Ok, not *technically* the Beatles ….
Although, they DID perform at the Hollywood Bowl (waaay back in 1964-5 I think) …. And recorded an album (The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl)
(video below … blame the poor sound quality on the legions of crazy fans)

Last Saturday, we ALSO saw the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl – or, rather, a Beatles tribute concert ….
My parents, grandmother and great-aunt all came out from Phoenix for the weekend to attend the Hollywood Bowl. Also along for the ride, my uncle/aunt/kids who live in Santa Clarita …

It’s no big secret that I love musicals.
With all my heart.
Last year I got to go to 2 (TWO) musicals at Pantages — because Julie wanted to go and needed a date, I guess
Then, for Christmas she gave me a gift certificate for the Pantages.
And I hyperventilated a little bit…..
And then strategically planned how I was going to get to see one of my top choices on a weekend (since I work nights) that Andrew could also go.
No small feat, I assure you.

But !!  We did it!
In the …

Another in the series of Top 5 Favorites.
We really like where we live and all the food options around us …. I figured I should narrow it down somehow, so for now just the top 5 favorite restaurants ON Ventura Blvd NEAR us …. Otherwise this list could go on forever….
P.S. When you come visit us we’ll take you to any one of these places.
Top 5 Favorites
My favorite restaurants on Ventura Blvd (in no particular order)

Tomato Patch – Fresh fresh salads, sandwiches and soup. The kind of place where the …

I lived in Santa Clarita for something like 16 or 17 years and I never ever went to the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival (formerly the ‘Cowboy Poetry Festival’) …. but as soon as we move to Encino, there we were. back in SCV!
Every April for a full weekend the city of Santa Clarita puts on their Cowboy Festival.
It reminded me of the Renaissance Faire … but for the ‘old west’ ….
For the last decade or so, the festival has been held at Melody Ranch, an old movie studio deep in …

Sunday we went to the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles …. Wow. Seriously. We planned on around an hour or so to see the Elvis at 21 photography exhibit (there til March 28), but we could have easily spent all day at the museum.
Why didn’t anyone tell me!!?

I definitely want to go back to the Grammy Museum and spend more than an hour. You could make this an all-day event. Especially as it’s on the campus of L.A. Live. Go to an early lunch, and then spend the whole afternoon …

Did you know that the Los Angeles Times hosts a Travel show every year?
I didn’t …. until this year.
It was incredibly crowded and busy, and full of people trying to sell you things. But SO INTERESTING.
There was snorkeling and lassoing and surf lessons and golfing. There was an old greek man giving away alcohol and a booth where you could have your photo taken in cowboy or indian garb. There was an African musician. There were 2 (2!) booths giving away massages.
And piles and piles of paper with pretty photos, …

Allegedly – according to Wikipedia – Mentryville, CA was an oil boom town.
I’m not sure I believe it.
Right now it consists of a parking lot ($5 for parking??? give me a break), a house, a boarded up school and a couple barns.
Not too sure where the town would have been …..
For those of you who did NOT grow up in Santa Clarita with all kinds of urban legends about Mentryville and the cults that lived out there ….. Mentryville is basically a state part just on the outskirts of Santa …

Our friend Michael came out to L.A. from Phoenix over Halloween weekend. His girlfriend was working out of L.A. for a couple weeks, so he came to visit her and we roped him into visiting us.
Saturday we did breakfast at Cici’s … then back together for Angela and Devo’s wedding reception ….
Sunday we did lunch (ish) at Jerry’s Deli, then I had a meeting (and Andrew went to the beach with them), then I get home Sunday night and Andrew says that Michael and Christina were at a rooftop bar …

At the end of August, we visited the Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood, run by The Cinefamily.
This place is great! One more reason we love living in Los Angeles – We drove there via Sunset Blvd, through the hills and the gorgeous neighborhoods and big trees that make up Bel Air and Beverly Hills.

Into Hollywood, where there is a music or comedy venue every block. I love L.A.
From their site – info about the theatre:
Built in 1942 by John and Dorothy Hampton, The Silent Movie Theatre ran for decades as …

I’m pretty not great at blogging. I just feel rushed or that what I want to say never comes out as genuine as I want it to sound. I’m drinking Hennessy right now to make me care a little bit less about my digital voice (actually Amy just called so I’m on the phone with her right now; ok now back to my blog) A couple of weeks ago my work took a wonderful evening trip to see Green Day at the forum. Here are a …

Omigod, omigod you guys!
I love musicals. I love them. love them love them love them.
Love musicals.
So when Kaitlin called me and asked if I was interested in seeing Legally Blonde: The Musical (Julie’s treat), even though I had never seen the movie, didn’t know any of the music, and don’t really own any pink, I said “Heck yes!”
They met me at our house Saturday morning …. Andrew came with us and the 4 of us went to check out Kaitlin’s chosen wedding venue one last time (blog post to come) …