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The Bair family home in tiny Martinsdale may be toured, its treasures viewed. Montana sheep baron Bair made millions; daughters' left home, splendid museum to public  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER MARTINSDALE  isn't more than a tiny spot on the Montana map, but it has a larger than life museum and an unusual inn that takes one back in time. We headed Martinsdale way recently for a memorial for my uncle, Harry A. Cosgriffe. Within the gates, a fascinating home tour and beautiful modern museum await your pleasure. That meant traveling through several green and gorgeous Montana counties -- including Stillwater, Sweetgrass and Musselshell, and along some of Montana's most picturesque rivers and mountains. PASSING NYE,  Dean, Absarokee, Columbus, Reed Point and Big Timber, we departed the interstate and turned north for Harlowton. Then, thirty miles more, past Two Dot and fields of golden wheat and rich yellow canola, we arrived in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains, at the town of  Martinsdale. We left our bags at the Crazy mountain Inn, (our next story spotlights this rustic and relaxing jewel). Proprietor Cheryl Marchi, checked us into the turn-of-century inn then sent us off to the museum. She urged us to try the inn's famous homemade pies later. More about the inn, in our next post! The Bair sisters' fondness for "all things French" is apparent. BACK ON the road a mile or so, we were met by husband-wife docents Don and Paulette Amundson at the Charles M. Bair Family Museum. The complex is the star of tiny Martinsdale.  A state-of-the-art museum sits adjacent to a barn-turned-giftshop and the sprawling 26-room Bair family home. The museum features beautiful galleries showcasing the family's extensive collections of western and contemporary art, photographs and native American beadwork, leggings, elk tooth dresses and ceremonial pipes and attire. The home is a treasure trove. Among its gems are exquisite paintings by French artist Eduardo Cortes, whose Paris street scenes were favorites of sharp-eyed Alberta Bair. Native rock was used to integrate the museum's look with the landscape and the Bair mansion. WITH ITS  sleek, airy interior, contemporary lines and modern art preservation technology, the four-gallery museum could be at home on a Los Angeles street corner or in Midtown Manhattan. Alberta Bair, one of two sisters of sheep and railroad baron Charles M. Bair and his wife, Mary, was the last of the family to occupy the house and her final car, a spiffy white Cadillac, is still parked in the garage. It looks as if it's waiting for her to bounce through the back door in one of her favorite red hats, and drive into Billings for a concert. French flair and western comfort are part of the ambiance of the Bair home. DOCENT DON  took us on a delightful one-hour stroll through the home, which is filled with antiques, paintings and silver acquired on trips to New York and Europe. From a Louis XV marquetry inlaid table to English porcelain and tea urns, the home is a tribute to deep pockets and fine taste, a western style palace for our own version of royalty. Some historians trace the family's roots to European royals! THE BAIR  progeny, Alberta and her sister Marguerite, had no heirs. Inheriting the family fortune, they made collecting and the goal of a museum their child. The complex is a major beneficiary of the Bair money, and was Alberta's brainchild according to a plan set forth in the will at her death in May of 1993. In one of my many interviews with her, she mentioned her desire that a museum be established on the grounds.  Other museums -- the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyo., and Great Falls' C.M. The Bair barn makes a handsome and educational gift shop. Russell Museum -- may have hoped that the extensive Bair western art collection might come their way. But the Martinsdale museum came to be, opening finally in June of 2011, 18 years after Alberta's death. I WROTE HER  newspaper obituary, which lists the many organizations and causes to which she contributed and which the trust continues to endow: hospitals and clinics, libraries, schools, youth agencies, and many other cultural and humanitarian causes. Annual scholarships are still awarded to students in nearby schools,  according to trust dictates. ALBERTA'S  "special late baby," as she once called it, lives on, along with the museum.  The Alberta Bair Theater in Billings, the old Fox Theater, was built in 1931 on the site where Alberta was born and renamed after a multi-million dollar remodeling. (I spent more than a decade heading that effort.) Docent Don Amundson guides guests from the museum toward the Bair family home, for a lively tour. The Fox restoration, history and Alberta's decision to contribute a million dollars to the "Save the Fox" effort will be the subject of another story later this summer. MEANWHILE , the Martinsdale museum doors open onto a walkway to the home. Docents take guests on a lively journey to the roots and legacy of the Bair fortune. The tour gives insight into Alberta's decision to make certain the Bair name is forever part of Montana's and the West's history.  With a $3.1 million price tag, the museum houses the family's coveted Charlie Russells and Joseph Sharps as well as my favorite European and American contemporary paintings and rare, light sensitive photographs of Edward Curtis. NATIVE AMERICAN  artifacts are housed in climate and light-controlled glass cases and a "revolving exhibit" gallery showcases such rare treats as the present Crow and Gros Ventre Indian Ledger Art. Contemporary European art resides comfortably with western and Asian. The elder Bair lived in the1930s ranch home less than 10 years, having taken the family to Portland, Oregon from 1910 to 1934. He died in 1943 and his wife in 1950.  Marguerite, who had married the ranch foreman Dave Lamb in 1939, lived in the family home with Lamb and Alberta until their deaths -- Alberta's the last, at age 97 in 1993. We strolled through the home -- past photos, paintings and memorabilia in formal dining and receiving rooms and informal den -- admiring portraits autographed by a half-dozen presidents, and studio shots of movie stars, including Montana born Clark Gable. This urn was acquired during  European travels. COWBOY ARTIST  and author Will James, who lived for a time in Billings, is represented in a photo with Alberta -- both of them in hats -- and they spent time together when both were young. A solid gold door nob is valued at around $20,000. Our Atlanta guests admired the home, remarking that the Bairs inveted their fortune in much the same fashion as did other early 20th Century barons and moguls: on bronzes, paintings, china, gold fixtures and accents. Bair came to Montana in 1883, at age 26, as conductor of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He acquired his fortune in the Alaskan Gold Rush, parlaying it into oil, mining, real estate and ranching, including the world's largest sheep spread, more than 300,000 head. THE MUSEUM  and home illustrate what the family did with his money -- in cohesive, exciting displays, the result of the artful intelligence of museum curator and director Elizabeth Guheen. She sees the entire complex as "a collage -- vivid, idiosyncratic and alive." As she developed the museum's rooms, drawing from the sisters' collections, a video of Alberta and newspaper clippings, she took care to inspire, guide and "expand our dialogue with history," a primary goal of Alberta's. After their parents died, the Bair sisters made  frequent forays to Europe, collecting art and silver and china.  They furnished the home with Chippendale and other name brand furnishings and expanded the elder Bairs' collection of Indian art, beadwork and rugs. A vintage 1950s kitchen is part of the tour of the Bair Museum and home. The vintage 1950s kitchen is fun -- the girls liked bright reds and blues -- and the ornate bedrooms are left much as the two left them -- with frocks hung awaiting a dinner party, crystal, linens and favorite paintings. (The original artwork is in the museum; but the digitally reproduced copies hang mostly where the Bair sisters originally placed them.)   PLAN A  couple days, to take in the museum and enjoy the scenery and the Crazy Mountain Inn's relaxing ambiance. To plan your Martinsdale weekend, go to: info@bairfamilymuseum.org www.crazymountaininn.com Martinsdale's Crazy Mountain Inn is next up at: www.whereiscookie.com COMING UP : Next up, a close-up of the Crazy Mountain Inn, with its unique ambiance and terrific cream pies. Our family spent a recent fun weekend there.  Then we travel to Egypt and Brazil, looking at the people and lifestyles and examining the change and politics. We'll also take a look at my attempt to integrate death and loss into daily life. And we answer a request, to show off our Montana locale, High Chaparral, and share what we do and see when we're in the Rockies. Remember to explore, learn and live and tune us in Wednesdays and Saturdays at: www.whereiscookie.com

