The City of Angels

I had no plans to leave the Bay Area for the Memorial Day weekend. I would have been perfectly content to spend my 4-day weekend relaxing at home. After all, the weather has been less than stellar so I probably wouldn't have gone out for my hikes. Then my mom calls advising me to come visit. So I made the 6 hour drive to SoCal Thursday night. Since I rarely see my brother, I let him know that I was venturing down, so why not hang out Friday night? He still had to work, but definitely wanted to check out the Tease If You Please burlesque show.

My parents live about 26 miles outside Los Angeles of which most is freeway miles. Considering it was a Friday and a holiday weekend, I gave myself extra time for the traffic. There really wasn't much traffic; much to my surprise, but the interchange was backed up once I hit the city limits, so I exited Soto and drove down Whittier Blvd. (the L.A. version of El Camino Real) to downtown L.A.

What I love about this route is the crossing over the L.A. river along the 6th Street-Whittier Bridge and the downtown skyline in the distance. Although the San Francisco Skyline is the most beautiful, there's something remarkable about the downtown L.A. skyline. Of course the appeal ends once you complete the crossing into L.A.'s skid row.

Once I arrived at my brother's loft, he informed me that he wouldn't be home for another hour as he was still on the Metro Link. So that meant having to kill time. I walked along Spring Street to the Last Bookstore. With each passing street, I kept thinking how downtown looked much like San Francisco; only cleaner. So many friendly faces greeted you with a hello which is a rarity in a big city. At that point, my opinion of DTLA has changed to a more positive one. However, I still love San Francisco and I still think Portland far exceeds the appeal of Los Angeles. After all, at every corner I kept seeing Dodger Blue. In fact I gasped when a few Dodger clad men were checking me out and I blurted out, "I'm a Giants fan, sorry!" I wasn't sorry that I'm a Giants fan, but that we kicked their butts the past few days. They just laughed in a humorous way (not insulting) and kept walking. Then I landed in front of The Last Bookstore. Yes, that is indeed the name.

I really enjoy coming here not only to browse their inventory, but also for its ambiance. I must applaud them for their creativity. They created an art of showcasing their inventory.

My favorite is this tunnel into the labyrinth of bookcases. It is structured completely from books.

Once you get through the labyrinth, you descend into an art gallery housing artists' work booths and a display of their paintings and functional art.

There are also some antique shops, but they were not open for business. They had already closed an hour before my arrival.

Side note, I really loved how my reflection came out relative to the 1940s suitcase. In fact, I'm kicking myself for not having taken a photo of my outfit. I wore my latest dress acquisition from the Alameda Vintage Fashion Fair, my dark brown 1930s ankle straps, a black swing coat and a black scarf to shield my hair from the wind. The scarf seemed to have made my cat-eye glasses more alluring. I received several compliments from both patrons and employees at the store. One even stated that I HAD to be an out of towner. I smiled and said that I was visiting from San Francisco. 

My favorite room, though is this work of art entitled Diagnosis. It is like a scene right out of a Tim Burton film.

One last room I entered was the rare book room. I thought that meant really old books from a century ago. Not quite. While there were some older selections, many of them were 1st edition contemporary novels or those signed by the author. The entrance, though, wasn't in vain for I saw the most stunning art collection. It wasn't so much the collection, but the its arrangement. It left me breathless.

Yes, I did leave with a purchase. I bought a Dashiell Hammett collection of his novels for a mere $8. Detective and crime novels are my favorite literary genre. I've read Chandler extensively as well as the contemporary Ellroy with many unknown authors in between. But I had yet to read a Hammett novel, but I have seen films based off his novels and short stories as well as those he had screen written. If I'm going to pursue a PhD in Literature focusing on crime/detective fiction and film noir, I owe it to myself to read his work.

I walked back to my brother's loft once he informed me that he arrived home. I love his place. He lives on the top floor with a commanding view of Los Angeles. Inside, he maintains a jazz themed decor. I only took one indoor photo as I want to respect his privacy.

