Hollywood

The Hollywood & Highland Center




Mary Carlisle Blakely (1920's)


I drove up on Thursday, collected Hector as he was finishing up a conference in lovely Long Beach (that's sarcasm) and we checked into the glamorous Renaissance Hollywood. It's connected to the new Hollywood & Highland Center, which is where the Oscars are now held, in the Kodak Theatre. I can remember a number of years ago on this very spot I observed a crack whore getting an Easter morning beating from her pimp, so this corner has definitely come up in the world.

On Saturday we had brunch at Cha cha cha in Silverlake, which was both fun and delicious. They serve Caribbean tapas. Made me want to go back to Puerto Rico. Then for dinner we drove to Santa Monica to La Botte Ristorante. Another winner. It's a small neighborhood place, with a big wine list and good service. The owner was all over the place, that's a good sign. I had White Corn Soup with Lobster Tail ($15) and Tagliatelle alla Bolognese ($17). Both wonderful.

Sunday there was a National Geographic Seminar on Travel Writing, attended by me and several dozen unemployed screenwriters. Later Bill Graff and I had dinner at Fabiola, on Sunset near Vine. Mary Blakeley was going to take me to lunch on Monday at the Bel Air Country Club but she got sick and cancelled on me. (She is 95 or so*, after all). I just came on home instead of staying another night.

I know it's so tired to be going on about how things change but I mean really. The traffic! My God, there is no escape. I have lived in LA many times throughout the 1970's, 80's and 90's and it was always possible to find a secret route somewhere that would avoid the traffic jams but not anymore. I just didn't want to go anywhere. So I apologize to everyone that I didn't even call while I was there. Come here instead.


*pure speculation, since she had never told anyone her real age. that includes her son.