Cook's County

On Saturday, we celebrated Beth's birthday with brunch at Cook's County on Beverly Boulevard, between Crescent Hts. and Fairfax, WeHo.  I've been here before and always enjoy the food.  The kitchen is open, so you can watch the action as the food appears.  

It's a clattering, noisy place, but the menu is interesting and the food is prepared beautifully.

Cedar-smoked Idaho trout, Cooks County bagel, cream cheese, red onion & capers

Braised grass-fed beef hash, roasted potatoes & sunny-side up egg

Pacific crab quiche, gem lettuce & avocado salad

Poached eggs, summer squash, bacon, roasted tomato, spinach & parmesan

After brunch we car-pooled back to our house for presents, cake and crochet!  It was a lovely afternoon.

Beth

Natalie

Julie

Carol

Ellen

Beth and the White Wine Cake

Carol, Ellen, Julie, Natalie, Beth

 Natalie recently colored her hair BLUE.  I thought she would look smart standing in front of my Tony de Carlo "Capitol Records" cut-out painting.  What a Capitol hat!!

Nat in the Hat

The Music of the Canyon

 

Photo by Henry Diltz.  Barry McGuire.  I just might knit Larry a sweater like this and pair it with some flower-power jeans!

Last week, Larry and I visited The Grammy Museum, DTLA, especially to view the exhibit, "California Dreamin': The Sounds of Laurel Canyon, 1965-1977."  Of course, before we hit the second floor where this traveling exhibit was housed, we viewed a few other floors to soak up the grammy vibe.  We were especially enchanted by the "Blue Notes Records: The Finest in Jazz" exhibit.  The vintage Blue Note record cover art was fantastic.  Reid Miles designed most of the Blue Note covers in the 1950s and 1960s.  Knockout design!

The Laurel Canyon exhibit was good, mostly photographs by Henry Diltz, graphic timelines, advertisements of the various folk clubs in the L.A. area, short films, memorabilia, clothing and artifacts owned by some of the performers.

The original auto radiator bag for Jackson Browne's album

Timeline for the Laurel Canyon Music Days

 The clubs in West Hollywood associated with the Laurel Canyon Sound

I frequented the folk and roots club, The Ash Grove most often

This was MY era of music.  I was listening, buying and participating in the music of this time in Los Angeles.  My brother was actively involved in the folk and roots community and I was lucky enough to tag along and soak it up.  Later, when I was in high school, this folk-rock sound was in full force.

Photo by Henry Diltz.  Joni Mitchell.  Check out that cool knitted dress!

It was a very nostalgic exhibit.  I wanted more.

Vintage Photo Friday - Rosh Hashonah

It is customary during Rosh Hashonah, the Jewish New Year, to start fresh and cast your sins into the water.  This is called the tradition of Tashlikh.  Here is a group of women on the Williamsburg Bridge in New York, 1910, performing this rite.

New York, 1910.  NYC Vintage Images

Another group of people, reading the traditional prayer while throwing bread into the water.  1909, New York.

Tashlikh.  1909.  New York.  NYC Vintage Images

This weekend, Larry and I will travel to the closet body of water to our house, The Ballona Creek flood channel, and cast our sins off!

Ballona Creek after a 2010 Rainstorm

Ballona Creek During our Recent Drought, 2014

Hope you have a reflective weekend, my friends.

License to Snap

It's been awhile since I posted vanity license plates seen in the Southland.  Many thanks to my reporter in the field, Brenda, who has been super busy, snapping plates.

Brenda saw this one in Palm Springs.  I find it amusing that Mr. Exciting is only good for one hour!

 

Photo by Brenda

Photo by Brenda

I saw this Italian salutation on the freeway just last week!  Bye Bye!

Translation:  Arrivederci!

The Proof is in the Pudding, or Custard!

Egg Custard Lulu is back!

We were very sad when the final Hamburger Hamlet restaurant closed during the summer.  This was the one on Van Nuys Boulevard, just north of Ventura in Sherman Oaks.  Although we don't get out to that part of the Valley too often, it was comforting to know that at least one remnant of my youth was still around.  We went to the West Hollywood Hamlet on Sunset Boulevard when it closed in 2011.  True, the Lewis family hadn't run the restaurant in decades and the food quality had suffered greatly, but the physical restaurant was still there with those red leather booths and comfy chairs.

A few weeks ago, the Valley Hamlet re-opened under new ownership.  The new owners have brought back old favorites that had faded from the menu during the corporate days.  Yippee!!!

We were in the northern regions of L.A. on Saturday, so we decided to take a trip across the Valley and have an early dinner at the resurrected HH.  The interior and exterior are the same.  We were told that much of the same staff has returned.  The menu is FABOO!

Click on Pic to Embiggen

We started our meal by sharing a bowl of Lobster Bisque.  Sublime.  There were even chunks of lobster in the soup, garlic toast on the side.  

Lobster Bisque

Larry ordered the Marilyn Burger with cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato.  I ordered the Mushroom Burger with sauteed mushrooms, onions, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Both burgers were delicious.   

Marilyn Burger

Mushroom Burger

I really wanted to order the Egg Custard "Lulu" for dessert, but we were just too full.  Next time, I'll go for a total cream and fat dinner with the Bisque and Lulu, no burger!  Hah!

We arrived early, around 5pm and had the place to ourselves.  By the time we left, after 7pm, the place was packed!  So glad that Hamburger Hamlet is back!

Funky Junk Fabulous

On Saturday, Larry and I drove out to Altadena for a visit to Funky Junk Farms.   Yipsy and Johnny (residents of the Farm) were holding an art show and sale.  There was art, jewelry, clothing, sweets and more for sale.  Just visiting Funky Junk Farms is a treat for the eyes.  When you drive up to the Farm, you're in a perfectly nice residential Altadena neighborhood.  The minute you walk through the gates into the Farm, you're transported to a mountain trailer camp.  I always feel like I'm in Big Bear or Idyllwild when I visit Funky Junk Farms.

Pictures speak louder than words.  I could not stop taking photos on Saturday.  Here's what the Farm looks like!

Jeff and Dusty

Salvage Art Sweetheart

Yipsy, Jewelry Maker Extraordinaire, kept trying to sell me this vest!

We ran into many friends at the sale.  There were sweets and refreshments available.  It was a party.  The property is very deep.  There are numerous buildings and vehicles.  Funky Junk is a location spot for the entertainment industry as well as a prop house.  Johnny and his co-workers have created an amazing place.  We love it there!

Yipsy's Amazing Rings

There are cement tanks on the back of the property.  I'm told that FJF was a fish hatchery in the past and the fish were stored here.  Note to Johnny Agnew...these tanks would make excellent bomb shelters!

Frank and Brit

I found the perfect model for this fab vest!

 I'll let you know the next time there's an art and jewelry sale at Funky Junk Farms.  It's a must-see!

Johnny!