So much happens on summer nights in LA. This past Friday I discovered the Odd Market at the Autry museum. From June through October, the third Friday of the month. Since I had renewed my membership, it was free, otherwise, it’s $5.
On the lawn at the east side of the museum, activities for kids and a lot of families out on the grass. Parking is very easy, right across the street in the zoo parking lot, since it starts at 6, most zoo visitors are already gone.
All kind of food trucks set up shop.
This one is advertised as a French Fry truck, but most of the advertisements are for Vietnamese food. Go figure.
Me, I had a donut and fried chicken sandwich, because everyone needs a treat from time to time.
There are plenty of vendors, selling, jewelry, clothes, toys and other interesting items
I bought a cute pair of sunglasses.
Most of the booths are just pop up canopies. But some are trucks or airstreams.
This is the most unique one, built on a flatbed.
How cool is this owl!!! Hand carved by someone in Reseda.
I love this owl. There is plenty of stained glass as well, made by another local artisan.
Yes, they sell those new age mystical things. But I kept paying attention to the details. Like the railing made out of pipes and pipe fitting.
On the back, sliding glass doors with 100-year-old stained glass from a church in Connecticut. Now sandwiched between thick glass. So it’s hard to see the details, but it does make for a good reflection back onto the grass and the people.
The big rides with the tower of the museum in the background.
A little storm-trooper, happy as can be.
There are two galleries open during this event. So people get some culture along with the fun. I’m sorry to say that the Deborah Butterfield horse is in storage. I understand museums have more work in storage than out on display, I guess it was time for the horse to get some rest.
The next night we were in a local park for a new series of weekend concerts. I hope this event, Noho Summer Nights, grows. The opening act was ok, good voice. Can I just say I am so sick and tired of everybody sharing all their issues, especially depression? Telling an audience out for a fun evening is simply a way of making you feel good while we get to feel bad. Shut up and sing.
Then there was a wonderful Queen cover band, didn’t stay till the end because it was really cold. (that’s June in LA for you). So I didn’t hear Bohemian Rhapsody, but a lot of other good classics.
I’ll be back!
Leah
Getting this behemoth into the apartment was tough. Luckily it did fit in the elevator, but doors were removed and hinges taken off. They aren’t moving anytime soon. They also had to rewire, since this is an industrial oven.
Making the starter. Sarah works with both sourdough starters or in this case – homemade yeast water. The yeast water was a few days old, bubbling away, from this stage until baked bread – it took 1.5 days.
She made the yeast water starter on Wednesday night. By Friday morning the dough itself was ready to be formed.
Each ball is rolled out, then twisted into this little braid, it’s not a challah, it’s much smaller.
Letting them rise some more, then they are dipped in water and poppy seeds.
She mentioned a German name, seeing that see grew up in Austria, I know it has the word Muhn in it, since that means poppyseed. These are not sweet at all, but oh so yummy.
Using the same dough and this finger trick, she also made Jerusalem bagel, which is covered on both sides with sesame seeds. Same dough, different taste because of the seeds.
This is true sourdough made from spelt. Yup, all kinds of interesting grains out there and each needs it’s own starter.
Obligatory images of the piles of vegetables at the open market.
As well as fruit, the citrus season is ending just as the strawberry season starts.
I know, it’s not food, but I did deliver the quilt, the parents are thrilled.
The baby couldn’t care less.
Capturing rain on camera isn’t easy, believe me, it was pouring! I was supposed to give a tour to high school students. We planned on meeting in Pershing Square. I stayed across the street under the overhang at the entrance to the Starbucks in the Title Guarantee building. We all huddled there until the rain cleared a little and then it was off on a tour. Most of the tour was fine, towards the end the rain started again.
Thanks to the rain, there wasn’t a line at Eggslut in Grand Central Market. I finally had my chance to try thier famous sandwhiches. My verdict? Meh. Not worth the wait. It was a fine egg sandwich, I’m glad it’s off my bucket list. Sure, if there isn’t a line I’d get another, but it certainly isn’t worth the hype.
The first picture was taken at noon, this one at 2:30. Ah, LA Blue skies! Now, you have to understand, photography is all about how you frame the image. the the left and behind me there were still gray ominous clouds, which later that day dumped more rain. But this is the sky we are famous for.
A few days latter and I’m on the northern rim of the San Fernando Valley, in a neighborhood called Porter Ranch. Hiking with a friend, enjoying exercize, good company and great views. The haze over the valley is haze, not smog, within the hour it had lifted.
The first part of the walk was on city streets, we looked down over this horse path, our hike was a circle, so coming back would be on this path.
And here we are. The hill sides are still covered in the old dead chapparal, but a lot of new growth is happening because of the rain.
Look at the size of the boulder that fell from the hillside. We saw a lot of evidence of mudslides. Most dragged down the litter that people have thrown, this one brought down some rocks and a large boulder.
See, the haze lifted, back to our glorious blue sky!
So I picked the lemons.
Bought some American Handmade Vodka. Not sure how one ‘hand makes’ vodka. Is it like moonshine?
Peeled the lemons very thinly.
Put them in mason jars, the recipe said, steep for 4 days.
Turns out it all fit in one jar.
Then I made a simple syrup, sugar and water, I cut down on the sugar just a little. Combined the two and voila – Limoncello. I also refilled the vodka bottle, but this is a prettier picture. I love how yellow it is. So not only did the peels infuse the vodka with a wonderful strong lemony taste, it gives it a bright yellow color.
YUM! Success, and since I have so many lemons, I will probably make more to give as gifts. The leftover fruit will become marmalade, nothing wasted here. LeChaim!
