12 Blocks From The Beach

+ Sandia Peak, NM

2011-03-13T10:06:00.001+11:00

The altitude was a welcome respite from the stifling ABQ heat!

The La Luz trail is a much famed trail but much much longer ..

Our 2 mile hike led to the shell of an old stone cottage that once served as a hiker's resting point.

With an incredible sunset!

+ rancho produce

2011-02-09T15:42:00.002+11:00

For an open air fruit and veg stand by the side of the road, they certainly had a very grand sign.

Ristras, I learnt, are arrangements of dried chili pepper pods hung just about everywhere as a decorative and food storage thing - in homes, restaurants, random fruit and veg stands.

+ Albuquerque, New Mexico

2011-02-08T11:40:00.001+11:00

At the time, the heat and desert dryness of Albuquerque was overwhelming but now when I look over the photos, I see what a beautifully photogenic place it is. Skylines are spectacular and the pink-hued sunsets of the Sandia Mountains show why they named after the Spanish word for watermelon.

We went for a walk around Sandia Park, where Ben grew up and his parents still live - mostly dusty roads and huge tracts of land with a single house on each.

Looking east, all the way to Texas (maybe).

It was the only time during daylight hours where you could get a respite from the hot climate.

Evening primrose plants adorn the sides of roads, opening up their pretty yellow flowers at dusk.

Storms loomed in the distance, but never reached us.

+ to Hermosa Beach and back

2010-11-13T09:18:00.001+11:00

When I was 9, my uncle visited us from Arizona and taking pity at my lack of wheels, bought me a purple bicycle which I learned to ride quickly enough, though not very skillfully. It was also the start of an early onset growth spurt (one which sadly, did not keep pace into my teendom) and as such, I sadly outgrew that bike just as quickly. It was the one and only time I rode a bike in Australia.

22 years later, lured by Ben's promise of an exciting outdoors SoCal lifestyle that I too could lead, I tried a few times unsuccessfully to get on a spare bike that Ben's workmate had found in a dumpster (it wasn't as bad as it sounds). It was an exercise fraught with sweat and tears and frankly, could've scarred me for life. Lucky I found Ron Durgin through the League of American Bicyclists. A few dedicated lessons in the carpark by the beach later, and a bonus accompaniment to shops around town, my confidence and balance on my former foe was restored.

Some baby rides later, Maptote in hand, my sweet new bike and I were ready to venture out with Ben for the famous bike path ride from Santa Monica all the way down to Hermosa Beach (The Strand actually starts in Pacific Palisades, 1 up from SM and ends at Torrance County Beach, 2 down from Hermosa.)

You've already seen photos of SM and Venice beaches from this blog, so the story today picks up from Marina Del Rey. After Venice, the path diverts inland for a short while, along Washington Blvd then turns right onto a park path that runs parallel to the marina and eventually around it.

We passed some middle-aged outriggers in training. I'd like to be one of them when I'm older.

After the marina, we joined a small part of the Ballona Creek path which runs east-west, until we hit the lovely footbridge.

We set our bikes down on the bridge and strolled along the Ballona Creek Walkway.

And met an old timer.

At this bridge point after the creek, the path turns left, southbound and from there it gets even more serenely lovely.

Dockweiler Beach has the nicest stretch of relative flatness, open space and and the least amount of beachgoers because of fewer parking options and the LAX planes flying overhead.

And thoughtfully the entire bike path is really well stocked with toilets and other rest areas (for me to catch my breath).

I think it's still Benj's dream that I tandem-cycle with him. Unless I'm donning flares, mutton chops and chunky glasses ala The Goodies, I think they look non-intentionally dorky. Or unless I am part of a power couple like the one below.

This El Segundo stretch was kind of odd. On one side, a massive power plant right on the edge of the path, and the other, a popular destination for surfers and other more active beach folk. However, it is also really scenic owing to the path being so much closer to the water than at any other point, Ballona Creek notwithstanding.

