AROUND LA WITH AVA®: The Sauna Starts In Southern California

AROUND LA WITH AVA®: The Sauna Starts In Southern California

A benefit of being on Planning Committees is that you hear of lots of neat things before they happen.  Sitting on the Committee helping with plans for Finland’s 100^th Independence Anniversary Celebration, I have learned that there are plans to introduce America to the unique Finnish Sauna Culture by sending a Sauna cross-country during 2017.  The launch point will be right here in our City of Angels.

Realistically, many things could de-rail the Sauna launch.  All kinds of things could potentially quash the plans—natural or manmade disasters, controversy, a strike, politics, …!  Still, I think it is such a good idea that I would volunteer my own Sauna for the journey.  My Sauna was named the “traveling Sauna” by my parents who bought the Sauna shortly after emigrating from Finland to the US in the late ‘50s.  It was one of the first major ‘household purchases’ they bought once here.  The Sauna feels permanent, but breaks down into six pieces—and it moved with them through the years.  They moved many times!

When my folks retired, they left their prized Finnish possession in my care when they returned to Finland and Spain for their Summer/Winter bases.  My Sauna is electric, so we would need a really long cord for a cross-country trip!!

Sauna Secrets-Pondering A Local Conundrum

Because of my family’s ‘traveling Sauna’, I grew up as children do in Finland.  The Sauna is a natural part of everyday living—and a weekend without a Sauna is not a weekend!  The silence of the warm Sauna, the aromas of the vihtas, the bracing cold water ‘splashes’, and the peace of being alone and at home at the same time knows no national boundaries and flies no special flags.

One surprising secret I have discovered in much of the area Finnish American community is that there is hesitation, misunderstanding, embarrassment, and even trepidation about the Finnish Sauna.  In a word:  the Sauna is Finnish—not a natural part of local generations’ experience.

As I pondered this ‘secret’, I asked myself how many of my local contemporaries had actually had been in a Sauna—to say nothing of having the peaceful, cleansing ritual as an integral part of natural existence.  The answer has to be: far fewer than I thought!

A Personal Revelation

Then, I recalled attending a special dinner party shortly after becoming a newly single years ago  where a popular producer/bon vivant properly attired in his velvet smoking jacket played host and his trophy wife orchestrated magnificent food courses.  A bit nervous at being “…out and about” in my new status, I had to think long and hard on how to answer the host’s provocative dinner party conversation-starter of a public question of the evening: “… what has been your second most pleasurable experience in life?”

I gave my truthful, heartfelt answer to the dinner guests.  I described a Finnish Sauna with the beauty of the lake, the silence (except for the occasional fish jumping), the warmth exuded by the rocks, the light scent of the birch switches soaking in the water bucket.  Sitting on the beautiful hand-made/hand-loomed laudeliina watching the never-ending sunset over a mirror-like lake on a perfect midsummer night, the exquisite beauty of nature at that very moment spelled perfection to me—and still does.

I described the memory of a 10 year old sent alone to visit my homeland for the Summer with Uncle Jarmo and Aunt Kaija. 

The conversation that night stopped except for the many questions about the Sauna, Finnish nature, and how that ‘Maslowian’ peak experience became my retreat and antidote in moments of sadness or stress.  I may have subverted my hosts’ evening conversation plans, but many “Finnfans” were born that night—many of whom subsequently reported positive experiences visiting Finland and having a Sauna in the Finnish countryside by the edge of a beautiful lake!

The Sauna Simplified

If you have not gotten into the experience, it is hard to wax poetic about it.  The Sauna is really not complicated.  You go into the hot room until you sweat, go out to cool off, repeat as you like!  Throw water on the hot rocks if you feel like it!  Cool off.  Shower.  You have Sauna’ed!!  Time for a makkara and a Lapin Kulta!!  My secret guilty hydration pleasure is a glass of bubbly (White Star-with a strawberry) enjoyed out of an Iittala Archipelago champagne flute! Result: happiness, inner peace rosy cheeks and a big smile!

The Sauna Complicated

When you read about the Sauna in Finland, it is often described as a public communal experience.  Business and political meetings—and negotiations, are transacted in the Sauna.  If you are not Finnish, this seems counterproductive unless the idea is to get everyone’s defenses down!  I guess that is called getting down to basics!!

