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A Few Words About the Getty

February 29, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

Picture window eastern view at The Getty.

Perched high on a hill and perennially bathed in sunlight, The Getty Museum, is one of Los Angeles’ crown jewels. It juxtaposes massive architecture of quarried stone with light, airy courtyards. The crystal sounds of running water murmur in corners that seem perfect for coffee and contemplation. Manicured gardens are the foreground for expansive views in every direction.

I could go there just to walk the grounds, picnic on a lawn, take in the view and never step foot inside. That would be a mistake. Inside, The Getty is filled with an important, inspiring, and thought-provoking art collection and rotating exhibitions. Every visitor gets to ride a monorail to the top of the hill, whee! Admissions is free. I’ll say that again, free. Parking is $15, but those willing to park nearby and take the bus can pocket the change.

I went for a short visit, about an hour and a half was all I had. I purchased a decent lunch from the cafeteria and ate outside in a quiet area with tables, then took in the vibrant Crosscurrents exhibition that was part of Pacific Standard Time. I waited until the last week to see it, and it has ended, so if you missed it, you’re out of luck. There are still many opportunities to check out other PST exhibitions around Los Angeles.

I wanted to share my photos, to encourage people to take advantage of this gift. If you live in the area, GO! If you haven’t been here in a while, GO! If you are a visitor, an afternoon at the Getty is a great way to see the city and get off the beaten path. A friend who works at The Getty mentioned that the beautifully landscaped gardens are now closed for renovation, so perhaps plan a trip later this spring.

The Getty gardens

The husband snapped this pic of me enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean. I haven't made an appearance on the blog in a while, so, hello, here I am.

The Getty lawns, perfect for a picnic or a nap.

The Getty fountain in afternoon shade.

I missed the sign that warned against taking pictures inside the exhibition. Security nearly tackled me. I got this picture though. Ha!

The Getty recycles. Isn't that nice.

Posted in Art, City of Angels, Outdoors | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

Urban Hike: The PG Way to the Hollywood Sign

February 28, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

If you’ve been following along, you’ve noticed that the cooking and gardening posts of 2011 have given way to brief updates about hikes and food trucks. So here, I offer another hike. I was looking for a good hilly climb (see this earlier post about my weep-wop). In reference to the Oscars, LAist posted this list of hikes to the Hollywood sign, and rated them G, PG and PG-13. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be clever to post photos of the Hollywood sign on her big night?” I did that on my photo blog, 365 Oranges. Here I can share a few more details.

So, for you, so that you could see the posterior of the Hollywood sign, and her view of this great city, I hiked the PG route, Brush Canyon Trail, a new one for me. I have hiked these hills many times, and to the Hollywood sign a handful of times on the shorter Hollyridge Trail. We left late in the day. I didn’t think about the fact that I was setting out to climb a mountain. It was not a easy as I expected, summiting Mt. Lee, but it was worth it.

Horses on Mulholland Trail

Horses on Mulholland Trail

After a 600 foot gain in in the first mile, we reached Mulholland Trail and were caught up in horse traffic, dust and poop. If you like to ride horses very slowly in a straight line, check out Sunset Ranch. We hung back to let the dust settle a bit before wending this flatter path along the hillside. The Mulhulland trail ends at the paved Mt. Lee access road that leads more sharply uphill to the radio tower and Hollywood sign. This road cuts back to the Valley side of the mountain, for an entirely different view. I was surprised how well we could hear the rush of the freeway far below and miles away. The temperature dropped sharply several degrees on this shady side of the mountain, I always forget how cold I feel at the end of this hike.

But then, at the point when it starts to feel exhausting, and the hour-plus return trip looms (and when I always have to pee), the road makes a final turn for the payoff. Actually the payoff is less than one might expect. There is a chain link fence preventing hikers from getting too close to the giant letters. The scaffolding is visible behind each iconic white giant. The Hollywood Reservoir, rarely seen from any vantage in L.A. glistens in the sun. No matter how much haze loiters between Mt.Lee and the towers downtown, they cut a silhouette that looks like home to me.

