Head west from Long Beach on PCH and in time, you’ll find yourself in the dandy little city of Redondo Beach. For our October LWD, Redondo Beach welcomed the Ladies with open arms, and lots of tasty dishes at Ortega 120.
The ambiance was perfectly suited for the season – dusky, its walls covered with ornate skeletal figures and crosses. The food, however, was anything but scary. Nothing but scrumptious and divine. Add a couple pitchers of 120 House Margaritas (mixed right at your table, and only $30!) and a table of Ladies, and wah-lah! – a wonderful time for all.
A festive spread120 GuacamoleCalamari a la Diabla with chipotle sauceMexican Style Street CornEnchiladas de Mole PoblanoStuffed Trout in Black BeansEnchiladas VerdesChile Braised Shortrib with Pozole RisottoAgave Nectar Chipotle Glazed SalmonFried DoughnutsChurros con ChocolateGonzo enjoyed the margaritaOne is sober, one is a little tipsyCan she feel her face?Uh-oh – Wilkutabitch brought a little Long Beach to Redondo
So the Ladies give Ortega 120 ten thumbs up. The food was incredible, the company (as always) was sublime.
The Ladies
See you next month, Ladies.
Ortega 120
1814 South Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
I’m not the biggest Wal-Mart fan. More than the labor issues that, frankly, I know very little about but judge anyway, I become anxious about Wal-Mart People. As much as I hate to sound like a snob, I do get a certain itch when I think about Wal-Mart People, as I can’t recall a visit to the place without a scene with a Wal-Mart Person. But, every so often, I’m strong-armed into going to Wal-Mart. Okay, maybe enticed by its low-low prices. But I don’t like doing so. I really don’t.
Most recently, I learned that, with their expanded grocery section, they now offer my particular brand and choice of coffee, a hard to find pack that I used to get at Target until they switched brands – a higher priced one that doesn’t taste as good as my usual.
My Special Cappuccino
So you can imagine my delight (sort of) when, on a trip with my college kid to the superstore – a place she finds heavenly – I found that they carried MY coffee. So for the last two weeks, I’ve dashed into the nearest Wal-Mart to grab my cappuccino pack and leave. But during my last trip, I couldn’t help but take a look at some of the other delights to be found. Were there other things that I might purchase from this place? Was there a chance of me too becoming a Wal-Mart Person?
Would I buy it?
Pants
No.
Electric Blanket
Yes!
Tiger Cross Stitch
No.
Clone Wars Book
Definitely.
Pillow Scissors
I don’t think so.
Cordless Glue Gun
Yes.
Ahhhh!!!
NOOOO!!!!
Ointment
Not yet.
Warm Touch Lubricant
Guess.
I mean, for 88 cents…
Star Wars Posters
Yes, all three.
Wave Cap
Yes. Actually, I did buy this.
I guess that makes me one of the Wal-Mart People. Sigh.
For once, my husband showed me something new in food that I hadn’t heard about, hadn’t tried. Up in Malibu (the hub used to work at a juvenile camp there – did you know there were detention camps in Malibu?) to watch USD take on the Pepperdine Waves, he pulled into a shopping center and asked if I wanted to “try this ice cream.” OF COURSE I wanted to try “this ice cream.”
Grom Malibu
Technically, it was gelato, but who cares. I don’t know the difference anyway. Most important was that it was pretty darn good stuff. Though coming in at six bucks for a pretty small cup (called a medium), my selection was quite incredible. The flavor, Crema di Grom, had an egg cream base mixed with corn biscuits (think European, not deep South) and Columbian “Teyuna” chocolate chips. Aside from Malibu and New York, their stores are scattered abroad, the bulk of them in Italy. Definitely worth the trip. To Malibu or Italy, especially to try some of their other flavors, such as Nocciola (filled with hazelnuts), Tiramisu, and the standard Vaniglia (my favorite – boring old vanilla).
I’m usually not the plugging type. I’d never make it as a salesperson. But today, I’m not asking any of you (the 4, 5, maybe 6 of you!) to buy anything.
Okay, perhaps I am. A movie ticket. And if you really think about it, a movie is a treat. An easy, affordable getaway, where you’re asked to turn off your cell phone and focus on someone else’s drama. So this ticket I want you to buy is an investment, really.
What I’m plugging today is my dear friend’s movie, out in theaters a week from today. It’s called Middle of Nowhere, the sophomore feature from writer/director Ava DuVernay. Nowhere follows a young woman, Ruby (stunningly portrayed by newcomer Emayatzy Corinealdi), who sets aside her life in wait of her imprisoned husband. About a year ago at my nephew’s birthday party, the “grown folks” had taken over the living room when this topic came up. Someone asked how long we would wait for a spouse, a loved one who got locked up. And there was quite the range in answers – “I’d be out immediately” – “Depends what he did” – “I’d wait however long it took.”
A year after this discussion, I honestly still don’t know how I’d handle such a situation. But Nowhere offers a glimpse into one woman’s struggle, pulled between two worlds – one built on hopes, possibilities, and the other that’s simple reality. This gem of a film won the Best Director Award at this year’s Sundance, a first for an African-American woman. If you’re a fan of film (and who isn’t?), I hope you’ll be able to escape next weekend and beyond to catch my friend’s film. You’ll be glad I sold you on it. Visit the Middle of Nowhere site for showtimes and locations.
Also, don’t miss Ava’s first feature, I Will Follow tonight on BET.
Match the coffee cup to the number of days the cup has sat on my desk.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 6 days
D. Lost track of how many days
Go ahead and judge – it’s fine. I’m not the cleanest person on earth but I haven’t been sick (not counting environmental and pet allergies) for over four years! I credit my natural immunity to the tolerance for biological agents I’ve built up in my dirty office.
dianderthal 