Weekly Updates

A few things...
Whales - yesterday I volunteered for a couple of hours in the Gray Whale Census Project - their were 2 spotting before 8:30 amd and then another 8 after 1 pm. Again, I delighted in spotting the dolphins cavorting and sea lions flipping around the kelp.

PV Art Center
The PV Art Associates co-hosted the art reception last night and gave $60,000 to the PV Art Center as a result of their chef's dinner fundraising event(s) last summer. The reception was very well attended and I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese drum performance which added another interesting dimension to opening which focused on Japanese internment during WWII.

Dine L.A. Restaurant Week

Reading the LA Times was a breeze today. Since I didn't see much good news - I bypassed all the articles on the economic slow down, store closures, rising unemployment, crime, war and a smattering of pretty unappealing articles. What caught my eye however, was Dine LA 2009. Oh goodie! Something I coule sink my teeth into and enjoy! (pun intended)!!!

Here's the low down: Jan 25-30 & Feb 1-6, many hot restaurant are offering 3 course meals at lunch and dinner at reduced fixed prices. There are some very good restaurants particpating such at Trump National Golf Course (one of my personal favorites) and Flemings. Lunch prices are $16, $22 and $28 while dinners run $26, $34 and $44. (Excluding tax and tip of course)

This is an opportunity to sit back, forget your troubles and enjoy a first class meal at a decent price. Escapism by dining. Sounds good to me!

Bonapetite! Dig In. Enjoy. Life is short.

For more info go to dinela.com/restaurantweek

Bottlenose Dolphins off of Palos Verdes

This week after reading "Dolphin birth a magical reward for volunteer spotters off Palos Verdes", and watching the dolphins cavort off Redondo Beach shores while walking the Esplanade, I thought it was a great time to volunteer and help these wonderful creatures.

At 9 am this morning, I showed up at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, borrowed a powerful pair of bincolulars and met 2 women who have volunteered in the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project for 20 years. Although I did not spot whales, for a good 10 minutes I followed a large pod of bottlenose dolphins headed south along the coastline, near the kelp beds. And I did see one sea lion jump out of the water and plop back in.

The rain came at 10:30 and cut the visabilty down..and it was cold! So I headed home, with feeling that somehow, I had contributed even in a small way to my neighborhood under the sea.

Here's a blurb from the LA Times Outpost: The volunteers see things both mundane and miraculous as they monitor goings-on in the San Pedro Channel daily from sunup to sunset. If you'd like to volunteer, call Alisa Schulman-Janiger at (310) 519-8963 or e-mail janiger@bcf.usc.edu. Or simply show up and ask how you can become involved.

Inaguaration Day - Today - Streaming Live!

Yes, I am one of the West Coasters who started their day a few hours early to watch the Inauguration. I looked out my bedroom window to see the sweeping bands of blue and peach colored sky, and pulled back the covers. Time to see what is happening on the other side of the country.

I am one of millions of Americans who have optimism for the future. It feels like the New Year is starting today. (Adios and good-bye to 2008 fa-la-la!) I was hopeful that the stock market would improve as I logged onto www.bigcharts.com. I was hoping the economy had magically rallied along side of the collective positive mood of millions of my fellow Americans . Ok, well, time to turn on the TV.

You can't help but have a sense of excitement as the motorcade makes it's way past millions of Americans cheering Obama. History! Streaming live!

This is one of those "I remember when" moments when 30 years from now, I will be able to describe this event to my niece and nephews.

Palos Verdes to Downtown LA View

The picture-perfect views from Palos Verdes these past 8 days of 80 degree, clear weather were glorious. The sunsets were spectacular - with the visible buildings of downtown LA.

On the Esplanade

With the outstanding weather, the Esplanade has been the perfect place to walk, watch dolphins and strike up conversations. I met several dogs (Boomer and Einsteen) and their owners (names unknown) and a person from one of my networking group who's name was familiar but who I hadn't met in person. The Esplanade has been pretty busy lately - a visiting family member asked me what all these people did for a living. Who knows...maybe there are more admireres of the Esplanade with the rise of unemployment and the slidingly south economy. The Esplanade is a great place to unwind and that is what one person I met was doing. Looking out into the ocean, taking it all. Trying to figure out the puzzle in his head. He asked if I thought things would get better soon. Yes.

L.A. Art Month (This January!)

While watching the evening news, it was announced that Jan is LA Art Month. Oooo-ahh! Art month! Hurray? What does it include? Where are the fun events? Go to http://www.laartsmonth.com/ to find out!

There are hundreds of museums, theatres, galleries and other fantastic ways to experience the cultural side of Los Angeles, so take a friend or the entire family and visit a museum or cultural institution you’ve never been to before - you’ll be surprised what you’ll discover. Visit discoverLosAngeles.com/laartsmonth and you will find art, activities, museums, dining, guided tours etc.

I have been keeping my eye on the LA Opera - one of these days!

Holiday line-up

This was a particular busy holiday season filled with all sorts of wonderful performances. Before we move on to 2009 - it's worth mentioning that "Deck the Halls" at the the impressive downtown Walt Disney Concert Hall. Song sheets were distributed for the sing along and it could not have been more fun and festive. The best part was the entire hall belting out the 12 days of Christmas on their "assigned" days. The music center offers free children's performances with music, song and story telling through their World City program. For more info go to www.musiccenter.org/education.

We also saw Fiddler on the Roof which was very well cast and well done. Traaaa-di-tioooon! That was at the South Bay Civic Light Orchestra where we later caught Nun-sense the Holiday version. Original one woman cast. Funny as all heck and good clean fun. Highly recommend that as well. The one woman Sister act does good deeds and collects money for the retiring nuns. Did you know that in 20 years there will be no nuns in the US? This was a shocker. I have fond memories of the nuns at my Catholic elementary school.