From his bedroom, you can see the Eastern Building. On his balcony, you see the downtown skyline. Across the way, I noticed what I thought was a bbq. He informed me that in fact they were shooting a film or television show in the alley. He says it a popular spot to shoot scenes including on the top parking lot. My brother is definitely a city boy whereas I prefer the quiet suburb or the even quieter country life. I love San Francisco, but it's more a playground before retreating to the quiet city of Burlingame. Although, I see my future along the coast where it's most serene. But I digress.

My brother recommended stopping at the Edison for a cocktail before heading out to the burlesque show. I've heard about this venue, but had never been. I am so glad he brought me there. It definitely had its Prohibition era vibe and it was nearly identical to San Francisco's bar Local Edition. You walk down a flight of stairs to the central bar location. 

There are several rooms designed for those who wanted a quiet spot to converse with their party. The walls were projected with early 20th century silent films. The restrooms had servers supplying soap and paper towels just like the old days. Because this was once an electric company, there were many old circuits and other machinery that I know no name for. They were integrated into the decor providing a glimpse into old Los Angeles underground.

My evening martini

We finally made it to Tease If You Please. It was unlike any burlesque show I've been to in San Francisco. In SF, they are large venues to serve a large audience. In LA, it was a very small, intimate setting. The decor and architecture was strictly Art Deco; at that point, I new that I would love this show. The ladies were absolutely stunning not only in their performance but as a true artist. I wish I could have taken more pictures, but the audience was barred from doing so. These were just the few sneaking shots I took.

The night ended with us walking a few blocks in downtown and my brother pointing out the architecture and the new construction. Apparently, Los Angeles recently appealed a city ordinance that required all tall buildings have a flat top. Now new constructions will have spires or be more pointed. One new building currently in construction will be the tallest in LA. "The skyline's appearance will change by 2018," he said. I found that a bit disheartening since most new buildings look sterile, but he's more optimistic stating that Los Angeles will have a nice mix of classic and contemporary. We'll see. I'm sure he's right. For now, lets just appreciate how it looks today.

Sunday Fun Day

Our family had a bit of scare the past two weeks that began with my cousin calling me from San Jose airport and telling me that he was about to hop a plane to New York. His mom (my aunt) found a lump. After surgery, biopsies and analyses, the results came back negative. Whew! So glad that she will be okay. Once he got back to the Bay Area, he wanted to celebrate by spending a pleasant Sunday outdoors. So I met with my primo, his girlfriend and my little dog, too.

We started the day with breakfast at our favorite cafe, Christie's in Burlingame. It's always a busy joint, but they have the best service treating you to a home-like atmosphere. What I like most is the artwork displayed throughout the cafe. They seem to share a theme of female empowerment.

After breakfast we drove off to Half Moon Bay. We first stopped at Spanish Town. I always see it on my drive along 92, but I never bothered to take a stroll. It was quite serene with all the water fountains and the trickling of water. There were also a few art galleries.

Mi primo photobombing the top left snapshot.

There are several coast accesses in Half Moon Bay, and we chose Poplar Beach because it's smaller, less crowded, and the parking fees are really low. Once there, we unleashed Daisy to frolic in the sand. We pulled out the kite, and let it take wind. We later had frisbee session. The weather was perfect. The temperature was a cool 70 degrees with blue skies. 

I kept staring out at the waves and lamenting the fact that I didn't bring my surfboard. The waves were perfect. Regardless, I wouldn't have been able to go in at this time. I just had my hair color retouched barely a week ago (redhead problems). I'm only able to surf within two weeks before my next appointment. I'll be back out there in a few weeks. I waded (up to my ankles) in the ocean. Then I noticed dolphins frolicking in the ocean. I took out my camera and was able to record them before they continued swimming toward Pillar Point. If you look closely at the video below, you can see the dolphins.

Animal friendly beach. I just loved the doggie bikini.

We ended the day at a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant for Margaritas. We've had better, but still, it was just a nice day to relax.

The Painted Lady takes PDX by storm!

