By Brook Dougherty 310.266.7171 brook@younganglesofamerica.org www.youngangelsofamerica.org
WEASELS AT THE OAK
ROOM – September 23rd,
2011. 8:30 p.m.
$8.00 at the door. No
minimum. Deli open for dinner.
Young Angels of
America is an organization that teaches teens how to produce events and give
back to the community. My partner Debbie
and I founded it ten years ago, and a team of local, kid entrepreneurs has been
putting on student fundraising dances in the Palisades ever since. Our teen producers have worked at the Polo
Tournament, and Chamber of Commerce gigs at the Riviera,
they’ve had garage sales and helped their sister team in Watts. They know their way around a cash box and a
VIP, and how to handle a celebrity. I’d
put them up front at any event with utter confidence.
At our back-to-school meeting, it
turned out a lot of families had stayed home this summer. We talked about missing Village Books, and
how Swarthmore seemed sad and what could they do to liven things up. The kids decided it was their civic duty to
expand their production efforts to grownups.
I was totally down with that since I’d spent the summer writing grants
for our Watts team, and as super fun as that
was, I could use some inexpensive, local fun. Now that Village Books is gone,
there’s not much cheer on Swarthmore. With the exception of the bar at Pearl Dragon and the back of the Mobil station, Pacific Palisades doesn’t have a real
after-dark scene at all.
When my husband told me that the
Weasels, my favorite boomer boy band, are playing at Lenny’s Oak Room on September
23rd, I asked if Young Angels could produce. It would be a good experience for the
kids. Lenny is the kind of entrepreneur
I wanted the team to be around, and rock ‘n roll that’s close to home? It may not be Paris, but it worked for me.
The Weasels play all the tunes that remind me
of my big sisters being young, stupid and boy-crazy, and the best part is I’m married
to the lead guitar player. He is the
kind of guy the popular girls drooled over, and I wished would go out with
me. All the Weasel boys are easy on the
eye. A cadre of Weasel women, many of
whom live in the Palisades, some of whom are your doctors and lawyers, can be
counted on to show up every time they play, whether it’s Corpus Christi, the
Bay Club or Rusty’s at the Pier. They belly
up to the band like it’s1969, and if you want to know what’s hot in the Palisades, it’s Weasel women.
That Oak Room has historic energy.
Some great times have been had there in the past. When the Weasels take the stage on September
23rd, the good times will start up again, and it’s not a moment too
soon. This economy brings new meaning to
the word “bummer.” Not to worry. In true American style, the nexus of young
entrepreneurs, a forward-thinking local businessman, and cute boys playing rock
‘n roll will take our minds off the money, and put them back where they belong.
Girls watching boys. Boys watching
girls. And dancing. It’s the season for a good time, right?
For dinner reservations before the show call 310.454.3337. Friday,
September 23, 2011. The Oak
Room. 1035 Swarthmore
Ave, Pacific Palisades,
CA 90272. $8 at the door. No
minimum.
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