We started with a visit to the Purl SoHo warehouse in Irvine. I had never been and had expected a larger location, but they are moving this coming week, into larger quarters. Their new address will be 2302 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606 800/597-7875 Open to the public most Tuesdays - Fridays 9am - 3:30pm. They have many fascinating things - some fabric (including Liberty), yarn, thread, kits, notions, scissors, weaving equipment, embroidery materials, and on and on. Check out their website at www.purlsoho.com
This facility is where all the orders are filled, although their actual store is in NYC.
Afterward we drove down by John Wayne Airport to have lunch at Benihana's. We drove a roundabout way because of the airplane wreck on the 405 freeway right at the end of the airport runway. But it was worth the meandering because the lunch was fun and delicious. I had a doggy box to bring home for dinner last night. I haven't been to a Benihana's for many years, at least twenty, and it won't be a regular stop for me because it is expensive, but it was entertaining and we three enjoyed it.
Finally we visited the The Irvine Museum located at 18881 Von Karman Ave, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92612 949/476-0294. They show mostly California art, especially Plein Air from the 20's/30's. Currently the exhibit is night and early morning paintings, mostly expansive landscapes and almost all oil on canvas or board. Some wonderful views. There is not admission charge and they even validated our parking. It was very quiet until we were about to leave when a large group of teenagers came in, all wearing "Upward Bound" tees and they were as quiet as they could be!
We sat in the lobby of the building, watching the business people come and go with their cell phones and computer bags. We spent an hour talking about quilty things and enjoying our own company. Then it was a drive home, avoiding the airport nearby. I didn't have any delay in traffic, but crossed above the 405 and could see the scene of the crash in the south bound lanes and the jam up in the northbound lanes - as far north and south as I could see.
It was a day to remember.
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