Thursday, May 20, 2010

Work is just an annoying interruption of my real life....

I'm falling in love with Southern California. The more I explore the history and the neighborhoods the more I become enamored! On Tuesday Noah and I had tickets to the Dodger game (it was Andre Ethier bobblehead giveaway night!) so we decided to go downtown first and explore a little. I have a architecture book of LA that we frequently tote around with us on our adventures. One spot downtown that I really wanted to check out was the Bradbury building built in 1893. Plain on the outside but inside.... Oh wow... mouth hanging open in awe.. Pictures just don't do it justice. The film Bladerunner was filmed here if you want to see it but aren't planning on visiting soon...




Downtown LA is filled with these treasures! A lot are in disrepair but some have been restored by smart people that we thank profusely! Look at this gorgeous building.... It's a theatre in the theatre district (now the sketchy jewelry district) built in 1931.


After our tour of downtown we headed to the "Art District" around 3rd and Alameda to check out this new sausage place called Wurstkuche. All the food was house made: sausages, kraut, buns, mustards, ketchups... Yum, yum! And they have tons of great beer on tap. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the sausage. Only this cute guy...



Next we took a cab to Union Station to get on our free shuttle to Dodger Stadium. We stopped at the bar called Traxx to have a cocktail. Union Station is an amazing place. All sorts of people coming and going; very much an airport feel but with an old school vibe....


Oh joy!!! The anticipation of a ballgame, the gorgeous view from the stadium: downtown, Chavez Ravine, palm trees. I love this place!


We sat in the cheap seats and loved it. We had a great view of the field and we were surrounded by super nice fans and people just out to have a good time. Obviously the weather was nice...
Not only did we score a bobblehead but the Dodgers put on a great game and won!!! Dodger stadium is my Disneyland...



Monday, May 3, 2010

Palm Springs and the Salton Sea....

Noah and I love to stay a night or two in Palm Springs when we get a chance. We found this quiet hotel with small kitchens and a big BBQ by the pool. We've stayed here close to 10 times now. It's kitschy and affordable and rarely has kids staying. Nice and quiet...
What gave it away that only retired or childless couples stay here? Yes that is a shuffleboard court and yes, we've played several times. Always with a cocktail in hand...
There are several fruit trees on the property including figs, limes, lemons, olives, and this heavily laden grapefruit tree. The owners don't mind if you pick and use the fruit.
Noah looks pretty relaxed.... We lounge by the pool for hours reading magazines and jumping in every 30 minutes or so. We made our own bloody mary mix and made bloody mary's with pickled okra. We've decided it's a "healthy" cocktail.
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only are we drinking healthy but as you can see I am exercising as well.
We love our little kitchen. (It's probably bigger than our kitchen at home!) It has a large fridge and a two burner stove. We precooked baby back ribs then threw them on the grill to finish them off.
We drank a cold white wine, listened to music, let the night air blow in...

Radishes, asparagus, and fava beans...
The next day we headed south east and stopped at Shield's date stand. They've been growing dates since 1923! We had to get an ice cold date shake.
Don't miss the sex life of dates movie that plays continuously while you're slurping down your shake!
Next stop was the Salton Sea. In the 40's and 50's this was the place to go: "the Californian Riviera". Then it became super polluted and too salty and fish started to die off in staggering numbers. From what I read about it I thought it was going to be gross and stinky but to our surprise it was beautiful. (I didn't jump in though!). But for all it's beauty it was a lonely, desolate place. The small towns around it were nothing but dusty old trailer parks. We spontaneously started talking in a redneck twang...
In a town called Bombay Beach, population 326, we found the local watering hole: The Ski Inn. (As in waterski, I suppose.) We parked between the locals cars and made our way into one of the best dive bars I've ever been in! (And I've been in a lot). The owner was behind the bar pouring drinks, the walls and ceiling were covered in dollar bills, and there was about 4 or 5 regulars sitting at the bar, nursing their drinks. Their heads all swiveled around as we walked in and Noah wasted no time chattin' them up while I ordered us budweisers that were served in cold mason jars. We ordered a cheeseburger and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with fries. The cheese was processed slices and there was a jar of pickled eggs on the counter. We bought a can of "Fish Assholes" to support the local volunteer fire department. The local at the end of the bar kept calling us "Santa Monica" as in "Hey, Santa Monica, where are you headed after this?" It was a blast!

Of course we had to tape a dollar to the ceiling. It feels good to know we have a little shrine of our own at the Salton Sea Ski Inn.
Oh California! The more I get to know you, the more I love you!