Vintage Photo Friday

Liberace and his piano-shaped pool.  Sherman Oaks, CA.  1954.  Valley Times Collection, LAPL Photo Archives.

Everyone here at the office is gearing up for the premiere (May 26th) of "Behind the Candelabra," the HBO movie based on the autobiographical novel and the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson.  The movie stars Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Thorson.  Debbie Reynolds is cast as Liberace's mother!

Liberace had many homes here in Los Angeles.  Notably, he built a home in Sherman Oaks in the early 1950's, just up the hill from my husband's family.  Family lore has it that Larry's brother, who was around 5 years old at the time, wandered up the hill while the cement was drying in the piano-shaped swimming pool at Liberace's house.  He put his hand prints and foots prints in the wet cement.  I'm told that this area of the pool was re-cemented.  Too bad.  I'd love to see those little prints at the bottom of Lee's pool!!

According to bing.com maps, aerial view, the pool is still there!

bing.com aerial view of 15405 Valley Vista Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA

One of my co-workers has a life-size cardboard cut-out of Liberace in his cubicle.  I did a few dance steps with Lee!

Ellen and the dashing Liberace in full Americana attire!

Have a dazzling weekend, my friends!

Office Campus

Colorado Center Garden, Santa Monica

I've been participating in Carla's "31 days, 31 walks, 31 minutes" which translates into every day in May take a walk for at least 31 minutes, then let the group know via Facebook when and where you walked.  I decided to take Carla's challenge.  I figured I could do anything for just 31 days.

A few days this month I've been able to drag myself out of bed and walk before work in the morning in our neighborhood.  Most days though I find it easier just to take a walk around my office campus during lunch time.  I work at the Colorado Center in Santa Monica.  The gardens here are beautifully landscaped.  There's a public park, tennis courts and other amenities.  I feel very lucky to have such a lush and well-maintained place to take my daily walks.

View from our 5th floor balcony

I've read that it takes 21 days for an activity to become a habit.  I'm only on day 15 and I still hate that 31 minute daily walk.  Ugh.  

Carla is quite popular and has many followers.  You can search The Kicking and Screaming Vegan on Facebook to follow our progress.

More Taco Testing

5408 W Pico Blvd  Los Angeles

Last Friday night we decided to re-try our neighborhood taco place, Sky's Tacos. Sky's has been in business for years...at least 10, maybe more.  We tried it when it first opened.  It was OK.  Since we've been on this hunt for tacos near our house, we decided to give Sky's another try.  Sky's is in half of a beautiful art deco building.

The food was good.  Not fabulous, but definitely good.  The chips and guacamole salsa were great.  It seems like the chips are made in-house.  Larry ordered two tacos, chicken and carnitas.  I ordered carnitas and carne asada.  Each taco was really big, lots of meat and vegies.  They were all very tasty.  I wasn't crazy about the red sauce on the tacos.  It's not salsa, more like ranchero sauce.  I'd ask for it on the side next time.

It was a Friday night and there were lots of people ordering tacos, so the service was a bit on the slow side.  Since we had to wait for our tacos, I was expecting the chips and guacamole salsa first.  It arrived at the same time as our tacos and drinks.  Sigh.  Dining room organization and efficiency could be improved.  Since the staff (two people) were rather stressed, I didn't get the feeling that they were happy to see us.  Next time, I'll order ahead and take-out.

See you at El Gallito!

2013 Annual Dishcloth Swap

It's time to start gearing up for the 2013 Annual Dishcloth Swap!  This is my favorite swap of the year.  The Ravelry group is chatty and supportive.  People knit and/or crochet the most amazing dishcloths.  Yes, a dishcloth can be AMAZING!  This is an opportunity to try out a new stitch or technique and whip it up in a little square or round format...speedy!  Yes!  

We are submitting 5 dishcloths of the same pattern, different colors, 100% cotton by July 27th.  We will receive 5 different dishcloths back!  The moderators of this swap are Eve and Michele.  Both are excellent knitters and crocheters and are really good about being fair in the dishcloth distribution.  Read the instructions and join us! 