On all my travels, I've either ventured east or south of California. I had never been north until recently when I was sent to an educators convention in Portland, OR. I've heard plenty good things about PDX; particularly its residents, culture and culinary tastes. So during my 3 day stay, I spent the mornings attending conferences and afternoons/evenings were spent touring the city.

The conference was held at the Oregon Convention Center which from afar looks a bit like a church. Inside, it was expansive with various cafés, restaurants and bars. Of course there was also the various rooms where I sat in on several presentations. Inside the exhibit halls there were several publishing companies and universities showcasing their published works and/or programs. I bought a few reference books to use at my campus. There were also several free knickknacks of which I helped myself. Expos are awesome. I'm definitely looking forward to the 2015 conference which will be held in Toronto, Canada.

The Food
I noticed several educators at the conference eating sandwiches from Subway. I can't understand why anyone would travel hundreds if not thousands of miles just to eat from a chain available in their own backyard. I made a conscious effort to eat from places not available back home. Although coming from San Francisco, I don't eat from restaurant chains anyway. I've noticed the food of choice in PDX is panini; at least for lunch.

J Cafe 

Floyd's Coffee Shop

I also noticed Portlanders are quite generous with their portions. During my 3 day stay, I only ate twice per day. Either it was a big breakfast and a late, light lunch or an early, light lunch and a big dinner. I usually prefer the former since I really don't like dinners (which usually includes meat; not good for this ovo vegetarian).

My cheeseless omelette packed with veggies; I only ate a quarter of the hasbrowns

A nickname for PDX is Beervana. Supposedly, Portland has more brewpubs than any city in the U.S. As I walked the neighborhoods (and rode the TRIMET), I noticed quite a few pubs lining the streets. I'm not one to drink beer alone. It's the type of drink to have in a group setting. When I decided on a place for dinner, I opted for a brewpub for its ambiance and cocktails. When I looked at the menu, the types of cocktails were nothing I'd seen before. I chose some sort of pineapple habanero concoction with my vegan platter. The cocktail really was spicy, too.

Dot's Diner and Brewpub

Now for the best part of my culinary experience. I've heard quite a bit about VooDoo Doughnuts. Apparently it was on some sort of TV food show. However, all of my friends who visit Portland swear by this place. In fact, at the convention I attended, many people were carrying around pink boxes with the VooDoo Doughnuts logo. There are two shops in Portland. The original one in Old Town had a line out the door (even in the pouring rain).

The Original

The "Too" sat on a much larger lot that can accommodate a much larger crowd. I visited the "Too" shop. They have an interesting selection of specialty doughnuts. Honestly, I really don't care for doughnuts (in fact, I don't like sweets). I usually opt for a bagel with my coffee, but considering this is a mini vacation (but a maxi business trip), I decided to order the "Old Dirty Bastard". Live a little. It's your basic doughnut topped with a chocolate glaze, crushed Oreo cookies and a drizzle of peanut butter. It was yummy.

The Shopping
Of course I had to fit a bit of vintage shopping my short, busy schedule. I managed to visit three shops and came out with two dresses. (That will be a post for later.) They had some pretty great pieces and I'm sure if I had more time, I would've come back with more. The best part...NO SALES TAX!

The City

Oops. Did I just give PDX my hometown's nickname? It's just used as a general term in this case. Although, it comes pretty close to how the Bay Area looks. If I were to describe and compare it to cities out here, I would say Portland is part Berkeley, part Burlingame, part Rockridge, Oakland, part West Portal, SF. In fact, I almost felt at home. Almost. The presence of Seahawks gear reminded me that I'm not in San Francisco. I would think being a die-hard 49er fan in Seahawk territory wouldn't be easy, and it would just make me homesick. I must say, though, Portlanders are extremely friendly and their kindness is genuine. All the stereotypes are definitely true. Everyone is in a flannel and the men are unshaven. It was definitely a cute quality, though.

However, I think Portland can be one of my usual getaways. I'm already looking forward to the PDX lindy exchange next year. That was one thing I didn't get to do. There were no swing dance events scheduled during my trip. Three days just wasn't enough time especially when the weekend was dominated by work obligations. My next trip back will definitely be one for pleasure and not business. And hopefully the weather will be better. It rained throughout my entire trip, but I guess that's part of the PDX experience.