An array of vintage buildings present visitors with a feeling of nostalgia, in Hardin, a town proud of its history. LITTLE BIG HORN MUSEUM PUTS  MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS  TO SHOWCASE  REGION'S HISTORY History is lovingly preserved in immaculate eye-catching displays. Donors came through with contributions from personal archives and businesses. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER NO ONE  would expect to find such a grand and ambitious museum in a small town off the beaten path. The museum's director and biggest booster, Diana Scheidt, talks with Cookie as she tours her through the museum. But there it is:  the Bighorn County Historical Museum and Visitor's Center, a proud testimony to community spunk, generosity, determination and imagination. The Hardin, Montana, complex is a treasure trove of eye-catching artifacts, old buildings and personal effects from a lively farming community's perspective. Old  meets new in the Big Horn County Historical Museum, where the "wheel" of life is represented in full detail. MOVERS AND shakers with an eye for preservation take visitors back in time to a day of horse-drawn carriages, farming and forging a century ago, train travel in 1890, homesteading in 1912 and all that keeps a community going: church, doctor's office, post office, barns, schools and bunkhouses. There's even a 1933 filling station, mortuary and a barbershop. AS YOU WALK through 24 historic structures on the museum's 35 acres, you glimpse a bygone era. Hardin's rich history is brought to life through donated photographs and artifacts true to each period depicted. Donors dug deep into their pockets to put the museum on the map when it was established in 1979. Cleverly, the beautiful, modern main building has featured exhibits including native son Will James, a Plains Indians display and  historic pieces of well preserved furniture, including a pipe organ. CONTEMPORARY glass work, pottery, jewelry and an array of books by Montana authors are nicely displayed.  Bits of Hardin's history blend with new art to please the eye. Cabinets from the clerk and recorder's office form the attractive u-shaped counter in the gift shop. Antiques -- from cars to a beautifully preserved pipe organ -- are on display. A venerable safe from Sawyer's Store -- which survived more than one burglary before closing in 1965 -- found a loving home at the museum. A beautifully restored tin ceiling graces the Visitor's Center, drawing the eye upward and paying homage to Big Horn Implement and Schoen's Auto Supply businesses. A vintage light from Custer Park enhances the museum's foyer. CASH REGISTERS,  western wear, doors, desks, mirrors, lights, banisters, clocks, storage cabinets from a hardware store, an antique phone booth long before cell phones.... all speak to a community whose citizens have preserved a slice of life more than a century later. Antiques and vintage photos are beautifully integrated in the Big Horn County Historical Museum complex in Hardin.  It's a true treasure. An antique sink from the city's first hospital -- long ago condemned -- found a health related space in the museum -- installed in the women's restroom. A Brunswick Bar from the Bighorn Saloon is perhaps the best preserved relic of bygone days. THE MUSEUM  complex offers a wonderland of heritage, history and imagination.  It's one of the most artful museums in a medium sized town -- Montana or beyond. The Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge: elegant, historic, restful, with fabulous food and pet-friendly digs to boot! Scheidt says the museum is "a work in progress, continuing to develop." Adults pay $6 and seniors $5. Besides special programs, educational and private tours, the museum park area is available for special events such as family reunions and weddings, memorial services or unique gatherings of any kind where a feeling of history is desired. For more, go to  www.bighorncountymuseum.org UP NEXT: Wonderful  relaxation abounds at the Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge, where our wayfarers put down for  badly needed R&R.  What makes this unique Montana hotel such a sanctuary and treasure?  Find out at www.whereiscookie.com , where we promise lively looks at off-beat travel treats and treasures. Remember, carpe diem, so explore, learn and live and check us out each Wednesday and every weekend!

A beautifully acted comedy drama at North Coast Repertory Theatre features Anabella Price and Mark Bramhall as Dubliners Betty and Dan. 'CHAPATTI' IS CHARMING, FUNNY LOVE STORY WITH AN IRISH BROGUE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF YOU ENJOY  fine theater, a loyal cat or dog and a charming love story, you still have a few days to catch "Chapatti," at North Coast Repertory Theatre. The beautifully directed, well acted two-person show tells the tale of two lonely   animal lovers who meet in a Dublin veterinary clinic. He's grieving the loss of a longtime lover and contemplating parting with his rescue-dog Chapatti, to pave the way for suicide. She's a classic "cat lady," long since given up on romance. They are human posters for the "get a friend" campaign and we're cheering them on toward romance. Play goers mingle at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Chapatti," (an Indian bread, and a pet dog's name) runs through Nov. 15 and is highly recommended. TALENTED ACTORS  Mark Bramhall and Anabella Price play the parts of two lonely, opinionated people who have more in common than they suspect.  Billed as a "heartwarming second-chance comedy," it celebrates life and the capacity to heal, continue and be open to love. Tony award-winning actress Judith Ivey directs the Christian O'Reilly work with a winning warmth and humor. Don't miss it, and consider subscribing to the Rep season, which ranges from a Christmas classic to Sherlock Holmes on the frontier, to an adaptation of a William Faulkner story, a Fats Waller tribute and the classic "Hedda Gabler." www.northcoastrep.org   The Bair collection of antiques, silver, china and crystal, includes sewing machines and vintage photos in the Barn. UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS AT MONTANA MUSEUM A PIONEERING  Montana family dined on Limoges and Waterford crystal, but was equally at home "on the range" in jeans and cowboy hats. Alberta Bair: Montana philanthropist. The Charles Bair family -- the elder Bair, his wife Mary and daughters Marguerite and Alberta -- left a rare legacy to Montana when the last of the family, Alberta, passed away in the late 1990s, leaving millions in trust for a museum on the ranch property near Martinsdale, Montana. The Bair home is open to the public this weekend. The art museum is free and tours are discounted. That came to pass, with a beautiful facility built near the original home. This Saturday, Nov. 14, visitors will have the rare, once-a-year opportunity to visit the museum, then tour the downstairs home and upstairs private family quarters at the Bair Family Museum. Museum director Elizabeth Guheen says, "Each year, we bring out collection items that are not displayed year-round. Saturday, we feature the Bair family’s formal china and dinnerware, plus everyday dishes." All the home's tables will showcase eclectic linens, silver and china -- from Minton porcelain to Limoges bouillon cups brought home after a Paris visit. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town just completed a pair of Noel Coward works. The popular tour day is offered for a discount: $3 for adults, free for 16 and under. The Bair Art Museum and Barn are also free during the weekend holiday open house. Coffee, cider, hot chocolate and treats will be served in the Bair Barn. Check it out if you're near Montana.   www.bairfamilymuseum.org COMING UP NEXT: On the 10th anniversary of the departure of writer and artist Bill Jones, we reflect on a life well lived! Then -- a celebration of theater. San Diego is alive with fantastic plays. Many Broadway shows got their start in this southern California cultural mecca: ("Jersey Boys," "The Book of Mormon" and more...) We look at upcoming seasons, from San Diego Repertory Theatre to La Jolla Playhouse and Cygnet. Explore, learn and live and check us out weekends and as the spirit moves at: www.whereiscookie.com

Expect the unusual at New York's spectacular Museum of Modern Art.  Here is Salvador Dali's "Retrospective Bust of a Woman," created in 1933.  It features painted porcelain, bread, corn, feathers, paint on paper, beads, ink stand, sand and more. It is one of many treasures at the museum. NEW YORK'S MUSEUM OF MODERN ART HONORS LEGACY TO EMBRACE THE NEW STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers near Van Gogh's most famous painting.  STANDING NEXT to "Starry Night," one feels the genius of Van Gogh.  The darkness that overtook him, the talent that sprang from his tortured soul, the beauty of his timeless art. It's all there. That and much more, in an astonishing array of 200,000 works of art from around the globe. You'll see works by Van Gogh, Matisse, Dali an array of other spectacular artists at  New York's great and grand Museum of Modern Art, "MoMA," as it is affectionately known. There are museums and galleries, and then there's MoMA. The museum is a beloved treasure trove of beautifully displayed art through the ages. Its founders insisted that showcasing the new and modern be the focus at MoMA.  And so it is, with modernist masterpieces including works by Picasso and many others considered ahead of their time.   Picasso's "Lady in Mirror" is among the exquisite bounty at MoMA. THE MUSEUM debuted in 1929, during the heights of the Great Depression, opening just days after the infamous Wall Street Crash.  It was a gift of deep-pocket visionaries and philanthropists, a trio of progressive and influential patrons of the arts.  