Silverlake Blvd.

Santa Ynes Valley: Los Olivos

Just a few minutes north of Solvang is Los Olivos. It's surrounded by ranches, vineyards, and livestock--including buffalo ...

 

 

At first glance it seems an untouched, 1-intersection farm town, Anyplace USA. But after walking around you start to notice that within the four blocks of downtown, there are dozens & dozens of tasting rooms, like the patio of the Coquelicot Tasting Room, in front of the Artisans Gallery ...

 

There's also an old grange hall, which is now the public library ...

 

Los Olivos is also fond of a beautiful tin faux-masonry facade material that I've never seen before, and is funky and lovely:

 

 

But the real treasures of Los Olivos are the J. Woeste “home & garden treasures & succulents” shop, and two fantastic restaurants: Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe and Side’s Hardware & Shoes. Side takes its name from the original business occupying its building 100 years ago. The food and environment managed to be exacting without being fussy.

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Ynes Valley: Solvang

A town that was created by an article in the Saturday Evening Post circa 1946. I can imagine the town fathers: "Hey, this gives us a rasion d'être, and distinguishes us from Bollard and Santa Ynes. Let's impose building codes that will compel our ordinary California farm town to look like a dollhouse version of 19th century Copenhagen!"

 

Some of the party was not quite up to to the max strength Ethnic-Americana kitsch. I understand, but still appreciate the utter weirdness ...

 

As usual what was on offer was a "Danishness" composed of pasties and flags with nothing to do with Danish neoclassicism, or Søren Kierkegaard, or Carl Dreyer, or Arne Jacobsen, or Karen Blixen. The motel decorated the hallway with two identical prints of a circa 1950 traditional village street scene:

 

But there was also the Mission, which is confusingly Santa Iñes with an "I," but has a terrific view of the landscape. It's not Wisconsin, but it's not Joshua Tree, either: rolling, dry but green, with stunning trees dotting the landscape like carefully-placed sculptures.

 

 

And the rather delicious Herb Garden Gimlet (crop cucumber vodka, muddled basil, lime and house syrup) at Root 246

 

Aida @ Hollywood Bowl

Aida is the perfect Hollywood Bowl vehicle. Everything about it is big and bold: the characters, the conflicts, the passions project with clarity to the furthest bench. A real summer blockbuster.

 

The Dudamel was in his element. The orchestra was a Veronese in sound. The cast was excellent. Without costume or sets, Michelle DeYoung managed to convey Princess Amneris’s frustration in a way that was droll, compelling and ultimately moving. The audience even behaved, for once. A perfect night.

 

Bunnies & Kitties @ Shopclass

 

 

Last night's Eastside Handmade craft fair in Highland Park featured live music by the wonderful Bunnies & Kitties inside Shopclass. This is an older video, but gives you some idea.

The Wedding @ Holy Wisdom Monastery, Middleton, WI

The first thing I saw at Holy Wisdom was a wild turkey being chased by a fox. They darted out in front of me on one of the hiking paths. The monastery is a brand-new, LEED certified structure, and the grounds are all minimal-maintenance meadows, orchards and woods. 

 

Madison

It didn't hurt that it was bright blue skies and in the 70s, but I got the impression that Madison is nice. It has to be 40 years since my last visit.

 

The Dane County Farmer's Market, taking over all four sides of the State Capitol building, was a treat. We started eating within 30 seconds of arrival. I left with a couple pounds of cheese, mostly from Hook's.

 

 

There was also the astonishing Gourd Guy.

 

 

The rehearsal dinner was at an Irish pub directly facing the capitol. Brocach (Gaelic for “badger den,” as in the UW mascot, it was explained to me)

 

 

The UW campus--like almost everyplace on the downtown isthmus, has a waterfront ... and a beer shack. Civilization.

 

 

Red Wing

I drove everybody crazy by saying "It's so green!" constantly, but Red Wing, MN really is.

 

Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing (Warren B. Dunnell, 1889)

 

View from the Mississippi

 

Red Wing Stoneware

 

Discovering cheese curds