MY SNOW BIRDS ARE LEAVING.......

 

……but before they return to Chicago, Marsha Stu and I went to the Skirball Center where we had lunch in Zeidlers Cafe.

They have a really good chopped salad and if you add grilled salmon it’s terrific!

.As we were leaving I saw Noah Newmark who many of you will remember from Carol Soucek King’s Salon.  He was with Monika Henreid the daughter of Paul Henreid who we all remember from Casablanca.  On exhibit there was an amazing exhibit that featured Henreid along with other memorable actors who emigrated to the States during World War ll.

We were just in time to catch the docent tour for ‘Light & Noir…Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood 1933-1950

Follow the red carpet….

 

Reading this letter was very sad….

 

 Paul Henreid in a scene from Casablanca…..

 

 Humphrey Bogart’s suit is in the back….Ingrid Bergman’s outfit and in the front, Paul Henreid’s suit.  He was much bigger than Bogie!

 

 This is the dress Joan Crawford wore in Mildred Pierce.  The photo doesn’t show how unbelievably small her waist was!

 

 

 

The lovely Rainbow Wall at the Skirball Center.

 

I could be over-scheduling because right after leaving Marsha and Stu I headed for North Hollywood to meet the Reilly’s and watch ‘Cabaret The Musical' put on by Dr. Jim’s brother Billy at his theatre….Crown City Theatre Co.  Do I have to mention that I barfly got there in time for the final bows????

 

Here’s my cuties…..Sandie Girl and Dr. Jim….You can almost see Michael, Jim’s son sitting next to him.  (No photo’s were allowed.)

 All right, enough of all that….what’s for dinner!!!! Start the party!  Love these show biz folks!  Don’t Jim and brother Billy look like twins???

At Eclectic in NoHo…...

Had the salmon….

 I was told to photograph this as it’s the BEST…..

Love these two….Dr. Jim and Sandie Girl!

Our ‘new look’ seen in a nearby shop window after we left.

I just want you to see how beautiful our little girl looks when she’s clean.  This should last at least three days!Class at the Huntington this week was even more wonderful thanks to seeing Kathryn who is usually in the studio class….I’m so very proud of her!

Two of my favorite peeps….Amy & Lisa were over Thursday….

Amy was here Friday evening and brought treats from Porto’s….

Tres Leche Cake…yum, yum…. We also had Potato Balls and Empanadas….

 Amy & Nikka both burned the midnight oil…. I mostly annoyed them by trying to take photo’s.  They’re as bad a Tomiko in that regard. Check out www.menuahflowers.com  Call Amy next time you need fantabulous flowers. 818.625.5243

Next day Denice stopped by to see Charles before class in the studio……..

Charles son Jim, on the right,  was in town from Texas with Charles, his partner.  Yes, another Charles!

Visiting class…..I always thought I was tall but really felt like a munchkin…..It was a fun day….Nikka filmed two new video’s for YouTube.  The Wisteria demonstration was posted right away.

 

Time for dinner.  Surprised?  I met Marsha and Stu at Parkway Grill in Pasadena where Charles and I had our first ‘date’!

 

Yes I’m a carnivore and so delighted foie gras is back.  This was Hudson Valley’s finest and it was sublime!

 

Their Caesar Salad has never been that outstanding…….but had to try again….

I asked if the Catfish was still good…….yes!

Another view before I sent it back to the kitchen to return in a more manageable form.

 

This ‘creation’ is about 7’ high…….

 

The orchids were right next to us…..

 

Let’s hear it for the kitchen!

 

Somehow we made it in time to Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium for the Vienna Boys Choir.  Jimmy Chiang was the amazing conductor/pianist….

I would like to say that the week ended well but it found me unwell.  Some mysterious bug attached itself to me as I was leaving the Auditorium and I had such chills I thought I’d be stopped by the police for unsafe driving.  Had my story ready as I would have told them to call 911.  I crawled into bed with great aches and a temp. but overjoyed to report I seem to be near recovery this A.M.  I’m calling this the eight hour bug! Amy & I were to have gone to an Oscar party but I had to cancel….can you believe?????????

