Over China at The Peak
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Somewhere Over China
After a long Pacific flight we arrived in Hong Kong late on December 29th. After the train ride into the city we checked in to the Prudential Hotel on Nathan Road. We jumped into a taxi and with my limited mandarian "Buck King Do" and the next thing we were having a beer in Murphy's Bar in Kowloon.
Up bright and early the next morning we were off to Bobby's Custom Tailor's to get measured up for a few suits. They would be ready the next day but we needed to come back for a fitting that night.
We did the tourist things, riding the Star Ferry and taking a trip to The Peak. We stopped buy to see Mr. Bill's buddy and priced out a few Dunhill Lighters. But we were cheep verry cheep.
We found a bar on the waterfront called Dan Ryan's Chicago Bar & Grill. There were pictures of all of our recent mayor's as well as a Michael Jordan, but they did not have an Al Capone. George just had to try the Chicago Style Hotdog. I dont even want to know what they put in a hotdog in China.
Now you would think that the fireworks display on New Years in Hong Kong would be great. After all they invented fireworks. Well they did have a fireworks and light show. There were about 2 million people on the waterfront at 8pm, and the fireworks lasted about 15 minuites. Oh So Sorry.
Up bright and early the next morning we were off to Bobby's Custom Tailor's to get measured up for a few suits. They would be ready the next day but we needed to come back for a fitting that night.
We did the tourist things, riding the Star Ferry and taking a trip to The Peak. We stopped buy to see Mr. Bill's buddy and priced out a few Dunhill Lighters. But we were cheep verry cheep.
We found a bar on the waterfront called Dan Ryan's Chicago Bar & Grill. There were pictures of all of our recent mayor's as well as a Michael Jordan, but they did not have an Al Capone. George just had to try the Chicago Style Hotdog. I dont even want to know what they put in a hotdog in China.
Now you would think that the fireworks display on New Years in Hong Kong would be great. After all they invented fireworks. Well they did have a fireworks and light show. There were about 2 million people on the waterfront at 8pm, and the fireworks lasted about 15 minuites. Oh So Sorry.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
And all the Stars that Never Were are Parking Cars and Pumping Gas
Tuesday morning we had breakfast in El Segundo at a little joint Danny knew when he worked here in the past. Then on to our hilltop lookout to spot LAX for an hour. we were then off to Hollywood and the Peterson Automobile Museum.
This museum is owned by the publishers of Road & Track and contains a great collection of everything from presidential limo's to the Pope Mobile. There were movie cars and the entire collection of Steve Mc Queen's cars. This place was great.
We had lunch at Musso's & Frank's on Hollywood Boulevard. This place has been there since 1919, and the waiters have been there nearly as long. We had a great time with Manny the bartender as he told us about all the famous patrons who visited his bar. Many has been a bartender for 49 years and has known them all. His favorites are Harrison Ford, Drew Barrymore and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
We came across this Irish bar called Tom Birgin's. The bartender was from Chicago and had come out to LA working on the 1978 movie "The Fury". He played a Chicago cop with Dennis Franz. Now he pour's beer for the locals. Only in LA
This museum is owned by the publishers of Road & Track and contains a great collection of everything from presidential limo's to the Pope Mobile. There were movie cars and the entire collection of Steve Mc Queen's cars. This place was great.
We had lunch at Musso's & Frank's on Hollywood Boulevard. This place has been there since 1919, and the waiters have been there nearly as long. We had a great time with Manny the bartender as he told us about all the famous patrons who visited his bar. Many has been a bartender for 49 years and has known them all. His favorites are Harrison Ford, Drew Barrymore and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
We came across this Irish bar called Tom Birgin's. The bartender was from Chicago and had come out to LA working on the 1978 movie "The Fury". He played a Chicago cop with Dennis Franz. Now he pour's beer for the locals. Only in LA
Monday, December 26, 2005
If We Can Just Get Off Of This LA Freeway
Well we arrived Christmas nite. Things were quiet at the LAX Hilton and we had a few beers at the bar. There were some ATA people there drinking Dom Perigion. I dont know what they were celebrating but more power to them.
On Monday I had a surprise for the Boy's. Curley from the Three Stooges is one of our hero's. I had found the location of his gave on the internet along with the GPS coordinates.
So we set out trying to find Curley in East LA. My GPS was not much help as I must have put the coordinates in wrong, but Google Earth found it and so did we. The boy's were suprised and then we set off to Hollywood to find the Stooges star on the Walk of Fame. No luck there. We did get back to one of our old haunts, "the Frolic Room" and a few other places as well.
On Monday I had a surprise for the Boy's. Curley from the Three Stooges is one of our hero's. I had found the location of his gave on the internet along with the GPS coordinates.
So we set out trying to find Curley in East LA. My GPS was not much help as I must have put the coordinates in wrong, but Google Earth found it and so did we. The boy's were suprised and then we set off to Hollywood to find the Stooges star on the Walk of Fame. No luck there. We did get back to one of our old haunts, "the Frolic Room" and a few other places as well.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
747 Home in the Santa Monica Mountains
There are always a few uses for an old aircraft!
Francine Rehwald is buying an old 747 from Mojove, chopping it up and hauling it to a building site in the mountains. The house will resemble a aircraft crash site. Plans call for six buildings including a "Meditation Temple" constructed out of the nose.