Lillie P. Bliss, Mary Quinn Sullivan and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller -- challenged the conservative policies of traditional museums by establishing a gallery devoted to modern art. The three were a "Who's Who" of New York then and wanted a place to showcase new work. The museum is front and center in  midtown Manhattan, filling an expansive block on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.  Many patrons have donated their personal art treasures to MoMA. Henri Matisse's famous "La Dance" was a gift of Nelson Rockefeller.  The Rockefeller family has long ties to MoMA. THE MUSEUM was originally located in the Heckscher Building on Fifth Avenue where it was America's first museum to devote itself exclusively to modern art.  At its helm were A. Conger Goodyear as president and Abby Rockefeller as treasurer.  Through its early years, the museum moved to several temporary locations. John D. Rockefeller Jr. eventually donated the land for its permanent site.  A new sculpture garden by Philip Johnson was designed and the museum moved to its current location on West 53rd Street in 1939. Modern art sculpture plays a major role in MoMA galleries . Besides Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night," created in 1889, you'll find many other masterpieces including these two most viewed paintings: Bruce Keller points the way to imagination in an intriguing piece, "Bingo," by Gordon Matta-Clark, 1974. The museum's wide ranging  exhibits include changing installations.    " The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí, that intriguing melting clock created in 1931, and Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon," which revolutionized contemporary art when it was unveiled in 1907. You'll also see Andy Warhol's famous Campbell’s Soup Cans, Andrew Wyeth's evocative "Christina's World," Rene Magritte's "The Lovers" and masterpieces by Chagall, Cezanne and other groundbreaking artists. New York's Museum of Modern Art remains in a league of its own, with a collection of 200,000 works . LAST YEAR, the museum welcomed nearly 2.7 million visitors to its galleries for more than 35 exhibitions. The range of changing exhibits included An-My Lê’s photographs exploring conflict and human connection, a reunion of works made by Picasso during the pivotal summer of 1921, and more. MoMA makes a visit a pleasure with excellent maps and guides, helpful docent volunteers to point you to the places you desire, and a delightful albeit pricy restaurant with among other treats, caviar hotdogs. The museum shop is one of the best in the world. What's not to like at MoMA?  More information: MoMA is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Saturdays, when it is open until 7 p.m. Tickets may be reserved in advance through the My CityPASS®   moma.org ON TAP:  Hold on to your hat and duck your head! We'll explore wonders of our world as Earth Day approaches, and follow the theme of "great art" -- both man made and created by nature. Come with us to caves, mountain tops, museums, off the beaten path wonders and  unexpected pleasures on a road trip. We'll explore art that incorporates trash -- salvaged from our beleaguered seas. Join us as we hop   The Crystal Caves in Bermuda are a famous attraction in Hamilton Parish. They're formed over millions of years and were discovered by a couple of kids playing cricket in 1907 .    about the globe, with   a look at two fabulous caves in Barbados and Bermuda, a study of Salvador Dali's three museums in northern Spain, a visit to a favorite city, Barcelona, where we examine the influence of architect Antoni Gaudi, and a look at a Montana museum devoted to the work of renowned western artist C.M. Russell. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, art, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

SAMPLE TOP ACTING AT OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, LIVELY CABARET, THEATER, FINE RESTAURANTS, CLASSIC HOTEL, CHEESE AND CHOCOLATE! Ashland, Oregon's main street at dusk shows off its shops, movie theater and centerpiece hotel, the Ashland Springs. The festival owns several cars and has a $32 million budget. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER   WORLD CLASS  theater is alive and well in Ashland, Oregon. The gender-bending, stereotype-defying Oregon Shakespeare Festival is an annual tradition for this reporter, and has been for decades. I can't imagine a year without my Ashland and OSF fix.  There are many enticements in this magical southern Oregon town. Ashland really has everything one needs for a varied, restful yet exciting escape. Stage hands transform the Bowmer Theater for comedy in "The Cocoanuts."      Its unique blend of sophistication and earthy appeal, of town and gown, city and country, soothing and exciting render it a jewel of America and the globe.      CHIEF AMONG  its pleasures is the world class festival, founded by enterprising Scotsman Angus Bowmer, who called the Rogue Valley home.      In 1934,  Bowmer devised a way for the town's popular boxing matches to fund his deeper passion, the theater. Cookie strolls by the Allen Elizabethan Theatre.     The clever, play-loving gentleman  dreamed that Ashland could support live theater -- first rate productions.       HE WAS  right. From his ambitious idea grew the internationally known festival.  In the Bowmer lobby, a lovely portrait of Bowmer smiles down on the lobby as the appreciative audience files in to surrender to the wonder of live performance. Angus Bowmer's vision for top theater became a money-making reality . We had the pleasure of sitting in the Bowmer seats for one of the roster of plays we enjoyed.  And we located two seats I endowed in memory of my late husband, Bruce Kemp Meyers, an actor and writing professor who spent many happy hours mesmerized by the festival. I LIKE TO  think that Bowmer and Bruce are sharing a scotch and theater talk in the great performance hall in the sky. The Thomas Theatre is small, intimate and versatile, named after a beloved OSF devotee and staffer, the late Peter Thomas.  Between plays, you can eat like one of Shakespeare's kings -- we hit the Oregon Chocolate Festival and sampled delectable cheese from Rogue Creamery (more later). You'll get hooked on Ashland  as you celebrate the dramatic arts.  Whether a theater newbie, or die-hard veteran, you'll be dazzled by OSF's diversity. THESE PROS  serve up classic works by the Bard, much loved musicals always with a spin, and new, thought-provoking works by playwrights from around the world. Except for a couple of WWII years, Ashland has offered a knock-out roster of intriguing work, acted by top performers and musicians with an annual following in the tens of thousands. Oregon Cabaret Theatre marks season 29 in an historic converted church. JUMP IN  and fasten your theatrical seat belt for a gorgeous and imaginative version of "The Tempest," a rousing laugh-filled "The Cocoanuts," a thought provoking story about relationships and change in "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window," and more. That's just at the Bowmer.   www.osfashland.org Cookie checks out the OSF Playbill during a week-long visit. The smaller Thomas Theatre, named after a late, beloved fundraiser at the fest, offers "The Comedy of Errors" set in Harlem, an upcoming world premier and "Water By the Spoonful," while the Allen Elizabethan Theatre will feature "Into the Woods," the Sondheim musical, plus "Richard III" and "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" with an all-female cast. Variety, daring and quality.        THIS YEAR , we also took in the backstage tour -- a wonderful diversion for seasoned theater goers or anyone wanting to learn more about the inner workings of this successful operation. The Allen Elizabethan Theatre. Most people do what my family and friends have done for years: check into the lovely Ashland Springs Hotel, stroll to the festival box office to pick up tickets, make a reservation for dinner (a tough choice in delectable Ashland) and begin savoring this magnificent year-round destination, just 15 miles north of the California border. Actors John Keating and Galen Schloming deliver in "Double Trouble" at Oregon Cabaret Theater, directed by the talented Jim Giancarlo.       ASHLAND IS  fun for a long weekend but there's plenty to do for a full week or more.  We try to visit either Portland or San Francisco (it is roughly half-way between).  This trip we stayed six days in Ashland, seeing all the fabulous works on the boards at OSF's theaters and topping it off with a delightful evening at the always entertaining Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Oregon Cabaret Theatre has a lovely chandelier. THE CABARET  is also an Ashland family tradition, nearly 30 years old and always a treat.  We saw a dazzling "Double Trouble," with two gifted actors playing multiple roles in a 1940s musical "tour de farce."  It runs through March 30, followed by "The Marvelous Wonderettes Caps and gowns," "Ain't Misbehavin," "Backwards in High Heels" and the live radio play of "It's A Wonderful Life" for the holidays. www.oregoncabaret.com for a totally enjoyable theater experience, stellar meal and the dramatic, comfy setting of an historic church. It's right up the block from the hotel: ashland springshotel.com Jeffrey King takes theater lovers on a tour of the OSF's three theaters.  Here, they gather in the basement of the Allen Elizabethan Theater, which opens June 3. COMING UP : From center stage to backstage, join us to discover OSF backstage secrets.  One of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's seasoned actors takes us on an intriguing tour in the hidden places of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Remember to explore, learn and live, and check out our posts on Wednesdays and weekends: www.whereiscookie.com

