new modbetty blog- Retro Roadmap
In my ever growing quest to document and share the good vintage and retro places that are still around, I’ve created a new blog to organize them and share with the world.
Not knowing at the beginning which domain I liked better, I bought 2 but they’re both directed to the same blog at the moment:
I’ve only got a few posts up but am going to be adding information as often as possible- I’m also looking for anyone who wants to help out with content, writing etc- let me hear your ideas and suggestions!
And she’s off- LUPEC, Boston and Beyond!
Taking a well needed whole entire day off from work tomorrow (hedonistic, ain’t it) to head to where it’s even colder- oh boy!
Highlights include the LUPEC Boston USO show, being one step closer to bringing Auntie Mame home (more on that when she arrives) potential for tiki bowling, Kowloon, the Parent Trap or Bye Bye Birdie, and not enough time to do it all.
As they say in Canada, Italy and the South End, Cin-Cin!
I am the Worrier! ;-)
Onstage at the moment during Scandal soundcheck at Penn’s Peak. This place is huge, the dressing room is bigger than our house! If I were more technically hooked up I’d upload photos, but I’m not quite there yet new media wise. Here’s a photo from the interweb that I did just download.
The sound is enormous in this place, the show should be good, maybe I’ll snap some photos
We were in Annapolis Maryland last night, then we head home tomorrow. Rock and Roll! Patty is very cool, and talented, and the guys are super sweet. Better than being at work any day for sure. Hopefully gonna head to some old Poconos hotels tomorrow for photoing, if the rain cooperates.
OK well much like being backstage anywhere, I’m getting somewhat in the way so I will sign off- and BOY is it loud!
Road finds
On the way home from a work thing that lasted a couple of days in Macungie PA (where? indeed!) I visited a couple of places that had been on my list for awhile. I did not have my Bettymap with me, so it was happenstance that I found ‘em.
Zandy’s Steak Shop, Allentown PA
I had driven past this place before, the sign standing out like a beacon in an otherwise beige stucco corner building. I managed to grab one of the few diagonal parking spaces out front and was greeted by a “pepto-bismol pink” (as my mother would say) interior, with little else changed from the 1940 photo on the wall. You’d never know how PINK this place was from outside for sure! Service quick, steak sandwich fine, glad I stepped back in time for this one.
Ott’s Exotic Plants, Schwenksville PA
I’d actually passed this place before I saw the hill o’ mums and that was enough to make me turn around in the parkinglot of the grocery store next door to check out this place. Looks like it has been around forever- part victorian greenhouse, part storybook cottage. The hill ‘o mums has to be seen to be believed, and I can’t wait to go back there to hang out in the greenhouse under the huge palm trees in the middle of winter!
more photos on my mod*betty flickr page!
200,000 miles, 70 degrees and 1000 views!
On a totally unseasonable 70 degree January day, I decided that Cliff and I should take a road trip- this was not a day to be wasted cleaning the Hacienda! Anyhow on our way up to the Anthracite Region my good old reliable 1997 Honda Civic turned 200,000 miles! Big shout outs go to our dream friend Martin Shilton, who always asked how long I wanted to keep the car before determining what repairs need to be made. I believe it is a testament to my driving skills that I am still on the original clutch on this baby, but alas after almost 10 years the Velvet Crush sticker on my rear windshield isn’t looking as good as it once did (do any of us?).
Then when I just logged onto Myspace I noticed that I had 1000 views of my site! Ah round numbers, they are so much like New Year’s Eve- you wait and wait for them and rejoice when they finally arrive, but alas they only stay for a short bit, and then its 200,001 and back to the reality of the day.
The reality of today was-a beautiful day, a tasty hot turkey sandwich at the Sunrise Diner in Jim Thorpe and discovering 2 new thrift stores. Already making plans for our next day trip to Bethlehem, and no we won’t be taking a donkey. Hope everyone else out there enjoyed todays weather and has the windows open wide at their respective Haciendae.
