Not the Malibu Country Mart I Remember….

Sunday  January 17, 2010

Malibu, California

It's Starting to Rain…

Winter in Malibu usually means rain.  It is about 5pm now on Sunday and it has started.  According to the weather forecast we will be getting rain for next 3 days or so.  But fortunately, the weather was perfect again for most of the weekend.  My BFF Susan and her husband Ray flew in from New York to escape the cold, freezing weather in New York and visited me in Malibu on Saturday.  Susan as always, gave me a fabulous combo birthday/Xmas gift – a new handbag similar to the one we really wanted at Shanghai Tang's in Hong Kong.  She and her husband also helped me unpack things which was great because as I unpacked, they cleaned what I found in the boxes. 

The "unpacking" is going OK.  Its a lot of work putting my place back together again.  It is still not how it was when I left so doesn't feel quite like home yet.  I think one more weekend and I'll be done. I am missing things including half my desk and a special painting so I am going to have to find out where some of my things are. The plan was also to remodel the second bedroom and bathroom but that is going to have to wait again until the economy gets better and things settle with the home owner's association (there is quite a bit of drama and will take a very long blog to explain).  Anyhow, having Susan and Ray visit was a welcome break from putting my place back together again.

It was also an excuse to check out the "new" Malibu Country Mart.  As I mentioned in my previous post, "out" went the local stores and "in" came the chi chi stores of LA.  Quite sad.   Some stores are still there including Planet Blue, the shoe repair store, Radio Shack, Malibu Country Kitchen, Coffee Bean, 98% angel and my favorite toy store where I got my nephews their Xmas presents.  But there are so many very expensive clothing stores where one has to be between a size 0 and 3 to buy anything.  The biggest disappointment was that Malibu Lumber no longer exists and is replaced my a mini mall which houses James Perse, Maxfields, Intermix and other expensive stores.  I guess I'm going to have to go to Westlake to get any hardware for the house!

But at least my favorite Greek restaurant Taverna Tony still exists with the same menu.  So we had a feast there with a nice bottle of a California Merlot.  We ended the day with a visit to Westward Beach which was just gorgeous.  Susan and Ray are here for a week so I'll see them again Saturday for dinner before they go back to freezing New York.

Our appetizers at Taverna Tony:  Flaming Saganaki cheese, Taramosalata, Tzatziki and Greek Salad with home made pita bread

Main course was Horta and

Chicken Souvlaki to share

We then walked around the Malibu Country Mart and stopped at Coffee Bean for after lunch coffee and tea.  The playground in the courtyard was still there and filled with children.

This is one new addition that I am very happy about.  K's Chocolatier.  I love Diane Kron's chocolates! 

 

The Malibu Lumber Yard used to be here.  Now it's a very exclusive mini-mall

But there is a cupcake store that I'll have to try sometime.

And a James Perse store with a ping pong table and lounge chairs outside.

We then walked across the street to see what has changed there.  Fortunately, Diesel bookstore survived but there were many vacancies.  And Ben and Jerry's is gone!!

Westward Beach:  Glorious day to be on the beach.  Surf was a bit strong and water cold buy maybe people braved it and went in!

 

I had a lovely time with Susan and Ray and fortunately they came to Malibu before the rains.  I look forward to seeing them again next Saturday.