LACMA and Ray's

Today was a day we decided we needed to get out of South Orange County.   We had the most amazing lunch at Ray's at the LACMA.  It's only about 65 miles, but with LA traffic the trip took almost 2.5 hours, so we were very hungry when we arrived at Ray's.  When you are extremely hungry, it's not a bad thing when they bring out bread and butter to start.  We devoured that and then ordered two appetizers.  A corn soup that was so creamy, almost velvety and topped with crispy potatoes.  Next up was a squash blossom dish that was stuffed with delicious goat cheese that was lightly breaded and it just oozed out and over a bed of sweet corn salad that was slightly chilled.  We hardly needed our main course which we split. It was a truffled rice with arugula and a porcini sauce.  LACMA is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and we could not have been happier with our restaurant selection.  Service was impeccable too!  (note:  all photos taken with my iphone).

Summer in the City - Part Four

A trip to New York is not complete without a stop at the MoMA. We always had family memberships to all the museums, so we could avoid lines and spend as little or as much time as we liked.  Summer or winter it's such a nice way to spend a part of your day for a little respite from the city.

Nothing says summer like a bunch of sunflowers.  These were at the information desk at the MoMA.

I had seen the "Wish Tree for MoMA" on other blogs, but wanted to check it out in the Sculpture Garden for myself.

I imagined it to be much larger...I don't know why I do that.  There were tags and pens to write your wish and then hang it from the tree.  Who could resist?

I have always loved the iconic I Love NY logo by Milton Glaser, but never more than when shortly after 9/11 there was a new version.  Glaser created a version with a small smudge on the heart in the spot where the World Trade Center Towers once stood and added the words, More than Ever.  He sold copies for $100 and all proceeds went to help NY charities.  My kids both have them hanging in their rooms.  You can check it out here.  It was on the back pages of New York newspapers and everyone started displaying them in their windows all over the city.  It was an amazing site and made you believe everything would be alright....somehow.