Weekend Fun 1

Arghhh....the traffic back and forth to LA over the weekend was horrible. But the reward, Emanuel Ax and the LA Philharmonic was worth it, even though it was a short concert due to casual Friday.

On casual Friday, the orchestra is out of uniform.

Emanuel Ax. Played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major.

We barely made the concert at 8:00 and had no time to change clothes, although we left Fallbrook at 3:15. Our old clothes we wore for the drive had to suffice. Richard had on "grove pants" and I had an old dirty jean jacket. After the concert, we ate a late dinner at Redbird (still in our grungy clothes), the restaurant in the old rectory of the LA cathedral now called Vibiana. In spite of our appearance, the manager gave us a tour of the cathedral, now converted into an event space and various other spectacular rooms you can rent for events, culminating in a visit to Cardinal Mahoney's bathroom— a once in a lifetime experience. We shared a plate of Barbecue smoked tofu with Beluga lentils, swiss chard and a red wine truffle nage; Burrata salad with persimmon, duck prosciutto, pistachio, cress and Rainbow carrots with wild fennel, olives and curry. 

An overnight at the Doubletree downtown was satisfactory as the location is convenient to the Disney Hall...only about 6 blocks away. The main attraction of the place for us is the limo service to the Hall and a Starbuck's right next door. This was the only hotel I've ever stayed in where they charged a deposit on the room—$35.00, which is refunded when you leave. Parking is $35.00. They do give you two chocolate chip cookies and a bag of chocolate covered pretzels to soften the blow?

Next time we go to a concert we're taking the train from Oceanside for about $60.00 each round trip

and eliminating the traffic experience. An Uber ride from Union Station to the Doubletree looks like about $10.00.

Saturday, we had a great and chaotic time at our tiny cousin's 3rd birthday party. There were cupcakes and a birthday cake, a puppeteer, at least twenty kids and their parents, 2 dogs. 

Richard with Liam, the birthday boy, and his older brother Rowan. Lunapic treatments follow. 

My favorite of the artistic effects. 

Wilder the dog and I didn't last all the way through. 💤😴

Jennifer the hostess still going strong.

The birthday cake is served.

The puppeteer letting the kids feel a saber tooth. 

Dino masks were the look of the day.