Pacific Palisades has joined the ‘community reads’ arena with Steve Lopez’s ‘The Soloist’ as the first selection. The first of several events is a book discussion on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. ’The Soloist,’ a work of nonfiction which originally ran as a series of columns in the Los Angeles Times, chronicles Lopez’s ultimate friendship with Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man with an extraordinary musical gift. His first encounter with Ayers was on Skid Row, where the African American, accompanied by his violin with two strings, lost his ability to function following a mental breakdown. Thirty years earlier, Ayers had been a promising classical bass student at Juilliard. When Lopez finds him on the streets of downtown, he sees glimmers of Ayers’ brilliance and wants to help him, trying to secure lodging for him, reconnecting him with his family, and arranging for him to play and meet a former Juilliard classmate at Disney Hall. As with so many attempts to ‘do good,’ Lopez learns that the road is bumpy and, with every tiny success, there are disappointments. The discussion at Village Books, facilitated by Dr. Kathleen Jackson, will not only focus on Lopez’s story of redemption and wisdom, but also include a discussion of homelessness. A second book discussion will take place on Monday, April 6, 10:30 a.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. R.S.V.P.: info@palisadescares.org or 310-459-1614 On April 7 at 9 p.m., jazz musicians Phillip Golub (on keyboard) and Adam Goldman (on bass) will perform at Paolo’s Ristorante at 1515 Palisades Dr. Both performers participate in the Colburn School Jazz Workshop. Golub attended Marquez Charter School and won the prestigious Spotlight Award from the Music Center. For dinner reservations, call 310-454-8889. Toiletries and clean socks will be collected for the homeless at all events. For more information and reservations for the reading events, call 310-459-1614 or visit info@palisadescares.org
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
