One of “those” LA photos..
So this Sunday was spectacular: after a few rainstorms we had a weekend that turns out photographers both amateur and professional to get that shot of LA with snow-capped mountains in the background. Temps weren’t much above 60F so the top stayed up, for which my skin no doubt thanks me.
Near he Ventura county line.
During Covid one of the ways I kept myself relatively sane was by taking what I called “Covid Cruises”: since nobody could eat out or go to the movies or even shop except for the bare minimum. I drove. Sunday’s usually, slathered in SPF 24000.
With the end of Covid sort of came the end of the Covid Cruises. Now I have a different car but for some reason fell out of the habit- perhaps because with the return to “normal life” was the return to “normal” traffic.
Malibu, from last year after the fire.
But this weekend was too lovely to pass up.
So I took a route I used to take quite a lot- sometimes as a destination unto itself, and sometimes as a shopping trip. I went to the outlet mall.
Well I drove by it anyway.
Camarillo Outlets is probably like any other little outlet mall with a bunch of shops. some of which I loved: Barneys Co-Op (before they opened that as a second-level mall shop on the way to leading Barneys into bankruptcy and oblivion. Neiman Marcus closed their Last Call stores (although to be honest they didn’t have much.) Nordstrom Rack is long gone (and in West Hollywood, anyway.) Saks is going through bankruptcy and closing all of their Saks Fifth Off stores. There’s still a Banana Republic and Brooks Brothers’ outlet but that’s not really a reason to drive over 100 miles round-trip. At least not for me. Portia and a bunch of us hit the mall at probably the point that it was chock-full of stores and stuff. But during Covid one of the things that I decided was that I just have enough stuff. So I once again just drove by.
The building everyone thinks is the Getty Malibu, but is a private home.
One of the other great things about the steady rain is that our golden hills turn almost as green as the Emerald Isle. I didn’t get a photo since I was on the Freeway, but it sure was pretty. I did take a couple of snaps of the ocean, but didn’t take any photos of the damage in Malibu. I did take one months ago (which I am posting) but I felt like a ghoul doing so.
Burnt in Brantwood (yes, that is the Goodyear blimp.
The area is slowly coming back (I don’t think you have been able to see such great swaths of ocean view along that part of PCH since the 1930’s) and I refuse to indulge in “well they shouldn’t have built where there are fires/floods/earthquakes” anymore that I would say that about someone who built in Tornado Alley or on the Outer Banks. And believe it or not, one of the casualties of the Palisades fire was an actual ocean-view trailer park, now gone.
Century City and beyond from Beverly Hills
Coming back along Sunset it was actually getting along unto sunset so I made a quick stop at the market to pick up some grapefruits and beet juice (I must have a deficiency somewhere making me crave this..) and into my flannel jammies.
What did I reach for on my out in the morning? Happily Neil Morris’ Flowers for Men: Lilac. Wonderfully crisp and yet with an edge. Perfect for a bright, chilly day.
Are you digging out from the “bomb cyclone” back east? Let us know in the comments. I have a couple of friends who have broken out the crock pots and are making stew for the day indoor. Which sounds wonderful to me..
Images: My iPhone and Pexels
Dear Tom,
Thanks for the great travel journal with photos. What a refreshing change that was for you. Loved all the views and the bits of history that you throw in.
Here in Northern VA, we were thankfully spared the worst of the recent snow storm. I saw that Rhode Island got pasted with, like, 34 inches?!? We just got a dusting of powdered sugar which is already melted and gone. Whew! Dodged that snowball!
34 Inches? Yikes!
I’ve never visited LA so my image of it is a mix of film noir and the lovely documentary about Jonathan Gold. Neil Morris! I have a bottle of Prowl and I just adore it!
Neil Morris is really good..
He definitely is! Creative and beautiful perfumes at a reasonable price point!
Very true. I’ve given many of his creations to grateful recipients.
Waaay too much snow here in the northeast (CT) this winter. This will take forever to melt. On the positive side hopefully it will cut down on the tick and mosquito population come summer.
I would take your lovely drives in a heartbeat!
