Tag Archives: california

Book Review: Made in California Revisits the Nostalgia-Inspiring Restaurants of The Southland

made in california book cover photo by gail worley
Photo By Gail

I lived in Southern California until I moved to NYC at age 27; and from ages 3 to 19 (1964 to 1980) I resided in the city of Orange. The main street in my neighborhood was Tustin Avenue, which was populated with countless fast food and casual restaurants including McDonalds, Taco Bell, Marie Callender’s, A&W (Root Beer) Drive Up, Arby’s, Jack In The Box, Winchell’s Donuts, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, IHOP, Baskin Robbins and others whose memories have been lost to time.

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Uptown Rocker By Lloyd Hamrol in Downtown Los Angeles

Uptown Rocker by Lloyd Hamrol in Downtown Los Angeles
All Photos By Gail

This past Christmastime, I traveled back home to California, where I spent many days of wild abandon exploring the southland like I had not since I was a resident, nearly 30 years ago. On a day spent scouring the many wonder-filled features of Downtown LA, I looked down from an overpass I was crossing on Grand Street and spotted this magnificent beast. The curved concrete sculpture features silhouettes of painted steel cars roller-coasting up the structure’s  curve.

Uptown Rocker by Lloyd Hamrol in Downtown Los Angeles

Part of the Bunker Hill public art project to beautify the Downtown LA area, this monumental piece is called Uptown Rocker by artist Lloyd Hamrol. While initially it appears that you its located on one of LA’s crazy freeways, the sculpture is actual;y located on the very busy Fourth Street. It might be fun to experience the sculpture while driving by,  but I think that where I was standing (officially the South Grand Avenue bridge crossing Fourth Street) is the ideal Uptown Rocker) viewing location.

Uptown Rocker by Lloyd Hamrol in Downtown Los Angeles

Pink Thing of The Day: Strawberry Angel Food Mini Cakes

Strawberry Angel Food Mini Cakes
Photo By Gail

One of my favorite things about visiting Southern California has to be shopping at the massive supermarkets they have out there that are the size of a Home Depot for Food. I found today’s Pink Thing, these yummy-looking Strawberry Angel Food Mini Cakes, in the Bakery section at a Ralph’s in Montrose.

Pink Thing Of The Day: Pink Flamingo Pool Statue

Flamingo Pool Statue
All Photos By Gail

Ah, California at Christmastime is a singular experience, filled with visions of kidney-shaped swimming pools expertly re-created by the pool replastering Orange County company and of course, oversized Pink Flamingo statues.

Swimming Pool and Famingo

Because, why not?

Swimming Pool and Famingo

Swimming Pool and Famingo

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Kenny Scharf’s Kosmic Krylon Garage, Pasadena

Kosmic Krylon Garage
All Photos By Gail

Artist Kenny Scharf rose to prominence in the 1980s New York art scene as part of a now-legendary group of artists including Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, but he was born and raised in Los Angeles, and now makes southern California his home. If you also live in LA, or plan to visit, and you love art, then make a point to check out the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA), which, as the name suggests, features exhibits exclusively by California artists, architects and designers. Although the museum’s exhibits change approximately every six months, there is one permanent exhibit by Kenny Scharf, which happens to be in the parking garage adjacent the building; the Kosmic Krylon Garage! Let’s take a look inside! Continue reading Kenny Scharf’s Kosmic Krylon Garage, Pasadena