The Hermosa Beach St. Patrick's Day committee was wise to delay the parade. At 9:30 a.m., the rain is hitting the living room skylight with gusto. I see out of the kitchen window, that our next door neighbor's flat garage roof is now a shallow lake bed. Good day to stay in...
But I wish all of you that are located in clement areas a GREAT ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
If you're going out to celebrate, decide who your designated driver will be while you're still at home. Better safe than sorry, eh? There's only so much luck of the Irish available this year.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A Touch and Go Situation
THIS JUST IN
Hermosa Beach late this afternoon moved the date for the parade until Saturday, 3/24.
For once in a very long while, the Hermosa Beach annual St. Patrick's Day parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th. The parade has often had to be on the closest Saturday to the 17th.
I thought this was a good omen. Until I read the weekend weather forecast. Slight rain Friday, rain Saturday and thunderstorms on Sunday.
The City of Hermosa Beach added the line "Rain or Shine" to their City Website so ... apparently the parade is a go, no matter what. What is questionable is whether or not, we will be.
Standing in the rain, the inevitable drip down the back of your collar...dodging other people's umbrellas...
On the other hand it is sure to cozy and dry in the Poopdeck. But I think the people watching will be pretty much non-existent.
Hey, what the hell -- I've never seen a parade in the rain. It could provide new sources of amusement. The politicians quivering under umbrellas in the vintage convertibles used to transport them; rain streaking their identifying signs on the doors... in fact, I sense a tremendous photo opp!
Bring it on!
Hermosa Beach late this afternoon moved the date for the parade until Saturday, 3/24.
For once in a very long while, the Hermosa Beach annual St. Patrick's Day parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th. The parade has often had to be on the closest Saturday to the 17th.
I thought this was a good omen. Until I read the weekend weather forecast. Slight rain Friday, rain Saturday and thunderstorms on Sunday.
The City of Hermosa Beach added the line "Rain or Shine" to their City Website so ... apparently the parade is a go, no matter what. What is questionable is whether or not, we will be.
Standing in the rain, the inevitable drip down the back of your collar...dodging other people's umbrellas...
On the other hand it is sure to cozy and dry in the Poopdeck. But I think the people watching will be pretty much non-existent.
Hey, what the hell -- I've never seen a parade in the rain. It could provide new sources of amusement. The politicians quivering under umbrellas in the vintage convertibles used to transport them; rain streaking their identifying signs on the doors... in fact, I sense a tremendous photo opp!
Bring it on!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fixing A Sandwich
As I am far too cheap to throw away food, I took yesterday's bacon, turkey, tomato, avocado on a croissant leftover half home. Before dinner last night, I deconstructed it as follows: removed the split croissant and put it in the toaster oven. While that was happening, I piled the turkey and (now soggy) bacon into a pile and chopped it up. When the croissant slices emerged, I "buttered" them with the soft avocado, piled the chopped meats and tomatoe slices back into the croissant and ate it. It was a damned sight better than what it was at lunch.
Be creative with sandwiches...cut a length of baguette or ciabbata for the size sandwich you want to eat. Split that and toast it. When it emerges, give it a good dowsing with Italian salad dressing, pile on chicken or turkey breast meat and a slice of sweet onion, peppered salami slices and what the hell -- a sprinkling of jalapeno pepper chips. I think this works because the deli-bought turkey or chicken breast meat has very little flavor. It can be the mayonnaise in your sandwich!
Be creative with sandwiches...cut a length of baguette or ciabbata for the size sandwich you want to eat. Split that and toast it. When it emerges, give it a good dowsing with Italian salad dressing, pile on chicken or turkey breast meat and a slice of sweet onion, peppered salami slices and what the hell -- a sprinkling of jalapeno pepper chips. I think this works because the deli-bought turkey or chicken breast meat has very little flavor. It can be the mayonnaise in your sandwich!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A Cranky Day
I had an eye doctor appointment this morning. They dilated my pupils. I hate this more than the ob/gyn exam (and I'm no fan of that either.)
