Chick flicks are mindless, I know. But sometimes mindless is good and makes you think a bit, too, when you least expect it.

That’s what happened the past two afternoons, sitting in cinemas in Lowell and Burlington watching the chick flicks Midnight in Paris and Larry Crowne with my daughter, Wendy.

She and I both love movies. And we also love watching them on the big screen TV at home. But going to the movies is a ritual we love to revive each time we get together, recalling the halcyon days of her (and my) youth when we’d stage movie marathons when she came home from college each spring.

The fare this summer is sparse, for sure, until a couple more open in August. But we both enjoyed our choices this time, even if critics haven’t been generous with their praise.

Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen’s latest, starring Owen Wilson as a depressed Hollywood screenwriter, engaged to Inez, ably played by Rachel McAdam. They’re in Paris on her parents’ dime, enjoying the scenery, dining and wine. Then  he decides he’d like to ditch all their future Malibu beach house frivolity and move here, settling in like Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Picasso did in the ’20s to pursue art by day and party by night.

Then, voila!, one dark night strolling Paris’ magical streets, he’s picked up by partiers in a vintage car and transported back to the golden age. Cole Porter plays on the piano, Scott and Zelda hold court and Hemingway weighs in on everything from writing to wooing women.

Young Gil (Wilson) is hooked and travels back a few more times in this delightful confection of a flick. A bit far-fetched but it drives home the point that it’s best to live in the present, no matter how beguiling the past. Loved the scenery, the music and the quirky characters that Allen brings back to recall the Roaring ’20s in Paris.

Larry Crowne is another frou-frou piece but pretty to look at despite its predictability. Hanks’ character, Larry, is a do-gooder at the U-Mart, where he’s carved a career as a perfect employee after 20 years in the Navy. Only problem, he never went to, let alone, finished college. And it’s a black mark against him, as he gets the ax from the higher-ups.

He signs up at the local community college for speech, economics and English comp. Naturally, the speech teacher Julia Roberts, tart, tangy and hell-bent to cancel her classes for low enrollment is a dazzler. She’s dealing with a sluggard husband, a former teacher and writer, now turned blogger (what does that say about us?), who peruses porn sites while she supports the household. .

One thing leads to another, of course, in this predicatable, yet entertaining, comedy. And, needless to say, teacher and student evenutally connect and, asclosing credits attest, will live happily everafter.

Corny? Sure. But entertaing? Absolutely.

And that’s why I always love a good chick flick on a hot or rainy summer afternoon. Sheer escape and nothing else. And isn’t that what summer is all about?

Delighted to be in Lowell today for three significant events. First, the COOL breakfast, celebrating 10 years of outreach, support and involvement with the artists, businesses and tourism in the city, making Lowell a very cool place to live, work and play.

Congrats to MRT for the $325,000 Kresge Foundation grant that will help refurbish the theater (first time in 25 years) and make it more user-friendly. And also kudos to the Revolving Museum for its semi-final status for a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. They’re waiting for the end of June to learn if they are one of 12 finalists that get invited to the White House.

Then on to the Owl Diner and a chance to catch up with Jack Neary, Lowell playwright and blogger sublime. His The Porch, a Lowell-centric comedy, is being presented June 2-4 at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center. I’ll write on this on May 26.

Finally, off to the American Textile History Museum, where two new exhibits, one about soldier graffiti on a troop ship heading to Vietnam in the 1960s, and another about the glammy fashions of the 1930s, both open on May 21. See my story next Thursday, May 19 in Steppin’ Out.

I was breathless by then and remain amazed at how far Lowell has come in the years I have covered it…There really is a lot to like about Lowell…

It’s an understatement to say it was a thrill for me on Friday when I attended the presentation ceremonies of the inspiring portrait of major league baseball pitching ace Pedro Martinez into the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

This is the nation’s premier repository of portraits of those who’ve made an impact on American life, from politics and the arts, to business, sports, science, even crime.

“It’s like America’s Facebook,” commented director Martin Sullivan, greeting over 100 people in the auditorium on the bright, brisk morning.

 ”It’s a brilliant day,  full of energy and life and perfect for inducting this portrait in the National Portrait Gallery,” he added.

The portrait depicts Pedro, eight time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and a World Series champ with the amazing 2004 Red Sox, in his prime. He’s on the mound, arms slightly raised, elbows bent as he prepares to hurl a pitch. There’s a look of commitment on his face as he stares with strong determination into the unseen batter’s eyes. His long, talented fingers curl around the ball. It’s a moment in time, perfectly preserved.

“She’s captured such a telling likeness of him,” said Sullivan, as he introduced the speakers..

The “she” Sullivan referred to is artist Susan Miller-Havens, who so ably captured Martinez’s fierceness, as well as his heart  in the work, one of three portraits she painted of him in her Cambridge gallery over 10 years ago.

 Miller-Havens is my lifelong friend, dating back to Miss Grace Bloom’s kindergarten class at the Forest Avenue School in Glen Ridge, N.J.  Her artwork fills the 1962 Glenalog, our high school yearbook.

