So There's That

the writer meets the photographer

Jun.06 14
So There's That

San Sebastián | A Day in the Life

Written by and Photography by Charla in Travel

Here’s the funny thing that Americans need to know about Europe: it’s not Disneyland. It’s not some faraway, fantasy place that is just so, well, unrealistic. More than a few Americans I’ve known have seen Europe and then returned to their homes in the U.S. suburbs and thought, “Well, that’s that.” Okay, yes it is far away. Especially if one travels from California across all nine time zones and lands in a reality so unique and so vivid – with so much color, noise, people, drama, cigarette smoke – that…read more

May.31 14
So There's That

Cozy Spaces | Backyard Nook

Written by and Photography by Charla in Spaces

While it’s thrilling enough to look at the latest and hippest house/garden/design magazines, I may often flip through the color spreads and look at the price tags next to each of those unique pieces of furniture, gadgets, fabrics, and tasteful furniture. Then I sigh, put the magazine down, and apply yet another dab of spot remover on my sofa in order to put off replacing it until I saved a little more. Whether inside or outside your house, designing an attractive space shouldn’t have to break your bank. Why not…read more

May.30 14
So There's That

Introducing: “Spaces”

Written by and Photography by Charla in Spaces

Quick – look around you. What does the space look like? What color are the nearest walls? Where are doors, windows, plants, trees? Can you tell what time it is just based on the light? The most important question of all: How does that space make you you feel? We’ve often noticed that our physical location influences how we feel. A front porch at the end of the day will encourage us to unwind, for example, while a bright sunlit kitchen with fun artwork and cooking gadgets within reach might…read more

May.26 14
So There's That

Frida Kahlo | Her Photos at MOLAA

Written by and Photography by Charla in Art, Long Beach

Feeling artsy this weekend? Grab the kids and check out “Frida Kahlo, Her Photos”, at the Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art, or MOLAA. Luckily, Los Angeles County is full of opportunities to get your art on, and you can even find something kid-friendly and make them think, all at once. Be sure that MOLAA is high on your list when you want to check out world-class art and get your kids into some culture, all before lunch. Frida Kahlo’s turbulent life was marked by tragedy, history, more tragedy…read more

May.18 14
So There's That

When in Spain: Tapas, Pintxos, and You

Written by and Photography by Charla in Travel, Wine & Dine

Tapas are what makes eating out in Spain pure magic. They are well known in the United States with a growing list of restaurants offering tapas on their menus. But where tapas in the U.S. may be little more than overpriced appetizers on small plates, in Spain they are a pairing with simple, fresh food, a conversation starter, a non-pretentious way to connect with your friends and neighborhood. Sometimes they are free with your drink, though they can get expensive in a hurry if you don’t watch what you order….read more

May.12 14
So There's That

A Light in the Attic

Written by and Photography by Charla in Long Beach, Wine & Dine

Late one night I got an urgent text from Charla. “Someone’s iPad was missing!” “Was it stolen?” “We are checking her Find my iPhone app to find it!” Sigh. She was going to be late that night, then. One of the guests of the wedding party at the Attic Restaurant in Long Beach had lost her iPad. Charla’s wedding photographer duties shifted as she climbed walls in search of the device. There are few locations that are all at once romantic, elegant, hip and neighborly as the Attic, whether for…read more

Apr.07 14
So There's That

Memories of paellas past

Written by and Photography by Charla in In the kitchen

What is the trick to a good paella? Persistence. Other techniques come in handy and we will revisit them here periodically. I have many Spanish friends who taught me their own tricks for the proper paella. Some work and others do not. In any case I’ll roll my eyes in advance at some of our Spanish readers’ pronouncement that this is not paella, but the pejorative arroz con cosas – rice with things. You mean things like saffron, garlic, onions, seafood, chorizo? You see, a friend from Valencia – the…read more

Mar.18 14
So There's That

Simple tasty tacos

Written by and Photography by Charla in In the kitchen

Less than a handful of years ago, I inherited a prized possession from my late grandfather, his comal. In Mexico, cooks use this flat griddle to cook tortillas and tacos. Some comales have a shallow basin in the middle which is filled with oil for deep frying. I have even seen street vendors in Tijuana sauteing meat and vegetables on their comal while just inside the border crossing, while tourists sauntered past. But the most important about the comal, my grandfather would insist, is that it is heated very hot…read more

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