Tomorrow I look forward to attending the Colonial’s kickoff to the Audrey Hepburn month, starting with one of my favorite movies of hers, visually, Funny Face. That Face-Those Colors- The Fashions- The PHOTOGRAPY! Why even Fred Astaire will be there!
As they say at the end of the Candy Butchers EP, “Happy Day”!
5 & 10 discovery
I just had to share with everyone this incredible find- I don’t see much information about it on the internet, so I thought I would be the one to spread the word!
After a very unfruitful day of thrifting (which is maybe a good thing considering all the stuff in my basement) I was headed towards home from Bethlehem PA. As I tried to make my way off 309, I noticed a small sign with gold lettering that read “Downtown Quakertown” with an arrow pointing in the direction opposite from where I was headed. Well, with the husband and the dog out of town, I technically did not have to be home anytime soon, so instead of filing it away on my “things to check out later” list, I turned left and headed towards Qtown.
Within a moment of crossing the highway I crossed Main Street, with a restaurant to my right, so I turned down Main, thinking this was my destination. Well there was nothing here BUT that restaurant, so I thought perhaps there was some false advertising going on regarding their notion of what a downtown was. Being somewhat tired from my day, I said, well that must be it, and tried to take a left onto the road that I came off of, to head back home.
As we all know, sometimes it seems like forever when you are waiting to take a left hand turn off of a side street onto a main road, so as I was looking left-right-left-right-left I noticed that I was on a numbered street, and the numbers got lower to the right. “hmmm,” I thought to myself, “I assume there must be a 1st street, and they wouldn’t just start numbering the streets at any random place would they? so maybe if I go right I will see where the numbers begin, maybe there is something interesting there.” Wrestling with the notion that my logic is not always accurate in that respect, the angel (go for it!) and devil (that’s a dumb idea) duked it out above my shoulders. Finally since it was easier to take a right into the traffic, right I went.
Within a few blocks I did come across the actual Downtown Quakertown, and was pleasantly surprised to see some old stores, some new stores, and some evidence of revitalization going on.
My greatest find however was Sine’s 5 and 10 cent store. As a roadside fan, I easily spotted the bright red tiles and brushed aluminum letters on the facade, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up that the place still existed in it’s original form.
When I saw the sign that said that lunch was being served at the lunch counter until 2pm, my pulse quickened. The doors were wide open and I could see the place was up and running so I pulled my car into the next available parking space and with trepidation approached the building. Sure enough it was an actual store with a long lunch counter running along the right hand wall. A young mother and her 2 daughters were ordering ice cream and an older woman was sitting in at the cashiers booth, and I had the feeling that I had stepped back in time 50-60 years. Oh BOY!
The place is huge, with all sorts of random things that made 5 and 10s so great- -tricyles, styrofoam balls, felt, dowels, hardware, candies, measuring cups, house numbers, you name it. There is another room off to the side with notions and yarn, and a back room that has holiday decorations in it.
There are also tons of vintage items displayed from the 95 years of the place being open, as well as collections of model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, a giant blimp (!!) and tracks where model trains run during the Christmas season.
I was totally blown away with this place and walked around as if I were in a dream. When I came across a bearded gent creating a display with framed black and white photos of Quakertown High graduating classes from the early 20th Century, I had to just let him know that his store was the coolest place I had seen in a long time, and discovering it really made my day. He thanked me and gave me his business card, and then proceeded to bring me to the front counter and give me some typed handouts describing the history of the store and the lunch counter etc.
I was too overwhelmed by it all to ask if I could take photos, and all I could think of to buy was some yarn, but I definitely will be back more to shop and to order something from the lunch counter.
Folks in the Philadelphia area owe it to themselves to check this place out- It is easily accesible from the Northeast Extension, take the Quakertown exit 44 and it’s a straight shot on 663 into Qtown downtown.
There were also a number of antique shops across the train tracks, but in my daze of what I just had discovered I did not get to check them out. Looks to me like visiting Quakertown could be a nice way to spend a day!