After walking our bikes through the crowded Hermosa Beach strand, we decided this would be the turning point, and end of our ride for this time. I forget the name of the Irish pub we stopped at, but it's right on the corner of the main Hermosa row. Note, the following photo has been included to highlight the "Bama Burger" (probably named after me, if my friends are anything to go by).

And my filling fish'n'chips lunch was bookended by some tasty bloody marys. I would've had even more if I had realised how cheap they were to begin with.

From bloody marys back to Ballona bridge seemed to take an eternity, marked with MANY rest stops for me (I blame the chips I ate) and barely enough energy to lift the camera to take this photo, yikes. I do remember though, how I literally threw the bike to the ground to get off it and look over the bridge.

By the end of it, the 40-mile round trip completely took it out of me. I was spent, and I went home and "napped" for 4 hours straight!

+ Bergamot Station

2010-10-23T03:49:00.000+11:00

What was once a trolley station until 1953, and then a manufacturing site until 1987, is now a complex of art galleries and museums located smellingly close to the Santa Monica dump. But don't let that put you off (you can't smell the dump... much).

Hiromi Paper

A school kids project on the hallway leading into the courtyard.

This old dog positioned radomnly upon a block within the gallery sat so still, it was a little creepy.

"Baby Crazed" by Ed Moses, up close. From a distance though it looked like different paper stocks. My favourite set of the day.

"Luminesence" by Arik Levy in the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

+ Temescal Canyon Loop

2010-07-20T07:25:00.000+10:00

I realised I never got around to posting pictures from my very first hike in LA. Whoops. We're lucky to live so close to many hikes within the Santa Monica Mountains, a range which encompasses various state parks and reaches from the Hollywood Hills to Point Mugu (pronounced 'magoo' not 'moogoo' like I have a tendency to do).

Our trusty guide is an easy to navigate book I picked up at REI - Day Hikes Around Los Angeles by Robert Stone.

Our first adventure was to a popular trail in Topanga State Park, no more than 15 minutes drive north. Just off the PCH in Pacific Palisades, the trail is actually two - the Temescal Ridge Trail and the Canyon Trail - and is a great showcase for SoCal hiking with its ocean and city views.

At 4.2 miles with a 1,000 feet elevation (about 300 metres), it's a pretty good workout for a couple hours, especially if you go up the steeper ridge trail first as the book suggests, before returning through the shadier canyon floor.

(looking back on the ridge)

Whilst steep, there are a few points of rest for lovely views of both downtown and the Santa Monica bay, as well as into neighbouring houses (oh to have one those mansions!)

We also brought along a fellow Sydmeysider with us. My friend Maha's boyfriend was in town and was totally keen for the walk. The fact that he was here for a Brazilian jujitsu competition is a good indication of his fitness level relative to ours... it goes without saying he led the way most of the time.

The densely wooded canyon is supposed to run alongside the Temescal Creek, but even calling it a creek is a stretch... a trickle at best! The grotto of rocks at the junction between the trails finds the creek at its most bountiful, though commonsense would advise against drinking anything from the waterfall (unlike the lady we spied trying to fill up her water bottle).

The fragrant groves of sycamore, coastal oak and gum trees (a little bit of home!) make for a relaxing return, and a change from the desert scrubs of the ridgetop.

Just before finishing in the carpark, there is a little picnic area where we saw people setting up for a wedding ceremony, and a seemingly abandoned old hut (a nice little fixer upper?)

We also stopped in at the rather sad visitors centre which was lacking electricity from a recent fire, and offered not much more than a few ancient maps and drinks in a non-working fridge. It was a wonderfully kitsch at least.

Temescal Canyon Loop hike
Hike LA guide
Local Hikes guide
Temescal Gateway Park page

+ Vegas baby!

2010-07-16T07:22:00.003+10:00

To celebrate Memorial Day last month, Ben and I drove out past the wonderful Zzyxz Rd exit and spent a week in Las Vegas visiting friends Rob and Mary.