Truth Be Told

America is a Puritanical country in many ways.  Nudity is uncomfortable and public nudity is not accepted.   Those of us who have spent most of our lives here are much more modest than our Finnish ‘cousins’.  It is difficult to fool the initiated as a dowager friend of mine discovered when visiting Finland.  She spent over an hour in the dressing room pretending she had been in the Sauna alone.  Her hosts smiled knowingly, but were not offended, when she re-appeared with her neatly coiffed “helmet head” hairdo still in perfect shape!

If you have not “made your body into your own personal work of art” through rigorous workouts and physical discipline—or cosmetic surgery, you do not have to be an exhibitionist.  It is OK.  I have simple solutions for you.  [Two words = Big Towel!  Three words = Two Big Towels—one to sit on; one to wrap yourself like a big burrito!  Problem solved!!]

Sense and Scents

Food good.  Sauna good.  Food in the Sauna not good!

While I have heard of people strapping a roast to their engine block on a long ride here in California—and, I do admit to poaching a whole salmon in my dishwasher before the day a glorious, huge French copper fish poacher came into my life [more later, maybe].  The Sauna, food preparation, drinking, and eating are separate events!  First you have a Sauna; then you drink; and then you eat!

Part of the beauty of the Sauna experience is the silence and the clean aromas: the cedar of the heated interior walls, the birch switches essence as you flagellate yourself or beads of birch water drop on the rocks from the spray you create.  These aromas—even fresh human perspiration, are part of the proper scents experienced in a Sauna.

[Warning: California Birch trees do not produce the expected Finnish aromas!]FYI You can purchased frozen birch vihtas in Finland but USDA customs may not approve.

Among the aromas that have no place in the Sauna include: dripping makkara grease, spilled beer, and young male ‘contestants’ creating their own ‘steam’ when left to their own devices—if you get my drift!

Sauna Food

Don’t get me wrong about Sauna Food.  Cooking with the best ingredients in nature and from nature defines Finnish cuisine.  Good Makkara as part of a post-Sauna meal is a match made in heaven.  [Please see “Isomummin Makkara” in an earlier ALAWA column.  Add a nice Finnish potato salad with dill dressing, homebaked Finnnish bread and an ice cold olut!! (beer)  Just be sure the cooking is done on your outdoor grill or indoor oven—not on the Sauna rocks!!]

As a little tyke, I did take ‘brain notes’ on the best foods related to the Sauna.  Again, Isomummi rules!  Every morning started with a swim in the lake; then, it was time to check the katiskat (traps) for fish.  The two of us went off in a rowboat for the adventure.  She was most excited when there was a nice, big lahna (bream) flopping around in a trap.  She knew just what to do with it!

Next stop, the fish cleaning station on the shore where we went to gut and scale this flat, oval shaped beauty!  Isomummi was a concert pianist and her fingers flew in whatever she was doing.  That bream was cleaned, scaled, and salted in the wink of an eye.  The scales were large and looked like sequins from a mermaid’s costume to this excited toddler.

The salted bream was wrapped in parchment paper which was further wrapped in about 6 large pieces of newspaper forming a tight pouch.  Once wrapped, the package was dipped in the lake and put into the fire compartment of the sauna water heater.  After about an hour, the fish was done.  The newspaper turned to wet ashes.  Once peeled away, the parchment package revealed a delicious fish to be enjoyed later for dinner.  [I have used the same technique with a whole salmon on top of a barbeque grill. I added dill, lemon slices, and salt on the inside.  Be sure the salmon fits on the grill with the top closed. Takes about an hour to cook.  Let rest before opening.  A salmon I prepared with this method was a big hit at a local Chumash Indian wedding reception.

FINNS THIS SUMMER

“Midsummer” In LA

Literal Midsummer on Juhannus began with news of a “beached whale” on the shores in the LA South Bay at Dockweiler Beach.  Please do not make any connection to the theme of this column, even though the afterglow of a Sauna might make you feel like a ‘beached whale’!

The whale washed up right at the Hyperion Water [= Sewage] Treatment Facility.  Curiously, this is the premier parking location throughout the year for campers, ‘glampers’, and RV enthusiasts, themselves, for their vacations.  Go figure.  The next ‘premier’ stop going South is the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.   So, go figure some more!!

