8 or 9 days and beginning on the eve of the 15th of the month.
Posted on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 08:23PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Christmas in Beverly Hills

An Italian cast films a scene for the romantic comedy "Christmas in Beverly Hills"  at Santa Monica Beach on Tuesday, October 6, 2009.  "Christmas in Beverly Hills"  is the latest in a series of holiday movies produced for the Italian market by Luigi De Laurentiis which will be  released in Italy in December 2009.

Posted on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 12:05AM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

BUDding ROMANCE

 

A Budweiser and his wheatheart walk hand-in-hand along Santa Monica Beach while filming a Bud Light commercial on Wednesday, September 30, 2009. Bud Light is the bestselling beer in America.

Posted on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 12:05PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Pier del Sol's 40th Birthday Bash

(1) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hugs Special Olympic athlete Stephanie Ahlgrim, 22, at Pacific Park during The Pier del Sol "40th Birthday Bash" on Sunday, October 04, 2009. (2,3,4,5) Governor Schwarzenegger meets and greets the Special Olympic athletes during the Pier del Sol's "40th Birthday Bash." (6) Governor Schwarzenegger and (7) California's First Lady and Honorary Chair, Maria Shriver address the guests at Sol's "40th Birthday Bash" at Pacific Park. (8) Governor Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver during the program. (9) Governor Schwarzenegger inspects the Cake-off entries. 
 
This celebration commemorates 40 years for SOSC, which was founded by Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist, Rafer Johnson.  This signature event is Southern California's largest fundraiser that benefits Special Olympics athletes. Since its inaugural year, Pier del Sol has raised more than $4 million to benefit Special Olympics Southern California athletes.

 

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