Tidbits

Elegant Presentation in an Unlikely Place

We had dinner last night at Las Brisas (1969 Artesia, RB.) Las Brisas has been in business for 30 years and for 29 of those years, we've been eating there. To explain the following:
Me: "Who's the bartender tonight?" to our waiter.
Him: "I guess that's me."
Me: "Can you make a dirty martini, up? You know, the one with extra olive juice? (He looks puzzled) "Not olive oil! The juice from a jar of olives."
Him: "Sure."
Me: "Okay! Show me whatchu got!"

Five minutes later, he re-appeared bearing a small tray. He carefully put down a drink napkin, then set the martini, up, on it and lastly a shot glass half-filled with a murky liquid and a cocktail pick with two small olives. Suavely, he said, "Extra olive juice for your drink."

How cool was that!?

I am quietly proud of a new Personal Best. I got all the way through chips and salsa, drinks and dinner without getting any salsa on my glaringly-white sweater.

Reading
"Angelina" by Andrew Morton St. Martins Pres 328 pages $26.99

About what you'd expect. Morton has an irritating writing style which I would describe as "Now, now, dear - Andrew knows best." He "explains" why she is the way she is (abandonment issues) without having consulted any shrinks who may have treated her (and who wouldn't co-operate anyhow due to client privacy laws.) Basically the "book" is a re-hash of magazine articles through the years.

The Sartorialist" by Scott Schuman Penguin Books 512 pages $25

This book is really interesting to me (as a former freelance photojournalist.) It's a collection of shots of ordinary people, shot on the streets of New York, Paris, Milan, etc.

These shots originated on his Website TheSartorialist.com which is about style in people. I can recommend it both as an excellent collection of shots, well worth studying by the amateur photog as well as a "real" look at fashion on the streets and not on the runways.

Incidentally, this is post # 777.