Monday, March 21, 2011

Civility

The thing that's awesome about the Huntington Gardens is everything. It's more awesome when you go there to celebrate a friend's birthday -- and awesomer still when that friend has a pass that allows her to bring friends in for free.

We arrived about 10:00 Saturday morning, before it officially opens to the rest of the public. Members can go in early and enjoy the grounds before they let the rabble in. This is, no doubt, the way Henry Huntington wanted it.

Even after the rabble come in, it's still an uncrowded, quiet place to enjoy manicured nature.

We also had reservations for high tea at noon. The back room, where they seat the cool people... not crowded.

I don't think anyone has ever moved to Los Angeles just to be nearer to the Huntington Gardens. But it is one of the reasons people stay.

***

In the Japanese garden. This photo was taken by a security guard who claimed no less than 26 security personnel worked overnight to keep the property free of campers, vandals, pranksters, and vagabonds. I think he was lying. He had this detached, disinterested subtext that sounded like, "What am I? A goddamn tour guide? Yeah, 26. And the ducks play water polo with pine cones, brainiac."



Ducks waiting for us to offer food or pine cones, no doubt.


Watercress finger sandwiches, salmon canape, and other stuff at high tea.

Patty (the birthday girl and membership-holder) and I on her favorite bench. This was taken about five minutes after us college-educated grown-ups stopped at this quiet, idyllic spot and began goofing off. Note the girl in the background picking up her stuff and leaving.


Stefan and I on Patty's favorite bench.

Amazingly, they did NOT carry this in the bookstore. But they did have an Abe Lincoln 3D picture book. Abe Lincoln in 3D??

I believe people stay in L.A. even for THIS:


Not the art. I mean making fun of art. L.A.'s a great place to make fun of crap. Don't ask me how I know this.




3 comments:

MontgomeryRats said...

Very nice, and I love the cozy pic of you and Stefan from behind. :-)

Janice MacLeod said...

I'm always amazed by the Huntington. I mean, they cut the crusts off the sandwiches and everything.

Ami said...

In the days BC, Eric and I did time in Southern California. (Hey, it's not for everyone.)

My aunt called us up one morning and invited us to the Huntington.

I was so impressed by Pinkie and Blue Boy. The reproductions I'd seen forever were so small in comparison.

We had a nice time there, but no food. The sandwiches we ate later at some restaurant had crusts and no watercress.