The view from our hotel balcony in Fiji last year -- knowing we will return is helping the recovery from transplantation. While Cookie and Keller never miss a chance for a live theatrical production, the theater of the sky -- here in form of a dozen pelicans -- is engaging fare, too . THEATER PLAYS OUT ALL AROUND US -- IN SURGERY, ON STAGE, AT THE BEACH, AND OVER OUR CANYON STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy theater marketing departments Yale Strom is a perennial favorite at the Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival on tap through July 9. Fine acting, spirited singing, skilled directing await at North Coast Rep's production of "The Spitfire Grill," through July 2. AS WE   PASS  one month since Keller's liver transplant, we're experiencing theater in several senses of the word -- at Scripps Clinic, the oral surgeon, in nature and on the boards. We've seen more pelicans at Torrey Pines than we've ever seen before here in San Diego. At home, we're being visited by a family of kites....gorgeous white birds also sometimes called   hovering or soaring kites. Keller's chief transplant surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Fisher, gave him thumbs up Thursday at clinic. Still no biking, though he is once again behind the wheel of our Ford Explorer. The finches are plentiful at the feeders, and sometimes the kites have come down from their pine-tree perches to visit us right on our patio. They are a regal bird, with gorgeous black shoulders and beaks that remind of Roman sculptures. Tune in to transplant tale, part one I consider all our feathered friends a good omen -- as we enter week five since Keller's liver transplant. A fabulous production of "Damn Yankees" is running at the historic Spreckles Theatre in downtown San Diego. As we knock it out of the park in recovery from liver transplantation, the musical was apropos. Today was a rough day for him -- two dental implants of over a year ago were compromised by his diminished immune system, complicated by anti-rejection drugs following transplantation. The infection had to be stopped so repairs were done today, along with extraction of a broken tooth and a new implant. Transplant tale continues, part two Bad timing, but he's handling it like the trooper he is -- still, a rocky day for our Titanium Man, aka "Patient Patient."  He hopes to take in a weekend paella party farewell for a friend who's returns to Ecuador. And his only daughter is coming for Father's Day. A white-tailed kite -- once endangered -- is one of several regular visitors above the canyon out our back patio here in San Diego. MEANWHILE, THE KITES  have been close since we returned from the oral surgeon.  They seem to be communicating with us -- telling us to "hang in there," reminding that we, too, will soar again -- on the road back to our usual travels and his improved health. "You will return to Fiji," the kites seem to be saying.  Keller keeps his camera close and made one of his Fiji photos his screen saver.  He took it one sunset. Nurse Kick-Ass is making plans for a return to our favorite corner of Fiji.  This will be an important ticket in our drawer, my Father's Day gift to PP. We've been to live performance three of the past seven nights -- enjoying fabulous productions of "Damn Yankees," a favorite family musical, and "The Spitfire Grill," with its haunting music and enthralling story.  Both musicals -- "Yankees" at Spreckles in downtown San Diego, and "Grill" at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana  Beach -- are directed  with imagination and heart. Top-drawer actors deliver in two delightful productions. Cookie shed her nurses cap, left, for a few nights of culture with Keller and her sister Misha this week in San Diego. Transplant tale, part three The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival is a thrilling addition to our cultural docket, a reward after a long day's doctoring. Brilliant fiddler Yale Strom and fabulous musicians of Hot Pstromi are just what the doctor ordered, along with Elizabeth Schwartz, Lisa Payton and Coral Thuet delivering a soulful and eclectic evening of global vocals. We'll hear Hershey Felder and Friends soon in "The Stories of Sholem Aleichem and More" and that will tide us through another week of doctoring. My sister Misha was here for five days from Atlanta -- plying her skills of reiki and acu-pressure on PP. She took in the culture with us and we made time for happy hour appetizers and N/A beer at our favorite La Jolla Shores. As the French say, "la vie continue" .... SeaWorld's splendid new orca show features the magical killer whales in a high-tech global environment. NEXT UP:  Since we've stuck closer to home these past months, awaiting the transplant, we've rediscovered what we've known for years -- that California offers a world of engaging diversions. San Diego's world famous SeaWorld has revamped its orca shows and we were invited to the media opening.  We'll take you there, and then visit San Francisco's Exploratorium with our Bay Area niece and her family. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live. Consider organ donation -- a gift which changed our life.

Hershey Felder channels Beethoven via a father and son who knew him in Vienna in a glorious production at San Diego Repertory Theatre's Lyceum Theatre. The staging is glorious, the story moving and Felder plays many Beethoven pieces. From left, Jessica John, Richard Baird and Catalina Zelles in "Gabriel," a riveting North Coast Rep drama set on the island of Guernsey in World War II. Sold out houses and rave reviews have extended the run to March 24! - photo courtesy production director Christopher Williams MUSICALS OLD AND NEW, INTRIGUING DRAMA, AWARD WINNING MIX OF WORK PROVOKE, ENTERTAIN AMUSE AND BRING THE GENIUS BEETHOVEN BACK TO LIFE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and theater marketing/media departments IF YOU LOVE  theater and warm temperatures, that should be enough of a hook to draw you to San Diego for a week or even a few days. Feed the artistic soul, warm the heart and hands, chill out and maybe catch a whale watch tour. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town undertakes Tony Kushner's two-part epic, "Angels in America" opening March 6. In our dozen years of frequenting San Diego's many fine playhouses, this season offers one of the most varied and satisfying dockets we've experienced. Fabulous theater in a fabulous part of the world. Here are favorites from the region's bountiful playhouses. (Alphabetical order.): CYGNET THEATRE.  "Angels in America." Old Town. Ambitious two-part multi-award winner by the brilliant playwright Tony Kushner "a gay fantasia on national themes" focuses on two troubled couples, one gay, one straight -- and much more.  Redemption, forgiveness, salvation, politics, morality are all explored. March 6-April 20. Seven hours, two parts, running in repertory. "Pride and Prejudice" caps the always inventive Cygnet season.  cygnettheatre.com . Add Jeremy Wilson and Cashae Monya star in the intriguing "Hedwig and the  Angry Inch." DIVERSIONARY THEATER . "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." 4545 Park Blvd. Outcast turned rock underdog, "Hedwig'' took Off-Broadway by storm and Diversionary's inventive production promises "to catapult the audience into the outrageous original story." A sex-change operation goes wrong with both hilarious and horrifying results and a theme with both personal and universal breadth. March 15-April 15. diversionary.org Intrepid Theatre's plays unfold at the Lyceum downtown in Horton Plaza. INTREPID THEATRE COMPANY . At the Lyceum Theater downtown, Horton Plaza.  This top caliber organization pushes the envelope, explores a range of work both new and classic.  Intrepid plans an intriguing "lab" this spring to workshop and modernize its upcoming production of Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus." Keep your eye on Intrepid, for its ambitious, eye-opening work such as a brilliantly acted "Art." After "Titus Andronicus," "Joe Turner’s Come and Gone" by August Wilson concludes the eighth season season.   intrepidtheatre.org Actress Jeanna de Waal, right, portrays Princess Diana in a new LJPH musical. La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . "Diana." Mandell Weiss Theatre. A new beautifully staged musical in the state-of-the-art LJPH features Jeanna de Waal takes the title role in this world premiere musical with the Tony Award-winning Memphis team of Joe DiPietro writing book and lyrics and David Bryan collaborating with music and lyrics. Playhouse artistic director and 2017 Tony winner Christopher Ashley directs. Through April 14.   lajollaplayhouse.org "Chaps" promises a foot-stomping, energetic time at the theater in an adventuresome musical comedy at Lamb's. LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE.  "Chaps." Coronado. Prepare for another lively presentation laced with plenty of country tunes. The new Lamb's musical is described as "Monty Python meets the Wild West." It's set in WWII during a live BBC Broadcast from London. The storyline: a studio crew must act fast to fill in when Tex Riley's Singing Cowboys are late. March 5- April 14. Lambsplayers.org MOXIE THEATRE: "Hookman Mar. 15 – Mar. 24. Fresh. Imaginative. Irreverent. That describes Moxie's quality work. "Hookman" features a homesick college freshman girl with a weird roommate while a hook-handed serial killer is about. Billed as "an existential slasher comedy" it promises bloody humor. moxietheatre.com "Smokey Joe's Cafe" offers a spirited revue of blues and rock 'n' roll hits. NEW VILLAGE ARTS.  "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Through March 10.Carlsbad. High-energy tune-filled musical revue with 39 block-busting rock 'n roll and blues songs, ably acted by a winning cast of nine singers-dancers-actors and a terrific five-piece band. in favorites from the '50s and '60s.. "Servant of Two Masters" and "Little Shop of Horrors" follow."  newvillagearts.org North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach offers an enticing mix of quality work in a small, welcoming venue. NORTH COAST Repertory Theater . "Gabriel." Solana Beach.  Through March 24. Intriguing, beautifully acted story set in World War II, directed by Christopher Williams. A stranger appears, changing the dynamic in the Nazi occupied island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. "All in the Timing," a lively satire directed by David Ellenstein and the Tony winning "A Walk in the Woods" follow.   northcoastrep.org SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATER.  "Hershey Felder's Beethoven." Downtown. Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza. Brilliant production by pianist-actor-writer Felder, whose Chopin, Liszt and Bernstein are stunning, too. Through March 24. sdrep.org Jeffrey Scott Parsons is the lead in "Crazy for You" ending a successful run this weekend, here with the tapping ensemble. SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATER .  "Crazy for You." Horton Grand Theatre. High energy Gershwin musical stylishly directed by Kirsten Chandler with engaging tunes, bravura vocals, a crack orchestra, snappy dancing and splendid costumes. Followed by "Freaky Friday March 22-31 and "Sister Act" April 26-May 26. Final weekend for "Crazy...." Through March 3. sdmt.org WELK RESORT Theater : "Menopause the Musical" follows a smashing "Mamma Mia" run. Features four sassy women at a lingerie sale, singing their way through hot flashes, night sweats, sex problems, memory loss and more. Hit parody set to classics from the '60s to '80s.March 15-June 2. welkresorts.com/san-diego/theatre/ Norwegian Cruise Line's Spirit took our veteran travelers around southern Europe and into the Greek Isles and, here, Valletta, Malta. UP NEXT:  Come with us to as we rediscover the pleasures of Norwegian Cruise Line, which we chose for our 115th cruise recently, touring the Greek Isles, with stops in Malta and Italy. What makes NCL special for veteran cruisers?  We'll give you reasons to try the line if you're new to cruising or have many happy cruises under your belt. We'll look at the dining options (including abundant tables for two and flexible times) and we'll consider the ports of call and well organized tours as part of the lure. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekends for a fresh look at travel, the arts, nature, family and off-beat fun.

Signature coconut shrimp, hibachi steak with mushrooms and yummy soup made moments ago are part of a delightful "Taste of Catalina" food and history tour, with Lili Dana a delightful guide for a walking, learning and munching tour of Avalon. Lili Dana greets tour tasters with a lively history of Catalina Island and The Four Preps, whose "26 Miles Across the Sea" made Catalina famous, along with tasty food and friendly people.  LAID BACK TOWN HAS A VILLAGE FEEL WITH THE PERKS OF A CITY, A GET-AWAY FOR EVERY TASTE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER WE HAD  four days to discover Catalina. I, a Montana kid, had logged only one earlier brief visit "26 miles across the sea." Acting as my tour guide was lifelong Catalina island fan, sailor, native San Diegan and my half-amphibian partner, Bruce Keller. He'd been to Avalon  many times -- diving and taking photos -- glowing reports! Cookie and Keller took a kayak excursion out of Descanso Beach, where a stylish hotel once sat and many kinds of relaxation and water sport await. SO ON THE FERRY  over, he gave me a history lesson, along with a glass of chardonnay: More than a century ago, an eccentric sailor, Captain Joseph McAfee, sailed a flat bottom houseboat from Venice Beach to Santa Catalina.  He'd purchased land with a wonderful view of the bay, determined to make Avalon home. THE CAPTAIN'S  spirit and sense of adventure typify today's Catalina resident: visionary, persistent, not afraid to be different. In love with the sea and the views. McAfee  hauled his "house" up a hill and opened what would become a hotel. McAfee's 1912 vision spawned today's Catalina Island, which offers luxury hotels, cottages, condos, camping and bargain hotels --  you can be active or laid back, your call. WE ENJOYED  the pleasant ride over on Catalina Express, a comfy ferry. The only year round boat service to Catalina Island, it offers regular daily departures from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point to both the main city, Avalon, and the quieter, smaller Two Harbors. Between my history talk and the cocktail, the smooth trip over flew.  A VIP lounge for a few dollars more is worth the upgrade: http://catalinaexpress.com/ We strolled to the lovely Descanso Beach Club offers fine dining, lovely landscaping and a variety of water sports.  Here we met our guide for an narrated kayaking journey to Frog Rock. www.KayakCatalinaIsland.com ONCE THERE,  we called the Catalina Boat House and were picked up at the nearby harbor in the island's favorite mode of transport, a golf cart. (The waiting list for a car is years long and gas is more than $7 a gallon, so the golf carts are fun, sensible and environmentally friendly.) The Boathouse -- formerly the captain's Catalina Beach House Hotel -- is a pleasant walk from the action, in a residential area with friendly people and dogs.  Captain McAfee would approve, for he was a lover of the good life -- from the flying  fish he showed off at night -- to fresh seafood he favored. Keller and Nora prepare to enjoy a few active but relaxing days on Catalina, which is very dog friendly and a lovely get-away. The Catalina Express runs regularly from several mainland departure points with a comfy, fast and scenic one-hour journey. The beautiful and historic Avalon Casino has a Christmas tree atop. HE WOULD  have loved the coconut shrimp at Steve's Steakhouse, one of our stops on the delightful "Taste of Catalina" tour we booked, with our charming guide Lili Dana. Six varied and thoughtfully ordered stops are included in the three-hour walking excursion where Lili serves up intriguing bits of island lore to accompany a half-dozen "light bites" including fabulous green beans at the town's well loved Oriental restaurant, Mr.Ning's Chinese Garden, bedecked with dozens of umbrellas. On to  splendid seafood chowder at Bluewater Avalon with its magnificent waterfront patio, then stops for a Mexican snack, cinnamon tea and a tasty ice cream soda dessert. Each stop has character and Lili keeps the commentary running in an amusing, never cloying fashion. It's fun, filling and educational and a good way to get a feel of the island, returning to favorites as we did to Steve's and Bluewater. We also dined one night at Avalon Grille, which is a world class establishment. The scallops and tenderloin were superb, service impeccable. http://www.catalinafoodtours.com/ BEST BETS: for a hit of holiday cheer, tap into "A Christmas Carol" at Cygnet Theatre  This Old Town venue in San Diego, provides a  fun spin on the familiar story:  Sean Murray's adaptation offers laughter,  ironic but tender touches, fine acting  by a versatile cast, adaptations of familiar carols (Oh Come Emmanuel and Bring a Torch  Jeanette Isabella) Book it for a fast track  to holiday joy: https://tickets.cygnettheatre.com/   THE FLYING  fish the cap'n loved can be seen on the walls of Catalina Island's famed casino, which we'll feature down the road in its own story.  The artwork is phenomenal.... and the handsome museum within -- building its own larger complex -- is  a delightful way to spend a few hours. Catalina offers upscale spa treatments, diving, biking, Saturday night movies and splendid free weekend organ concerts, parasailing, charter boats-- or just lovely beachfront places to park yourself, read and see if you can glimpse the mainland you've left behind. And for this Montana native, seeing bison outside of my Yellowstone Park stomping grounds was a wonder! The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce is one of the most efficient and helpful I've come across in years of travel writing.  The fine website helps line up whatever you fancy for your tailor-made Catalina get-away. http://www.catalinachamber.com/   Israel Isidore Baline, but most of the world knows him by his American name, Irving Berlin. NEXT UP:  He was born in Russia and named La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a tuneful, masterfully performed holiday offering, "Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin," through Jan. 3. Whereiscookie.com enjoyed opening night of Felder's brilliant performance as the beloved composer and master of the '88s, whose music forms a time-honored chapter in the American musical lexicon.

