L.A. Is My Beat: June 2011

Inspiration

There's lots of inspiration and diversion found on Ravelry. Here are some of the latest that I've tagged:

I've made this pattern a few times, but I just LOVE this colorway!

Evening Allure Cape

Shawl-Collared Cardigan

Rothko Rug

inspired by this painting....

I had a poster of this painting in my apartment for years!

What's your latest inspiration? We have a long weekend ahead of us with plenty of time for creativity!

Labels: Art, Fashion, yarny stuff

Mitered Squares

I've been obsessed with knitting the Mitered Cross Afghan pattern. Here are some of the squares I've completed.

Afghan Squares

I'm in the Annual Dishcloth Swap on Ravelry and I decided to use the same Mitered Cross pattern for my cotton dishcloths. I've finished three cloths so far and have started on my fourth. Only one more after the pinky-mint one!

Mitered Cross Cotton Dishcloths

Dishcloth #4

The dishcloths are due at the end of August. I'm anxious to see what I get in return!

Labels: yarny stuff

Tom's Birthday

Chez Claire-Tom

On Saturday, Larry, Jacquie, Bob and I went to Tom's birthday party. Tom and Claire live in a darling bungalow, just east of Los Feliz. They always have great, song-filled parties peppered with artists, writers, musicians and many interesting people.

Their parties are like the salons of yesteryear. Dinner is always potluck with many vegetarian delicacies. We had some wonderful menu items this year, as always. You have to keep stopping by the buffet as people arrive, just to see and taste what's new!

Larry and Tom

The birthday boy, Tom was in a particularly festive mood this year. He seemed relaxed and I could tell he was having a great time. Tom's and Claire's backyard is perfect for a large gathering.

Impromptu Entertainment!

When it gets chilly, you can always sit in the large living room, where the desserts are located! I'm not sure how old their house is, probably built in the early1920's. The fireplace has the most gorgeous Batchelder tile surrounding it.

Batchelder Tile

I've known Tom and Claire for close to 25 years. Tom hosted the public radio show, "The Nixon Tapes" for many years on KPFK-FM. I learned quite a bit about being a d.j. from Tom, which prepared me for my own radio show on KPCC-FM. We're all music and art fans. This common love makes for excellent conversation! Our house guests, Jacquie and Bob felt very welcome at this fun party! Happy Birthday, Tom!

Some photos courtesy of Larry Underhill Photography

Labels: Architecture, Art, Food, Friends, Los Angeles

Houseguests!

Larry, Bob and Jacquie @ Highland Park House Opening
....on our way to party in Atwater Village

I just LOVE hangin' out with our good friends, Jacquie and Bob! They visited us this weekend. It was a whirlwind visit with many laughs, good meals and parties! I miss them already. Come back and visit soon, Kids!!

The Former Helms Bakery, Culver City

@Home, planning our next move

...and then we attended this divine and laa-dee-dah party in Beverly Hills. Details coming soon!

Labels: Architecture, Art, At Home, Food, Friends, Los Angeles

Vintage Photo Friday

Carolyn and I sitting next to each other @ Thanksgiving

Last Saturday one of my favorite cousins, Carolyn, took me out to a fancy-schmancy lunch at Culina, Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Really, I think the Four Seasons is just outside the border of Beverly Hills, but who's looking?

Carolyn and I have always had a special relationship. Even though she's 8 or 9 years older than me, we definitely wave on the same length. When I was just a kid, Carolyn's best friend, Sue lived across the street from us. I would be playing on the front lawn and I'd see Carolyn zooming down the street in her '57 two-tone Buick. She'd honk and wave at me. All the other little kids thought I was cool because a teenager drove by and noticed me! To this day, we always try to sit next to each other at family events.

Carolyn, top left @ my first wedding, 1974, Ambassador Hotel

At least 3 years ago, Carolyn commented on a cardigan I'd knitted for her granddaughter, Avery. It was a simple, top-down sweater. Carolyn wanted to know if I could write her a pattern for the same sweater but in her size. Easy. Carolyn bought some beautiful yarn and I instructed her how to knit the sweater. Everyone in our family knits. I just had to give Carolyn a few brush-up reminders and she was on her way. 3 years later, the partially done cardigan was still sitting in Carolyn's knitting bag. She has other interests. So, I asked her just to bring it to me and I'd finish it for her. I finally completed the cardigan in time for Passover and gave it to Carolyn. It looks great on her. She wanted to repay my knit work by taking me to a special lunch.

Lunch at Culina was really faboo. We splurged and split three items: The seafood salad, a Kobe beef submarine sandwich and the risoto with corn, bacon and arugula. Oh! I almost forgot . we had the sinfully rich chocolate cake for dessert.

Carolyn, wearing her new cardigan

The Four Seasons is usually crawling with actors. You can see Daniel Benzali sitting just behind Carolyn. He had lunch with his cellphone. Thank you, Cousin Carolyn for a divine afternoon!!!

Statues in the Motor Court of the Four Seasons Hotel
"Sharing the Headlines" by J. Seward Johnson, Jr.

