Dante's View and Venice Beach and LACMA

Saturday December 11 was glorious. Totally.
I arranged to take a rigorous walk to Dante's View in Griffith Park with Joel Flashman, former teacher of son Mark. Of all days, he was trapped in the elevator of his apartment building for two hours and missed the hike. I hoofed it up alone, at a brisk pace. It was tank-top sunny with clear blue skies offering a complete panorama of Los Angeles, Palos Verdes, Santa Monica, and the ocean beyond. Happily, the gardens on top offered a hose for filling water bottles and dog dishes. Perfect refreshment for the reluctant trip back down.

Late in the afternoon, Saschka Haberl and her mother (from Berlin) joined Eric and me for a trip to Venice Beach. We drove over the canals, lined with houses lighted for Christmas, waded in the ocean, heard the drummers beating incessantly, watched roller skaters, browsed in Small World Books bookstore, and then ate next door at the Sidewalk Café. It was a perfect evening to see the sunset and say good-bye to the ocean.

Sunday the Calders played at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It was a free concert that was broadcast live. Special audience guests were Wayne Smith (Eric's cello teacher from Cincinnati) and his wife Eva and son Daniel. All were visiting from their home in Berlin!