Time with family and rooftop dining
Much of Friday, June 20, 2025, was spent in a car traveling to someplace but the terminus of each journey was worth it.
Why did the nurse always carry red crayons?
So she could draw blood.
Ba-rump, ba, ching. (Drum roll)
One of the little jokes nephew Andrew drops on me throughout the day.
We headed to Irvine to pick up our cousin Tina in Irvine around 10:30 a.m. It was a fast and furious trip (did you catch the Hollywood film reference?) down the notorious 405 freeway. It took about an hour, but we arrived at Tina’s home after a few wrong turns thanks to me not being a good
We then swung by to pick up Tina’s sister, Toni, on our way to a wonderful lunch at The Cannery on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The Cannery is located in a the last of the fish canneries that in the 1920s lined the channel. The walls of the refurbished building were appointed with a variety of photos and items from that prosperous time in local history. Very nicely done.
We were seated on the terrace next to the boat channel. A perfect day for outdoor dining. The server, Romy, who was named after the actress Romy Schneider, promptly greeted us and let her funny and easy-going personality shine.
Everyone had some kind of seafood dish, and each one was delicious.
Andrew listened to the four cousins (Patty Ann joined us for lunch) talk about the old days growing up on Georgetown Avenue in West View. He added to the conversation with his memories of Aunt Dolly and his grandfather, my father, Pops. It was a beautiful way to spend a lunch.
We then walked around the cute, little shopping district dining more talking that window shopping before dropping off the sisters and heading back to my hotel. What a great afternoon it was.
After a rest in my hotel room, Andrew met me in the lobby around 6 p.m. He had a surprise adventure planned.
We hopped into a Lyft and headed to downtown Los Angeles. It took us about an hour because of the rush-hour traffic.
I was always under the impression that downtown LA was a few 6- to 8-story buildings, but surprised to seek the many tall skyscrapers clustered tightly in a large area. As we drove through the canyons of buildings it reminded me of Detroit when I used to work at the Free Press. All the little shops and restaurants lining the sidewalks with floors and floors of offices above.
The Lyft driver left us off at the spot of Andrew’s surprise — Clifton’s Cafeteria.
Unfortunately it was closed for renovations, even though Andrew check to make sure it would be open. Looking through the darkened windows I could see it would have been a fun place to have dinner, but fate said otherwise.
Andrew showed off his knowledge of downtown LA and quickly pivoted with another place for dinner.
We started walking down a few blocks and were greeted by a doorman who ushered us to the elevators. Up to the 13th floor where we were another man guided to the second elevator for a quick trip up to the 16th floor. A quick turn around the corner and the hostess welcomes us to the Perch rooftop dining.
We asked for outdoor terrace seating and was told there was a four-hour wait.
Never mind. We took a nice table by the window.
We started with a charcuterie board of sliced salami and pepperoni, cheese slices, fresh strawberries, dried fruit and nuts, and a delicious fruit bread. Then came our appetizers, octopus salad for Andrew, baked Brie for me. For main entrees I had the steak fritte poutine and Andrew had the gnocchi pesto. Both excellent choices.
With the easy conversation, dinner lasted for an hour-and-a-half. It was great.
After we finished dinner we walked up two flight of stairs to show Patty Ann the skyline at sunset. She loved it and decided to stay to watch the sky glow of the lights from the tall building.
Back on the street, Andrew and I walked to the Angels Flight, a cute little incline that takes up a slight hill to the pleasant plaza above. There was a poetry slam going on in the outdoor theater.
It was getting late and called a Lyft for our ride back to hotel to get rested for Saturday’s adventure.
I remember Aunt Dolly too!