Dodgers head to the World Series for the first time since 1988, The Broad's new infinity rooms, Senator Dianne Feinstein might have another challenger.
State of Affairs: Billionaire eyes Feinstein's Senate seat, Bannon comes to Anaheim
Today on State of Affairs, our weekly look at politics in the Golden State:
- Another prominent challenger could be eyeing Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat — longtime Democratic power player Tom Steyer.
- Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon is coming to Anaheim, but his presence could be making some Republicans nervous.
- This year, California Governor Jerry Brown signed 859 bills and vetoed 118. What could the Governor's choices tell us about his political philosophy?
USC professor of public policy, Sherry Bebitch Jeffe says Steyer's decision to run likely hinges on four considerations:
- The intensity of his frustration with Democratic lawmakers
- How hard is ego drives him
- Whether or not his entry helps or hurts Kevin de León and/or Dianne Feinstein.
- Democratic pressure on Steyer to stay out of the race and continue to fund the races needed to flip Congress
Press the blue play button to hear more analysis from Sherry Bebitch Jeffe and Carla Marinucci, senior editor for Politico's California Playbook.
LA rejoice! The Dodgers are headed to the World Series for the first time in 29 years
The Dodgers are back in the World Series after a home-run barrage in Chicago's Wrigley Field last night.
Three were hit by Kike Hernandez as the Dodgers positively routed the Cubs 11-1. Fans all over LA were cheering as the team's 29-year wait for a World Series finally paid off.
Game one of the World Series is Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. One of the people responsible for the Dodgers' success is Ned Colletti. He assembled a big chunk of this World Series-bound team when he was Dodgers general manager, from 2006 to 2014.
He's a baseball analyst for Spectrum Sportsnet now. "This is a very very good team. Very very solid team," said Colletti of Thursday night's victory, "I'm honored that I had a chance to be a part of it for a while and to see it now first hand."
Yankees or Astros?
"I don't think it matters. I think the only team that could beat Dodgers right now are the Dodgers. I think they're so good and they're so focused and they're talented. And their health is good. This team is so on point right now."
The last time they were in the World Series
The 1988 team had all kind of magic attached to it. It was a mystical team in some ways. So, how does the 2017 team compare to the 1988 team?
"I think this team has far greater depth. I think it's got more weapons. The best team I've seen in a very very long time, at any point. No matter what the city is...it doesn't matter, they are game for the opportunity."
Looking to score a ticket to game one? As of Thursday morning, they'll set you back about $975...and that's for a bleacher seat.
To hear more about the Dodgers big win, click the blue play button above.
LA Weekly is being sold to mysterious Semanal Media
Voice Media Group announced a deal earlier this week to sell the LA Weekly to an unknown company called Semanal Media. The deal follows the company's sale of the OC Weekly last year, and a handful of other alternative city papers throughout the country.
What's to blame? The Internet, of course. Ken Doctor is a media analyst with Newsonomics. He joined Take Two to talk about the sale of the LA Weekly, which began in the 1970s as an alternative to traditional newspapers, running edgier, more opinionated stories about culture and things to do in the city. Weeklies haven't been doing so well recently, Doctor says.
To hear our interview with media analyst Ken Doctor about what else is contributing to the demise of the country's alternative weeklies, click the blue media player.
How to take the best pictures inside the Broad's Infinity Mirrors exhibition
The future of art is Instagrammable. An exhibition by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the Broad caters to this trend with some of the most eminently photographable backdrops in the city..
Her Infinity Mirrored Room has been a popular attraction since the Broad opened in 2015. Visitors walk into an enclosed room with lights dangling from the ceiling and mirrors lining the walls. The set-up endlessly reflects your image so it looks like you're in a glittery space oasis.
Five more of Kusama's infinity rooms will debut Saturday, Oct. 21 at a new exhibition where visitors can wander through a pink polka-dotted paradise, a psychedelic field of pumpkins and other eye-popping landscapes.
By featuring art that is easy to photograph and can be shared online, the Broad says visitors will walk away with a deeper understanding of the work and, hopefully, develop a strong curiosity about Kusama.
"It’s been incredibly affirming and exciting for me as a museum director to see so many people who consider themselves maybe not-so-knowledgeable in contemporary art, and then walk away saying, 'I had no idea I would love this art so much,'" says Joanne Heyler, the Broad's founding director.
That ethos has driven traffic to the museum, especially among young people. The average age of a Broad visitor is 33, one of the youngest in the nation.
Tickets for the special exhibition are sold out, even after record demand prompted the museum to release more passes.
If you lucked out and scored one, here's how to take the best pictures. Because if you go to a visually stunning art show and don't bother taking any selfies, did the exhibition actually happen?
Figure out what to wear
Kusama's work is highly patterned and repetitious. The rooms also vary in brightness.
Aim for clothes that are either white/cream so they'll capture light, or have warm tones that compliment Kusama's palette.
If you prefer highly patterned clothes, go for it. They'll pop against her work and act as a backdrop.
Decide on a game plan before you enter a room
You only have 30 seconds in each room before you're ushered back out, so try to take a peek when the person before you enters.
This is crucial and will help you compose your shot.
Show your best self
You can't bring a selfie stick into any of the rooms (in case you strike the artwork) and there isn't enough room for someone to step back and take a photo of you. So your only option is a selfie.
Your best bet? A DSLR that handles low light like a champ.
If you're using your phone, use the outward-facing lens since it can capture a wider angle and will handle low light better.
Set the phone at waist or chest height so it doesn't block your face, and look directly into your phone's lens by using the mirrors.
Take a flurry of photos all at once
The lighting in some of the rooms varies and fluctuates.
Set your focus and composition, then wait to take your shot until the lights brighten. Take multiple photos during your brief moment under bright light.
Consider not taking pics at all
Because you only have 30 seconds in each room to take a picture, you might want to focus on enjoying Kusama's work itself instead of capturing an image.
Stop and take it all in. The best picture might be the one that you create in your head.