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  • Balboa Park – a Destination for All

    When most people think about Balboa Park, they usually think about the zoo and maybe the botanical garden. There is so much more to this park including an amazing history. Balboa Park was originally called City Park and consisted of approximately 1,400 acres of undeveloped land. The bulk of the facilities were built as a temporary venue for the Panama- Exposition of 1915. Think about that – the majority of the buildings were never designed to be in existence in 2025! The Spanish Colonial architecture style truly fits the environment.

    Today, Balboa Park is 1,200 acres in size. Throughout the decades, Balboa has experienced growth and a number of different styles of architecture have popped up. In particular, I have wonderful memories of the Starlight Bowl which was built in 1935 and originally called the Ford Bowl. Unfortunately, the theater shut down in 2012. During my childhood, my family attended many nighttime performances of classic musicals. Because of the proximity to Lindbergh Field Airport, performers needed to watch the conductor’s podium for the famous red light. The minute it went on, all performers had to freeze completely until the light went off – basically, once the plane flew over the bowl. It was so much fun to watch actors freeze mid song, dance and so on. In addition, each performance had to use a small red box as a prop. This prop went back to 1945.

    During our recent visit, we enjoyed a late lunch at the Prado restaurant. It first opened in 1935 and is located in one of the buildings built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. It offers both great indoor and outdoor seating. Personally, I love going for a late lunch to avoid the crowds. I really like the restaurant’s crab and spinach dip; it is made with mascarpone cheese and is so rich and flavorful. The restaurant’s flan is amazing as well.

    The big destination, of course, is the zoo to see the pandas. The pandas are adorable but I much prefer the tigers, hippos and bears. The baby bears are especially adorable. The zoo offers double-decker tour buses but we prefer to walk. During our most recent visit, we saw the highlights and walked almost 6 miles in less than four hours. My advise is to arrive early to avoid the intense afternoon crowds. We arrived a few minutes before 9 AM and found parking by the entrance.

    One of the newest museums is the Comic-Con Museum. My father was a comic book writer who created Sabrina the Teenage Witch so this museum is, naturally, a favorite of mine.

    In summary, Balboa Park really does offer something for everyone.

  • In Search of the Perfect Pastrami Sandwich in Southern California

    While I have spent most of my life in Southern California, I was born in NYC and spent my twenties there. The cliches about deli food, pizza and Chinese food in Southern California are true – most of it is disappointing.

    Deli food, in particular, is a challenge. The ultimate test is a pastrami sandwich. New York is the birthplace of the American pastrami sandwich. Back in 1887, a kosher butcher named Sussman Volk served the first pastrami sandwich. In my opinion, Katz’s Delicatessen in lower Manhattan makes the best version. You are even given a taste of the meat as it is sliced for your sandwich.

    In California, my favorite place is a 2-hour drive away from where I live. Tucked inside a small strip mall in Northridge is my favorite deli Brent’s. The exterior is very unassuming. The restaurant opened in 1967 and serves all the classic deli items. Not only is the food terrific but the staff is extremely friendly and makes you feel like family. Call me crazy for making the drive but the pastrami is worth it. So many places serve either dried out or really fatty and bland pastrami. Plus, pastrami needs to be served on fresh rye bread that has a slight chewiness to it. Brent’s rye is so amazing that I usually buy a loaf for home. In addition, the plate of pickles is a nice touch and reminds me of the assortment served at Katz’s in New York.

    Recently. I discovered a second option that is a little closer to home. Located in adorable downtown Fullerton is Roscoe’s Famous Deli; this restaurant has only been around for about 14 years. Like Brent’s, the sandwiches are enormous. The bread at Roscoe’s is sliced a little thicker than normal but is delicious. I asked our server about the bread and was told that it is made at a nearby specialty bakery. The olive on top of each sandwich half is a pleasant addition. Roscoe’s definitely has a fun pub atmosphere with both spacious indoor and outdoor dining.

    In summary, I really like Roscoe’s but I love Brent’s. I will continue to make sporadic two-hour excursions to Northridge for the ultimate pastrami adventure!

    Pastrami from Brent’s
    Pastrami from Roscoe’s

  • The Brightest Museum – Vegas of Course!

