More Memories

Back Row, L-R: Sari, Babette, Karen, Laraine, Teri, Ellen, Lynn, Liz, Janet
Front Row, L-R: Randi, Aggie, Rocky, Dianna

On Saturday I dropped by yet another high school mini-reunion. This was actually an ELEMENTARY school meet-up....almost. Most of us graduated from Hawthorne Elementary School in Beverly Hills. I was there during 7th and 8th grade.

Two of our classmates drove in from Palm Springs for the occasion. We met at ToscaNova Restaurant in Century City, which was very nostalgic for all of us. The Century City mall was built behind our high school during the time we were there. It was a fave hangout for everyone after school. We'd go to Joseph Magnin's, Judy's, The Broadway. It was just a neighborhood mall in the old days. Many of the ladies hadn't been to Century City in years and years. It has changed radically....some of us got a bit lost.

Having fun at ToscaNova Restaurant

Here's a bit of history, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Once a backlot of 20th Century Fox, which still has its headquarters just to the southwest, the Fox studio commissioned a master-plan development from Welton Becket Associates, which was unveiled at a major press event on the "western" backlot in 1957. In 1961, after Fox suffered a string of expensive flops, culminating in the box-office disaster Cleopatra, the film studio sold about 180 acres to developer William Zeckendorf and Aluminum Co. of America, also known as Alcoa. The new owners conceived Century City as a city within a city. In 1963, the first building, Century City Gateway West, was complete, followed the next year by Minoru Yamasaki's Century Plaza Hotel.

Century City, 1966

Now, I'm working on a Beverly Vista Elementary School mini-reunion. I attended BV from kindergarten through 6th grade. This seems to be a banner year for old-time get-togethers! Have you seen any childhood friends lately?