Photo: Dorothea Lange. Toward Los Angeles, California.
We take turns writing the monthly introductions for Loose Land. Sometimes that means we can focus on a month/phenomenon that really speaks to us on a personal level; other times, it’s just March. Because March is the month of… what, exactly? Walks, maybe? Penguins, the Ides? (How can you even do an ides on a month that has 31 days. It makes no sense!) It makes you wonder why we don’t just skip ahead to April – but then of course you remember: April is for taxes (and, infamously, for fools). So maybe that’s it’s raison d’etre: holding for April.
But no, March is more than that, I swear! We’ve done the research, and in addition to collage workshops, classic films, and soccer, March gives us time to plan ahead. If you’ve got kids, now’s the time to start planning for summer; if you’ve earned income, congratulations – now is absolutely the time to start thinking about filing for an extension; and if you want to see something big (like Rufus Wainwright’s “Dream Requiem”, or, alternatively, the Pacific goddamn ocean), now’s the time to reserve that coveted spot!
Oh, and speaking of planning ahead, we started this newsletter thing because we wanted a reliable place to find out about upcoming events. But personally, I also wanted us to offer a literal calendar, which would have the benefit of aiding the kind of planning we’re talking about (because a lot of the big stuff obviously requires more than just a month’s notice), and also allowing for some later additions. So this is just a heads-up that we’re working on that. (In March, we bide our time; in April, we march. (April-ish.)) So get excited for that!
In conclusion, we may not know what March is for, but that just opens up the possibilities. In March, we can do anything! Choose your own adventure from the below, and stick around for the strip mall content at bottom (sneak peek: it’s the fancy one!!)!
- Daniel Harmon
Cultural Events
Left to Right Clockwise: Institute for Art and Olfaction, Ceramics Only!, Spring Equinox with Paige Emery, Collage Workshop, Kettl, WUTI Wonderland #2 Salon and Dance Party.
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March 1 - Ceramics Only! Closing Party (Tierra del Sol)I’m grateful to my friend Laura Rule for putting Tierra del Sol on my radar. This special gallery’s mission is to create opportunities for artists with disabilities through empowerment and education. The opening celebration of their current exhibition exploring clay had to be postponed due to the fires. We will be there instead to salute the closing and raise a glass to the artists in the show, many of whom will be there in person. (MR)
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March 2 - Rooftop Cinema Club - Purple Rain (DTLA) For how lovely the weather is, I have only seen two outdoor movies in my ten-plus years in Los Angeles, which feels kind of embarrassing. This month, I need to right this wrong and go see Prince al fresco in all his languid, androgynous glory. (BK)
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March 2 - Free Art Fair (Frogtown) A group of artists and art-lovers have come together to create a day-long exhibition and community event for people affected by January’s devastating wildfires. With over 60 works donated, those who have lost their homes will be invited to take a piece of art that speaks to them -- a reminder of the support available from the community and the promise of new creative paths going forward. (MR)
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March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Turiya Rising (Hammer Museum) I saw the Alice Coltrane exhibition at the Hammer this past weekend (we shouted out the opening event on last month’s newsletter, so you see we follow our own advice!). I was blown away by the life and devotion of Alice Coltrane, and this show is all about the accompanying programming. I urge you to check out the music on offer every Sunday through March & April in the galleries, an ode to her Sunday services at the Sai Anantam Ashram which sadly burned in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. A fitting tribute at a fitting time. (MR)
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March 4 -Required Reading Presents: Minotaur(The Elysian) Here’s my take: it’s better to read plays than to see them. (Less risky.) But I understand that sometimes risks pay off, and this might just be one of those times, as we’ve got a chance to see the LA premiere of the new play from Dimes Squareplaywright Matthew Gasda. (DH)
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March 8 - Cartoon Club (The New Beverly) In addition to playing all your usual cult and classic faves (also Hundreds of Beavers!), on one Saturday morning each month the New Beverly also hosts “Cartoon Club” , in which they play a feature-length assemblage of classic toons. If you or your kids need a Disney/Pixar break, this is just the thing. (And don’t just take my word for it: I learned about it via a Julia Turner endorsement on my favorite culture podcast.) (DH)
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March - San Francisquito Canyon Chaparral Restoration (Santa Clarita) After the January fires, I’ve become low-key obsessed with how the environment responds to a burn. It’s no surprise that I’ve found myself eyeing the many offerings from Tree People that aim to restore fire-scarred land. This event takes place in the Angeles National forest where volunteers will water native chaparral and weed out invasive species in order to bring the land back to equilibrium and health. (BK)
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March 12 -Classic Cinema Night:The Third Man (The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel) It is my firm belief that going to a movie is a terrible idea for a date. That said, I also must acknowledge that some of my favorite dates have involved movies in some capacity: a Valentine’s Day double feature/contraband picnic at Film Forum (while dating someone); True Romance at an Austin bar (while married to someone); and Armageddon on New Year’s day with two sick children (while parenting with someone). To sum this up: I can think of worse date nights than going to see a classic movie and overpaying for food/drinks at a fancy hotel. (DH)
