Shamrock Spirit

Rachel B. Levin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:04:50 +0000

Usually St. Patrick’s Day is not on the top of my list of favorite holidays. I don’t tend to go in for that sort of pub madness. But reporting on St. Patrick’s Day happenings on Main Street in Santa Monica for the Los Angeles Times got me in the mood for some Irish grub and the shamrock spirit. It turns out Main Street — an eclectic shopping lane paralleling the beach — is a pub crawler’s haven. Read about it in my round up of Irish pubs, taverns, and alehouses on the block. Though I didn’t end up hitting a bar to celebrate, I did boil up a mighty fine Trader Joe’s uncured corned beef in solidarity. Read more about it on my food blog.

Yearning for Addis Ababa

Rachel B. Levin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:40:19 +0000

Check today’s Calendar section in the LA Times for my article on the Little Ethiopia neighborhood along Fairfax Avenue! I visited this enclave several times in the past month while researching the Times piece and a feature for Singular Magazine, which is coming soon. It’s an incredibly special little ‘hood. The people radiate warmth and the food radiates spice in equal measure. Chef Genet Agonafer of Meals by Genet invited me into her kitchen as if I were family to taste a bite of her soul-nourishing dorowat (chicken stewed in red pepper sauce). Staci Cain, who reupholsters vintage furniture with a global vibe at 45 Three Modern Vintage, shared the stories of her most special pieces. The scents of coffee and incense had me yearning for a journey to Addis Ababa.

Rachel B. Levin - Freelance Writer, Los Angeles » 2009 » March

Shamrock Spirit

Yearning for Addis Ababa