Los Angeles is a place that I feel I need to get to... once in a while. A concert at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall is a fabulous motivator, especially for Steve.

This uniquely awesome space is the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, presenting the best in classical music, contemporary music, world music and jazz.

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH) is an internationally recognized architectural landmark and one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world.
From the stainless steel curves of its striking exterior to the state-of-the-art acoustics of the hardwood-paneled main auditorium, the 3.6-acre complex embodies the unique energy and creative spirit of the city of Los Angeles and its orchestra.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of Lillian Disney, the Disney family, and many other individual and corporate donors, Los Angeles enjoys the music of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and visiting artists and orchestras from around the world.

We were here for the Toyota Symphonies for Youth: Brahms and his First Symphony. I've been once before and thought it was an exceptional introduction to the L.A. Phil and this spectacular venue. As part of this program for children, they even hosted an Instrument Petting Zoo. So dang cool
Interesting tidbits about the steel exterior. It is comprised of 22 million pounds of primary steel, with 12,500 individual pieces, each unique ranging from 13 inches to 110 feet long. The pieces weigh as much as 165,000 pounds and if placed end to end, they would stretch 49 miles. When it was first opened (2003) its high gloss shininess caused problems. Drivers were blinded by the glare, and residents of the condos across the street complained about the reflected heat. Initially, a gray tarp was hung over the worst area, which makes only a small percentage of the building. The solution was for workers to sand down the metal to dull the gloss. On the right of this image, you can see my reflection in how the entire building looked originally. Wild.
So about this performance, it was geared towards introducing children to the magic of classical music. Through the eyes of a young girl desperate to finish a homework assignment, we learned why it took one of the most famous composers, Johannes Brahms, more than two decades to write his first symphony. This concert was a celebration of that masterful piece and its composer, who never stopped trying.
Our row BB seats gave us an up close and personal experience with the actors and the conductor. We were educated and entertained. It was a truly amazing morning of music.
Upon leaving, we were able to meet the conductor, Elena Schwarz, and praise her for her musical magic.
Our lunch stop was at the 55 year old Cinerama Dome (now the Arclight Cinema). I love history, vintage and unique so this place meets all my needs. And what history. Studio executives blamed television for a decline in movie going during the 1950s and tried all sorts of techniques, from 3-D to Smell-O-Vision to lure audiences back into theaters. Film companies developed richer colors, better sound, and bigger and bigger pictures. Some were so wide that theaters had to tear down walls to install larger screens. The Cinerama picture was so enormous that it took three cameras, stacked side by side, to capture all the action.
About 30 films were shot in ultra-wide-screen formats that are compatible with Cinerama, from 1950s travelogues to 2001: A Space Odyssey to Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Today, only the Dome and the Seattle Cinerama can accommodate these films in their original format. My goal is to one day see a film in the Dome. To be able to look up at the mathematical wonder of 316 pre-cast concrete panels and feel like I'm walking into the future, even if that future came and went more than a half-century ago. A girl can dream.
In the meantime, we dined in the lobby of the new and expanded theater, while plotting Part 2 of our L.A. Day.