The Star Cafe

After all the excitement of watching the awesome Endeavour Shuttle flyover with my two friends (from our terrific vantage point in the Verdugo Canyons, we got to see the retiring shuttle piggybacking on a 747 with two fighter plane escorts circle downtown LA, then head over to Griffith Park, then loop around JPL), we were famished from the woohooing, "it's coming right at us" (Airplane, anyone?), and jumping for joy – never mind the hike in AND out.

We agreed on Montrose and The Star Cafe. Give them a gold star for this delicious dish! Here you see my Asparagus and Spinach Ravioli with the chunky tomato sauce and sprinkling of parmesan. YUM! The ravioli was stuffed with the asparagus, with the sautéed spinach atop. The fresh roll sopped up the remaining tomatoes after I scarfed down the rest. A perfect meal to salute all the shuttle's trips around the stars!

The shuttle's next move is to the California Science Center. Who wants to go see it up close and personal?

Click here to go to Star Cafe's Web site.

Click here to go to California Science Center's Web site.

Cirque du Soleil Iris

I haven't seen a Cirque du Soleil show since their tent was set up on the beach in Santa Monica. The latest production Iris is different in many ways, only one being the stage at the Kodak Theater versus the round arena of earlier shows.

Another way is a discernible thread, something I hadn't really picked up on earlier shows. Iris is based on the history of cinema, told in a unique way by acrobats, contortionists, and aerial artists, with a live orchestra and video projections. Also, my irises were darting all over the place trying to take it all in.

I was most impressed by the twin brothers performing the central aerial act. Jaw-gapping open impressed! Their strength and agility was amazing. One suspended brother would hold the other's wrist while spinning and spiraling overhead of the audience. And, without a net. I wonder if they take turns being the holdee and the spinee from show to show. Other scenes had Martian-esque acrobats tumbling and pyramiding on top of each other, plus gangsters trampolining as part of their fight scene. Very cool!!

This show's LA home is Hollywood & Highland, so give Iris a look when you're in the 'hood.

Click here to go to Cirque's Web site.

Tom's Farms

A trip to Corona means a Glen Ivy spa visit (see August 2011 post) plus some chow at Tom's Farms. Talk about a one-two punch of goodness!! This time, I'll highlight Tom's.

If you don't know Tom's Farms, it is a collection of shops featuring produce, wine and cheese, furniture and home decor, dried fruit, candy and ice cream, plus burger and Mexican restaurants. Here you see my tasty Cowboy Burger with bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce, an onion ring, lettuce and tomato that powered me up for some other shopping – the chocolate-covered dried fruit is fabulous! – before heading back to LaLa land. Yeehaw!!

Who wants to make a run to Corona with me?!

Click here for Tom's Farms' Web site.

Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles

Have you heard about Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles? In a revamped warehouse near the Port of San Pedro, Crafted is a hodgepodge of artisans selling their wares in little market stalls. Remember my Handmade post from December? It's like that, only with food options as a bonus.

OK, so here's my take: red velvet cakepop from Cake Bar; macaroons from Soft Peaks - are you ready for these flavors: Apple Pie, Lemon Acai, Chocolate Chocolate, Raspberry Kettle Korn(!), and Salted Caramel; leather necklace and ring (you can't really see it but it's there) from Leather E; paper-ribbon flower pin from California Bungalow; and grapefruit sorbet body lotion from Skin Like Butter. Oooh la la!

Crafted is currently open Friday through Sunday. They have artist demonstrations, food trucks and musical performances throughout the day. I'm definitely going back, because not all of the artists were there today. I gotta see what else they have!

Click here to go to Crafted's Web site.

Shakespeare in Griffith Park

Add another attraction to my Griffith Park rave list: free Shakespeare performances (#10 and counting!). Thanks to the Independent Shakespeare Company (ISC) and a number of community organizations, you can get your culture on at no cost through Labor Day!

On the grassy glen near the Old Zoo caves (see December 2009 post), ISC has been performing "The Winter's Tale," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "The Comedy of Errors" to packed crowds this season. I've seen - and heard them laughing - when I've been hiking in the evenings. I decided to finally see "Dream" on a whim after work, so I grabbed some grub from Whole Foods and found a seat out on the lawn for my picnic and the play. What fun! I'm bummed that I didn't make it out earlier.

Sorry for the late notice, but who wants to see "Errors" with me?!

Click here to go to Independent Shakespeare Company's Web site.

De Temps Antan at the Skirball

Working at the Skirball Cultural Center, I get to see fabulous world music on a regular basis. These guys - De Temps Antan - are my latest faves I "discovered" at the Skirball. Eric Beaudry, Andre Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis SOUND like they have more musicians in the band because they use their FEET for percussion. How fun to see them singing and jamming on the guitar, fiddle and accordion while the tootsies are clomping, stomping and clogging at a blurring speed! The Quebecers sang in French, but it didn't matter. The crowd was clapping and cheering because the music was so invigorating. Go see them!!

Click here to go to De Temps Antan's Web site. Note it is in French!

See's Scotchmallow

I'm getting braces in the morning. Apparently, "as we get older" our teeth can shift. Great! And, once they start shifting, they usually keep on moving. Fabulous!

Knowing I'm not supposed to have anything sticky or chewy for the next year or so, it's last call tonight. See's Scotchmallow – with the delicious and off-limits combination of caramel and marshmallow – answered the call.

If you don't know Scotchmallow, it is a layer of buttery caramel topped with soft marshmallow and dipped in dark chocolate. Yummy! Scotchmallow is my favorite from See's; no other chocolate can stack up. And I have four of them to stock up on tonight.

Scotchmallow, I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Click here to go to See's Scotchmallow page.