A museum makes holiday music and a theater makes holiday noise

Fanfares heralded the arrivals of guests at the Hammer Museum’s holiday party -- or not. It all depended upon which side of the stairs they chose to climb. If they chose fanfare, then the horn players (pictured) accompanied their welcome.

Once upstairs, they mingled with artists and writers from the new book, “Hammer Projects 1999-2009,” which chronicles 10 years of the museum’s exhibitions by emerging artists. 

A few days later in Glendale, classical repertory theater A Noise Within celebrated the season with a candlelit Victorian Tea before a performance of “Noises Off.” Longtime theater supporters who attended the annual event included architect John Berry, who is designing the theater’s new home in Pasadena, set to open in 2011.

Look for the full story in “Scene & Heard” in Sunday’s Image section and here.

-- Ellen Olivier 

Photo credit: Todd Cheney