When Marian Bantjes Comes To Town, Mercury Rises

The stars aligned yesterday when we snatched a few precious hours with the lovely Marian Bantjes, who left her tiny Canadian island to speak tonight at Art Center at 7:30pm. It was hot and dry in the city, so we caught an air-conditioned shuttle to higher altitudes: refurbished Griffith Observatory, the LA monument that’s been used by space-gazers since 1935. When we got there about 50 enthusiasts had their tripods planted in the grass around the building, their telescopes craned skyward.