22 weeks

What a different a couple weeks make, huh?



There's no mistaking the baby belly now! Sergio sweetly told me over the weekend that he was "proud of my belly." Why? "Because our baby's in there." (swoon)


Last Sunday, we went to both Unique L.A. and the L.A. Autoshow. And then we spent the evening with some friends we hadn't seen in a long time. It was a very full day but so fun.

The day actually started right before 5AM. I couldn't get back to sleep because I'm starting to get uncomfortable in bed. I lay around for a while when I noticed Bonnie was up on Twitter! We quickly arranged to meet up at Handsome Coffee where Eggslut L.A. truck was going to be parked. Handsome is kind of hardcore about their coffee so no decaf was available. Luckily, we got the start time wrong for Unique so had the chance to stop in at The Parish where I got my decaf fix and a delicious biscuit with homemade jam.

Unique was really fun this year. I gave Bianca of Chaparral Studio a big hug and admired her sexy lady caves. I might even get a little pregger lady one for myself. ha. It was so fun to spend the day with B and Miss V but we had to jet over to look at cars. I felt bad dragging Sergio out of bed so early on a Sunday so promised we would hit up the Auto Show. Ended the busy day with a beautiful, cozy homemade dinner at our friends' house up on Mt. Washington and 3 different sorts of pie we picked up at Unique from I Heart Pies,

Urth Caffe / Downtown L.A.

We saw a guy about some chairs one crisp winter morning. We were in the Arts District downtown so decided to pop in to Urth Caffe for breakfast. We looked at a couple units in the Barker Lofts across the street back when we were house hunting. I remember the sales pitch touted the imminent arrival of Urth. Ordering was a little intimidating. Who knew there were so may questions to answer when ordering a cappuccino? (S/M/L? whole/skim/soy/almond? regular or European roast?)

We sat outside under the much needed heaters. There was quite a chill every time the clouds rolled in front of the sun. The food was very yummy. Sergio got poached eggs over prosciutto and I ordered a breakfast burrito. Healthily decadent, if there can be such a thing. Everything was fresh and high quality - nothing was greasy or heavy. I couldn't believe how busy the place was! I think everyone in all the nearby lofts was there. Being in the area made me wistful for the time when we were seriously planning our lives for loft living.

Alyson Iwamoto Ceramics

I discovered Alyson Iwamoto's work at the recent State of Unique (formerly Unique L.A.) Local Love show.



We chatted with Alyson for a bit. She told us about the labor-intensive process and a cute story of how her husband doesn't know what he's allowed to eat in the fridge anymore. I really wanted one of those gorgeous melon vases. Or the radish one. I ended up with this adorable brooch instead:



This little guy has stolen my heart but I'm sure going to keep an eye out for Alyson's fruit and veggie creations. Find her here: http://www.alysoniwamoto.com

Speaking of the event, I found a picture of us on the State of Unique blog! Mental note: Those pants are way better with a heel.

Bottega Louie Breakfast

A weekend breakfast/brunch at Bottega Louie is really so wonderful. Except it's too loud. For me. There must be something wrong with my ears. We'll be back for sure, but early, before the crowd of loudness.





One day, I'm going to spend my morning at this gorgeous bar, sipping French 75 and nibbling on lemon ricotta pancakes.


Who wants to go with me?

Full photo set here.

Downtown Art Day

The Affordable Art Fair & LA Art Show were happening at the same time and right near each other. Art perusing is really one of our favorite ways to spend time. Also, the breezy, bright day made strolling around Downtown so pleasant.

Hasta luego Rob Lee

Rob is going to cook in San Sebastián, España, for three months. Martin Berasategui is a three Michelin starred Basque restaurant on the northern coast, two cheek besos away from the French border. (I know, right?) We gathered to say farewell at Honda-Ya, an Izakaya in the Little Tokyo Shopping Center. Sergio and I were pleasantly surprised to come across a cool art show on our post-dinner stroll.





Full photoset here.

P.S. of previous post

My half of our sandwich at Bottega Louie.

A City Afternoon, thanks to Richard Mora

This day promised to be a great from the very start. The sky was blue, air breezy crisp, and we had tickets to God of Carnage, currently being performed at the Ahmanson by the original Broadway cast.



Of course, a pre-show meal was in order and we decided on Bottega Louie, a downtown restaurant/bar/deli/patisserie with a Galeries Lafayette (Paris) feel - an instant favorite! We swung the glass doors open into an airy, light filled space, humming with conviviality. Customers were seated and munched away happily, waited eagerly in line, or browsed the long case of gorgeous edible wares. Employees bustled and swirled around the ebbing and flowing crowd with friendly efficiency. We shared a ready-made sandwich from the deli that they unexpectedly halved and plated for us with a side of Dijon potato salad. Upon snagging a seat in the tightly packed bar dining area, we were offered complimentary flat or sparking water.

The stroll to the theater amongst the tall architecture of downtown was pleasant and, thanks to the sidewalk slant of Bunker Hill, quite warm. The outdoor plaza at the Music Center was alive with a festive dance celebration, I think having to do with the Alvin Ailey show that just opened at the Dorothy Chandler. We entered the Ahmanson and settled into our seats for a story we knew nothing about.

image via

Wow! No wonder they extended the run and of course it has won awards. What a fun and unexpected production. Marcia Gay Harden is brilliant in this (and surprisingly athletic). It is one-act but never tedious. The entire show is basically a single conversation between two, really messed up couples and slyly, with humor and charm, presents a host of social -isims: racism, classism, sexism, alcoholism, homophobism, rude cell phone yakking-ism, etc. for consideration.

