Diving into the partially unknown

PAUL SAITOWITZ

Well, here it is. My parting shot, the final drips of beer

floundering at the bottom of the bottle ready to make their way into

the belly of the unknown -- actually the partially unknown, which of

course is also the partially known.

What I do know, is that my future will no longer involve me giving

my services to the Daily Pilot. The rest is a mystery.

I started here at the Pilot in 2001 as a refugee from a semi-dark

period in the realm of Times Community News known as “Our Times.” I

had been a sportswriter with Our Times and was laid off when Times

Mirror was bought by Tribune. I somehow wrangled my way back into

things as a copy editor -- a position I didn’t really know a whole

lot about. It was basically on-the-job training for me, and while I

never fell in the love with task, I learned to handle it.

About two years ago, I realized that I had to get back on the

writing tip.

Enter the redesigned Happenings section. My assignment would be to

write the centerpiece for the Pilot’s weekend entertainment preview

section. Sure it was only writing once a week, but it was a chance

for me to build up some solid work and do something I really enjoyed.

Newport-Mesa is not exactly a bastion for cutting-edge music or

underground art, but if you look hard enough you can find more than

you would think, and I think I found quite a bit.

I interviewed everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Leif Garrett --

could I have named two bigger has-beens if I’d tried? -- in my stint

here.

In all seriousness, what I did learn is that Detroit Bar on 19th

St. in Costa Mesa is the best music venue in the area. Everyone from

Elliott Smith and the Melvins, to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Catpower

have been through that joint since I’ve been on the job, and the

Monday night residencies have been incredible for showcasing

up-and-coming talent.

The Orange County Museum of Art is also pretty cool. Nestled among

the white traffic lights -- they look like traffic lights wearing

costumes -- is a hub of art that featured classic work from Picasso,

Dali and Chagall, and then followed that up a few months later with

an exhibit called “Beautiful Losers,” made up of pieces from modern

skate and street artists.

There’s also the Orange County Performing Arts Center, which is

suited to a ritzier crowd than I am accustomed to, but offers a lot.

It has a great jazz series, every Broadway production eventually

crosses its stage, and there is no prettier venue in the area.

Alta Coffee is Newport Beach is the best place for open-mike

poetry and music.

La Cave and Memphis in Costa Mesa are jewels for those seeking

local jazz.

Durty Nelly’s pours a good drink and gives you a chance to see

some quality stand-up comedy.

There’s a lot more that have slipped my mind, but there’s a lot

going in this place -- you just got to know where to look.

Peace, out.

* PAUL SAITOWITZ was a news editor. He may be reached at (714)

966-4632 or by e-mail at [email protected].