Thursday, October 15, 2015

L.A. Trip - Day 8: E.T. And The L.A. Philharmonic At The Hollywood Bowl

Just like everything else in L.A., there's extremely limited parking for the Hollywood Bowl.  So we headed back to Hollywood & Highland again to catch a shuttle - for $6 each round trip, it was definitely the way to go (because parking at the Bowl was a nightmare).  We got parked and it took us a minute to find the shuttle pick-up area.  When we did find it there was already a shuttle bus waiting which quickly filled.

This is the scene outside the Bowl.  Yes, that is someone just getting out of the car in the middle of the intersection as two officers "direct" traffic.
We got there at 7pm, and the Hollywood Bowl was really cool!  We were in a Garden Box near the stage (see photo caption below).  You can bring your own picnic supplies and food, or they have restaurants there that you can order ahead for a meal, or there are several confession stands.  It looked like most people brought their food and made a night of it.  Several went all out with tablecloths, silverware, proper plates, wine, etc.  We on the other hand grabbed a couple of hot dogs and bottled waters from the concession stand.  They were also handing out free bottles of Coke on the way in.
Seating/eating at the Bowl.  We were sitting in the Garden Box section like these folks - 4 folding chairs and a removable table.  When you're ready, attendants will come by and remove the table and trash while you turn all the chairs to face the stage (or they'll do that for you too).  Further back in the center are the "super seats", which are like stadium seats, and then beside and behind those are the bench seats.

We were eating when our box-mates showed up:  an older white woman and young middle-school aged Asian girl.  They were nice, but didn't talk much and we couldn't figure out their relationship.  Anyway, we finished eating, had the table removed, then turned their chairs around for them.

The concert/movie started at 8pm and it was wonderful.  There was the main large screen above us and to the right, but there were also smaller screens all along the stage and a big screen tv-sized monitor directly in front of us.  It was amazing to get caught up in the movie and then look over and suddenly remember "Oh yeah, there's the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra right there playing that music live."  They were so good, and so in synch with the film.

The event started with a filmed introduction by composer John Williams.

So excited to be here!
The main screen
A view from our box
Looking back from our box
The orchestra and security? trickle in and warm up
John Williams (on the monitors) introduces the evening
Intermission.  Everyone seems to be really enjoying themselves.
I decided to walk to the top during intermission to take a picture.  This is a shot of the unbelievably steep walkway that leads up the sides of the seating (they also have escalators on the outside).  This photo doesn't do the incline real justice - when walking uphill you held your body at a 45 degree angle to the ground.  When walking back down I swear I could have just reached back with my arm and dragged my fingers along the ground as I went.  It was a hike to get up there, but I took it slow and steady and made it.  Go me!
Almost there
Made it!  Now, let me just stay here and catch my breath for a minute.
The conductor, David Neman, takes the stage again
After the fantastic show was over, everyone, including the orchestra members, made a mad dash back to their cars to get out of there.  Which was funny because everything in the parking lot was so gridlocked they couldn't go anywhere anyway.  We walked down the hill to the shuttle buses and soon were on our way.

We got back to Hollywood & Highland and walked over to Mel's Drive-In for an after-show nosh.  I had an El Rancho Breakfast Burrito (flour tortilla, scrambled eggs, chorizo and cheddar cheese topped with pico, tomatillo salsa and sour cream) with a side of diced potatoes and a decaf coffee.  Very good.

For when you've really worked up an appetite listening to the orchestra

When we finished our second dinner (supper?), we drove back to the hotel down Sunset through Beverly Hills.  It had been a great day.

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