Fi-Lo-Li

[thoreau]

David took his friend Warren and I to The Filoli Center today in Redwood City - tucked in the hills south of the Crystal Springs reservoir - it was a magical magical place.

But I get ahead of myself - - - first - we woke this morning to see that his tulips had opened and were just gorgeous...

...then we took Miss Kate on a lovely sunny walk which included stopping at the HP garage where Hewlett and Packard started Silicon Valley....

Me, plotting my next sinister plan
while doing my best wooferstl impression

Then - we drove out to Filoli. The designer of the garden named it Filoli - the first two letters from the key words of his credo: “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.”

Anything that starts off that lovely and esoteric is right up my alley.

Here are some photo highlights:

David, myself and Warren lounging in the swimming pool gazebo


Looking back across the "sunken garden" at the guest quarters


David and I in the hidden garden


a very cool tree along the "tennis courts"

the full set here

If you've never been to Filoli? GO! It will be on the top five list of places to take folks visiting San Francisco from now on. Can you imagine the tourist points of doing Filoli in the morning - then winding up the pie at Alice's Restaurant - continuing out to Half Moon Bay and slowly driving back up the coast to the city? woof. yep - you'll see me there again!

From the gardens of Filoli - into Redwood City to meet Bob and Phil dendren to meet for the 420pm showing of Iron Man. I LOVED IT! I love summer movie season - shit blowing up everywhere - the good guy winning - none of that melodramatic nobody wins depressing bloody Oscar worthy crap. (wink) This was a good old fashioned comic book hero story. I loved all of it. The casting was perfect - and the pace was really quite wonderful. And - as a plus - it was one of those big cushy theaters with stadium seating - and I could put the armrest up and snuggle with David through the movie. (after I finished indulging in a "junior" sized popcorn)

The four of us went to sushi afterwards - and we learned how Bob and Phil met (at gay roller skating in San jose 16 years ago May 12th) - and well, it was really swell. and they are just delightful.....

We came home and ran out Miss Kate and are now relaxing for the evening.

all in all - a fine day all the way around.

Comments

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

WOW! What a wonderful, idyllic weekend. Thanks for sharing it and your beautiful photos with us. I am so happy for you.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

well when you visit in July - we'll definately be making a minivisit to Filoli then Alice's for PIE.

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

you look happy..that makes me feel good

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

I am happy :) thanks Tone :)

[bibliocub.livejournal.com]

Bob,

Thanks for the pictures. I did not even know this place existed. My hubby and I will have to go sometime soon. Glad you had a great day and got to spend it with two handsome men.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

The most well-known factoid about Filoli is that the main house was used as the exterior of the mansion for "Dynasty."

Also, if you're in the area, visit the Water Temple just up the road a piece -- where the aqueduct from the Hetch Hetchy in the Sierras arrives to fill the reservoirs. Filoli was built by the family that owned San Francisco's private water system.

[mister-don.livejournal.com]

I was expecting Joan Collins to appear any moment :)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

it'd make a great day trip! it's amazing!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Love the photo of David and you and also the one of that wondrous tree! This is making me very happy, Renaissance Man, to see what's building between David and you.

HUGS!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

we're taking it one step at a time. :) He's being very supportive of me 'restructuring' a little bit with a roomie and such. and well - he's just so darned handsome and fun to be with. We're going twostepping tonight. We'll do a twirl for you!

[kbearblog.livejournal.com]

So can a person get anything he wants at Alice's restaurant? Looks like a beautiful fun weekend, great photos and beautiful tulips!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

It depends what biker gang is hanging out - the Rainbows or some straight group. :) I love love LOVE the pie.

[septimuswarren.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Filoli Gardens! It's such a beautiful place. When you're looking for a nice drive on a nice day, take 280 from Palo Alto to Highway 92 and drive over to 1, which dumps you right at the ocean. It's pretty damn fantastic, and you'll be right at Half Moon Bay.

[labeartorycub.livejournal.com]

Great photos! Donald and I were there many years ago and loved it. I've not yet eaten at Alice's; it's still on the to-do list.

[apparentparadox]

Did you stop by the Pulgas Water Temple while you were at Filoli?

BTW, Warren is another cult member. Shouldn't be too much longer before you succumb.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

We did not go tot he water temple - David thought it whad been closed for the public during the winter and wasn't sure it had reopened. but I've asked to head there next time I'm in Palo.

[timzilla.livejournal.com]

The main house at Filoli was also used in the Michael Douglas movie "The Game," which was also filmed in the building were I work and has great San Francisco locales throughout.

Somehow, just liked his father who committed suicide years before leaping from the roof of Filoli House which is suppose to be in Atherton which is in the movie is like 2 minutes from downtown, Douglas' character, who is spiritually dead (partially from the trauma of witnessing his father's plunge), jumps from the top of the building where I work at Third and Howard and crashes through the roof of the atrium at the Palace Hotel several blocks away at New Montgomery and Market.

Got to love Hollywood revisionism and Filoli in the summertime. It is a great garden.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

you work at 3rd and Howard? IN Convention Plaza? or?

my studios and work are on the 12th floor of Convention Plaza!

[timzilla.livejournal.com]

I don't know why I typed that. I meant to write Beale and Howard. Brain fart I guess.

[dendren.livejournal.com]

Bob and I had such a nice time with you guys last night and was so nice to get away during a somewhat stressful weekend. Thanks again for the invite and movie. We're looking forward to doing it again! Iron Man really was fun too, much more than I expected. Yay for comic movies finally doing well by the book.

xoxoxoxoxox

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

David loved meeting you guys- and I knew you'd be gazillion times more adorable than your pictures tell. :) I loved meeting you guys- - and I'll look forward to some sort of outing again soon.

I'll be packing and spending the next few weekends prepping for a May 30 move. (eek!)