loving LA
Inspiration
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This is my favorite woodblock Print
followed closely by this one below
Roma Italian Market in Pasadena
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Three words: Don’t miss it.
Roma Italian Market is an absolute treasure of old world Italian service, style and staples. Found right in our own neighborhood of Pasadena at the corner of Lake and Mountain.
This unassuming little Deli, run by Roz (Rosario), a native of Sicily – has been a staple in the North Pasadena / Altadena Neighborhood just off of Lake avenue for 50 years. Roma’s is Run by Roz, who is a treasure himself – and his family and close friends – he still works there 7 days a week 10 hours a day himself, behind the deli counter, slicing up never ending delights of authentic Italian cheeses, cold cuts, and humor with a twinkle in his eye and his hand always on the slicer as if it is at last an extension of himself after all these years.
The Cheese Wiz
Every time I walk into the deli, I am greeted like a long lost freind. Now, that could be because of the exorbitant amount of time and money I have spent dawdling, ogling and extorting samples of every possible cheese and meat combination over the course of the past two years OR it could be because that is simply the way it is done and Roz is a marketing and customer service genius. My favorite cheese thus far is the provolone dulce, but I am also hugely partial to the asiago, which boasts a nutty creaminess and is easily enjoyed with a glass of red wine (typically a chianti or sangiovese for me) and often accompanied with many thin and tasty slices of prosciutto de Parma that I usually pick up at the same time.
We all have our favorites, but if you want a culinary adventure, let Roz suggest some of his favorites from the deli case for you to take home. 
In addition to the delightful deli selections including the freshest mozzerella and ricotta you can buy, an entire olive bar and handmade DAILY italian sausages, the market has a section of frozen and dried pastas that are of a very good quality.In fact, I think it is the best variety of pastas that I have found thus far in Los Angeles and believe me, I look frequently. They also have a terrific assortment of sauces and oils, anchovies, fresh capers packed in salt, dried mushrooms, and every possible kitchen staple you need to whip up an authentic Italian meal like Nonna used to make.
freshly baked Ciabatta daily
on certain days, they have fresh cannolis available to purchase, but you usually need to pre-reserve them because they are sold before they hit the deli case. I had the chance to purchase some last new years and they were worth the effort. They also always have figs and dates available by the cash register.
a bit of history
The unsung hero of the Deli is, well a Hero… sandwich that is. It is made exclusively by Roz behind the counter of the deli case. There are no meat and cheese selections, no additions, deletions or fixings to mull over – there is ONE sandwich and if you are lucky enough to have time to order it, you will be glad that this one simple, delicious and mouth groovy sandwich is upheld in perpetuity. It’s made on fresh ciabatta and has provolone, olive oil, salami, prosciutto, the other one with the olives an pistachios in it…and some other stuff I can’t remember…. Actually, I don’t really care, because it doesn’t even matter to me what is in it – that is how good it is! And this is coming from someone who is VERY specific about the quality and taste of everything I eat – I hope that says something special about this sandwich. Unfortunately, on this visit I ate mine up before I remembered to take a picture… For best results – Just go eat one.
I usually eat my sandwich accompanied by an ice cold glass bottle (it does taste better!) of the Authentic “made with sugar” Coke from Mexico – In my opinion this combination is the best lunch a lady of Pasadena can ask for.
Best Sauce for Homemade Pizza
Finally, the market has a selection of Italian wines and fresh veggies and fruits including some nice tomatoes and usually some great basil and other staples. I have yet to venture into the dessert area – but it looks like they have a lot of nice Italian cookies, buns and cakes to choose from. I prefer the cheeses and meats myself.
My husband and I have found many “favorites” in this market and look forward to discovering many more for years to come. If I could live in a market – this would be the one. Please stop by to discover your own favorites and support Roma Market to keep this local tradition and culinary treasure alive.
