Last weekend, I went to a public park owned by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation—the Hollywood Bowl! And yes, you can bring your own food and beverages to picnic with friends and family. I love the open-air venue (and according to her latest memoir, Dolly also thought it was a special place). I remember when I first came to LA, and friends invited me to enjoy an outside concert. Honestly, I had such a fun experience—and it was even better this time around because I didn’t have to fight traffic (hurrah for the Hollywood Bowl shuttles!).
Last Friday, I attended a John Williams tribute concert. He’s composed so many emotional movie scores, from Jaws to Indiana Jones to Schindler’s List. Plus, he’s done themes for the Olympics and PBS’s Great Performances. And he’s even been an uncredited pianist in things like Bernstein’s To Kill a Mockingbird. What can’t the man do? And so it was an extra special treat when he surprised us by appearing at the end of the show to conduct “The Imperial March.” We definitely raised our lightsabers to him!
Speaking of which, I’m appreciative of all the Star Wars movies. I remember my family renting and watching the original ones together. Later on, I watched the prequel trilogy in the theater with my own kids. I’m a huge fan (as you can see from my costume) of the strong and brave Rey!
My main takeaway from the night, though, was how music moves us. And I was in awe of Williams’ genius and the way creatives inspire and build community.
P.S. The 50th anniversary of Stars Wars is coming up, so there will be special showings in 2027!
Do you have a favorite John Williams song? Or a neat Star Wars memory?
Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She’s been a finalist for the Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award; her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries. She wants to use The Force for good and more creative stories. Connect with Jennifer by subscribing to her (sorta) monthly newsletter at JenniferJChow.com.
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