Yes, a lot of time was spent in casinos but I think you'd be fooling yourself if you didn't have a go at the slots at least once. Plus I played roulette for the first time! (I didn't win but the stream of free strawberry daiquiries helped ease the suffering somewhat).

First night in, we went to see ostensibly George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic at Red Rock Casino. I say ostensibly because George never appeared! (though the P-Funk kept the lie alive the whole night, promising an appearance at each break). Nevertheless a good time was had in the blistering cold desert night winds as boogies were shaken and feet splashed (not mine!) in the many pools around the stage.

We also spent the tail-end of one night (post-karaoke) downtown which had changed signficantly since the last time I was there (aged 9). Chiefly, it now has a giant LCD ceiling covering most of the drag, including the iconic cowboy sign. I can only wonder about the electricity bill for such a thing, which was supposed to have been erected to generate more tourists to the area (luring them from the more popular Strip establishments). I'm not sure if it's been successful, but it certainly promotes that aspect of 'timelessness' that pervades the atmosphere of all the casinos. Is it midday or midnight? Who cares, let's gamble!

Despite the hours of fun derived from neon lights and the jingle of a thousand poker machines, the highlight of the trip was our hike in Red Rock Canyon.

Driving along big red mountains, few people and a nice sunny day made for a brilliant start.

A pre-hike Benj.

We were very fortunate to have geologist friends of Rob and Mary, and Rob's energetic puppies, lead the way on an unmarked trail used mostly by rock climbers and boulder hoppers.

Up a very steep mountain, and down gently through a dry canyon that during colder, wetter months becomes quite an impressive river.

Vibrant desert blooms dot the rocks,

as do striking wave patterns.

It was thirsty work for everyone but well worth the effort.

Eventually the rocks give way to a gentle, but still rigorous, march back to the cars. Funnily enough the dogs were absolute troopers until this last stretch... something to do with the sand under paw apparently!

+ minty fresh

2010-05-11T15:16:00.004+10:00

We took a long walk on Saturday to the end of Venice Beach, first swinging by to check out the Annenberg Community Beach House at the top of Santa Monica Beach. 5 hours later, I had a burnt red nose and crazily exhausted feet to show for it.

On the way, we came across this apartment block hued with a delightful minty green. I love the beach, mid-century modern American-ness of it all.

Then at Ocean Avenue, just before descending the steps down the bluff, we chanced upon Barbie looking kinda seedy, maybe sleeping off a big night out on the town?

The pool at the Beach House was my reason for the visit. What a shame it's not open year round (it's not even open every day of the week during the season either!) because it just looks so inviting.

A squadron of kites was impressively handled by one man.

I finally got to see Venice's Muscle Beach in action. Forget the muscles though, will you look at those short shorts!!

This photo cost me a dollar (generously paid by Benj)

+ Umami Burger

2010-04-22T11:34:00.004+10:00

Long before arriving, I had wanted to try Umami Burger to see if it really did live up to the hype. And following the opening of the most recent location at Fred Segal, sooner or later I would get my way.

Umami takes its cue from the Japanese concept of the fifth taste that we experience (loosely "savouriness"), making a distinction in particular to saltiness by a more meatier, brothier sensation (in the way a mushroom can be). That said, the burgers themselves were pretty heavy on the salt. They were super tasty nonetheless and I'm already keen to go back for more.

I had the Earth burger - a mushroom and edamame patty with a white soy and truffle aioli, caramelised onions and lettuce.

Benj chose the Hatch, which is meant to have 6 types of chillis but none of them were very spicy at all, but again deliciously greasy anyway. Tempura onion rings made a nice companion.

Update 26/06/10: We ended up at Umami again for a well-earnt calorie-laden lunch following our Temescal Canyon Loop hike.

I had the triple pork burger, which was tasty but disappointing to find the three porks combined in a patty.

Whilst Ben's classic Umami burger looked plain but was well tasty for all its simplicity.