Cygnet's final holiday show in its longtime venue in Old Town features a spirited production with a genuine heart, the classic "A Christmas Carol" featuring the gifted Sean Murray as Scrooge. HOLIDAY JOY ABOUNDS AS SAN DIEGO TIPS ITS THEATRICAL HAT TO THE YULE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER (and courtesy theater marketing departments) UNLESS YOU'RE a real Grinch, you'll find something to tickle your funny bone with a raft of rousing productions on the boards now playing in the San Diego area. This theater loving corner of the state is recovering from COVID's blow which left houses dark, stages bare and seats empty. We're among happy legions celebrating live theater's rousing comeback. Jefferson McDonald and Mathew McGloin delight for a holiday encore of  "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" at North Coast Repertory Theatre. We visit 15 San Diego theaters on a regular basis, proud that the city is blessed to have many enchanting theater venues. As grateful members of the audience we give thanks for talented actors, directors, designers, marketing pros and volunteers whose patient persistence keeps us in the limelight. Happily, we offer our annual holiday roundup of "the best on the boards" in theater loving San Diego. NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE:  After an imaginative sell-out performance of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the popular "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" returns to delight holiday crowds Dec. 15-31. It's a fast-paced blend of comedy and virtuosic musicianship, with two accomplished actor-musicians presenting personal anecdotes, music snippets and bits of musical history. The intimate house offers excellent seating and a pleasing mix ranging from musicals to world premier dramas, comedies and classics.  The steady, creative hand of artistic director David Ellenstein crafts a season that satisfies older patrons while drawing new younger crowds.  He gives imagination a whirl with a lively blend of familiar comforts and new challenging work.  northcoastrep.org    Cygnet's charismatic artistic director Sean Murray, in night cap, stars in a spirited "A Christmas Carol." CYGNET THEATRE.   Capping a rousing, beautifully acted run of "The Little Fellow....." a risqué comedy about a flamboyant madam, Cygnet Theatre in Old Town presents its popular holiday show through Dec. 26.  Cygnet's engaging  "A Christmas Carol," features artistic director Sean Murray's clever adaptation with the versatile Murray himself perfect as Scrooge. A fine 7-person ensemble puts magic, music and imagination in this beautifully rendered adaptation. As Cygnet wraps its tenure in Old Town, it prepares for its new, renovated home at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station.  Cygnet is also sponsoring a one-woman show featuring the music of the legendary Billie Holiday. "Lady Day" at Emerson’s Bar & Grill recounts Holiday’s life story through the songs that made her famous.  www.cygnettheatre.com Gifted actor Bryan Banville plays the lead role of Buddy in ''Elf,'' at Welk Resort Theatre. A terrific cast, endearing songs, spirited dancing and fast paced scenes are sure to enhance the Christmas spirit. THEATRE AT THE WELK.  The beautifully designed theater, at 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive in Escondido, presents a delightfully uplifting production of "Elf, the Musical." A comedy with soul, it's based on the children’s book and hit Will Ferrell movie about a human boy, Buddy,  raised as a Christmas elf at the North Pole.  A polished cast plays multiple roles as Buddy returns to New York City to find his human family and restore the spirit of Christmas to the jaded Big Apple. Award-winning San Diego actor Bryan Banville plays the lead role of Buddy with tenderness, vulnerability and a voice to melt even the heart of a scrooge. Flashy choreography, multiple costume changes and a first-rate ensemble make this fabulous holiday entertainment for kids of all ages.  Nov. 18-Dec. 24.  welkresorts.com Girl singers with flair and beautiful harmonies from the "R*E*S*P*EPC*T" sell-out join guys from "The Million Dollar Quartet" in a holiday extravaganza at Lamb's. LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE:  Following a brilliantly acted "Jane" -- a riveting, flawlessly delivered take on Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre " -- Lamb's Players presents a polished and tuneful show with favorite top-drawer singers.  "R*E*S*P*E*C*T*F*U*L*L*Y Christmas," runs through Dec. 24. It's a lively vocal creation featuring casts of both "RESPECT" and "Million Dollar Quartet" with a nod to holiday favorites. If you saw either of these first-rate productions at Lamb's, you're in for a musical treat as these tuned up guys and gals collaborate for the holidays.   lambsplayers.org The Plaids present a jazzy holiday treat at San Diego Musical Theatre SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE:   Harmony reigns in a holiday edition of the popular doo-wop musical comedy “Forever Plaid.” In this Yuletide version, the long-dead 1960s-era men’s vocal quartet, the Plaids, are resurrected for one night to give the holiday concert they never were able to sing in life. Runs through Dec. 24 The theater presents an admirable mix of musicals, including "In the Heights," which introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda to the world, and the perennial favorite, "Little Shop of Horrors."  SDMT's lively "Forever Plaid " closes the 2022 season. The popular grassroots enterprise made its name with romantic comedy and favorite musical theater offerings thanks to musical-loving founders Gary and Erin Lewis who launched the endeavor in 2006. It has a loyal following for its varied repertoire.  sdmt.org   Taking a bow, the ensemble of "1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas" at New Village Arts. NEW VILLAGE ARTS .  This delightful 99-seat theater in Carlsbad headlines its 20th anniversary season with "1222 Oceanfront:  A Black Family Christmas," through Dec. 24. San Diego playwright Dea Hurston’s 2021 lively contemporary holiday musical features fun original music by Milena (Sellers) Phillips, who also stars in the show’s lead role. It’s the story of widowed family matriarch Dorothy Black, hosting a Christmas Eve celebration at her elegant beachside home with her adult son and extended family when unexpected family drama erupts. The musical delivers a joyous mix of original holiday songs with a modern nod to traditional carols.  The ambitious Carlsbad venue produces year-round musical events, cabaret and concert readings of Broadway musicals.    newvillagearts.org Diversionary Theatre has a new look, and a slate of four intriguing works with LGBTQ themes. Here, the cast of "A Glass Menagerie," a top production with four fine actors. DIVERSIONARY THEATRE . The current season at our nation's third oldest LGBTQ theater includes "The Glass Menagerie," the Tennessee Williams classic of a complex family in the 1940s, facing an uncertain future. Lisa Berger deftly directs a first-rate cast featuring Shana Wride, believably endearing in her excess as Amanda, the overbearing mother. Luke Jacobs does a fine job with Williams' poetic narration. The theater is devoted to gay themes and playwrights, including Williams. Diversionary is a small, mind-challenging venue which opened season 36 in its recently renovated space, including a cozy cabaret. Diversionary's enterprising playbill espouses love, honesty, humor and hope with a  mission to inspire and celebrate diverse LGBTQIA stories.     diversionary.org "Man and Moon" caught the eye of critics and subscribers alike. MOXIE THEATRE:  Watch this ground-breaking company,  known for its generosity to students, and for its diverse repertoire of "female focused" work. Some of the region's best actors have graced Moxie's stage where each season presents surprises and delights. "Man and Moon" just wrapped, featuring the touching story of a transitioning man, Aaron, and Luna, a young girl with a passion for outer space. Watch for more imaginative Moxie works on tap.  moxietheatre.com ROUSTABOUTS THEATRE CO .: This talented, daring company  features some of San Diego's finest actors and has produced a range of funny, touching and acerbic pieces.  Now, enter an ambitious youth program. The Roustabouts Youth Division presents a concert reading of "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the Tony winning musical which follows the biblical story of Jacob's favorite son, Joseph, and his eleven brothers. Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and is imprisoned by an Egyptian noble before a resolution. Actor Phil Johnson co-directs (company co-founder, brilliant in "A Jewish Joke") with a talented local cast. The readings are Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Scripps Ranch Theatre.    theroustabouts.org Scripps Ranch Theatre presents lively, evocative work with humor and heart, here "A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play." It's not on this holiday, but look for it. SCRIPPS RANCH THEATRE . Creative use of space on the campus of Alliant International University provides a welcoming forum for an interesting, diverse season.  In past years, Scripps celebrated the holidays with Scripps Ranch Theatre and Oceanside Theatre Company’s “A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play.” Watch for an encore of the radio play about the story of the Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge and his epiphany. Highlights of the upcoming, ambitious season are "Chapatti," a touching story of romance set in Dublin, and "Vanity Fair," adapted from the W.M. Thackeray novel. We hope for a return to the holiday show in 2024.   scrippsranchtheatre.org   The classic Dr. Seuss story of the cranky Grinch is at Old Globe. OLD GLOBE:  Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into a charming, snow-covered Who-ville. The popular family show is in its 20th year, "Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" is a whimsical musical based upon the classic book. It's up through Dec. 24. featuring memorable songs including “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day,” and “Fah Who Doraze,” the delightful carol from the animated classic. theoldglobe.org                         Actor Matthew Broderick rehearses a scene from "Babbitt," which is playing to raves for its elegance. Through Dec. 10, La Jolla Playhouse limited run.  La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . Carrying on this venerable, top drawer theater's dedication to the unique, La Jolla Playhouse has unveiled its 2024/2025 season, featuring a world-premiere musical, "The Ballad of Johnny and June." And while it's not exactly a holiday show, "Babbitt" offers a thinking person's alternative to the usual lighter yuletide entertainment with Broadway star Matthew Broderick starring in "Babbitt." Christopher Ashley directs the story of a 46- year-old real estate broker in mid-life angst. The Sinclair Lewis novel is adapted for the stage in this already sold-out production, extended through Dec. 10 with a wait list for tickets.   lajollaplayhouse.org WITH THIS BOUNTY,  the holidays are in full flower as theaters march on after a few complicated years. A bang-up, eagerly anticipated holiday theater season begins!  As the lively arts emerge from the shadow cast by COVID, it is important to support local theater, symphonies, chorales, bands and buskers. And remember that a pair or two of tickets to a play or musical makes an excellent holiday gift -- wherever you live. Honolulu's City Lights tour offers a hop on and off option. UP NEXT: While we're in the holiday spirit, take a ride with us on Honolulu's  much loved Waikiki Trolley. Climb aboard for a festive holiday lights tour aboard the trolley.   You'll see highlights of the downtown  area, with a special will take you through the city's historic downtown where you can hop on and off. Remember to explore, learn and live!

