Yesterday I went with my mother and daughter to the annual Holiday Celebration at the Music Center in Los Angeles. It's somewhat of a holiday tradition with my family. I remember first going with my parents in high school, and we have been there a half dozen times since then.The program is a six-hour free with music and dance performances by some of the best community groups in greater Los Angeles. The Christmas Eve event is free to the public, as well as parking (no small matter in downtown Los Angeles). This year, during the hour or so we stayed, we saw an all-women's mariachi group, jazz tap, Korean dance troupe, and gospel choir, among others. Along with performances featuring holiday songs, the program highlights Los Angeles' cultural diversity in the arts.
Usually, no matter what time you get there, you walk right in and sit down, though often in the balcony levels. Yesterday, when we came out of the underground parking garage about half an hour before the program started, we found a line stretching from the entrance to the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion (one of four venues at the Music Center) snaking down the central courtyard and out of site. We kept walking back, back, back, and finally found the end of the line one block away.
Well, we made it in and found seats on the lower balcony level with about ten minutes before the start. I had expected, by arriving before opening, we might find seats toward the front of the lower orchestra level. My daughter hadn't taken her nap, so we ended up leaving into the second hour of the program. But when we came out, the line looked just as long as earlier, but it wasn't moving because the staff only allowed people to enter as other people left the building.
Of course, with some 10 million people living in Los Angeles County, I suppose I should not have been surprised, since Christmas Eve being on Saturday meant most people would have the entire day off.
Happy holidays and merry Christmas to everyone!