And if you happen to end up in line at the deli counter behind me, be prepared to wait!
new disciples
Dockweiler Beach BonFire Party
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Last Saturday, a friend of mine from mosaic tweeted out that he was holding a Bonfire at Dockweiler state beach, just south of Santa Monica.
I’ve lived here for 6 years and have always seemed to find myself being one of those sad passersby, driving on my way to somewhere else, longing for the feel of the sand in my toes, the waves grabbing at the cuffs of my jeans and the warm friendly light of the beach bonfire. I figured it was high time to make good on an invitation and seize the day, or the evening as it were.
When I arrived at 3pm with my hubby, our friend had been there since noon, pitching the tent on the beach and staking out primary bonfire territory. Now, in the spring and summer, this early arrival is much needed, but in February, not so much. Still, it seemed he had found a peace during the breezy and warm day. We found him sitting in a beach chair staring out at the ocean, not an entirely unpleasant environment if you have to wait for 6 hours for your friends to show up.
back to the basics
Soon after, the Golden Hour arrived (as I’ve always called the hour before dusk, and I was surprised to hear our friend call it the same thing) and the sun started setting. Eager as always to capture the colors of the sunset, which somehow never allow themselves to be captured – I took a TON of very amateur photos with my digital camera – some of which i’ve posted here.
Peace
Our friend took some much BETTER photos on his camera as he is a photographer with the right equipment and a ton of experience. He wandered into my shot here and I was pleased with this photo.
When the sun finally set, the wind was cold and a bit frosty with mist blowing off the ocean. It was magical.
We (meaning the men) started the fire up and soon had a toasty and warm haven in which to warm ourselves, drink some beers, toast some weenies, or as a braver attendee did – a skirt steak – and eventually give in to the campy delights of the old campfire standby – smores. YAY
Connect Four at the Beach
A couple of more outgoing attendees brought the game connect four – a game which I have not played since I was beaten by a Chicken in 1999. However, they seemed to be enjoying it, wrapped in blankets, sitting in beach chairs playing by firelight.
I was much surprised that there was no outburst of song or the typical “scary” stories that occur in groups of newly acquired acquaintances standing comfortably as individuals around the flames of this common and mysterious thread that has woven strangers together into clans and tribes throughout our most basic human history. Fire.
However, the boisterous sparks of laughter, spats and bursts of conversation going around me combined with the glow of the fire at my front and the misty breeze and sigh of the ocean at my back allowed me to comfortably retreat into my own head and take in the moment in its entirety, as an outsider on the inside with the happy conclusion that Beach Bonfires must become a regular regimen in my life from now on.
dreamtime
The Annenberg Space for Photography
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Last night I had the pleasure of visiting a FREE museum, the Annenberg Space for Photography over in Beverly Hills / Avenue of the Stars which shares the beautiful office park complex that houses the renowned creative artists agency as well as Craft Restaurant and Craftbar created by chef Tom Colicchio of Top Chef fame.
The Annenberg Space for Photography was founded by Wallis Annenberg, heir to the Annenberg Fortune (TV Guide, 17 magazine, etc) who resides in Los Angeles and has a love for Photography.
“Photography is one of the most accessible and personal forms of art. We see the creation of the Annenberg Space for Photography as a service to the community where visitors can see the world through a different lens and leave feeling motivated to make positive change.”
–Wallis Annenberg
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation
Annenburg Space for Photography
In the company of some good friends, I visited during the Sports Photography Exhibit featuring the work of renowned photographers Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer – two talented men who grew up in the same era competing with each other covering many of the same events and subjects for Sports Illustrated magazine covers and other publications. Each of their work embodies their personalities and very distinctive styles, with Iooss being more of a creative editorial / artistic approach and Leifer having more of a documentary and news editorial approach. Here is a brief description of the exhibit taken from the Annenberg website:
Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer offer a dialogue not just about winning and losing, but all that it means to be human.
