China Philharmonic Orchestra: Bridging differences

A couple weekends ago, I had the privilege of attending a concert by the China Philharmonic Orchestra at the Valley Performing Arts Center (see my previous post). Admittedly, some of my own ideas and beliefs of Chinese culture prepared me for a skillfully executed, but superficial, unemotional show. Fortunately for me, and I'm sure for the rest of the audience, the CPO's performance that evening was deeply moving and full of emotion.

Experience L.A.'s Valley Performing Arts Center

I live in the valley. To many of my friends, it may as well be another universe. "How can you live in the valley?" "What's there to do in the valley?" "How do you entertain yourself?"

Well - to start - I have a house in the valley with lots of convenient services nearby like a grocery store. I guess that's how I can live here. I do all kinds of things in the valley, such as go for walks, take my dog to the park, and talk to my neighbors. As for entertainment, there's plenty: visiting the NoHo Arts District, going to the venerable jazz club Charlie O's, Universal Studios Hollywood, and shopping along Ventura Blvd. And now, I can chalk to this a state-of-the-art, beautiful 1,700 seat performing arts center!