Ana Botezatu - Endlessly Creative

Happy Third Week in February!

I'm sharing with you the blog world's, indeed the world world's

Valentine's Day gift to me......

I just discovered this wonderful blog and artist, Ana Botezatu.

She lives in a place that has wonderful, colorful folk traditions, a close relationship to nature still,

and, as evidenced by her work, excellent art instruction!

Some people are just endlessly talented and creative.

Such an inspiration!

Do check her out!  Ana Botezatu

A Little L.A. Color! My Valentine to You

For Valentine's Day

There's never a bad time for it.

Is there?

Which one's do you like best?

The hot warm ones

or the cool shady ones?  Have a Happy One with Whoever You Love!

Musso and Frank's - For Valentine's Day, L.A.

Yes, outside

on the gritty, garish streets of old Hollywood,

life is always

a party.

And inside it continues but in a cooler, hipper, noir-ish

Scorsese-ish

kind of way.  It's romantic and old school.

You'll be looking in all directions for those Ratpack-ey kinda guys

Lawford, Sinatra, Dino, Sammy......

The staff are true professionals.  They'll take care of you.

They mix the best, classiest, dirty martini in all of L.A.

There's plenty of room for ALL your buddies.

It's not really about the food, but how could you resist desserts like these?  Share one with someone you love.....c'mon it's Valentine's Day!

Why wouldn't you want to celebrate a special day with these happy, friendly people?

  Who are they?

They are Musso and Frank.  Check 'em out!

and enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Where Oh Where Have I Been?

Yup, the Paradis family has just been in NYC.

We managed to catch a couple snowstorms.

The City That Never Sleeps dug right out and got moving again.  

And again.  But not really, on their bikes.

Who knew that so many people in Mid-town rode bikes?  We are right next to Carnegie Hall...really?  You ride bikes guys, with your cellos?

So thoughtful of someone to leave out their "self-snowing" tree for us Angelenos who missed out on the full seasonal effects over Christmas.

Now you know you're in NYC - steam stacks!  What is the deal with those things?  I've never known.

That's the new "Freedom Tower" in the background.  It's prettier than the World Trade Towers.  But not so tall or inspiring.  Sigh.  It's a different world now, isn't it?

More on NYC soon.  Yes, I'm glad to be warm in L.A. again!

Cornelia Donovan, Painter, Printmaker, Dreamweaver

Do you know her?

Here's her website.

And Tumblr blog.

I've been meaning to share these images with you for ages.

Do you like them?

Does it make you feel like getting out your paints?

There's a lovely, folkloric mystery about them, don't you think?

So, a little something I thought I'd share with you this weekend.  Sorry it's a bit late.  HAVE A GREAT ONE!

If it's Chinatown, It's Home

More Chinese-themed images for this first week of the Lunar New Year:

It's funny, wherever you happen to be in the world, if you're Chinese, Chinatown will always be home.

In Chinatown we find our extended family.  Familiar faces, familiar poses.

Noodles, dumplings, soups, or roasted meats.

If we need a resting place, a stopping place

somewhere to squeeze ourselves in with others like us, no matter if we have to be a little jostled or a little roughed up........

Chinatown is the place to be.  You might just notice the bright lights, the red lanterns and the garish gold letters and think it's a noisy tourist destination.  To us, it's a quiet refuge.

This one is near Leicester Square, London. 

Gung Hee Fat Choy!

I'm a little late in wishing you a HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

In the language of my Mother, a nice Cantonese lady.

This post celebrates Miao Chinese tribal textiles as captured by

Gina Corrigan.

I don't think I have ever posted these but I have been meaning to do so for like ever!  Have a good Year of the Horse please and eat something lucky and auspicious this week!