There are a couple of photos I snapped of the front of the store here on my flickr page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/modbetty
Sine’s 5 & 10 Cent Store
Quakertown, PA 18951
(215) 536-6102
our L/Ast two days
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
our L/Ast two days
Tom and Patti left on Sunday but we stayed until Tuesday evening so Cliff could catch up on his songwriting with Willie Wisely http://www.myspace.com/wiselymusic and Danny Wilde.
Monday we got up and had a very tasty breakfast at Millie’s with Mark. Even though it was early in the morn I had a BLT as that was what Mark ordered and it sounded like it would hit the spot. It did. The folks there were very nice, even though their tees claim that their motto is “Service with a Fuck You”. Anyone who has worked in the service industry has to love that one. Why am I thinking of Neal Shreeve right now?!
Cliff had a meeting at the 101 with his old manager Russell Z for lunch, and as you can imagine, having had a BLT just a few hours before I was not in the mood for lunch just then. I had not seen Russell in ages but knew that it was better that Cliff just meet with him. This also gave me the opportunity to do a touristy thing and head down to Hollywood Blvd and find Ruby Keeler’s star. She was a friend of my great aunt Agga, they met when both of their husbands were in the Navy. Agga told me that one of Ruby’s daughters has the middle name Agnes because of her, but I have yet to be able to confirm that. So this is about as famous as my fam gets!
I walked down the sidewalk and while I was walking noticed that on some level some stars resonated with me more than others, so I snapped photos. Kittie Carlisle has just passed away and she was pretty cool, I took a photo of Liz Taylor’s star for Connie, and how could I pass Ella Fitzgerald without taking a shot? Ruby’s star was not exactly where I had thought it would be but I did find it, and then it was off to buy some postcards to send home.
It was amazing the difference that the giant Kodak Center makes on the Boulevard. When I first went to Los Angeles in 1998 I stayed in the Orchid Suites, a divey little place within a block from the boulevard. We literally walked from the hotel down to the middle of it all. The next year when we returned we had decided to stay at the Magic Castle Motel on Franklin, just a block further up, because we had seen how much nicer it was than the Orchid the night Wendi and I went to the party in Love Nut’s room with the Starbelly guys. Also that year was when there was construction happening right next to the Orchid. Well the construction was the building of the giant centre, and now the street the Orchid is on is a dead end, with the loading dock to the centre right next to the entrance of the Orchid. My how time changes everything.
Cliff called me after his meeting was done and picked me up at the corner of Hollywood and Vine- seemed like a memorable place to meet, and we headed into the Hollywood Hills to Willie’s house. The traffic was pretty miserable for a while even though we weren’t that far away and once again I was reminded of the things that people deal with just to live out here. We did take a left and make it up some narrow windey streets to the Wisely’s house, where WW was practicing in the garage and welcomed us warmly. OK enough W’s.
I headed out for a few hours of exploring on my own, which is always a treat. Heading back towards Los Feliz I did snap a few photos of the Orchid and the Magic, since they are part of Cliff and my history now. I went to Wacko, as had been suggested, and it was a treasure trove of all things pop and cool. Books and coasters and clothing and bags and toys and records, cards, stickers, prints, you name it. I often get overwhelmed when I am presented with so many cool things, that I really could not pick out just one thing to buy. Somehow when it is all presented en masse it seems less special. I did take a look at the Shag prints, and if I had seen one that really did it for me, I would have taken the plunge, but none was just quite right. I did spend hours there though, so looking was just as fun as buying, or not buying as the case may be.
From there it was off to Vermont. Since I really hadn’t had lunch I was feeling a bit peckish, so I found the Figaro Cafe to have some tea and a croissant. Not as good as the Chateau, however it hit the spot as I sat outside in the sun and tried to write. I say tried because unfortunately I was just a table away from a couple of gals blabbing loudly about their lives, and on the other side of me a gang of folks were trying to out-funny one another with their witty repartee. Maybe it’s just like that out here, everyone saying “look at me! listen to me!” which I can find exhausting. There was one point where they all had mometarily shut up, there was no traffic going by and even the background CD was between tracks and it was blissfully silent. It probably wasn’t even for 15-20 seconds but long enough for it to register and for me to say to myself, now THIS is what we need more of! As DM suggested, I did in fact enjoy the silence.
