Autumn flowers

On Tuesday, Joan posted about fall colors. When I read the post, I thought of fall colors slightly differently. Southern California has a multitude of flowering plants that bloom specifically in autumn.


This house is adorned with them and is a pleasant treat during these cold days.

Did you see something beautiful today? Something you might not see if you lived outside of southern California?

A child's best friend

On my way to work today, I passed this guy walking his puppy. I couldn't resists so I turned around to ask if I could take a picture. The boy, Alex, told me the puppy's name is Lobo, which is probably prophetic.

"A dog may be man's best friend, but a child's best friend is a puppy."
Author Unknown

Autumn flowers

I love this time of year. It is starting to get cooler out...and the trees have started to turn color. This evening I passed these trees that were alive with golds and reds in the light of the setting sun.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
~ Albert Camus

Freedom of expression

Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. Of course, it's an off year, so there's not very much on the ballot. Where I live, there's only a race for various members of the local school board.

One of the fundamental freedoms of a democracy—after the freedom to vote itself—is the freedom of expression. Whether it's picketing on a city street or, in this case, supporting your chosen candidate by posting signs (as many as you want!) in your yard, the freedom to express our beliefs and opinions is one of those things that we count on even as we take it for granted.

"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."
~ Noam Chomsky

Another Day of the Dead

Downey held their first Dia de los Muertos festival today, at the Downey Theater. (Click here to see Friday's post about a different Dia de los Muertos exhibit at the Stay Gallery.)

The festival included altar displays (below) and an art gallery exhibit, live music and dancing, a schedule of live folkloric dance on the main stage and two screenings of the 1960 Mexican film "Marcario." In the theater courtyard, Dia de los Muertos-related merchandise (left and right) was for sale. There were booths for face painting (top) and decorating calaveras, or sugar skulls.

The event was well attended, so hopefully this will be the start of another tradition in Downey.

A Night with Thai Cuisine

Last night I went out for dinner. But, instead of downtown Downey, I went to the Castaway restaurant in Burbank where I was invited to attend an event sponsored by the Thai Trade Center of LA. The evening was centered around promoting Thai food products and had numerous restaurants who provided food from the four distinct regions of Thailand.

In addition, the Royal Thai government presented awards to a number of western region Thai restaurants who had earned the Thai government's seal of approval—the 2013 "Thai Select" certification awards (for the authenticity of the food they served and the ambiance of their restaurants).

The food was very yummy. I tried Singha beer mixed with coconut soda...surprisingly good. I had a Thai lollipop (lamb), a crab nugget (to die for), wild pork with chili, miang khum, and much more. I ate more than I should have and loved every minute of it...

"I am not a glutton—I am an explorer of food."
~ Erma Bombeck

Dia de los Muertos

Today, the Stay Gallery in downtown Downey celebrated Dia de los Muertos, their second exhibit for this traditional Mexican holiday.

The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions include building private altars called ofrendas  honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. (Wikipedia)There was also much face-painting at the gallery, for both children and adults.

In addition to the Dia de los Muertos displays, the Bones of Steel exhibit is winding up soon. Bones of Steel is an industrial sculpture exhibit by Cristian Castro, featuring sculptures made of metal objects.

A look down memory lane—now and then

This is Downey Avenue looking north from Firestone Blvd. On the right is One Day Cleaners, Al's Beauty Supply store, Dream Home Realty, and E&E Shoes, the Foot Comfort Center. On the left is the parking structure for Porto's Bakery.



This is the same shot but in 1945. According to the Downey Historical Society, "On the left is Home Boys market next to Downey Hardware. Across the street is Steck's hardware, furniture, and paint; Kruegers Shoe store; and Rexall Drugs. Steck's was next to the Victory Theatre, which eventually became the Avenue Theatre."