Walter Iooss
Neil Leifer
Over the span of their careers, Iooss and Leifer have captured the lives of our greatest sports heroes, contributing to the collective visual memory of our times. Their combined photographic experience amounts to nearly a century of documenting history in motion, and creating sports legends.
What shines through the still photographic images are the inner workings of aspiration and triumph; tremendous strength coupled with consummate grace; a keen sense of vision and personal drive propelled by amazing physicality. Ultimately we see the great heights and depths of human experience condensed into single, stirring, revelatory frames.
Obviously, the photos in the exhibit are the some of the most copywritten images in the world, so I’m not going to post many of them in this blog entry – but I will say that the exhibit is WELL worth seeing in person, especially when you have time to watch the digital feature – which appears in a darkened center gallery on two 17 foot screens on opposite walls – and showcases simultaneously the work of the two photographers contrasted to each other, showing the same games, sporting events and athletic subjects in captured in strikingly different photography styles.
9/11 Surfer - my favorite photo of the day by Walter Iooss
A friend who visited the museum me said he found the experience to be almost religious in the amazing way that humanity was depicted in the imagery displayed. I agreed and would highly recommend the Annenberg space for photography to anyone who appreciates beauty and finds an interest in gaining an insider perspective on the insights and strategies of two of the worlds most gifted Sports photographers.
I personally preferred the photographic and Portraiture style of Walter Iooss because of my background in branding and marketing – I’m always looking for that epic moment, the “heroic” pose that he talks about, so his style of shooting appealed to me. Any of his photos could hang on a wall as a piece of individual, stand-alone artwork. That said, if I were a news editor, I would more frequently pick the photos of Leifer because of his ability to capture the entire feel of the moment in which the shot occurred and the context of the situation with his angles, which tend to be not so much focused on capturing the individual but on capturing the entire feel of the event as a whole.
There are a few great videos about the exhibit available on the Annenberg Website, here are a couple I liked:
Surf Photography
Beyond Sport Video
The facility is beautiful, the staff is very friendly, well educated and passionate about the art, parking is only $3.50 with validation and the museum is FREE. Plus there are numerous cafe’s and restaurants in the complex that are very inviting and affordable with a lovely environment where you can go and reflect on the art with friends after your tour.
The Current Exhibit will remain open until March 15th, and there are also
upcoming lectures by other Photographers discussing the exhibit.
| Website: http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/about/overview.aspHours |
| Wed-Sun: 11am – 6pm |
| Location |
| Century Park 2000 Avenue of the Stars, #10 Los Angeles, CA 90067 tel: 213.403.3000 fax: 213.403.3100 |
Great Article from LA Weekly
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Check out this article and slideshow if you get a chance – I now know some additional places I will be visiting in the coming months!
Article: http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-26/eat-drink/99-things-to-eat-in-l-a-before-you-die
Slideshow: http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/99-things-to-eat-in-l-a-before-you-die-29357784/
Mammoth – LA’s Deluxe Winter Playground
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I recently had the fortune to be invited on a family ski trip for five days over the President’s Day Weekend and was more than pleased to find that the slopes are unforgettable, beautiful, easily navigated and so very satisfying to those skiers seeking a challenge who want more than a “one run” ski resort.
On day two of my trip as I settled into chair Eight on my first morning run, I happened to be seated next to a guide in a bright yellow Jacket and being the friendly gal I am, asked him what exactly their duties were as Mammoth Guides. You’ll be pleased to know that Mammoth offers FREE tours to new skiers on the mountain complete with geographical insights and historical tales of the entire Owens Valley including the history of Bodie (the Ghost Town), Bishop, the town of Mammoth and the nearby June Mountain ski resort.
If you wish to take the tour which is an educational skiing tour of Mammoth Mountain you only need show up at the “Mammoth” Map at the bottom of the slopes of Canyon Lodge at 10am any day of the week.
If you can’t make it there, you can meet them at the sign near the Gold Rush Lift around the Mountain at 10:30am. Look for the guide in the bright yellow Jacket – whether you are seeking navigational insights, geography treats or a history lesson, the tour is worth showing up for.
