The L.A. trip thread

We made it. Just landed in Long Beach.
- jim 12-25-2003 9:01 pm

Oh my god the house is amazing. WiFi is on. Will post some pictures later today.

It is absolutely pouring here. Supposedly the first rainy Christmas in 20 years.
- jim 12-25-2003 11:51 pm


The house we are at is called "The Loring House," and was designed by Richard Neutra. It is not the Neutra Case Study house, as I originally thought, but one of a handful of other houses he built in L.A. This one dates from the 50s. It is at the top of Nicholas Canyon in the Hollywood Hills. Modest size glass box type thing, with pool, perched on a cliff. Probably 1200 - 1500 square feet. The perfect size, I think (maybe I've been in NYC too long.) All glass, everywhere. Amazing views. Very simple, very elegant.

I've never been to L.A. before, and never really wanted to, but I'm fairly impressed so far. The architecture is the main thing for me, and it is really cool. Especially out here in the Hollywood Hills. MB has her camera, so some higher res photos will follow (hopefully tonight.) I'll be posting to the photolog from my phone today.

Off the The Getty now.
- jim 12-26-2003 9:39 pm


pls include bathroom and kitchen details.
- bill 12-27-2003 7:47 am


The Getty was nice. Really long lines, which I hear is unusual. The parking is quite a ways from (and quite a ways below) the huge complex of buildings. You queue up down there, and a cable car takes you up to the mountain top. We mostly walked around outside which seems like what most people do. The architecture somehow overwhelms the art, but this might not be a bad thing. Beautiful grounds; extensive gardens; stone, stone, stone.

We did breeze through a photography exhibit by Julia Margaret Cameron, an English woman whose work is from the 1860's and 1870's. Lots of portraits which I am unqualified to really comment on.
- jim 12-27-2003 10:02 pm


Nice lunch yesterday at The Lobster out on the pier on Ocean Avenue. And then a big Mexican dinner with friends last night (trying to find that name, it's a little foggy.) Tonight we go upscale to Lucque's, a place recommended by our friend Matt from 71.
- jim 12-27-2003 10:13 pm


And on a nice note, Hertz locked the keys inside the car we reserved, so after a little fuss they upgraded us to a Jaguar. Nice. Climbing up and down Nicholas Canyon to and from our house is very fun in that machine. Perhaps my passengers have thought it a bit too much fun for me.
- jim 12-27-2003 10:30 pm


Pictures today will start at the Frank Geary designed Disney Hall. I'm sure you can hardly wait.
- jim 12-27-2003 10:32 pm


i love the photolog with you in LA:>)
- Skinny 12-28-2003 3:20 am


Thanks. If anyone wants to fund my perpetual travel I'd be happy to keep it up.
- jim 12-28-2003 4:07 am


buy TINY
- Skinny 12-28-2003 4:41 am


What's the place with the giant binocular? the birdwatching museum?
- alex 12-28-2003 5:43 am


Frank Gehry's Chiat/Day Building, Venice CA (sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen).
- tom moody 12-28-2003 6:06 am


Please keep the pics of that amazing house coming.
- steve 12-28-2003 10:19 am


Last night was the coldest night on this date in LA since 1916. It is freezing here! I brought t-shirts and sandals. D'oh. Otherwise things are going well. Great meal at Lucque's last night. One of the staff was a recent transplant from NYC who we all knew from Prune. Nice to see a familiar face.

And while in Venice Beach yesterday I ran into an old college friend Jessica. It's very comforting to see people you know in strange places.
- jim 12-28-2003 9:26 pm


ok, I think we're all sold. pulling the tree up by the roots and we're all moving to LA.


- bill 12-29-2003 12:39 am


After a few days of clear and sunny, if cold, weather, this morning is cloudy and grey. The forecast doesn't look too good either. Still, we are getting it together to leave this house and head out of L.A. toward Joshua Tree.

Yesterday morning saw a fine brunch at Campanillia. Recommended. Poked around the city during the day. Saw the Schindler house (which you can walk through - I put a bunch of pictures in the photolog) and then drove past a bunch more Neutra houses in Silver Lake (all private residences.) After seeing more of his stuff I think that the one we are staying in is pretty remarkable. I love his style, but he also made some buildings I don't find very impressive.

Also saw the Frank Lloyd Wright Mayan influenced Ennis-Brown House which, despite the fact that it appears to be about to fall over, and the exterior is positively crumbling, really is quite impressive. Amazingly set into the hill high up over the city.

Then last night we ate at Matsuhisa (that's Nobu Matsuhisa's place, who later opened Nobu in NYC.) The interior was like a typical neighborhood sushi place in New York (i.e., nothing fancy like Nobu,) but the fish was *very* good. I had the best piece of torro I've ever had. Also something called Hairy Crab (it was actually hairy on the outside,) which is supposedly a great delicacy in Japan, only available for a month or two a year.

One of our party of four, A., left last night to return to the City and work. Flying in and out of Long Beach is not that difficult - and riding Jet Blue makes it definitely worth it (love those seats!)
- jim 12-29-2003 8:18 pm


My mind is completely blown, and my wallet is a fair bit lighter after a trip to 2020 wines (2020wines.com) on our way out of town. Thanks Skinny!
- jim 12-30-2003 12:18 am


In Passedena for lunch at 29 Palms. Nice spot.
- jim 12-30-2003 12:19 am


update: lunch was Twin Palms, not 29 Palms, and the food was fair to poor.

Also, apparently there is this thing called the Rose Bowl which is a pretty big deal.
- jim 12-30-2003 12:50 am


i doubt the good people of pasadena think of themselves as "passe" but ill take your word for it. did you catch rose bowl fever at lunch?
- dave 12-30-2003 12:54 am


We didn't stay long enough to even learn how to spell it.

Out in the town of Desert Hot Springs. Just checked into the Miracle Manor (miraclemanor.com) - headed for the hot pools now.
- jim 12-30-2003 3:42 am


Miracle Manor is indeed something of a miracle. Six rooms in a completely renovated 1950's era motel. Hot mineral spring feeding the pool right outside. 103 degree super hot end spilling out into 90 something degree pool. Our hosts set us out tequilia shots upon arrival. 4 of the 6 rooms are New Yorkers and supposedly that is not unusual.
- jim 12-30-2003 8:43 pm


Ended last night with a 1999 Zind Humbrecht Heinbourg Gewurztraminer. That was after the surprisingly decent Korean meal in the tiny town of Desert Hot Springs (about 3 miles from the manor.)
- jim 12-30-2003 8:47 pm


I WANT TO GO, so many places to take Ryley,all over the world, but the dessert draws me......
- Skinny 12-31-2003 1:51 am


Joshua tree today. We caught a beautiful sunset driving out. Miracle Manor had no room for tonight so we are now at the perhaps overly poshed up Two Bunch Palms. Going for dinner now and then back to the jacuzzi and our last bottle.
- jim 12-31-2003 6:26 am


Back at Long Beach Airport. Should be in NYC before midnight.
- jim 1-01-2004 12:53 am


Back at Long Beach Airport. Should be in NYC before midnight.
- jim 1-01-2004 1:15 am


call me....loved this vacation of y(OURS).....
- Skinny 1-01-2004 6:16 am


We're back. Great flight. Jet Blue rocks. Happy New Year's everyone!
- jim 1-01-2004 7:03 am


HNY!!!
- bill 1-01-2004 8:44 am


Happy New Year. Welcome back. I (vicariously) enjoyed your trip. I was hoping you were going to go those weird mud baths, but the trip pictures are great.
- tom moody 1-01-2004 10:21 am





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