Rancho Mirage Writers Festival

I  viewed  Susan Orlean's interview which was interesting. I always enjoy seeing an author I've read. It stuck pretty much to the book so not a lot new if you've read the book (The Library Book).

Zadie Smith and Michael Chabon had a discussion about fiction and non-fiction and it was fascinating. One line he used that I really liked was "Everything we remember about our lives is fiction". This was in a context of how "memoir" has more credibility that it should. Chabon recounted how his children have very different memories of events than he has.  Zadie mentioned she had a brother who is a stand-up comic who has versions that the rest of the family wonders where they come from.

Ah...just noticed that I used the last name for the man and the first name for the woman. Hmm.

I was blown away by Zadie's "White Teeth"which she began writing when she was 20 and published to great accolades when she was 24. I gave a few of her later novels a try but didn't stick with them. Seeing this discussion has motivated me to pick up the most recent works that I haven't looked at. Funny how she made a comment that, "Well, I could do that (referring to writing from the perspective of people very different from her and who she knew very little about) at 20 but I don't have that kind of confidence anymore at my current age."

I haven't read anything by Chabon but this looks like a good read. It came about because he came across one of these foreign phrase books that was on Yiddish.  It had the usual categories like "At the train station". He found it rather fascinating as it was written and published after the creation of Israel which chose Hebrew as a language rather than Yiddish so there isn't really a country where Yiddish is a language.

"At once a gripping whodunit, a love story, and an exploration of the mysteries of exile and redemption, The Yiddish Policemen's Union is a novel only Michael Chabon could have written."

Rancho Mirage Writers Festival

This is an amazing event and for the fourth year they are keeping the cost of the pass to the festival at $500 because of donations by the "Angels" (big donors) of Rancho Mirage Library. This may seem expensive but I believe in the beginning years the cost was around $800 or possibly more. Passes sell out almost the moment they become available. And now they are making videos of all the sessions available to watch...wow! I have some "must sees" already like Zadie Smith and Susan Orlean who did The Library Book. What I really like about this festival is there is something for everyone and not just "serious" literature that would be studied in (heaven forbid!) English courses.

Take a look at the 2020 line up of authors and speakers and the videos you can watch of their presentations:

http://www.rmwritersfest.org/videos/?fbclid=IwAR2vkRRYilAmQLepxttBqtKbFYisiM44YIqGRyS1S9RUL6qVcA4YS00hBlA

The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival is a world-class gathering of the finest writers who contribute to the intellectual vitality of our time. The City of Rancho Mirage, California, welcomes 40 authors and 1,000 readers from around the globe to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory each January. Jamie Kabler, who wanted to bring a premier intellectual event to the Coachella Valley, founded the Festival in 2014 which has been described as “Coachella for the Brain.”  

Our mission is to bring our readers a rich and diverse program with topics ranging from politics, history, humor, and health to genre and literary fiction. Our writers are all experts in their field, distinguished historians, respected journalists and gifted story-tellers. Many are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize as well as New York Times bestsellers.

Catfe open since 2015...wow!

It just doesn't seem that long. Michelle seems to be doing really well with the business. I'm so glad for her. Somc UBC students made a little video that is very good and some good footage of the Cat Life Drawing Classes.

UBC Journalism students Paloma Pacheco & Katherine Dornian filmed this mini-documentary last December about Catfe! https://youtu.be/XIeq-y9D7xU Open since 2015, the Vancouver cat cafe has recently launched a set of regular workshops including yoga, tarot reading and cat life drawing. https://pic.twitter.com/exjV08mTSX

youtu.be/XIeq-y9D7xU

It's hard to find humour in what is currently happening but...

Adrian Raeside does a pretty good job.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Old Capital"

"The Old Capital" by Yasunari Kawabata

This was one of my Christmas books and I just loved it. Kawabata won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968, the first Japanese writer to win it. It takes place in Kyoto when everything is blossoming and all the festivals are taking place. Reading the descriptions of the flowers and trees and blossoms makes me want to paint them!  It is a wonderful story told beautifully. I look forward to reading more of his work.

Making soup

I enjoyed making my own recipe for soup from what I had around so did it again yesterday. 

The Kafir lime leaves were bought for a chicken recipe that I didn't think turned out that well so trying to use them up. And I haven't used curry powder for a while.

It was quite tasty if a little on the thin side.  Another potato and less water next time.  I'm curious to try it cold tomorrow although since I've come down with a cold, perhaps hot is best.

College of the Desert new campus

This new campus right in Palm Springs looks like it's going to be a great architectual achievment and have lots of interesting programs. They are building a boutique hotel on the campus so students can study the hospitality trade. It will definitely be a money maker as well as a training centre. Great idea!

From The Desert Sum yesterday:

Palm Springs has long been a popular destination for admirers of midcentury architecture to come soak up knowledge, but plans are moving forward to create a space devoted to formal architectural study. 

College of the Desert and Cal Poly Pomona, in association with the Palm Springs Architecture Alliance, are planning to launch a five-year accredited architecture program at COD's forthcoming Palm Springs campus, slated to open in 2023 on the site of the recently demolished mall on Tahquitz Canyon Way.