I was reading about that and even paused at posting this- I don’t want to seem like I’m rubbing anyone’s face in it. But friends back East gave me a pass.
Thank you for the virtual road trip. I’ve never visited the US but being driven the whole length of the PCH, it’s my youngest son’s favourite stretch of road in the US.
I doubt I’ll ever get to visit, I’ve made my views on the current admin way too clear on socials.
If you ever have the chance it’s a beautiful drive, especially towards the Bay Area.
I am not fond of the current regime either.
That sounds absolutely delightful (not the part about the fire, that was terrible, obviously) and I would love to see LA like that, although it always seems fairly green to me? I must have visited at the right times. There are some spectacular day trips here, although veeeeery different in appearance lol.
I think you came in the spring, which is still pretty green. And I think we were a little preoccupied with the entertainment on the party bus we had to look out the window. Normally they really are gold.
I love Neil Morris’s approach to perfume for men – ‘twas he who encouraged me to wrap El O in Fracas, to see how women would react.
Clever man, he.
I haven’t been back since the fires and tbh, I’m kinda scared to. Between COVID, the fires and general attrition… but your drive is making me want to reconsider
Well, I would of course love another special guest appearance by Posse members. I’ll even rent a four seater if necessary.
I love when you do these posts — vicarious travels with Tom.
Has Saks declared bankruptcy? If yes, how sad. used to spend loads of time in the NYC one back in the day — and have some lovely things to prove it.
And continue to be sad about Barneys.
Barneys broke my heart. Every time I see it Not There ( on Oak & Rush in Chicago) I want to punch the BoD in the throat- all of them. What a loss.
I haven’t been in the BH one since it became Saks. Wonder what it will become? I thought they should consider a collection of shops subletting- a collection of boutiques.
Kind of like what Fred Hayward used to be…?
Exactly! And apparently Fred Segal has been purchased and they are planning on reopening in the old space on Melrose.
Saks is in the middle of stuff. They’re divesting themselves of the “outlet” stores, which frankly I think is a good idea. So let’s hope the real Saks stays open.
Yes, Barneys still hurts. In a way that Saks wouldn’t.
What a beautiful photo! I love your travelogue w/pictures. I always liked the PCH, except driving into LA. Too much traffic. The scenery elsewhere always feels to me like the epitome of California – open road, warm breeze, the vast Pacific on one side, semi desert scrub on the other. I love it.
Something nice perfume-wise. There were several partial bottles I bought quite a while ago. One I pretty much ignored – Balenciaga Cristobal (woman, the yellow one). I found it and sprayed it today. It’s terrific! Don’t know why I let it sit for years. Not anymore!
I’ve never even heard about that one. Can we expect a review?
My PCH trips are always from Oxnard South. Traffic going north is nuts unless you leave waaaaay early.
HA. I had never heard of it either. I went to fragrantica and checked the notes. Now I know why it’s for me. I was planning on doing a full wearing tomorrow. I’ll see if I can do a quick summary.
Where can I read your reviews please?
Nowhere. 🙂 I just did a few reviews a very long time ago and they were pretty amateur but fun to do.
We are ALL amateurs..
Well we might have to make some room here for them..
I’d love to read it!
Just a quick summary
As I was playing around today, I realized that my bottle of Balenciaga Cristobal is actually Balenciaga Cristobal Eau de Cristobal that came out in 2003. This is considered an Oriental Flora, but I get very little vanilla or amber so it’s not an Oriental on me.
It opens mainly spicy (carnation-like) with hints of citrus that fades away in about an hour, though the spicy lingers longer. This is when the black currant makes itself fully known. No skank. It’s more like a non-descript and very pretty fruitiness.The flowers are there but the only one that seems to come forward a bit is the peony.
It never has much projection and becomes a skin scent in a few hours then fades away – about 4 to 5 hours. It’s definitely for warm weather where you can spritz with abandon.
Finding this was fun and I will enjoy wearing it, but will not replace it. It will be more fun to discover something new to get excited about! There’s so much out there, perhaps too much.
Now I am kind of lemming this one..
😉