Including: a few days of too much fun, Venice Canals, Oxnard-Ventura, downtown Cathedral, Disney Center, and More!
L&J, in for the Labor Day weekend and FunFunFun.
In writing this I see clearly my main problem with the Les-Leslie predicament. Saying Leslie (‘Hi Leslie’) is no problem at all, easy, a perfectly fine name. But ‘Leslie and Julie’ or, on the other hand, ‘Julie and Leslie’ simply does not trip off the tongue as the ever more rhythmic ‘Les and Julie’.
Or it could be ‘Leslie and Jules'(?). And then they’re not so hot on Clare Penn either.
We had a lovely morning at the Getty. Pictures and story added to the previous pictures and story in The Getty in July, August…. I’m hoping to end up with one ‘chapter’ and only decent pictures. It will be an ongoing effort!
After our morning at the Getty we did an investigative driving tour through Ventura including a pleasant lunch at the Peruvian-Thai restaurant in the clever little Cultural District of Ventura.
Then there was the stop at the beach. Rocks. Campsites. A Life Guard. GAS…
And lastly, ending in Julie’s total collapse, we had a mediocre dinner at Joe’s.
Next morning we’re up-and-at-it for another investigative tour, this time walking through the streets of the Venice Canals.
These pictures go along with the Little Houses collection influenced by Sandy’s painting project. And she’s IN. Yea!! September 21st in Brentwood. Be There!
L&J are thinking about The Future, which brings them on this investigation of the big El Eay. Going around with them gave me a great opportunity to re-enjoy Around Here. And an opportunity to be reminded that I’d better go visit NY, NY real quick like a bunny while I can still stay in their paradise loft.
We stood in from of this one for a good long time. We didn’t get any actual prices but up in Ventura a three bedroom, two bathroom majorly boring tracthouse was going for $560,000. That’s right. So what these must be we don’t even want to imagine.
There was a small sign in front of this property pointing to a side gate saying ‘Artist’s Entrance’. There’s no commercial activity allowed on these streets so this must be metaphorical.
Umbrella and glass wall.
I deleted the nasty picture of the Flamingo House and will for sure go get another one soon. The story:
“This entire property was flamingo-ized to the Nth degree. It was total all flamingos all the time. We were trying to imagine how the neighbors explained this to their own guests. On Leslie’s previous visit we also passed by here, that time in the early evening when a few exuberant men were sitting in these chairs, cocktails in hand, calling out to their friends nearby.”
Next we met up with Darryl and Angela and had lunch out in the valley. L&J were so so so pleased to spend this extended time getting to know the adult they remember from Back Then and getting to know the future mother of my grandchildren about whom they said ‘we should be so lucky’.
I moved behind D&A in an effort to minimize my Big Head, but no-go. If I stood behind L&J my head would have been mixed up in the decoration – that might have worked…
From there we headed out for a drive around downtown. I hadn’t yet seen the new Cathedral so I was rather hoping we’d have time.
Here’s the entrance right out of the parking lot.
I was double happy because it wasn’t half bad! Can’t wait to hear a concert – full-throated organ and a huge, intense choir.
These tapestries change hue as you view them from different angles and in different light. The windows were covered in very thin slices of marble and the filtered glow was quite effective.
All the colors are muted, the woods are rich and pure, the polished marble and concrete are simple, clean and of seemingly high quality materials and the workmanship is admirable.
We spent time trying to identify the classically necessary components of a cathedral. We could guess on the crossword puzzle parts – the apse and the nave but where were the Stations of the Cross? Down in the basement, as it turns out
We took a slow stroll over to the Disney Concert Hall, under construction but almost done. Between this building, the construction in the street, the refurbishments of the Music Center and who knows what-all else the air was Thick with dust and we just had to split.
One last parting shot.
We then enjoyed a Whole Foods dinner and a lovely visit with Roger and Sandy. Around 10:30pm L&J went to spend the night in a hotel at the Long Beach airport so they could more easily catch their 7am standby flight – which they made, and A Grand Time Was Had By All.