The Palm Springs School of Architecture will take elements from two already existing programs. COD currently offers a two-year architecture degree, and Cal Poly Pomona offers a bachelor's of architecture degree that takes five years to complete.

The schools are still in the early stages of formalizing their partnership, but it will ultimately allow students who attend COD's two-year program to obtain the five-year degree at the new Palm Springs campus without having to leave the valley.

Good on The Old Spaghetti Factory

As students we certainly enjoyed the $1.95 meals....what a deal!  Good to see they are doing this fund raiser. We'll be flying to Palm Springs that day but don't think we would have braved the crowds. I'm sure it will be a great success and it's a great cause. As I remember Jim always got the meatballs and I got a combo of meat sauce and the Brown Butter and Mizithra Cheese. And the Spumoni ice cream was a real treat too as I don't think you could buy it at the time.

Yep, that looks like my combo.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver will mark their 50th anniversary on March 3, 2020. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Gastown restaurant will have their all-inclusive spaghetti entrees available for just $1.75. The offerings will include throwback items like spaghetti with chicken liver sauce.

While the retro prices are certainly enticing, the Old Spaghetti Factory is using their anniversary festivities for a cause better than your own bottom line: On March 3, they'll donate all proceeds from food sales to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Additionally, diners will have the option to add on a donation to their bills. 

OSF's Spaghetti Classics (which in 2020 are priced from $12.50-16.50) are part of the restaurant's "it's all included" offerings, which means each pasta main comes with a side of their Italian sourdough bread with whipped garlic and plain butter; your choice of Minestrone soup or a green side salad; Spumoni ice cream for dessert; and hot tea or coffee. Sauces, of course, include traditional options like meatballs, meat sauce, or marinara sauce, or the OSF's signature Brown Butter and Mizithra Cheese, which is a recipe from the OSF's Portland, Oregon-based founder's family.

Vintage Trailer Show at Modernism Week

We went to this one year and really enjoyed it. While I'm quite fascinated by living in small spaces and like the idea of the "open road", I realized long ago I don't really like being in small spaces as I'm a bit claustrophobic and I'm a nevous driver and passenger :) 

Join Modernism Week for the Vintage Trailer Show - one of the most celebrated and exciting events of the second weekend. This year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever! This thoughtfully curated collection of vintage trailers, campers, buses and motor homes is arguably one of the largest and most attended vintage trailer shows in the United States. Year after year the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show continues to surprise and delight attendees with some of the most stunning, unique and rare vintage RV’s. Trailer owners and custom restoration craftsmen will be on hand Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23 to meet the public and discuss their trailer’s unique history and travels. The show will also have a fun mix of retail vendors whose products complement the vintage trailer lifestyle and will have you ready to hit the open road! As an exciting bonus, attendees on Saturday, February 22 will have the opportunity to vote for the prestigious Peoples’ Choice Award and show their love to these one-of-a-kind treasures. Don’t miss this great Modernism Week tradition!

Itty Bitty Book Review: "A Woman of Means"

"A Woman of Means" by Peter Taylor

This was one of my Christmas books and I am always happy to be introduced to new authors. Peter Taylor is an American writer and won the Pulitzer Prize for "A Summons to Memphis".  It's a story of class and status in the South and takes place in the 50's. Complex relationships between adults and children and between adults. An interesting read.

Modernism Week in Palm Springs

Missing Modernism Week in PS but then every week is Modernism Week there.  It's was sunny here yesterday and we'll soon be in Palm Springs.

This tour sounds interesting but we can pretty much do these things ourselves when we're there.

Tour of the Sunrise Park Neighbourhood.

Innovative and influential architects like Donald Wexler, William Krisel and Richard Harrison created this eclectic collection of homes developed by the Alexander Construction Company and Jack Meiselman between 1956 and 1967.

Sunrise Park presents a mix of architectural styles that evolved over time, from Atomic Ranch to late 60s mod. Developments with names like Enchanted Homes and Desert Palms Estates are centrally located near the civic center with the Albert Frey designed City Hall and Wexler’s iconic airport that opened the desert to a world of international travelers. 

Architects William Cody and Hugh Kaptur designed landmarks throughout the Coachella Valley but chose Sunrise Park to build their family homes. Huell Howser, the host of PBS television’s long-running series “California’s Gold” lived in the neighborhood for many years, as well as hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.

The Kaptur family home will be featured and showcases the architect’s rounded angles seen in public projects like the Palm Springs Swim Club, Fire Station #4 and Casa Blanca Hotel (now known as The Musicland).  Also on tour is a home renovated by famed interior designer Christopher Kennedy sporting a hi-style aesthetic that honors and celebrates the home’s midcentury modern roots.

Proceeds from this tour will be used to support Palm Springs Public Library, Well in the Desert, and other local agencies, and operating costs for the Sunrise Park Neighborhood Organization.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Fishing for Birds"

"Fishing for Birds" by Linda Quennec

This is a novel by a Vancouver area writer and I just loved it. It takes place on a large island near Vancouver and also a smaller island. Could be Nanaimo and Gabriola Island or perhaps Saltspring but they are given different names in the novel. Also, probably the "smaller" island is a combination of Gulf Islands. Although I personally have had enough of islands, large and small, the settings did bring back good memories and I certainly could relate to quite a lot to the settings and the people.

