Last of the telephones and start of the traffic

Tomorrow we may be leaving Internet and telephones behind. This morning we did a blitz of Little Havana, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Beach and "Miami Hell" (they are preparing for a Carnival on Sunday - the largest Carnival in North America). Barricades are up, cruise ships have discouraged, temperatures rising...feels like an urban humidor.

Diabetic nightmare

A two story ice cream cone? Avocado gelato?
I chose a mere taste of slenderizing Abuela Maria.

"ArtBar"

We were told that the best mojitos in town are served by this Manet model. ALL the tabletops are paintings, the ceiling is plastered with more art work and floor filled with dancers after 9:00. In the meantime, a person can order a cup of CUBAN coffee and read old encyclopedias or lounge in the courtyard with Miss Monroe and Jose Marti.

Señora de Cigarrillos

USA-CUBA Rooster

A symbol of our new relationship.
In Little Havana anyone can play at the very popular free public Domino Club as long as they follow the rules:
No one under 55
No drinking
No swearing
No cigars
No cheating

Lost in the 1950's

Done without Illustrator, In-design or Photshop. Testing the recipes tonight.

A Sandwich Day

So I'm moving slightly away from laundry to Cuban Sandwiches. One a day should be pretty easy. Artery alert!

Listo!

I am soooo ready for Cuba: sun, warmth, nostalgic architecture, 1950's cars, the residue of a revolution, crystal clear ocean, music, beaches, sandwiches, beans & rice...
And it's nice to know we can revisit it all right here in San Francisco if we need a little "Island of Liberty" refresher when we get back.

The Raining Queen of the Oscars

As you may NEVER read, the tent over The Red Carpet collapsed and Lauren saved the day. Happy Birthday Super Girl!!!

Silly Oscar fans

A video of your phhhoto is attached to this email. Save the video to your library Open Instagram and select the video Tag it with following... MADE BY HYPERHYPER® © 2014 PHHHOTO™

There will never be another one like him

Behind the scenes at the Red Carpet

Thanks to the Goddess of Press-Logistics-and-Calmness, I'm again in the grandstand of The Red Carpet with my lifetime friend and Mother's namesake, Janiece, and Lauren's beloved college buddies. To be merely in the glow of the stars, we get to have nails and make-up done before the event. After all, this is THE BIGGEST LIVE SHOW on the planet. Everyone is beautiful and gracious. Let the show begin and may the best film win!!

Riddle

Where does Meryl Streep put all her Academy Awards?

You'll have to Oscar.

Reflecting on the eternal questions

What underwear DOES Oscar wear? What IS he planning on doing with that sword?

Pantages Theater

This little iPhone-Cinderella got stuck on the grand staircase of the Pantages Theater-a spectacular 1930s Deco masterpiece. Who says we don't have jaw-dropping my magnificent cathedrals in America?

Dining among (not under) the stars

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> The cafes of Los Angeles have innovative menus, the friendliest staff, fabulous coffee and blood orange orange juice, but best of all, the signage. For those quaint folk who want to enjoy a meal and friendship - we salute you.
>

Getting ready for the Governor's Ball Preview

The night before the Awards Ceremony, they do a dress rehearsal of the Governor's Ball just to make sure EVERYTHING is perfect: caterers man your stations, lighting checked, glasses polished, gold-wrapped Oscar candies... everything. I'm working up an appetite and exercising my taste buds. No Botox needed since I have SMOOCH to plump my lips to perfection.

Bicycles and Books

Who'd think that Oscar-land would have bikes and books ready to go. The Farmer's Daughter is a zany hotel on Fairfax in Hollywood. Miss-matched silverware, antique plates in the restaurant, rubber duckies in the swimming pool. Not typical LA but very Los Angeles. I find if I speak of angels I find them down here is the most unexpected places.

Two 3-D Gals and Oscar

Our first blind date. Animated Feature Films: two CG, two hand drawn, one stop action. May the best film win!

Stuffed hash tag and THE PILE

Lotsa art in Oscarland. Seen at Craft and Fold Art Museum across from LACMA. The pile was originally installed in a corn field - there is a video of a ninetyish year old white woman woman sitting in a field (maybe Iowa) with YARDS of red felt in her lap. She takes out letters from a wicker box, reads them and stuffs them into randomly shaped pockets she cuts out of the felt. Hearts, Circles, spirals, human figures, religious symbols, wired geometry. Sews them up with yellow thread and piles them up day after day and all through the night.
Mesmerizing..

Re: Havana in 30 days!!

That is Great!!!

Finally walked across the bridge!

There are things everyone should have done by a certain point in their lives (go camping, eat something slimy, strike a match). My list of "I've never..." is pretty short but, as a native San Franciscan and host, you'd think I would have walked my favorite icon - at least once by now. I've driven both ways thousands of times, crawled in stuck traffic hundreds, cycled five or ten and screamed across at 90 mph after the 1989 earthquake, but never walked or ran. So, I finally walked across the THE GOLDEN GATE this morning. No sun, no wind, no cars, no noise...a little bit creepy. The only smiling face was the Perky-in-Pink Peace Marcher. A "Road Zipper" is being installed in this miraculous structure - one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. What a thrilling experience. May never have that chance again. 

Sent from my iPhone

Chuck getting ready to Shuck

Murdered 800 oysters on 2015 New Year's Day with nary a nick. Next year, you're invited to Save the Date for the Annual Meeting of the Petaluma Bivalve Society Auxillary. No business - only fun, families and the freshest of foods. (NO leftover fruit cakes).

Tina and Chuck

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