Richie went with me to drive afterward. Of course, I could see, but I felt like I couldn't. My brain veers toward the nearly-clinical insane on some things.
During the wait for the eyes to dilate, I noticed my wristwatch battery had died. Maybe it doesn't like eye doctor offices either and this was a protest or a sign of slidarity with me. We'll never know.
So, post-appointment we went to the jewelry store in the Nordstroms Mall. They replaced the battery in less than five minutes and it only cost $15.
By now we were both hungry so we went into the Red Robin resto we had to pass to get back to the car. I probably shouldn't review a restaurant when I'm as cranky as a bag of weasels, but I will.
I would rate Red Robin as about three jumps down from a TGIFriday's but without as an inventive a menu selection. My turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomatoe, avocado on a croissant was cold. Toasting the croissant would have been a nice touch. Richie ordered their Gourmet Hamburger and pronounced it "juicy, good enough" and ate it all. His cole slaw pushed the needle over on "sweet."
This Red Robin has been in this location, probably since they built the mall. Thus I am wrong and others are right.
Which doesn't make me any less cranky, but at least I can see again.
Richie went with me to drive afterward. Of course, I could see, but I felt like I couldn't. My brain veers toward the nearly-clinical insane on some things.
During the wait for the eyes to dilate, I noticed my wristwatch battery had died. Maybe it doesn't like eye doctor offices either and this was a protest or a sign of slidarity with me. We'll never know.
So, post-appointment we went to the jewelry store in the Nordstroms Mall. They replaced the battery in less than five minutes and it only cost $15.
By now we were both hungry so we went into the Red Robin resto we had to pass to get back to the car. I probably shouldn't review a restaurant when I'm as cranky as a bag of weasels, but I will.
I would rate Red Robin as about three jumps down from a TGIFriday's but without as an inventive a menu selection. My turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomatoe, avocado on a croissant was cold. Toasting the croissant would have been a nice touch. Richie ordered their Gourmet Hamburger and pronounced it "juicy, good enough" and ate it all. His cole slaw pushed the needle over on "sweet."
This Red Robin has been in this location, probably since they built the mall. Thus I am wrong and others are right.
Which doesn't make me any less cranky, but at least I can see again.
Monday, March 12, 2012
At The Jazz Club II
The New Look
We weren't able to meet last month. The Kinghts of Columbus told us they were going to re-finish the dance floor. They didn't bother to add that they were replacing all of the doors with new ones with glass panels so that now we can see if we're going to cream someone if the door is opened. There are three big, new windows in the bar, overlookiing the meeting room. All of the walls and the ceiling were painted in a mushroom hue that makes the space look bigger. Four new art deco lights have been installed in the ceiling. It's now all very spiffy and a cynical mind has to wonder if they raised the rent on the poor old jazz club.
However, the Knights weren't very knightly about the ladies restroom. One toilet was on the verge of flooding the place; another had flooded. I told the bartender why I was asking for an Out of Order sign and he hastily made one, handed it and a roll of Scotch tape to me. Ooooh! Anoter item for my resume! "Ladies Room Attendant." I later came back, found a wet mop leaning across the doorway, barring entrance and a shiny, wet floor...at least I wasn't handed a mop and bucket.
Music Keeps You Young!
We'd just gotten out of the car in the parking lot when we were hailed by a fellow music lover. "Are you going to the music?" (Yes) "I haven't been for a couple of months - had a heart attack last December and was in and out of the hospital three times!" We looked at him. Older, slim, straight-spined and said the obvious, "Gee, you'd never know it!"
We lost track of him once inside, but later Richie ran into him in the bar. When Richie came back to our table, he said, "How old do you think that guy is?" and I thought for a moment and said, "Oh, maybe mid-70s." Richie almost yelled, "He's 93! And look back there - he's dancing!" Sure enough, he and the club secretary were doing a brisk 4-stepper by the raffle table.
Musicians Have Tempers, Too!
