As a fan of the almost-3-year-old supper-club Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City, I was excited to learn of Michael Sterling’s newest endeavor, Broadway In Concert! At The Canyon.
Though the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills has been around for a long time, I never before realized just what an eclectic group of bookings they have. But none of them ever got me to venture out that way until this Broadway concert series started a week-end brunch show.
While I’m still a late-night party chick most of the time, there’s something so fun about going out early-ish on the week-end. My friend, Diane, and I chose a beautiful Sunday for the drive, and I was surprised to find out just how to close to town (LA, the Valley, BH, etc.) Agoura Hills really is. And a brunch show is so perfect for fans who don’t want to face evening traffic.
The show we saw was the perfect length of just over an hour, with beautiful singing by Shannon Watson [pic above] and Peter Welkin [pic below], who are both young, but stage veterans. Shannon’s voice was especially clear and Broadway-perfect.
The show’s theme, From Broadway to Film and Back Again, provided just the right amount of banter to keep it moving between musical numbers. The duo debate which songs are better--those from movies or from Broadway shows. The winner is--the audience! We get to hear them all, the familiar and a couple of welcome rarely-heard ones. With so many show tunes to choose from, we thought they did an admirable job of composing the play list.
In this day and age, with iPods, MP3streaming, and competition television shows, I feel we audiences are lucky to be able to have so much music readily available to us around the clock. But nothing beats hearing it in person, especially performed well. I’m so glad that we Southern Californians have Michael Sterling to bring it to us on a regular basis.
And now the Canyon Club is bringing us fan favorite Linda Eder [pic below], the star of the long-running Broadway hit musical Jekyll and Hyde, for an evening show on May 14. This will be one of only two engagements in California for the remainder of this year, so don’t say I didn’t alert you to it!
Admission to the shows themselves is one affordable price, with dinner or brunch being an additional charge, depending on what menu items you choose. (The easy parking is always complimentary, though, which is rare in this town.) They just changed the brunch menu to reflect that time of day, so that’s something to look forward to. We tried out the dinner fare, though.
The meals we chose were actually pretty good, though a tad pricey. And having the meal beforehand (no serving or eating during the performances, thank goodness!) guarantees you table seating for the show, which is a bonus, especially on crowded days and nights.
The menu features mostly meat, with a vegetarian lasagne and a grilled salmon. They all come with garlic mashed potatoes (except the lasagnes), vegetables, and dessert. My filet mignon was surprisingly delicious, and Diane really loved her creamy cheesecake, which I wish I had ordered instead of my bland chocolate cake. This was almost three weeks ago, and she’s still raving about it!
All in all, Broadway In Concert! at The Canyon is a lovely experience. What can beat good food and live entertainment all in one setting? It was pretty packed the day that we went, so I’d suggest making reservations. And extra good news for vain-sters like me--it’s pretty dark in there, so you don’t have to worry about having perfect hair and make-up. Now, that’s my kind of place!
Broadway in Concert! at The Canyon
www.canyonclub.net
www.myspace.com/broadwayinconcertatcanyon
Dinner/Show Reservations: (818) 879-5016 or by calling Ticketmaster or visiting www.Ticketmaster.com
For Details on Headliners: (818) 623-7000
Adam Lambert. Say no more. If he doesn’t win, I’ll be sick, but no matter what happens with him on the show, I’m just thrilled that the masses are finally getting to hear his amazing voice. And his delivery expertise really enhances his natural talent.
Adam has the best voice I’ve ever heard. I actually crave it. For years, I’ve been playing the one CD I have of him singing Is Anybody Listening, the one and only reason to have seen the awful The Ten Commandants multiple times.
I’ve been obsessed with his talent since I first saw him in the above-mentioned musical at the Kodak 
Theatre several years back. Since then, I’ve been talking about him, on my show and in life, to everyone I know, and writing him up at every opportunity.