Hollywood radio tower

The husband's victory photo in front of the Mt. Lee radio and television tower.

Hollywood hike

Love

When we finally reached the bottom of the trail, and still had a way to go before we found our car, we saw this coyote in a picnic area near a playground. He looked hungry.

El coyote

Posted in Hollywood, Outdoors, Urban Hiking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Now That’s a Sandwich

February 24, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

I read this LA Weekly list of the 10 Best Sandwiches in Los Angeles just before lunch. Knowing what uninspired meal options lurked in fridge, I hopped in the car, mouth already watering in anticipation of the banh mi sandwich at Spice Table. As you can see, it’s a beauty. They make the charcuterie in house, and they make it with love. It is served, generously, in the fold of a baguette with cool cucumber, pickled carrots, thin slices of jalapeño, a dousing of Sriracha, and mayo. I think the husband could eat this sandwich every day of his life, so I imagine we’ll be back soon for seconds.

I am looking forward to many of the sandwiches on this list. King Torta, I know we will become fast friends. Meatball sub, you know how I feel about you. Bay Cities, I have missed you. See you soon.

Posted in Dining Out, Impulse Buy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Urban Hike: Arroyo Seco

February 20, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

I am feeling a little weep-wop, which is our household word to describe the feeling of not being able to comfortably button one’s pants. My only exercise lately has been sweeping the floors in my house, which feels like back-breaking work all of a sudden. Time to get into some kind of shape.

A mellow 90-minute walk was in order Sunday. The brilliant husband suggested a drive to South Pasadena to explore the trails below the Colorado Street Bridge. There is nothing like hiking in raw nature, but I find so much joy in discovering pockets of nature within the concrete expanse of our city, the whir of the freeway still in comfortable reach. The Arroyo Seco Stream runs from the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains, down to urban Alta Dena and Pasadena, under the 134 Freeway and then along the 110 Freeway to Elysian Park where it joins the Los Angeles River. It is a preserved gem of running water and native vegetation, a shady valley hidden from view except from the numerous bridges which pass overhead.

The terrain along this section of the Arroyo Seco is flat. I like to climb hills, but on this lazy Sunday the unchallenging topography was welcome. Many old trees were felled by a recent violent wind storm, and other plants were carrying on in full bloom. We saw and heard several different kinds of birds, sweet chirping from the bushes and regal hunters soaring above. We saw horses at the public San Pascual stables nearby and dozens of people walking dogs. An old man was accompanied by a gray parrot perched on his shoulder. We even saw a large rabbit.

The nature was a wonderful reset. I will definitely visit this park again and again. It looks like one can hike about 10 miles in parkland along the Arroyo Seco from Highland Park to Alta Dena. That will take care of the weep-wop.

Posted in City of Angels, Outdoors, Urban Hiking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Food Truck: The Bun Truck

February 9, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

The pristine sunshine makes today’s 74° feel even warmer. Light rain earlier in the week washed the air, but now the dry Southern California breeze whispers of Santa Anas. I have all of the windows open in the house to let in the staccato conversations of birds (and the pained wheeze of my neighbor warming up his hoopdie 1970′s limousine). It is too beautiful to stay indoors, so I suggested a lunch date with the husband at the food trucks on Wilshire Blvd: three whole blocks of everything you never knew you wanted to eat for lunch.

We found rock star parking at a meter with an hour left on the timer. The Bun Truck was the first we came to and we traveled no farther. I would have been happy with anything on the menu. We decided on a combo of kalbi buns (filled with marinated sirloin), duck fat and rosemary fries, and spicy pork buns, which were our favorite. I enjoyed the sliver of tempura battered onion in the kalbi bun. I am not an avid eater of steamed buns, but these were good enough to entice me into a second visit. I am intrigued by the tempura vegetable sandwich with avocado.

We carried our food trays across the street to a low wall in the park at LACMA where children were laughing and running through the sprinklers. The food was tasty, the view was lovely, the weather was idyllic and the company was my favorite. I love living in this city, birthplace of food truck culture.

