Author Archives: Nicole McGaffey

Creative Placemaking 101

6 Replies

Creative_Placemaking

This Thursday, activists, culture managers and business leaders will flock to Prague and Pilsen for the Pilsen 2015 OPEN UP! Creative Placemaking Festival (hosted by the Aspen Institute and the Pilsen 2015 European Capital of Culture). Leaders ranging from Mark Davy, Founder of Futurecity, and Ann Markusen, Director of the Arts Economy Initiative at the University of Minnesota will come together for two days of panel discussions, working groups, and all around placemaking fun. Together they will work to envision and create better futures for their local communities through creative placemaking.

This exciting international discussion brings us to the topic of today’s post: what exactly is “creative placemaking?”

The idea is simple: Funders are banding together to support projects that use the arts as catalysts for transforming spaces into places. Let’s take a look at Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles in MacArthur Park, a spot where creative placemaking has made a positive impact. Continue reading →

A Year in the Life of a Levitt Pavilion

Leave a reply

Wedding bells, Peeps and everything in between

Levitt_Effect_Collage_alt_USE THISWith the excitement of the 2014 Levitt concert season winding down, you might find yourself wondering what becomes of that stretch of lawn you spent so many nights picnicking and dancing upon. As it turns out, quite a lot happens after the season ends!

Below are some fun and unexpected ways Levitt venues are being used both during and following the concert seasons, illustrating their role as year-round destinations.

Circles of life
We all know Levitt concerts are great places for dates. What’s more romantic than listening to incredible music on a warm summer evening under the stars? So it was only a matter of time before a Levitt Pavilion became the site of not just dates but an actual marriage ceremony! This past summer, Michele Frazier and Louis Cyr, a Texas couple who had their first date at Levitt Arlington, chose to return to the place where the magic started and tie the knot at the Levitt.

On a very different note, Levitt Arlington was also the site of a recent memorial service for a beloved local high school teacher. As a place where he and his family had always enjoyed spending time together, the Levitt was the most meaningful place to celebrate the life of this music lover taken too soon. As Cathy O’Neal, Communications Director at Levitt Arlington, explained, “It really struck home to us that this is such a big part of people’s lives now, not just where they come to hear a concert.” Continue reading →

In Their Own Words: Mortimer’s Fall Fashion Tips

2 Replies

Have you ever found yourself wondering how Levitt Pavilions got its name? You’re in luck! Through fun, anecdotal snippets, our In Their Own Words blog series will introduce you to Mortimer and Mimi Levitt, and Liz Levitt Hirsch—the extraordinary people behind the Levitt Pavilions name.

The dapper and dynamic Mortimer Levitt (1907-2005) was not only a generous patron and outspoken advocate for the arts; he was also a leading clothier and creator of a men’s fashion empire of made-to-measure shirts. Born the son of struggling immigrant parents, Mortimer’s story is a genuine rags-to-riches story. By the age of 20, he had started his own business, selling custom-tailored shirts at $2.15 a piece, and by the age of 30 he had opened the Custom Shop, the first of what would grow to include 82 stores from coast-to-coast. Here he amassed his fortune crafting custom-made shirts for prominent celebrities, business executives and politicians. As you can probably imagine, Mortimer was a bold and impeccable dresser with flawless taste. He put his ideas to paper when, at the age of 75, he began a prolific writing career, completing five books on business, fashion and the intersection of the two. Continue reading →

Meet the Artist: Rocky Dawuni

Leave a reply


Our Meet the Artist series is your backstage pass to some of your favorite Levitt artists. You’ve cheered them on at Levitt venues across the country, now go behind the scenes and learn who they are, where they come from and what inspires them.

This past summer, international Ghanaian reggae artist, Rocky Dawuni sent positive musical vibes all across southern California with his performances at Levitt Pasadena and Levitt Los Angeles. It marked his third time performing at Levitt Los Angeles, and second time taking the stage at Levitt Pasadena. We caught up with this talented artist at a recent Levitt concert, captured here in his Meet the Artist video. Here are just a few reasons why we love Dawuni: Continue reading →

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Levitt Artists!

1 Reply
La Santa Cecilia performs at Levitt Los Angeles.

La Santa Cecilia performs at Levitt Los Angeles.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re turning the spotlight on some of the many talented Hispanic artists who have graced Levitt stages over the years. Each group featured brings their own unique flare to traditional styles– creating musical hybrids that are fun, unique and incredibly diverse.

We are quite spoiled here in Los Angeles. Right here in our own backyard, there is a large and richly diverse Chicano/Latino community that is ripe with artistic talent. And, the appeal of Hispanic music spreads far beyond cities with large Chicano/Latino populations. In fact, just this summer alone, nearly 50 Levitt concerts across the nation showcased Chicano/Latino music, reflecting Levitt’s commitment to showcase the rich diversity of the American musical landscape. Hispanic music has a long history of shaping the landscape of American music and is likely to do so for years to come. Continue reading →