    The Neon Museum in Las Vegas is one of those museums that appeals to everyone. For years, I have seen photos and heard great stories about it. Finally, my husband and I recently visited the place. The Neon Boneyard does not disappoint.

    The museum, founded in 1996, is located in the downtown area in the lobby of the former La Concha Motel lobby and a surrounding 2.27 acre space. Naturally, it is a dream location for taking amazing selfies and so much more. The place reeks of old rat pack Las Vegas.

    I highly recommend taking a docent tour. We learned so much. It turns out that the casinos did not own their elaborate neon signs. The signs were actually owned and serviced by companies such as the Young Electric Sign Company. Many of the signs were rescued from demolished casinos and then lovingly restored by the museum. Some of the signs go back to the 1930s and 1940s. The signs are named after neon gas which emits a red ish-orange color. However, other gases, such as argon, which reflects a blue light, are used as well. The average lifespan of a neon sign is between 8 and 15 years.

    Fremont Street still has lots of neon signs but much of Las Vegas has switched to LED signs. LED is not only provides more energy efficiency but more creative opportunities…or so “they” say. That said, I am a fan of old school Vegas glitz and really loved my time at the Neon Boneyard.

    The Iconic Hard Rock Sign
    The Museum Entrance – La Concha Motel Lobby

  • Old Town San Diego As a Breakfast Destination

    I have been going to Old Town for years but only recently discovered it as the perfect breakfast destination. Not only is the food great but the park is so uncrowded and easy to navigate. Parking is free and plentiful and there are no lines at any of the restaurants.

    Breakfast starts at 8 AM at our favorite restaurant the Old Town Mexican Cafe. Both my husband and I have been eating there since we were kids. The restaurant makes the most delicious corn and flour handmade tortillas. We usually buy some to go. I warn you – it’s hard to eat the grocery store tortillas after tasting the ones from Old Town. The restaurant opened in 1977 and is packed during the tourist season. I love going there for early breakfast because we are able to get in without waiting on line. The food is terrific. Also, for the less adventurous, the restaurant serves a “Gringo Breakfast” option of eggs, bacon and toast.

    Post breakfast, my husband and I enjoy walking around the park and making a few purchases at some of the stores located inside the Old Town area. My favorite store is Toby’s Candle & Soap Shop. I love their shower steamers. They work much better than any other version that I have previously tried. My husband’s favorite is the candy store Cousin’s Candy Shop. We usually buy several different flavors of the homemade fudge. The shop is very gracious regarding samples if you are unsure about some of the more unique flavors. On our last visit, we opted to buy Churro fudge after trying a sample.

    These are just a few of our favorite things to do while at Old Town; there are so many more shops and restaurants. It’s also a great destination for a family reunion. A few years ago, my family held our reunion at Old Town and it was a huge hit with my cousins who flew in from around the country.

    Tortillas at the Old Town Mexican Cafe
    Breakfast Omelette at the Old Town Mexican Cafe
    Enjoying the Scenery of Old Town in San Diego

  • Writer’s Drama In Coronado CA – 6th Annual SD Writers Festival

    My husband and I just attended the Sixth Annual San Diego Writers Festival. It was an amazing event with panel discussions for everyone.

    Call it a combination of spring fever and frustration over recent national politics. I was feeling out of sorts until attending this recent writers festival. I loved every panel that my husband and I attended. Reading a great book takes me to another destination, time period and so on.

    My husband and I both love murder mysteries, historical fiction and nonfiction. Our first panel was about crime and included several authors unknown to me as well as the charismatic Lee Goldberg. Goldberg is known for his work as as a television screenwriter on Hunter, Spenser: For Hire, Monk and Diagnosis Murder. Not surprising, he has a very quirky personality. He is also extremely regimented in his writing technique – sticking to his initial outline. Others on the panel claim not to know the killer until they are in the middle of writing. This is not the case with Goldberg. I am currently reading his latest novel Ashes Never Lie. It’s an easy and fun read with a clean writing style.

    Our second panel was about historical fiction and included former newspaper reporter and editor Stephen P. Kiernan. His latest novel, The Glass Chateau is a World War II novel about the restoration of the stained glass windows in the cathedrals of Europe. On the same panel was first-time author Trisha R. Thomas owned her own wedding dress shop for 14 years prior to writing The Secret Keeper of Main Street. Her previous career inspired Thomas to write a tale about an African American wedding dressmaker in Oklahoma in the 1950s.