A pick-up band of the various local musicians was thumping away when we arrived. I waved to our friend Mr. Tucker on cornet and he nodded "Hello" back at me. When their allotted time ended, Mr. Tucker came over to say it in person. He had just begun an apology about his playing when the clarinet guy, gear already packed and in hand, came storming up to us and said to Mr. Tucker, "I just wanted to say that wasn't your fault! It was that damned piano player! I'll never play with that son-of-a-bitch again!" He then lowered his voice and the two of them went on conversing. Who knew clarinetists had such passion?!
And truth be told, the piano player is a touch on the weird side. Maybe 5 ft. tall and close to 200+ pounds, he looks like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day float - with little teeny feet. I waqs writing these notes at the table when he wordlessly came up and shoved a white paper napkin under my nose. It said, "This is a portrait of a snowflake on a bed of snow." The paper was blank within the "frame" he'd drawn. I smiled poitely and kept on writing. A previous experience taught me never to engage in conversation with him. A chance remark had set him off into a half hour's dissertation on an altar cloth his great aunt had made for St. Patricks cathedral, NY and .... trust me, you don't want to hear any more than that and I don't want to remember any more than that!
We weren't able to meet last month. The Kinghts of Columbus told us they were going to re-finish the dance floor. They didn't bother to add that they were replacing all of the doors with new ones with glass panels so that now we can see if we're going to cream someone if the door is opened. There are three big, new windows in the bar, overlookiing the meeting room. All of the walls and the ceiling were painted in a mushroom hue that makes the space look bigger. Four new art deco lights have been installed in the ceiling. It's now all very spiffy and a cynical mind has to wonder if they raised the rent on the poor old jazz club.
However, the Knights weren't very knightly about the ladies restroom. One toilet was on the verge of flooding the place; another had flooded. I told the bartender why I was asking for an Out of Order sign and he hastily made one, handed it and a roll of Scotch tape to me. Ooooh! Anoter item for my resume! "Ladies Room Attendant." I later came back, found a wet mop leaning across the doorway, barring entrance and a shiny, wet floor...at least I wasn't handed a mop and bucket.
Music Keeps You Young!
We'd just gotten out of the car in the parking lot when we were hailed by a fellow music lover. "Are you going to the music?" (Yes) "I haven't been for a couple of months - had a heart attack last December and was in and out of the hospital three times!" We looked at him. Older, slim, straight-spined and said the obvious, "Gee, you'd never know it!"
We lost track of him once inside, but later Richie ran into him in the bar. When Richie came back to our table, he said, "How old do you think that guy is?" and I thought for a moment and said, "Oh, maybe mid-70s." Richie almost yelled, "He's 93! And look back there - he's dancing!" Sure enough, he and the club secretary were doing a brisk 4-stepper by the raffle table.
Musicians Have Tempers, Too!
A pick-up band of the various local musicians was thumping away when we arrived. I waved to our friend Mr. Tucker on cornet and he nodded "Hello" back at me. When their allotted time ended, Mr. Tucker came over to say it in person. He had just begun an apology about his playing when the clarinet guy, gear already packed and in hand, came storming up to us and said to Mr. Tucker, "I just wanted to say that wasn't your fault! It was that damned piano player! I'll never play with that son-of-a-bitch again!" He then lowered his voice and the two of them went on conversing. Who knew clarinetists had such passion?!
And truth be told, the piano player is a touch on the weird side. Maybe 5 ft. tall and close to 200+ pounds, he looks like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day float - with little teeny feet. I waqs writing these notes at the table when he wordlessly came up and shoved a white paper napkin under my nose. It said, "This is a portrait of a snowflake on a bed of snow." The paper was blank within the "frame" he'd drawn. I smiled poitely and kept on writing. A previous experience taught me never to engage in conversation with him. A chance remark had set him off into a half hour's dissertation on an altar cloth his great aunt had made for St. Patricks cathedral, NY and .... trust me, you don't want to hear any more than that and I don't want to remember any more than that!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Standing Room Only - and At That, You May Want to Suck in Your Gut
"What's she blathering about now" you ask? Yesterday Richie finally consented to grab a sandwich at the place that's been getting very good reviews indeed from local food critics (Merrill Schindler and Richard Foss, to be exact.)