Labels: family, Fashion, Food, Los Angeles, Memories, yarny stuff

My Love Affair

Farmers Market, 1960's

Yes, I'm in love with the Original Farmers Market. It's no secret. I'm there at least once a week, many times, more often. It's close to our house. It serves as my own outdoor patio. Since I do have dinner there quite often, I'm getting kinda' jaded and tired of the cuisine. Which is crazy, because there are so many choices for food at the Market.

Maybe I'm turning into my Mom. She never likes any food at any restaurant. Everything is "just O.K." by her, never fabulous.

The Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax in the center of Los Angeles is the best place to people-watch. There are tourists during the summer, visitors to live TV shows at next-door's CBS,-TV City celebrities, local folks and more. Now that The Grove Shopping Center is next-door, the traffic at the Market has doubled in the past few years. There are tons of dining choices at the Market. You can get anything from classic corned beef and cabbage to gourmet Mexican cuisine and delicately flavored Singapore specialties.

Last week I was waiting for my Enchiladas Suizas at Loteria Grill while I perused the side of the stand and their colorful mural of Loteria playing cards. I noticed that they had added a Farmers Market tower card! So cute!

Back to the food choices. This is Los Angeles. We have first class restaurants here. In my experience, MOST of the food at the stands at the Market is rather ho-hum and over-priced. Sacrilege! How dare I diss my fave place in Los Angeles?!? Well, it's true. I have this love-hate relationship with the restaurants at the Market. They are catering to the tourist trade and not the locals. This fact has not changed my habits. I will still hang out at the ever-charming Farmers Market. It's part of my life. However, I might not eat there quite as often. There's a Whole Foods across the street with an awesome take-out section!

Upstairs Dining Area. This is where our Thursday Night SnB Meets

Labels: Food, Los Angeles, Memories, Vintage Photos

Sprucing Up

My goofy gardener, Mr. Larry is trying to spruce up the house a bit. Our good friends, Jacquie and Bob are visiting this weekend from Las Vegas. The pink guest room awaits them. Jacquie is attending a Junior High School reunion on Saturday afternoon! That should be a hoot. We have some other fun events planned for their visit too. Can't wait to see them!
Jacquie and I go waaaaaay back. We met while we were both working at USC. Jacquie worked for the head of the German Department and I worked for the head of the Religious Studies Department. We shared an office and became fast friends. Eventually, we both got jobs at 20th Century Fox Studios and worked with or near each other for the next 12 years. Jacquie moved with Bob to Hawaii in the late 1980's and then to Las Vegas and La Quinta. We've kept in touch all of these years.....37, to be exact! Drive safely, Jacquie and Bob. Your home town awaits you. See you on Friday!

Westwood Village in the 1940's

Labels: Friends, Los Angeles, Memories

This is it

After much research and test knitting and crocheting, I've decided to continue with my mitered cross obsession for the Annual Dishcloth Swap of 2011. We have to knit and/or crochet 5 dishcloths of the same pattern. We can change up the colors of 100% cotton that we use.

I've decided to knit my cloths rather than crochet them. I'm using kitchen cotton, size 3 knitting needles which makes a very thick, absorbent fabric.

Two down, three to go. All dish cloths must be turned in by the end of August. There's still time to join this swap if you're interested. Join Ravelry and read the instructions!

Labels: yarny stuff

Wig Wam Motel

The year was 1956. Vaudeville performers were driving from the East on Route 66 to make their fortune and fame on a Hollywood T.V. show, "T.V. Jamboree," produced by impresario Chris Nichols! They all just happened to meet up about an hour outside Los Angeles at the Wig Wam Motel in San Bernardino. Actually, it was a birthday party for Chris Nichols. There were performances, barbecue, drinks and more. Everyone dressed the part and it was a wonderful party!

Click here to view these pictures larger

I dressed in my uptown cowgirl outfit and played my banjo. In character, I was aimin' to be cast on "Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree" on KLAC lucky channel 13 in Hollywood! Larry dressed as a casual audience member of the era.

The Wig Wam Motel is the last of seven such establishments across the country. Many of our friends stayed for the night so we got to explore the little Wig Wam motel rooms. They were surprisingly roomy with very nice bathrooms...clean and efficient. The pool was characterically kidney-shaped and the park-like lawn area was perfect for our party. Many of our friends performed their "vod-vill" acts. The lovely Adriene and the accomplished Cuban Pete accompanied everyone on Hammond B-3 organ and the cocktail drums. Cuban Pete also gave some rousing renditions of popular Cuban songs of the day with his conga drum!

Thanks to Chris and Charlene for organizing a fabulous celebration. Happy Birthday, Chris!

Labels: Architecture, Fashion, Food, Friends, Los Angeles, Memories, Vintage Photos

Vintage Photo Friday

1926, Boyle Hts.

This Sunday is Father's Day. If you are lucky enough to still have your Dad, be sure to call or visit on Sunday. My Dad, George E. Bloom, passed away in 2004. I miss him everyday. You can read a tribute to my Dad here.

A few vintage photos.....