This is fun. Write your memoir in 6 words.

http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/

This sounds intriguing, got it off a listserv.  Also, could be a fun cheap date/recession fun outing -

" The Coffee Cup Collective is a project sited at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and Swork for the Intersections 2009 exhibition. The production phase of the project introduces participants to ceramic reproduction methods with the aim of manufacturing coffee cups. Completed cups will be inserted to Swork’s dish inventory and be activated by Swork’s staff to serve beverages to customers.

Participate in the production activities of the Coffee Cup Collective
- Make a 2 Part Plaster Mold
- Slipcast Coffee Cups
- Glaze Bisque Ware
(all materials, tools, and equipment supplied)

Where:
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041

When: (drop in any time during the sessions)
May 26, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 2, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 6, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
June 9, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 11, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 16, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 18, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For more information:
Edith Abeyta - (323) 906-1978 or edith@edithabeyta.net   "

We visited Lechuza Beach over the Memorial Day weekend, arriving right when the tide was pretty high - after sunset but still light out - so we couldn’t walk onto the beach.  Still, it was very cool.  Look how close the water comes to the stairs.  It was as if these stairs led straight to the ocean.

I loved the rhino-looking rocks.  This one reminded me of a lonely beast looking out to sea:

Previously when I visited Lechuza, I got a nice stretch of the beach.  Not this time:

We found free parking in the neighborhood right next to an Aston Martin and beach-front mansions.  The gate was locked on our way out but a neighbor freed us.

For directions on how to visit Lechuza, a free beach with free parking, visit here.  To read about my other Malibu beach exploits and how to get on David Geffen’s beach, click on my Malibu Beaches for All post.  The Los Angeles Urban Rangers taught me how to operate these beaches; sometimes, they run free safaris to the Malibu beaches.  Now that summer’s rolling around, the beach is calling you. 

* Caution - Lechuza Beach and the secret beaches of Malibu do not have lifeguards, bathrooms, and civilization around them.  Visit at your own risk.  Certainly don’t go into the water at high tide and don’t go alone. *

Along with the Police Historical Museum.  I went on this day last year - great fun!  We took mugshots at the police museum and ate free hot dogs there.   :0)

From Pasadena Now:

I’ve become a fan of the store.  I know I pooh-poohed it in other posts, but now I have become a fan of the artisan sourdough wheat bread (it toasts quite well) and the super-fast checkouts.  I have never stood in line there.  I just walk right on up to one of the atm-like check out stands and voila, I’m out.  I think it helps if you don’t have a lot of items, which is usually my case.  I tried one of the soups (as per a reader’s suggestion) and it was good too, and I finally got a bag of lettuce that did not go bad in a day.  I will say the store definitely is "easy" and the bread tasted very "fresh." 

From J, I learned this:

Monday, April 27 - Free grilled chicken at KFC.  Grilled, not fried.  KFC’s branching out.

Tuesday, April 28 - Free chicken at El Pollo Loco till 8 pm.

Wednesday, April 29 - .31 cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins from 5 - 10 pm (firefighter fundraiser)

Yeha!  Recession dining continues…

The Pasadena Waldorf School is hosting its second annual Festival of Art on Saturday, April 25, 2009, 10 am to 5 pm.  I’ve been curious about Waldorf schools ever since I read that its students learn how to knit and weave even before writing.  The thinking behind this is if a student knows how to make clothes, she’ll be empowered.  I could have this all wrong though.  Please enlighten if you know.  Nonetheless, the festival gives outsiders a chance to tour the school’s wooded grounds.

http://www.pwsfestivalofart.com/

209 E Mariposa Street, Altadena, CA 91001

***** UPDATE ****

I went to this and it was great, very peaceful and relaxing.  The campus is idyllic with its shady trees and bungalows.  I was impressed by the selection of artists too; they seemed to be representing higher quality work than what I’ve seen at other art fairs (i.e. South Pasadena’s).  Also the food, though just with two vendors, was great:  vegetable fritters, healthy vegetable chow mein, potato latkes, gourmet pizzas, and more.  This was a zero-waste event, meaning all trash was either recycled or composted.  I was impressed.  I also got to visit a very cheerful, yellow classroom and see the handiwork of the students.  Yes, they do learn knitting and then progress to making clothes, dolls, and animals.  They also have a school period called "games."  The school just seemed like a really safe, protected place.  I couldn’t tell if the kids did computer projects or had computers.  A place without texting - could it be?

