California Light

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court heard two powerful arguments last week about marriage for gay and lesbian couples, and the path the justices choose could determine not only whether gay marriage will become the law nationwide, but how soon. One argument spoke to the principle of equal rights. Denying federal benefits to legally married gay couples "cannot be reconciled with our fundamental commitment to equal treatment under law," the Obama administration's top courtroom lawyer told the justices, as he urged the court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. The other argument spoke to the traditions of states' rights and letting people, rather than the courts, decide the great social issues of the day. Debate over same-sex marriage is "roiling throughout this country," said a lawyer defending the California ballot measure that barred gays from marrying.

It's one thing to indulge in political ideology and quite another to make government work. The recent budget battle between the obstinate "cavemen" Republicans of the Legislature and the pragmatic Gov. Pete Wilson illustrated this tension stirring in the soul of the state GOP.

Robert Irwin is widely regarded as the theoretical godfather of California Light and Space art, arguably Los Angeles' most original contribution to the lexicon of contemporary styles. No conversation ranking local artists gets very far before Irwin is nominated for the imaginary "most important artist of his generation" award. He's already received the real and much-coveted MacArthur fellowship, the so-called genius grant.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BLAKE LITTLE PRODUCED BY BARBARA THORNBURG

To swipe an image from "Oklahoma!," there's a bright, golden haze on stage at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. In only its third year, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities has mounted a supremely mellow, sunny "Oklahoma!," a production that underscores the maturity of the youngest civic light opera company in Southern California.

Pull up in front of the new Red O on Melrose and, before deigning to take your car, a valet in an embroidered guayabera and natty straw hat will lean into the window to ask, politely, if you've got a reservation. It's Mozza all over again. No reservation, no getting in. And on weekend nights, you'll need to reserve a month out. Even on the weekdays, it's the 6:30 or 9:30 routine. Try to get into the bar and the big guy posted outside the door, leaning on a lectern to make him look less like a bouncer, will nix that too. The bar is for patrons waiting for tables.

In case anyone is confused, Ryan Welty likes to point out that the Flesh Club is not a Christian Science Reading Room, nor is it a church or high-minded civic organization. "We are not a sympathetic member of society," the club owner concedes. "There are naked ladies in there. It's a very sexually charged atmosphere." That's putting it mildly, San Bernardino officials say. They allege the strip club is little more than a front for a brothel. Patrons go there for sex, they say, not to see a show.

THE CLARITY AND FORCE of Southern California's ambient light--as well as our Mediterranean climate and gorgeous natural landscape--lured artists here in droves at the turn of the century. Often compared to French painters of the time, these California Impressionists hailed from the eastern United States and Europe; 75 of their soft and silken plein-air paintings, by nine artists, compose "California Light, 1900-1930," on display Oct. 12 through Jan. 6 at the Laguna Art Museum.