You Got My Vote

The last week in July I was off on another adventure -- a Southwest roadtrip.

First stop was a night in Las Vegas where I had dinner at Oscar's -- a relatively new steakhouse owned by the former Mayor of Las Vegas (and husband to the current Mayor) Oscar Goodman.

With a unmatched view looking straight down Fremont Street, Oscar's is located on the second floor of the Plaza Hotel downtown -- a very old school casino.

I was impressed by the space, the service was tremendous and I thought the food was excellent.  While not cheap, it's not the most expensive steakhouse in town either.

And what a treat to see so much of the Mayor's political memorabilia -- including many of his trademark photos with Las Vegas Showgirls.

Stuck on You

A couple of weeks ago I visited the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum.  Like every other kid who grew up in Los Angeles I'd been there before.  But I was interested to see it again through adult eyes.

I was very impressed with the museum's displays and outdoor areas.  It's fascinating that the oil in the ground at this site collected and preserved such an amazing collection of fossils over time.  And then a city grew up around it -- propelled to a great extent by the very same oil.

Gunning for My Job

Last month I again had the opportunity to lead a Campaign Seminar at the Junior State of America's Burd Institute on Los Angeles Politics and Media.  This is always one of my favorite things to do each year.

Teams of about 10 high school students present their Campaign Plan for an Initiative recently voted on in California.

I always enjoy hearing their ideas on the best messengers and winning strategies.

Of course, social media is an important part of the their plan.  It's fascinating to see how that changes from year to year.  This time the students were all about creative hashtags to gain attention.  Last summer I don't even think that came up at all.  Can't wait to see what I know nothing about next summer.

No Starving on Route 66

After dinner JeezBob and I stopped off at The Donut Man in Glendora for some donuts (to go!)

Also on Route 66, The Donut Man is often described as having the best donuts in Southern California.

The line in front at 10:30 at night proves they're doing something right -- at least attracting lots of attention.

The Donut Man is most famous for their giant fruit-filled donuts (strawberry and peach) available seasonally.

Their Tigertail donuts (shown on the bottom shelf of the last photo) are also highly coveted.

Happy Trails

Had a great dinner Saturday night with JeezBob, celebrating his birthday at the Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga.

Originally opened in 1848 as a Stagecoach Stop on the San Bernardino to Los Angeles line, the restaurant is still going strong serving terrific steaks and other swell choices.

It's amazing to think about the old Santa Fe Trail, became a Stagecoach route, then became Route 66 and now is Foothill Boulevard.  What changes the giant sycamore trees in front of the restaurant have seen.

In 1952 my Grandparents, Mother and Uncle moved from Providence, Rhode Island to Wilmington, California.  They stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way (there's a wonderful photo of my Mother and Uncle riding donkeys down into the Canyon).  I assume they took Route 66 from Arizona into California.  I wonder if they stopped at the Sycamore Inn along the way?

Touching My Sole

 Took a few minutes this afternoon to visit the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.  I'd never been there before.  In fact, I didn't even know it existed until I was planning to visit the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance and learned there are two different memorials of the Holocaust in Los Angeles.

The Museum of the Holocaust is modest in size but given the intensity of the subject it doesn't take much to become emotionally overwhelming.  The museum provides a chronological look at the events leading up to and during the Holocaust from newspaper headlines, personal effects and photographs.  The audio tour available from the front desk provides great detail and allows visitors to learn at their own pace and ability to deal with the enormity of the situation.

I found the information on America's reluctance to enter the war and our nation's ultimate role as liberators of the camps fascinating.  When reading about WWII I always think about my Maternal Grandfather (who was part of the D-Day Invasion) and my Mother, who was born in October, 1945.  I wish I knew more about the circumstances that brought him back to the states in early 1945 (nine months before my Mother was born) while the war was still on.  I know it was all honorable, I have his medals to prove it.

I got choked up viewing a pair of baby shoes that were displayed in a collection of personal effects from victims of the Holocaust. The Museum pays considerable attention to how children were treated during the Holocaust.  I don't know why that is more painful then seeing how adults were treated, but it is.

Afterwards I had a lovely lunch at La Otra Escuela Taqueria across the street on Beverly Boulevard.  I've driven by this restaurant many times and it's lively storefront always catches my eye.  I enjoyed its modern take on the traditional taqueria.