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March 14 - WUTI Wonderland #2 Salon & Dance Party (The Hill) If you’re like me, you often find yourself wondering aloud: where can I go to dance? Tabitha Denholm, founder of Women Under the Influence, has us covered for March with a night of inspiring short films and conversations featuring mindblowing artists like Lucy McRae, Cara Stricker and Zsela. All will be followed by a carousel of amazing DJs on the decks. I just wanna dance with somebody and on this night, I will. (MR)
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March 15 -Collage Workshop (Heavy Manners) Look, a collage workshop wouldn’t normally be something I would pay earned dollars for, but I happen to have recently attended such a workshop with (and ostensibly for) my children a few months ago, and it was the most exciting hour of the year. I have no idea what my children did while I was gestating my masterpiece, but suffice it to say that we all came out of that session with a renewed appreciation of our artistic gifts—and that feeling is well worth your $10.38. (DH)
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March 15 & 16 - LAFC vs Austin FC (BMO Stadium) I watch a lot of soccer, but I don’t watch a lot of American soccer. I hope to change that this year, however, as MLS is now a real player in the global transfer market (trust me, that’s a meaningful sentence to some people!) and has some genuinelyexcitingtalent — plus baristas! Oh, and in case you didn’t know, soccer is the one spectator sport that’s actually better in person than it is on TV. (DH)
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March 20 - Spring Equinox with Paige Emery (Griffith Park) 2025 has not been for the faint of heart, I’ll tell you that for free. It’s hard to find solid ground as our democracy crumbles, but I am able to find moments of calm when I’m doing something for others or when I am in nature. Add in a little ritual and community while in nature, and I feel a bit of hope take root again. This month, I will be getting my hit thanks to Living Earth, who is putting on a ritual led by ecologist and artist Paige Emery to honor the equinox, a moment when day and night are in perfect balance across the Northern and Southern hemispheres. (BK)
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March 23 - Springtime Smells (The Institute for Art & Olfaction) The Institute for Art and Olfaction is the kind of highly personal organization that really lights us up here at Loose Land. Founded in 2012, this nonprofit is a playground for using scent as a creative medium, hosting events for novices and experts alike. This month, they are putting on a “new growth, new blooms, and springtime” blending event where participants will create their very own scent they can take home. (BK)
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March 29 - Artist Talk & Opening: Yorgos LanthimosYou either love or hate Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies; there’s no in between. (I am in the love camp.) I was hooked by the absurd intimacy of The Lobster, tickled by The Favourite, and visually gobsmacked by Poor Things. For the first time, an exhibition will celebrate the acclaimed filmmaker's still photography, with works from his recent books i shall sing these songs beautifully and Dear God, the Parthenon is Still Broken, as well as some BTS shots from select movie sets. We’re excited to hear from Lanthimos himself at a special artist talk on opening night, presented with MACK, the book’s publisher. Advanced reservations are encouraged — and so is getting there early to queue up! (MR)
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Anytime - New Tea Spot Opening: Kettl (Kettl) For my fellow tea lovers! My friend got wind that Kettl was expanding beyond their Greenpoint, BK flagship and opening up a new locale near her house in Los Feliz. We bounded in on opening day and were welcomed by a friendly staff guiding us through the most delicious choices of matcha and other Japanese teas. We will most certainly be back with a reservation for the tea tasting counter. (MR)
Looking Ahead
Sometimes you need to plan more than a month ahead in order to, like, actually attend something. Here’s a few future items you might want to jump on before we cover them in future newsletters…
Normally, when a strip business’s name is hard to read, it’s because the paint is peeling, not because the font is so intricate that it operates as a shibboleth. I mean, can you read this sign?
I certainly couldn’t -- but maybe that’s because Wild Crust is too fancy for me. In fact, this whole enterprise is too fancy for me, as indicated by the fact that the only time I patronized it was on a special night out (which is not something I can say about most other strip businesses). But far be it from me to put limits around what a strip mall can or should be: this one wants to be fancy, and to that I say, “God Bless!” The rent’s not cheap, so why should the oysters be!? (And who’d want cheap strip mall seafood, anyway!?)
Instead of a laundromat, a donut shop, and a cell phone business, this one has -- in addition to the aforementioned pizza boutique and raw bar -- a pastry shop and a neighborhood grocer. So if you are less in need of, say, a glazed raised than you are of a “texture-shelled croissant filled with decadent strawberry chocolate ganache and juicy macerated strawberries”, then this is the strip mall for you (he said, between bites).
One Essential Neighborhood Business: I’m not sure I’d call seafood towers “essential,” but Queen St. is a great addition to the neighborhood dining scene, and a great reminder that Charleston isn’t a bad place to spend a few days/dollars.
Whimsy Factor: This is a tough call. Every one of these four businesses is beautiful -- thought through and styled within an inch of its life -- but that also means they all hit their marks pretty reliably as well. So I’d have to say “low”.
Variety Level: Also low. This is all ripped straight from the same fever dream (but in a good way).
Life Expectancy, if Forced to Take Residence for an Extended Period of Time: Long, if you stick to the fresh fruits and roots at Potluck Local; shorter, if you’d rather get your hushpuppy on over at Queen St.
Quality of Life Under Same Conditions: Very high either way.
