Surf’s Up! (Photo By Gail)
In this Surfing Edition of the globally popular board game, the 6 collectible pewter tokens are a Surfer, Woodie, Flip Flop, Beach Cruiser, Shark and Surf Wax. Bitchin’!
Photographed by me at Tom’s Toys on Honalulu Street in beautiful downtown Montrose, California!
Huntington Library Signage Featuring Original Audubon Drawing
The Huntington Library, contrary to what you might deduce from its rather literal name, is a former private estate property located in San Marino, California that now hosts a vast and mind blowing art collection and multiple, unique botanical gardens and sculpture collections, in addition to housing one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States. Seriously, the place is amazing. You could spend an entire day there and not get bored.
I spent an afternoon at the Huntington Library this past December and had the best time. Here are some photos I took to give you an idea of what you might see if you decide to visit.
Pinkie By Thomas Lawrence (1794)
Much of the Library’s collection of paintings centers around 18th-century English portraiture. Pinkie, one of the most famous paintings of its time, hangs directly across the room from Thomas Gainsborough’s Blue Boy. It is really hard to avoid being moved by their beauty and profound emotional pull.
Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough
Many of the interior furnishings and fixtures in the main house/gallery remain from the time it was inhabited by its original owners, Henry and Arabella Huntington. You can see from the above light fixture that they had exquisite taste.
Mrs. Huntington was a dedicated collector of fine hand-painted china. There are several large rooms entirely devoted to showcasing her collection.
Because the Huntingtons were ridiculously wealthy, they traveled the world and added pieces to their collection from the countries they visited. The chest that flaunts this insanely ornate Mother of Pearl inlaid design is from Japan.
The pristinely landscaped grounds leading up to the main house and gallery are flanked by a remarkably gorgeous marble statue garden. Yes, rich people really used to live this way.
I love this large fountain, which bookends the sculpture garden.
It should not surprise anyone that the Library grounds are home to an indoor Rainforest.
They also have a huge Japanese Garden which features a large pond, statues, sculptures, a tea house, bridges and topiary.
Last but not least, there is small collection of Contemporary Art which includes pieces by some of my favorite artists, such as Andy Warhol, bringing the historical art experience full circle.
The Huntington Library Art Collection and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. Phone (626)405-2100 or visit their Website for hours and admission information.
Shark Attack Plush Toys! Photographed by me at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California!
Photo By Gail
I was last minute Holiday shopping with my sister at Tom’s Toys on Honolulu Street in beautiful downtown Montrose, California when we spied on the shelf this game centered around the fun objective of cleaning up dog excrement! Exciting! We could certainly use the real life version of this game here on the streets of New York City!
Photographed by me at Tom’s Toy store on Honolulu Street in Montrose, California.
Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who and certainly one of the most awesome living Rock Stars ever in the universe of all time, was born on this day, May 19th, in 1945. I’m lucky enough (meaning that I am old enough now) to have seen The Who live in their prime before the death of Keith Moon. This was way back in March of 1976, at the Anaheim Stadium in Orange County, California where I grew up. I think the ticket was $12. I’d say that show is probably in the top three or four concert experiences of my life, and I do remember it was VERY LOUD, despite being held at an outdoor sports stadium with a capacity of over 55,000 people. My ears still hurt. In fact, according to Who legend, that concert is the one at which Townshend claims to have lost a good percentage of his hearing. “Happy Birthday, Pete!”
When I am in California I eat too much delicious Mexican Food. Because, well, it is so delicious!
More rad posts about the West Coast will be on the way next week, once I recover from all this fine sun and delicious food. Happy Mother’s Day!
I got home from California just before midnight after waiting in line for a Taxi at Laguardia airport for – I wish I was making this up – an hour and 20 minutes, only to find / smell not one but two dead fish in the tank, due to overfeeding by their caretaker. It’s nice to know I was missed.
Me Having Fun In LA, Left to Right: Ryan, Me, Sue, Nathan, Wendy, Jason, Seven, Anna. Fun!
I know it’s been a while since I updated this thing. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. I was away because I flew out to California to surprise my Dad for Father’s Day, because that is just the kind of amazing daughter I am. Dad was really surprised and happy to see me and did not have a heart attack and die in the restaurant as I feared might happen when he saw me, being that he was not expecting me to show up in California from NYC for Father’s Day. Thank goodness he lived, because accidently killing my Dad on Father’s Day would have really been a drag.
Before I went down to Orange County (where my parents live) for the Big Father’s Day Surprise, I had the chance to spend a couple of days in LA hanging out with my West coast peeps, eating many delicious foods and getting way too much sun. It was awesome. And you should see this hot pink, Indian silk print slip dress I got on Venice Beach for $10! What a bargain! I Love California!
Please enjoy a collection of rad pictures of me having fun in the sun after the jump.
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