Riviera View

Soon to be EVVO We had the chance to do a little olive picking last weekend at my cousin's ranch in Northern California. According to sources ( a.k.a. my Uncle Gary ) we picked olives for 3 1/2 days, netting a harvest or 425 pounds translating roughly into 6 gallons of virgin olive oil. Part of the olive crew taking a football break... Seems like a lot of olives for a small return but it also explains why the golden liquid can be so pricey. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" There are two main ways to cure olives. Green olives are best cured in lye . (Yes, I said lye) and if you prefer black olives, a salt brine works well. Truckbed olive picker Over the past few months, in addition to defrocking olive trees, my cousins have been working feverishly to ready their new wine tasting room. Below is a glimpse of their labor, but for a much better technicolor-view visit their Date Night website .

Seriously, I love this business model. Olives to go at ancientolivetrees.com

Mark your calendars for the International Vintage Poster Fair October 29th-31st, 2010 www.posterfair.com Poster image from Julia Santen Gallery , a Poster Fair exhibitor

Looking for the perfect ottoman? Well, I have been. The thing is, the dimensions need to be just right for my room. It's a smaller living room, or maybe I just have way too much stuff crammed in already, but anyway, it needs to be approximately than 48" x 20" x 18". I want a turned leg with casters (I think) and either a kilim/tapestry remnant top, or maybe a leather top, or maybe a tufted linen cushion top? I used to think tufting was too funereal but now...I like it. Anyone care to chime in? Below is my not-so-short-list. For the price, this is the front-runner but the dimensions are just a little too long. Restoration Hardware, Tufted Bench , 54"w x 20"d x 18"h, and $445 as seen in Belgium Lenin. No turned leg or casters here but I love the clean lines, and simplicity of the leather cushion top. From Hickory Chair, I think this bad boy runs about $1300. Alec Bench , 19"h x 30.5"w x 16"d. The French Stripe Bench , 48"w...

Quintessential California design by Dana Abbott and Kim Fiscus of Mema Design. To see more of their work click here , or pick up the October 2010 issue of House Beautiful .

image from here . Have you been to the movies lately and noticed the decibel level? It is loud. Really LOUD. Last night, we decided to see "Toy Story 3" (yes, we're a little behind on our movie list). We went to a movie theater in Culver City. Just a basic movie theater with great ticket prices and decent popcorn. My son wasn't crazy about "Toy Story 3." Not your average six-year-old, I guess. He gave it two-out-of-six possible stars. He has his own inarticulable rating system but he did say the film was just too scary. I'm guessing it may have had something to do with that cymbal-crashing monkey. On the other hand, I really liked the movie, but ambiance-wise it was ridiculously uncomfortable. What's going on out there in movie-land? And is it just me? A similar experience occurred when we saw Guy Ritchies' 2009 "Sherlock Holmes." OMG. The theater was so loud, I actually walked out. I got up and left for other reason...

Scouted while out and about... This dress, a modern twist on Julie Andrews circa '65, by Tse . Monaco Credenza from WeeGo Home, the photo does not do this little number credit . photo credit - caldwell snyder website Doug Owen's ingenious sculpture assembled from car, tractor and motorcycle parts. Similar sculptures viewable at Caldwell Synder Galleries . The traffic-stopping paintings of Ashley Collins .