Here we are at the second Hollywood Bowl performance of our season. Marsha and I share a subscription both here at the Bowl and at the Disney Concert Hall. The seasons don’t overlap so it’s music music all year long.
I was NUTS for the first piece in tonight’s performance, Aram Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 46. You can hear it on youtube but it won’t be the same without the visuals. Khachaturian was Armenian born in 1903, raised in Tbilisi, Georgia, and died in Moscow in 1978.
We also heard another Khachaturian piece and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite. This Hollywood Bowl video of Dudamel rehearsing the orchestra for Firebird is SO awesome.
And here’s Marsha because it’s a cute picture.
For these first two shows we’ve had the box to ourselves. WOW lucky dogs is right, not to count on, just to appreciate when it happens.
Check out all that fruit and there was a nice container of samples in front of every one of the 30 different kinds. We had a really good time enjoying samples and checking out the ‘sights ‘n sounds’. It’s a smallish farmers market in Manhattan Beach, still a lot of fun.
And then we got food at the stands – watermelon lemonade, vegetable gyoza (at a Thai place-I don’t remember what they called them), chilies and cheese tamale, and for a last course we had a very tasty plate of mango sticky rice.
Here’s a selfie from Lilly because I forgot two weeks in a row to take a picture of her fabulous new haircut. Bangs!
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And here are some pictures Rome sent from Camp. The last session is starting now!
Here’s a brief recap of the 2028 Olympic Legacy Street Improvements Plan. There’s a lot of commotion going on around the airport too. It’s not going to be easy but fingers crossed for a successful outcome.
The 2028 Summer Olympics Wikipedia article is good too and as usual with Wikipedia I suppose it will be updated as time goes on.
That’s Olivia on the left and Candice on the right. Candice has finished her 1 year internship completing her PhD program and she’s moving on into a bigger place. It’s been great Candice, we’ll miss you!
We went to the Japanese place around the corner. Look how they do cold sake, with an ice holder built in the the serving bottle.
I saw Marsha three days in a row. We went to the movies and for a walk on Sunday, Monday Ladies Lunch, and Tuesday we had a beautiful evening at the Hollywood Bowl. The most wonderful part of the Hollywood Bowl performance was a chance to enjoy the 88 year old Zubin Mehta, an LA Philharmonic mainstay since 1961.
A couple pictures from the early days of Zubin Mehta at the Hollywood Bowl.
I still see him from last night smiling with the orchestra, and the cheer and dignity with which he so slowly crossed the stage, his less is enough conducting, and the crowd and the orchestra with him every step of the way. It was a really memorable show. Here he is now enjoying the orchestra and they him.. The violin soloist is Pinchas Zukerman.
..and here he is now, slowly and carefully making his way across the stage.
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Walking up from my parking place at the church nearly a mile away. I enjoy the walk, and I enjoy not having to sit in traffic.
I went up with Ingalill for a little photophoto, some lunch, and a nice visit. We are in thrall to the Getty Center.
Lucky Dog Me I’ve been to the Getty Center too many times to count and like Robert Irwin said about the Central Garden he designed, Ever present Never twice the same. He also said Ever changing Never less than whole.
I’ve identified all these places previously and will do so again.. ..later.. right now the pictures are in the familiar walk-about order.
Jo Ann and Allen treated me to the delights of Happy Hour at Forma on Montana. Not a bargain, No, it’s not, because there are wonderful selections and everything is quite delicious so we order dish after dish to share. Thanks you guys!
I walked up to Forma and of course took some pictures along the way.
Rome’s camp is in the Glendale foothills, 20 minutes walk to this adorable street, Honolulu Ave., in Montrose. If you’re ever in the area I can recommend this street without reservation. It’s so dang cute, cute like US!
Here’s one of the bookstores on Honolulu Ave. After lunch and a stroll we had a swing-by to Lucas and Betsy’s place in South Pasadena for cookies and tea, and a fun game, Point Salad. Xander joined us, nice, but Anya was visiting friends out of town. Thanks you guys! Then I took Rome back to camp, and then returned to do some unpacking with L&B. You know how it is, it take time to move your whole life!
What we did, and some pictures! We ate lunch at Good Stuff, walked down to beach, got my car washed, enjoyed some YogurtLand, and then went roller skating at the mall. We were on our way for a nice stroll on the green belt but ran out of time. Thanks guys, it was fun!
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These are Lil’s pictures. It’s ‘a thing’ these days it seems, the girls like to put make-up on their boyfriends. What good sport!
My ‘traveling nurse’ tenant in the smaller of the two rentals, after a year has finished her internship and is moving on. I’ve got another tenant who will start the next day (help Cecilia!). It was a quick turnover (say I with thanks) since the new tenant was the first and best applicant. She’s a just-graduated veterinarian doing a six month internship at an emergency hospital five blocks from my house. I’m very glad to have it settled! Above is the view out the back door of the rental.
Below me and Ann are leaving our Happy Birthday to US sushi meal. I was out in Northridge at 6 pm and 107 degrees. Look at that sun, sooooo Hot, too hot to even swim in Ann’s pool!
Me and Lilly and Thomas at Dave and Buster’s having some fun. Lil did that leg art herself!
Here we are out to Ladies Lunch with the cousins, me and Nancy and Sharon. Ah, lovely.
My nextdoor neighbor, and it’s the same in front. They did a termite extermination, without tenting, in 8 hours!
Pictures from their website so you can see how the ship looks at anchor and under sail. Also from their website: The Italian Navy’s historic and iconic Training Ship, Ambassador of UNESCO, UNICEF and Italy is once again sailing around the world, visiting over 30 ports, 28 countries, 5 continents. On its incredible voyage, for the first time, it will combine the traditional training activities of Officer Cadets with the promotion of Made in Italy excellence.
Would’ja look at that thing. (They really were doing that, and then I had to make them do it again…)
Ingalill, Jim, Rick, Tony
She stands by the gangway, to welcome you aboard.
From the ship, looking at the last bit of the entrance line that streams behind the buildings and down past the vip parking lot. Thankfully we got there early since by the time we left the line was three times as long as when we arrived. I enjoy me some band music!
Italiano, no?! and what a technical and physical feat it must be to get all those sails out, and then back in.
Let’s ask youtube how this works. And of course youtube obliges with a detailed explanation:
A polished brass fun-house mirror (with Statler and Waldorf).
Rick took this picture where we look more “normal”.
This is a training vessel and I think these guys are getting their turn to climb the masts. The crew on the right look like they’ve done it a few times before and were posing for some professional photographers on the dock.
There were a few pavilions promoting all things Italy including tourism and various products. Tony found a spot between shows.
I took this in the morning walking from the parking lot (lovin’ that cool June gloom in July)…
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…and then after the ship we went on to lunch at the 22nd Street Landing.
Next stop, a buzz up to Palos Verdes to check on the construction of Daniel and Eivor’s complete remodel…
…and to spend a little while admiring their block party, more than enough America for me right now.
