Author Archives: Sarah Auerswald

Filming In Mar Vista

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Grand View Blvd. between Venice and Pacific was the location of a massive amount of film crew-types all day today. Mar Vista’s Little Downtown was where the rapper Mims was filming his latest video. At least, that’s what one of the store owners told me. When I asked a crew member, she said, “It’s a music video, I think.” Helpful.

Filming in MV

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Ah, LA. The weather geniuses say it’s going to be 80 degrees today, and it already feels like summer at 9:30am, but of course it’s not. So the market is still full of winter fare. No tomatoes, baby, like in July.

 

Undeterred, Mar Vistans were out in droves at the market today, buying fruits and vegetables, eating crepes and french toast and tacos, and communing with each other in general.

 

Annette Siefert, see here shopping with her son Casey, bought some swiss chard, mint and dill.
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Gorgeous veggies, huh?
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For the swiss chard, she’ll first chop up potatoes and garlic and saute them in a little olive oil and salt until they are cooked through and very crispy, then at the last minute, she’ll add the chard, which she’ll have cleaned and chopped. Just a moment or two is all it’ll take to wilt it, and boom: side dish is complete. She serves it with a roasted chicken, but you could easily serve it as a vegetarian meal.

 

Then she’ll use the dill and mint for a frittata, again with potatoes, for another meal. Yum! Those both sound so delish! Thanks, Annette!

 

Oh, and then guess who I saw shopping at the market today with their wagon-load full of fresh produce? Elliot and Mark, the owners of The Curious Palate, our newest local restaurant. No wonder their food is so tasty: it starts out so fresh!
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New Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Round-Up & What Are You Making With That?

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Sundays are Farmer’s Market Days in Mar Vista, and it’s time I started a new weekly feature describing what’s in the market and just what people are going to cook with it all.

 

Today was the first Sunday of the month, which means the Mar Vista Arts and Crafts Collective had members selling their wares as a bonus. I chatted with Birgitta Kastenbaum and admired the gorgeous jewelry she makes by hand.

 

In terms of prepared food, I noticed a nacho and tamale stand today, which was new to me. Of course the omelet guy and the BBQ stand were there, as was the taco stand. The juice stand and the kettle corn are always there, and there are 2 bakeries and a new deli stand with home made pastas.

 

There were beautiful winter vegetables in abundance today, and I got some zucchini for a little saute action. 
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Luckily, since we live in California, so many things can grow at this time year, and I saw lots of broccoli, cauliflower, and broccoli rabe. Not for me today.

 

I got some mint, cilantro and thyme. 
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Mint for my sassy water, cilantro for my son’s tacos tomorrow night (I do not eat cilantro), and thyme because I read it makes a great throat soothing tea. I also got avocados because I really do not think I can live without them in my house.
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So how about you? What are you buying at the market and what will you make with it?
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

LA Brakeless

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One of the newest shops to open on Venice Blvd. is LA Brakeless, a bike shop for those daredevils among us who feel no need to stop the old-fashioned way, with brakes.

 

Originally made for the racing circuit, where brakes were superfluous, this type of bike gained favor with the Bike Messenger crowd, especially in New York, since for them, speed is a way of life and a way to make a better living (more deliveries, more dollars). 

 

Now they’ve spread to regular street bikers as well, although I say regular and that doesn’t apply to those of us who want to avoid crashing with all we can muster.

 

They also appeal to those who appreciate a pure form of bike — no brakes to mess up the look or the ride.

 

As a mom, Mar Vista Mom can’t endorse this kind of bike for her little ones, of course, but obviously, we are not their target demographic. Those who fit the category give the store high marks, noting that both their customer service and repair service are top-notch.

 

I can say that being a total mom walking in off the street, they were very nice to me in the store, which by the way is tucked into a small, unmarked storefront just 2 doors east of the Venice Grind. A great addition to the neighborhood — I wish them great success!

 

LA Brakeless, 12220 Venice Blvd., LA 90066 (310) 294-9051
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Hotcakes Bakery

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Hotcakes bakery is located on a super busy part of Centinela in Mar Vista, and let me tell you, parking’s a pain in the butt. I parked way down on a side street and walked back. But it was worth it!

 

PS — when I got there they told me it’s cool to park in B & B Hardware’s lot right behind them, which is really good to know and please take that advice when visiting, which you should definitely do, by the way. It’s very cute and the food is DEE-lish.

 

I had a little morsel of delciousness called a cannele, a tiny, carmelized custard baked in a mold, which comes both big and small. Either way, yummy!
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Some of you know I’m not really into sugar anymore, but this was just faintly sweet and had more of a savory nature, perfect for me. I did also try a bite of their pecan squares, which are also not too sweet, like a regular big ole pecan pie — something my husband, who thinks pecan pie is way too sweet, would appreciate, I think.