I have followed her career since we reconnected at our 25th high school reunion almost 25 years ago. I saw her Pedro on view before at the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, N.J. and I also savored her portrait of stellar catcher Carlton Fisk that’s also part of the permanent collection in the National Portrait Gallery two years ago. I’ve written about her work featuring women and their dogs that was featured in a group show during Lowell Women’s Week eight years ago. 

But I wasn’t prepared for the moving events that took place on Friday, and several days later, still find myself processing all that happened that day.

 First, Susan talked about Impressionist painter Edgar Degas who “understood the beauty and athleticism” of his subjects. “He said ‘art is not what you see, but what you make others see,’” noting that she lives by that expression, which hangs on her studio wall.

She talked of meeting Pedro and getting to know him, something she does with every subject she paints.

“Pedro is exceptional. I spent time with him, talked about gardening and life with him, got to know his family. I saw his devotion to his country, his promise to help children and to build a church there where there was none and of his love of nature, his soul,  and. yes, his moodiness.” said Susan.

“Pedro is one of the greatest pitchers who has ever played baseball, but he also has a great heart,” she added. And that made him an exceptionally appealing subject for her to paint.

Gloria and Peter Gammons, the great ESPN baseball commentator who grew up nearby in Groton, donated the portrait to the NPG from their extensive art collection. Gloria had purchased it for Peter several years ago on his birthday. They loved it a lot. But they also knew it deserved to be seen by millions more over the coming years, decades, even centuries, as an important part of American history and culture that the NPG preserves and presents  in its collection.

“Gloria bought it for Peter seven years ago and I know how much they treasure it,” said Sullivan.

His Excellency Dr. Roberto Saladin, ambassador of the Dominican Republic, also spoke and commended Pedro for his talent, but also his commitment to his native country.

“It’s a great  honor to congratulate Pedro Martinez, and thanks to Susan Miller Havens for capturing his strength and talent. He is an artist with his arm and every  Dominican is proud of Pedro. He’s a wonderful example to our nation,”  he said.

Finally, it was Pedro’s time to speak. And when he did,  a standing ovation erupted and greeted him. He thanked God, his family and all who had contributed to his success in life. He lauded Susan for her stellar work.

“My friend Suze -  you did a great painting. I love you and am proud of you and proud to be the one you painted,” he said.

Overcome with emotion, he wiped tears from his eyes and noted, “I never felt this much emotion in any of the games I played. I’m sorry, Suze, I didn’t know this was going to happen. I thank you all, I thank God from above and I am extremely proud and happy. It is an honor to be inducted into this museum. Susan, you are beautiful and your artistry is even prettier.”

His family, including his mother, wife and children flocked to the stage, hundreds of photos were taken and dozens of hands were shaken. “This is a day to celebrate,” said Sullivan. “Now millions will see Pedro’s portrait, as it joins presidents, poets, activists, actors, men and women of greatness who have shaped our nation.”

Afterward, at the reception, Pedro signed autographs, posed for more pictures, including one with my awe-struck grandson Jack, and basked in the glory of the day. Susan looked on, hugged her friend and marveled at his hands. He marveled at hers, too, two artists – one with a ball, the other with a brush – who have added to the national legacy preserved in the National Portrait Gallery.

It was a day to remember – one I’ll never forget – and neither, I bet,  will Pedro Martinez nor Susan Miller Havens either.

Visit www.millerhavens.com for her detailed explanation of the Pedro Project.

Calling all extras! Here’s your chance to be in another movie. 

Boston Casting has announced two calls this weekend for a new Kevin (King of Queens) film Here Comes the Boom, slated for filming in the area late March to early June. According to my sources at Boston Casting, they need hundreds of people of all ages for this comedy.

Here’s the specifics. There’s an open call on Sunday at the VFW Lowell, 190 Plains St., Lowell from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and another that day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at  Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington. Bring a current photo.

Again, all ages – 18 and up – welcome. If you recall, James filmed Paul Blart, Mall Cop a couple of years ago at Burlington Mall and had a fine time doing it.

See you there!

Over the weekend, I visited the Portland Museum of Art, where there’s a sterling photography exhibit on view through Dec. 5.

Titled The Triumph of Group f/64, it offers an intriguing historic perspective on a  debate on  modern photography that raged in California in the 1930s. It pitted a group called the Pictorialists, who preferred painterly, soft-focus presentations of their photos against a new, revolutionary group who advocated exploiting the characteristics inherent to the camera’s mechanical nature – sharp focus and great depth of field. Subjects, arranged still lives, industrial and architectural views, close-ups from nature and portraits were selected for their rich textural quality and strong forms.

Wandering through the fascinating show, I was reminded of the work of Lowell photographer Joe Quinlan, who has a studio at Western Avenue Studios and has made a career of  capturing the industrial images of Lowell, plus realistic portraits of interesting people on various trips he has made. 

While the artist-photographers in Group f/64 are no longer with us, their work lives on in this fascinating show. Visit www.portland.museum.org for info.

And to see this kind of work closer to hand, visit Quinlan in his studio at WAS. www.westernavenuestudios.com.