    I so enjoyed my final panel for the day with Ed Bagley Junior. I have always enjoyed his work as an actor. I was unaware of his serious battles with alcohol and pills back in the 1970s. Based on what he shared regarding his consumption and car accidents while driving under the influence, he is lucky to be alive. Parkinson’s has slowed him down physically but his memory is sharp and his sense of humor is phenomenal.

    Because this was a smaller venue, lines were at a minimum and we were able to have conversations with the writers. People were generous with their time and stories of how they broke into the business. I will definitely be attending this event next year.

    With the amazing Ed Bagley Jr.
    This is the Sixth year of the event
    A few of the treasures my husband and I brought home from the festival

  • A Vitamin B Shot of French Culture in Fullerton CA

    Last night we attended the first evening of Fullerton College’s annual two-day French Film Festival. We tried it on a whim and wow! We had a fantastic experience. The students and faculty put together an impressive event. Prior to the screening of the 2022 movie The Innocent, the festival offered a great taste of French culture with: freshly made Nutella crepes, French doughnuts and other yummy tidbits. As we sat outside on a beautiful spring evening, we enjoyed a variety of French music while everyone hosting wore fun berets made by the students.

    I cannot tell you how uplifting the night was for everyone attending. I especially enjoyed seeing how enthusiastic the students were as they focused on the attendees and carried out their assignments. The first night had a great turnout; the organizers really set up everything so well that did not feel overwhelmed.

    If you have not seen The Innocent, I highly recommend you do so. It is a combination of a comedy and heist film set in current times. The star of the film, Louis Garrel also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. It was nominated for multiple Cesars Awards (the French national awards) and was screen at the 75th anniversary Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

    Social media is incredibly helpful for spreading the word about upcoming events. In this case, a Facebook posting informed me about a French film festival at college almost two hours away from where we live. This film festival has been going on for 13 years and is delightful. My husband and I were so impressed by the creativity demonstrated. As a result of our experience, I am putting it in my calendar for next year.

    Freshly-made Nutella crepe
    Faculty and students being honored by the city council of Fullerton

  • The Amazing French Cheese That Looks Like Cantaloupe

    A few years ago, my husband and I, along with a few other family members, were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by a French family temporarily living in the United States. It was probably one of the best holiday meals I’ve enjoyed – even the roasted turkey was fantastic (coated in a mixture of beer and Dijon mustard)! The hosts invited another French couple who were professional cheesemakers. Naturally, this couple brought the cheeses for the traditional French cheese course. Our hosts baked beautiful homemade baguettes to go with the cheeses. The cheeses were served after dinner – before dessert. I do not remember what desserts we ate but I still think about those amazing cheeses.

    Recently, I rediscovered the joy of specialty cheeses. Going back to that Thanksgiving with our French hosts, they served three cheeses and provided a suggested order in which to try them.

    When serving an assortment of cheeses, it is a good idea to include a mixture of cow, sheep and goat ones. In addition, the proper order is to go from mildest to sharpest varieties. Our French hosts served their cheeses with a few grapes and an anise aperitif. Personally, I prefer to pair my cheeses with dried fruit and a ruby port. As of lately, I am really into golden prunes that I buy at a local Middle Eastern market.

    Also, I think it is fun to introduce guests to less well-known cheeses. Recently, I was introduced to the French Mimolette made from cow’s milk and aged for 18 months. The exterior is rough and looks like a mini boulder. In fact, the hard exterior is covered in cheese mites. Consequently, the U.S. banned this cheese for a number years over unwarranted safety concerns. It is best to let this cheese sit out for a while to really enjoy its full flavor. It has a nutty and somewhat sweet taste.

    Finally, I am a huge blue cheese fan. I enjoy it in salads and cheese plates or as its own appetizer with thinly sliced pears, dates or toasted walnuts. It is a strong cheese so it is best to enjoy it last – after eating milder cheeses. Saint Agur is a French blue cheese produced from cow milk in central France.

    The Cheese Course at Our French Thanksgiving Day Dinner

  • A Murder in Hollywood – Fantastic Read!

