Weekend of Magic, Music, and Passion(fruit)
My sisters Lisa, Ani and friend Tony and I took a little escape to L.A.—a trip that somehow managed to weave together wonder, nostalgia, and a touch of synchronicity.
We stayed at the Magic Castle, where brunch comes with a side of illusion and laughter. The moment we stepped through the castle doors, we were pulled into the world of magicians and secret rooms, where card tricks unfolded like poetry and grown-ups became kids again. We dressed to the nines, honoring the Magic Castle’s formal dress code—because, of course, magic deserves a little ceremony. Late that night, still under the spell of it all, we found ourselves indulging in soft serve and popsicles, laughing until the streetlights blurred into stardust.
Then came our second act: the Hollywood Bowl. We re-dressed, re-glammed, and—despite that old Missing Persons lyric, “Nobody walks in L.A.”—we walked! And it was glorious. The night air felt electric as we joined thousands of fans for a double bill that took us straight back in time. Devo absolutely rocked it—tight, hilarious, and visually wild, closing with a rousing, fist-pumping version of Freedom of Choice. Then the B-52’s—oh my heart. Cindy and Kate still hit those bright, perfect harmonies, Fred’s talky-singing style anchoring it all in joyful weirdness. We danced, we sang, and when it was over, we walked home beneath the city’s glow, feeling like we’d just witnessed something rare and alive.
The next morning, we wandered through vintage shops, finding treasures that felt like souvenirs from another era. Eventually, the road called us back to Santa Barbara, where Ani’s cozy Bath Street home became our landing pad.
The laughter continued—stories, snacks, inside jokes—and a curious theme kept surfacing: passionfruit. It appeared everywhere—on menus, in drinks, even in random conversations.
Naturally, we looked up its mystical meaning: love, divine connection, spiritual creativity. And of course it was. Because that’s exactly what the weekend was—a joyful tangle of connection, curiosity, and a little bit of magic.
