More Lakeside Running

Your Boulevardier knows several people who participated in the recent Run To The Lake, sponsored by Eden Medical Center.

However, he does not typically rub elbows with the sorts of folks who will run the Skyline 50K, described on its website as "a championship event in the 2009 PA/USATF Ultra Grand Prix Series." The race begins at Lake Chabot at 7:00 a.m. this coming Sunday.

If anyone out there participates in, or sees any of, this race, please do post a comment.

Purple Haze

Along with various palm trees, the jacaranda is, in the mind of Your Boulevardier, the signature tree of Southern California. Its clouds of purple flowers provide a layer of gentle color over the southland's lovelier byways. The tree, it seems, can thrive in Castro Valley, too; this example was spotted yesterday on Redwood Road, south of Highway 580.

Friday Night Sipping

Mon Petit Chou has alerted Your Boulevardier to an item in the San Jose Mercury News about summer cocktails - and, in particular, a drink called Boulevardier. Coincidentally, Your Boulevardier just bought a new cocktail shaker, so we will be making them this evening. The recipe is straightforward:

Ice
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 ounce Campari
Twist of lemon peel, for garnish

Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice. Add the bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds, then strain into a cocktail (martini) glass. Garnish with the twist of lemon peel.

Adapted by Jason Wilson from "Barflies and Cocktails," by Harry McElhone (1927; reissued 2008, Mud Puddle Books)

"Dive In Movie" Coming to Castro Valley

Your Boulevardier has learned that HARD will sponsor a "Dive In Movie" at the Castro Valley Swim Center on Friday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. Viewers can float in the pool while the movie "Madagascar" is screened outdoors. No registration is required. Never have wrinkly fingertips been so much fun.

Your Boulevardier Hits Southern California

This weekend Your Boulevardier visited friends in Southern California. Of course, he did some walking. As you may know -- he did not -- Angelenos are not enthusiastic walkers on their often scenic streets. They are car people, even in an era of $4 gasoline. Your Boulevardier's hosts were discouraging of his footborne forays, and often offered him rides, even for short distances. Very warm weather may have been part of their thinking, but regardless of motivation it struck an odd note. Anyway, the three areas walked were:

1. West LA to Westwood Village. Your Boulevardier walked from his hosts' home in West Los Angeles to UCLA to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The walk had everything -- huge open spaces (the VA and National cemetery), a busy freeway (the 405), crowded apartment houses (everywhere), and chic shopping (Westwood Village). Pedestrians did abound as the UCLA campus was neared.


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2. The Toluca Lake area of Burbank. Your Boulevardier shared breakfast with an old friend at the historic Bob's Big Boy on Riverside Drive, then explored the very lovely Toluca Lake neighborhood adjacent to Lakeside Golf Club and Universal City. The homes in this neighborhood are among the loveliest Your Boulevardier has ever seen.


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3. A wildflower hike near Calabasas. The open space between Mulholland Highway and North Topanga Canyon Boulevard -- the shaded area on the map below, if you click for the larger version -- is bursting with native and nonnative wildflowers right now, including various sages, mustard, chemise, some remaining lupines, and creamy orange sticky monkey flowers. That such wild territory is so close to suburban development is one of the delights of this area of Southern California.


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