Official Midsummer seemed to come too early this year.  Many were not able to catch up, including the ever popular SCAN Nansenfield Shrimp Fest.  ‘Maypole marvels’ Mons and Anita were in Sweden in June this year.  They usually spend hours making the beautiful floral May Pole on the soccer field that the crowd dances around.  This year a floral arrangement on a chair was all that was needed to get the folks dancing.

Finns I spotted supporting SCAN included Virpi Sidler with Bill Russell.  Jukka Vuorenmaa was there with his crew in tow.  All of us enjoyed watching a wonderful Norwegian peeling his shrimp and adding his special Norwegian mayonnaise to his treasure.  He created quite a homemade delicacy before telling that the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in San Pedro has the secret mayonnaise for sale.

The SCAN Brits have the best kept culinary ‘stash’ for those not into shrimp: makkara!  Andy (the pleasant, dedicated caretaker at Nansen Field) was manning the grill.  These were not conventional bangers.  He made the best veal sausage with caramelized onions that was worth the drive from LA to PV.  Add dessert of fresh strawberries and kringle –what could be better?

Paal Berg, Erik Mikkelsen, Sue, and others made for a fun evening and a joyful celebration.  I can’t wait until next year.  I love being the Finland representative at the SCAN meetings and have had nothing but fond memories since being asked to represent Finland at SCAN by our Consul General Kirsti Westphalen during her tenure.

This is a great dedicated group of people who are lots of fun.  The SCAN location is just fabulous up there in Palos Verdes.  It is a wonderful party venue for all sorts of indoor and outdoor activities that is available to Nordic organizations at reasonable rates.  Check out their scheduled programs and events, as well as, the new Heritage Memory Walk where you can donate a personalized brick to a loved one in your family or create another special memorial.

Anu Partanen Book Launch

What an exciting evening celebrating noted author and journalist Anu Partanen as she began her US book tour on her thought provoking treatise The Nordic Theory Of Everything.  Consul General JP Markkanen hosted an interesting group of local Scandinavian ‘movers and shakers’ to hear Partanen’s presentation on Nordic Values which elicited very lively comments from the assembled participants.  Thank you, Anu.  Your work gives us much food for thought and great grist for discussions ahead.

The Ambassador Came to Call

Family weddings and other personal business brought Ambassador Anne Huhtamäki, husband Veli-Matti Mattila, and daughter Eeva (a newly ‘minted’ Medical Doctor) to Los Angeles for a very brief visit.

When they arrived, they brought “regards” from having spent an evening with Bitte and Jörn Donner at a concert in Tammisaari in the prior few days.

We enjoyed a fun evening of reminiscing and learning about her life and the current situation in the Balkans.  The menu theme was meant to reflect places Anne has served it was probably too subtle and was lost. Because of the warm evening, almost everything was chilled : ahi tuna avocado boaths, noodle almond ginger slaw, poached chicken in a tahini garlic sauce, salmon Nicoise salad, baby lamb chops with roased shallots, fruit tart with orange flower essence.

Artist Daniel Fyffe in Helsinki–Tuonetar Opening at Makkaragalleria

I had been contacted by Bitte Westerlund about local LA artistic treasure and friend Daniel Fyffe.  She was excited about his opening presentation of his artwork in Helsinki.  Somehow, perhaps because I have an Uncle and a Cousin living in the same neighborhood as the Gallery, I ended up sponsoring sausages for the event.

LA based Kaya Kouvonen made it to the opening.  She is pictured with the artist.  You may also recognize Ristomatti Ratia, an artist and designer himself—and, the son of the founder of Marimekko, Armi Ratia.  If you missed the Helsinki opening, you will be happy to hear there will be a Los Angeles event sometime soon.   Let’s keep up the theme and have makkara refreshments!

More Makkara

There is always makkara around when it is Summer.  This year, the biggest thing at the box office on a recent weekend was Sausage Party!

‘They say’ there are two things you do not want to see ‘made’: sausage and politics!  This political season, there is a strange absence of the bumper stickers you normally see during a Presidential election year.  There are some “Feel the Bern” Sanders left over.  The few Hillary stickers around have a big H with a right arrow through the middle that looks like a traffic sign saying “…this way to the hospital”.

