lines

as an angeleno, i've come to accept crowds. the throngs and throngs of people every which way. actually, who am i kidding?  i've learned how to avoid them.

rule #1: stay clear of the roads between the hours of 3:30 - 7:30 pm.
rule #2 : don't get near the 405...ever.
rule # 3: make reservations for dinner.
rule #4: cash in hand? go for valet so you can actually make it to your dinner reservation on time.
and rule #5: have no agenda on the weekends. crowds are inevitable.

for as confident as i feel about these "rules" - these tips to prevent the aggression that so typifies your everyday angeleno - i realize there is no way to avoid the holiday rush. no possible way.


it doesn't matter the time, the place, or the mood you're in. during the holidays, there are lines. ridiculously long lines that stretch out the door. lines that make you feel like time is being wasted. lines that make me ask myself is this really worth it?


and so in the spirit of the season, i've committed myself to taking deep breaths. to reminding myself it's temporary. to remembering the bigger picture. and smile.

color or white?

'tis the season for holiday light spectaculars. everything from the single string hung around a window, to the dangling icicles wrapped around the entire house. with every light display, my mind can't help but wonder. and imagine. and construct an internal narrative...

     - aww, how sweet. this must be their first christmas together.
     - whoa, neighborhood competition, much?
     - oops, looks like they need a replacement.
     - i'd hate to see that bill!


as common or as unique each display is, my biggest thought centers on one detail: color or white?

i'm not particularly fond of white lights because they could easily be year-round. a little glimmer in the backyard. some magic for a dinner party. but color lights - now those just epitomize holiday cheer. they are simple, not sophisticated. they are traditional, not fashionable. they have no agenda other than bringing friendly, uninhibited joy to any setting.

but that's what i think. how about you?!

the real deal

as tomorrow marks the first day of december, i am overjoyed to finally embrace the merry season of peppermint, poinsettias, and the birth of our savior, Christ. i've always been one to use my home as a physical manifestation of christmas joy, but this year it's going to be different. so long, velvet poinsettias. sayonara, plastic wreath. au revoir, cinnamon-scented pine cones. this year is all about the natural. the living. the real deal.


for the first time in my life, i have committed myself to indulging in the wealth of farm-fresh produce, to filling empty spaces with blossoms, to savoring a bit of nature in a concrete city. so in a season of light, life, and love, why would i settle for manufactured adornments? no, not this year. in the upcoming days, the smell of fresh pine will overwhelm the air, the sprinkling of needles will linger on the carpet, and the reddest of reds will be contingent on my poinsettia care-taking skills.

welcome, dear december! you are going to be a lovely month!

saturdays at 11 a.m.

if i could be on the road at 11 am every saturday, i would. it's at this time when kcrw features good food with evan kleiman. not only do i learn about restaurant openings, exotic spices, and detailed food preparation, but i am also updated with the market's best through the "market report." at 11 am the local growers are interviewed, disclosing the secrets of the trade.

peruvian purple potatoes. walnut oil. the magic behind grass-fed chickens. in one hour, the radio is a gastronomic conquest. a savory conversation with "foodophiles."

as dangerous as it may sound to be distracted on the road by envisioned meals, it is well worth the risk. good food is quite the treat, and if you know anything about me, you know how i love my treats!

a season for persimmons

burnt orange.
firm to the touch with an ever-so-slight soft flesh.
the tomato-like fuyu or the heart-shaped hachiya.
seeds? maybe. bite into one, and you'll know for sure.

yes, these are persimmons. glorious, glorious persimmons! it is definitely autumn when the fruit stands and produce aisles gleam with this gem. in the height of this lovely season, i just can't get enough of persimmons...a natural addition to my everyday repertoire. and what a wonderful feeling - using today's bounty to experience flavor that will last through winter. enjoy!

domestic

every now and then, i feel it is absolutely necessary to err on the side of domesticity. to ground yourself and be in tuned with those instincts characteristic of le femme. yes, in a day and age marked by efforts to lessen the gender gap and eliminate the "traditional" view of the woman's role, i do believe it's okay to partake in domestic days. so in light of this belief, i share my day...

a leisure weekday breakfast with a dear friend, qualifying me as a "lady who breakfasts." a deep clean: dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming...the full bit. bills, bills, bills, and a heaping load of laundry. afternoon tea and list-making for tonight's dinner. grocery shopping and meal preparation in anticipation of a shared evening feast.

there's something about these kind of days that make me feel productive. peaceful. beautiful.

productive because i'm doing something. peaceful because i'm doing something at my own pace. and beautiful because i'm doing something for someone, not just for Me, Myself, and I. so here's to those few days when rubber gloves actually feel good on my hands and my signature scent is as fresh as the outdoor pines.

indulgence

there's something about san francisco that screams indulgence. and i don't mean the kind of indulgence that connotes gluttony, lust, temporary satisfaction with all things material. instead, it was indulgence in joy, in rest, in absolute freedom and newfound delight that made last week's trip to san francisco one to write home about...

we relished in the sites: golden gate bridge, city skyline, harbor.

we succumbed to sweet rest: a picnic in golden gate park, lingering chats over ghirardelli hot chocolate, unhurried walks from here to there.

and then there was the food. world-renown, glorious food! peruvian cuisine at chef gaston acurio's La Mar. rustic dishes at tyler florence's Wayfare Tavern. and fresh seasonal flavors at alice waters's Chez Panisse.

it was indulging in the senses that made me feel enlivened. reawakened. in san francisco, i was reminded that a life lived without feeling is a life lived without color. and who wants to live without color?!

...we sure don't!