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Hollywood Reservoir

Lake Hollywood is a man-made reservoir built in 1924 to hold more than 2.5 billion gallons of water. The reservoir is part of the Owens River Aqueduct system. The Mulholland Dam was built by engineer William Mulholland who designed and built the system of aqueducts and reservoir providing Los Angeles with most of its drinking water.  The City of Los Angeles, Department of Water and Power (DWP), has completed new water storage facilities next to the Upper and Lower Hollywood Reservoirs. Two of the world’s largest underground tanks now store treated water, with new pipelines linking the tanks to the distribution system.

Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, this lovely lake is one of the quietest and most secluded bodies of water in the city. The pathway around the lake is a favorite exercise circuit for stressed out film industry folks. It is a 4-mile loop.

From the end of Lake Hollywood Drive, head left (east) along Montlake, following the reservoir’s perimeter for 0.7 miles.  Cars are allowed here, but traffic is sparse, so as long as you stick to the path following the road you’ll be fine.  At the junction of Tahoe Drive, you pass through a chain fence and head onto the walkway that circles the reservoir.  Soon, you get your first looks at the Mulholland Dam, and after a mile and a half, you arrive there.

Hollywood Reservoir
Lake Hollywood Drive and Montlake Drive
Hollywood, CA

Directions: Hollywood Hills, corner of Lake Hollywood Drive and Montlake Drive.   Take highway 101 to the Barham Blvd. exit.  Turn right on Barham, drive 0.3 miles and turn right on Lake Hollywood Drive.  Take a quick left on Primera and a quick right onto La Suvida.  Drive a total of 0.6 miles (La Suvida becomes Lake Hollywood Drive) and park on the corner of Lake Hollywood Drive and Montlake.

Paradise Falls at Wildwood Canyon Park

Paradise Falls drops 40 feet into a large pool along the Arroyo Conejo in Thousand Oaks. The waterfall is located within Wildwood Park, and thanks to an almost excessive network of trails, Paradise Falls may be reached via several routes, allowing for a 2.2-mile out and back hike or several loops of 2.5 miles or more. There is 260 feet of elevation loss between the main park trailhead and Paradise Falls.

Ducks!

The direction to Paradise Falls is marked at most trail junctions in the park, so it will not be difficult to find. The easiest route is to head straight west on Mesa Trail, the most obvious trail departing the parking lot for Wildwood Park. After 1/3 of a mile, head to the left at a split on to North Tepee Trail, following an arrow for Paradise Falls. Stay straight through three junctions over the next 0.3 miles to come to a T-junction next to a recreation of a tepee. Here you may look down on the V-shaped canyon carved by the Arroyo Conejo. The landscape above the canyon is dotted with cactus and sage, while the creek is lined with sycamores and oaks, creating a riparian oasis. Since most of Wildwood Park can feel like a desert on a hot day, be sure to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.

Turn right at the teepe, and drop into the canyon for 1/8 of a mile. At the next sign for Paradise Falls, turn left down a single track cutting down the canyon. At the bottom of the trail, turn right on Wildwood Canyon Trail, and make a quick left to arrive at Paradise Falls, 1.1 miles from the start.

Paradise Falls
Wildwood Park
928 Avenida de los Arboles
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Directions: About an hour from our area.  Take the US-101N for about 30 miles and then exit 45: Lynn Road.  Turn Left on W Avenida de Los Arboles, 2nd Right onto Frontier Ave, 1st Left onto Bright Star St, 1st Left onto Big Sky Dr, and finally a slight left onto W Avenida de Los Arboles.

Bike Riding in Santa Monica

The Santa Monica bike bath begins at Will Rogers State Beach, Pacific Palisades and terminates at Torrance Beach.  The full path is about 25 miles.  The section between Marina del Rey and Will Rogers is very curvy, crowded, and filled with bicyclists and pedestrians alike.

The expanse from Marina del Rey to Torrance, passing through Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach is for the more serious bike rider.  It's a fun, free activity to do year- round to get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery!

Directions:  You can start at any point along the beach.  When we go biking, we take the 10 until it ends and then watch to the left for the sign that says "Perry's".  If you miss the first one, there's a second one that comes up pretty soon after.  It's less crowded if you bike away from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

 1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups sour cream
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Topping:

3 tbsp. cinnamon
4 tbsp. sugar
1 package chocolate chips

Directions:

 

Preheat oven to 375. Combine all ingredients and mix. Pour half the
batter into a 9•13 pan and pour half the topping on.pour the rest of
the batter on top and coat with the topping. Cook in the oven for
50-60 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe to make two Chocolate Caramel Layer Cakes

A. Cake
12 eggs, separated
12 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1/2 lb fresh roasted ground walnuts
2 tbsp flour
Bake on 2 cookie sheets lined with parchment paper at 350 for 20 minutes.
Invert cakes on fresh parchment paper, peel off paper, and divide each sheet into three long layers.

