I arrived in L.A. around 10:30 on a Friday night. I luxuriated in the balmy (and probably grimy) autumn air until Carly picked me up and immediately introduced me to the world of Los Angeles (and more specifically, Los Angeles driving etiquette). She really knows how to work that little red Neon.
It was a whirlwind weekend. Highlights:
Ben's favorite liquor store. In true urban, multicultural fashion, the place was more of a mini mini-mart with spices from the Middle East and packets of pasta sauce from the Czech Republic.
Griffith Park. It was truly city hiking - walking (sometimes scrambling) up a dirt hill. We could really see the city, though, thanks to low smog levels. One of the strangest things to me was the lack of wildlife. I kept expecting to see a squirrel, a chipmunk, a bird - anything- in the scrub and trees but there was nothing. I didn't see a single living creature in L.A. except for people's dogs and some beach-dwelling pigeons and seagulls.
Hiking Seeesters
I also enjoyed the Hollywoo sign. From our angle while hiking, the
d was invisible.
Sassafras. I finally got to meet Carly's kitty, Sassafras! Precious little demon-cat with such sharp claws.
Feline Niece
The Getty. Evidently it was an extremely traffic-free day and it only took us 30 minutes to get there. We both really enjoyed the temporary photography exhibition,
Irving Penn: Small Trades. I liked the gardens, too. Oh, and I misspoke - there was some wildlife - ducks in the garden pond.
Before the train chugged us up the hill to the Getty
Getty gardens
Hummingbird in the Getty gardens
Love the shadow pattern
Sarah and Tony! I finally got to meet Carly's best friends in Los Angeles. They're great, just as I suspected. We ate dinner at
The Must - deliciousness - and where they cleverly incorporate MUST into their menu lingo, ie, You MUST be hungry.
Here's what we must have feasted upon:
Cheese Plate –
Italian Burrata, Saint Andre, Triple Cream (one of my all-time favorite French fromages), Laura Chenel Chevre, Goat
School House Tater Tots – with velveeta wine fondue & smoked pepper ranch
Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Toast
General Tso Fu – Tempura tofu in sweet & spicy chili sauce w/ rice & braised bok choy
And what we must have drank:
Black Sangria – Cabernet Sauvignon with black cherries, blackberries & blueberries
Coly’s Bomb Ass Beer Shake – Vanilla bean ice cream, smoked almonds, fresh bananas, brown sugar & coconut porter beer blended smooth & served in a frothy pint
After dinner, we went to a hole-in-the-wall bar where Carly got her picture taken with a rabbit in a straight jacket. It was Halloween, but still. . .
Highly disturbing costume
After this the trio took me to a place called Yogurtland (or something equally as bizarre) where you get to serve yourself yogurt then add as many toppings as you want. There were probably 10 different yogurt flavors including coconut (dreamy) and gingerbread.
Sarah, Tony and Carly - The Three Muskateers!
The House of Davids. I couldn't stop laughing at this. See below.
"The House of Davids"
Saint Bede's Episcopal Church. Carly is very active in St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Mar Vista. It's a small parish but they're all so involved. I was excited because I got to meet a South African girl – the first time I've spoken with a South African in person since I left the country more than a year ago. I also had the chance to meet Carly's other good friend in L.A., Di.
Carly and her good friend Di
Mar Vista Farmers Market. Where there are numerous signs stating "no dogs" and numerous people parading their dogs.
Carly's favorite fresh leafy vegetable stand
Carly's favorite fashion boutiques. She bought me a pair of earrings featuring imitation French coins for $5. She also bought me a swanky black top that I would never choose to try on myself. But it worked. . . thanks Carly! I really enjoyed how the shop owner knew Carly and even knew about clothes she owned that she hadn't purchased there. I guess this is what happens when you have an income and you can afford to go shopping at your favorite boutique on a regular basis.
Nail Salon. On Sunday afternoon, we had pedicures at a nail salon in Santa Monica. I know that in L.A. it's normal to live among people from all over the world, but I still can't help myself from asking people where they are from and wanting to hear their stories. The girl doing my nails was from Vietnam. She's lived in L.A. for eight years and only returned once to Vietnam, last summer. I asked her how she liked the U.S. and she said that she's only really seen L.A. because she has to work all the time. There is definitely a strange class divide at work at nail salons like this, where Asian immigrants run the salons and wait hand and foot (no pun intended!) on white Americans who want to be pampered. One woman, who looked about 65 years old, and seemed to enjoy this class divide, gossiped on the phone throughout her appointment. The most startling thing to come out of her mouth was probably not all that startling to people who reside in L.A., but I got a kick out of it:
"She always had a weird nose, so maybe she got her nose done."
What color nail polish did I choose? A deep burgundy-black called Wicked.
Little Ethiopia! We visited Little Ethiopia for some authentic Ethiopian food, which I have not had since D.C. several years ago. The restaurant we chose had umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, which Carly felt held some sort of importance since there were also large photographs on the wall showing Ethiopians holding umbrellas. The restaurant was also vegan. I am always thrilled to find delicious vegan food.
Delicious vegan Ethiopian food!
The 333. I took the 333 bus to Santa Monica all by myself on Monday as Carly had to work. I enjoyed the poetry displays on the bus - a poem by Jean Valentine on the way there and a poem by Kenneth Koch on the way back. In Santa Monica I laid out on the beach and finished reading
The Liars Club by Mary Karr. I walked down to the shore so now I can say I've been in the Pacific Ocean. This was my first time ever to the West Coast.
Beach at Santa Monica
Urth Caffe. It's a weird place. It's where I ate lunch. I wasn't that impressed with the vegetarian sushi, but the salad was tasty. The weirdest thing to me was the drink I had, which was a blended green tea with coconut and, are you ready for this? Boba beads. Have you ever heard of boba beads? I had not. When my drink came, I thought it was full of chocolate chips, which looked mighty appetizing. The waiter handed me a straw as thick as a tube of lipstick. This, I came to find out, was to accommodate the boba beads. They are dark, squishy, chewy, tasteless things. Evidently boba is made from sweet potatoes or cassava root and brown sugar. The whole time I was eating on the balcony of this conscientious, organic cafe, there was a girl about my age standing on the sidewalk trying to get passersby to donate their money or signature to her cause: getting youth off the streets of L.A. I have to admit it was a painful lunch, having to hear the constant rejections. She did have some success, though, and I planned to let her give me the spiel once I left the cafe, but she packed up before I did.
. I believe I began reminiscing out loud as I strolled the few aisles gawking at all the foods I remember from my childhood in Luxembourg. The mustard packaged in jars that convert to drinking glasses when all used up. The sour black licorice I'd have my Swedish best friend bring me at the end of the summer. The marshmallow puffs covered in a thin coating of chocolate. The spicy cinnamon windmill cookies. I didn't want to leave that place.