Since the cafe was right next to a vintage store I went in there and ended up buying a cute little sundress, and before you know it the time was up on my meter and I needed to get back into the hills and pick up Hillis. The traffic wasn’t nearly so bad this time, and Cliff came outside and met me as I was parking the car. The W’s were getting work done on their house, so we had to go up there via the neighbor’s side dog past their yappy dogs. I was introduced to W’s wife Kay(?) and their daugher Emma and we sat in the kitchen and chatted for a while. They are the nicest of folks and of course I told them they were more than welcome to visit us in Phoenixville if they ever happened to be in the Philly area. Then it was time for us to leave as Cliff’s gig was tonight.
We were a bit early for the gig but in the same neighborhood basically so it made no sense to try and head back across town. We drove around for a bit, saw folks in line to meet I think it was Limp Bizkit (funny I just had to ask Cliff how to spell that) and also folks were lined up to get into CBS for, we think, one of Bob Barker’s last days on The Price Is Right. All in a day’s work here in L/A.
We got a quick drink at the Snake Pit on Melrose to bide the time, and then soon enough it was time to head to Ghengis Cohen. I wrote some postcards in the car while Cliff checked out the scene inside, and then Anna, Mark and her friend Chairman showed up. I went inside where we ordered way too much tasty Chinese food (will have to ask Anna what that shrimp was that she said John Faye gets, it was delish) and a Mai Tai, that while not as colorful as the one from the Good Luck, totally kicked me in the butt. Cliff bowed out of dinner early and Chuck joined us, and then we all headed across the hall to see Cliff play.
The performance space at Ghengis is tiny, with pews on either side of the main aisle, so it was as if Cliff were to perform in a chapel rather than a restauarant in Hollywood. I was nervous that it would be empty, but friends and aquaitances began to trickle in and the place was decently full for a Monday night gig. I What can I say? He played a good set, I had to remind myself that a lot of these folks had not heard the new songs that I had been privy to, and the response was enthusiastic. Before you know it the gig we had been waiting so long for was over, and folks were chatting and leaving, as tomorrow was a work day for most.
It wasn’t a work day for us, so we headed out with Kevin to The Dime, right across from Canters and next to Largo, for one more drink. It was a small place and seemed like just a regular bar, until I noticed that all of the tiny tables had reserved signs on them. Can you imagine! L/A. I swear. Anyhow I did ask the bartender about it and he said that someone had just left the corner booth so we were able to sit there. I bet it was just a gimmic, I mean it would be like the Rat back in the day, having you make reservations. Actually the Rat was a lot cooler than this place, but whatever. A drink or two later it’s time to go. Kevin said he had ridden his bike so I expected a 10 speed not a motorcycle and that gave me a good chuckle. Then it was off to Los Feliz.
Tuesday can be summed up pretty easily. Chicken and Waffles at Roscoes with Anna and Mark (I am addicted). Driving out towards Danny’s we get the call that he has just gotten a last minute jingle request and feels bad for cancelling with Cliff. We take it in stride, as we’ve done plenty of stuff on this trip already, so the free time is a treat.
Since we’re on the Ventura Highway in the Sunshine (actually it was cool and grey out) we decided to go to Ventura- as that was my destination for the day anyways, and check out the thrift stores we had been told about. We drove through Pleasant Valley, and I said to Cliff, “Hey its another Pleasant Valley Tuesday” which amused me. Thrifting in Ventura was OK, a lot of folks and some overpriced stuff, but it was cool to poke around in the shops etc. We had In/Out Burgers for lunch, and Cliff was able to connect up with Robbie Rist, so we stopped by his studio to chat on our way to the airport. Cliff and Robbie worked on an impromptu song and I just hung out and took it all in as our moments out here were dwindling down to a precious few.
