Sunset Beer - Lucky Echo Park

Once upon a time....in sunny and sometimes

(OK Everybody!  So how was your weekend?  Summery I hope!)

(I haven't taken my latest pictures off the camera yet.  So I thought I'd share these with you.)

still scruffy Echo Park.  Gently gentrifying as it is.......

across from the Cambodian grocery store with its deeply discounted veggies.

Where you'll find all the groovy once-ubiquitous foreign economy cars parked.

In the tight and charmless corner of a very ordinary L.A. strip mall.

You might be surprised to find something NOT QUITE A PUB.

And NOT QUITE your local bar, either.

I would have to call it a LIBRARY OF BEER.  Much of it, the beer, I mean, made in California.  In a crafty artisanal small-batch kind of way.  Because we are talking Echo Park.

There is a narrow but not altogether sun-less or charm-less outdoor patio, accommodating about 10 hipsters at a time.  (Facial hair obligatory, thanks.  I do just mean the men.)

O.K.  I'm going to call it a LIBRARY OF BEER.  You might call it just what YOU need in YOUR neighborhood.

SUNSET BEER.

It's better than a library, there are no overdue fees or expiration dates.  Well you know, it's a kind of "meta" - "expiration" in this context.  No?  The librarians are verrrrry helpful, friendly and accommodating.  Oh, and there's not much shushing going on either!

Are you thirsty yet? - - - - - - - - CHEERS!

(oh?  is the weekend really over already?  oh what a shame.  i was so enjoying myself!)

Stuff For This Week - Happy Fourth of July!

Since many of us are going to be "summer vacating"

(via confetti garden)

this week.  Distracted, at least by barbecues and long lazy weekend

(via miluccia pinterest)

and maybe long hot drives in the car to go with..........

(Photo: silverblauw)

I thought I'd just post some cool easy images.  To pass the time.

(Photo: dottie angel)

Are you taking any good books with you?  For the road or the beach?

I just read "Climbing the Mango Trees" by Madhur Jaffrey - a fascinating memoir of pre-partition life in Delhi and now it's "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers - cuz somehow I think it's going to tell me more about Berkeley.

(Photo: debi van zyl)

For those of you stay-cationing, obviously books are still your friends!  As are kiddie pools and Pimms Cups (why not?)

Have a great WEEK and WEEKEND - wherever you are.  I'll see you next Monday.  xoxo

Love On a Beach......Waikiki 2012

Wedding season is almost over again.  Did you go to any good weddings this month?  What are your plans for July?

I'm a Fan of Fridays. Aren't You?

Because.........

(Rob Ryan)

 It makes me Happy.  And when I'm Happy

(A restaurant in Brooklyn, NY - No website, but Yelp reviews)

it's easier to make my Hubby Happy.  (With pizza.)

(Via Bloesem)

To make my cats happy (with cozying and company).

(Via the Marion House blog - she's now an editor at Chatelaine)

Because I have more time to think about what makes Me Happy.

(Elsa Mora - I'll be telling you more about her!)

And really, just BECAUSE.  (You know how that goes.)

Something else that makes me Happy?  The Golden Gate Bridge (one month ago).

It's FRIDAY AGAIN!  Have a verry HAPPY weekend please!

Flora Grubb, SF: Not Just Another Garden Center

Make sure to check out the website:

Flora Grubb.  It is very well done.

(Fermob fabulousness!  My other Fermob post here.)

I have to say that I expected something very different.  Based on the pictures I'd already seen.

Of the round-faced real-life Flora with her soft blonde bob.  I expected a garden center

a little more rough and ready.  Earthier.  Looser shall we say.

But tho there are undeniable rustic moments here......

Shall we say the words, "curated", "tightly edited", "restrained", and

"architectural" spring to mind here.  And even, "military precision".  If you can say that about a group of what seem like milennials from far-flung places manning positions at this center of new S.F. chic, in almost-avid-anticipation of landing their big break.  In whatever alternative (to Flora Grubb, even?) sphere that might be.

Don't get me wrong.  They seem to know exactly what they are doing.

Carrying this very wide selection of Judith Jackson pots in yummy colors might be what I mean.

And these not-quite-for-baking, though tempting tins.....

Shall we say Flora Grubb (vs. Annie's Annuals here) seems to present planting as decor, planting as it pertains to our built surroundings?

Structure, texture and color groupings are very strong themes.

We're not strictly speaking about plants for plants sake here.  But we are talking about an

ENVIRONMENT.  And a very nice one too.   Whatcha think?  Could it work for you?

Happy Post-Summer Solstice Weekend Y'all!

It's true, I've been so distracted

by landscape issues at my house........(I mean the fire department was, and ready to issue a lien against it for brush-clean-up-delinquency so I had to get serious help in, for today, and for the future.)

(both pics via The Brick House blog)

that I completely forgot to do a Summer Solstice weekend post.  I always feel I inadequately observe the summer solstice.  Shouldn't I start it in a sleeping bag by some water at about 5 a.m. and finish it dancing on top of a picnic table with sparklers at about midnite?  (And yes, grilled food would probably be involved.)  That would seem so right!

But most of my summer solstices are sooooooo more sedate than that.  It comes a little early in the year, don't you think?  

Anyway, hope yours was good and that you have good dancing plans for the rest of the summer.

xoxoxo

Oh My Dog! It's Friday Already!

Did you see these in the Guardian this week?

If you didn't, you could check them out here.  (More photos.)

All photos:  Ren Netherland/Barcroft Media

Yet another testimonial to Man's endless creativity

and capacity for silliness when it comes to pets.

And the greater testament of Dog's ability to put up with all those

ridiculous things we ask them to do, in exchange for our love and companionship and SNACKS!!!!

Would you do this to your animal?  Is it awful, or hilarious?