The Capistrano Insider

Friday's Library Film: "Waiting for Superman"

For those of you not aquainted with SJC Librarian Teri Garza, let's just say she'll challenge your idea of librarians. Here's an email she blasted out -- I'm posting here because the 2010 Waiting for Superman, of course, took a look at the public education system by following several students.

The Capistrano Library is across from the Mission, and I'd recommend the movie showing to anyone interested in education. A good evening out.

Here's Garza's announcement: 

Friday, June 3 at 7 pm   "Waiting for Superman", 2010  Documentary film which analyzes the failures of the American public education system.  Winner of the Audience Award for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/  Rated PG - 102 mins.    $2 donation or free to Friends of the Library and SJC Rotarians (you know who you are). 

This film program is made possible by the generous donation of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club!

Greetings Film Fans,
   I'd planned to send this out yesterday, May 31 but I got waylaid and now it's June 1.  That's OK because I'm sitting here in my office and The Talk show on CBS just came on and one of their guests is the director of this Friday's film.   If you've not heard of it, go up and click the link from the Internet Movie Database and you can decide if it's worth 102 mins. of your valuable time.  The filmmaker who brought us Al Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth", decided to shine a light on the public education system as he observed it .  The idea came to him as he'd be driving his own kids across town to their private schools.   It's just out on DVD and there is quite a number of requests of people wanting to see this film.  For a mere $2., (or for free if you're up to date in your Friends membership), you can avoid that wait while munching on freshly popped popcorn.  As usual, show starts at 7 pm in the La Sala Auditorium, right next to the library. 

    The kids film, which we'll be showing Saturday morning at 11 am is "Gnomeo & Juliet", an animated film with a soundtrack by Sir Elton John.  Based on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, it will be my way of getting in the mood for my upcoming review of Capistrano Shakespeare Festival by the Camino Real Theater.   Watch for those upcoming critiques!  The Saturday  film is free since you get to share the experience with a room full of noisy kids!

    I'd love to go into all the details of the "Night of the Arts", my first and last library gala but I might incriminate myself.  Suffice to say if you were here, you had a great time while also helping the Friends of the Library support the San Juan Library to be able to provide the best library service for all those who venture through our world renown walls to educate their minds, enrich their lives, or just check their Facebook. 

    I'd also love to share my latest endeavors to curb my shopping addiction.  You know you can't get one of my emails without a little "Shop Talk" thrown in.   I was doing so good  because I was working more than usual in getting ready for the gala and attending the various community events that I felt were important to participate in.  They included the Equestrian Coalition's Kentucky Derby event at the Regency Theater, Independence Bank's Grand Opening/Mixer, the musical Sweet Charity at the Camino Real Theater, the Battle of the Mariachi's at the Mission, and Restaurant Week which I thoroughly enjoyed as documented by a write up in the San Juan Capistrano Patch!   I really think I could have made it through the month of May if it hadn't been for the Memorial Day Sale at Sears.  They know my weakness which requires at least an additional 30 % off what is already clearance.   As an experienced "buyologist", I know that there's always a chance that  marked down items might scan less than the tagged price.  Suffice to say, I added 13 new stylish bags to my accessory room, average cost, $8.  So, know that all my friends and female relatives will be getting purses for their birthday/Christmas gift. 

    Just remembered one more bit of information to relate.  We've got a Multicultural Art Series concert coming up June 11.  It's been a few months since our last one and so this will be the first one in the courtyard for 2011.  It will feature Greely Savoy Duo, who are Cajun fiddlers, guaranteed to make you tap your toes and whatever else moves when you've enjoying music.  Showtimes are at 6:30 & 8:30 pm and tickets go for $10 adults & $5 for kids under 12. 

    Well, that's all from me.  If you have any questions or need more information, just reply back, visit www.ocpl.org or call 949-248-5132 and if I don't answer the phone, just leave your name and number.   

Teri Garza, Librarian/SJC Rotary Fan/Buyologist/Bag Lady

Capistrano's Cool Librarian Reviews Camino Real Playhouse Feature

Greetings Intellectuals of mostly Orange County whose email addresses you’ve shared with me, 

I’d planned to send this out Saturday afternoon, after having spent the whole day hanging out at the Park as part of San Juan’s 50th celebration. Well, after seven hours of assisting little kids with making thumb print bookmarks, selling some used books, plugging library programs, and just happy that it didn't rain, the mail didn't get sent Saturday. 