The Beautiful Dishcloths I Received Last Year

I've decided to use this pattern.  I've made it many times before, so it should go quickly.  The pattern, in worsted weight yarn turns out a 12-inch square, too large for this swap.  So, I'm using a finer cotton thread and downsizing my hook.  The square in the top photo, made in Samoa Cotton with a size "E" hook, including the picot border, resulted in a 7-1/2-inch square.  I used some variegated Egyptian cotton for the border.

I like this square so much, that I started an afghan of heart squares using this pattern.  One day, I'll finish it!

Unfinished Heart Afghan

Com on, join us!  You know you want to.

Vintage Photo Friday

Santa Monica Blvd. & Doheny Dr., early 1940's.  BH Historic Preservation (Facebook) Photo Collection

Beverly Hills is my home town.  Since leaving BH when I was first married in 1974, I've always lived on the fringes of this small town, or as the real estate ads say, "Beverly Hills Adjacent."   I'm constantly driving through Beverly Hills on my way to everywhere. While driving around, I cannot help but remember all of my elementary and high school friends'

homes, the shops and restaurants that used to be.  There have been so many changes in BH since my youth, much of the change being of an architectural nature.  Sadly, many of the buildings of yesteryear have been demolished or altered so radically, that they are barely recognizable.

I'm thrilled to state that Historic Preservation in the City of Beverly Hills was approved by the City Council on January 24, 2012.  There's a web-page too with all of the details and guidelines to historic preservation.  Maybe this will curb some of the mansion-ization that has occurred in the past!

Looks like the City is sprucing up those BEVERLY HILLS signs too!  I drove by a sign shop in Mid-City Los Angeles to see the template for our beloved sign sitting in the yard!

Signmakers, Inc., Mid-City L.A.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Take a stroll through Beverly Gardens Park this weekend.  Beverly Gardens runs the length of big Santa Monica Boulevard, from one end of the City to the other!  It should be perfect weather.

Seen Around Town

Here are a few snaps of things I've noticed while cruising around Los Angeles.

Metro Bridge being built in Billingsley's Parking Lot

Cactus Garden, Pan Pacific Park

Graffiti Art, Pan Pacific Park

Tiki Patio, Mid-City L.A.

Mural, Venice, CA

License to Snap

More vanity license plates in and around the Beverly Hills area.  All of these were snapped by my reporter / photographer in the field, Brenda!  I like to call her Brenda Starr!

Probably an accountant or business manager!

Transplant from the Georgia

Translation from German:  "Very well" or "Awfully Good"

Thanks for the great snaps, Brenda!

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

We were lucky enough to be included in a small Cinco de Mayo celebration last Sunday at the home of Carol and Thane.  Yes, they like to give parties.  They give excellent parties.  We all brought something to share for the meal, but Carol and Thane outdid themselves with the margaritas (fresh limes from their backyard tree), two types of guacamole, salsa and all of the other fixin's for sopes! 

The day before, the weather was hot and perfect.  Not so much on Sunday.  It wasn't freezing, but the sun was hidden for most of the afternoon.  Not to worry!  The warmth of those strong margaritas heated up the party!

After a long cocktail hour, the meat was thrown on the grill and the main meal was served.   One of our friends requested that I bring my ukulele to teach him a few chords.  That friend bowed out of the party at the last minute, but the ukuleles surfaced.  

 

Larry

Rick

We sang a few tunes and then had dessert!  It was a wonderful afternoon!  Olé

Mexican Mocha Cake w/Kahlua

More photos here. 

Taco Taste Test

Larry @ Leo's Taco Truck, Venice & La Brea

For our big Saturday date Larry and I decided to test the 3 taco trucks closest to our home.  There are always lines at these trucks, so we figured they must be good.  We are nowhere near the taco experts that Bandini of The Great Taco Hunt is, but we wanted to do our own taste tests. 

We ordered the same tacos at each truck, 2 tacos al pastor.  This is pork, roasted on a ever-spinning spit, the same method for roasting lamb in Middle-Eastern restaurants.  We wanted to check out the condiments and salsa selection at each truck too.