Locals have probably passed it umpteen times and never noticed it. "What, the invisible resto?" Pretty much! Catalina Liquor and Deli is located at the southeast corner of Diamond and Catalina (144 N. Catalina) here in Redondo Beach. 310-374-7545)
The building reminds one of a 7-11 in style and tucked away, at the very back of the store, is the take-out only Standing Room. If you're waiting for your food and decide to prowl the aisles, suck in your gut. We're talking very narrow aisles. And if you eat here regularly and clean your plate, you WILL have to suck it in.
"What kind of food?" I would say American (hamburgers) Hawaiian (fried egg on the hamburger) and Korean (buttered kim chi on pulled pork.) And the Pan-roasted edamame with a chili garlic sauce could be Japanese or Thai.
Hamburger toppings sampler; there are eight in all - "Cash" - 1/2 lb. patty, bacon hoisin BBQ, shishito peppers and crispy pepper onion. "Chance" - 1/2 lb. patty, jalapeno, habenero cream cole slaw and cheddar cheese. "Napoleon - 1/2 lb. patty, smoked gouda, cheddar, carmelized onion, spring mix topped with braised short rib, a fried egg and truffle Parmesan fries.
There are seven sandwich choices and we both ordered the Charlotte - pulled pork carnitas, hoisin bbq sauce, caramelized onion and habanero cream cole slaw on a brioche. Everything was excellent. Some of you may wince at the thought of habanero cream cole slaw, but it had only a prickle of hot. The only thing I didn't like was the brioche. Two slices of 4 x 6 in. bread, nearly 2 in. deep that had been grilled in the hamburger fat on the griddle. I will eat grease with gusto, but damn! That was just too much bread.
But I'm not their typical customer which includes (based on my own eyes) surfers, landscapers, construction guys, all of whom have been exercising (presumably) and are h u n g r y.
When we go back (not if) I want to try the K-Dilla - hoisin bbq pork, buttered kim chee, bacon, caramelized onion, avocado and I'd ask the chef to hold it on the cheddar and smoked gouda. Maybe okay on the gouda, but cheddar is just too fat-loaded to me.
Vegetarians are included - truffle-parmesan fries, the Fu-Fu Sammie which is fried tofu with spring mix, tomato, onion, tossed in a spicy house vinagrette and gouchu-q drizzle on a pan de mie (honey) roll. The Portobello Mushroom is grilled portobello, topped with paresan, pesto cream, onion, tomato and spring mix.
Lunch for two? $13. The liquor store part has oceans of drink choices; fruit juices, flavored waters and teas, energy drinks and, of course, cold beer! How can you even ask?
Locals have probably passed it umpteen times and never noticed it. "What, the invisible resto?" Pretty much! Catalina Liquor and Deli is located at the southeast corner of Diamond and Catalina (144 N. Catalina) here in Redondo Beach. 310-374-7545)
The building reminds one of a 7-11 in style and tucked away, at the very back of the store, is the take-out only Standing Room. If you're waiting for your food and decide to prowl the aisles, suck in your gut. We're talking very narrow aisles. And if you eat here regularly and clean your plate, you WILL have to suck it in.
"What kind of food?" I would say American (hamburgers) Hawaiian (fried egg on the hamburger) and Korean (buttered kim chi on pulled pork.) And the Pan-roasted edamame with a chili garlic sauce could be Japanese or Thai.
Hamburger toppings sampler; there are eight in all - "Cash" - 1/2 lb. patty, bacon hoisin BBQ, shishito peppers and crispy pepper onion. "Chance" - 1/2 lb. patty, jalapeno, habenero cream cole slaw and cheddar cheese. "Napoleon - 1/2 lb. patty, smoked gouda, cheddar, carmelized onion, spring mix topped with braised short rib, a fried egg and truffle Parmesan fries.