Mammoth Mountain can get pricey, but I have found that if you sign up to receive updates online at their website, you can get some amazing offers throughout the ski season – for example, $99 per person for a lift ticket and a night in a hotel room. Pretty good deal considering that their regular day lift ticket price is now $87. IMO, its well worth it and Mammoth mountain promises to be entertaining all day, whether in the lodge sipping cocoa or on one of the many slopes. Get out of your geographical comfort zone and visit the mountain this year!
BCD Tofu House – BBQ in KTown
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BCD Tofu House is located on Wilshire near 3rd in a funky buiding that looks like it may have been a Weinerschnitzel at some point in the distant past. However funky the exterior, the interior is comfy if also eccentric – plastic tables and chairs, functional tile floors… and a crystal chandelier – but it makes you want to stay out of sheer curiousity to see what kind of food might come out of the kitchen.
I’m not traditionally a lover of tofu or soy products, but since I had walked in and it was late, and I was with friends AND it had been highly recommended, I figured, what the heck. The menu boasts that the food is 100% organic and without MSG, so that was a plus to start with, however, the prices seemed a bit high for me ranging from $8.99 for the cheapest item to $29.99 for the most expensive. I do admit I have absolutely NO experience with Korean food whatsoever, so perhaps the prices were normal? Anyone? I ended up ordering Soon Tofu with Kimchee and pork. I didn’t know what it was but I had tasted kimchee in the past and found it interesting and different from anything else I had ever eaten, so thought I would try it out.
I chose this instead of a combination – which my dining partners all chose -which included accompanying plates of raw crab, chicken and beef teriyaki, seafood, all followed by piping hot, boiling mini-caldrons of the same Soon Tofu I ordered. We discovered together that soon tofu is a red broth soup with slices of creamy, buttery, not gray tofu in it – into which you crack a raw egg and mix with rice. Its spicy, sweet, sour and quite delicious and I have NO idea what is in it, but it didn’t stop me from eating every single bite.
To my delight, all our dishes also came with some cool sides that arrived before the main plates – including Kimchee, a spicy red chili paste of sorts that made my lips burn, a plate of gelatin “french fries” that were essentially wiggly, clear, milky sticks of what tasted like octopus or seaweed but were like jello. They were shaped like french fries and were tasty and cool. We all also received a full fried fish of some type – including eyeballs and not gutted – but we heartily dug in with fingers and nibbled at the bones until we left nothing discernible on the plate but a fin or two. We were disappointed that the fish were not bigger as some of us were interested in finding and tasting the fish cheeks, which we had heard are one of the best parts of a fish. I alone was brave enough to eat the eyeballs – which were hard and chewy – not what I expected, but I secretly hope will somehow enable me to have better snorkeling eyesight in the future.
There was no dessert to speak of, unless it was that strange cup of rice and what looked and tasted like cold dishwater, but we finally determined must be on the table to help cool our palates after the scorching red chili sauce had burned the flesh from our fingertips and tongues.
All in all, it was a really cool experience and I was absolutely fascinated to be tasting so many flavors I was unfamiliar with, believe me, it doesn’t happen very often. I can highly recommend BDC Tofu House for the flavor and curious experience if not for the service or romantic atmosphere. I believe this meat eater may even try eating tofu more frequently if I can find tofu that tastes as creamy and delicious as what I had in my soon tofu soup.
A night in Korea Town
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As I started planning my schedule for cultural tours of Los Angeles, I was looking at my calendar and realized that there were already a great many terrific opportunities scheduled with friends, family and colleagues that I could document and use for the blog. Maybe I’m not as boring as I thought I was?
First up was an evening in Korea town, scheduled with some close friends of mine who are also in the 2 year “protege” Masters program at Mosaic that I am currently taking.