Home Sweet Home. Looking down at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Escape from SF - Hitchcock style

The Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock. I am a long-time fan of his films. Whenever there is a Hitchcock festival, I am there. If there is a single showing at any of the local theaters, it's a guarantee that I will be in attendance. (In fact, Stanford will be showing a double feature of a Hitchcock and the late Joan Fontaine collaboration next week. Yes I will be watching.)

This weekend I went on a brief excursion to Bodega Bay; famed for providing the setting for The Birds. The local community embraces its contribution to Hitchcock's film with somewhat of a mini-museum (or maybe even a shrine). The old schoolhouse and church still stand today. The schoolhouse, though, is now a private residence. Below are a few pictures taken from my excursion. I hope you enjoy.

Looking across Bodega Bay

A sea lion enjoying a swim.

BIRDS!!!

The Hitchcock Mini-Museum

On Location

My re-enactment 50 years later.

Since Hitchcock shot many films at a number of Bay Area locations, I'm going to make it a goal to visit as many areas as I can this coming new year. Stay tuned...

2013: A Year in Review

As another calendar year comes to a close, it is only fitting to reflect on the events over the past 12 months. Overall, it was a pretty decent year. There were some peaks and valleys; of course nothing is ever 100% positive or negative. I can truly say that despite the few hardships, I have the strength to overcome them and I know that what ever comes at me in 2014, I will thrive. The list below consists of the good, bad and ugly of 2013. In some of the entries you will find hyperlinks that will connect you to the original post.

The Good

• Earning my Masters Degree in English - TESOL. It took me 3 years to get through what is typically a two year program. I ended up getting a full-time teaching position, and that cut down my class schedule to part time status. I was okay with the delay considering that I could use my teaching position as my own personal laboratory for my final "Culminating Experience" project. It was a success, and my conference presentation received much positive feedback. What's next? Yes, I will be pursuing my Ph.D. in Literature. I want to stay local so my only options are Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. Why does the Bay Area have to be home to the nation's top universities? I'm giving myself two years to adequately prepare for the program.

• Joining a dance troupe. Swing dancing has been my saving grace. I'm always my happiest when I'm on the dance floor. When a friend of mine approached me about a new chorus girl troupe in San Francisco, I immediately signed up. It took me a while to adjust to the thought of wearing skimpier clothing. I'm known for wearing dresses that fall below my knees, so when it came to wearing costumes that exposed my legs, I was nervous. Then I started getting compliments not only for my performance but for my hourglass physique. I've trimmed down some and have developed more strength in that I no longer wear myself out. But most importantly, I've developed new friendships with my fellow chorus girls, and I've learned to be more comfortable in my own skin. This new self-acceptance has led to modeling gigs with local photographers and building my portfolio.

• My promotion. The director at my campus promoted me to Coordinator of Staff and Curriculum. So in addition to teaching my classes, I am in charge of hiring and training new teachers as well as developing new curricula. My primary focus was promoting reading and literacy through American literature. I was given the green light to use this curriculum in my class (which I subsequently used for my MA degree project). My students enjoyed reading unabridged American novels, and now I have more students signing up for my class next quarter.

• Home loan approval. I am in the market to buy a house. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was approved for a loan. The next step is to find the right house. I'm looking to buy in San Mateo County, but it is no easy feat. Many sellers are greedy and the buyers are just plain nuts. I can't comprehend people paying $100K over the asking price. Seriously? Did they not learn from the last housing bubble that burst? I'm not in any sort of rush. The right house is out there, and I will find one to call home.

• Vindication. It was really tough having to sit before a lie detector test to determine the truth of what happened that fateful 2007 evening. I've made no secret of the fact that I am a rape survivor and that justice was never served. But it's now documented that I was not only a victim of rape but a victim of Orange County's miscarriage of justice. To finally have it confirmed was a tremendous weight off my shoulders.

