If this happened every day I would look forward to the morning commute...
It's so lovely and amazing.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Loquats
A few years back my friend Behira was visiting from Israel. One day she returned from a walk in the with a pocket full of little round golden fruit that she called "shessik". She peeled it and brought me one to try. It was DELICIOUS!
Turns out that shessik is Hebrew for Loquat and beginning in March they are hanging on trees all over my neighborhood.
I've identified where all the trees are in the neighborhood that are on public property or have branches hanging over the sidewalks and I love grabbing a snack during my morning walks. And, okay, I'll admit that once or twice, when it was early enough to not get busted, I climbed the fence and filled my pockets with fruit that was technically in someone's backyard.
A perfectly ripe Loquat is sweet and bright on your tongue, like a plum, but with a hint of something citrus-y. The flesh is firm like a mango and oddly, there is more seed than fruit.
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I love living in a neighborhood full of snacks and I can't wait to see what the giant fig trees will be offering later this summer.
Turns out that shessik is Hebrew for Loquat and beginning in March they are hanging on trees all over my neighborhood.
I've identified where all the trees are in the neighborhood that are on public property or have branches hanging over the sidewalks and I love grabbing a snack during my morning walks. And, okay, I'll admit that once or twice, when it was early enough to not get busted, I climbed the fence and filled my pockets with fruit that was technically in someone's backyard.
A perfectly ripe Loquat is sweet and bright on your tongue, like a plum, but with a hint of something citrus-y. The flesh is firm like a mango and oddly, there is more seed than fruit.
.JPG)
I love living in a neighborhood full of snacks and I can't wait to see what the giant fig trees will be offering later this summer.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
Dr. Seuss
I love, love, love Dr. Seuss!
In honor of Ted Geisel's birthday, my friend Shelly Goldstein pays homage with a story she's written about gay marriage. She's wicked clever and one of the most talented people I know.
At the end of the day Dr. Seuss is about love for all, all the time, and I think he would have enjoyed Shelly's story (remember the Sneetches? Dr. Seuss very eloquently illustrated the downside of exclusionary politics).
Happy Birthday Dr. S!
Dr. Seuss
I love, love, love Dr. Seuss!
In honor of Ted Geisel's birthday, my friend Shelly Goldstein pays homage with a story she's written about gay marriage. She's wicked clever and one of the most talented people I know.
At the end of the day Dr. Seuss is about love for all, all the time, and I think he would have enjoyed Shelly's story (remember the Sneetches? Dr. Seuss very eloquently illustrated the downside of exclusionary politics).
Happy Birthday Dr. S!
Friday, February 10, 2012
YXTA!
Growing up in Southern California my love for Mexican food started at a really early age. My mom used to substitute teach on Fridays so we would go out to dinner every Friday night and the usual spot was El Toro - a door in a wall that opened into a dark restaurant filled with red booths topped with candles in little mesh sweaters, over which my brother and I would weld massive structures out of the cocktail straws while inhaling tortilla chips. My dad would be inhaling the bowl of spicy carrots and chilis that they brought to him non-stop. My mom would enjoy her margarita.
Friday night was something I really looked forward to, not only because we were going to get weld straws and eat chips, but because it was fun to hang out as a family.
These days I love going to eat Mexican food with friends and while I have my favorite places, I am always looking out for something new.
Recently my friend Stephanie turned me on YXTA! - pronounced eeks-tah, the caps and the exclamation point are mine - they're actually much more lower case about it all.
After First Friday we went over to Yxta for a late dinner and found it completely full. Note to self make a reservation when going back on the weekend. It's a beautiful space with high ceilings, concrete floors and rustic wooden tables that give it a feeling of airiness combined with warmth. The music is good, rock en espanol and the light fixtures are rad.
We had to wait for some tables to turn so we ordered Jamaica margaritas and lurked around the long communal high table next to the bar. We had just slid into some seats there when our table came up so off we went. Our server was the most patient and lovely man, all four of us are "on the side" orderers, not substitutions so much as the desire to have options. I ordered the taco dorado appetizer (mashed potato taco - mmmmmm), ceviche and a cup of Pozole because they had it.
