A week after our last concert, we are at the Musical Instrument Museum to see Le Vent du Nord and listen to their flavor of Canadian folk music; they hail from Quebec. Another great show at The MIM.
Los Angeles – Day 2
This is why we came to Los Angeles this weekend. Caroline wanted to join in on an attempt at the largest gathering and playing of ukuleles in one place. We picked up this particular ukulele on Kauai and Caroline has been practicing off and on ever since.
A lot of people showed up with ukuleles of all shapes and colors, and while there were at least one thousand players here, it wasn’t enough to break the record. Actress Tia Carrere led the festivities, and it was pretty cool that my wife felt inspired to be a part of something so large.
Lunch at Daikokuya in Little Tokyo was an added benefit!
After a walk around Little Tokyo and a coffee, it was time to start the drive back home to Phoenix, Arizona.
Los Angeles – Day 1
Caroline and I left Phoenix last night for a special event being held in downtown L.A. tomorrow that she needs to be here for. So today, we are starting the day with breakfast at The Original Pantry Cafe and will bum around the city doing stuff.
Off to Arcadia and The Arboretum where the two of us have never visited together. I visited 40 some odd years ago during a field trip that took us here and to the San Gabriel Mission, but my memories are weak, so this visit was certainly in order to refresh things.
These intensely beautiful southern California days make visiting and dealing with the traffic all the easier. Add some art, good food, and the ocean; life is perfect.
Although this part of the state has its fair share of drought-related issues, it never fails to amaze us how lush everything is. Of course, our perspective is likely skewed due to our arrival in L.A. from the desert well east of here. The Arboretum is great, but Descanso and The Huntington are maybe a notch above.
I’m convinced a giant used these matches and that they may be responsible for one of California’s notorious fires.
We needed some German stuff, and so off to Alpine Village in Torrance we went. Lunch was had in their German-themed restaurant, and the cheesy factor of the entire place was not lost on us. Sadly, it seems that the attraction of places like Alpine Village is waning. I’ll bet in its heyday, this place was packed.
Update: in March 2023, Alpine Village was permanently closed.
Twenty minutes away over in Palos Verde, we set our sights on the Point Vicente Lighthouse as somewhere else we’d never been, and so we had to pay a visit. The island in the distance is Catalina.
Spent some hours here walking around the peninsula; where else should we go that might be more beautiful than where we are right now?
Stayed through sunset, I think you can understand why.
The Punch Brothers
Sorry about the poor quality, but no photos were allowed, so I had to quickly grab this one with my phone. We are out in Mesa again just ten days after our last concert, this time to see the Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile.
My Polite Birthday
Today is my 52nd birthday, but that’s not me in the photo. Caroline has been delivered to the AZ Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild meeting that happens on the first Saturday of the month outside of summer. Today’s presentation is held by Gasali Adeyemo from Nigeria. He is a master indigo dyer and an expert in adire eleko, which is a type of tie-dye technique cultivated by the Yoruba in Nigeria. With her at the meeting and me not paying attention to work today, I’m free to head to a coffee shop and enjoy some John time.
Later in the day, but not too late, we are at Dominic’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale; as much for dinner as this birthday serving of butter cake, the all-important skillet of whipped cream is just behind it.
We are closing out the day in Mesa for a concert by Arlo Guthrie, performing the 50th anniversary of Alice’s Restaurant, which is being retired after this tour.
Happy Birthday Fucker
This begs the question, does my staff know my sense of humor, or are they signaling me?