• Vintage galore! Although I'd been vintage shopping for several years, I've pretty much topped off this year. Not only did I expand my vintage wardrobe, I also expanded my vintage collection of furniture. My most prized purchase is my 1912 Victrola. And it works! 

• Being at peace. I made it a point to take mini-excursions throughout the year. Sometimes, you need to get away from the daily grind and surround yourself in serene environments. I found that in the following places: Half Moon Bay, Port Costa, Santa Cruz, and Pescadero.

The Bad

• The SuperBowl. After 18 long years, my 49ers finally made it back to the SuperBowl...and they...they...I'm still stunned and in disbelief. Lets move on.

• The Family Crisis. My family was dealt a a major blow this summer. I was the one who had to step up and be the strong one. I dealt with a range of emotions from sadness and despair to outright anger, yet I managed to keep myself from falling apart. I am definitely a much stronger person to have been able to handle that stress, and my mother was pleasantly surprised to see that strength. Eventually, crisis was averted. There's always something to be learned. No one is perfect and you can't expect others to be either. You have to accept that everyone has their vulnerabilities and no one can get through them alone. I learned that my dad isn't Superman. He's more like Batman; he has his flaws and his demons, but he's still a hero.

• Be careful who you trust. When I was going through the aforementioned crisis, I turned to my cousin who had gone through a similar experience. I confided in her and told her that I felt that I could count on her the most to not disclose my feelings to certain members of our family. Well, she did exactly that. When I found out about her act of betrayal, I wasn't really upset. I wasn't even hurt. I never even confronted her. I guess I just didn't care anymore. Not for the situation and certainly not for her. I just know now that she isn't a person to be trusted. It's sad that you have to come to that realization with blood relations.

• Raccoons are vile creatures. Quite possibly the biggest scare of the year was waking up to my dog, Daisy, fighting with a raccoon. When I ran out to the backyard, I was aghast to see a huge raccoon wrapped around Daisy. Luckily, she sustained only minor cuts to her back side. She may be a little poodle, but she's a tough girl. I think I'm more afraid of her going outside at night than she is.

The Ugly 

• Gia. The herpes outbreak. It lies dormant only to pop up from time to time. That is what this individual is. One of my friends knew her personally and he started off saying, "She's got a mouth on her. She doesn't know when to shut up. That girl..." And without hesitation, I blurted out, "she's a cunt." (Now I rarely use profanity...RARELY, but when I use it, people know I mean it.) I thought I had encountered some vile people in my past, but this girl takes the cake (and eats it, too). Over the past year, she had harassed, threatened and stalked me (and even some of my friends). She still does. Admittedly so, she was a nightmare, but having my strong support network really helped. Now, I could care less; she's just an insecure little girl who lacks self-esteem. I hope Demian has finally seen her for what she truly is; a total psychopath.

And that is pretty much 2013 in a nutshell. Yes there were some challenging times, but overall, I can truly say that it has been a good year. I know 2014 will be even better. 

Port Costa

There's this tiny little town nestled in the hills overlooking the Carquinez Strait. It is a community where everyone knows everybody; people graciously smile and say hello when passing. Storefronts double as private residences because the main town is that small. The big businesses are The Warehouse Cafe, Bull Valley Restaurant and The Burlington Hotel and Cafe.

A friend of mine asked me to join her for some brunch at the Burlington known for its Victorian opulence. It was their "Vintage Vinyl" Sunday where the sitting room features swingin' tunes on the record player. The kitchen in the next room is a throwback to 1930s Americana. It features fully functional vintage appliances. I was in awe of the stove, and now I'm seriously considering looking for an old (yet working) 1920s-30s stove. I already own a 1940s Wedgewood stove, but I'm willing to part with it if I acquire an older one. We'll see.

During our brunch, there was a rush of bikers stopping for some home-brewed coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was definitely an amusing sight that I had to take a candid photo.

There's bikers, and then there's bikers.

Afterward, my friend and I took a nice walk along the strait's edge. We shot the breeze as we admired the scenic views beyond. It's very peaceful. A person can spend hours gazing across the strait while having a bit of introspection.