I have this thing for Posole. It's a stew/soup made with pork and chili and hominy, topped with cabbage and sometime avocado and crema. It's hard to find on the menu because it's one of those long, slow cooking kind of dishes that your grandmother would make on Sundays. In fact, the only other place I've ever found Pozole is La Super Rica in Santa Barbara and they only have it on Sundays. I have driven there solely to eat the Pozole.
So now I've found a place where I can get Pozole everyday. Stephanie, who hails from New Mexico says it's some of the best that she's had and I do not disagree. The first visit I ordered Carnitas Estilo Michoacan, slow cooked pork with guacamole and home made tortillas.......along with Posole. It was delicious and such a large portion that I had it for lunch the next day. The entree portion are large here, it would be fun to split stuff and try lots of items. I will probably stick to the specialties of the house rather than going for the tacos and enchiladas because, my sense is that they do them very well.
I'm sad to say that I don't really remember much about the ceviche or the taco dorado because the Jamaica margarita came and I got a tipsy fast, most likely because we were eating at 9:00pm and my stomach had been empty - except for 1/2 a Makers Mark ice cream sandwich, since noon. And because I'm a light weight who rarely drinks liquor.
Ahhhh, the Jamaica margarita. If you've never had Jamaica, or Hibiscus Flower juice, you really should try it. I first had it down in Mazatlan many years ago. It was 90 degrees outside with 95% humidity and there was a little shop that served cups the size of Big Gulps filled with shaved ice and the juice of your choice. My friend who lived down there advised that I try the Jamaica because it was refreshing and not too sweet. He was so right. So now imagine this ruby colored, very refreshing sort of floral berry tasting beverage (high in vitamin C and antioxidants) added to tequila and ice and garnished with a lime.
Yes! Best sip ever! I can only imagine how good that will taste when it's warm outside.
Turns out I never even took a bite of the Pozole on Friday night, but it came home with me and made a wonderful breakfast.
I'm going back next week and I promise not to get drunk and to pay attention to other food besides the Pozole, but seriously that Pozole and the margarita are worth the trip downtown. Although I cannot honestly speak to the food, I can say the the experience is a fun one to be shared with friends and family on a Friday night.
yxta
601 S. Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90021
xo,
S
Friday night was something I really looked forward to, not only because we were going to get weld straws and eat chips, but because it was fun to hang out as a family.
These days I love going to eat Mexican food with friends and while I have my favorite places, I am always looking out for something new.
Recently my friend Stephanie turned me on YXTA! - pronounced eeks-tah, the caps and the exclamation point are mine - they're actually much more lower case about it all.
After First Friday we went over to Yxta for a late dinner and found it completely full. Note to self make a reservation when going back on the weekend. It's a beautiful space with high ceilings, concrete floors and rustic wooden tables that give it a feeling of airiness combined with warmth. The music is good, rock en espanol and the light fixtures are rad.
We had to wait for some tables to turn so we ordered Jamaica margaritas and lurked around the long communal high table next to the bar. We had just slid into some seats there when our table came up so off we went. Our server was the most patient and lovely man, all four of us are "on the side" orderers, not substitutions so much as the desire to have options. I ordered the taco dorado appetizer (mashed potato taco - mmmmmm), ceviche and a cup of Pozole because they had it.
I have this thing for Posole. It's a stew/soup made with pork and chili and hominy, topped with cabbage and sometime avocado and crema. It's hard to find on the menu because it's one of those long, slow cooking kind of dishes that your grandmother would make on Sundays. In fact, the only other place I've ever found Pozole is La Super Rica in Santa Barbara and they only have it on Sundays. I have driven there solely to eat the Pozole.
So now I've found a place where I can get Pozole everyday. Stephanie, who hails from New Mexico says it's some of the best that she's had and I do not disagree. The first visit I ordered Carnitas Estilo Michoacan, slow cooked pork with guacamole and home made tortillas.......along with Posole. It was delicious and such a large portion that I had it for lunch the next day. The entree portion are large here, it would be fun to split stuff and try lots of items. I will probably stick to the specialties of the house rather than going for the tacos and enchiladas because, my sense is that they do them very well.
I'm sad to say that I don't really remember much about the ceviche or the taco dorado because the Jamaica margarita came and I got a tipsy fast, most likely because we were eating at 9:00pm and my stomach had been empty - except for 1/2 a Makers Mark ice cream sandwich, since noon. And because I'm a light weight who rarely drinks liquor.
