$40 a Day

I've had an inordinate amount of free time this week and frankly, I've gotten sortof sick of the USC bubble. After catching up on sleep, deciding that none of my remaining schoolwork actually matters, getting re-excited for football season, more napping, and attending Relay (which I could do an entire post about but I'll refrain for your sake and mine), it was time to get away.

So I got up today and got on a bus (after getting a ride to SM from Charlie's awesome mom) to Malibu.

The initial leg only took about 30 minutes up the PCH, and I got off at this little plaza area called Malibu Country Mart. This 'country mart' contained the likes of True Religion, Juicy Couture, Lanvin, and a million other really ritzy food and shopping places, mostly bearing the names of exquisitely pretentious celebrity designers and chefs, none of whom I give a shit about. Everyone rolled up in a shiny, excessive Range Rover with their dogs who have been to classier, more expensive hairdressers than I will ever encounter in my life. This strange little world made me feel like the majority of Malibu residents were pulling a Marie Antoinette and playing poor in their 'country mart'.

I can only assume the superlow fountain
is for puppies. Cool since I love puppies,
but REALLY, MALIBU?!

Google maps told me that the country mart was about 1.8 miles from Pepperdine so I figured that since I got there with plenty of time to explore, I'd just walk. Turns out Pepperdine is on the top of a hill. Good thing I happened upon the Malibu Farmer's Market!! Eek, and I picked up a foodie magazine with a listing of all the other farmer's markets in the area so now I have a new adventure hit-list.

I love farmer's markets.

And of course, gluten-free, vegan, buckwheat waffles.
What the hell is in this shit?? WILL NOT PUT THIS IN
MY MOUTH. Could possibly build a hut with them though..

 Short food break, lots of tasty samples, and back on the road.
Apparently they didn't intend for pedestrians to make this trek.

One of today's many questionable walking path choices.

At last, Pepperdine! Remind me why I didn't apply here? :(
On the other hand, the phallic cross might repulse me after awhile.

The gorgeous view from beside the phallic cross.
Yesterday's rain made today a perfect day to be in Malibu.

The reason why I initially thought of visiting Malibu was because Pepperdine's arts initiative was hosting the Carducci String Quartet and I've really been missing music recently. They did not disappoint and in fact, were really refreshing to see/hear.

The quartet is comprised of 2 married couples. Kindof cool but
mainly awkward since they're basically on an eternal double date.

So, a quick review of the concert repertoire:
Haydn String Quartet in G minor, Opus 74, No.3
A beautiful piece, and in my opinion the ensemble's best performance. Each part was so well balanced and the timbre was ever-vibrant and energetic and playful, demonstrating the quartet's level of familiarity and comfort with each other. The layering and passing of the melodic phrases was seamless and seemingly effortless. Silky smooth. Like buttah. Mmm.

Moeran String Quartet in E-flat Major
I was not a fan of this piece. The composer is Irish and decently contemporary. He apparently really liked traditional folk themes but it just sounded kindof schizophrenic. For example, movement 2 is labeled, "Lento; Vivace; Allegretto; Andante; Allegro vivace." To me a more appropriate descriptor would have been, "Drunken Irish river song; Potato jig; Lassie comes home; Sleepy toasted; Oh look more whisky." Haha. The viola did sound great though.

Brahms String Quartet in A minor, Opus 51, No.2
More virtuosic than the Haydn piece but a little more fragmented and with less coherent themes and focus. Not sure if that was a compositional thing or an interpretation thing. The first violinist kindof annoyed me in this one because while he sounded majestic and operatic, the slightly seizing motion that some musicians think make them look more intense and involved is just irritating. Hey buddy-- convey those emotions through your violin, not by flexing your legs so much that your ass levitates out of your seat. It's distracting and unnecessary if you're a decent enough musician.

Music nerd done.

Pretty wildflowers on a big hill in front of campus. Poppies?

Then I wandered around, waited 30 minutes for a bus, got onto another bus, then another, and after 2 hours of LA Metro-ing, was seated with a bowl of steamy hot pho in front of me. That may be enough public transportation experience for awhile.

Simply Pho Me!

So for a day of nomadic fun including all transportation, a concert ticket, 2 meals, and 2 bobas (don't judge), and infitite intangible value in tricking myself into thinking it was last summer again, my total came out to just under $40. Suck it, Rachael Ray!