The best things in life are free. (No, really, they are!)
So glad my friend Devon has returned from her 5 weeks in Greece (on a dig) to Los Angeles. On Sunday, she and I got to meet up for the first time since she's been back, and walked down to the annual Lotus Festival in Echo Park. The usual booths of community orgs, food, wares, a stage w/ various performers (from local bands to a gaggle of pre-adolescent hula girls), &c. Mostly, it was nice being outside, in the not-too-humid weather catching up with my friend. We were most enthralled by the Echo Park Neighborhood Society table (I picked up a packet of vintage print postcards and a nifty historical map of the area) as well as the vast array of succulents for sale from the Cactus Ranch in Reseda (19420 Saticoy St). We plan on taking a field trip out there soon. You only think it's not exciting, but stay tuned! I promise to take my camera to document the adventure.
Saturday night, I went to my friends', Katie Shapiro and Jeff McLane, photography show, "Coastal States". It was a group exhibit at a space in Highland Park / Eagle Rock area with a bunch of her friends from Cal Arts. Hadn't seen Katie or Jeff in a while, so it was nice to catch up a bit. I was there with two of my friends from USC, Marci (who's off to TX to teach Chicano Lit in the English Dept at UT Pan American) and Sam Park, who teaches mainly drama in the English Dept at Columbia Art College in Chicago. We dished, dined and reminisced over delicious organic Vietnamese food at Lemongrass in Eagle Rock, then headed to cleanse our palates (but not our thoughts) at Pink Berry in Silver Lake. Perfect icy, tart end to the evening.
Already planning for next weekend: Devon and I are taking the train down to Anaheim to see the Red Sox game. Never been to the Angel's Disney-fied stadium, so that should be fun. Always enjoy a day at a ball game, too.
And then, of course, there's "The Dark Knight." And, I have yet to see Hellboy 2, so next weekend should be equally packed with diversion.
