February, being the shortest month, has to cram a lot of joyful happenings..I can’t think of a better way to begin the month than by celebrating Susie Kat’s birthday at the Jonathan Beach Club!
Yours truly, Maggie, Susie’s cousin, Carol Soucek King, our amazing hostess and the birthday girl.
Everyone was so happy Curtis and Yi-Lin could make it.
Tea time with brilliant Dr. Kate Gale in the Nan Rae Studio. Kate is the Publisher and Co-Founder of Red Hen Press. Follow her great blog, “A Mind Never Dormant.” “Love what you do enough to overlook the hardships that come with it.”
Time for Movie Night with Curtis and Yi-Lin!
Curtis studies our new popcorn machine, assembled by Veronica, who has all the patience in the world to do it!
Somi has to get her time in with Yi-Lin.
We watched the 2nd Wicked and then the opening of the Olympics.
The 2026 Spotlight Dance Mastery Class with Spencer Liff, Emmy-nominated director, choreographer, and creative visionary, was great fun.
Jeri Gaile, Director of the Spotlight Program, is always a joy to see.
As is Becky Birdsong from the Music Center.
The Spotlight Master Classes are always inspiring to watch, and the Ballet Master Class with Hope Muir, Director of the National Ballet of Canada, was equally so.
It’s the second Sunday of the month, and time for Inspiring Carol Soucek King’s Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life.
Ruth Broyde Sharone, speaker, author, filmmaker, and composer, gave the main presentation on Growth. “Accepting the Risk it Takes to Blossom”, inspired by the Anais Non quote:”And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
That evening dear Carol again treated us to a delightful dinner at El Portal.
Each month brilliant Tom Backer and I meet at Aroma Cafe to catch up and when I always learn something amazing!
I’m sorry to say I completely missed the Music Center’s Center Theatre Affiliates Valentine’s Day celebration at the Jonathan Club. A lesson to me to pay more attention!
Look how Veronica surprised me!
First stop, Monsieur Dior for a Valentine’s lunch.
Then it was off to Tiffany, where delightful Jay was most helpful.
There happened to be an artist there doing drawings for people. She was finished for the day, but Jay asked her to please do one for us.
It just arrived by Express mail. I love it! We’re putting it in the studio and a copy for the office.
While we were gone dear Curtis and Yi-Lin left these beautiful flowers at the door.
And Somi went crazy wanting them to come in.
Aren’t they exquisite!
It’s the Year of the Fire Horse!
Sweet Lorena was the first to greet us at the Huntington’s Lunar New Year’s spectacular celebration.
Curtis, Yi-Lin and Nino were already seated and having too much fun!
An amazing acrobat in the show.
Love this!
I foound another…
Time for hot cocoa!
Dear Carol and Nino.
Do you believe what the acrobat is doing??? Yes, that’s his leg up there!
Here we are in Culver City for the screening of Pam Tom’s latest documentary.
Pam and I have been dear friends for ages and it was my great pleasure to support her award winning documentary on National Treasure Tyrus Wong years ago.
This documentary, which Pam co-produced, is titled “A Better Way….James Lawson, Architect of Non-Violence.”
Afterwards, dear Jan treated us to a lovely lunch at the Culver Hotel Restaurant.
Later that week, Veronica and I had tickets for the opera’s full dress rehearsal of Akhnaten.
If you go, I suggest you read the background story for this opera.
How wonderful to end the month with a delightful Brush painting class in the studio.
New student Julia did beautifully, as you can see.
Wishing you a beautiful, joy-filled March.