Banning Museum

This is a picture of us and our tour guide

In the heart of Wilmington sits a little-known treasure, The Banning Museum. Phineas Banning—entrepreneur, the founder of the city of Wilmington, and “the Father of the Port of Los Angeles”—built the 23-room residence in 1864. Subsequent generations lived in it until 1925; in 1927 the residence, stagecoach barn, and the surrounding 20 acres of parkland were acquired by the City of Los Angeles.

The cornstalk fence is cast iron and was made by Wood & Perot, Philadelphia in 1858. It has a beautiful design of cornstalks resting on pumpkins, with vainglorious weaving around them. It was purchased by William Sanford Banning in New Orleans in the early 1900s and was installed around the Banning Residence Museum in 1984.

The fence is very unique with only two others like it in existence. They are both in New Orleans, one around the Cornstalk Hotel, and the other surrounding a private home in the Garden District.

Green Beans

Stir Fry Green Beans 

Add a couple handfuls of green beans (about 2 cups or what’s shown above) to boiling water that has been salted. Cook 2 minutes then immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and preserve the beans’ bright green color. After a minute, drain and pat dry with a paper towel. In a medium skillet set over medium heat, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil with a drop or two of sesame oil. Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, green onion, salt, pepper, and chili pepper.. cook 1 minute. Add beans and toss everything until beans are coated. Raise heat a bit and stir in a teaspoon of rice wine vinegar and a teaspoon and a half soy sauce. Cook another minute then serve.

Hush haircut

 Hush Haircut

Float layers

Detailed movement

Easy to maintain

The Getty Museum

 The Getty Center features mostly 19th and 20th century paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts from around the globe.

The highlight is VanGogh Irises

The center has several remarkable attractions, such as the Central Garden. Beautiful maze-like azaleas float in the pool, and many varieties of the plant are used in the surrounding garden.

The Center also offers some of the best views of Los Angeles: you can see from West LA to the downtown skyscrapers and the infamous forever-traffic-jammed 405 freeway. 

Parking is $25 per car or motorcycle; $15 after 3pm. For evening events and on Saturdays, parking is $10 after 6pm.

Here's two of my favorite photos of the architecture (travertine) of Richard Meier's work

Food that connects us

Food at Google visitor experience