There are seven sandwich choices and we both ordered the Charlotte - pulled pork carnitas, hoisin bbq sauce, caramelized onion and habanero cream cole slaw on a brioche. Everything was excellent. Some of you may wince at the thought of habanero cream cole slaw, but it had only a prickle of hot. The only thing I didn't like was the brioche. Two slices of 4 x 6 in. bread, nearly 2 in. deep that had been grilled in the hamburger fat on the griddle. I will eat grease with gusto, but damn! That was just too much bread.
But I'm not their typical customer which includes (based on my own eyes) surfers, landscapers, construction guys, all of whom have been exercising (presumably) and are h u n g r y.
When we go back (not if) I want to try the K-Dilla - hoisin bbq pork, buttered kim chee, bacon, caramelized onion, avocado and I'd ask the chef to hold it on the cheddar and smoked gouda. Maybe okay on the gouda, but cheddar is just too fat-loaded to me.
Vegetarians are included - truffle-parmesan fries, the Fu-Fu Sammie which is fried tofu with spring mix, tomato, onion, tossed in a spicy house vinagrette and gouchu-q drizzle on a pan de mie (honey) roll. The Portobello Mushroom is grilled portobello, topped with paresan, pesto cream, onion, tomato and spring mix.
Lunch for two? $13. The liquor store part has oceans of drink choices; fruit juices, flavored waters and teas, energy drinks and, of course, cold beer! How can you even ask?
Friday, March 9, 2012
Bromance? Man Crush?
"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero" by Chris Matthews Simon and Schuster 479 pages $27.50
Matthews, in a lengthy Preface (13 pages) tries to justify his writing this book by stating that his family and he as he grew up were staunch Republicans. But when JFK entered onto the stage, Matthews found him irresistible.
Another song played endlessly on his serenade to JFK was "Oh, poor Jack, poor lonely little boy! All those illnesses, all those hours spent alone with only a book to amuse him." This refrain to explain why JFK absolutely hated being alone. Len Billingsly, Red Fay -- any one of his court jesters would do.
JFK's physical courage was never in question as he tried out for football and starred in the original production of "PT 109." He managed to continue vigorously in life despite a very bad back and Addison's disease.
Incidentally, there was absolutely no mention of the infamous "Dr. Feelgood," Max Jacobs in the index nor the book. JFK took Jacobs to Paris with him. Given JFK's extreme poor health, the author, who mentions it at every turn, never explained how he was the biggest skirt chaser in Washington, DC, and points north, south, east and west.
The problem for me with this book is the awe-struck attitude to JFK. He refers to him as Mrs. Kennedy did - "Magic." No argument that JFK was extremely charismatic -- but not for 479 pages.
Matthews, in a lengthy Preface (13 pages) tries to justify his writing this book by stating that his family and he as he grew up were staunch Republicans. But when JFK entered onto the stage, Matthews found him irresistible.
Another song played endlessly on his serenade to JFK was "Oh, poor Jack, poor lonely little boy! All those illnesses, all those hours spent alone with only a book to amuse him." This refrain to explain why JFK absolutely hated being alone. Len Billingsly, Red Fay -- any one of his court jesters would do.
JFK's physical courage was never in question as he tried out for football and starred in the original production of "PT 109." He managed to continue vigorously in life despite a very bad back and Addison's disease.
Incidentally, there was absolutely no mention of the infamous "Dr. Feelgood," Max Jacobs in the index nor the book. JFK took Jacobs to Paris with him. Given JFK's extreme poor health, the author, who mentions it at every turn, never explained how he was the biggest skirt chaser in Washington, DC, and points north, south, east and west.
The problem for me with this book is the awe-struck attitude to JFK. He refers to him as Mrs. Kennedy did - "Magic." No argument that JFK was extremely charismatic -- but not for 479 pages.
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