MOM AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Last Friday and Saturday, my mom performed at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL! I love to see concerts beneath the stars and you know I love my mom, so I was excited for two FABULOUS nights in a row!

Friday afternoon, I prepped for the evening! I swung by the cheese section at the grocery store and chose an assortment (gruyere, goat cheese, cheddar and brie) and some crackers. I had a nice bottle of white wine left over from a dinner party, so I was all set. I packed it all up in a bag (don’t forget the cheese cutter, wine opener, knife, paper plates and napkins!)

I dolled myself up in my new off the shoulder teal dress and headed out to pick up my friends Kim, Lacey and Pearl. The traffic on Highland was moving at a snail’s pace and we were running a bit late. Luckily, we were able to valet park, which helped us make up some time getting to THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL. We found our box just as the LA Philharmonic took the stage (The LA Philharmonic presents Diana Ross = 30 minutes Philharmonic, 30 minutes intermission and 1 hour mom).

We stood for the national anthem, then as the Philharmonic started their set, we settled into out seats. They were spectacular and to experience them while underneath the stars was FABULOUS.

However, I have never seen a Philharmonic play so I was unaware that one is NOT allowed to speak, whisper or rustle crackers and cheese plates during the show (I wish that we would have arrived earlier to get settled in before everything got started). Being unaware of Philharmonic protocol, I guess we agitated the older man sitting in the box next to us. When my brother Evan came over to say hello, the man was very rude. His exact words were “Take a hike, kid!” Evan, being the polite young man that he is, gave my friends and I hugs and returned to his seat.

When the Philharmonic was finished, I stood and spoke to the man. I apologized for our noise, but said that he could have been a little more polite. This sent the man reeling. He placed his pointer finger about an inch from my nose and shouted, “SHUT UP!” He then ranted about how we were kids who didn’t know anything about the world and that we were rude and inappropriate. I told him that I was sorry he was having a bad night, but I was here to have a nice evening and to please keep his crabbiness to himself.

Evan returned to check on me (with his security guy in tow) and told the man that we were here to enjoy our mother’s concert and asked him to just leave us alone. This was the worst thing to do! Now it became all about how ashamed our mother should be that we were acting this way to a fan (this man didn’t seem like he was a fan of anything)! I was confused by the way he reacted towards us. I really didn’t think I did anything wrong! This went on for the whole intermission and then the man got REALLY nasty! He started yelling about how I obviously forgot to take my meds (I don’t take medication by the way, but don’t think its something to yell at someone about) and to get over myself.

I think I’m usually pretty calm and collected but by this time, I had reached my peak (and I started to cry). My brothers, Evan and Ross (who are extremely protective of their sisters) went and got security. They pulled the man out, who claimed to be a police officer (I definitely would NOT want to get pulled over by this raging lunatic) and spoke to him. They were also able to move my friends and I to another box (an even better one close up and next to nice, happy people)!

Though we missed the beginning of the mom’s performance, once we got settled the show was FABULOUS! Mom wore a gorgeous white dress then she did a quick change into a black lacey number and finally a yellow princess gown. She sang many crowd favorites (I’m Coming Out, Love Hangover, You Cant Hurry Love and Reach out and Touch) and we danced up a storm as she rocked the house. I also got to meet many of mom’s fans (who are all so sweet and kind to me here on my website/blog and on myspace)!

Even though, the night started out rocky, in the end my friends and I had a FABULOUS time and didn’t let the crabby man ruin our evening!

Saturday was way less stressful and even more FABULOUS! Some of my friends from high school and college had decided to visit on the same weekend as the show. My friend Casey (from high school) and her new husband Greg (see July 2, 2008 blog) came down from San Francisco (they literally just got back from their honeymoon), my friend Mary (from college) and Annie (who I happened to go to high school and college with) all made the trip. I was able to get a booth for 6, so with one extra seat, my LA friend Samantha joined the evening festivities too.

We shopped for wine and Greg and Annie picked out the good stuff. (I know NOTHING about wine except that I like it) and cheese and marmalade, crackers, boursin and olives! With our fine assortment, we went ALL out and took an SUV with a driver to the HOLLYWOOD BOWL (If your gonna drink multiple bottles of wine… be prepared! Get a car, take a cab, just don’t get behind the wheel)!

We arrived early this time and had plenty of time to set up our table arrangements, greet family, friends and mom fans before the Philharmonic took to the stage. After the National Anthem, I zipped my lips and didn’t even crack a smile for their whole set (this is very serious stuff, obviously).

When mom took the stage, she was better than ever (maybe jut because I was relaxed and in a much better mood)! We sang along to the oldies, swayed to the Lady Sings The Blues hits and danced to the newer stuff. Mom looked radiant in her gorgeous gowns and she seemed to be having as much fun as we were (Halle Berry was having a FABULOUS time too! She was rocking out in a box right behind us). We were all having a great time and the show ended too soon!

Needless, to say, even with a couple small grumpy, bumps in the road, I had a FABULOUS time at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL!

Check out the schedule and see a show yourself at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL!
www.hollywoodbowl.com
Just remember NO TALKING during the LA Philharmonic!!