One World Trade Center is a remarkable homage to those whose lives were lost in the "9/11" terrorist attacks. A museum and a beautiful reflecting pool with victims' names honor their memory. HAVE A BANG-UP FOURTH OF JULY AS WE SALUTE NEW YORK CITY, OUR ENDURING SPIRIT, HEROIC PEOPLE AND OUR FRIENDS ABROAD STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Our Fourth of July last year included a trip to New York and a bus tour of the city, something we've done before but always enjoy for a new take. Fun to do on July Fourth AS WE  gather to feast, enjoy fireworks and treasure family and friends, we pay tribute to the international spirit of New York City, which played a key role in the settlement of the United States. And we salute the city's ability to heal. This bustling berg traces its origins to a trading post founded on the southern tip of Manhattan Island by Dutch colonists in 1624. They named their settlement New Amsterdam in 1626, long before the Founding Fathers came along.  New Amsterdam was chartered as a city in 1653. VIEWING FIREWORKS  over the Statue of Liberty is an uplifting way to affirm all that's good about America.  We've welcome immigrants since our beginnings, and our countrymen celebrate the diversity that makes the USA so appealing.  Our own circle includes friends from all over the world who share our fondness for American enterprise,  The melting pot of New York City is evident and full of  energy near Times Square. humor, spirit of adventure, generosity and good will. From 1776 to today, the holiday is celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities and reunions, rodeos, fireworks, parades and concerts. But between family gatherings and barbecues, let's ponder what really makes America -- and New York -- great -- politics aside, please. One World Trade Center stands where the Twin Towers were. WHAT TO ME  best describes our country is a double-card strong suit that trumps all others: our resilience and compassion. We've got spirit in spades, and we are proud of our ability to leaven even the murkiest challenges with humor. We are known worldwide for our capacity to recover from difficulties, for our toughness and resolve. And we're known for our kindness.  In dozens of visits to New York, I've always been graciously accommodated when I ask help with directions. I've even had New Yorkers guide me to the museum, the restaurant, the park. "Here, I'm going that way, I'll take you there." That's New York, and one of the reasons I love it. New York welcomes visitors from all over the world, as this Indian woman illustrates. Here she poses as her husband did earlier, in Midtown. WEBSTER DEFINES  resilience as "the ability.....to spring back into shape; elasticity." No where is that more evident than in the reimagined One World Trade Center.  People from all over the world come to meditate, to ponder, to appreciate the way in which New Yorkers rebounded from tragedy and created a beautiful space from death and destruction. A guide there told me that she's seen not only relatives of 9/11 victims, but veterans of war, people recovering from health issues and car accidents, parents struggling for peace after losing a child to gun violence. Patrick Harry Cosgriffe fishing the Stillwater River in early spring, happy in his Montana home. THIS FOURTH  of July is also the weekend our family is celebrating our brother's life.  Patrick Harry Cosgriffe accomplished a great deal in his too brief life.  Although he never particularly liked school, he graduated from college with honors. He did this while raising a handicapped child with his devoted partner after the birth mother abrogated responsibility. He was a gifted artist and fisherman, beloved brother, uncle, cousin, friend. So next time I visit Ground Zero and the beautiful 9/11 memorial, I'll say a prayer for Patrick, as many visitors do, remembering their departed loved ones at a scene of calm and reflection. AS OUR CLAN  says good-bye to Patrick, I think of the thousands of lives altered by the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., and in the fields of Pennsylvania, where a heroic group of passengers brought down a third suicide plane headed for the White House.A visit to New York has always been healing for me, with my life long love of theater. So I'll again give my regards to Broadway, honor a city with a rich history, and remember my hero Patrick and his huge heart. Totems in Skagway, Alaska, tell stories, often about mythical creatures and sometimes featuring the crow, known for his quick thinking and his ability to trick. This one is a favorite of our able guide, Cruin. UP NEXT:  While Montana is recovering from record flood damage and families are celebrating summer, we find tranquil climes as we sail up the beautiful coast of California, past Oregon and Washington, to cruise Alaska's rich waters. We'll share this unique state's wonders in a three-part series. First, we take you to Ketchikan, where totem poles are revered and continually being restored, displayed and created. Our guide is a transplanted Scotsman with tales to tell. Then Skagway with its splendid rail trip to the Yukon, for stunning scenery and breathtaking views of the wilderness. Finally, we're on the whale trail in Juneau. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on the arts, nature, family and travel:  www.whereiscookie.com

Children's pools, playgrounds, rowing ponds for all ages, beautifully kept greens greet the eye at Central Park East. A calming stroll along the perimeter of Central Park is a must. PARKS APLENTY: NEW YORKERS LOVE TO PLAY, READ, RELAX, EAT, SPEND TIME IN THEIR PARKS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A summer day is enjoyed by these two folks, sunning and enjoying a bite of lunch in Bryant Park's gardens. PARKS ARE at a premium in the middle of large, congested cities. No one loves their parks more than New Yorkers, those fast-talking subway travelers. They live at a frenetic pace, these taxi honking, gesturing folks who eat, play, relax, take the sun, play cards or chess, people-watch, unwind and even nap in their beloved parks. New York City has more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs. They are well used by the city's 8.3 million residents and 63 million annual visitors. NEW YORK's park properties range from swimming pools to wetlands and from woodlands to skating rinks. Free concerts continue through the summer in Central Park. One of our favorites -- and millions of others -- is Central Park, that magical 843-acre green space featuring rolling meadows, peaceful bodies of water,  concert areas, food trucks and a famous restaurant. In 1857, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architect/landscape designer Calvert Vaux won a design competition to construct thepark with a plan they titled the "Greensward Plan". Construction began the same year, and the park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. MUCH SMALLER  but equally lovely Bryant Park in Midtown, is  a 9.603-acre privately managed public park.  It sits  between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan. So you'll find a mix of businessmen and women, tourists and patrons of the nearby Main Branch of the New York Public Library. Sound equipment is readied for a concert, while a few folks are taking their seats early in Bryant Park. Both parks have a lively performance schedule.  Bryant's "borrow a blanket, grab some food" offerings feature NYC's acclaimed Drilling Company. We saw "Hamlet" there; "Othello" runs Aug. 30-Sept. 7 on various days. Accordion masters perform a wide range of styles this summer, along with five free Carnegie Hall concerts and three New York City Opera hour-long cuttings of "La Boheme," "Carmen" and a Pride Concert celebrating New York's diversity. CENTRAL PARK'S  equally popular Summer Stage Series   is an outdoor festival of the arts held each year at Rumsey Playfield. Performances are mostly free, except for a few big-name benefit concerts that help fund Summer Stage programming. Shakespeare comes to Bryant Park (here) and Central Park as well. We always stop at Central Park's Strawberry Fields, a wonderful living memorial to the world-famous singer John Lennon. Financed and dedicated by his widow, Yoko Ono, it movingly celebrates the life of the songwriter and peace activist, best known as singer and composer with the Beatles. Every time we've wandered through, we've heard someone playing the guitar. Strawberry Fields invokes tourists and New Yorkers to "Imagine" a better world, as John Lennon asked. People pause, reflect and often leave a flower or note in this touching, beautiful place. Both parks have wonderful, user friendly websites with maps, events and more: centralparknyc.org ; bryantpark.org The AKC Museum of the Dog is a barking good treat in NYC. UP NEXT:   With a wealth of museums to pick from, we  write about several a year.  This time we returned to several of our favorites and a new kid on the block.  We paid a visit to a museum designed to honor and pay homage to man's best friend. The AKC Museum of the Dog is a unique, one of a kind museum with paintings, photos, videos, games, sculpture and more devoted to every manner of canine.  Among other features, a self-portrait dog match machine takes your portrait photo and matches you to a lifetime dog. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a new look at travel, the arts, nature, pets, family and more at www.whereiscookie.com