We purchased tickets online to go hear Rob Bell speak. I didn’t know who Rob Bell was, but I had heard that he was a terrific speaker. It turns out that he is the pastor of a multi-cultural church in Chicago called Mars Hill. He has written this book that is very creative and abstract – filled with stories of significance and encouragement to think creatively and connect with compassion to people in the world with whom we might think we have nothing in common at first glance. The book is called “Drops Like Stars” and is at least worth perusing for the great photos and some witty stories although I admit that my first thought when I opened it was “what a waste of paper” because the pages are HUGE and many only have one small photo or quote on them, THAT SAID, it was still quite interesting and it was Definitely original. The talk was based around the book and I found it interesting if not groundbreaking. I think I must be spoiled by the quality of speakers I get to hear on a regular basis at Mosaic.
This is Rob Bell
The most important thing I took away from the talk was actually very moving and I find myself still thinking about it – he read a quote that said:
“The single most important thing an artist must learn is that even the failed pieces are essential.”
The talk was held at the Wiltern on Wilshire, where I had never been before. It is a very cool, retro designed old theater with a lot of easy parking options nearby. I found the $5 parking across the street (off of Western) to be the most economical option but they close at 11, so if you come back late (like I did) you have to get the concierge in the condo lobby upstairs to let you into the garage so you can exit. It worked out.
The theater has some great art deco artwork on the ceilings and walls, typical of the 20s and 30s in Los Angeles (Cicada Club, Mayan), I got a few photos with my phone, but it is worth going just to take a look. The acoustics were really good and though we were in the balcony, there wasn’t a bad seat in the place. I would like to go back for a musical event some night.
After the event – which concluded at 10pm, we took a quick walk down the street to the BCD Tofu house which had been recommended by a Korean friend as the best Korean Food in KTown. You can Read about that HERE
The Point
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The point is, I have lived here in Los Angeles for 6 years and I’ve never gone to ONE art museum.
I’m Ali Reynolds and I live in LA. I’m a transplant from Northern California by way of Iowa, Seattle and Oceanside. I’ve experienced living in many places in the U.S. as my family was a navy family – each of us four kids was born in a different state, but no place has felt as much “home” to me since I left home in Kelseyville CA ( a lovely one-street, real life Mayberry) as Los Angeles.
That said, I’ve been caught up in the business aspect of living, surviving and thriving in Los Angeles since I moved hear in 2005, so busy that unless it was a function of my job, I have not participated in any cultural opportunities here. AND I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES!!!!
In Fact –
- Los Angeles hosted a record 25.9 million visitors in 2007. Visitor spending totaled $14.2 billion, also a record high.
- International visitation grew from 2006, as 4.8 million foreign residents came into LA County last year. Overseas travel was up 5%, LA’s largest international markets, Mexico and Canada, gained 3% and 4% respectively.
- LA is one of the top travel destinations in the U.S. In 2007, LA County hotels had the fourth highest occupancy rate of the top 25 US markets.
- Los Angeles is the second ranked destination for overseas visitors behind only New York, according to the International Trade Administration, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.
Stats From the 2007 Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
So – according to my own cultural assessment and the stats of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, it appears I am WAY behind the curve of even the average fanny pack wearing tourist and I have some catching up to do.
But wait, there is a second part to this story…
The economy tanked in October of 2008. I previously worked as an independent, self-employed marketing and branding consultant in a niche legal industry in Los Angeles. I had decided in September to start working with more artists, restauranteurs, entertainers and non-profit organizations with their marketing and branding because I was seeking a new market of clientele and I wanted to work with people not motivated by money, fear of failure or “beating” the other guy. I wanted to work with people who could inspire me by their dedication to their talents, arts and focus on improving the world one small step at a time. I’m sorry if that sounds sappy to you – it sounded sappy to me two years ago too, but even in my cynicism, I knew there was more to be discovered than making money – and now that I’ve been involved working with more artists and nonprofits, my heart is set on it, my heart is open.