Umami Burger @ Fred Segal, cnr of 5th and Broadway, Santa Monica.

+ Main Street

2010-04-04T06:35:00.003+10:00

Main St is less tourist-orientated than the Third St Promenade precinct of Santa Monica, but still a nice walkable area (especially from the apartment). There are decent cafes, some boutiques and a whole bunch of council buildings.

Like City Hall.

And the Civic Auditorium.

This lovely art deco mural was rather unfortunately painted over in parts with white paint. What a shame. Also, a large mobile home was inconveniently parked in front of it so I couldn't take a wider shot.

I don't know if this is the real deal from the movie, but the store window it was sitting in suggests it could be. It was kept company by an array of vintage tin toys and novelties.

Main St is also an easy distance to the beach.

By the end of the shops in the drag, I found myself on the border of Venice and Santa Monica, though I didn't venture any further south. If cheap, crappy trinkets and airbrushed artworks of reggae artists are your thing, look no further!

These ladies caught my eye though.

+ the city of lost angles

2010-03-29T04:22:00.006+11:00

I had an internship interview on Friday downtown and being a little nervous about getting down there by bus, I took a reconnaissance trip the day before to familiarise myself with the layout. I'm really glad I did - it was a good opportunity to get a feel for the area, and to earmark places to return to the next day.

Downtown LA does not enjoy a particularly good reputation as being a must-visit area, but many of the older buildings were surprisingly lovely (set between smells of hobo urine...) The building where I interviewed was itself an old bank converted into office studios upstairs and a swanky bar downstairs in the former vaults.

Th block before on Spring St featured this street art.

Walking up on 5th St towards Bunker Hill.

The next day, after the interview, I walked back up towards the Hill, to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). I was stymied by said Hill, until I noticed a little trolley gently gliding up and down. Score!

For just 25 cents, it takes you up gracefully without need for exertion or sweat.

On my way to MOCA, I was blinded by the silver brilliance of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Its steely layers beckoned.

At the Museum, I found this James Rosenquist piece highly alluring. I think it's called Waves.

As was this neon configuration, by I forget whom.

DTLA - it's what you make of it.

More photos in this flickr set.

+ mountains

2010-03-28T04:27:00.004+11:00

Somewhere between Texas and California, I flew over this. It was dustily spectacular.

+ sxsw 2010

2010-03-27T13:42:00.000+11:00

My annual return to this wonderful blue oasis is always rewarding, where the locals are charming and the music plentiful.

Washed Out was one of my highlights - he had such a great presence and just summed up the party vibe of the week for me. I wish I could have seen him more than once.

I saw Small Black many times, more by coincidence than design but they were good value everytime.

A new experience was spending the day at the French Legation Museum, a little off the main 6th St block downtown where most of the shows occur. The weather was ripe for lawn-sitting and hearing watery psych bliss from the likes of Woods...

...and super intense (but funny) synth jams from Dam-Funk.

A special shoutout to my Austin friends Jesse Lee and Blake, who were impeccable hosts/tourguides and always make me feel home in Austin.

More photos in the flickr set.

+ the morning after the night before

2010-03-07T18:32:00.000+11:00

My two favourite people in all of ~~Sydney~~ Australia threw a farewell party for me at their house last night. And made me breakfast in the morning. You can't ask for better friends than that.

Soundtrack: Sparklehorse "Shade and Honey"

+ Mamak

2010-03-06T17:31:00.002+11:00

Chinatown meets hipsterville in the surging popularity of Mamak, where lines snake around the block and under the pavilion gates into the pedestrian mall. Thankfully, the usual Asian efficiency means the wait is never long and the roti-making display in the front window is enough to distract (or torture) the hungriest of patrons.

Travis and I popped in for another of our goodbye dinners, starting with the excellent roti banang (egg and sweet onion roti).

The kari ikan blew the roof off my mouth (it's a super spicy, tangy fish curry with okra and eggplant).