Last I heard she was making Chicken soup for me!  Chicken soup with no noodles…….that’s like a cheeseburger without the cheese!

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC.......

 

….is how last week started with a trip to Disney Hall.  Marsha and Stu, my snowbirds from Chicago and I had lunch first at the Patina ‘Concert Hall Cafe’ and as always it was fresh and yummy!

We then went to a wonderful concert…..showcasing Mozart and Haydn (one of my favorites). Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major  featured Thomas Hooten, Principal Trumpet, who was absolutely amazing!  You may have read the article this past week about the orchestra that featured Hooten in it. My favorite seats face the conductor and fortunately Marsha and Stu agreed.

 

During intermission we went to the Founders Room for drinks and I invited Toby Lewis here from Spain on business for Global Corporate Venturing to join us.

If you went to the LACMA docent tour of Japanese Ceramics given by Pricilla Gibbs you’ll remember how knowledgeable she was.  I had invited Pricilla to the tea for Lisa See as we have a lot of friends in common and quite naturally thought it a great idea to meet now to compare notes on the upcoming trip to Japan. We had lunch at Little Dom’s on Larchmont….another favorite place.

Grilled shrimp, chopped spinach, avocado, egg romesco….

Don’t even go there….I know, we were bad!  Mint chocolate sundae if you must know….

You know I love Pooh bear but Paddington is a close second and I so hope you get a chance to see this darling movie.  The back story is that author Michael Bond, now 88, was inspired to write Paddington’s story  “….. because of memories of seeing evacuated children at rail stations in England during World War ll.  They all had labels around their necks and were holding on to their treasured possessions.”  Paddington's tag, ‘Take Care of This Bear’ makes a lot of sense now.

Paddington comes to England from darkest Peru…….

…….having eaten a suitcase of marmalade during his stow-a-way trip and always has a marmalade sandwich under his hat.

 Good advice I’d say.  

Nicole Kidman was an excellent villain….hope it’s not type casting!

I’m not even going to tell you where this is…..

O.K., so if sweet bears who love marmalade aren’t to your liking there’s always a Liam Neeson movie to get your heart pumping.

This isn’t a pun but I do have a lot on my plate this week so I’m now going to be in hiding until the Calligraphy class on Saturday.  Nikka is very proud of me that I’m actually learning to say no to wonderful goings on.  

I got hooked onto Papaya on the cruise as we had some with every meal.  Decided to continue the tradition ‘cause it’s soooo yummy and good for you too!

Kita went to the spa in preparation for Valentine’s day.  She always looks like a different doggie when I get her.  Sooooo white….a big snowball!

All ready for our Valentine’s Day photo opportunity!

 

And another…...

I vote this photo the cutest ever!!!!

Thank you Nikka for the beautiful roses and sweet, sweet card!

 

All I can say is ‘Oh that Amy’!!! She came over with the most exquisite arrangement….I’ll try and show you a view from all sides.  The interesting thing about this is that I felt as if I entered a garden all my own….it’s so charmingly captivating!  Amy’s putting the finishing touches on the arrangement….

 

 

The white flowers are exquisite Tulips!

A view from the top…..

And again….

Calligraphy class was on Valentine’s Day…..

Here’s Violet with Shantien ‘Tom’ Chow…….They combined their Ch’i to say ‘the greatest harmony…earth & people all in harmony’.

 

I don’t know….the kiddies table gets awful grownup during calligraphy!

Time for Valentine’s dinner at Bar Verde.

 

Hiro, the Manager, always takes such good care of us….

Had the salmon…..

Did I forget to photograph dessert again?  We had the Apple Cobler with Ice Cream.  Hi mom!

I love you darling…...

Wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year filled with every manner of good things to delight your heart!