Hump Day Hike

Wednesday morning, I took a drive down to Debs Park which lies in between Highland Park and Garvanza. What was originally going to be a quick photo shoot, turned into a rather fun hike. The hiking trail ascends up a hillside to a small pond, and then continues on to some amazing views of Highland Park and Downtown Los Angeles. In the nineteen years that I lived in Highland Park, I never took advantage of this hiking trail. Deb's Park is easy to get to. It parallels the 110 Fwy, and is located off Monterey Road in between Via Marisol and Huntington Drive. Before departing Los Angeles, I stopped over at a Highland Park favorite, Folliero's Pizza, for dinner. I have been eating at Folliero's for almost 30 years. Back when they were located across the street in a little hole in the wall, my brother and I used to always pick up a pizza before watching the Lakers. Folliero's has that old-fashioned pizza parlor atmosphere. The staff is very welcoming, many of them having worked there for several years. The salads are fresh and the pizza is flavorful. Also recommended is their famous meatball sandwich. All in all, today was an opportunity to wax nostalgic. The work week is almost over. Hopefully the weather will be as great as last weekend. Until then, I bid you all adieu!

Tasty Tuesday

On Tuesday, I decided to visit my parents down in Los Angeles. We headed down to the Plum Tree Inn in Chinatown for dinner. A longtime favorite of ours, Plum Tree Inn offers delicious Chinese cuisine and an upscale atmosphere. Most of the dishes I regularly eat are chicken dishes. Their Won Ton soup is a great starter. Our three entrees included Black Pepper Chicken, Cashew Chicken, and a spicy Kum Pau Chicken. The staff is always friendly and accomodating. Plum Tree Inn is a great stop before catching a Lakers game at Staples Center or a Dodger game at the Ravine. I capped my night off with a visit to the Griffith Observatory. Once seen a place just for stargazers, the Griffith Observatory attracts many types of visitors. I came across prayer groups, tourists, and couples wanting to take advantage of the romantic views overlooking the Downtown LA floor. The Griffith Observatory is an attraction that can be visited throughout the year for spectacular views both inside and outside the famed obsewrvatory dome.

I Felt the Earth Move

Hope your Easter was a great one! I spent my day down in my hometown of Highland Park with my family. Everything was normal until I decided to lounge on the couch. All of a sudden, the couch began to move side to side. When it lasted for more than two seconds, I realized we were in the midst of an earthquake. Being the techno geek I am, I immediately brought up my link to the USGS which indicated that there had been a 6.9 earthquake near Baja California. Of course, the quake was later upgraded to a magnitude 7.2. Tragically, the quake has claimed one life so far in Mexicali. There have been several moderate aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.1 near Imperial County. I cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared for a major earthquake in Southern California. Take the time with your family to stock up on supplies and put together a communication plan. Hopefully, the only thing we have to deal with the rest of the night is the rain. Have a great work week!