I was startled by the restaurant's decorations when I first walked in.  Having just viewed a collection of the clothes, shoes and luggage of Holocaust victims it was a little disturbing to see a collection of shoe frames (used by cobblers to build shoes) hanging from the ceiling.  I know the restaurateur was going for a different impression but in the context of my excursion it was off-putting.

Bookworm

I received my first Los Angeles Public Library Card in 1967 and I've lived nearly all of my life in the Los Angeles area but until today I'd never visited the Los Angeles Central Library in downtown.

How have I missed this architectural treasure?  The exterior (which, of course, I had seen) reminds me of an Egyptian Temple.  Inside, both the old and new sections are stunning.

What a beautiful oasis right in the middle of downtown!

What Up With That?

I've been reading a lot lately about the Museum of Contemporary Art -- financial woes, staff defections and rejection of an offer to merge with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  I finally visited MOCA's Grand Avenue location this afternoon and all I can say is, "What's the fuss?"

I'm no art expert -- but is this tiny collection of bizarre art really worth fighting over?  I've heard it described as one of the world's finest collection of modern art.  Well, they must have an awful lot in storage.

I'd Better Write Something

Last night I went to see "Seminar" starring Jeff Goldblum at the Ahmanson Theater and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

It's an interesting play about writers and their fragile egos.  Goldblum, with his bizarre cadence, has become a caricature of himself.  But his comic timing is impressive and the entire cast of five is very strong.

I suppose I should write more but writing about what's been written about writers seems a little intimidating.

Top Drawer

Had an excellent lunch on Thursday at the newly remodeled Spago.  The new look is timeless, sleek and modern.  The food and service remain outstanding.  I even found Wolfgang Puck walking through the dining room saying hello to customers.  (He's in the rear of the photo in a white smock with his back to the camera.)

And Away We Went

Had a great time last Sunday night in Ojai for a reading of Terrence McNally's new play "And Away We Go" at the Ojai Playwright's Conference.

Set to open next year off-Broadway, this delightful play is a Valentine to the theater.  Six actors play 36 roles set in six theater troupes over time -- Ancient Greece, England at the time of a "new" play by William Shakespeare and even Coral Gables during the out-of-town tryout of Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

The show time travels back-and-forth and, at times is a little challenging to keep up.  I certainly didn't get all the theater references -- I can't imagine anyone but McNally actually gets them all.  But it's like a fun game of Theater Trivial Pursuit -- I felt so proud when I got a joke before the rest of the (major theater) audience.

Anyone who cares about the arts, and the theater in particular, will just love this show -- whether you're a regular audience member, an actor or a theater professional.

After the show Mr. McNally took to the stage to answer questions and to hear comments.  One amazing revelation was how much he had changed the show during the week he'd been in Ojai.  McNally is a serious opera buff and originally one of the six troupes was an Italian Opera Company.  That entire section was ripped out and replaced with a "present day" theater group.  I'd love a chance to see the deleted opera sections, but I can also say the modern day sections added much of the poignancy of the piece.

I was too intimidated to ask a question during the Q&A. I was afraid to reveal myself as "just" an audience member.  No, my question was not, "Oh Mr. McNally, can I have your autograph?"  I really wanted to ask when he writes a piece like this how much of his attention goes to how the show would actually be staged (i.e., that character can't start his monologue for three more minutes because he needs time for a costume change) or does he just focus on getting the right words down on paper and leaves the logistical problems to the director and others?

I may never know.

No Beef with the Central Coast

Recently I had to go to Santa Maria -- a part of California famous for its perfectly prepared steaks -- so I worked a couple of restaurants that have long been on my list into my itinerary.

First I stopped off at The Hitching Post in Casmalia for dinner.  Wow!  Has to be one of the best steaks I've ever had.  Certainly not an "elegant" place, but excellent food in a "let's get to eating" setting.

You can tell this place is going to be great just from one look at it.

The open kitchen (behind glass) at the Hitching Post.

Before heading home I stopped off for lunch at Jocko's in Nipomo -- another Central Coast restaurant famous for its steaks.  Folks say dinner (after the oak pit is lit) is better here than lunch -- but I have to say I was pretty please with my lunch.  Next time I'll come around in the evening.

Jocko's was jumping at lunchtime.

A pretty, little church across the street from Jocko's in Nipomo.