Let\u2019s begin with some quick wrap-ups:<\/p>\n
![\"Manny](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_2925JPG-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Manny Davis and Karen Salkin. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
LA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL<\/strong>\u2014The opening night in Beverly Hills was really fun. After a quick dessert reception, (which featured little packages of cookies to bring into the theatre,) we settled in for a screening of Sammy Davis Jr.\u2013I’ve Gotta Be Me<\/em>, a wonderful documentary about my old pal Sammy, which featured a ton of info about the icon that even I<\/em> never knew! It was so riveting that I totally forgot to eat my cookies! (And for me to forget about food is a really big deal!) I was thrilled to re-connect with his son, Manny, who was my little buddy back in the day. He made me cry that night when he told me that he had thought of me often through the years because I was \u201cone of \u201d his \u201cmost precious people.\u201d You can be sure that we\u2019ll stay connected now. Thanks, LAJFF!!! (And there are still a couple of more nights of events, so you can still get in on the fun, here: www.lajfilmfest.org<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Nigel Lythgoe and company. Photo by Rex Geert.<\/p><\/div>\n A SHAKESPEARE JUBILEE AT THE WALLIS<\/strong>\u2014This kick-off of BritWeek in L.A. did not disappoint. I\u2019m far from a fan of Shakespeare, but with so many on-stage participants, there was a lot of variety, (including some opera!,) and no scenes were too long. Shockingly, (because he\u2019s not an actor,) Nigel Lythgoe\u2019s appearance as Bottom from A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em>, complete with four fairy children, was the hit of the evening! (That’s a photo of the evening’s entire cast at the top of this page, by Rex Geert.)<\/p>\n The San Antonio Spur great, Manu Ginobili. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n THE NBA PLAY-OFFS, TO THIS POINT<\/strong>\u2014I plan to write about the NBA play-offs at length again this year, but here are a few quick observations so far, to tide-over my fellow sports fans out there: 1) Brent Barry is the best commentator. He\u2019s no-nonsense, has a soothing voice, and gives us lots of good sense info. 2) I\u2019m in love with Jazz stars Ricky Rubio and Donavan Mitchell!!! 3) The Utah Jazz is my fave team now, followed by the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers. 4) Chris Weber always tells us what the players are \u201csaying,\u201d which just cracks me up. 5) I hadn\u2019t realized that nutty Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers went to Lincoln High School in Brooklyn!!! So did my father, who later became the Chairman of the Speech Department there, and also the President of the Alumni Association, which he actually founded! So, no wonder I get a kick out of his antics. (Those of Lance, not my deceased dad!) And lastly, for now, 5) I wept when it might be the last games of Dwayne Wade, Tony Parker, and mostly Manu Ginobli. But it is sort-of nice to witness exciting new blood.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin, rocking her bandage in her own creative way. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n SURGERY UPDATE<\/strong>\u2014My dozen stitches came out last week, so now I\u2019m on the mend. I\u2019m thrilled to be out of the woods with this particular skin cancer episode, but now I have to be checked, all over!, every six months. I guess it\u2019s time to find a woman derm because I\u2019m not getting undressed in front of a male, other than Mr. X, of course! (But he only played a doctor on TV!) And a female I still look better than, because I don\u2019t want to imagine that she\u2019s judging me. And winning! (She may be a doctor but we\u2019re all<\/em> girls first.) I\u2019m still in a lot of pain, but knock on wood for make-up and bangs! I don\u2019t think that anyone can see how bad it looks right now. (If you missed the whole story, with my health warning to everybody, you can, and should<\/em>, read it here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/health-skin-cancer-surgery-with-a-warning-for-you-all<\/a>.)<\/p>\n And now, a few upcoming<\/em> events that you should not miss:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>BLUES IN THE NIGHT<\/strong>\u2014I\u2019ve really missed former Artistic Director Sheldon Epps at the Pasadena Playhouse, so I\u2019m looking very forward to his show at The Wallis this month, Blues in the Night, which he originally produced on Broadway way back in the \u201980s! But since it\u2019s comprised of all old blues songs, which tell the story, I\u2019m sure it\u2019s timeless. I\u2019ll do a full review of it next week, but if you just can\u2019t wait, you can get your tickets here right now: www.thewallis.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>MASTERS OF TASTE<\/strong>\u2014I hope all<\/em> L.A. foodies will be joining me at the Rose Bowl this Sunday for this really fun, and filling, event! I cannot wait for it! Here\u2019s the story, with all the info you need to join me there this week-end: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/eventdining-masters-of-taste-2018-preview<\/a>.<\/p>\n