Lots Happening in the City of Angels.... Have a Great Oscar Weekend..... photos & coverage by Harrison Held (:

Stefanie Powers and Harrison Held

Stefanie Powers

Stefanie Powers and Jeff Mantor

Last nite beautiful "Hart to Hart" actress/animal activist Stefanie Powers had a book signing for her new memoir "One from the Hart" at Larry Edmonds bookstore  in Hollywood.  Judging from Stefanie's very interesting and eloquent talk before the signing the book sounds like it'll be  a great read.  This is one classy and intelligent lady who has had a very colorful life and career.  Stefanie never intended to write a book and she shared that the deaths of her mother and her lover William Holden were the 2 most pivotal parts of her life and that she wanted to clear up misconceptions about what Mr. Holden was really like and matters related to his passing.  See http://www.larryedmunds.com/  to purchase a signed copy!

SATURDAY:  As Oscar countdown continues ardent movie fans may want to check out the 2 remaining  symposiums held in the  Samuel Goldwyn Theater at  A.M.P.A.S. headquarters, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard  in Beverly Hills.  I'm told that standby lines will begin an hour before each event.   The Foreign Language Film Symposium will be moderated by Mark Johnson and starts at 10 a.m. and the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Symposium  starts at 2:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Leonard Engelman.   See  http://www.oscar.org/ .  Due to the forecast of rainy and cold weather getting in should be easier than usual.  Wear a warm coat and bring an umbrealla if you plan on going and don't have a ticket yet!

At 3pm Saturday classical music lovers will enjoy a FREE concert downtown at the Central Library, 630 W. 5th Street in the Mark Taper Auditorium courtesy of members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic! Sounds good to me!

FYI: Fuel Music is hosting their anual free Oscar viewing party this Sunday in a new location this year, the East West Lounge at 8851 Santa Monica Boulevard.   I've gone to them before on the westside and they are fun.   See http://www.fuelmusicandsound.com/  for more info and have a great Oscar Weekend!  The very cool Cinefamily on Fairfax is hosting an awards watching party and fundraiser with a suggested donation of $15 for general admission, $60 for a 2 person couch or $90 for a 3 person couch.  It's a great place...  Email bret@cinefamily.org for more nfo.  Great programming and events year round. 
Also, the groovy DownTown Independent at 251 S. Main opens it's doors at 3pm for their free Oscar Viewing Party. They're planning a beer drinking event where "every time Oscar hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway say something cutesie
everyone takes a swig". Their website is www.downtownindepedent.com - a roof top
party follows I was told.
Just a reminder....   Today at 6:00 pm a special  birthday tribute will be held in memory of the late great George Harrison at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  George's star is located in front of the Capitol Records building  at 1759 N. Vine Street.   Once again wear a warm coat and bring an umbrella and be ready to hum some Beatles tunes :) :) :)

Stefanie Powers and her friend Casting Director Marvin Paige

SUPER CARS AND SUPER VENUES.......   The very cool Petersen  Autombile Museum at Wilshire and Fairfax is holding an open house Monday March 7th from 6pm to 9pm.  I'm told there will be refreshments so get in the fast lane and rsvp by this Monday  February 28 to  specialevents@petersen.org  or call 323 964 6348.

"Rock of Ages" continues to rock on at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood....   "Avenue Q" premieres Tuesday March 1 -  see http://wwcw.broadwayla.org/  for details Enjoy!


PS. Before Oscar festivities begin there's a loosely structured conversational parlor  downtown from a creative group called LAVA FLOWS - which stands for Los Angeles Visionaries Association.  Flavor Pill says "LAVA gathers creative people in search of a different experience of life in Los Angeles".  The group was formed by social historians Kim Cooper and Richard Schave with the goal of sharing visions for making a better city.  The salon will be held at the historical Clifton's Cafeteria at 646 S. Broadway (free street parking cuz it's Sunday).  Guests will be The Ukulady with her band The Evil Sandwiches (!) and documentary film maker John Dullaghan who will speak about the influence that downtown Los Angeles had on author/poet Charles Bukowski's work.  The salon events are  from 2pm - 4pm and are very enjoyable.  http://www.lavatransforms.org/

Also on Tuesday March 1st Joan Rivers presents "Joan Rivers - The Lecture - My First 135 Years in Show Business and Counting" as the Valley Performing Arts Center -  http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.com/ . Her documentary "Joan Rivers, A Piece of Work" is a great revealing film about  this funny talented very human workaholic and worth watching.
PS. Joan is also performing at the La Mirada Theater on March 11th...  www.LaMiradaTheatre.com