Vintage Photo Friday - Summer!

Brentwood, 1962

Get out your bathing caps and swimsuits!  Everybody in the pool!  Here I am, above, in my Aunt Frances' and Uncle Mort's pool on Westgate Avenue in Brentwood.  My cousins, Amie, Barbie and Carol are all close to my age.  We spent many summer days in their pool, splashing about!  Marco!  Polo!

We're usually experiencing overcast days during May and June in Los Angeles.  Maybe it's global warming, but our days have been extremely sunny and mild.  Perfect for a day at the pool!

Restored Pool at Annenberg Beach House

A great place to loll about this weekend would be the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.  This is the old Sand 'n Sea Club, formerly actress Marion Davies' beach mansion.  The place has been completely remodeled and it's beautiful.  You can sit out by the pool or walk down to the beach and feel the waves on your toes. All of the facilities are maintained beautifully.  There's also a sweet little lunch spot called Back on the Beach Cafe that has delicious food. 

Vintage Postcard, Marion Davies, Santa Monica

Have a wonderful summer weekend!

Party!

A Beautiful Evening on the Patio

Carla was in town last week.  Ever since she moved to Houston, there's been a hole in our Knitgrrlz Group! We were so glad that she came to Los Angeles for a visit!  Naturally, she was busy the entire trip.  Luckily, I got to see Carla at the WeHo SnB on Thursday night and then again for a belated b-day party at Natalie's and Joe's house on Friday.

Cocktails with Mary Jo, Carla, Jenna and Todd

Natalie Prepares Cocktails

Everyone had a good time

Sorry to Brit, Darcy, André, Catherine and others that I did not manage to photograph on Friday!  I was too busy having a delicious dinner, celebrating, laughing and recording the dance action!

Natalie concocted the most divine drinks for us.  We had yummy appetizers.  Dinner was pesto pasta with cherry tomatos, fennel & orange salad, green salad, fruit salad and handmade barbecued sausages!!!  

 For dessert we had my FAVORITE strawberry shortcake from the Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown.

After dinner and a few b-day gifts, Natalie turned on her X-Box Dance Program.  Wow!  Lots of action!

Natalie, Carla and Jenna ROCK OUT!

Larry and Joe cannot compete with Super Natalie

It was a wonderful party, a glorious visit and sooooo great to see Carla again!

Sweet Carla

Granny Party

What a scene in front of the Craft and Folk Art Museum on Saturday, late afternoon!  Many of the participants in #GrannySquared were there for our group photo.  Most people were dressed in bright colors.  Many wore crocheted and knitted items!

Crocheted Skirt - Mylar

Ellen, Leah, Barbara and Diane

The gift shop had all sorts of cool fiber items.  I definitely want to go back and make some purchases!

Gift Shop Items

Click here to see more photos.

The UN-yarnbombed Museum

Kobawoo House

On Sunday evening we met Audrey and Jeff at the Kobawoo House in Koreatown for dinner.  We met on the early side, 5:30, because I thought it would be less crowded earlier in the evening.  Wrong.  It was packed!  However, we only had to wait a few minutes for a table.

There are little doorbells on the table to summon your waiter.  So efficient!

I'd read Jonathan Gold's review of the restaurant.  We ordered a couple of his suggestions and then veered from Gold's list for one dish.  

Bossam

We were served the usual Korean side dishes, kimchi, potato salad, cucumbers and more.  We ordered Bossam which came on a big platter with cabbage leaves, pork belly slices, Napa radish slices, some other spicy veggie and sliced pig feet.  You wrap the pork with veggies in the cabbage leaf and then eat it burrito-style.  Very tasty.  We also ordered the Hae Mul Pa Jun Seafood Pancake.  It was crispy on the outside and had lots of seafood and veggies on the inside.  

Hae Mul Pa Jun Seafood Pancake

Our third dish was Chicken in teriyaki sauce.  It was fine, but not as kicky as the other dishes.  We really didn't need the third dish.  We each ordered a bowl of white rice as accompaniment to our meal.  We had a huge amount of food for a very low price.  One of the dishes that Gold recommends is the Samgyetang, a chicken-in-the-pot stuffed with ginseng and sticky rice.  Next time.