The most accurate ‘they say’ sign I have found is depicted in a photo I took at the Huntington Gardens parking lot last week that is pictured here.  Perhaps it reflects a general consensus.  In a strangely ironic ‘coincidence’, the name of a Senatorial Candidate for California this year is “Kamala” which means “Terrible” in Finnish.

Can you imagine what Mr. Trump would do with that translation???

Fact checkers and political strategists must be multi-lingual today!  ‘Spinning’ that translation has its difficulties!!

As we begin to move into the big celebration year HAVE A SAUNA!!!  Relax!!  It is time to enjoy all things Finnish!

AROUND LA WITH AVA®: Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear

AROUND LA WITH AVA®: Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear

As an ever-curious, pondering, wandering fan of this City of Angels, irony, serendipity, the meaning of words, and life’s coincidences enter my thoughts often –especially sitting in a non-moving vehicle.

If you live in Los Angeles, chances are that a large portion of your day is spent sitting in traffic in a car you drive yourself.  If you don’t live in Los Angeles, you have heard our laments.

Despite attempts to change the car culture with massive investments in mass transit projects or the pesky, highly motivated, and ‘subversively’ dangerous bicycle ‘political’ movement, most real Angelenos love their cars.  Some love them in quirky ways— even giving them names like pets or family members.  Such fierce loyalty to their Metal Friends develops and is sustained despite the ‘cost/benefit ratio’ going down the tubes as the repair bills rise for their aging buckets of bolts.

I plead guilty:  until the other month, the last car I bought was in 1995!

My neighbor in Manhattan Beach had a car dealership that had been in his Austrian family for generations.  While his dealership was in the San Fernando Valley, the family had figured out that there were lots of reasons why people traded in their cars.  I bought that ’95 because my older model would not make it up the Sepulveda Pass as my children grew and the little engine could not handle their additional weight.  The cars bought/traded were the same—midnight blue 4 door sedans.

On the wall of the Dealership was a Polaroid photograph of each customer proudly standing next to their newly purchased vehicle posing with a bouquet of red roses provided by the Dealership. It was almost wedding-like!

Loyalty is big thing to me.  I have been loyal to that sweet, plucky, four cylinder, midnight blue, Finnish feeling European fuel miser with a FIN decal on its bumper that still sits in the driveway even though it has not been driven in years.  Reluctantly, my newest ‘old’ car will soon to be on its way to a car donor organ charity aka a chop-shop.

After all these years, a new car is a big thing to this simple girl.  All right, my “new car” is not this year’s model, fresh out of the dealership—and there was no bouquet of roses!  It is a 5 year old, very low mileage beauty maintained as exquisitely as a Hollywood starlet!  The car was purchased from a private party.

Technology has changed the automobile with new-fangled electronics.  My beauty has all of the ‘bells and whistles’ cars are equipped with these days. Sitting in my new toy for the first times, the same message came at me in text in the many rear view mirrors and in other messaging devices: Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear.

What the @#&% ?!!?  What is the meaning of this?  Each time the car is put in reverse the screen of the ‘photograph like’ rear view provided, the same existential message appears.  Shall I surrender now –or wait until I get on the freeway?

Truthfully, at first, I was so busy reading screens and mirrors, I almost forgot to pay attention to the people and the cars I used to look to avoid!

Big Things/Close Things

The new car’s mirrors, screens, and messages were the harbinger of this column.  In our LA microcosm of life, things do seem to be getting bigger and getting closer.

What I call ‘performance Art’ started off the month here.  The ‘ginormous’ NASA fuel tank that made its way to our lovely City of Angels by way of the Panama Canal from Louisiana arrived with proper fanfare.  That was the same morning the shopping needed to be done for the Taina Elg event I had agreed to cater for the Finlandia Foundation.  Normally a news ‘junkie’, I did not have KNX1070 tuned in on my radio as I headed out to Costco, that magnificent money pit of stores located at Lincoln and Washington in Marina Del Rey.  Having violated a basic tenet of L.A. driving, of course, I ended up right where the debut of the ‘Tank Transport’ show was happening that morning.  So, I made it to the ‘opening of a show’ where I had not planned to go.  That tank made it into this column, even though I did not have my Costco supplies for the event pending.