We started our journey at Leo's Taco Truck in a gas station lot on the north/west corner of La Brea Ave. and Venice Blvd.  There is ALWAYS a line at this truck at all times of the day and night.  Leo's is known for their al pastor tacos with pineapple.  We ordered 2 to go.  We received guacamole sauce, red sauce, onions and cilantro.  Check out the 99-Cent Chef's video of Leo's Tacos!

 

Leo's Tacos Al Pastor with Pineapple

We took our to-go bag across the street to the El Gallito truck.  This is the north/east corner of La Brea Ave. and Venice Blvd.  El Gallito has a covered table area on their lot.  This was good...we could sample our Leo's and Gallito tacos while sitting down.  We also ordered soda at El Gallito.  The array of salsas and condiments was impressive.  There was also a hot pot of bubbling pinto beans available.  The tacos were served with a yummy boiled onion.

 

El Gallito's Tacos Al Pastor

For our third stop, we wanted to try the truck on the south side of Olympic Blvd. @ Redondo called El Chato.  The truck was not in sight.  I guess they don't set up for the dinner crowd.  This is a late-night stop.  Soooooo, we zoomed south on Redondo to Washington Blvd. to check out Beto's Tacos in the parking lot of the Redondo Liquor Store.  

 

Redondo Liquor Store

This is a good location, plenty of parking AND you can pick up an adult beverage at the liquor store if you're so inclined.   The choice of salsas, etc. was good, but the al pastor tacos at Beto's were a bit too spicy for us Viejos.

Beto's Tacos Al Pastor

Fine Dining on the Hood of my Car

Larry and I each had 3 tacos, along with condiments, very fresh tortillas and a soft drink each.  The total for dinner, with tips, was $9.50!  My personal favorite....El Gallito! I love Los Angeles.

LACMA - Vintage Photo Friday

L.A. County Museum of Art - 1965.  Wm. Pereira & Associates. LAPL Photo Archive

Christopher Hawthorne (Los Angeles Times Architecture Critic) wrote an article in the L.A. Times a few days ago about demolishing the above buildings at LACMA.  WHAT?  Isn't the Getty Foundation highlighting this period of architecture right now in their current Pacific Standard Time program?  The newer buildings at LACMA have obliterated much of the beautiful mid-century design by Wm. Pereira & Associates from the Wilshire Boulevard view, but the back of these iconic buildings are still evident.  Visitors can also walk in and around the Ahmanson, Hammer and Bing wings of LACMA and see their beautiful architectural lines.  Why doesn't the L.A. Conservancy Modern Committee officially object to this new demolition/construction plan?  Remember the tour, "The Sixties Turn Fifty"?   Please, L.A. Conservancy, place this on your advocacy issues schedule.

LACMA under construction - 1963.  LAPL Photo Archive

LACMA took away the beautiful water feature surrounding the buildings to add chunky stairs.  They plopped the Anderson Building up to the property line on Wilshire, destroying the gracious set-back.  True, the street light installation between the Anderson and the Resnick Plaza is wonderful.  The actual Plaza is excellent for large gatherings and parties.  With $650 million, can't the LACMA planning committee come up with a plan that does not tear down our treasured mid-20th century buildings?  This isn't Las Vegas where we blow up our buildings every ten years.

Please don't tear me down!

There were letters in the L.A. Times today agreeing with my objections.  Take a trip over to LACMA this weekend.  Walk through the surrounding gardens and plazas.  Enjoy the stunning architecture.  It may all be changed soon. Sigh.

Future Patterns?

I love tagging my favorite patterns on Ravelry. Who knows if I'll ever knit and/or crochet these patterns, but they do serve as inspiration!  Here are a few that I've tagged recently:

Sarah London's "I Heart You" Pillow with Pom-Poms

 I have an obsession with all things HEART!  Every time I see a heart pattern, I tag it!

Baby Heart Blanket by SweetAppleDesigns

Wendy Blanket

After seeing the movie, "Kon-Tiki," I'm obsessed with Scandinavian design.

 

Concentric Circles Rooster Potholder

Petals to Picots Flower Cleansing Pads

What's your current favorite pattern?