The rest is like the end of anyone else’s vacation- dropping off the rental car, spending too long in the airport, you know the deal. We had hoped to get a last drink in town at the place at the top of the cool mod building at LAX, but A&M informed us that it had been closed for renovations. So we got a McDonald’s cheeseburger in the airport and waited for our redeye flight that would drop us in Philly at 6:30 in the morning on Wednesday. Back to reality. But boy did we have fun while we were away!
L/A Sunday both sides now
At the request of some of my “fans” here is some more of the story about our wonderful trip to L/A….
Sunday was when our Chilis’ trip ended and our normal L/A type trip began. We got up early early to drop T&P off at LAX and also say goodbye to our Hertz rental. We were going to extend the rental on that car but when we saw how much we would have to pay, versus walking less than a block to Dollar, well let’s just say that the money saved would’ve bought all of us another breakfast at Chateau Marmont.
We drop T&P off, get the new car (Dodge Avenger? Plasticmobile, I would not want to buy one) and what do we pass on the way back from LAX but one of the famous Randy’s Donuts shops with the gargantuan Donut on the top. Not quite as fancy as my pain du chocolat of the day before, I order a chocolate glazed and it is quite tasty, almost as good as Suzy Jo’s near work. Snap a few photos, and then it’s back in the car, back to the Chateau, to soak up as much glamour as we can before we have to check out at noon.
Noon rolls around too soon- I gather up some commemorative matchbooks and Cliff is inspired to record some song ideas, so I also snap some photos of him playing his guitar in the room (I promise to get the flickr page done after the blogging, promise!). I am ready before Cliff and so I head down to the lobby to absorb it all, just in case we never get back here. I write down a few notes in my notebook (“Italian woman is giving the hostess a bad time. Agga & Jim would’ve liked this place. Out of my element, but what is my element? Mirrors everywhere, see and be seen, narcissism rules.” and surreptitiously snap some photos of chairs etc. Cliff checks us out, all has been taken care of by the Chili’s folks and we even had our bags brought down to the car- see, I could get used to this! The kind gentleman in the garage opens my door for me for the last time, and we head west on Sunset. One last glance up at the stately mansion on the hill, and we’re off to a new chapter of our trip.
We are to be staying in Los Feliz for the rest of our trip, in a cute little bungalow apartment where our friend Mark lives. I love this part of town, right near the Vista cinema. We won’t be heading over there just yet, as we’ve decided to head all the way down Sunset to the 405 and check out the Getty Museum.
The Getty is easy to get to, and free to get in once you pay for parking. Unfortunately Cliff and I forget that it is Mothers Day and the place is packed with Mothers and families and tons of kids. We have a tasty snack in the cafeteria, which is more like a giant cafe, with floor to ceiling windows, actually walls of glass, overlooking the beautiful view. The multiple buildings that house the collections are all made of while travertine and are just radiant in the sun. One detail I noticed and appreciated was that they had parasols at each exit so if you felt as if you were getting too much sun you could simply pick up one and save your skin.
My favorite exhibit was the John Humble photographs, and folks who know me and know my photos know that his stuff is right up my alley.
http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/humble/
Our afternoon at the Getty was nice, and a break from our usual rock and roll city stuff, but soon enough we heard it calling and headed to Los Feliz. We get to Marks, and crack up at the fact that the key to the house is on the exact same Mr. T (don’t gimme no backtalk sucka!) keychain that Cliff has at home. I don’t think we were at the house but a few moments when Cliff calls Anna who says there’s an afternoon rockabilly show at the Echo, and our friend Gene might be playing. Never ones to say no to rock, we quickly change gears and clothes and Anna picks us up in her new to her Volvo. Hello, Sylvia!
Alas Gene was not at the gig, but I did see an older woman sporting the most glorious beehive this side of Bawlmer, hon, and was introduced to the delights of Wyders Pear Cider at the bar. It was still daylight out, and there were burgers and dogs grilling out back, but we weren’t sure that was how we wanted to roll. We did run into Anna’s boss and a pal of hers as well as Gene’s drummer. I should remember his name as they stayed with us when we lived in Wilmington, but that seems like another lifetime ago. It was nice to chat with the folks, but both Anna and I were racking our brains for something good to eat, which is something I think both she and I do on a regular basis anyways!
