Mommy Diva

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo Pierre –Auguste Renoir Exhibit Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) February 14 – May 9,2010 Pierre – Auguste Renoir,(1841 – 1919) the French Impressionist painter known for his luminescent female nudes, was a towering figure in the art world along with other Impressionist greats such as Monet and Cezanne. This ticketed LACMA Renoir exhibit; February 14 – May 9, 2010 – illuminates Renoir’s later works as a postimpressionist whose influence on modern painters, such as Picasso, has received lesser discussion. This exhibit, which opened this past fall at the Grand Palais, Paris, is the first to focus on the mature works of Renoir, in his last years. The exhibit moves on to the Philadelphia Museum of Art June 17. The show brings together about 80 of his paintings, drawings and sculptures from collections in Europe, the United States and Japan. In addition, works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisee, Aristide Maillol and Pierre Bonnard demonstrate Renoir’s often overlooked influence on their art. A startling echo can be seen in Picasso’s female figures after viewing Renoir’s nudes painted in his 20th century career. Many years ago a friend and I took our seven young sons – ages 3 to 12 - to see ...

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA By Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2010 While it doesn’t look like a scene from an old Marx Brothers movie anymore, a day at the races is still a fun enterprise, whether you know the score or not. Recently a group of school chums from Chicago wanted to try their luck. We spent a pleasurable few hours in the grandstands trying to figure out betting techniques, while discussing long-ago prom dates. Some were more successful than others in both the racing results and prom picks. Nothing to be done about the long-past prom, but it may be worthwhile to attend the free classes offered at the track for some assistance. Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California, is approximately 14 miles Northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and about an hour from Orange County (location of Disneyland) and is noted for its picturesque mountain view setting. The current racing schedule runs from Wednesdays through Sundays with varied times for the first race. It’s best to check the day you want to go for the starting times. The first race can be noon, 12:30 or 1:00 p.m. Good to know: on Thursdays seniors are admitted for free and on Fridays everyone is admitted for ...

By Anjanette Delgado There’s something about Miami. It welcomes you by not making too much of a fuss about you. “Oh, so there you are,” it seems to say. “Great. Dale, Chico. Te veo después y nos tomamos un café." And you know, it’s happy to see you. My favorite spot to welcome the day in all of Miami is not anywhere near the infamous SoBe of the tanned and gorgeous. It’s not on a boat gliding past tall downtown buildings on bayside waters.  It’s sitting on the sidewalk facing the huge, colorful, exhuberant sculpture at the entryway of the otherwise unremarkable Dadeland Metrorail Station in  South Miami. It´s fittingly called “Welcome”and stands amid the light gray concrete on mornings when my own bed wants nothing to do with me and, as my mother would say, “el que me fume, pierde el vicio.” And here´s the trick: you sit on the sidewalk in front of it with your newspaper and your strong, sugary, Cuban coffee… you look at it for awhile… and pretty soon you start to feel happy and… god forbid… optimistic. By then you’ll look a little crazy to couples walking by with their strollers or their dogs, so taking a few ...

By Alegre Ramos * You are pregnant…congratulations!  Like all moms, I’m sure you want to do everything possible to make sure that your baby is healthy, and going green during your pregnancy is a great way to ensure this.  Here are 6 green living tips that will make a big difference in your life and your pregnancy.  As of the writing of this article, I myself am almost 5-months pregnant and I feel great.  Hopefully my tips will help you feel great too and help ensure that your baby is as healthy and happy as possible! Eat green! You should be eating green both literally and figuratively.  Get as many organic, whole foods into your diet as possible (whole foods mean foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.)  Try and cut out any calories that are not filled with nutrients as they will not nourish the baby but WILL lead to excess weight gain.  Eating healthy is probably the single most important thing you ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo Visitors from around the world plan holiday travel with Orange County, Southern California in mind. While wonderful attractions, parades and merriment at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are major draws to the area, there is a large and loyal audience for the inspirational Broadway-quality production “Glory of Christmas,” at the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA. There is still time to enjoy “Glory,” as performances continue through January 3, 2010.  Audiences return year after year, and this season, on the show's 29th anniversary, children are still mesmerized by the spectacle of  Roman centurions on horseback, splendidly robed Wise Men on camels, and townspeople with their wealth of livestock. Mary rides on a little gray donkey to Bethlehem, with Joseph at her side, where a sympathetic innkeeper finds a place for them. The theme parks make merry, but it is the unique “Glory” nativity full-scale musical production which tells the story of Christmas. It is a simple story. Yet, this well-produced little “opera,” with over 150 performers, and 350 volunteers working in various capacities, brings the nativity alive through dance, singing and recorded music by the London Symphony Orchestra, complimented by the Crystal Cathedral’s world-renowned pipe organ.  There are six horses, ...