Soundtrack: Sparklehorse "Sick of Goodbyes" (RIP Mark Linkous)

+ Corridor

2010-02-28T19:43:00.004+11:00

The recent arrival of a new bar in Newtown had my curiosity piqued from early on, and Maha and I finally snuck in a midweek visit to check out the rooftop.

I dig it very much. Nice vibe, and being only a couple doors down from Madame Fling Flongs, it's a welcome addition to the non-pub drinking holes along King St.

I got a kick out of sitting directly adjacent to the back alley sign.

The good weather called for an appropriately summery drink. But no fear, if the weather does turn, the front lounge room which looks onto King St will have you warmed up in no time I'm sure.

Corridor, 153A King St Newtown (top end, near the cnr of Missenden).

+ thunderskies

2010-02-27T11:45:00.005+11:00

Soundtrack: Balmorhea "Bowsprit"

+ saddleback and afxjim

2010-02-25T12:55:00.001+11:00

Notable producer and musician Tony Dupe was over round Travis' house yesterday afternoon to experiment with cello parts over some new afxjim recordings. It was hauntingly beautiful (like a young Arthur Russell!)

+ Chinese New Year 2010

2010-02-13T11:47:00.002+11:00

Soundtrack: Onra "The Anthem"

The gods are getting their feast on, and right after so do we!!

Who doesn't love a beer to wash down all the delicious roast duck, soy chicken and roast pork?

It's hard work shelling all those prawns. And my hands are kinda smelly now. But I won't mind once they're in my belly.

All I want this year is for the good health of my family, friends and beloved.

+ food and rain, food and rain

2010-02-13T10:51:00.004+11:00

Soundtrack: Balmorhea "The Winter"

It's raining a tonne this weekend. I'm not sure that's a good thing - being housebound while we prepare for our Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is making me very snackish. An early rise this morning to get the pre-ordered roast duck, soy chicken and roast pork was a bit like torture on the pre-breakfast drive home.

The rain-food combo makes me think of my birthday last year. It was the one day LA decided to rain while I was there, and it was glum but kinda beautiful at the same time. We didn't leave the house all day, only ducking out for cheap and tasty burritos at Tacos Por Favor and babycakes.

I got the sauteed mushroom burrito. Immense. The pickled carrots and peppers were also super tasty. As you can see I even went back for more carrots.

I ate it like the Australian sissy that I am, with knives and all.

And being my birthday, Benj wanted me to get my beloved cupcakes. Testament to its slightly bourgey character, Santa Monica has quite a number of cupcake vendors in close proximity to each other. We chose the pink frou frou-ness of Vanilla Bake Shop for my entry into babycake society there.

I was not disappointed. The texture of the vanilla cakes was particularly good - incredible crumbliness and heavily buttered.

+ Getty Center in the winter

2010-02-06T18:28:00.004+11:00

We spent the good part of the last day of 2009 at the Getty Center, high up in the hills of Los Angeles, and probably only saw a fraction of the collections stored there. It was a battle just deciding whether to see stuff or just enjoy the lovely gardens and the spectacular views of the city. Even in winter, the sky was blue, the rays of sunshine warm and the green lawns super inviting.

As a thousand flickr photos could testify, the Getty Center is an immensely photogenic set of buildings. All those sexy lady humps and whatnot.

Benj took a good deal more photos than me, and much better looking ones for that matter. He did well to capture the many textures in the gardens.

Soundtrack: Tristeza "Castellon"

+ Malibu

2010-02-06T16:42:00.004+11:00

According to the roadsign, on the PCH somewhere near the northern end of Santa Monica, Malibu is only a 6 mile drive away.

It felt a little further than that (though what I would know? I have no point of reference for a drive by any kind of miles) but it was still a whole lot closer than the hour long drives it takes to get from my mum and dad's to Gordon's Bay. It's close enough, is all I'm saying.

