Trio of Change

Change is inevitable, and no matter how much we resist it, it typically manages to beat us over the head at some point. “They” say bad news comes in threes, so I am hoping that when it comes to favorite restaurant closures, this is it for a while. This spring, longtime favorite Hob Nob Hill closed down for good, after struggling for a year under the poor choices of the new owners. The place I originally fell in love with was fairly priced, large portions, great service, and made-from-scratch meals that tasted like mom made ’em. It was one of those staples that I ate at often, and my friends all dug it, too. No more Cincinnati Chili:



…and no more group gatherings where you didn’t feel like you needed to be ushered out. Nothing but good times, good food, and good memories.



Nearly every trip to LA featured a lunchtime stop at Mauro Cafe on Melrose, in the now defunct West Hollywood Fred Segal shopping center.



Every friend I took there raved; with both indoor and outdoor seating, you could guarantee that there would be fun people watching (and a celeb or two), delicious food, and servers who looked like they just stepped off the runway.



It was also Willis approved.





They had a lemonade slushee that was tart as could be and I LOVED it. On my most recent trip to LA, I was going to stop at the recently moved Mauro, but ran out of time. Oh well, I’ll catch it next time, I reasoned to myself. Next time is now never. It has permanently closed. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. So many adages today.



Yesterday, I learned that local favorite Madison in University Heights is also closing down, to replaced by who knows what.



This was another place that I typically took out-of-town guests to, including my mom. It got her stamp of approval, which is no small feat; Tony is one tough customer.



The drinks were a tasty precursor to the meal, which was followed by their awesome desserts. Presentation was a hallmark of this place:



The barrel ceiling and mod design were unique, pairing perfectly with Madison’s vibe.



Many a special occasion was celebrated here, including a birthday or two.



Good friend Mona and her husband Patrick recently went there for a belated birthday celebration. We had no idea it would be our last time there. Had I known I would have brought my camera. Another lesson - never leave the camera at home.



The moral of the story: if there are places you want to go to, or a restaurant you enjoy dining at, get your ass there. Support it. Don’t let it languish. Like anything in life, nothing lasts forever, except maybe the sting of regret.

See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Melissa on the West Coast, Pt. 3

The two hour drive from Palm Springs to Hollywood would have been easy-breezy, except for the loss of the passenger side window. In a classic case of “Driving Miss Lazy,” Melissa sat in the backseat with Willis to avoid the constant blast of hot air from said missing window. We left mid-morning; I noticed as we got closer to our destination that the temperature outside was slowly rising. By the time we got Los Angeles, it was over 90 degrees. It was safe to say that although it wasn’t voiced, nobody in the car was in a happy place. However, the show must go on, so we continued with our list of film location visits, with the first one being the “Mildred Pierce” (1945) house in Glendale, which was first covered here. Snap snap and it was back in the car to visit Rizzo and Danny who were talking about “sloppy seconds” at Frenchie’s house from “Grease” (1978).



I don’t know about sloppy, but we were definitely hot and sweaty by this point.



And yet… we carried on. Next stop: Jane Hudson’s house from “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”(1962):



While the exterior of the house was used for a number of scenes, the film crew also built a replica of it on the soundstage at Warner Brothers. Note in this publicity still you can see the door AND the interior of the set on the far right.



Temperatures continued to rise as patience plummeted, so I made an executive decision: time for lunch. Mauro Cafe at Fred Segal on Melrose Avenue was the perfect place to get cool in the shade, hydrate, and enjoy a delicious meal. This has to be one of my favorite spots in Hollywood; the staff is super friendly and the food is tasty.



The tart lemon slush is a favorite of mine.





My chicken parmesan sandwich hit the spot:



And yes, the carrot cake was every bit as decadent as it looked.



Once I dropped Melissa off at her hotel I headed toward the Chateau Marmont, where I finally felt like I could relax and breathe…until I realized I’d left my camera back at Mauro Cafe. Willis and I piled back in the car and quickly retrieved it. Yes, that caused a few moments of panic.



My room (39) was one I had never been in before and it was lovely.



Willis was happy to be at his home-away-from-home.



What a great view of the patio and Sunset Boulevard from my window:



Willis and I crashed and then went downstairs for a late dinner. There was a piano player! What a fantastic touch.



The roasted chicken, broccoli, and mashed potatoes were delish.



Yes, Willis had some of the chicken. How could you resist this face?!?



No, he didn’t get any of my Coconut Panna Cotta dessert.



We slept well that night. Almost too well; Willis was not happy when I tried to get him up for his morning walk.



I love strolling through the nearby West Hollywood neighborhoods, as there are so many cool historic homes and apartment buildings, like The Andalusia from 1926:





I want those garage doors!



The Mi Casa apartments on Havenhurst were used in the 1974 film “Chinatown.”



This is where Detective Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) snapped clandestine shots of Hollis Mulwray with a young woman he was supposedly having an affair with.



It’s a gated building, so I couldn’t get in to see the courtyard where the scene was filmed.



It’s the details that draw me in:



Afterwards,  it was time for my morning swim and for Willis to relax. Please, no pictures.



Next up: Sid Krofft at the Chateau!

See more photos at my main website.

Christy Does Southern California, Pt. 2

First destination in Los Angeles: Mauro Cafe at Fred Segal in Hollywood. The staff is friendly (they all look like budding models/actors) and the food is fresh and delicious. One of my favorite lunch spots.



All three of us ordered the Balsamic Chicken, which is one of the best entrées on the menu.



Willis was well behaved the entire time, other than when a mailman walked onto the premises. Then it was sheer mayhem.



The Chateau was full for the first night, so Christy had to stay at the Sunset Tower on Hollywood Boulevard.



It had been years since I'd stayed there, and the lobby had undergone a major renovation. The original marbled art deco splendor had been covered up with paneling and looked like every other modern boutique hotel. Fortunately, the exterior retains its original details.



Her room was good-sized, with all the original art deco touches that I remember.



Love the moulding!



It was tastefully decorated and very comfortable.



Christy was excited to be in Hollywood, as you can see in this photo.



Christy's room had a wonderful view of Sunset Boulevard:



Across the way is the Comedy Store:



which was once the legendary Ciro's Nightclub:



Back to the Sunset Tower, here comes a wave of vertigo; I'm sure Jimmy Stewart had visited here before!



I dropped off Christy, leaving her waving at the window:



and then it was time to check into the Chateau:



More to come…

See more Daveland Sunset Tower Hotel photos on my main website.