Tasty eats at The Bun Truck.

What a food truck menu looks like in L.A.

Kalbi buns and duck fat fries with rosemary.

Spicy pork buns. Thumbs up.

Our view.

Taking in the art in the park at LACMA.

Posted in City of Angels, Dining Out, Food Trucks | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Ivonne’s 70th Birthday Party

February 8, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

Ivonne and Sketchy Dave, our best man.

Carlos’ mom, Ivonne, celebrated her 70th birthday in January. We threw a party for her and invited family from the East Coast, her sister Margoth and nephew Eddie. Our friend Ron, from Germany, happened to be visiting that week too and joined the festivities. I was gone the two days beforehand and have been so busy that I left most of the party prep up to the husband. Ivonne had a fabulous time in the spotlight, surrounded by loved ones. I loved having a house full of family, food and laughter.

I had to share the husband’s clever menu ideas, taken from special moments in his mom’s life. The clams casino below are old school New Jersey, where he grew up. He riffed on a Salvadoran dish called pan con chumpe, serving turkey confit on sliced baguette with watercress, pickled onions and tangy pepita salsa. Mark my words, pan con chumpe will be the next food truck sandwich craze. For desert, because his mom loved eating at Jose Andres’ molecular gastronomy wonderland, The Bazaar, he made spherified espresso caviar served with vanilla ice cream and a ginger crisp cookie.

Damn, that man can cook.

I helped. Really. I made Ivonne’s favorite bourbon chicken liver pate and a bright romesco sauce with vegetables for dipping. Your are going to expect some form of recipe next, right? I don’t have any for you yet. I have promised the pate a few times, and it is coming. I will make it again soon just for you. If you’re nice, I might even make the romesco, so simple and delicious. I can’t do a thing about the husband’s recipes. He just goes into the kitchen and good food comes out, like Willy Wonka’s, if Willy Wonka made sausage and such.

Clams Casino

Marcela and Daniella

We had several out of town guests. The husband, Cousin Eddie, Ron from Germany, Stu from Brentwood, Margoth from New Jersey, and Daniella from San Jose.

The old ladies are the first to judge the pan con chumpe.

I love a house full of friends and family.

Me, the Husband and spherified espresso.

Happy birthday!

Posted in Family Tree | 2 Comments »

What’s Been Going On Around Here?

February 2, 2012 by Oranges and Avocados

How did we skip ahead to February? If 2011 was the long click-click-click white nuckle ride up to the top of the roller coaster, 2012 is the exhilarating free fall into a loopty loop. In the interest of keeping in touch, I present to you 15 things I have been enjoying of late:

1. Being home at night with my husband instead of working. This is the single greatest life improvement of 2012.

2. Dinner at the dining room table. See above.

3. Decorating my home! We bought a beautiful reclaimed wood console for our T.V. and shopped Etsy together for new couch pillows.

4. My new (to me) Maytag front load washer and dryer. I have washed everything in the house and am looking for more (thank you, but no, I do not need to borrow your dirty laundry).

5. Method Laundry Detergent. One load uses two squirts of soap. Smells great, no chemicals. Clothes are really clean. Ta-da!

6. Fresh squeezed orange juice.

7. Homemade applesauce. In pancakes. With vanilla ice cream and spiced walnuts. 6-8 apples peeled and chopped (using this makes it more fun and less work), 1/2 cup water, 1 cinnamon stick. Simmer 20 minutes. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cook until sauce thickens.

8. My azalea. She exploded into spring color in January.

9. Pinterest. I am trying. I love the idea, but am wary of time-suckage.

10. Giant ice cubes.

11. Meditation, at least 15 minutes a day. I am actually doing it!

12. Painting my nails. Still Navy Baby.

13. Reading, and loving, Hollywood by Charles Bukowski and Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones.

14. Streaming documentaries on Netflix. Guns Germs and Steel, The Botany of Desire, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox. Any good recommendations?

15. This Michael Jackson Billie Jean t-shirt I scored at the clothing exchange.

What’s new with you?

Posted in Notebook | 2 Comments »

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