The challenge of switching industries would be that artists and nonprofits typically have less money to work with for marketing and branding purposes, but that was ok with me, because I am more creative and innovative with my ideas and implementation of successful marketing plans and grassroot campaigns than the legal industry has allowed me to be in the past. The real problem after October 2008 became that these individuals and organizations don’t have ANY money to spare now. IN FACT – nonprofits are suffering intensely in this current economy and many amazing causes and intelligent, creative, inspirational people are unable to make a living or pursue their art or the causes they hold dear to their hearts. Here is a great article by the wall street journal about how non-profits are trying to adjust in the current economy.
Basically, compared to my previous level of economic success as an entrepreneur, in 2009 and early 2010, I have found myself “officially” unemployed. I do admit that in part is it a choice – because rather then take a job where I would ultimately be miserable on a daily basis (I had one for a while and started having suicidal thoughts), and even though I continue to apply for specific jobs very intentionally (I know the right one will come along eventually), I have chosen to pursue full time volunteering with servela.org, which has been the most amazing and fulfilling experience of my entire adult life. I honestly think I would rather volunteer for free and be fulfilled by helping others, then make millions of dollars and be miserable at a job that I was technically qualified for but one that drained my soul of life and passion on a daily basis.
Winston Churchill said “You have a life by what you get, you make a life by what you give.”
Long Story Short –
Because I am officially unemployed and have some free time (something I hope to not have quite as much of forever), and I realize that I have the chance to spend the time doing something I may never have the opportunity to do on this level of commitment again in the future, I am going to spend the next 60-90 days (maybe longer) getting to know the city.
I am doing it because I think I should take full advantage of the cultural richness, natural beauty, culinary expertise and melting pot of artists, music, arts and get familiar with the community focused organizations of our city that are striving daily to make the world a better place, despite the economic challenges. I am doing it because innovation and creativity are beautiful things that we as adults somehow manage to eliminate from our lives, (read more about this and what TED is doing about it) but we need to reconnect to creativity and artistry to survive and thrive. I am doing it because I want to connect to the soul of my city, to the heart of the people who live here, from all walks of life – so I can better understand their needs, their desires, dreams and the opportunities they have or the ones they need to have given to them.
I want to facilitate beauty in our city, so I need to take the time to hear her heart beat.
The point is that I have a lot to learn. So, here I embark on a journey into the heart Los Angeles and I invite you to follow me or join me on the journey. I will post events I will be attending, museums, galleries, music both professional and amateur, food I will explore, cooking and butchery as well as cooking classes. Maybe I will start a community garden or raise my own cow? I will learn, I will explore, I will interact and engage with people from my city. I will listen, observe, learn. I will create.
And I will report back about the experiences here. I will write the best descriptions I can summon, so this blog will be something worth reading, something to inspire, something to encourage. Photos, music, art, poetry, cooking, and new relationships with those who teach, guide, share and inspire – these things, not numbers or the bottom line or the networking strategy, will be the fruits of this journey.
I ask that you will please send me your suggested places to visit, people to meet, things to explore, musicians to go listen to – I invite all your suggestions. Ultimately I would love for you to Join me, to participate and contribute and to make the most of the time you have available. I want to hear about your stories, your adventures and your observations about our city as well as experience them with you in person if you are willing to jump with me.
The point is, life is short.
- Spectacular new challenges and exciting solutions: The eye-opening interstitials of TED2024
- Connectors: Notes on Session 11 of TED2024
- Enchanters: Notes on Session 10 of TED2024
- The TED Theater at TED2024, in photos
- Shapeshifters: Notes on Session 9 of TED2024
- Explorers: Notes on Session 8 of TED2024
- Trailblazers: Notes on Session 7 of TED2024
- Bridge-Builders: Notes on Session 6 of TED2024
- Provocateurs: Notes on Session 5 of TED2024
- Illuminators: Notes on Session 4 of TED2024
loving LA 