WATTA WEEKEND

Friday evening we had 4 friends in for dinner.  M, who is grill-crazy, prepared a tri-tip steak and asparagus and I made a Panzanella salad and roasted Rosemary potatoes.  For dessert we gorged on Trader Joe's Mud Pie.  All accompanied by a sensational 2007Juan Gil red Monastrell wine from Spain.  The dinner was a success what with lively conversation and the guests staying at table until midnight.  Another great evening at 1584 Benedict.

The 26th annual Stage event benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles , was held Saturday night at The Luckman Theater.  Named "Original Cast", the musical extravaganza featured numerous stars of   Broadway musicals doing a one number "turn".  The night was a night to remember.  Just to name a few, Betty Garrett, Tyne Daly, Ronald Dennis, Charlotte Rae, Joan Ryan, Patricia Morrison (who celebrated her 95th birthday singing a song from Kiss Me Kate), Constance Tower, Donna McKechnie, Melissa Manchester, Dale Kristien and many other outstanding performers.  All directed by David Galligan.  A rare musical event!

Sunday was what is becoming an almost weekly drive down to Rancho M.  We are becoming regulars for lunch at Spencer's in Palm Springs.  R & J joined us and I picked up the check 'cause I lost a bet with R that the house would be finished by May 1.  I must have been crazy to choose that date.  How about August or September?  Even tho' we wouldn't go down to the desert during July, August or September (115 degrees of heat), it would have been nice to have had my Paris belongings released from storage in San Pedro.  We spent over 2 hours with the contractors finalizing all types of details and realize the Housewarming will probably be October first.  So those of you who will be visiting for the weekend:  unpack your bags.  The weekend is long off.