On New Year's Day, I flew back from Minneapolis, just as the Land of 10,000 Lakes was welcoming the Polar Vortex. Please, don't ask me to explain this. Wikipedia it or something. Apparently, I just escaped the worst of it.
In case you were wondering what -10 degrees looks like, here it is.
Mother freaking cold. But awfully pretty.
It's funny, because I don't remember the frigid temperatures ever stopping us, even when we were kids. Of course, that may be because my mom would zip up our snowsuits, show us out the door--and lock it behind us.
Sledding time! Photo by @mshouska
I always think about what it's like way up North. It gets really cold up on the Iron Range--I mean, Siberian cold. And I think about how Minnesota's original settlers survived the winters--so many must have died harrowing deaths. Animals, too.
My cousin posted this fascinating (and horrific) article from the Minnesota Post, reminding of The Children's Blizzard, a book I've been wanting to read forever.
There were some great moments while I was back. Every member of my family attended my grandmother's funeral, and I got to catch up with cousins I hadn't seen in years. I drank some great coffee...
Just the scene you would expect on a place called "Peace Coffee."
...just for reference, my current favorite spots for coffee in Minneapolis are Peace Coffee in Longfellow, Anodyne on Nicollet and The Coffee Shop in Northeast. But seriously, there are so many little hippie coffee shops that dot the Twin Cities, you can never go wrong.
Even though I had a great time, the temps kept plunging further and further below zero. By New Year's Day, I could not fly home fast enough.
Somewhere over Nevada? Utah? Take your pick.
Never have I been so happy to return to L.A.
This month has basically been about catching up on work, hiking...
Look up!
...and over-hyped, Oscar-nominated movies.
Boogie Nights 2.0 with a dash of Goodfellas = American Hustle
Art by Peter Stults via Shortlist
For the life of me, I cannot understand the fuss surrounding Gravity. It's a deeply terrible movie, a special-effects-and-star-power extravaganza devoid of any story, character or emotional resonance. It's like they got Bullock and Clooney to host the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland.
But this gallery of alternative poster art for Gravity is incredibly cool.
I celebrated my 44th birthday (God help me) at a couple of restaurants I've been wanting to try:
Connie and Ted's in West Hollywood (one of two places in L.A. where you can order clams with the bellies attached) and Bar Ama downtown.
...and lounged at the new Tierra Mia in Echo Park..
For reference, my current favorite places for coffee in L.A. are Tierra Mia, the Coffee Commissary (three locations, but I'm partial to Burbank), Go Get 'Em Tiger and of course, Alfred.
And speaking of books--I read a couple in the last month. Let's take a look.
Oh, hi Mark.
My sister insisted I read The Disaster Artist while we were in Minneapolis. It is SO FREAKING GOOD I almost can't stand it. Can't remember when a book rocked my world this way.
Much more than just a "Ha ha, I was in a bad movie" memoir, it's a hilarious, moving and masterfully written account of film making and the Hollywood dream. Astoundingly good and highly recommended.
And now I have to go see The Room again.
Another tale of Hollywood--although this one didn't blow me away, it was a solid historical noir mystery set in early 50's L.A about the movie business, WWII and the McCarthy hearings. Only recommended if you're really into that kind of thing.
Back here in L.A., it's been the opposite of the Polar Vortex. Again, I have no idea what that is. Google it. While we usually do have an 80-degree heat wave in January, 2014's has lasted the entire month. Heat wave bonus: the camellias are starting to bloom. Heat wave drawback: thinking about what it's going to be like in August and September.
And of course, there are the sunsets. Like this one over the ocean in Palos Verdes.
That's all for now. I'm trying to do slightly shorter blog posts for the New Year, so they don't become so damn epic and time-consuming--and I can do more. See you soon.
3 comments
In All Fairness: your mother remembers your teachers complaining that you and your sister insisted on going outside at recess no matter how cold it was. And they had to go out to watch you. Everyone was required to go out for at least five minutes until the wind chill was -20. You two were the only ones who kept going no matter how cold it was.
And she only locked the door that once.
Just chill.
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