We decided to head to Bossa Nova, where I got my first cocktail to celebrate World Cocktail day- hello Queens of Prussia! I had to get a caipirinha of course, being in a Brazilian restaurant, and while I was told that it wasn’t 100% authentic (no cachaca) it was still tres tasty. We all had plenty of food and good conversation, and isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?!
Since it was still a rock night for us, we decided to go to one of my fave if not my fave bars in L/A, The Good Luck, which as I mentioned is just down the street from us. I love the black and red decor, the jukebox and the kickin’ maitai (just for you Queens of Prussia!)
Mark put on some Japanese Girl Group music from the ’60s’ and I was tickled to find the original version of the Valley of the Dolls theme on there too. No Vince Vaughn sightings like last time, which was a relief, and while Cliff and Mark ordered another round of whatever they were having, Anna was kind enough to drop me off at the pad on her way home. That way boys could be boys (and knowing them they were deconstructing pop music with unnatural vigor) while I got to get some sleep!
Speaking of sleep, it was funny to note that the beginning and end of today really marked the difference in this second leg of our trip out here. From croissants and ultraluxe accommodations at the Chateau to donuts from Randy’s and the aerobed in the back room of Mark’s place. I dig both and am just happy to be out here having such a great time!
L/A Saturday-I could get used to this!
So we’ve returned home from our great trip to Los Angeles, alas. I am realizing that we’re forgetting some of the details already, so I thought I’d finish off this L/A blog just so I have it down somewhere at least.
Saturday morning I woke up very early still being on East Coast time. The bathroom at the Chateau was old but cool, and the tub was extra deep. I decided to take the longest hottest bubble bath ever, and it really was a treat. As I saw my red painted toenails contrasting against the seafoam green tiles, I still could not believe that I was actually staying here, and wondered how many famous people had walked the very same halls that we had walked. I realized that we were in a place that so many folks would never ever be able to visit, and I felt very lucky to be where I was.
I joined Cliff and T and P down in the dining room where they had already ordered breakfast. It was there that Patti informed me that unfortunately the place has a “No Photographs, please” policy, so my hopes of getting some good shots of the lovely interior and terrace were thwarted. I got a wonderful pain du chocolat and pot of tea, and it was just delicious.
Patti had expressed interest in seeing the La Brea Tarrrrrrpits (I can’t think of that without hearing Bugs Bunny say it) and so off we went. I had been there on my first trip to L/A in 98, but since then a huge county art museum has been built up next to it. We were able to drive past the El Rey Theatre, where I first met Cliff, but the Marquee was not lit up so I did not take a photo. It was neat to see “where it all began” however.
After the Tarrrrpits we headed somewhat aimlessly to Melrose. It’s funny because when I first visited the city almost 10 years ago I thought Melrose was kinda cool and funky. Perhaps it is a combination of it changing and me changing, but now it just reminded me a lot of South Street in Philly. Not that that is bad, but it is more like a highschool version of cool. We happened upon a little place on the corner called The Village Idiot and since the windows were open and it looked inviting, we went in and had a bite and a drink. The food was fabulous (shrimp fritter and cider for me) the ambiance was very open and casual yet somewhat classic, done in black white and grey. We later found out from Anna that the place had just opened, and was supposed to evoke a New York vibe, so our east coast instincts must’ve picked up on that.
We headed back to the Chateau, and after having discovered the pool earlier in the day, we headed there to have a cocktail. It was a bit chilly in the shade, but it was still nice to be able to hang out there. The Chateau was small, but definitely on a human scale, and it was hard to believe when we were there surrounded by tropical foliage and bamboo that we were mere feet from Sunseet Blvd. It seemed like we were totally removed from the city.