Which is a good thing, because I want to try and eat at as many different 'bu establishments along Highway 1 as I can. Places like the iconic Geoffrey's, the Malibu Beach Inn (first spied in the final episode of Entourage season 6!) and Moonshadows Blue Lounge, which first came to my attention by way of Benj.

On this day though we chose the pier as our setting.

It was quite perfect really, a super starving belly met with an almost empty restaurant (though the service was still pretty terribad) and a slowly fading sun closing in on the horizon-ocean backdrop.

Our meal was supplemented by a glamour photo shoot on the beach right below us. It took a while to discern that the possible husband-and-wife couple featured a heavily pregnant lady, dressed in various suggestive outfits, who may or may not have been in the performing arts, being directed by the photographer lady into all manner of seductive poses. It was very LA.

A solid meal later, we drove home with a spectacular orange sky following us all the way down.

Soundtrack: Real Estate "Atlantic City" (wrong coast, I know!)

+ not long to go now

2010-02-06T14:35:00.005+11:00

In 5 weeks, my relocation to Santa Monica will actually happen. In the meantime, Benj and I have had a couple of trips together, including a christmas/birthday/new year's treat for me which ended up as a sort of pre-move scouting expedition.

Many experiences were had, food eaten, shows attended, museums visited, family members reunited - most of which was well so documented, I don't really know where to begin for this blog. Until then, enjoy a pretty scene of the neighbourhood which I'll soon be in!! It was taken at Christmas after a walk on the beach.

Also, a new addition: an accompanying song! Which you can stream whilst reading! Today's soundtrack is Early Day Miners "So Slowly".

+ 99 Reasons

2009-11-23T21:08:00.003+11:00

I love the name of these shoes, even though I don't think I could come up with more than 5 reasons to love them. These Jeffrey Campbell hidden platform wedge booties (also known as the "99 Zip Wedge") are inspired by the Acne Atacoma wedge ankle boot, but the zip and the loveliness of the toe is enough to make it droolworthy on its own.

I ran out in my boxers in the midday 40 degree heat just to prance around in the grass.

+ Wellington - part 2

2009-11-23T20:55:00.000+11:00

It is rare for me to see sunrise over water so I jumped out of bed to take a photo. Then I jumped back in and slept for another 2 hours. The best kind of snoozing.

Producer conferences aren't normally noteworthy, and especially not photogenic but one of the guests this year was Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men who opened and closed the conference with 2 excellent sessions (though I can't say the same for the chair of either session... many dumb questions were asked, and too much butting-in) and by the time I finally got to say hi to him as we were boarding the flight back to Sydney, I was pretty much the dude's biggest fan. He is very much a top bloke, super nice and perfectly amiable.

That night, we attended the Big Dinner where awards for producers of the year and self-congratulatory pats on backs are given. It was held this time in the Beehive, one of the buildings on parliamentary grounds. I took this from a moving bus, which ferried delegates over. It's probably better looking than the photo would suggest.

Inside though, the hall where we had pre-dinner drinks was quite stately. My colleague Kate and I were positioned well for first serves of the finger food.

The night was okay, perhaps not nearly as memorable as previous SPADA dinners but still pleasantly enjoyable.

+ Wellington - part 1

2009-11-21T08:47:00.000+11:00

I was in New Zealand for the annual SPADA Conference last week and enjoyed my brief return to the windy city (Chicago's claim has got nothin' on Wgtn so 3 days is more than enough time to remember fondly/not-so-fondly the hair-whipping town)

It's supposed to be summer, but at 15°C (and feeling like 10), it looked like this a lot of the time.

Even with the greyness up top though, the harbour did take take on a lovely green hue at times (ok, I did exaggerate it a wee bit with the colourcross).

Crossing the road to the foreshore.

All along its hills, the city is dotted with wooden terraces, not unlike San Francisco, except maybe with a more quaint, seashack town vibe. This is looking up Dixon St.

On the other side of the Dixon St, heading into the Cuba quarter.