I’m sure my fellow crazed Adam Lambert fans are as thrilled as I am that he’s finally getting the forum he so richly deserves. I’m equally happy for the people, like my little mother in New York, who never had the chance to hear him sing before this.
I only wish I had been a record producer to have been able to help him along before this. The few times I’ve met him, I said he should go on American Idol, as I’m sure everyone did. But I’m just glad it’s now, even though I think he would have won every season before this. Definitely the last three years, at least. (The world may not have been ready for him before, though.)
Mr. X hates that I’m always making DVDs of everything on TV I think is worthwhile. So, it was with trepidation that I showed him my latest compilation the other day.
All I wrote on it is ADAM. He took one look at it and said, “I don’t blame you.” That’s pretty highest praise, trust me.
And Adam is as darling and down to earth as one can be. He’s so NOT full of himself! I’ve met him only twice, the latter time being September ’07. Then I saw him at the opening of Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum a few weeks ago. I flew down the steps to say hi, my heart pounding at the thought of explaining who I am, now that he’s on the brink of stardom.
All I said is, “Excuse me, Adam,” and he turned around and gave me the most genuine big hello! I said, “Do you remember me?” and he answered, “Of course! We’ve talked after those shows.” How amazing is that!
We talked and laughed for about ten minutes, (I got a few hugs in, too!) and I’m happy to report that he’s exactly the same as always, which is absolutely lovely. And he’s gorgeous, to boot.
Looks, charm, and that voice--what a combo!
Remember to vote for Adam, please, if you can recover from the awe of his performances to pick-up the phone.
Back in February, when I arrived home from a day at the GBK Oscar Suite, I noticed that I had a packet of pictures of beautiful colorful purses by New York designer Emre Erturk. I couldn’t believe that I had missed the purses themselves, but I must have gotten distracted--there’re so many great items at all these suites that I always wind-up missing something.
But luckily, Emre got in touch with me, and when I told him that I was on the way to New York, he invited me to visit one of his midtown showrooms. Even though I plan my east coast schedule far in advance, with little room for improvisation, I was very happy to oblige in this case.
I spent an hour with the multi-talented Emre, who’s an artist first and foremost. That’s probably why his bags are so much more than just a vessel for our looking-good necessities!
I was especially interested to see luxury leather pet carriers in his line. He told me that he started out designing those, and diaper bags (which Bendel’s was the first to carry,) before moving on to the gorgeous purses! I was amazed because it’s usually the other way around; designers do handbags first and then branch-out to the more specialty items. I guess Emre’s an innovator.
I’m so glad I made the visit, rather than being “gifted” at the suite, because I got to view Emre’s paintings, as well. Upon close inspection, I realized that there were parts of the actual purses attached to the canvases! How fun! (He’s actually having an art showing in NY on May 21st at the Broadway Gallery. Info at: www.broadwaygallerynyc.com)
Of course, I couldn’t leave without picking-up a purse for myself. The Hamptons crowd will be thrilled to see my new cream-colored horseshoe-shaped bag this summer, made from soft Italian leather. This is Emre’s signature shape, so I just had to go with it, especially since he says it represents luck, power and freedom. And it has the perfect-length handles for shoulder-carrying. [pic right: My new purse, except in the darker tan shade.]
You guys know I’m usually all about color, but my Hamptons hostess has asked me to cool it with my “junior” wardrobe while I’m visiting her snob-filled town, and I actually felt very grown-up obliging her with this buttery shade. But trust me, I’m still the same old Karen--my mouth was really watering for Emre’s new Spring Collection purse in pink and blue, what I call “Sleeping Beauty colors” (because those are the colors her fairy godmothers fought over for her Sweet 16 dress.)
And to help me play dress-up while I’m there, I may just order one of his designer horse crops for the popular Polo matches. Then no one will notice my young wardrobe!
Emre New York 347 Fifth Ave. New York 212-951-7269 www.EmreNY.com
