Kenversations™ - Oct 28, 2003

Kenversations™
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The Hallowed Haunting Grounds
On the other end of the spectrum (and located in Los Angeles) is the Hallowed Haunting Grounds (http://www.HauntingGrounds.org). Evocative of Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction, this annual experience has been going on for over thirty years. Unlike the Emerson experience, this is purely atmospheric and spooky, not something where someone jumps out at you. You observe haunts and ghostly characters in the font lawn and front windows of a private residence.

This is one to be taken in slowly, as it is chock full of subtle but amazing effects, all part of common theme where you can decipher a back-story.

If you are anywhere near either one, I can't recommend more that you check them out. These kinds of things are all an extension of theme park thinking.

There's something else you should see, though, and it isn't scary or seasonal. It's the magnificent Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Walt Disney Concert Hall
Immediately after returning from northern California on Saturday, October 18, I attended a 2 p.m. concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This event was called "Phil the House" and it was a chance to see the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hall before the official opening, which took place the following week.

I sat in the fourth row from the stage. The concert consisted of: Revueltas, "Sensemaya"; Herrmann, "On Dangerous Ground"; Salonen, "LA Variations"; and Ravel, "Bolero".

There were no pictures allowed inside the auditorium, but you can read my previous report on the Walt Disney Concert Hall from earlier this year (complete with lots of pictures) by clicking here.

The Hall is beautiful inside and out, and those who worked so hard to bring it to reality (including the various people in the Disney families) should be proud.