+ Malaya restaurant

2009-11-15T19:01:00.001+11:00

Shortly after leaving the Newtown Festival, I spent some quality retail-therapy time on King St and at Munky Bizness picked myself up a bargain eggplant-coloured chiffon babydoll dress for an awards dinner in Wellington I was going to later in the week, and a cute vintage dress from Cream on King.

And went on to meet Ems and Chris for cocktails at Cargo Bar (oh that place has seen some better days. And its clientele is not all that different from the Newtown fest crowd), and a terrific meal of Malaysian-Chinese at Malaya, both establishments on King St Wharf, which faces Darling Harbour.

Looking out to the bay, shame the weather was a bit grey.

Turns out we ate quite a bit. Roti Canai and Curry Chicken Sauce, Otak Otak (white fish fillet minced with chilli and spices, wrapped in banana leaf and barbequed), Sayor Otak (silken tofu topped with a blend of eggplant, mushroom, tomato, lemongrass and chilli paste, wrapped in a banana leaf - especially tasty), Chilli Beansprouts and snowpeas, and one of their signature dishes, Szechuan Eggplant. Well worth a visit.

+ Newtown Festival

2009-11-15T18:59:00.000+11:00

I always have high hopes for the Newtown Festival year, call it selective memory perhaps, but once I arrive, I'm instantly reminded of many things I hate, all at the one time. Obnoxious hipsters, hippies, bogans, mogans and what have you, all crammed into a forced enclosure, listening to terribad funk-ska-metal-grooves and the stench of human bodies, some not yet familiar with Rexona, Lynx and other fine products.

You can always count on an inner city hippy to dance barefoot on wet grass in the rain, out of time, to above-mentioned terribad music.

Still, I showed my face as I usually do in support of 2SER and the stall we have every year. And I admit, I do enjoy certain festival foods like the gummy lollies, the infamous Turkish gozleme (why are they never sold outside of a festival?) and my choice this year, seafood paella.

It was pretty tasty, the saltiness lending itself as a perfect excuse to have some home made lemonade. I was fascinated by the paella stall with its 4 large pans on the go, all at varying cooking stages. Can't deny how it made me smack my lips in anticipation.

+ corsetry

2009-11-15T17:20:00.000+11:00

I bought these corset wedges online and initially thought I had bought half a size too big, but after wearing them for most of the 4 days in Wellington which included a walking tour of the harbour's cobblestone walkway, the comfort level was rather satisfactory.

+ Santa Monica

2009-11-05T14:00:00.005+11:00

Ever since he got his fancy camera, I've been on Benj's back to take a sunset photo for me so I can relive it in all its amber glory. Finally... the first of many (I hope). This was taken near the Pier.

The sunsets in Santa Monica are kinda spectacular. Especially when you're at a meeting in a hotel suite during AFM and all you can think of is the incredible orange sky in front of you. Distracting!

This is me last year "working" on the pool deck of Loews Hotel right after the last AFM meeting of the day. Why can't all my work be like this?

+ the Western Distributor

2009-10-31T23:57:00.004+11:00

Even though the traffic is usually the worst around this area, the approach to the Harbour Bridge on the south side is still my favourite part of the daily commute. Glimpes of the harbour to the east, or the bays on the west, between the tall buildings make the jerky-moving drive just a little more tolerable. Nothing beats it on a nice sunny morning, but I don't mind a little cloud action now and then either.

And I still like going over the Coathanger (well, all bridges really) even if I do vow angrily every morning to write a letter to the RTA for their mismanagement of its traffic flow (just like Hans Brix in Team America).

From under the Harbour Bridge.

+ my second home

2009-10-31T23:48:00.001+11:00

I really like the new 2SER space, which is just as well since I spend so many hours here after the show goes to air, painstakingly recreating it for the podcast (oh it's a long story). Of the three, the ground floor is where it feels the roomiest, with the new broadcast studios and the big open lobby area.

The windows of Studio 1.