Long term readers may remember the ‘rock’.  I mean the ‘performance art’ transport of a piece later named Levitated Mass that wound its way through freeway closures and cheering crowds a while back.  That piece now sits permanently at LACMA where you can walk under it.

Then, there was Endeavour space vehicle that I endeavored to photograph as it ‘zoomed’ on its last flight over the house.  It then went on to make L.A. history with its 2 mph ‘ceremonial lap’ for adoring fans snapping ‘selfies’.  That mother of all space shuttles needed giant trees to be felled on L.A.’s lovely boulevards before it made its journey to Exposition Park, its final resting/showplace.

Now it was the fuel tank’s turn to be joined forever with its space partner in launching on display for the pre-jettison pose.  It was fun to be close.  The tank was big. The two will be displayed vertically side by side pointing skyward clutching each other tightly as in their original pre-launch space hug.

It is funny how adoring fans show up for events involving inanimate objects in this town dedicated to bringing life to the mind and imagination!  It is almost like the political rallies this year …but, don’t get me started on that topic!  [Other than to say things are “huge”, if you “feel the Bern”… !]

Ambassador and Ambivalence

His Excellency David O’Sullivan [Ambassador of the European Union to the United States] was in town for an address at the UCLA Faculty Club on the timely topic “Europe at the Crossroads”.  As for the European Union, Mr. O’Sullivan felt that all countries were now better off, even as he noted the importance of the vote on June 23^rd on the ‘Brexit’ issue [before the vote].  With his perspective of 35 years in European service, he expressed concern that the political crises have been and will be destabilizing.

Note: As this column goes to press, we know the ‘Brexit’ vote.  What will be next?  Will France pull a ‘Frexit’; will Czechoslovakia do a ‘Czechquit’; Finland a ‘Finnish’?  Still pending is the newly articulated ‘do-over’ proposed by the Brits who woke up to find “…Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear”!  Fasten your seatbelts—rocky road ahead!!!

O’Sullivan told that there is 15 times more trade with the EU and Russia than anyone else.  Sanctions have hurt the EU.  What happens if there is no EU?  How does Russia pay for goods and services with oil at €42?

With the millions of refugees already in Europe, many thousand dead, and 200,000 rescued by EU vessels, the global migrant problem will only get worse.  Sullivan told that in the 2014 elections in the EU, many anti-EU officials were elected.  As to the U.S. stand on migration, he quoted Churchill: “The US will always do the right thing after they have exhausted all other options.”  Was that a polite way of saying Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear or was he setting up a hedge for the British ‘do-over’?

FACC Board Member Heidi Crooks sitting next to me beat me to her feet to ask the question on many minds (and in the piece in Amerikan Uutiset) about the military buildup, the Baltic fly-over ‘buzzings’, and other provocations by Finland’s Eastern neighbor.   O’Sullivan said they were a big concern for him.  Stressing the importance of solidarity on this issue, O’Sullivan said the issue will continue to be dangerous and worrisome.

Mr. O’Sullivan reminisced about his first visit to LA at the age of 9 in 1961—the Wizard of Oz was yet to be colorized.  No matter how many rocks or fuel tanks we stock, we all remember the ‘magic’ of our childhood experiences in ‘tinsel town’! 

Ambassador Re-Dux

Later that week, I was present as Ambassador O’Sullivan opened the EU Film Festival.  Since the venues and audiences were so diverse, it was perfectly understandable that Mr. O’Sullivan used the same sentiments—and the same anecdotes.

The event at the Egyptian Theater was great fun!  Many Finnish and other European ‘movers and shakers’ were around including: Erkki and Ilona Kanto, Liisa and Ahvo Linnala, Bo Svenson, and our new Consul for Commercial and Trade Affairs Aki Luukkainen—among many others.  The Finnish short film Just a Name was a perfect way to start off the festivities for the film festival.  It was hilarious!

My conclusion was that the Big EU Film Festival concept is fantastic!!  Great leadership and help was provided by Consul General Juha (J.P.) Markkanen and his wonderful Consular staff.  Thanks to our Consulate’s efforts, the affair was –“…right on!!!”