So here it is Monday afternoon and I’m back at the library ready to share the latest production of the Camino Real Playhouse, "See How They Run.” http://www.caminorealplayhouse.org/see-how-they-run.php 

The play is an English farce, hence my clever Subject line in the email. Now I didn’t realize that there is a definite recipe for a farce which I’d like to share as stated in Wikipedia. Now I don’t usually like to use that particular website as my main source for reference work but it’s as good as any so here it is. Farce - a comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humor of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include sexual innuendo and word play and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases, culminating in an ending which often involves an elaborate chase scene. It is also characterized by physical humor, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense and broadly stylized performances. 

Voila! That is exactly what I had the pleasure of seeing last Thursday night at the Camino Real Theater, after Italian happy hour at the Regency Theater, the finest movie theater in town. There are only nine performers and I was familiar with five of them, who I’ve seen appear in various other productions over the past 12 months. This play is English so most of the cast have lovely English accents and ½ of the cast end up dressed in the same Vicar outfit. You see it all takes place in the Vicarage where Vicar Lionel Toop lives with his former American Actress wife Penelope. Other characters include the mettlesome town busybody Miss Skillon, the young cockney maid Ida, the Bishop/Uncle, the intruder, a visiting Vicar, and local Sergeant. As both the title states, and the farce meaning describes, you, the audience really see them run throughout the 2 acts. In one door out the other, out the window in the window, some in various states of undress or sleeping attire. I will say that Vicar Toop, who I had already been a fan of after seeing him as a Pirate Captain and also El Capitan, is quite the patriot as seen by his Union Jack drawers. And what a completely different character Darrel Hill as Clive, Penelope’s former/acting friend/now Corp. from his great performance as Mickey Gorski last December in “Greetings,” who I know will be nominated for a “CaminOvation Award” this summer. 

“See How they Run” runs the next two weekends, ending with a matinee performance on Easter Sunday. I’ve included the theater’s website at the beginning of this email so you can click on it and see the exact dates, times, and ticket information for when you might be able to make that trek just a stone’s throw out the back door of Swallow’s Inn. Speaking of that lovely establishment, I always enjoy Tom Scott’s welcome where he reminds the audience to turn off the cell phones, covers the safety issues by reminding people that the entrance they came in is also the emergency exits should they need to make a fast exit. And if such an emergency arises, everyone knows to meet up at Swallow’s. The library is just down the street but our proximity to the Basilica makes it our emergency meeting spot. Guess the particular emergency one would be experiencing would deem whether you needed a stiff drink or the closest confessional. 

 And while I’ve got your attention, I’d like to plug a wonderful program the Friends of the library are sponsoring Sat. April 16 from 10 – 12 noon in La Sala Auditorium. It’s a “Morning of Storytelling” with Storytellers Cynthia Callard and Victoria Burnett, who are guaranteed to entertain all ages with their communication skills that mesmerized generations before radio and TV came along. It’s all free and part of the year long celebration commemorating the 50th Anniversary of San Juan Capistrano as a city. 

Well, thanks for reading if you got this far. I want to give a shout out to Jonathan & Steve for the wounds they received in helping me break down my booth Saturday and getting all the stuff back in my car. I owe you both and you know how I’ll probably repay you next time you’re at a program of mine. And if you go to the play and some of you better, mention my name. It won’t get you a better seat but it will let Tom & Beverly know that I’m earning my seat. 

Ciao & Cheerio!

Teri Garza, Librarian/Theater Critic/Park Partier

 

CARE Foundation Raffle Supports All CUSD Schools

Less than a month remains to purchase a ticket for the chance to win a brand new Toyota Prius donated by Capistrano Toyota during the 7th Annual “Keys to the Future” event sponsored by the CARE Foundation.

 The keys to the Prius will be awarded at a special event on Tuesday, March 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Capistrano Toyota, at 33395 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. The evening will also feature an exclusive “Taste of Capistrano,” starring menu items from Brio and Sundried Tomato Café.

Tickets are $50 each or three for $125. Participants may also designate $15 from each ticket purchased to their favorite Capistrano Unified School District school, program, or group. Tickets will be on sale until the evening of March 29th and may be purchased at www.care-4education.org

Here's the Weekend SJC Library Lineup ...

From the Coolest Librarian, Teri Garza:

San Juan Library First Friday Film March 4, "The Town" 2010 directed and starring Ben Affleck  rated R, La Sala Auditorium, $2 donation at the door.  Bank robbers in Boston.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/ 

I am still feeling the afterglow of a great Oscar night hosted by my Hollywood Producers Robert Kline & Stephanie Heredia.  We had a full house of real movie lovers who got the inside track on all the nominees who lived our their dreams 2 nights later at the KodakTheater.  I also think it was quite predictable, at least the major categories. 

