As there is still uncertainty regarding when their art gallery will be able to reopen, the Muckenthaler Cultural Center is adding a sculpture garden on its lawn so people can still enjoy […]
New Sculpture Garden at the Muckenthaler
The Downtown Report (Early May)
Better Together A hot news tip came in from one of our readers so it needed to be checked out right away. OK, so it was just an excuse to get out […]
How Fullerton Benefitted from the New Deal
The current coronavirus catastrophe has necessitated government aid on a massive scale. The CARES Act was the largest economic relief package in American history at over $2 trillion. But this was not […]
Admiring Neighborhood Flowers in Fullerton
The normal car-filled neighborhood streets of Fullerton are practically empty, except for the occasional delivery truck or postal service vehicle. This means that everyone is doing their part to stop the spread […]
On Pandemics, Pork Chops, and Chicken Nuggets
I’ve wasted too much time lately combing the news for an answer to a crucial question about pandemics like Covid-19: Are they inevitable? Newscasters and the scientists, doctors and politicians they interview […]
Peering at the Past of the Pierotti House
Where Yorba Linda Blvd. meets Bradford Avenue, close to the border of Fullerton and Placentia, there’s a house hidden from the street and the surrounding neighborhood behind fencing and high shrubs. A […]
Living History: Fullerton’s Historic Oak
In 1914, the senior class of Fullerton High School planted a young oak seedling in the center of the newly-constructed campus. Over time, the oak cast a larger shadow as its branches […]
Film Review: Pain and Glory Gets Two Hits
Two great talents combine their artistry to create a film rich in imagery and contemplative in tone. Spanish writer/director Pedro Almodovar, who dropped out of a seminary at nineteen, claims to have […]
The Downtown Report (Mid April)
Most of you are settling in to the safe-at-home lifestyle for now, so getting information from the outside world has become more important than ever. I am also mired in my home […]
Life During a Pandemic: Fullertonians Share Their Stories
During these difficult times, it becomes easy to focus just on the “big picture” stories of how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the country as a whole. But each of us has […]
The Downtown Report
Caravan of Hope It’s been tough and scary for all of us grown-ups but what about children? When our friends were forced to cancel their 3 year old’s birthday party, we organized […]
Film Review: “The Report” Gets Two Hits
The title of this film as it appears on the screen has a redacted word between THE and REPORT. We learn almost immediately that the inked-out word is TORTURE, and writer/director Scott […]
The Fullerton Museum Center is Closed for Now. Here Are Some Images of Their Current Exhibit.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Fullerton Museum Center is closed for now. The museum’s curator, Kelly Chidester, reached out to the Observer to share some images of the current exhibit, “Golden […]
Echoes of the Invisible: A Conversation With Filmmaker Steve Elkins
Fullerton resident Steve Elkins has spent most of his adult life as a musician and filmmaker. His first feature documentary “The Reach of Resonance,” which took him ten years to complete, won […]
Film Review: “Emma” Gets Two Hits
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition … [had] at twenty-one very little to distress or vex her.” Jane Austen’s iconic novel, “Emma,” opens with this […]
Local Theater: What’s Playing?
With its local colleges and storefront theaters, Fullerton is a great place to catch live shows. Here are a few of the local offerings happening this month: “A Chorus Line” at Fullerton […]
Film Review: “Bombshell” gets Two Hits
More than a year before the #MeToo movement began, allegations of sexual harassment arose within the New York offices of Fox News and against its CEO Roger Ailes. Before that, Fox News’ […]
Women’s History Month Film Series
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a special documentary film series Tuesdays at the Fullerton Community Center—highlighting women in science, the arts and politics who have led change and cemented their place in […]
Fullerton’s Got Talent
Fullerton Rotary hosted their second “Fullerton’s Got Talent” show at the Wilshire Auditorium on February 23. The event raises funds to go towards their youth-oriented programs, which benefit many of the local […]
“The Upright Revolution” @ The Muckenthaler Cultural Center
The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s parable of the interconnectedness of life during a time of struggle and conflict has been translated into 63 languages […]
Friends of Music present: Duo Turgeon
Fullerton Friends of Music will present a free concert featuring Duo Turgeon on Sunday, March 1 at the Wilshire Auditorium at Fullerton College. Born in Montreal and Toronto respectively, Canadian pianists Anne […]
Film Review: 1917 Gets Two Hits
Although “1917” was heavily favored to win Best Picture Oscar at the February 9 Academy Awards ceremony, it only won technical Oscars in three categories—sound-mixing, visual effects and cinematography. Sam Mendes had […]
A Driving Tour of Fullerton’s Mid-Century Modern Buildings
More often than not, cityscapes are dominated by a contrasting variety of architectural styles. As a photographer, I’ve always been interested in looking at the different types of buildings around Fullerton. When […]
“Fun Home” & “A Wrinkle in Time” @ Chance Theater
Check out two new plays at Chance Theater in Anaheim this month: Fun Home, a groundbreaking musical based on the intensely personal graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. Written by Jeanine Tesori (music) […]
Celebrating 60 Years of the CSUF School of Music
On October 18, 1959, Joseph Landon, music Supervisor for the San Bernardino Public Schools, submitted his “Proposed Music Curriculum for Orange County State College” on the request of William Langsdorf, CSUF founding […]
“Tea With Alice and Me” Celebrates the 19th Amendment
“Tea with Alice and Me; The Intersecting Lives of Two Militant Visionaries Miss Alice Paul & Zoe Nicholson” is a full length one-woman performance that takes the audience to women’s tearooms – […]
Film Review: “The Two Popes” Gets Two Hits
Although not receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, the richly deserving “The Two Popes” did get two nominations in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories with Jonathan Pryce […]
“Made in California” Call for Submissions
Brea Art Gallery’s annual juried exhibit “Made in California’ is accepting submissions through February 20. This exhibit showcases artwork from all over the state of California. MICA strives to highlight artists in […]
“Chapter One” @ Brea Art Gallery
Explore the art of storytelling in this fantastical exhibition. Dive into original narratives, travel to mystical realms, and meet strange, mysterious characters as you wander through the exhibit filled with painting, illustration, […]
The Game’s Afoot @ Stages Theater
It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle […]
Friends of Music present Thalea String Quartet
Fullerton Friends of Music will present a free concert on Sunday February 2 at 3:30pm at Wilshire Auditorium (corner of Wilshire and Lemon in Fullerton.) featuring the Thalea String Quartet with Michelle […]
Student Art Showcase @ The Muckenthaler Cultural Center
The opening reception for the Fullerton Union High School District Student Art Showcase will take place Wed, Jan 29 at 6:30pm. Before The Muck officially opens its gallery with the accomplished artists […]
Fullerton Arboretum Celebrates 40 Years in Retrospective Exhibit
Check out a special retrospective exhibit entitled “The Fullerton Arboretum: The First 40 Years (1979-2019)” now on display in the Arboretum’s exhibition space. This is an auspicious year for the Fullerton Arboretum, […]
Film Review: “Marriage Story” gets Two Hits
Premiering at the Venice Film Festival this past August, writer-director Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” next screened at the Telluride Film Festival and then in Toronto, receiving praise and glowing comments in all […]
Fullerton Friends of Music present The Dali String Quartet
On Sunday January 12 at 3:30pm, Fullerton Friends of Music will present the Dali String Quartet in a free chamber music concert at the Wilshire Auditorium located on the northeast corner of […]
