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Master Gardener is Rooted in Philosophical Angst

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

Paul Schrader has built a long and distinguished career on occupational metaphors. Taxi drivers, American gigolos, card counters— characters who represent something greater than their respective professions. They are souls trapped in corporeal realities, yearning for absolution. Master Gardener is the latest Schrader film to use this conceit, and while it’s low-key to a fault—fizzing when it should explode—it scratches an itch for thoughtful, philosophically rich cinema.Master Gardener centers on Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), a monk-like horticulturalist who leads a small team tending the grounds of a botanical garden. The owner of the garden, a well-heeled dowager named Mrs. Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver), is his benefactor and occasional lover. When she insists that Narvel take her headstrong grand-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) under his wing for the season, he dutifully initiates the young woman into the religion of plant care.On paper, the opening act would befit a Hallmark origi...

Meet Archaeomythological Painter Erica Everage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

Painter Erica Everage mines the rich terrain of archaeomythological iconography for imagined and recovered symbols and figures of feminine power. Her background in sculpture, theater, and especially in dance is evident in the visceral, movement-animated works in her new exhibition, In Her Image, an expression of primal feminine creative energy now on view at Hotel Figueroa as part of their 2023 Featured Artist program. The hotel’s history as a safe haven for women figures in her energetic explorations, as abstracted and richly gestural women’s bodies literally dance across her expressive, chromatic, texturally enriched grounds, Everage invites the viewer to dream with her as to what a different kind of power could be in the world—and what it once was, in the ancient ages of matriarchal leadership.Erica Everage at Hotel FigueroaL.A. WEEKLY: When did you first know you were an artist?ERICA EVERAGE: I started to feel I was an artist in middle school, thanks to a life drawing class I to...

BBQ recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Plums from America’s Test Kitchen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

This recipe from America’s Test Kitchen’s new cookbook, “The Outdoor Cook: How to Cook Anything Outside Using Your Grill, Fire Pit, Flat-Top Grill and More” (ATK, $29.99) covers equipment, fuel, fire and safety before getting into meals — like this one for grilled pork chops and stone fruit — to whet your appetite.The cooks at America’s Test Kitchen say: “This weeknight-friendly, warm-weather riff on pork roast with prunes pairs quick-grilling pork chops with juicy ripe plums — one of summer’s finest fruits. The pork chops are sprinkled with a savory-sweet spice mixture of coriander, ginger, salt and pepper plus a bit of brown sugar to play off the sweetness of the plums. It takes just a few minutes on the grill for these thin-cut chops to cook through and pick up great grill marks, while the bit of extra fat from the bone keeps the meat juicy.”Grilled Pork Chops with PlumsServes 4INGREDIENTS2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive...

NCS softball playoffs: Quarterfinal results, semifinal matchups

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Division IFriday’s quarterfinalsNo. 1 San Ramon Valley 3, No. 8 Heritage 2No. 4 Freedom 3, No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter 2No. 2 Granada 5, No. 10 Castro Valley 2No. 3 California 1, No. 6 College Park 0Tuesday’s semifinalNo. 3 California (19-8) at No. 2 Granada (21-5), 5 p.m.Wednesday’s semifinalNo. 4 Freedom (18-9) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (22-5), 5 p.m.Division IIFriday’s quarterfinalsNo. 1 Redwood 12, No. 9 Northgate 2No. 5 Livermore 8, No. 13 Antioch 3No. 2 Casa Grande 10, No. 7 American Canyon 3No. 3 Alameda 5, No. 6 Benicia 4Tuesday’s semifinalsNo. 5 Livermore (14-11) at No. 1 Redwo...

Southbound Hwy 101 reopened following deadly crash in Sunnyvale

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (KRON) -- Three people were killed in a multi-vehicle collision on northbound Highway 101 in Sunnyvale early Monday morning, according to the San Jose California Highway Patrol office. The southbound lanes have since reopened, and traffic is moving as of 8:40 a.m. after all northbound and southbound lanes were previously closed Monday morning.A call came into the San Jose CHP just before 12:30 a.m. reporting a car hitting the center median between Lawrence Expressway and North Fair Oaks Boulevard. Shortly after, several more cars crashed, officials said.Breaking news Three people killed on 101 between Lawrence expressway and fair oaks Multi vehicle accident with debris scattered in both directions of 101 in Sunnyvale @kron4news pic.twitter.com/UmuPV2V2Jl— Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) May 22, 2023San Jose CHP officials said three people were killed, none of whom were from the initial solo crash. CHP spokesperson Ross Lee told KRON4 the three victims got out of thei...

Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou launches bid for state Assembly seat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

(BCN) -- Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou stumbled into politics accidentally as an active member of her community--now she wants to run for higher office. Kou declared her candidacy for state Assembly on Monday. She will run against incumbent Marc Berman who represents District 23, which includes Mountain View, Palo Alto, most of Menlo Park, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Saratoga and Campbell. Her focus is on ending the state's housing crisis through short-term transitional housing and long-term affordable housing with supportive services for drug addiction and mental health. California has the largest homeless population in the nation with more than 171,000 people, according to the Annual Homeless Assessment to Congress. There are approximately 10,000 homeless residents in Santa Clara County. Kou opposes Senate Bill 9, which ended exclusionary single-family zoning statewide and enforced a government approval process to subdivide parcels of land. She aims to tackle street safety by...

Sports on TV for Tuesday, May 23

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsTuesday, May 23BOWLING7 p.m.CBSSN — PWBA: The USBC Queens, Finals, Las VegasCOLLEGE BASEBALL10:30 a.m.SECN — Southeastern Tournament: Georgia vs. South Carolina, First Round, Hoover, Ala.11 a.m.ACCN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: Virginia Tech vs. Boston College, Pool C, Durham, N.C.BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Michigan vs. Iowa, First Round, Omaha, Neb.1 p.m.PAC-12N — Pac-12 Tournament: Arizona vs. Arizona St., Pool B, Scottsdale, Ariz.2 p.m.SECN — Southeastern Tournament: Texas A&M vs. Tennessee, First Round, Hoover, Ala.3 p.m.ACCN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina, Pool B, Durham, N.C.BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Illinois vs. Indiana, First Round, Omaha, Neb.5:30 p.m.PAC-12N — Pac-12 Tournament: UCLA vs. Southern Cal, Pool C, Scottsdale, Ariz.SECN — Southeastern Tournament: Alabama vs. Kentucky, First Round, Hoover, Ala.7 p.m.ACCN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: NC State vs. Duke, Pool D, Durham, N....

Michael Block, once a little-known club pro, ties for 15th at PGA Championship

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Block recalled how only a week ago he was having drinks at the Pittsford Pub — a few par-5s away from where the PGA Championship was being held at Oak Hill in suburban Rochester, New York — and no one knew who he was.On Sunday, the once little-known golf pro from California is heading back to the bar for a few — maybe more — celebratory drinks with his friends and family knowing his days of living in anonymity might be over for the near future.Finishing in the top 15 at a major and making an ace during the final round with the entire sport watching will do that.“We’re going to have a crazy good time tonight, and I look forward to it,” Block said with a beaming smile on Sunday after he lived out every hacker’s dream.Over a four-day stretch at the brutish East Course, Block held his own against the best in the world, became a gallery favorite, conducted national television interviews between shots, made a hole-in-one, and posted a 1-over 281 to finish in...

Sharks bite two fishermen in Florida Keys in separate incidents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

SUMMERLAND KEY, Fla. (AP) — Two fishermen have been bitten by sharks in separate incidents less than 36 hours apart in the Florida Keys, officials said.Last Thursday, a 20-year-old Miami-Dade County man was bitten in the leg while spearfishing with two other people off Marathon, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.A medical helicopter landed on the Seven Mile Bridge to pick up the man, who was brought to shore by a private boat, the report said. He was taken to Jackson South Medical Center in Miami, and his condition was not available.On Saturday afternoon, a shark bit a 35-year-old fisherman on the foot after he had reeled it in while fishing off a dock in Summerland Key. The shark was on the dock when it bit the man, the release said.The man was also taken to by a trauma helicopter to a hospital in Miami. His condition not known, the statement said.Summerland Key is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Key West. Marathon is about 50 miles (80 kilometers)...

Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware won’t seek reelection, opening up seat in liberal state

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:55 GMT

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware announced Monday that he will not seek reelection to a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. Carper’s announcement paves the way for a wide-open contest for the seat he has held since 2001 in heavily-blue Delaware. It also ensures that his unblemished record of never having lost an election during more than four decades in politics remains intact. “If I ran for a fifth term in the Senate and won, it would be a record 15 statewide elections,” Carper, 76, noted in prepared remarks at a Wilmington news conference. He said he and his wife, Martha, began talking months ago about what the future holds for them.“After a good deal of prayer and introspection, and more than a few heart-to-heart conversations, we’ve decided we should run through the tape over the next 20 months and finish the important work that my staff and I have begun on a wide range of fronts, many of them begun in partnership with Democrat and Republica...