I've just finished calculating the ballots by the Friday night crowd and I'm afraid I've got a tie on my hands.  So I'll be heading back down to Sarducci's to visit Tom and see if he can help me out so I'm not having to draw between the 2 winners.  They haven't heard who they are yet but they both had 10 out of 11 correct, and each missed a different category.  The Best Foreign Film seemed to be the one that was least predictable.  It was the best Open Snack Bar this town had ever seen since the Regency's grand opening last May, with cookies, fresh popcorn & full size candy bars! 

   Sure wish I could have just left the room set up for this coming Friday night but the Pilates class on Tues. & Thurs. might have had a problem with that.  So, I'll be back lugging out the chairs, speakers, projector, tables, etc again this Friday so I'm hoping there's a good number of you, who like myself, didn't see "The Town." 

If they'd have nominated 11 Best Pictures, it would have probably been in there.  Mr. Kline said that the academy is still carrying a grudge with Ben Affleck for his J Lo film Gigli.  His wife Stephanie, mentioned it, along with the comedy Morning Glory as her 2 favorite films from 2010.  Those reasons, plus the fact that the entire month of March in San Juan is all about "the town" and "the birds."    

The Swallow's come back, starting March 19, St. Joseph's Day, when the religious ones soar in and then the pagan ones wait till parade day Sat. March 26 when things are a bit more wild with 100's of horses parading through town.  That type of transporatation or just your own 2 feet, is the only way you'll be able to get around town.  In fact, the library even closes because you can't get near it after 8 am.  And back by popular demand, the SJC Library precision Book Cart Drill Team is returning.  For the past 2 years, we've wheeled our little book carts right through the center of town cross weaving, circling, both clockwise & counterclockwise, yet we are still trophy challenged.  I'm hoping the 3rd time is the charm because with the various cutbacks to our book budget this past year, the drill team participants has also been reduced from 10 to 6.  We're hoping that our precision will be more precise with fewer of us to mess up and we'll break away from the Susan Lucci curse.  I know my parade days are numbered so I'd really like to add a parade trophy to my Shoe Shrine.  It's probably the only day of the year you'll see me in flat shoes. 

    Speaking of shoes, which I frequently do, I'd like to give a shout out to the Sear's associate who "gifted" me with an extra 30% pass a few weeks ago.  I'm can't remember if I regaled already that particular shopping expedition that had me leaving the store with 13 boxes of footwear.  Suffice to say, I did end up returning at least 3 pairs once the euphoria had worn off.  But even my own mother, when I shared my "booty" where I paid $7  & $10 for footwear which retailed for up to $89 had to admit they "were keepers".  So perhaps this Friday night, I'll be rocking in a pair of my new boots or I might even wear my newly earned "Golden Oscar" shoes that Stephanie Heredia presented to me last Friday night.  I guarantee you will not find any other librarian with a jazzier collection of shoes.  I know I'd for sure win just for quantity!  Well, that's this week's reminder.  I've got a busy social calendar that I've got  to get started planning the appropriate wardrobe beyond Friday night's movie. 

New melodrama to review at the Playhouse, Mayor's State of the City dinner, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday,  El Presidente Ball, Parade Day, & next Multicultural Concert March 26 (another double header) with Gerry O'Bierne & Rosie Shipley.  And before I forget a quick shout out to my favorite service club in the whole wide world, the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano!   They graciously have chosen to continue their sponsorship of our monthly film program.  I'm sure glad they did because we just printed up a new supply of popcorn bags with their logo.  Thanks again Rotarians! You are the best! 

As usual, I've rambled on way too much and didn't event mention the Sat. film which is "Megaminds" for the kids and any brave adults who don't mind a room full of noisy kids.   It starts promptly at 11 am and is free.  That's all from me.  I now need to go and make my font a little bigger which makes it easier on the eye, yet takes up more space.  Oh well, Steve really appreciates it. 

For more information call 949-248-5132 & leave me a message.

Ciao

Teri Garza, Librarian/Gal About Town (San Juan Capistrano)

Political Correctness Taking Over Fiesta?

The all volunteer Fiesta Association, the group that puts on the annual Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano, is debating whether the term "Smooth Puss" can still be used as a reference to a man with a cleanly shaven face, or whether the term is too close to slang for a woman's private parts.

The group uses "Smooth Puss" in a beard-growing contest, but might drop it this year.

See more at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

And the parade, by the way, is on March 26 this year.