The Rose Bowl Flea Market

Last Sunday, I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, also called the “world’s most unusual flea market, the shopping place of the stars”, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl, a stadium built in the 1920s, has hosted numerous football games (including some of the 1984 Olympics games and the 1994 Soccer World…

Big Sur

This Labor Day weekend the Duke and I decided to unplug by going to Central California. We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway through San Luis Obispo, Cambria, and San Simeon with our final destination being Big Sur. Many people will tell you how nice the Pacific coast is over there, but if you haven’t…

The Venice Canals

Every now and then, I must admit, I miss wandering through the narrow calli (walkways), campielli (squares), and bridges of my beautiful Venice. Venice gives the illusion that you own her while you walk through her narrow little streets, when in fact, you don’t; she’s a mysterious older sexy lady that doesn’t need anyone to validate…

The Beach House

Ever wonder how it feels to own a weekend home on the beach? For a couple of years now, Santa Monica residents and Angelenos alike have been enjoying a piece of paradise by lounging at the pool of the Annenberg beach house. And let me be clear, this is not just any beach house, it’s…

A Very Presidential Train Ride

The Fillmore and Western company is known in the entertainment industry as the go-to place to shoot scenes involving a railway station with steam engine vintage trains. Not everyone knows, that the company offers train rides and a variety of themed parties on board year round to the general public. The Duke and I had…

Summer in L.A.

If you’re not in London enjoying the Olympics (oh, I wish I was there!), Los Angeles has plenty of free events this Summer that will keep you busy and entertained. My favorite radio station KCRW is the most prolific organizer of awesome concerts and DJ sets all over town, often happening at the same time,…

Kern River Goddesses

My best friends are as nature loving as me and it was just a matter of time before we were going to organize a “ladies only” camping trip filled with lots of fun and adventure. We left on a Friday evening with two packed cars with Kern River as our destination. We read some reports…

Wild West Pioneers

Our friend Lulu just bought a house on a sweet little hill in Yucca Valley just a couple of miles south of the legendary Pioneertown. Yucca Valley is on the opposite side of Joshua Tree, only about two hours away from L.A., but it might as well be a million miles away as it is…

My, My Sedona…

Sedona is a sweet town just 2 hours south of the Grand Canyon. What makes it particularly special for me, is that we have part of the royal family residing there: our 93-year-old grandma, a former Hollywood dancer and shaker, Virginia, and our talented former L.A. Times journalist and novel writer mom, Gerry. Sedona is…

Something Grand

No picture or video will ever prepare you for that moment when you arrive at the edge of those 7,000-foot cliffs and set your eyes into the superb and majestic Grand Canyon. It’s such a breathtaking experience that will leave you in awe of nature and its wondrous works. Billions of years of geological and bio-atmospheric…

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

I just got back from a five-day vacation adventure in Arizona and I’m delighted to report that I made it back in one piece! I’ve been to this neighboring state a few other times before, but never in an RV and it was quite an experience! I enjoyed the freedom that you get when renting…

Hearst Castle … It’s Where I Belong!

Who said we don’t have any magnificent castles in the U.S.? If you’re eager to visit one, drive up to San Simeon to the Hearst Castle and you will not be disappointed! Although, built only in the 20th century, this 90,000-square-foot property combines historic architectural styles and features many artifact and art pieces from different eras and…