Late night editing of a Tape Relay replay. This show featured Bibio as remixed by Bibio, new Kelpe, Apse, Hudson Mohawke, a Plaid rarity, Efterklang live with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra and Glass Candy paying homage to the Geto Boys. Even by my count, it was a pretty rad show.

And you can even download the aforementioned replay here. The rest of them, and their respective playlists can be found on the official Tape Relay page here.

+ tasty shoes

2009-10-31T23:30:00.003+11:00

gosh I love my new play things. They arrived during the week - a pair of Miu Miu suede sandals that I scored on eBay - and this was pretty much the first chance I got to try them on. They're ~~rather~~ ridiculously high but the chunky heel makes it a lot more ~~wearable~~ pretty.

I debuted them over at Em's house for a super tasty midweek feast of vegan Spanish food that I could not stop eating (I had thirds, yes.) She made a wonderful paella, fennel and orange salad and a chickpea and spinach dish for which Em was kind enough to put the recipe on her blog. yum!

+ spring rain

2009-10-26T20:04:00.008+11:00

It seems like we've had more rain this spring so far than we did all winter. I slept rather poorly last night because the wind was howling and the rain was falling so loudly on the corrugated iron balcony roof.

It was pretty dreary on the southern approach to the Harbour Bridge.

But though the sleep was poor, the waking up was kinda gleeful actually. Because only yesterday had I remembered the Hello Kitty gumboots that I bought for dirty cheap way back at the start of the year and up until then, had tucked out of sight, out of mind. So I was delighted to be able to pull them on and do a little dance in front of the camera (new quadcam lomo-alike app on the phone!)

+ Black Star Pastry

2009-10-24T22:47:00.008+11:00

In the last couple weeks, motivated by not having a working shower in my house, Ems and I have taken to early morning gym dates before we go to work. By the time I'm done and back at the car, Black Star Pastry is open and ready for business. I can't go in every day because I'd be too tempted by the ridiculously good lookin' sweets on offer (thereby negating any good work done on the cardio machines), but it's great for an end-of-week coffee treat. The flat whites are pretty good, though I do have to say the service can sometimes range from averagely-indifferent to attitudally-bad.

Their custard tarts look twice as big as anything I've ever seen, and those Turkish fig, quince and orange cakes looks heavenly, even if the flavours aren't my thing.

This is the one I really want to try though. Strawberry, watermelon (layered in the middle by cream?) and rose... drools!

My first visit in to Black Star was marked by a slice of this most incredible spinach, mushroom and pinenut pithivier (puff pastry pie). The spinach was so buttery and salty good and the mushrooms earthy.

And how about the bread and butter puddings?

Black Star Pastry, 277 Australia St Newtown NSW 2042. Open Tue-Sun 7am-5pm

+ welcome Benj

2009-10-20T22:23:00.011+11:00

This picture comes from Benj (with a little "collaborative tweaking" from me), who will be my guest contributor and co-conspirator. Also, it is he who came up with this blog's neat little name and is also at present, the only one that actually lives 12 blocks from the beach.

The summer warmth has just about gone from the Southern Californian spread... I mean it's even rained in the last week! But the sun did smile for some Albuquerquean visitors of Benj's who were treated to a visit to Huntington Beach.

Do you like how warm and inviting my fauxlaroid looks? Not to take anything away from Benj's lovely original shot but I did that just to drive the point home, because aside from when I visited Santa Monica for the first time aged 9, and rather gingerly dipped my toes in, I have never swum in the North American Pacific Ocean because it is seems so freaking COLD. Always blowy, glassy-looking and not at all inviting, it'll be a long time yet before I get to have a true summer swim in SoCal. In the meantime, enjoy this scene of young Cole braving the icy waters.

+ go Angels!

2009-10-12T16:35:00.010+11:00

In honour of the LA Angels making the final round of the ALCS playoffs and starting their best-of-7 with the Yankees this Friday for a spot in the World Series, let us all celebrate victoriously for the mighty reds.

You better believe in the power of the rally monkey!