If you can, go see it! Here's a link to a LAT cast interview.

We couldn't resist swinging back into Bottega Louie for treats to take home! Look how lovely...

macaroons in their pretty pink box


macroons on our newly thrifted pyrex plate


raspberry beignet, so not a jelly doughnut people



THANK YOU Richard! Sergio and I had a wonderful day. We owe you a macaroon or two. How about another lunch? Louie's maybe?

Grayson's Baptism

We were so honored to be part of Grayson's baptism earlier this month. It was at the amazingly modern Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown. The little guy was startlingly calm throughout the day. Such a sweet kid! And then we took a scenic ride to the ocean for a beautiful luncheon at Inn of the Seventh Ray in Malibu. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the food tasty.







What a wonderful, wonderful day.

LA Cornfield

Kicked off Birthday Weekend 2010 with a potent Chi-Chi at Damon's last night. I ordered a steak. I rarely do that but it really hit the spot. But now, I'm kind of turned off the meat for a while...

This morning, we are off to check out the Renegade Craft Fair.

Craftiness from all over the country, live music, workshops, food trucks! Oh my. And it's free! Yay!

Sewing, gocco-printing, kite making, yarn-spinning--and a rogue marching band.

I am SO there.

Part of my eagerness to attend is the chance to check out the location: LA State Historic Park. Growing up, we drove by the site almost weekly, to or from Chinatown. It was always a parking lot of industrial ugliness. And then all the containers, buses, trucks and tracks disappeared. It stayed that way for a while. About once a year, rare rainwater naturally cultivated the latent seeds in the deserted field into lush, lush, jewel-like green, fallowing to dust as the summer heat drew near.



I remember how exciting it was to learn that the state acquired the parcel with open space intent. And then an artist, Lauren Bon, became a farmer and planted a cornfield. (A great interview with her is here.)



"A living sculpture in the form of a field of corn." It was fantasy become reality. It was beautiful. I remember my mom asking if we were allowed to go down and pick the corn to eat. I said, "No, It's art. You can't eat the art." The pictures and project documented here.

There are such big plans for the park. Some include shutting it down for years to build a high-speed rail through it, honestly, I'm torn about.

Anyway. Enough of this mental meandering. I'm off to the cornfields!!

Wurstküche vs. Rambo 2.7.2010

vs.

Wurstküche serves sausage and beer only. Yelpers seem to love this place. It is located in the excruciatingly hip Arts District in DTown and is purported to serve flavor packed sausages and exotic meats. The drafty warehouse space is kept dim, the music almost loud. The furniture was way cool. The tables, chairs, barstools -- even the food trays -- were geometric shapes. The looong beer bar was also a nice touch. I think all of their beers were on tap. They also featured a really neat variety of glass bottled sodas (cucumber soda anyone?). Patrons skewed young and dressed to match the location. Long communal tables were conducive to conversing with strangers. Way chill and comfortable. Nice friendly vibe.



Sergio: Alligator & Pork, Smoked Andouille Sausage
Elsie:Green Chillies & Cilantro Chicken&Turkey
Small Belgian Fries with Pesto Mayo dipping sauce to share
Total: $20

Verdict
Meh. The fries w/sauce (really just the sauce) and room/furniture were the best parts of the meal. Both of our sausages were dry and shrunk down to maybe half the size of the bun. There was definitely some flavor there, but no juiciness. And they got so small! Sergio was still hungry. We were already discussing where to get more food as we got up from our table to leave. Decision? Rambo's Tacos on Eagle Rock was our next stop.



Atmosphere: It's a taco truck. Added bonus: possibly the best taco truck art ever! Sergio got two Tacos al Pastor. Total: $3

Verdict
When we got home and he dug in..."wow!" he exclaimed. No need for the hot sauce on the side -- the well flavored meat is already spicy in a nice way. I didn't have any this round but have had them once before and know they are good. "So much better than those sausages!" he said.

Wurstküche: 0
Rambo: 1

Michael vs. Orochen

My cousin is visiting from NY right now. He saw a show called Man vs. Food where they featured the #2 special from Orochen Ramen in Little Tokyo. He vowed to order (and finish) the proclaimed spiciest bowl of ramen in the U.S. When he got there, he decided to take the 30 minute challenge for a chance to be posted on their wall of fame! Here he is, waiting for our table, getting tough for the challenge.















We order beer and Calpico in anticipation of mega-spicyness to come.

I order the #6 -- very benign. It was a normal color and very tasty! Not enough noodles though. Sergio almost ordered the #2 but got the #1 instead. I tasted it and it was pretty dang hot. His and Mike's bowls were a fiery red. Chi got the regular #3 and even he said it got really spicy toward the end. I can't IMAGINE what the Specials were like. Probably like fire. Or lava. Or the surface of the sun.



Mike's finished all the noodles at this point and ready to slurp up the soup! His face belies the burning insides...



A fortifying swig of Calpico....



...and he's finished!! With 6 minutes to spare! Lookie at all the admirers at the tables behind him! See video below.


Photo for the Wall of Fame!



Sergio still enjoying his #1. He was actually really liking the soup and wanted to finish. But we had to get out of there and walk for Mike's benefit. He said the quantity and temperature of the soup was worse than the spicyness. We had to get out and walk it off in the night air.



Refreshing pinkberry to put out the fires. Mike and I mimic the Orochen photo-op.