On Salad for Dinner

I suggest pairing this salad with a dry,
white wine, it is summer after all!

Those who know me know that I eat salad for pretty much every meal. Salad is one of my all time favorite concepts.  Tonight I nixed the lettuce and made something new.  It was scrumptious and I think you should try it.  Here's what's in it:
Steamed Potatoes 
Fresh Chopped Basil
Diced Hardboiled Eggs
Parmesan Cheese
Olive oil
Salt  
Pepper

On A Rock

Opening Day. Photo courtesy of LACMA.org.

Recently I spent an evening at LACMA.  One of the museum's many draws that evening (aside from live Jazz, catching up with a friend, and an opening exhibition) was a gigantic rock atop a concrete walkway.  I am sure many of you have heard of it-- Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer. The hoopla caused by bringing this celebrity rock to the Miracle Mile meant more to me than seeing the rock actually set in place.  The process of getting the rock to Los Angeles is better explained here and will soon be made into a documentary.  Will you watch it? A movie about a rock?  Some interesting deets about this rock:
The rock will remain where it currently is for the next 3,500 years. (Who came up with that number?)
Heizer once dug a series of holes in the Sierra Nevada and is currently working on a three square mile project called "City".  He has been working on "City" since 1970. 
He tried to build Levitated Mass with a smaller boulder back in 1962 and the crane snapped. 
This exhibition cost upwards of $10 M. 
So is a rock, just a rock, just a rock? or so much more?
You tell me. 

On So What is Pantone Anyway?

Alright, alright, it took me a little while to get this one straight, but Pantone is a company best known for its color matching system.  This system is basically a catalog of color shades that enables people to match colors across industries (ie so a florist can talk to a graphic designer and be on the same page about a certain hue) and across countries (no need to keep rouge straight from rojo straight from rosso).  This system is mostly used in the printing industry, but Pantone is worth noting because every year they release the Color of the Year.  This hue dictates everything from the shade found on movie posters to cardigans to eyeshadow. This year it is something sassy: Tangerine Tango.

On A Summery Thing to Do

I have this never ending bucket list of things that I want to do this summer.  I feel like I need to keep telling myself that I won't be returning to grad school in the Fall and that some things can wait until September or October and that I don't need to fit it all into what's left of July and August. 

One thing that I have done and enjoyed very much and would like to do again very soon is an outdoor wine tasting.  There is nothing like getting off work, taking off your shoes, spreading out a blanket, and tasting wines as the sun softens overhead. 

For those in LA there are many options.  Barnsdall Art Park has wine tastings every Friday--where I was last Friday. It's a touch pricy ($25 for a 4 wine flight) but all the proceeds go to restoring the Hollyhock House.   Malibu Wine is a bit of a trek, but there is no need to make a reservation and it is open 7 days a week ($12-$14 for a 4 wine flight).  

Malibu Wines pictured here.

Last summer, I will never forget a wine tasting I had in Santa Barbara.  It was right on the pier at the Conway Family Wines' Deep Sea Tasting Room.  This summer, I might try a tasting up in Oxnard.  

On An App Worth Your Time

There are a lot of good apps out there, but there is also a lot of nonsense that you need to weed through to get to the good stuff.  That said, there is one app that I do recommend (aside from the essentials: Yelp, Instagram, Pandora/Spotify, Shazam, Fandango). While it doesn't have the best name, MPhotobooth, it has the best function.  MPhotobooth brings to you your own portable, personal photo-booth.  Last I checked, photo-booths are a party in and of themselves. Check the latest from my recent trip to Northern AZ.

On Spending Time Outdoors

It's summer and it is time to get outside, friends! Days are longer. Weather is better.  Think of the things to do in the great outdoors! 

                                                                      For Those in L.A.

1. Hike                                                           Echo Mountain, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (for a quick one!)

2. Bike                                                           Along the coast or on Ballona Creek Bike Path

3. Run                                                            Griffith Park, Silverlake Reservoir, Mandeville Canyon Trails

4. Picnic                                                         Barnsdall, Kenneth Hahn State Park

5. Outdoor Movie Screening                             Oscar Outdoors, Eat See Hear, Street Food Cinema

6. Beach day!                                                  Malibu! Redondo! Manhattan!

7.Weekend camping trip                                  Jalama Beach near Santa Barbara

8. Dine al fresco                                              Just about anywhere!