According to Francine "Its 100% post-consumer waste" " Isnt it the Coolest"
Reade the article in the Wall Street Journal
Francine Rehwald is buying an old 747 from Mojove, chopping it up and hauling it to a building site in the mountains. The house will resemble a aircraft crash site. Plans call for six buildings including a "Meditation Temple" constructed out of the nose.
According to Francine "Its 100% post-consumer waste" " Isnt it the Coolest"
Reade the article in the Wall Street Journal
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The TSA will now be watching the parking lots
The TSA will be watching all airport parking lots for signs of a terrorist at the airport. The director of the TSA in Washingnton DC said in an interview on Meet the Press that "Our agents have been trained to detect suspicious modes of transport that may be used by a terrorist"
I feel better knowing that professionals are on the job.
I feel better knowing that professionals are on the job.
The Purple Gang Rides Again
Surfing on line I found this photo of the Purple Gang. While in Detroit for Dream Cruise we met the owners of this Chevy in the bar at the Fox and Hounds. After a few drinks George and I were taken outside to see this Nomad panel truck. The car was restored in hot-rod style and has a 454 engine. According to the owner the work was done in California and they bought the car on E-Bay.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Fat Tire Tour
Once again we made it to the Fat Tire Tour of Lake Geneva, the weather was great, the beer was cold and all out friends were there. What more can you ask?
I am sorry to say that this was my longest bike ride of the year. Its only 22-26 miles depending on the route you take and 9 bars if you make all the stops. For the second year in a row one of our group won the raffel and got the bike.
I am ready to do it again next year!
I am sorry to say that this was my longest bike ride of the year. Its only 22-26 miles depending on the route you take and 9 bars if you make all the stops. For the second year in a row one of our group won the raffel and got the bike.
I am ready to do it again next year!
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Rao's Restaurant New York City
Today my thought's go to New York City and I am ready for another trip. Once again my favorite artist points me to a new place to check out.
I came across this painting by Leroy Neiman of Frank Sinatra at the bar at Rao's. It seems that this place is almost impossible to get into. Rao's only has about eight tables, and you can't get a seat at one of them unless you are "invited" by one of the table's "owners." According to an insider, "You got a better chance of getting hit in the ass by lightning" than ever getting a seat.
Rao’s Restaurant opened in 1896 and has been owned and managed by several generations of the Rao family for over 100 years. LeRoy Neiman was taken for his first late hour visit to Rao’s by his pal Rocky Graziano in the late 1960’s. For over thirty years a Neiman, on-the-spot sketch of Vincent Rao hung next to the bar.
According to Neiman's web site every night, power brokers, politicians, Broadway and film stars as well as famous sports figures dine at the restaurant. Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, Andre Agassi, Martin Scorcese, Tony Bennett to name a few are some of the regulars that frequent what has become more of a private club than a public eatery. Recently, LeRoy Neiman and Tony Bennett were seen sketching each other at the table.
I checked out Rao's Website and it says "If you do not have a reservation, you can always have a drink at the bar". An we thought the 21 Club was exclusive. I wonder if Dan the bar man has made it there yet?
I came across this painting by Leroy Neiman of Frank Sinatra at the bar at Rao's. It seems that this place is almost impossible to get into. Rao's only has about eight tables, and you can't get a seat at one of them unless you are "invited" by one of the table's "owners." According to an insider, "You got a better chance of getting hit in the ass by lightning" than ever getting a seat.
Rao’s Restaurant opened in 1896 and has been owned and managed by several generations of the Rao family for over 100 years. LeRoy Neiman was taken for his first late hour visit to Rao’s by his pal Rocky Graziano in the late 1960’s. For over thirty years a Neiman, on-the-spot sketch of Vincent Rao hung next to the bar.
According to Neiman's web site every night, power brokers, politicians, Broadway and film stars as well as famous sports figures dine at the restaurant. Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, Andre Agassi, Martin Scorcese, Tony Bennett to name a few are some of the regulars that frequent what has become more of a private club than a public eatery. Recently, LeRoy Neiman and Tony Bennett were seen sketching each other at the table.
I checked out Rao's Website and it says "If you do not have a reservation, you can always have a drink at the bar". An we thought the 21 Club was exclusive. I wonder if Dan the bar man has made it there yet?
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Dream Cruise 2005
Once again we did Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. With 40,000 special interest and classic cars its that city's best celebration of summer.
We had a two car caravan this year, Billy drove the Caddy and I had my old TC convertible. After a little breakdown in rural Michigan we made it to the Raddison Hotel on Woodward Avenue about 6pm Thursday. Things were in full swing. Dream Cruise officially is only one day, Saturday, however; it has morphed itself into an entire week.
After a visit to our old haunt Just Duckey's Bar we hit the bar at the Fox and hounds and found that even the hoi poli get into Dream Cruise.
The big day was a mixture of rain and sunshine. We survived with our new tent to keep us dry. Everyone says we will do it again next year. Oh and we will be staying at the Raddison.
We had a two car caravan this year, Billy drove the Caddy and I had my old TC convertible. After a little breakdown in rural Michigan we made it to the Raddison Hotel on Woodward Avenue about 6pm Thursday. Things were in full swing. Dream Cruise officially is only one day, Saturday, however; it has morphed itself into an entire week.
After a visit to our old haunt Just Duckey's Bar we hit the bar at the Fox and hounds and found that even the hoi poli get into Dream Cruise.
The big day was a mixture of rain and sunshine. We survived with our new tent to keep us dry. Everyone says we will do it again next year. Oh and we will be staying at the Raddison.
Friday, September 09, 2005
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