 

Anyway, they have a full compliment of cupcakes, of course, which must be required for a bakery these days, but they looked adorable, just not on my list the day I was there. 
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And for the holidays they have a fantastic-looking yule log, even.
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They also have a lunch menu, which I didn’t realize, so I’ll be back for an egg salad sandwich, which you know I’m fond of, one of these days.

 

I met the owner the day I was there, Elfie Weiss, and the manager, Barbara as well, both super nice and very friendly. 
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(Barbara on the left and Elfie on the right.)

 

If only they had a bigger area for sitting, it would be a great place to hang out. As it is, with only a couple of little tables, I’m perfectly happy to take my treats to go.

 

Hotcakes Bakery, 4119 Centinela Avenue, Mar Vista, 90066 (310) 397-2324
Open Monday – Saturday 9am – 7pm and Sundays 10am – 7pm
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

My Morning In Mar Vista

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I am a mother of 2 boys, I write some blogs, and I am PTA President at my kids’ school, so I am not normally in the habit of taking a lot of time for leisure activities. Therefore it was a little like playing hooky to spend the morning having fun. And after being sick, I REALLY needed a break!

 

So I strolled along Venice Blvd. yesterday, starting at Soaptopia so I could pick up some candy cane soaps, which they had just finished making; I still needed a few for teacher gifts and some stocking stuffers.
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Then I stopped in at the Venice Grind for a cup of coffee with OBJ. It was nice to catch up and the atmosphere at the Grind is perfect for it. It’s the quintessential coffee meeting space, with a back patio that’s great in warmer months. And I love that they have Wi-Fi.

 

After that, I had a real treat in store. I went to the Oasis Healing Center and got a beautiful massage from Elise. She’s amazing! And I totally needed to be worked on: I had really wrenched my back doing god knows what. And Elise made it all better! She does this cool thing with your feet at the end — ooo, it feels like I float out on little clouds after she’s done.
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Then, I floated over to the Curious Palate and picked up an egg salad sandwich to go. Yum! The bread they use is so chewy, I love that. I am looking forward to trying the rest of their menu.

 

That was it. Then I walked home eating my chewy delicious egg salad sandwich and realizing how lucky I am to live so close to so many cool places. And so lucky to have a morning to myself!
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Neighborhood Chili Cook-Off And Movie Night

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Here in Mar Vista, I have some great neighbors. We all know each other and we really get along well. We have an annual block party (always capably organized by Elise) that is so much fun, instead of a birthday party this year, my son just had his friends over and they played all day long in our street! (With the safety of barricades, of course.)

But I digress. We had so much fun, we couldn’t wait until next summer for a party, so we decided to have a chili cook-off, which wouldn’t have been complete without a movie screening, now would it? So we added that, too. Pretty convenient that one the neighbors actually sets up home theaters for a living!

It was our first one but I can tell it won’t be the last! The chili was delicious, the company was scintillating, and the movie was Iron Man. Couldn’t have been better! My neighbors rock!

There was a black bean chili made with bacon — yum!
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And a white chili with chicken that was so rich, I could swear there was butter in it!
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And then my husband made his famous chili verde, which was a big hit!
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And of course we had cornbread,
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rice,
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and salad
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on the side. Someone even made enchiladas!
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It was a ton of fun and I highly recommend doing it in YOUR neighborhood! 

 

With or Without external movie screen.
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Ahhh, Soaptopia!

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Mar Vista has enjoyed Soaptopia for several years now, but you should see it at Christmastime! All the Halls are Decked.

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It started out as just the awesome soaps, but they’ve expanded to scrubs, creams, lip balms, shaving kits, and more adorable gift-ables, too numerous to mention here (check out their website). They make all their “cleaning products” right there in the store front (OK, and some in the store-back) with love and care — so check it out:

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Those are going to be soaps just like this one some day:

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The most popular product of the season, apparently, is the candy cane soap, which smells just like its namesake, but does the opposite (i.e., doesn’t make you sticky). So popular, in fact, that they were OUT OF IT the day I went in to check. (Horrors!) But not to worry, they are making more, even as I write this, and it will be on the shelves in time for us last-minute shoppers.

 

Mar Vista Mom has been buying these delicious* soaps for my own home and for gifts for years now, and they are always appreciated. If you’re in a hurry, there are gift boxes already made up, but for you custom-lovers, you know you’re out there — you can totally customize any size gift box you like. 

 

They’re open every day, M-F from 10am – 7pm and Sat/Sun from 10am – 6pm. They also have a web store.

 

Soaptopia, 12228 1/2 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista, 90066 (310) 398-8333
*Note: soaps not edible, nor literally “delicious”, simply the use of flowery language; DO NOT EAT SOAP.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.