greek

Opa! The Greek Festival at Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine was this weekend. They had amazing food, live music, and dancing. It was so much fun, I went two nights in a row. I went on the church tour the second day. It was magnificent, designed in the Byzantine style, with stained glass windows, hand-carved wood from Greece, and hand-painted murals. There were icons on all the walls, including ones of Saint Nectarios, a modern-day saint. They had one of his relics from Greece, a piece of one of his ribs.


Gyro (yee-roh) Sandwich (flavorfully seasoned beef and lamb roasted and served on Pita bread, topped with a cucumber-sour cream sauce, diced tomatoes and onions)


counterclockwise from top: diples (flaky pastry dough delicately folded and deep fried then sprinkled with honey and nuts), galaktobouriko (delicately flavored custard baked in filo pastry and topped with a delicate syrup), kourambiethes (light butter cookies, sprinkled with confectionary sugar that melt in your mouth), baklava (chopped walnuts, cinnamon and sugar between layers of filo dough, baked to a golden brown and drenched with a honey syrup)


Pork Souvlaki (a sizzling skewer of tender pork, marinated with herbs of Mediterranean origin and cooked over an open flame)


loukoumades (fluffy and light fried dough, tossed with honey and sprinkled with walnuts and cinnamon)

celebrating the end of summer

On Sunday, I went to the Fireworks Finale at the Hollywood Bowl to mark the end of the summer concert series and the end of John Mauceri's 16 year stint as conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The concert was fantastic, with special guests Kristin Chenoweth, Members of the Joffrey Ballet, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. We sat in the cheap seats, but had a great central view (binoculars help).

The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the United States. I didn't appreciate it as a kid, but now look forward to attending concerts there in the summer. It was a pleasure for me to plan for this large group event because the Bowl makes it easy. They allow you to reserve seats and add more as needed with no extra charge. They also allow you to leave tickets at will call for people you are meeting at the concert. I love when people and things are flexible and accomodating. Maybe because I'm not. I used to be (or so I've been told) easy-going. What happened?


kermit singing "it's not easy being green"


fireworks finale








as part of the encore, miss piggy sings farewell to mr. mauceri

newport beach

I was in Irvine this weekend for a work seminar, but still managed to make the most out of it. I finally went to Sprinkles for some gourmet cupcakes, albeit not the original location in Beverly Hills. My friend and I sampled (in order of best to worst): dark chocolate (amazing), red velvet, peanut butter chip, and vanilla (very disappointing).

Afterward, we went to Taste of Newport where we had food from several local restaurants and listened to a concert by the Go-Go's. They played favorites such as "Our lips are Sealed," "We Got the Beat," and "Vacation." They sounded great, even after 25 years. When they announced they are celebrating their 25th anniversary, one guy from the audience said, "NOOOO, don't say that. I'm not that old!"


it's the frosting and the presentation that makes these little cakes so good


chicken kabob and couscous from marrakesh in costa mesa


the go-go's

carson

I went to an LA Galaxy game tonight. They lost to the Houston Dynamo, 1-2. That was disappointing, but at least we got free stuff :). Afterward, we had dinner at Julio's Pizza. It's an Italian restaurant that caters to a mostly Indian clientele and makes a special pizza chutney sauce.


LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo


Cobi Jones action figure and mini soccer ball.


Italian-style pizza--flat and rectangular

alta dena

I spent the last day of the long weekend going on a short hike in Alta Dena, barbequeing with friends, and listening to a free concert in the park in Claremont. Good-bye summer! See you next year!


trail at millard canyon


waterfall at the end of the trail


the season ended with a 50's and 60's night. people were invited to dance in front of the stage and sing along

huntington beach

A beautiful day for a beautiful wedding, but it sure was hot. The ocean breeze helped quite a bit.


the wedding ceremony took place at the lighthouse courtyard at the hyatt in huntington beach. here's a view of the lighthouse overlooking the beach


centerpiece


salad with brie, pear, candied walnuts


we had a choice of fish on a bed of creamy mushroom rice with mango and spiced papaya, carrot, and broccoli


or beef with the same rice and veggies


wedding cake

chocolate heaven

I went to a rehearsal dinner tonight at Prince Seafood in Cerritos. It was standard Chinese banquet fare, all very good--appetizer platter, crab claws, shark fin soup, abalone, lobster, Peking duck, fried squab, steamed fish, noodles, and mango pudding. My friends from church are getting married and I'm helping as a gift attendant. Tonight they gave the helpers gifts--a box of assorted Godiva chocolates. It was the perfect gift for me, as I am a chocolate-lover and a minimalist (I like consumable gifts rather than ones that will take up space).