EXTRAVAGANZA EXTRAORDINAIRE
There was no shortage of mouthwatering morsels or delightful sights at this year’s “Extravaganza for the Senses.” The L.A. Free Clinic’s fabulous food-a-thon, which took place at 20th Century Fox Studios, featured some of the city’s best bites including Italian eatables from Il Grano, incredible California rolls from the Sushi Academy, tasty Indian delights from Addi’s Tandoor and, fresh off the boat, the catch of the day from Chez Jay.
The laidback afternoon of sipping and savoring drew a sellout crowd. More than 1,500 grazers joined co-hosts J. Lo and Sarah Michelle Gellar in supporting the organization, which operates the oldest continuously operating free clinic in the nation. The belly-busting affair was also a record breaker, bringing in more than $200,000.
AND THEY’RE OFF
“Seabiscuit” scene-stealer William H. Macy and “Jag’s” David James Elliott will join a heard of hearty hard bodies at this year’s Nautica Malibu Triathlon.
Just thinking about the grueling event, which takes place Sunday on Zuma Beach, can be exhausting. The gung-ho gang will be up at the crack of dawn, ready to brave a half-mile plunge into the Pacific, followed by an 18-mile bike ride along Pacific Coast Highway and topped off with a 4-mile scenic run to Point Dume. (Whew!)
Two thousand brave souls are expected to make the rounds, cheered on by friends and fans. Soap hunk Ingo Rademacher hit the finish line first at last year’s competition. Will there be a repeat performance? Stay tuned.
ARTWORKS
Los Angeles County Museum of Art is about to wrap up one of its most successful shows in years. For art lovers of all kinds, the Pushkin exhibit has been a definite delight.
“Once in a generation, if not once in a lifetime, you’ll have an exhibit like this,” LACMA’s Andrea Rich says of “Old Masters, Impressionists and Moderns: French Masterworks from the State Pushkin Museum in Moscow.”
The show features 76 masterpieces from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Although a few of the treasures, like Matisse’s glorious goldfish bowl, have made the trip from Moscow to L.A. once before, many are making their first appearance in the United States.
The fantastic collection includes an extraordinary selection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including works from van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso and Bonnard. The preview fundraiser raised $100,000 for future museum exhibitions. The celebrated show runs thorough Oct 13. Don’t miss it.