There are three female narrators from three generations...a mother and daughter and a very old lady who is a friend of the daughter. The old lady is a wonderful character and we learn a lot about her time in Cuba in the "roaring 20's".  It's about women and their struggles, life in general, and it has quite a bit of suspense.

From a Tourist Guide for Palm Springs in 1956

I wonder what Linda's son-in-law would think of these recommendations under Order Wine With Your Meals. He's a product and wine consultant with B.C. Liquor Stores. Lots of Champagne recommended. Don and Elaine often just had a bottle of Champagne for the various courses of a meal out if there was just the two of them. We're not big fans of Champagne.

Jane Austen Society Meeting

Well, a lively discussion was predicted and it certainly was!

The topic was "She said "Yes!"

The responses of Charlotte Collins and Jane Fairfax who said yes to men not exactly desirable but the times were such that women didn't have many options. All sides for and against were excellently presented and a very lively discussion ensued amongst the members present....an especially big group
yesterday.  What fun!  A visitor and now new member remarked she hadn't been so stimulated and had so much fun for ages.  It was a super meeting and the food was fabulous for lunch. Sometimes potlucks work out perfectly.

Celery top soup

We've been eating a lot of celery lately with our before dinner aperatif instead of having nuts or unhealthy stuff. So, I have all these celery tops and thinking you should be able to make something out of them.

So googled and brought this very simple recipe up...not much in the way of quantities.  I kind of like that about it. We'll see how it goes. Guess I'll use what's around.

Recipe:

Chop the celerytops and scallions and saute ..add a big peeled, cubed Russet potato, some garlic, chicken broth and simmer until everything is nice and tender and soupy. Add a little cream Puree...

So, it turned out really well and I loved using up these celery tops!

My Recipe:

4 cups chicken stock
one small onion
celery tops from two stalks
1 large cubed Russet potato
1 large carrot (I didn't use this but will add it next time)
4-5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 tsp Italian or Herbes de Provence seasoning

Then basically follow the original recipe in terms of cooking.

I have a recipe for Celery and Stilton Soup so I will crumble in some Stilton next time. I was going to make this soup so I bought some Stilton then we ate all the celery....

 The final product.

Valentine's Day 2019 in Palm Springs

Well, it's a nice sunny day in Vancouver today. Quite a change from "sheltering in place" as we were told to do last year during the worst rainstorm in about 50 years in PS.  Some people in Canyon Sands had some flooding issues. Thankfully we were fine but I was sure glad when that rain stopped.

From The Desert Sun today:

The Coachella Valley is in store for a dry Valentine's Day on Friday — a far cry from last year when a devastating rainstorm pounded the desert, which still hasn't fully recovered.

On Feb. 14, 2019, Southern California caught the tail end of a West Coast storm that dropped 3.7 inches of rain on Palm Springs in one day. That accounted for about 41% of the city's 9.1 inches of rain in 2019.

It capped off a wet period that has — so far — gone unmatched in 2020.

At this same time last year, Palm Springs had recorded 5.53 inches of rain by Feb. 14. But this year, the city has only recorded 0.04 inches of precipitation and Friday is on tap to have clear skies with a high temperature of 73 degrees.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jimmy Taeger described the 2019 downpour as an atmospheric river storm and heavy moisture was the game-changing factor that intensified the conditions.

Stephos on Doordash...wow!

We didn't really think they would deliver to UBC but they did and it was even better.  Wonderful, copious roast lamb, rice, pita bread, greek salad and now real lemon potatoes....before they had these burnt up roast potatoes. Fabulous and getting it delivered from the West End...fabulous.

The photo was taken after most was eaten.

This is a better photo from the internet.  We always just share one and can barely eat that. Cost $18 and then it ends up being $30 on Doordash with delivery charge, tip, etc.  Still a deal.

And I made peanut butter cookies...the cookies jar is full and lots in the freezer.

Needing our glasses...

Yep....that just about sums it up for a lot of people.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Clock Dance"

"Clock Dance" by Anne Tyler

This is the Brock House Bookclub choice for this month. I think I've only read "Accidental Tourist" by Tyler and forget what that was about. This was a comfy read. A reviewer said reading Ann Tyler is like getting "a big hug".  It's rather like what the No 1 Ladies do for me.   don't think  I could take a lot of this type of novel although I've read all the the No 1 Ladies. She's written over 20 novels so lots of reading hugs if I need them.  I may try "Breathing Lessons" which won the Pulitzer in 1988 or
"A Spool of Blue Thread" which was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize" in 2015.

A little bit of humour

And from Colorado:

Itty Bitty Book Review: "To the Land of Long Lost Friends"

"To the Land of Long Lost Friends" by Alexander McCall Smith

His latest in this series... #20. I still like these the best.  It's like putting on an old comfortable shoe. There will be some intrigue, humour, and lots of reminders of what's important in life. And it's always a pleasure to see his love of Africa shining through.