Santa Monica Library is letting borrowers check out real live people!

What a great idea!  I kinda am interested in talking to the ex-gang member.

$50 spa treatments during Spa Week, April 13 - 19.

To find a spa near you, go to www.spaweek.com.

I suggest making an appointment with a spa that has facilities - sauna, steam, whirlpool, gym, pool - so that you can make a true, getaway day out of this.  The Pacific Waters Spa in Huntington Beach and Spa Xanadu in Arcadia are two such spas.  I’ve been to both and had a relaxing time.  Ask the spa if they’ll order food for you.  Though it’s a recession, you can still get your spa on. 

Hop Li in Arcadia is currently running a $1.38 dim sum promotion (Monday through Friday) celebrating its 4th anniversary. Hop Li is one of my favorite dim sum places because there’s usually no line.  I hate waiting in line for dim sum.  Sure, you might think the no line is a bad sign but it’s not.  Hop Li is in Arcadia, far enough away from the Monterery Park, San Gabriel, and Alhambra dim sum scene that it doesn’t attract big numbers.  Plus the restaurant is large and nice looking. 

Twohey’s in Alhambra has a month-long $.66 special celebrating their 66 years in business. 

April 9 - 15 = .66 floats

April 18 - 22 = .66 mini-sundaes

April 23 - 30 = .66 Stink-O-Sliders  (I believe these are little burgers.)

Eat for pennies!  Hooray for anniversaries!

Find out on April 4th and 5th, 12 pm - 4 pm, at the Petco in San Gabriel.

Petco

7262 N. Rosemead Blvd.

www.mybunny.org

(626) 576 - BUNI

Just don’t let your Easter bunnies wind up here.

Indian sandwiches or naanwiches!  I’ll have to stop by this place next time I’m in the Miracle Mile.  I read about this on EatingLA.com.  I tried to do a direct link to her post about the Cowboys & Turbans restaurant but I couldn’t figure out how to do it.  Cowboys and Turbans serves Indian street food.

I got the Greek salad from Fresh and Easy and it was very disappointing - just some hacked up leaves thrown haphazardly in a container. (Trader Joe’s has much better salad presentation.) The leaves did not remain fresh for longer than a day despite the freshness date on the package.  Is this because Fresh and Easy does not use preservatives, artificial flavorings and colorings?  Has anyone else received limp, brown lettuce from this place?  This is the second time I’ve brought home salad from them and saw it turn brown within a day.

Anyhow and regardless of my disappointment with F&E, I still find myself drawn to the place and buying chocolate chip granola bars from them.

Can a cheap meal be had at Whole Foods?  As I get to know its second floor eating area better, I think I can say….Yes.  The breakfasts, tacos, and Middle Eastern food all seemed reasonably priced.  Then I saw this on WF’s (Arroyo Parkway location) calendar:

Saturday March 21st and Sunday 22nd

Whole Lotta BBQ!

12pm-3pm $5 per plate

Join us at the Demo Station both days to get your loaded down plate of BBQ, chips/cookies, salad, and drink for only $5! And all the proceeds go to the Whole Planet Foundation. Help end poverty and end your hunger all at the same time!

____

Get your plate "loaded" with BBQ for only $5?  This I have to see and maybe I will see it twice. 

Yesterday, I had WF’s Korean spicy chicken bowl and I was pleased with it; the spinach and brown rice with it were great.  It’s not that cheap though at a little over $8, but it was good and the health factor makes me like it more than other Korean fare.  It’s what I would call Healthy Korean Cuisine.

Whole Foods affordable in a recession?  It just may be possible. Plus they have free Wifi.

Whole Foods

465 South Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105 USA
Phone 626.204.2266

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

is Friday, March 13, 2009.