Audrey and Jeff

698 S. Vermont Ave., Koreatown. (213) 389-7300. Mon.-Sun., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Beer and wine. Valet, lot parking, street parking.

Memorial Day

Today's post was written four years ago, but will always resonate in my heart.

George E. Bloom, Major, U.S. Army, 1942

Click here to read post.

Summer! Vintage Photo Friday

Memorial Day Weekend is the kick-off for summer!  First and foremost it's a day to remember those who have fallen in the line of service to our country.  There are lots of Memorial Day observances that you can attend in the Los Angeles area this weekend.

Summer also means backyard barbecues, parties, the beach and vacations! What are you planning to do on this three-day weekend?

1959 Barbie-Q Ensemble

 

Have a wonderful holiday celebration!

Seen In Los Angeles

I've been snapping more photos than ever!  Here are a few things I've seen around town.

Free Plants on La Brea Ave.

I Brake for Fancy Hi-Heels?  Beverly Hills. Photo by Brenda.

Mural on the side of Liz's Antique Hardware.  La Brea Ave.

"Granny Squared" at CAFAM.  They look like mosaic tiles!

Cat on a Red Tile Roof.  Mid-City L.A.

Antique Door Hinge Hardware.  Liz's on La Brea.

Dinner in Atwater

Larry, Ron, Christian, Tom, Claire, Anna-Maria

On Sunday we drove to Atwater to have dinner with Claire and Tom at their compound.  Our good friends, Ron and Christian were there in addition to visiting artist, Anna-Maria.  Claire and Tom have two houses.  The "big" house is in the front and a smaller cottage is in the back.  They have fashioned a delightful patio behind the cottage...perfect for small dinner parties.

We had a delicious Indian BBQ including marinated lamb, Paneer kabobs, green salad and Basmanti rice with raisins and cashews accompanied by hot garlic Naan.  Oh!  I almost forgot, Claire served some sort of vegie carrot number with sesame seeds for an appetizer.  It was yummy.  It was a pleasure being at a SMALL dinner party, giving us a chance to visit with everyone.

Grilled Paneer cheese w/ sweet onions and red bell peppers

After dinner we adjourned to the Big House for dessert.  Ron and Christian brought Ron's homemade lemon bars, Anna-Maria brought fresh watermelon and Claire made Indian bread pudding with cardoman and saffron.

Bread Pudding

Claire's and Tom's house is quite old, built sometime in the teens or 20's.  Their fireplace is surrounded by beautiful Batchelder tiles.  I've always admired them.

 

Thank you again, Claire and Tom for a wonderful evening!

The Cottage

Trousdale Estates

Producer, Randy Simon at the door of his Trousdale Estates Home

Last night I attended the L.A. Conservancy Modern Committee general meeting at the Trousdale Estates home of Randy Simon on North Hillcrest Road in Beverly Hills.  It was very nostalgic for me, driving up Hillcrest Road.  We lived on Hillcrest for about 4 years in the mid to late 1960's....many blocks south of Trousdale though!

Interior Courtyard

Producer, Randy Simon's home has been completely refurbished and revitalized, while keeping many historic details of this 1956 modern home.  The home has very clean lines, beautiful landscaping and a fully in-tact vintage kitchen.

Top of the Line 1958 Deluxe Kitchen

This was a regular general meeting for ModCom  After a lengthy introduction of guests, updates on various preservation issues were discussed, like Wyvernwood Garden Apartments in Boyle Heights; The Case Study House Nomination and the Commercial Council report.

Alison Martino and Steven Price

Ellen, Kim and Alison

The highlight of the meeting was a lecture and slide show given by Steven Price which was geared  toward the particular history of Trousdale Estates and how it's an integral part of the Beverly Hills Preservation process. Steven has done extensive research on Trousdale Estates.  I so look forward to his upcoming book, "OVER THE TOP, the Architectural History of Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills."

Tim Braseth and Larry Underhill

It was a wonderful evening of chatting with friends and experiencing a true mid-20th century jewel. 

Photo courtesy of Randy Simon Productions