Lovely hotels are part of the allure of Palm Springs, here the pool area of the Hilton Palm Springs in the heart of downtown. MORE LAID BACK THAN L.A., MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN LAS VEGAS,  PALM SPRINGS OFFERS CLASS, CALM, ART, NIGHT LIFE, BEAUTY The signature big horn sheep welcomes people to Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTO By BRUCE KELLER A STROLL  through downtown Palm Springs, California, is a nod to the dozens of famous folks who lived in the area. Here they are remembered today -- embedded in the sidewalks of this glitzy desert town, whose official beginning is dated at 1876, when the Agua Caliente Reservation was established. The Cahuilla people lived here centuries before, and gave the town its name, "Se-Khi," or boiling water. Elvis Presley's home is one you'll stop by on our favorite tour, Viator's 2.5 hour Palm Springs Celebrity Tour. Take a trip to Palm Springs, which boomed because of Hollywood. Downtown Palm Springs is lively and sophisticated, not as noisy as Las Vegas and less frantic than L.A. Tucked into a lovely corner of the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs is known across the world for  its stylish hotels, beautiful golf courses and top rated spas and nightlife. It is also noted for many fine examples of midcentury-modern architecture, shopping compared to Beverly Hills, golf on perfectly manicured greens, vintage boutiques, lively theater and acclaimed restaurants. Its casinos are friendly, the eateries have a gracious "old world" feel, and if you're drawn to nature, you can soak up the beauty of the surrounding Coachella Valley. There, hiking, biking and horseback riding await. Fantastic female impersonators offer a top-drawer show at Oscar's. Here, "Lady Gaga" as performed by Judas Joe Manson, one of four fabulous actors. WE VISIT  frequently, from our San Diego base, just two-plus hours from home through a lovely desert terrain (one can avoid the freeway for most of the journey.)  We find Palm Springs more sophisticated than Las Vegas, with an enticing variety of entertainment from fine live theater to excellent live music and a stunning female impersonators' revue at Oscar's featuring fabulous impressions of Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli and Lady Gaga. Director Dan Gore has assembled 150 years of experience in his crack cast headed by genial emcee Tommi Rose, with veterans Logan Walker and Brent Allen and newcomer Judas Joe Manson giving spot-on performances as the ladies. Oscar's is a classy cabaret every bit the equal of its Vegas counterparts. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you to the top, for a thrilling view; there might still be snow on the mountains. The draw of the town can't be denied. It's intoxicating. It's easy to relax beneath the mountains, sipping a coffee or wine around the pool or from your balcony at the lovely Hilton Palm Springs, a pleasant walking distance to shops, restaurants, clubs and casinos. PALM SPRINGS  is more laid back and sunnier than Los Angeles. In more than a dozen visits, we've never had bad weather. Balmy 70-degree winter temperatures are the rule and for us San Diegans, it's half the distance of Las Vegas, with its much less dependable weather. Check out Viator for various fun tours in the area. Don't miss the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, up, up, up to the still snowy mountain top where you'll mingle with sun and scenery seekers from around the globe. We noted license plates from New England, the Midwest and Canada in the Hilton and Tramway parking lot. The blend of city excitement with the beauty of the natural environment makes an intoxicating lure. And who doesn't enjoy 70 degree weather, when half of the country is still swathed in snow. Christene "Cookie" Meyers, Bruce Keller enjoy a desert hike. WE LOVE the variety of a Palm Springs day.  On one Saturday, we enjoyed a lovely nature walk in Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, took a splendid docent tour at the beautiful Palm Springs Art Museum and enjoyed a show at Oscar's. Dining options abound. Our favorites are Eight 4 Nine Restaurant and Lounge with continental flair, and Sammy G's Tuscan Grill, also excellent. Both offer fine, precise, personalized service. Fan palms are native to Palm Springs. Here, on a hike at Agua Caliente. Walking around town, the tourist sees thousands of palm trees, most not native to this part of the world.  The lovely California fan palm is native, though.  To experience the region's original landscape -- before 100-plus golf courses and manicured resort lawns, drive 10 short  minutes west to the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation (means hot water). Take the delightful hike from the Trading Post to see the world's largest oasis of native fan palms.  They cluster near the oasis because of the enormous amounts of water they demand.   Fun celebrity home tour PALM TREES  are part of the romance of Palm Springs, though, and movie stars planted hundreds around their homes when Hollywood discovered the balm of Palm Springs. The stars came because  studios insisted they be no more than began "reasonable driving distance" from Hollywood -- about 140 miles in the 1940s.  Many of the stars lived in studio-built cottages, many still existing  in the "Movie Colony," whose streets are marked. Theater in a small welcoming venue at the Palm Canyon  Theatre, which recently ended a run of "Camelot." "Pajama Game" is on now with a run through March 15. Dozens of sidewalk stars honor the famous folks who lived in Palm Springs, from U.S. Presidents to actors.  "Golden Palm Stars" are embedded in the city's main streets and it's fun to walk downtown and admire them -- a lively mix of the rich and famous -- movie stars, literary figures, TV personalities, diplomats, civic leaders, philanthropists, artists and U.S. Presidents with ties to the town and region.  Nixon, Ford and Reagan all built homes here. The 2.5 hour Celebrity Tour through Viator/Trip Advisor, will take you past the homes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Marilyn Monroe and even Albert Einstein.   We leave a piece of our hearts on Palm Springs each visit, hoping we'll return.  pschamber.org ;    pstramway.com ;   oscarspalmsprings.com ;  viator.com/tours/Palm-Springs ;  palmcanyontheatre.org ;   eight4nine.com/     A diverse permanent collection, including works by world-class sculptors and painters awaits, with an impressive variety of murals, paintings and changing exhibits. Next week, we visit Palm Springs Art Museum. UP NEXT:   Come with us to explore the Palm Springs Art Museum, a treasure trove of world class art and sculpture. Then 150,000 square foot museum houses a diverse permanent collection, with innovative changing exhibitions and excellent docent-led tours to enhance your visit. We'll take you along to visit this world class museum with a lovely bistro and two outdoor sculpture gardens as well. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at art, nature, theater, family, travel and more: www.whereiscookie.com .