We returned to main street for a cocktail at Bull Valley Restaurant. We were hoping to have a serving of their brussels sprouts, but it was only available during dinner hours. We were too early. So we sat engaged in conversation and toasting to the coming Christmas holiday.

What is great about Port Costa is that it has allowed time to pass on by. The town is exactly how it looks when it was first founded in 1879; that is if you don't look at the automobiles parked nearby. When another of my friends texted asking how our day was going in Port Costa, I could only respond with a single word: Peaceful. It's nice that there are still places where you can be at total peace free from the daily grind. I now have two communities to run away to for complete serenity: Half Moon Bay and now Port Costa.

Día de los Muertos

I spent Día de los Muertos in Los Angeles this year. I have always celebrated with my brother as we enjoy the festivities and admire las altares. It's a tradition we've carried out for several years as it's part of our cultures. It's not about decorating our faces as skulls, but the tradition of honoring loved ones who've left us to carry on their memories on earth. We light a candle for each of our grandparents and recount all the happy memories we shared. It's a moment to reflect on their lives and how they influenced who we are today.

Unfortunately, Muertos has been hijacked by many subcultures, particularly the rockabilly scene. It was never like that before, but somehow it exploded, and it has become a defining part of RAB culture. It's upsetting because most think it's cool to have Muertos themed clothing, wearing skull themed accessories, tattooing sugar skulls on their bodies without so much as an inkling on the true meaning of the tradition. It definitely brings out an awareness of the holiday, but it does so in the wrong way.

Alas, I should be happy that non-Latin cultures have taken an interest in the holiday, but there needs to be a respect for it as well. It isn't a passing fad. To treat it as such would be a slap in the face to all souls who graced this planet.

Placita Olvera

Self Help Art Gallery on 1st Street

Grand Park in Downtown LA

Enjoying the view from my brother's balcony (with our dad peaking over the ledge)

September Getaway: Sunset State Beach

When I went to Santa Cruz a few months ago, I kicked myself for not bringing my surfboard. Before I left, I researched areas that would be good for longboard surfing. I read a lot about Sunset Beach and noted the campsite nearby. I'm truly an outdoorsy lady. I enjoy camping, hiking, surfing and gardening. 

So this weekend, I packed my gear and drove down to Sunset Beach. Instead of taking Highway 1, I opted to take I 280 to SR 17 with its winding roads through the Santa Cruz mountains. It was a beautiful drive (though it can be a hazardous road for inexperienced drivers; lost of cars swerving on the road.)

After nearly a 2 hour drive, I arrived at the campsite. It wasn't like any other sites I've been to; usually I camp in the mountains. This one was surrounded by strawberry fields. It had some nice hiking trails with great views of the ocean.

When I heard about the campsite, I was hoping it was the type where you can pitch your tent right on the beach (like San Felipe, Mex). The campsite was restricted to the hills with a 1 minute drive to the beach parking lot. Though I could've walked the distance down a steep ramp and stairs, I wasn't about to do it with a 20lb surfboard.

It had been about a year since I last surfed and it definitely showed. I was sluggish. I had a hard time catching a wave, but eventually I caught quite a few. I later went for a swim and just waded in the water. I always found it peaceful floating in the ocean where it's unusually quiet save for the seagulls flying above en masse. There was a sea lion that swam past a few yards away. Off in the distance were a few dolphins frolicking about. 

Before sunset, I dried off and sat atop the lifeguard tower and stared off into the horizon. I sat for an hour watching the sun go down.

When I went back to camp, every spot was occupied. People were out having bonfires and sharing funny stories. I lay in my tent listening to different chatters before I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke this morning, my entire body was sore. Yes, the year absence from surfing caught up with me. My arms and legs are the most sore at the moment; not good when you have weekly, strenuous rehearsals for the dance troupe. I'll need to take it easy, but I definitely need to start surfing more often especially now that the coastal peninsula is reaching its Indian summer. 

Next getaway: Bodega Bay