Our plan for dinner that evening was again courtesy of the hostess WITH the mostess, Anna, who met us at En Sushi on Hillhurst, in Los Feliz, my favey part of town. It is a bit confusing at the intersection of Sunset, Hillhurst, Hollywood at the Vista, but we found our way finally and met up with Cliff’s pal Kevin there too. Tasty rolls, drinks all around and great company. Sigh, this is the good life.
From there we weren’t sure what our plan was, so we decided to head over somewhat early to the Dresden to get a good seat for Marty and Elayne. If you have never heard of Marty and Elayne they are featured prominently in a night out scene in the movie Swingers. Cliff and I had seen them before, and loved them, and Cliff had even gotten them to autograph a CD and programme for me for one of my very first birthday presents from him. Kitschy for sure, but fun too! The Dresden was an old time dinner club, and the booths where you dine are just a Hollywood destinations to die for. Giant white naugahyde things.
We all had a cocktail too many, snapped photos, and generally had a grand time. I got total bonus points from Elayne for requesting “Old Cape Cod” by Patti Page- Marty told us she had not sung it in over 8 years, and since it was her birthday it was extra special. My love of old standards pays off! We stayed there way too long and sang along, but isn’t that what you do on a Saturday night in Hollywood?
Actually what you do on Saturday night in Hollywood is to go from the Dresden to Bar Marmont, the bar associated with the Chateau. Folks who keep up on that type of thing tell me that “stars” hang out there, but I don’t think that anyone who I would consider a star these days (do I consider anyone a star?) would be there. It was cool to be seen at the scene, and fun to people watch. T’was a bit loud for me I have to admit, and I was just fine with the idea that we leave after just a couple of drinks. I remember sitting there looking at all of the bottles behind the bar and realizing that all bars are the same, really. I mean they pretty much all serve the same brands, it’s just the surroundings and the prices that vary.
Not to call it a night quite yet, we headed back to Le Chateau, where people were still meeting and drinking in the lobby. It was dimly lit for privacy I am sure, and there are all sorts of plush chairs and sofas arranged for conversation, so we got ourselves comfortable. We were immediately greeted by a server (who reminded me of Sancho Panza) even though it had to be past midnight or even one at this point. I got a club soda during this round, and we all soaked up the glamour, knowing our hours here were limited. It was not as hopping as the previous night, but still you knew that there were some deals being made and probably some “famous” people in our midst.
It was somewhat like Cinderella with the clock ticking towards midnight, since we knew that we all had to get up early in the morn- Tom and Patti to leave and Cliff and me to drive them to the airport, drop off the rental car, and check out of the Chateau. As Marshall Crenshaw says, “this moment won’t ever be here again” so we made the absolute most of it, savoring and appreciating every last bit. Then, when we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer, we headed up the stairs to the comfiest bed ever, for a night of satisfied slumber.
L/A Friday Night slideshow spectacular!
We’re just about to check out of the Chateau, and I think I will be forever spoiled from staying in a place as cool as this. It is a bit much, but what an experience!
Friday night we went to din at Minibar, where we had tapas and were surrounded by Margaret Keane paintings in a brown, white, orange and aqua color scheme. This is where we met up with Anna and it was great to see her after not being out here in forever. A couple of wacky turns later we found ourselves at the Charles Phoenix show. It has been unseasonably chilly here, which was a bit of a surprise to us east coasters, but the show was fun and seeing Cybil Shepard make a total ass of herself in the audience (she might as well have worn a sign saying “hey everyone look at me I am famous” it was so desparate) but the night was fun and the slides were a riot. I loved the roller rink organ player and kept trying to identify the tunes, the hula hooper was fab, but I wasn’t too sure about the pink poodle of the hotdog ambrosia. We got back to the hotel and I am sorry I let you all down but I was too cold and tired to go out for another drink, so I headed up to the most comfortable bed in the world and was asleep before Cliff even closed the door. He and Tom and Patti had a few outside under the heat lamps and said it was nice but I didn’t miss anything.
I will fill in about yesterday at some other time, we’re headed to get fried chicken and waffles and then going to the Getty Art Museum.
Having an incredible time!!
