Californiating in November Sunsets

Wonderful skies lately. Counting my blessings.

View from the bluff overlooking the Marina with Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains in the background. Ahhhhhh Cali.

THE SANTA FE OPERA

This roofed, but open sided opera house relys on the breathtaking natural scenery for it's back drops, rather than built-out sets. The western view is across the vast mesa to the sunset over the Continental Divide. The photo is of a minimalist set for Madame Butterfly showing the sunset view as the backdrop.

The LAX Theme Building is open again after a massive restoration. This place has always been so Kitchy/Camp that it's cool.

Is that a giant Bubble Lamp/Sculpture I see in the 'Encounter Bar' ?

COCKTAILS

AT

SUNSET !!!!

Sprite

by

Frank Lloyd-Wright c. 1912

I found it.

Some people like flamingos.

Some people like gremlins (I almost went there)

I found the perfect Queen of my Garden.

She was designed in 1912 by Frank Lloyd-Wright.

Sculpted by Ianelli.

For the Midway Gardens Entertainment venue in Chicago.

A few of the original now live at the Arizona Biltmore.

This replica is just beautiful. So very well done and she is so happy with the Kangaroo Paws.

She is the Midway Garden Sprite. Now known as the Arizona Biltmore Sprite.

Frank Lloyd Wright 'Plantation'

I have long admired the art and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. I recently discoverd a site with wonderful photographs of a house/estate he designed that I had never heard of.

This is described as Wright's take on a southern Plantation. It's just amazing. Not one wall is vertical, they all slant and slope. Everything is hand crafted. The stables and chicken coops are gorgeous.

What a guy. Yes, he was wildly eccentric, arrogant and vain--------but maybe that's what it takes, maybe all of us are bless to have his creations of genius.

I'm so grateful to the photographer for making his beautiful photos available to all of us.

There are many photos, so when you have some time to spare visit this link. I think you feel it was worth it.

www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw_rt/South_Carolina/Auldbrass/auldbrass.htm

This looks like a fun project.............after the house is painted and the patio pergola is built----

Here they come !!

GEOFFRY'S

----------This is a favorite restaurant. Malibu to perfection. Once had an Untralight almost land at our table. The food is great and the 'real estate' is gorgeous. You can watch the whales cruise by through the Kelp beds.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

----------and I've been working in the garden

Los Angeles' Greek Community

SAINT SOPHIA

1324 S. Normandie Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90006

Saint Sophia has a wonderful Greek Fest every year. There are Greek arts and crafts for sale and amazing Greek food. I'll post the date as soon as they announce the Fest for 2010.

LET'S ALL TURN UP !!

MUSING ON A RAINY DAY

It's a beautiful rainy day in SoCal. It's really pouring. The house is very cozy; two fires burning all day, warm light, a very good book and day dreams of spring and BBQs.

I thought I'd share my favorite 'Burger' recipe with you.

BLUE BURGERS

2 lb ground beef (the best you can find, black angus, Niman Ranch)

Blue cheese

4 Kaiser rolls

Marie's Blue Cheese Dressing

Bring blue cheese to room temperature and form into 4 patties, 2 inches in diameter 1/4 inch thick , place on wax paper and freeze. (at least 20 minutes)

Divide beef into 8 portions and form each into a 4 inch in diameter, 1/4 inch thick pattie.

Just before putting on the grill, assemble burgers. One pattie topped by the frozen blue cheese pattie, topped by another beef pattie. Press layers together, seal edges.

Grill. Rare is best with very good beef.

Toast Kaiser Rolls on grill.

Spread rolls with blue cheese dressing and serve.

(you must freeze the cheese, or else it will melt too soon and just drip away)

People seem to be wild about these burgers.

ENJOY !!!

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS

State budget cuts threaten our Parks. Arizona is closing 18 of their 30 State Parks. So far all of ours remain open thanks to individual California citizens contributions. Almost all 840 miles of our beaches are State Parks. This is tax deductible.

www.calparks.org

TEMPTATION

------I live one block from a Bristol Farms. What a mixed blessing. They have the best of the best everything; meats, seafood, cheeses, produce, wine, deli items etc etc. It presents endless temptation. It's very expensive. So I limit myself to once a week special treats, ones that no other store can provide. Trader Joe's has many of the same things at half the price, but not all, and if I crave some exotic vegetable or fruit out of season Bristol is the best bet.

All my problems should be like this one !

Art Show. Long Beach Aquarium. Erin ( my daughter) and her entry.

----come on, really where else could this exist------ I LOVE IT !!! And the food is delicious !

1) The Tasty Meat Truck: Not to be confused with The Flying Pig Truck comes another mobile vendor with a flying pig logo, The Tasty Meat Truck. This bad boy debuted about two weeks ago serving up four types of Turkish wraps plus feta fries, and grilled cheese.

Food for Thought

Almost all of California's 840 miles of coastline are State Parks. Unlike most states that allow private ownership of beaches, all of our beaches belong to all of us.

Because of California's budget problems keeping the State Parks/Beaches open and cared for has been a struggle.

This organization is my favorite charity.

www.calparks.org

----From the Inside Out--

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201001/wave.aspx

alibi room

GOURMET TACO TRUCKS

the alibi room is home base to Kogi Korean BBQ 'gourmet taco truck.

Kogi Twitters their locations every day. This seems to be a new trend here, the 'Gourmet Taco Truck'. What great idea !

Iconic

www.hotelcasadelmar.com
Being in this place, looking at this view is just riveting to me.

The view is from the Casa del Mar Hotel. I was built in 1928/29 dedicated in 1929 as a massively luxurious private beach club on the beach in Santa Monica. Within weeks the bottom fell out of the Stock Market and the depression strangled the Nation for almost a decade.

Somehow this beautiful building hung on and recently was beautifully restored; handcrafted woodwork, soaring coffered ceilings, walk-in fireplaces and the peerless Malibu Tiles.

What a treasure.

I come about 45 minutes before sunset and watch this view unfold, each evening in different colors but always with the 100 year old Santa Monica Pier ( the western terminus of Route 66) and the solar powered pshchedylic light show of the Ferris Wheel.

CALIFORNIATING

CALIFORNIATING; Sort of like marinating, but not exactly.

This blog is about my obsession with all thing California and Los Angeles in particular.

I look forward to hearing 'to do' tips, travel tips and all manner of Cali insider information.

Let's 'dish' Cali !!