Ahhhh, the Jamaica margarita. If you've never had Jamaica, or Hibiscus Flower juice, you really should try it. I first had it down in Mazatlan many years ago. It was 90 degrees outside with 95% humidity and there was a little shop that served cups the size of Big Gulps filled with shaved ice and the juice of your choice. My friend who lived down there advised that I try the Jamaica because it was refreshing and not too sweet. He was so right. So now imagine this ruby colored, very refreshing sort of floral berry tasting beverage (high in vitamin C and antioxidants) added to tequila and ice and garnished with a lime.
Yes! Best sip ever! I can only imagine how good that will taste when it's warm outside.
Turns out I never even took a bite of the Pozole on Friday night, but it came home with me and made a wonderful breakfast.
I'm going back next week and I promise not to get drunk and to pay attention to other food besides the Pozole, but seriously that Pozole and the margarita are worth the trip downtown. Although I cannot honestly speak to the food, I can say the the experience is a fun one to be shared with friends and family on a Friday night.
yxta
601 S. Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90021
xo,
S
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Cool and completely delicious
I mentioned the food trucks that were lined up in front of the museum for First Friday, but there is one that I adore and that would be the Coolhaus Ice Cream Truck.
How much do I love this truck? There was a french fry truck parked right next to it and after some perusing I decided to have an ice cream sandwich for dinner.
This is not your mama's ice cream sandwich.
First you choose your cookie. Your not too sweet, and just right soft cookie. You can have Red Velvet, Oatmeal, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip or a Vegan Carrot Cake cookie.
Next you choose your ice cream. Sounds easy enough, but with flavors like Brown Butter & Candied Bacon, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Sea Salt Caramel and Makers Mark Manhattan Cocktail I was standing there for a while. The sweetie pie guy manning the truck that night was nice enough to give us some samples and I really wanted to eat everything in every possible combo, but settled on the Manhattan Makers Mark Cocktail on a dark chocolate cookie. *They have great stuff for the traditionalists too - Tahitian Vanilla anyone?
It was heaven.
Thank God he also gave me a little paper boat to catch the drips, so I could make sure I got every single bit, and not get it all over myself.
This was such a delicious experience I wanted to go back and have a couple more, but we were going to dinner after the museum and that's a whole 'nother post.
Coolhaus has a brick and mortar location that opened in Culver City in November of 2011. You can go to their website, eatcoolhaus.com to connect on Twitter and Facebook and get all the updates on their doin's. They also have trucks in New York, Austin and Miami so you can get your fix on both coasts and in the middle.
That is deliciously cool!
Coolhaus
8588 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA
How much do I love this truck? There was a french fry truck parked right next to it and after some perusing I decided to have an ice cream sandwich for dinner.
This is not your mama's ice cream sandwich.
First you choose your cookie. Your not too sweet, and just right soft cookie. You can have Red Velvet, Oatmeal, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip or a Vegan Carrot Cake cookie.
Next you choose your ice cream. Sounds easy enough, but with flavors like Brown Butter & Candied Bacon, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Sea Salt Caramel and Makers Mark Manhattan Cocktail I was standing there for a while. The sweetie pie guy manning the truck that night was nice enough to give us some samples and I really wanted to eat everything in every possible combo, but settled on the Manhattan Makers Mark Cocktail on a dark chocolate cookie. *They have great stuff for the traditionalists too - Tahitian Vanilla anyone?
It was heaven.
Thank God he also gave me a little paper boat to catch the drips, so I could make sure I got every single bit, and not get it all over myself.
This was such a delicious experience I wanted to go back and have a couple more, but we were going to dinner after the museum and that's a whole 'nother post.
Coolhaus has a brick and mortar location that opened in Culver City in November of 2011. You can go to their website, eatcoolhaus.com to connect on Twitter and Facebook and get all the updates on their doin's. They also have trucks in New York, Austin and Miami so you can get your fix on both coasts and in the middle.
That is deliciously cool!
Coolhaus
8588 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Friday Night
Beginning in January and running through June of each new year, the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles hosts an event called First Friday. I love going for a number of reasons, mostly because I love this museum and getting to be in there at night is so much fun! I love the gems, the discovery center - where you can touch things and not be asked to leave, the massive bird exhibit, the insects! I also love that this event is done in conjunction with USC, so there are always amazing and informative speakers.
