i’ve officially caught the letterpress bug.  For years i have been trying to take a class to learn about and make letterpress items.  I was aware of classes offered at Art Center as well as Otis, but i couldn’t seem to make the evening class times.  Alas, i had put it on the back burner like many of my other interests.

A few months ago, my boyfriend stumbled on a new boutique shop in our neighborhood, Freshed Pressed, that was created to bring the art of silkscreening to the public.  In this same vein and spirit, Lala Press have done that for letterpress.  I feel so fortunate to only live two miles away from this oasis of a print studio.  Upon entering, i knew this was my kind of place.  i had signed up for the business card workshop which takes place one day on the weekend.  perfect. Upon entering the industrial gate, i was welcomed with a garden of bamboo and succulents.  It was a complete hidden treasure, right down to the fresh baked goods from porto’s that awaited me innocently on the table.   good food. check.  good company.  check.  good design.  check.   The day was turning out just perfect. 

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Los Angeles is known for its year-round sunshine.  There has been a few exceptions, but the lack of seasons can sometimes be annoying when you feel like hunkering down and making some great braised meats.  We have had more rain than usual this year. After a sun soaked week on the mayan riviera with my family, i came back to a nice week in LA- although i was secretly hoping for some rainy weather.  This weekend it got cloudy for a day, so i decided to plan my menu based on chillier times. 

I’m having three girlfriends over on monday night to discuss a very important topic:  bethany’s pre-wedding bachelorette weekend in Sonoma.  I am admittedly manipulating this celebration to avoid any talk of hiring a male stripper or going to vegas.  Classy all the way.

We aren’t going until August of this year, but since that is high tourist season, i wanted to get everyone together and discuss the itinerary that i mapped out and make the necessary arrangements-  as well as delegating minor tasks.  I can’t do everything.  But i did find it appropriate to cook a nice meal and get our minds in the mood for a visit to wine country and michelin star restaurants.

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Aprés ski is so much more rewarding than just an after work drink at happy hour.  I don’t even remember the last happy hour i have been to since most times, i don’t get out of work early enough to take advantage of half price drinks and  bar food discounts. In any case, after a hard day of snowboarding and skiing in extreme weather conditions, we headed back to the condo for some good ole R&R.

My friend, Chad, famous for his “sunset cocktails”, came up with this drink.  He had an abundance of kumquats from his own organic, backyard trees and brought  them up to the mountains. These were the leftovers after he already did some fervent canning.  Apparently there is a surplus of kumquats in Socal this year.  Perhaps this drink will help alleviate that.  It has officially replaced the pomegranate martini and the mojito for me as a cocktail of choice.  He was inspired by the kumquat bourbon drink special he had at the Hungry Cat.

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