The Reception Was Magnificent
Union Station in Los Angeles, which opened in May 1939, is known as the "Last of the Great Railway Stations" built in the United States, but even with its massive and ornate waiting room and adjacent ticket concourse, it is considered small in comparison to other union stations. It was formerly designated the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal (LAUPT), but its current owner, Catellus Development, officially changed the name to Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS).
Did you know? - Union Station was partially designed by the father and son team of John Parkinson and Donald B. Parkinson, or the Parkinsons, assisted by a group of supporting architects, including the famous Jan van der Linden. The Parkinsons also designed Los Angeles City Hall. Their firm designed many landmark Los Angeles buildings from the late 19th century onward. The structure combines Dutch Colonial Revival Style architecture (the suggestion of the Dutch born Jan van der Linden), Mission Revival, and Streamline Modern style, with architectural details such as eight-pointed stars.
Enclosed garden patios are on either side of the waiting room, and passengers exiting the trains were originally directed through the southern garden. The lower part of the interior walls is covered in travertine marble, and the upper part is covered with an early form of acoustical tile. The floor in the large rooms is terra cotta tile with a central strip of inlaid marble (including travertine, somewhat unusual in floors since it is soft).
Attached to the main building to the south is a small masterpiece the remarkable station restaurant designed by southwestern architect Mary Colter (the last of the "Harvey House" restaurants to be constructed as a part of a passenger terminal). Although now usually padlocked and stripped of many interior furnishings, the topology of its rounded central counter dynamically thrust forward, its streamlined booths, and the inlaid floor patterns still constitute a busy and evocative sense of place. The influential sci-fi film Blade Runner used shots of the waiting area as the 2019 police department.
The landmark Union Station, located on the eastern edge of downtown Los Angeles, is an impressive sight. The structure fuses the Spanish colonial, Art Deco and streamline Modern Architecture that represent California's heritage and future ambitions. Traxx is where the romance of the past and the spirit of the future seamlessly merge.
The Reception Was A Block Away From The Church
A beautiful afternoon in LA
We all headed for the wrong restaurant... Then we found Traxx
Door closed, patio open!
The crowd arrives en mass
Sam says "Where do I put my coat?"
The Drinking Lamp Is Lit
Did you know> - When the smoking lamp is lit it is alright to smoke, when it is out smoking is prohibited. From the naval phrase. Fire is the most dangerous threat at sea so, particularly on wooden ships, it was necessary to strictly control the use of fire and smoking materials. A lamp was hung on the forecastle, where sailors were allowed to sit and relax, and the sailors knew they could smoke their pipes if the lamp was lit. If it was not lit, smoking was not allowed.
Heading for the bar
Sam, Diane, and Sue
"What are these little guys?"
Did you know? - An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry. The name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Empanada is made by folding a dough or bread patty around the stuffing. In Spain, empanadas are usually large and circular in size and are cut into smaller portions for consumption, whereas in South America empanadas are normally small and semi-circular (This type of empanada is also common in the province of Cadiz, Spain). Empanadas are also known by a wide variety of regional names (see the entries for the individual countries below).
Empanada may have its origin in the fatayer or "moajanat", an Arab dish which was introduced in Spain during the Arabic occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. It must be noted that in some Arab countries "Moajanat sapanekh ma laham" (literally pastry with spinach and meat) is available in bakeries with a ground beef and spinach filling. In Spain the dish is known as Galician empanada or simply empanada. It is likely that empanadas in the Americas have their origins in Galicia, Spain, where an empanada is prepared similar to a large pie which is cut in pieces, making it a portable and hearty meal for working people. The filling of Galician empanada usually includes either tuna, sardines or chorizo, but can instead contain cod fish or pork loin. The meat or fish is commonly in a tomato, garlic and onion sauce inside the bread or pastry casing. Due to the large number of Galician immigrants in Latin America, the empanada gallega has also become popular in that region. The dish was carried to South America by colonists, where they remain very popular to this day.
Argentine empanadas are often served at parties as a starter or main course, or in festivals. Shops specialize in freshly-made empanadas, with many flavors and fillings.
The dough is usually of wheat flour and lard with fillings differing from province to province: in some it is mainly chicken in others beef (cubed or ground depending on the region), perhaps spiced with cumin and paprika, while others include onion, boiled egg, olives, or raisins. Empanadas can be baked (more common in restaurants and cities) or fried (more common in rural areas and at festivals). They may also contain ham, fish, humita (sweetcorn with white sauce) or spinach; a fruit filling is used to create a dessert empanada. Empanadas of the interior regions can be spiced with peppers.
The wedding party have yet to arrive... Pictures you know!
The guests enjoy the evening
Smiles everywhere!
Cavorting was going great guns
The Father of the Bride was a fantastic host!
The Nametags Were Ready For The New Couple
Almost ready for their appearance
"One last sip of wine before we meet the family and friends"
"Am I lucky or what???"
Meanwhile, Back At The Party
Visiting is in full swing
Proud Mom
Mr. and Mrs. Soderstrom
The Happy Couple Mix And The Celebration Continues
