A Christmas Carol

It's a long-standing Barton tradition -- to visit the Glendale Centre Theater the night after Thanksgiving to watch the opening performance of A Christmas Carol.

This year was no different.

After braving the Black Friday deals -- for which we really didn't buy anything that was on sale, we headed out to Glendale with my parents.

We grabbed a quick bite downtown, then decided to make a quick crosstown trek to Silver Lake to Intelligentsia -- my new coffee snob love.  Em, my mom and I grabbed something to drink; Dad elected to walk from the restaurant to save a place in line at the Theater.

Let's be very clear. Unashamed, I find joy in mocking the opening day troubles of the performance; I have for years.

This year though, one of the owners and lead characters had a major back problem, so an understudy filled in. The understudy being, a mix of a British and Jamaican Ghost of Christmas Present -- fascinating, howling, drunk?

But still, the show is always a great way to usher in the holidays. It's been a high of 50 degrees lately, so we haven't had much of a problem with that, but even still, great fun.

Thanksgiving 2010

This year was a bit different for us than year's past.  Rather than take in two feedings in two different counties, we're trying to simplify things, opting for rotating holidays between families.

In 2010, we started our new holiday plan at the Barton's in Valencia. But not before a traditional helping of Mom's Polish breakfast bread, some eggs, coffee, and a walk with the pups.

Later, at Mom and Dad's house, we fed -- on French rolls and chimichurri, turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, more bread, cranberry stuff and marshmallowy stuff -- stuff being the word for "we don't eat it so we'd rather focus on the "stuff" we do eat."

Oh, and Cole colored with Auntie Em, and played Domino Rally, and Constructs, and watched "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," which is apparently quite frightening for an adult seeing it for the first time.

This Month's Feel-Good Video

Watch arriving passengers be given a welcome home to remember at Heathrow Terminal 5. Yes, it's an ad, but it's good to see those smiles.

ACE Hotel - Palm Springs

After "The Phantom of the Opera" showing at The Pantages, we drove for a couple hours east to Palm Springs.

And after finally getting through East Los Angeles, the drive was actually fairly picturesque.

We got to ACE Hotel and Swim Club around 6:30, right as the sun was setting. Em described the atmosphere at the property as "granola chic" -- something a rich hippie would really like.

The lobby windows were covered with hanging nautical ropes -- something really visually entrancing -- free beach cruiser bikes were available to ride downtown, there was a photoboth in the lobby, and all the staff there were really nice and accommodating.

We booked a room that featured a big -- size of our living room -- patio with a fire pit and L-shaped seating.

Inside, the room had concrete floors, a low-framed bed, and slat walls. Also included was a vinyl player with a few records available for playing -- as long as you didn't screw them up -- and if you did, you bought it.  

In fact, nearly everything in the room was available for purchase -- bath robes, walking stick, artwork, $300 duvet cover...

That night, we did exactly what he had hoped to do. Nothing. We hung out outside, enjoyed dinner, read our books and relaxed.

The next morning, we walked across the street to a coffee shop appropriately called "Koffi" -- Em had a very frosted cinnamon roll with an iced chai latte; I opted for a ham and egg sandwich with a mocha latte. Good food all around.

And for the first time, we saw the property in daylight -- so we took the opportunity to explore a bit.  

Each building featured a communal outdoor fireplace, there were two pools, a communal building -- where a wedding took place the night before, and just some fun decor throughout.

Later that day, we walked around downtown, did some shopping, then spent some time back at the pool. Reading...relaxing... all good.

That night, we turned on the fireplace, hung out on the patio and ordered some food. We shared a brisquet burger, a steak salad with a fantastic dressing, and some corn chips and some great homemade salsa.  

...And we're both absolutely not ashamed to say we ordered the same three dishes two nights in a row. When it's that good, there's no point in trying anything else, is there?

We came home Tuesday afternoon -- but not before visiting the photo both. ...cause everybody needs a Hollywood-style photo.