Flying is always so stressful, but it wouldn't
have occurred to me to ask for a cocktail on the way down. The guy behind me
was VERY disappointed that American didn't serve alcohol - just tea and coffee.
After all, it was ten am. As much as I joked about the jet lag, a one-hour
flight is pretty painless.
The LA car culture has not abated. Allie told me a funny story about a recent "Carmageddon". The 405 had to be completely closed one day for construction. Residents bought groceries the day before and then the city stopped. Nobody left home. They couldn't. It wasn't possible to drive anywhere.
Allie had all the parking garages scoped out and knew which ones validated and or had free parking. Some of the garages now have lights along the middle of the aisles. There is a red light in front of every parking spot that is taken and green lights where spaces are empty. All the thinking is done for you. They still have the medieval contraptions to prevent one from backing up or risk severe tire damage.
We needed to do some birthday shopping for Lana so we went to the trendy, open-air shopping center called "The Grove". As soon as we got there we were almost bowled over by paparazzi chasing after Mario Lopez. He was pushing his baby in a stroller and ducked into an elevator. As soon as the door closed they all spun around and went the other direction. Dylan's Candy Bar was doing a special event with Janet Jackson and other celebrities. The place was surrounded by security but you could see in the windows. On the way out we saw Apolo Ohno. Just another celebrity. Yawn.
The LA car culture has not abated. Allie told me a funny story about a recent "Carmageddon". The 405 had to be completely closed one day for construction. Residents bought groceries the day before and then the city stopped. Nobody left home. They couldn't. It wasn't possible to drive anywhere.
Allie had all the parking garages scoped out and knew which ones validated and or had free parking. Some of the garages now have lights along the middle of the aisles. There is a red light in front of every parking spot that is taken and green lights where spaces are empty. All the thinking is done for you. They still have the medieval contraptions to prevent one from backing up or risk severe tire damage.
We needed to do some birthday shopping for Lana so we went to the trendy, open-air shopping center called "The Grove". As soon as we got there we were almost bowled over by paparazzi chasing after Mario Lopez. He was pushing his baby in a stroller and ducked into an elevator. As soon as the door closed they all spun around and went the other direction. Dylan's Candy Bar was doing a special event with Janet Jackson and other celebrities. The place was surrounded by security but you could see in the windows. On the way out we saw Apolo Ohno. Just another celebrity. Yawn.
I showed Allie where I used to live in Hollywood, back in the late seventies, and the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine, which is now featuring,
you guessed it – a Starbucks. All the hordes following us trying to take photos
got to be a bit much so we ducked into the Chateau Marmont for a bite to eat in
the garden. Oh, that’s right. It was just us. No paparazzi. Photographs aren’t
allowed at the Marmont, anyway. Of course I broke the rule and took pictures of
the powder room. The engraved mirror and orange toile wallpaper are to die for.
Must have it. Lunch was lovely and the lattes were only seven bucks each.
On the way out to the beach we passed through some tony
neighborhoods on the west side. We cracked up when we saw a lost dog poster.
The reward for a missing Australian Shepherd was five thousand dollars. The
beach was glorious – perfect water temperature, hot, beautiful white sand. We
walked down to the Santa Monica Pier, which was teeming with all kinds of
people. A little trip across the overpass
and we were in Nordstrom, still in bathing suits with sandy feet. What’s not to
like?
I think I was most surprised by how normal people seemed
everywhere we went. What’s happened to LA? Where were all the perfect Barbie
dolls with cosmetic surgery? I only saw two women with noticeable fish lips. I
see more than that in Nor Cal. In Beverly Hills I was most charmed by the
cupcake ATM at Sprinkles. You put your card in, make a selection on the touch
screen and out comes your cupcake! So clever. I can just imagine the late night
munchies that would inspire a trip out for 24- hour cupcakes. You could probably
have them delivered, assuming there’s no Carmageddon.
The highlight of my trip, other than being with my darling
daughter, was overhearing someone say this: “Remember, if you can’t figure out
who the sucker is in a poker game, it’s you.”
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