B. Brittle Cream
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp water
Cook until caramalized
Add 1/2 lb fresh toasted chopped almonds
Pour on parchment paper and cool

Mix 1 8 oz container cream cheese
1 stick butter or margarine
add brittled almonds

C. Chocolate Cream
1/2 lb good quality swiss chocolate (I use Noblesse)
1 tsp coffee
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
Dissolve over fire or in microwave

Beat one lb butter or margarine and 4 eggs
Add warm chocolate and mix well
Let solidify at room temperature to consistency of chocolate cream

D. Caramel Cream
1 box powdered sugar
8 tbsp oil
8 tbsp water
2 tbsp coffee dissolved in hot water
mix and refrigerate 1/2 hour

E. Assembly
1. Cake
2. Chocolate Cream
3. Brittle Cream
4. Cake
5. Chocolate Cream
6. Brittle Cream
7. Cake
8. Chocolate Cream
9. Caramel
10. Whip cream garnish around sides

Venice Canals

Carroll Ct & Eastern Canal Ct
Venice, CA 90293

The Venice Canal Historic District is noteworthy for its man-made canals built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney as part of his Venice of America plan. Kinney sought to recreate the appearance and feel of Venice, Italy in Southern California. The beautifully lit canals with gondoliers and arched bridges drew widespread publicity and helped sell lots in the development. However, as the automobile gained in popularity, the canals were viewed by many as outdated, and the bulk of the canals were filled in 1929 to create roads. By 1940, the remaining canals had fallen into disrepair, and the sidewalks were condemned by the city. The canal district remained in poor condition for more than 40 years, as numerous proposals to renovate the canals failed due to lack of funding, environmental concerns and disputes as to who should bear the financial responsibility. The canals were finally renovated in 1992, with the canals being drained and new sidewalks and walls. The canals re-opened in 1993 and have become a desirable and expensive residential section of the city.

Directions:   Take the I-10 West to the I-405 South to the CA-90.  Exit Lincoln Blvd and turn left onto Washington Blvd.  The canals are located at Washington Blvd and Pacific Ave.  Park in the neighborhood streets or there's metered parking right on Washington. Only about 25 minutes!

Easy, Yummy Churro Recipe

Churros

Ingredients

1 cup water

2 1/2 tbsp white sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 quarts oil for frying

1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:  In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tbsp sugar, salt, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil.  Bring to a boil and remove from heat.  Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball.  Heat oil for frying in a deep-fryer or deep skillet.  Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag.  Fry until golden; drain on paper towels and coat in cinnamon-sugar mixture. 

So easy and delicious!

Fern Dell Hike to Griffith Observatory

Your destination is the historic Griffith Observatory. It opened on May 14, 1935 and has become a venerable cultural, scientific, and architectural icon and one of Southern California's most popular attractions. In 2002 its doors were closed and a five-year, $93-million renovation secured its world-class standing as an amazing treasure. You can easily spend hours exploring the building, grounds, and astronomical exhibits, gazing through its public telescopes, viewing a live planetarium show, shopping in its gift store, or simply soaking in the breath-taking panorama of Los Angeles. And aside from its planetarium show, it's free!

Breathtaking views!

Fern Dell Drive off Los Feliz
Los Angeles, CA 90068

From the intersection of Los Feliz and Fern Dell Blvd, drive north on Fern Dell about 0.3 mile, cross a narrow bridge (immediate after the bridge Red Oak Drive comes in from the left), through an open street gate and notice parking places long the road on the right. Directly across the street is Trails Cafe. You can park along the street anywhere up to this point or after this point, but it's at this point that your route begins. Across from Trail Cafe, notice the opening in the fence. Pass through the opening and notice a pair of footbridges. The first bridge crosses the main creek that runs parallel to the road. The second bridge crosses a tributary creek that comes in from the east and begins to parallel the main creek just below these two bridges. Cross the bridges to the east side of the creek and begin to veer left then follow the board path as it begins to immediately curve right, heading east (this is where the path from Ferndell Gardens intersects coming from the south). You'll notice a restroom and some playground equipment a few hundred feet north of you (on your left as you walk east).

ICE at Santa Monica

Once a year, Downtown Santa Monica brings a little skate to the surf and transforms the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue into ICE at Santa Monica, an outdoor ice skating rink. Celebrating its 5th Anniversary, the 8,000 square ft. rink by the beach offers residents and visitors a little taste of winter without the bite.  It's a great place to hang out with friends, family, and loved ones, throw a party in a private event cabana, enjoy a first date, or sign up for skate lessons.

Admission is just $12 and it is almost always open.  To see the schedule, visit the website: http://iceatsantamonica.com/

It's also super pretty at night! 

ICE at Santa Monica

1324 5th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

One of our Most Favorite Recipes!

Bloody Mary Marinated London Broil
(adapted from Kosher by Design Short on Time)

Ingredients

1 large shoulder London broil, about 3 pounds
1 cup tomato juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Frank's Red Hot
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
olive oil

Place the meat in a glass bowl.  In a medium bowl mix all the marinade ingredients and pour over meat to marinate at least an hour or as long as overnight.  Pour some oil in a heavy pot and preheat.  Sear the meat on high heat for about 10 minutes per side - be careful not to overcook - it's best pink inside.  Allow the meat to rest a few minutes and thinly slice on the diagonal.

Yum!