Here are the deets.

The new Samurai exhibit at the Pacific Asia Museum is free on this night too.

The Pacific Asia Museum is hosting a free family day this Saturday, March 14, 2009, from 12 - 4 pm.   The exhibit is "The Samurai Re-Imagined: From Ukiyo to Anime" and features samurai, manga comics, armor, and robots.   The day includes free admission to the galleries plus crafts, performances, demonstrations, and more fun.

Also part of the exhibit are a series of related events; one about game design.

Saturday, March 21, 2-5pm
Discussion, Games People Play
Join game designer Alexei Othenin-Girard as he discusses the history and development of game design. The event is followed by a workshop on the fundamentals of game design.
  

Pacific Asia Museum

46 N. Los Robles Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91101

(626) 449-2742

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

Just take the Gold Line to Memorial Park.

The San Gabriel High School Parent Teacher Student Association wants your electronic waste - old TVs, computers, toner cartridges, mother boards, vcrs…etc.  Check out their flyer on the SGHS website for more details.  Microwaves will be accepted for a $5 fee.  This is a great way to get rid of junk in your home and benefit a public school.  I’m planning to discard an old heater that doesn’t work and some laser cartridges. 

San Gabriel PTSA will be hosting a FREE eWaste Collection Event at the school’s south parking lot on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.

I’ve been busier than usual but I got wind of a few interesting sounding events:

a re-enacted mysterious air raid in Long Beach today

a bonsai-a-thon at Huntington Gardens today

and a modern Samurai exhibit to open at the Pacific Asia Museum.

Hope you can google can find more….Sorry…short on time….and have to be up at 4 am!

This CNN article says it’s not.  Well, we’ll see.  Last night’s Academy Awards was pleasantly India-dominated.  I enjoyed seeing the Indian song and dance numbers from Slumdog Millionaire, and hearing the speeches of the Indian winners which seemed to be less self-centered than the speeches of others. Jai Ho!  Indian Composer A.R. Rahman has made his country very proud after having won two Oscars in one night for best score and song. I wonder if the Academy is more globally focused now due to Obama’s presidency. 

Go here and enter in some text.  Hit submit and out comes your wordle, word art.  Click on Wordle.net’s gallery to see some samples.  Words that are repeated will appear larger.  If this makes no sense to you, please just go to the site and play around.  It is super cool!  If you’re a teacher, this could be a fun classroom activity.  If you fetishize words and fonts, you’ll be in heaven here.  This site is great too for those who are challenged in the graphic design area but want to make cool looking signs.

www.wordle.net

See a wordle of this blog entry at unhipla’s wordle gallery.  This one’s my favorite unhipla wordle so far.

The LATimes recently ran a story about shopping in Little India (Artesia) with Slumdog Millionaire Actress Freida Pinto.  Click here for her finds.  I’ll have to check out this Cottage Art place next time I’m down there.

So I’ve now been to Fresh & Easy in Alhambra three times and can say this - I don’t like the shopping experience there.  The aisles are smaller than most grocery stores, so it’s hard not to run into someone.  I felt cramped and cornered there.  Also the ready-made food section looked very uninspired.  I could not bring myself to buy anything from there.  I do, however, like the tea section; it seemed to have more unique teas than most stores and A LOT cheaper at $2.15/box.  Whole Foods did not have chocolate tea, but Fresh & Easy did. (I just saw that Trader Joe’s sells tea cheaper than Fresh and Easy.)  I did get some Fresh & Easy chocolate granola bars that were hearty and tasty. I did not look forward to checking myself out though.  As I was bagging my groceries, another family started scanning their purchases, so their stuff collided with mine.  Grrrr!  After shopping at F & E, I have decided I like the little luxury of having a clerk and bag person.  F & E makes Ralphs seem like a spa.  I did see a lot of families shopping at F & E, so I’m guessing there are good deals on meat and produce.  I’m really more of a ready-made, frozen, and snack shopper, so perhaps my views of F & E are not the norm.  Also, I think the rainy weather has made me more cross than usual.  Grrrr!