This past Friday I headed out to the museum, inching my way through suck ass Friday night traffic (The lecture starts at 6:30 and it takes me over an hour to drive the six miles - this is how much I like First Friday) to hear Dr. Amy Parish discuss Darwinism and Feminism in the captive bonobo population that she has been studying for the last 20 years.
What you may be asking yourself is a bonobo? Bonobos are one of the two species comprising the Chimpanzee genus (I just copied that from her bio - I don't normally talk like that). In my own words, bonobos more slender versions of chimps. After hearing Dr. Parish speak I can also tell you that bonobos societies are run by the ladies and everyone has a lot of sexy time. Girl on girl, boy on girl, boy on boy and all of this sexy time is about who has the food and who wants it. There's a lot of masturbating going on with these guys as well. They are pretty much non-violent. The connection is pretty obvious to me. What's interesting about bonobos is that, unlike Chimps (and humans) they are not a patriarchal society where everything revolves around the males and violence against females is tolerated. No, with the bonobos the females are boss by virtue of the close bonds that non-kinship females form with each other. The females can, and do band together to dominate and control the males.
There is no abuse against females. If a male steps out of line the females get together and shut that shit down.
It's hard not to imagine what would happen in human societies if the same thing were true and certainly underscores the years of bondage that women have endured under patriarchy. I believe that in someplace in the prehistoric part of the brain, men know that if the women got together, and had each others backs things would change.
If you extend the bonobos model, on a positive note for the boys, they would probably get more sex.
These lectures are always given in the North American Mammal hall, lined with dioramas, and they are always packed so if this sounds like something you'd like to do buy your tickets ($12 for admission only, $18 for admission + concert) buy your tickets early and on line.
Next month the topic will be, "Why Pluto Had to Die" and the guy who killed Pluto, Dr. Mike Brown will be there.
If you go be sure to check out the new dinosaur wing - it's pretty awesome. There are now food trucks out front in addition to the food that they serve in the Great African Hall and as always there is music and dancing and all kinds of people.
I love LA!
Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213-763-DINO
This past Friday I headed out to the museum, inching my way through suck ass Friday night traffic (The lecture starts at 6:30 and it takes me over an hour to drive the six miles - this is how much I like First Friday) to hear Dr. Amy Parish discuss Darwinism and Feminism in the captive bonobo population that she has been studying for the last 20 years.
What you may be asking yourself is a bonobo? Bonobos are one of the two species comprising the Chimpanzee genus (I just copied that from her bio - I don't normally talk like that). In my own words, bonobos more slender versions of chimps. After hearing Dr. Parish speak I can also tell you that bonobos societies are run by the ladies and everyone has a lot of sexy time. Girl on girl, boy on girl, boy on boy and all of this sexy time is about who has the food and who wants it. There's a lot of masturbating going on with these guys as well. They are pretty much non-violent. The connection is pretty obvious to me. What's interesting about bonobos is that, unlike Chimps (and humans) they are not a patriarchal society where everything revolves around the males and violence against females is tolerated. No, with the bonobos the females are boss by virtue of the close bonds that non-kinship females form with each other. The females can, and do band together to dominate and control the males.
There is no abuse against females. If a male steps out of line the females get together and shut that shit down.
It's hard not to imagine what would happen in human societies if the same thing were true and certainly underscores the years of bondage that women have endured under patriarchy. I believe that in someplace in the prehistoric part of the brain, men know that if the women got together, and had each others backs things would change.
If you extend the bonobos model, on a positive note for the boys, they would probably get more sex.
These lectures are always given in the North American Mammal hall, lined with dioramas, and they are always packed so if this sounds like something you'd like to do buy your tickets ($12 for admission only, $18 for admission + concert) buy your tickets early and on line.
Next month the topic will be, "Why Pluto Had to Die" and the guy who killed Pluto, Dr. Mike Brown will be there.
If you go be sure to check out the new dinosaur wing - it's pretty awesome. There are now food trucks out front in addition to the food that they serve in the Great African Hall and as always there is music and dancing and all kinds of people.
I love LA!
Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213-763-DINO
Monday, January 30, 2012
I Wish I May
When I was a little girl my mother told me that the best way to pick a gift for someone was to get them something that you liked. I was 7 and I picked out these plastic, spiked high heels the color of coca cola in a glass over ice, held up to the sun. There were flecks of gold glitter in them and gold elastic straps that went across the toes and the the arch of your foot. They made a scraping tapping sound when you walked in them. They looked like something Barbie would wear and I loved them.
Which is why I sobbed all the way to my friend's birthday party - I loved them so much I did not want to give them to her and I couldn't believe that my mother was forcing me to part with them. And why didn't anyone ever pick those shoes out for me on my birthday?
Not so long ago one of my friends attended her sister's bridal shower and she made the comment, "I wish I could register somewhere for all the stuff I want."
I laughed at her then because she loves pressents like a 7 year old at their birthday party, but I also happened to agree with her.
I love presents that I pick out for myself, but how to let people know exactly what those things are?
Especially since I've had more than one Christmas where it appeared that my father's wife had cleaned out her junk drawer, wrapped up the detritus found there and called it Joyeaux Noel.
I know, I know, it's the thought that counts, but seriously button covers? It was 2002.
Call me an ungrateful bitch, but the reality is that I would rather have someone make a charitable donation in my name than give me stuff I don't want or need. I have enough stuff. Every time I dust I put more of that stuff in a box for the Goodwill because, well, I don't want to dust anymore than I have to...
This is why, even though I am not a huge fan of Amazon.com because of what it's doing to small local business, I AM a huge fan of the Amazon.com Wish List feature.
Whenever I think of something that I actually want like really awesome stainless steel measuring cups that cost almost $30, and that I am too cheap to buy for myself, I go on Amazon and add it to the wish list.
So when my birthday or Christmas rolls around and people ask me what I want I can point them there, to my personal gift registry. And when I get one of those things as a gift I am thrilled because, well, I don't always remember what I put on my wish list, but large and small, it's all stuff that I could use.
Or thought I could at some point - it's important to revisit the wish list every once in a while and remove some stuff like the book Cowboys Are My Weakness, that I added in 2003. I'm totally through that phase. That may be why I got button covers...
Anyway, if you don't have a wish list you should go make one and the next time someone asks you what you'd like - tell them where you're registered.
You'll be glad you did and so will your friends.
Which is why I sobbed all the way to my friend's birthday party - I loved them so much I did not want to give them to her and I couldn't believe that my mother was forcing me to part with them. And why didn't anyone ever pick those shoes out for me on my birthday?
Not so long ago one of my friends attended her sister's bridal shower and she made the comment, "I wish I could register somewhere for all the stuff I want."
I laughed at her then because she loves pressents like a 7 year old at their birthday party, but I also happened to agree with her.
I love presents that I pick out for myself, but how to let people know exactly what those things are?
Especially since I've had more than one Christmas where it appeared that my father's wife had cleaned out her junk drawer, wrapped up the detritus found there and called it Joyeaux Noel.
I know, I know, it's the thought that counts, but seriously button covers? It was 2002.
Call me an ungrateful bitch, but the reality is that I would rather have someone make a charitable donation in my name than give me stuff I don't want or need. I have enough stuff. Every time I dust I put more of that stuff in a box for the Goodwill because, well, I don't want to dust anymore than I have to...
This is why, even though I am not a huge fan of Amazon.com because of what it's doing to small local business, I AM a huge fan of the Amazon.com Wish List feature.
Whenever I think of something that I actually want like really awesome stainless steel measuring cups that cost almost $30, and that I am too cheap to buy for myself, I go on Amazon and add it to the wish list.
So when my birthday or Christmas rolls around and people ask me what I want I can point them there, to my personal gift registry. And when I get one of those things as a gift I am thrilled because, well, I don't always remember what I put on my wish list, but large and small, it's all stuff that I could use.
Or thought I could at some point - it's important to revisit the wish list every once in a while and remove some stuff like the book Cowboys Are My Weakness, that I added in 2003. I'm totally through that phase. That may be why I got button covers...
Anyway, if you don't have a wish list you should go make one and the next time someone asks you what you'd like - tell them where you're registered.
You'll be glad you did and so will your friends.
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