    This is one of those books that I had to finish quickly. I stayed up late for several nights in a row. It is about the 1958 Johnny Stompanato murder at the hands of either Lana Turner or her daughter Cheryl Crane.

    This famous murder case has so many interesting facets. Was it really Cheryl or did her famous mother Lana Turner kill him? How much cover up did the legendary attorney do prior to notifying the police? Stompanato’s association with the mafia and his partnersip with the infamous Mickey Cohen makes the story even more juicy.

    The murder happened before my time but has alwys intrigued me. I aways thought that Cheryl Crane killed him but this book addresses why Lana Turner most likely killed him. Stompanato was a brutal thug who was an enforcer for the notorious Mickey Cohen. Cohen eventually ended up in Alcatraz.

    Sherman goes into detail regarding Turner’s tough early years. Apparently, she slept with many of her male costars and other famous men, including the notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel. The Howard Hughes and Joan Crawford tidbits are especially entertaining.

    She appears to have been an unfit mother who exposed her daughter to a sordid life filled with a series of vile boyfriends and husbands – including one who sexually abused Cheryl for two years. It is difficult to feel empathy for Turner – not doing a better job of protecting her daughter and letting her take the blame for Stompanto’s murder.

    Turner hired the most definitive powerhouse Hollywood attorney of the time to handle Cheryl’s defense – Jerry Giesler. Other famous cases he handled include: Errol Flynn, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Bugsy Siegel. Supposedly, Siegel had once told Turner to hire Giesel if she ever got into trouble. Interestingly, in his tell all book, Giesler omits the Lana Turner case from his memoir.

  • Artesia CA – A Foodie’s Nirvana!

    I have spent most of my life in California but only recently discovered the food paradise of Artesia. A particularly popular section of the town is referred to as Little India. There is a plethora of restaurants to pick from. On our first visit, I chose The India Restaurant based on online reviews and a personal recommendation from a coworker who is as into food as I am. So far, we have not had one disappointing dish there. I am a big fan of both the garlic nan and cardamom tea. The shrimp masala is another favorite of mine.

    In addition to the restaurants, I cannot say enough about the specialty markets of Artesia.We have tried two of them and found unique items in both. Spices, snacks, grains and even unusual coffees and teas. I’m lucky that my husband is into trying new things; he never discourages me from picking up foods new to us. Plus, I have found the employees are extremely willing to assist and to answer questions.

    Finally, there is an inviting Filipino bakery, adjacent to my favorite Indian restaurant. It’s called Bakes and Pastes and it sells amazing sweet creations as well as gourmet Dubai chocolate that is stuffed with a unique and delicious pistachio filling. I am new to Silvanas but wow! It’s a cookie sandwich on steroids. I especially love the cashew and cookies and cream versions.

    In summary, run – don’t walk to Artesia!

    In front of my favorite restaurant in Artesia.
    The Garlic Nan is Incredible!
    Me having fun at a specialty market in Artesia
    Amazing Silvanas from the Filipino bakery called Bakes & Pastes on Pioneer Blvd.

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  • Unlocking the Middle East with the Help of Nixon

    On a recent visit to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, my husband and I saw a special exhibit about the Middle East.

    The library curated an exhibit that does an excellent job at showing the culture and accomplishments of the people – including some exquisite jewelry, bowls and other artifacts. However, for me, the big takeaway is conflict and missteps in resolution.

    My husband and I are both huge movie buffs and really enjoyed the section about Lawrence of Arabia. If you haven’t seen Peter O’Toole in the 1962 movie, please do so. Thomas Edward Lawrence started his Middle East adventure with high hopes. By the end of the Arab Revolt, he was so frustrated by the British mishandling of the Middle East that he turned down a knighthood from King George V.

    The exhibit is thorough at explaining the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916 which essentially divided the Middle East into sections without taking into consideration religion and other cultural differences.

    The background stories of the last Shah of Iran, Golda Meir and Anwar El-Sadat are all covered in this comprehensive exhibit as is the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956.

    Nixon was in the White House during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Hence, the exhibit has numerous photos of Nixon in Israeli as well as in Egypt and Syria. My favorite photo is of Nixon and Sadat speaking with one of the Pyramids in the background.

    Lawrence of Arabia