This is a great time of year to be in Los Angeles because the weather is near perfect - sunny with a cool breeze. Of course it's much warmer inland, near the valley, and the beaches are cooler, but where I'm staying in Hollywood, it's been blissful.
The driving is predictable, after my time here in June a year ago, I know not to leave the house before 9 a.m., and to return before 3 p.m. Otherwise the freeways and main thoroughfares are slow-and-go. However, this time it didn't bother me because I expected it. I just tried to enjoy the warmth and the scenery. I think I'll do a photo collage of all the plants that only grow seasonally or indoors in most of the country that you can see on the streets of L.A.: huge fig trees - I mean 20' tall; spreading schefflera's the same; palms of all kinds; ferns, cyclamen, and more.
Today is my last full day out and about. This past week I've been obsessed with mapping my forays and getting out there that I haven't felt like blogging. I have to report that this was a very successful business trip for me. I visited many places in the book, to give them a free sample, and many got greatly excited and decided to carry it in their
place of business. I'll post that list later (when I retrieve it out of my sales kit in the trunk of my car).
Monday I delivered two books to Becky McLucas, Whole Foods Markets, at their Southern California Regional Office in Sherman Oaks and then immediately began visiting as many of their markets as I could, handing out free books to the Whole Body Team Leader at each location. Every single one got excited about the book so I asked them to please call Becky and let her know to order some for their location. I'll call her next week when I get back to my office. It was interesting to visit their stores, a big variety in age and size. Santa Monica has one of
the biggest and Sherman Oaks East the oldest and smallest. Invariably the staff was helpful and friendly.
I spent more time in Santa Monica and Pasadena than anywhere else, as you can see by their long entries in "California Healthy." Both picturesque and healthful-minded places to live and visit. Palm trees waving along the boulevards in both towns (actually all over the southland ). I've read that as the palm trees die, due to high maintenance costs and being non-native, the
cities are replacing them with different trees so that icon will be disappearing from the landscape. I once lived in Elche, Spain, home of the largest palm tree groves in Europe. They grow all the palm fronds for Palm Sunday (you'd be amazed at how many Catholics there are in
Europe). I was in Elche teaching English, and each day would wander among the palms and read from a bench in my favorite forest. I mentioned to my boss how strangely the men leered at me and once she knew where I was going informed me that was where the prostitutes hung out! I found a different favorite bench in a different forest on the other side of town.
Carl Siegman, L.A. escapee, had recommended vintage L.A. restaurants for me to try so here's my e-mail to Carl:
"Today I went to all of the places you recommended and it was well worth the effort. First I went to Roscoe's because it was nearest to where I was staying in the Hollywood Hills.
I got there at 10:30am after a big breakfast and wished I had brought my ice chest so
I could take away some chicken and waffles. Instead I took away the Ta To Pie and immediately devoured it in the car! I just wanted one bite but was unable to stop, it was that good. The place was so clearly a local institution, I loved it.
I decided I'll just have dessert at each place so at Musso and Frank's Grill, close by, I asked the hostess which was the most popular dessert they made there. So I enjoyed the Diplomat Pie, custard on top bread pudding with strawberry sauce, and a latte. Delicious! The staff was so perfectly polite and kind; the decor so wonderfully 50s - I loved it, too!
When I left, and before I got to Canter's, I knew I could not eat another dessert - I was stuffed and a little sick from all of the sugar (must have been the sweet potato pie from Roscoe's, but surely the Diplomat Pie contributed). At Canter's I ate half a
potato knish and ice tea, while I watched the people come and go from a good vantage point. Seemed to be quite a few show people eagerly discussing and shaking hands. An unshaven young man, hunkered over with cap pulled low, motored in and was greeted by an older, white haired man who stood to shake his hand. They immediately began an animated conversation. He sure looked like Matthew McConaughey to me. Canter's is a L.A. Jewish haven for sure! I loved it! I saved the pickles for you and looked at their pastry counter but knew even if I bought it for you I would eat it on the way home tomorrow.
Then to the final spot, The Original Pantry right downtown. There were quite a few suits paying when I came in, but the rest of the people were strictly middle class working stiffs. The coleslaw was perfect and I ate half a tuna salad and the rest for dinner tonight.
I stopped at some places to sell books in between, so it was a good day. In hindsight, I would have ended the day up at either Roscoe's or Musso and Frank's; of course, the HUGE pastrami sandwiches at Cantor's also caught my eye, and you had recommended the matso ball soup.
So, thank you, Carl, for an interesting and fun excursion. My book promotion work was basically done and it was fun to drive from place to place. At The Pantry, reflecting on all the places I had been today, I saw what diverse tastes you have. None would likely be in "California Healthy," but it's good to visit these types of places occasionally for cultural reasons -- and certainly comfort foods.
See you soon,
Patricia"
Advice for people coming to L.A.? Buy "California Healthy" to find and visit the best places to eat and walk, and branch out from there. L.A. and the surrounding towns are filled with architecturally interesting buildings, delightfully huge tropical plants, and an eclectic assortment of people ensure some of the best people-watching in the world. It is fast-paced, so drive and walk with care, knowing where your next turn is well in advance. If you miss a turn, don't react dangerously,there'll be another chance up ahead. Bring sunblock and use it. Expect the traffic to be slow-and-go. Most of all, enjoy yourself and give thanks for the weather and the colorful people, architecture and food.
