Just a girl in LA

John Lennon Noho

Aromamuse — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:43:06 +0000

Crazy kids night out with the Beatles

Tim Piper, actor, musician and songwriter has toured the globe performing songs made famous by the Beatles…looking like the spitting image of John Lennon! With his band mates Greg Piper, Don Butler, Don Puncher & Morely Bartnoff they create a really tightly woven musical adventure down memory lane…and across 3 decades of Beatles sound.

I found myself planning to buy all the Beatles albums when I got home to learn the words – how marvellous their sound was and how catchy and upbeat, soulful and angsty, even today.

I love the Beatles!

Noho Arts Centre (NorthHollywood a.k.a The Valley) is borderline sketchy/ cool – a gorgeous old “ish” theatre venue. Founder and artistic director James Mellon says:

“We are not only acting company, but rather, a fully integrated theatre company. Our members all participate in every area of production.”

It’s a small venue perfect for an intimate exchange with your entertainers and “preferred seating” for everyone.

Love it!

Sample Sales Galore

Aromamuse — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:44:55 +0000

Every last friday of the month women (and reluctant man people) flock to downtown LA’s garment district for sample sales again in the showrooms of California Market Center (California Mart) and the New Mart. The Sample Sales website has a calendar of events and other info.

There are 3 huge 10 storey buildings stacked with light & airy showrooms, bedecked with clothes, jewellery and leather goods galore at prices as low as $5 to $100!

Tips:

Know your size – there is not always a place to try on

Wear something easy to take on/off if you are trying stuff on

Bring your own bag – they don’t have shopping bags for you to pile your goods into

Parking underneath is $10 if you can get a space – but get there early!

Bring cash – cos it’s cash only!

We picked up some AMAZING bargains!! And the good news is that in the run up to x-mas, it’s on every Friday..wooohooo!

Joshua Tree

Aromamuse — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:25:45 +0000

You know you’re in the Mojave desert when you are surrounded by the majestic presence of the Joshua Tree. It’s actually a Yucca, not a tree, with its waxy, spiny leaves exposing minimal surface area to conserve moisture. These beauties grow over 40 ft tall and flower between Feb & April, after which “branching occurs”. No branches = never flowered. Tip – don’t lean against them – the prickles lodge themselves into your bum!

Joshua Tree State Park is the most gorgeous barren moonscape peppered with yucca, cholla cactus, pinyon pines & juniper trees. Pick the berries and rub them between your fingers for the unmistakable aroma of Juniper oil – and a whiff of gin. Yum! Good enough to lick your fingers (except don’t!)

Arriving on Friday eve, we trawled through 2 camp sites before arriving at Jumbo Rocks where we set up camp and watched the Milky Way well into the night, wondering whether our guesses at constellation and star names were even slightly close to the facts! A quick 3m round trip hike up Ryan’s Mountain the next day gave up all it’s secrets; the 5,458 ft summit has 360 views of Queen, Lost Horse and Pleasant Valleys.

You’ll have to stop me from going back here…I might become a poet and just move there!

Joshua Tree

Humble origins

Aromamuse — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:33:49 +0000

The history of Los Angeles, California, began in the 18th century with a tiny Spanish settlement. On July 31, 1769, a group of explorers led by Gaspar de Portolà stopped by the Los Angeles River..and the city was official founded on September 4, 1781.

From these humble origins, The City of Angels has grew into a burgeoning metropolis attracting millions of visitors every year…

Get this:

When founded, there were only 44 people (14 families) living here; LA County is now the world’s 18th largest economy!

Despite popular belief, motion picture and television is only the 8th largest industry.

LA has a city flower and a city tree: the bird of paradise and the coral tree.

Wouldn’t you know!