Will imitates (below) the statues on this fountain in the Getty Villa courtyard
Yamashiro in the Hollywood Hills above L.A.
Will and Stacey Christmas Day
Candycane Lane for Christmas
1482 Shenandoah St. Los Angeles
We returned from Kauai to L.A. on Saturday, Dec. 22 for Christmas week with our kids. It was the best!
Sunday, Dec. 23 we met at their charming apartment on Shenandoah St. off Pico in a wonderful ethnic (primarily Jewish) neighborhood. After appetizers, we went to see Johnny Depp's new film version of "Sweeney Todd," followed by dinner at Sushi Roku.
Christmas Eve, Louis and I spent the morning wrapping presents. Then, having heard on NPR about the shortage of food at shelters for the needy, we went to the SOVA food pantry down the street from our hotel . Louis found out what they needed (dry milk, peanut butter, Spam, Vienna sausages, Matzoh, tuna fish, etc.), and we had fun shopping at Ralph's market. The big surprise was that Louis went to Peabody High School in Pittsburgh with the husband of the founder and director of the SOVA agency. A bizarre coincidence. After that we went up Beverly Glen Dr. to Mullholland Dr. to Dragon (rare) Books for ogling, browsing, and visiting with the shopkeeper. It is a gorgeous wood paneled shop, designed after Trinity College's library in Dublin. We bought a few children's books (in the under $20 range, obviously not rare), but it was treat to see the first edition of Moby Dick, price tag=$48,000! Later, we met Will and Stacey for Mexican food, followed by a trip to Candycane Lane, where the Christmas lights are massive and amazing.
Christmas Day we opened presents at the kids' apartment, then visited friends of Stacey's who share her Polish heritage. Ivana was Stacey's roommate in Boston, but grew up in the L.A. area. The party was at her grandparents' house. The crowd was large, loud, friendly, and festive. Little kids chasing each other throughout the house, adults visiting in every corner, the whole scene. The food and fellowship were just great - a beautiful day with all generations represented.
The 26th was to be devoted to Japanese food at Stacey and Will's choice -Yamashiro, in the Hollywood Hills. Sadly, Will had come down with a serious cold and toothache. So, Louis and I spent the daylight hours at Childrens' Book World to buy books for the SOVA program, which gives books to needy children along with the food. After that, we wound our way up the hill above Sunset Blvd. to enjoy the sunset with L.A. lighting up below. Yamashiro was spectacular in every way - view, food, drinks, service...all of it. We were so sorry Will and Stacey couldn't come, but we gave a full and complete report the next day. Later on, they can go up there any day for drinks and appetizers to take in the view and the experience for a modest price.
Thursday was the Getty Villa and Museum in Malibu. The Villa, a re-creation of a country house in Herculaneum, just re-opened after almost 10 years of renovation. Louis and I had been there years ago, but it's much larger now, and focused on the antiquities collection J. Paul Getty began acquiring when his fortune grew to massive proportions. The luncheon food was delicious, though the setting in the huge new building was not nearly as pleasant as the old days when we ate with Christie beside the Villa's courtyard pool. Up the hill is the Getty Center, a truly massive art museum on the top of a hill overlooking the valleys and ocean in the distance.
Friday, Dec. 28th, Will spent at the dentist, while Stacey took the two of us to the L.A. County Museum of Art. It, too, has a large new addition, and was mobbed with holiday visitors waiting to get into the Dali exhibit. We chose to visit the permanent collections, where we renewed our pleasure in the European and American art and crafts this museum is famous for. After dinner at a neighborhood Thai restaurant, we bid farewell to Stacey and Will until summer, when we plan to meet in Huntersville for Mom's 90th birthday celebration.
