shocktober.

It's October--hooray! I'm going to spare you the excuses from this current absence--recovering from cancer, crippled dog who possibly needed surgery (and thankgodfully didn't), work madness--I've got them all. Instead, let's focus on what makes us happy right now--it's fall, even here in Los Angeles.

It's been fun watching all the decorations go up in the neighborhood, and kind of...

...scary!

This weekend, I made a curried pumpkin soup, and it was awesome. I put it together from a few different recipes and added my own spin. What's great is that I think this would work with any pureed-type soup--butternut squash, cauliflower, etc.

I just smashed up garlic, ginger and jalapenos, added the pumpkin puree, coconut milk and some vegetable broth, a few generous dollops of curry paste and seasoned it with curry powder, tumeric, coriander and a touch of cumin (I always use this sparingly). I ladled it over brown rice (quinoa or forbidden rice would work, too) and garnished with sour cream, pumpkin seeds and tortilla chips. Good, healthy stuff.

I know--I'm not really a food blogger, but sometimes I dream of being one, so indulge me here.

Unfortunately I didn't get back to my friend Lisa in time to snag a free ticket for the opening Jacaranda Music Series concert. Sad, because my favorite Lyris Quartet was performing. On the bright side, there will be more Jacaranda concerts to come, and Lisa offered me a ticked for the L.A. Opera next weekend! Dido and Aeneas/Bluebeard's Castle--so excited.

The very photogenic Lyris Quartet

Went to the Farmer's Market at Fairfax and Third, like I do most Sundays. I love the beautiful painting of it below, which was part of a recent art exhibit I attended. The show celebrated the book launch of 100 Not So Famous Views of L.A. by local artist and printmaker Barbara Thomason.

Artwork via Barbara A. Thomason.

Here is one more painting from the book. Of course, we're all familiar with the giant chicken man in Highland Park.

Artwork via Barbara A. Thomason.

 
After the Farmer's Market, I was excited to to attend the Academy Costume Exhibit at what will soon be the new Academy Museum. My friend Susan is a member and scored us some VIP tickets.

At top right: three of Edith Head's eight Oscars.

It was a fascinating (and exhaustive) look at Hollywood history through the lens of the costume designer. Having lived in L.A. for over fifteen years now, in such close proximity to the entertainment industry, there's very little of the "magic of Hollywood" that leaves me awestruck. This exhibit did. The sheer scope of the show (much like the Kubrick retrospective) is overwhelming. If you're reading this, and you're in the L.A. area, it is a must-see.

The many cinematic gowns of Queen Elizabeth. Photo via 

AP/Miami Herald (there was no photography allowed).

And of course, the best part of the year--along with the dropping temperatures, the addition of flannel PJ pants, the longer nights--is the crazy good sunsets.

Lots of fun stuff planned next weekend, too, so stay tuned for more! xoL

love #6: the music edition.

Happy Labor Day weekend!

The blog is back after a lengthy summer vacay, but as always, I have an excuse. One month ago, I finished up chemotherapy (the last weeks are the toughest) and have been acclimating back to the real world. I'm not going to lie--it hasn't been easy, and I've been slowly picking up all the things I enjoy doing--writing, hiking, playing the violin and blogging.

So, let's get right to it. This is a Love List inspired by the music that's gotten me through this rough patch...with some movies and delicious food rounding it all out.

1. Love the song "Like I Need You" by the very photogenic, L.A.-based band Kan Wakan, off their album Moving On. If I ever direct my own wicked, neo-film noir, a game of cat and mouse (Who is the cat? Who is the mouse?) with a surprise ending, this is the song that will play when the credits roll.

Take a listen here. You will not be disappointed.

2. Also loving: "Drive-In Movies" off the new Ray LaMontaigne album, Supernova.

Photo via New York Times.

If I ever direct my own quirky, indie film about a bittersweet summer romance between two misunderstood twenty-somethings, this is the song that will play when they first get it on.

3. Love "Dead Flowers," a Rolling Stones tune (off Sticky Fingers) I had never heard before.

The Stones wrote it during a country phase (and don't we all have one?) while they were hanging out with Gram Parsons. It really struck me, because I could've sworn I was listening to early Uncle Tupelo (aka the Nirvana of alt-country).

