Star Sighting

Minutes before the show "Mamma Mia!", Jen and I saw a huddle of media personnel outside Avalon Hollywood along Vine Street.

It turns out to be an auction and concert event, "Heroes for Autism", co-sponsored by Autism Speaks and the cast of NBC's "Heroes".

We were lucky enough to have caught up with the arrival of some of the hit show's cast members.

Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli)

Ntare Mwine (Usutu)

Christine Rose (Angela Petrelli)

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Mamma Mia!

My college classmate, Jen, and I went to watch the final show of the musical "Mamma Mia" at the Pantages in Hollywood tonight.

It was exhilarating experiencing ABBA's songs come alive onstage. I grew up listening to the Swedish singing group's music, from which the musical is based, whenever my late dad played the band's audio cassette tapes.



It's amazing how the writers incorporated the band's songs into a cohesive story about a bride-to-be in search of her father so he can walk her down the aisle.


The show is simply phenomenal. It had the audience clapping, cheering and dancing in escalating intensity from prologue to encore.

If the musical hits your city, go see it and get your groove going.

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Back On The Road

Today I drove Angelino for the first time in three weeks. Ever since Mama & Candy left I didn't feel like getting in the car alone.

I imagine it will be bittersweet remembering the times we were always on the go. It's nice to remember but it also hurts, specially that I will not be able to go on the carpool lane anymore. :D!

Not having driven Angelino for three weeks also means I have not gone grocery shopping in that amount of time. I subsisted on cafeteria food which is decent and healthy anyway.

I washed and waxed him a week prior. He was pretty dirty and dusty you can actually scribble on any of his surface. My camera batteries ran out on me so, too bad, no pictures. He looked mighty handsome afterwards. :)

My life's pretty much back on track as well. I've been able to attend to matters put on hold and realigned my routines to solo mode with a good amount of social diversions thrown in for good measure.

Discovering L.A. - Landmarks

Many architectural and cultural landmarks abound in Los Angeles that make it the vibrant and dynamic city that it is. Here are a few we went to.

Thumbnail photos following each sentence are links to an online album. The albums are best viewed by opening a new tab or window so you stay on the blog site.

The Getty Center is an architectural and cultural beacon with sprawling gardens and breathtaking views of the Los Angeles basin.

Getty

Walt Disney films get an exclusive run at the 1920s art deco palace that is the El Capitan Theatre.

El Capitan

The Griffith Observatory is an astronomical and architectural inspiration that allow the public to touch base with our little universe.

Griffith Observatory

Descanso Gardens is a 160-acre vastness of year-round botanical spectacle.

Descanso

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Discovering L.A. - Woofstock 90210

[Thumbnail photos following each sentence are links to an online album which are best viewed by opening a new tab or window so you stay on the blog site.]

One of the highlights of our little L.A. adventure is attending the inaugural dog festival “Woofstock 90210” in Beverly Hills.

Woofstock First

It was a fun-filled day to celebrate man’s four-legged best friend with various contests, a parade, and stunt shows.

Woofstock Stunts

I’m partial to Spitz-type dogs and my dream dog is a Norwegian Elkhound or an Alaskan Malamute.

Woofstock Spitz

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Discovering L.A. - POIs

Here are some points of interest we went to in LA and beyond.

The thumbnail photos are links to an online album which are best viewed by opening a new tab or window so you stay on the blog site.

POI BeverlyHills

POI LakeArrowheadVillage

POI StaMonica

POI AMCUniversal

POI Ventura

POI Hollywood

POI TheGrove

POI Olvera

POI StaBarbara

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Discovering L.A. - Food

Candy knows her way around the kitchen so we share a home-cooked meal most of the time, even when we go out because we carry a packed lunch.

Our gastronomical adventure did not go far, but here are a few worthy digs we went to in L.A. and beyond.

[The album is best viewed by opening a new tab or window so you stay on the blog site.]

LA Food

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Discovering L.A. - Churches

There is a common belief that when a religious path is not finished in one generation, the next will accomplish it.

Youngest sister Candy started to feel an inclination to enter the convent when our father, a former seminarian before he met our mother, passed away about five years ago.

Each weekend, I took her and Mama to beautiful churches where they can hear Mass, specially the Mission Churches.

The following thumbnail photos are links to an online album which are best viewed by opening a new tab or window so you stay on the blog site.

Queen of Angels

Mission San Gabriel

Lady of Angels

Mission San Fernando

Mission San Buenaventura

Mission Santa Barbara

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Mission San Luis Del Rey

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Photos in this post are author's property.