4. Another song I've turned up when it plays in the car is "Silver Lining" by the Swedish duo, First Aid Kit, off their album Stay Gold.

If I ever direct a film about powerful female lawyer who leaves the corporate boardroom to bail her ex-con, gambling dad out of a Las Vegas jail, and they road trip to the Mexican border to pay back the drug cartel he robbed where she falls in love with a DEA agent--this is the song that will play as they careen down the highway.

5. Love that Charlie Chaplin played the violin and composed music. I mean--I had no idea!

Here is Anne-Akiko Myers playing his composition "Smile," which appeared on the soundtrack to Modern Times.

 

6. Another discovery--the Nielsen Violin Concerto (again: who knew?) is pleasantly blowing my mind, performed by the amazing Norwegian violinist, Vilde Frang.

7. Love Cookie and Kate, a St. Louis-based, vegetarian blog. I've been trying to eat healthier since finishing chemotherapy. Here I tried out her recipe for Curried Coconut Quinoa and Greens with Roast Cauliflower--and added some roasted tomatoes to boot.

It was delicious. I just love food blogs.

8. Loved catching the film A Most-Wanted Man at the Arclight. Now this is my kind of summer flick. I love any movie based on a John Le Carré novel, and this was no exception.

But man, it was hard to watch Philip Seymour Hoffman in his last role. It was almost like he was inhabiting his character with his own personal pain. Very tragic, but I felt like it was quietly brilliant ending to his incredible career.

9. Love catching up on movies I missed in the theater, including Blue Ruin...

...and Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson.

10. DO NOT love that I missed the Minnesota State Fair this year, but love knowing that there's an excellent chance that it--and every food on a stick known to man--will be there next year.

Thank you for reading...and I'll be back with something exciting very soon.

love #5.

It's time for a new Love List. Let's take a look at what we are loving at TT&CF.

Love pho. There's a great article here on dineLA on where to find the good stuff--all but one are in the San Gabriel Valley. However, my friend Fran and I stumbled upon It's Pho! (love those crazy pho word plays) on Cahuenga in Hollywood, and it was very, very satisfying.

Photo by Clarissa Wei via dineLA

Love Viggo Mortensen and love Oscar Isaac. So, I'm LOSING MIND MY MIND that they are in a movie together--The Two Faces of January, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. You know it's going to be good.

I came across this article in the L.A. Times on literary film adaptions for 2014. In addition to January, I'm most looking forward to The November Man with Pierce Brosnan and John Le Carré's A Most Wanted Man with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel Adams.

I love spy movies.

Viggo Mortensen, Oscar Isaac and Kirsten Dunst in Patricia Highsmith's 

"The Two Faces of January."

Love crazy neon signs. Check out this article on L.A. Curbed on this city's landmark signs. I was happy to see North Hollywood's scary booze clown made the cut.

Love, love, love the dresses of Plenty by Tracy Reese, found at ModCloth.

Love starting a new book--really excited about this one.

Love this photo of Neko Case looking baddass in what seems like skeleton leggings at Sasquatch! Festival 2014.

I'm still loving the haunting photography of Saul Leiter. Here is one more.

 
Love the Nashville home of Libby Callaway, featured on The Selby.


That's all for now, guys, but I'm coming back soon.

third street.

I'd like to take a moment to talk about a nice little stretch in L.A. that's chic--but not irritatingly so--lovely and perfectly walkable: Third Street. I'm sure I've mentioned it before in previous posts, but it's worth taking another stroll. WARNING: what follows is a very food-centric post.

Last week, I finally made it to Son of a Gun (it's on third street!).  I'd been wanting to go for so long. It's a "hot" restaurant right now, but I found it delightfully sleepy at lunchtime, and it didn't disappoint, like so many "hot" restaurants do.

The best lil' lobster roll in in Los Angeles.

In fact, I had the best lobster roll I've had since moving to L.A.--and that's saying something. I've tried a few pale (and very expensive) imitations, but nothing compares to what you can score in New England. Son of Gun's sandwich is only the size of a dinner roll, but it's also only $8, and that plus a salad was just right for lunch.

 Afterwards, I had to cross the street to check the good ol' Magnolia Bakery.

I remember visiting Magnolia once in NYC when it was just sparking the cupcake revolution, but I wasn't impressed. My cake was a big, dry, overrated mess. I'm happy to report this was not the case with the Third Street location. I hate to use the word "moist,"--because I hate the word "moist," (go ahead and Google "hate the word 'moist'")--so I'll say it was light, fluffy and delicious.

Third Street is dotted with restaurants and boutiques; walking the stretch from La Cienega to Fairfax makes for a lovely afternoon. Way back when I first visited L.A. in the late 90s while still living in Minnesota, I spent an evening at The Little Door followed by drinks at El Carmen. It was such a quintessential L.A. night out--the Moroccan/Spanish atmosphere of the Little Door, dining next to actors I couldn't quite name but knew I had seen on the big or small screen, the Mexican wrestling kitsch of El Carmen. I was smitten. Utterly seduced. I knew I absolutely I had to live here.

And I've never been back to The Little Door or El Carmen since.
 

But I do love the Little Next Door, which is much more laid-back than its counterpart, just like a little Parisian brasserie...or patisserie...or both?? I get them confused. But I do like to get breakfast after the Farmer's Market and watch all the people walk by.

And if you do find yourself strolling down Third Street, you have to pop in to Joan's on Third, which is like L.A.'s very own Dean and DeLuca.

My friend, Gerry, who lives just off 3rd Street, invited me over for brunch the other Sunday.

He lives in the classic L.A. screenwriter's pad, one of those beautiful Spanish-style apartment buildings that cover the Fairfax District and Mid-City. I never get tired of their charm.

Gerry's place was sunny, airy, filled with books and accented with vintage typewriters.

And a few sweet doggies running around--which always makes a pad a home.

Brunch was delicious--with everything from the farmer's market on Melrose Place, which is fast becoming one of my favorite, new places, and which we'll explore in an upcoming post.

Egg salad is a whole new experience when it's just eggs mashed 

with olive oil on a bed of arugula and topped with fresh figs.

Now that the weather has cooled down (just a little), I've been whipping up more than just gazpacho in my own little kitchen. I'm really enjoying flatbreads. So easy to make, a little lighter than a pizza and just as satisfying.

Flatbread topped with tomatoes, arugula, artichokes and goat cheese.

I also tried out a recipe given to me by my friend Kaiza. Polenta, it's nice to meet and eat you again.

1-2-3!

It's as easy as it looks in the photo. A simple tomato sauce with carmelized onions, pan-seared polenta, topped with wilted Swiss rainbow chard.

I've been really trying to get up into the Hills as much as I can before Daylight Savings Time. I cam across this super-cool dog statue standing guard outside some gloriously ostentatious mansion.

We see lots of cool things in the Hills. And we're heading up there right now.

Good night, Hollywood.

love. tacos.

Well after all, it is Taco Tuesday.

 It's about time someone came up with this idea--besides Taco Hell and Hell Taco. Nicely done, Tinga.

And yes, if I was God, you're damn straight tacos would grow on trees and ride unicorns.

This post is mostly an excuse to test out the new SnapSeed app. It's tricky, has lots of features to fiddle with, but I think I'm liking it.

see you soon.

Well, the State Fair has come and gone, and I'm back in LA. Specifically LA Superior Court, as I have jury duty today. haven't been called yet, so I have some time on my hands, and I thought I would give you one final taste of last week's Midwestern Magic.

If they can find a way to put on a stick, they will.

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite place to eat at the Fair is Giggles Campfire Grill. All kinds of walleye delights and even a boatload of sunnies this year.

Another top spot if the Arts & Crafts building, where there are all kinds of prizewinning jams & jellies, baked goods, clothing, and my favorite--the quilts.



Behold. The Pina Colada from Manny's Tortas. Not on a stick. Refreshing and delicious.


Lambs in love at the Sheep Barn.

Another favorite stop--Heritage Square. We caught the tail end (pun!) of the "Doggies of the Wild West" show. It was ridiculous. But there was a nice little book stand, plus ginger beer and sarsaparilla.

And here was something new this year: the Giant Sing-a-Long. Yes, it looks a little cheesy, but everything does at the Fair. However, watching a field of people belting out "Benny and the Jets" and even the execrable "American Pie," was kind of cool, especially when we were soaring above it all in the Sky Ride.

And that's the image I will leave you with...until next year.