Be Alert

In a place like Los Angeles, it is often hard to know what to pay attention to at any point in time.  So much happens all around us.  Are things closer or bigger that we see them?   Living here, the ‘filters’ need to be fine-tuned in our business and personal lives.  The UCLA Faculty Club and the Egyptian Theatre are not normal ‘bed fellows’, yet I got ‘close-ups’ with Ambassador O’Sullivan at each!

An event I attended honoring the Women of Eagle Scouts by the Council of Boy Scouts of America would seem to have little to do with Ambassador O’Sullivan and my concerns about provocative Russian ‘buzzing’ of EU objects/potential targets.  Yet, the Boy Scout speaker was TOP GUN Navy Fighter Pilot John H. Semecken, III.  John is a real life flying super hero who was Chief Advisor for the original Top Gun movie.  If you saw the movie, you saw John in his starring role singing “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” right next to Tom Cruise.  Like Alfred Hitchcock’s penchant for appearing in some random scene in each of his films, John got the ‘lollipop’ of singing a drinking song on screen!  His incredible career and personal achievements got him his ‘singing gig’!

Dressed in his flight suit for the Women of Eagle Scouts presentation, Fighter Pilot Semecken looked the role as he told of days-of-yore “buzzing” of Soviet aircraft, knowing there would be photographs taken by the Soviets even if they knew Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear.  His team placed a visible gag item [best described as something inflatable from an adult store!] on board that would be clearly visible in the Kremlin ‘news shots’ taken of the US jets as they buzzed the Soviet aircraft in the Indian Ocean.

I am worried about backing out of my driveway because I have too many mirrors and cameras giving me too many messages to decipher.  Our Top Guns play games with ‘inflatables’ at supersonic speeds!  The flying high jinxes were not the same for O’Sullivan and Semecken—different people were doing the buzzing!

Elsewhere: Random Thoughts While Sitting in Traffic 

Driving on The Strip for the EU Film Festival, there were many folks headed for a place where a Purple neon sign announced: “No rock star died today!”  A young lady [with an elderly friend with high heeled platform shoes who could hardly make it across the street] was paying homage to an idol in what seemed like an important ‘pilgrimage of respect’ for Big Rock Idol PRINCE.

Later, along Hollywood Boulevard (at Grauman’s) is a store named La La Land.  The cement mixer ahead of me in traffic had signs warning of “danger”.  I guess you can get encased in cement while waiting for a red light.  Do you need a reservation to be ‘seated’ at Grauman’s??

In a big place like LA, things are always happening.  Sometimes we can ignore events.  Sometimes a big response is required.   Sometimes it helps to know which response is appropriate!

A short time ago in the early AM, a marked Police Car came into the quiet cul de sac where I live and parked.  Two fully equipped officers got out of the unit carrying their batons—normally left in the car or carried on their belts.  That was sufficiently different that it was time to pay attention.  After a bit, one of the officers came back to the car and moved it from the curb to a position blocking exit from deep inside the cul de sac.  After another bit, a second cruiser arrived with one officer who also parked in a ‘blocking’ mode and walked on in.  Things were getting ‘curiouser’ and ‘curiouser’!!

Suddenly, all three policemen sprinted out to their vehicles with screeching U-turns and squealed out with rubber burning—one barely missing a neighbor coming home!  We knew something important was happening—the helicopters and building sirens told us it was more than the first cops were investigating!

The TV local news gave the bottom line on what ‘big thing’ was going on:  UCLA was in full lockdown mode!  A mass shooting on campus was feared with attention centered on the Engineering Building.  OMG—our dear next door neighbor is an Engineering Professor!  Hours of pacing and watching gut-wrenching news coverage followed with no definitive personal news.  Media covered the over-the-top law enforcement response, news filtered out about what had transpired, and any reasonable observer could see that the Responders had matters under control.

After his fearful and fateful day on campus, our ashen-faced, grief stricken neighbor arrived home.  He had been just a few doors away from what turned out to be a murder/suicide (student-teacher) in his Mechanical Engineering Department.

Talk about too close for comfort: FinnTimes publisher Tomi Hinkkanen told that he had been in that same building on a project just the day before!  In fact, it was a clean tech visit for Finns, with my dear neighbor featured.

We never did figure out what our earlier law enforcement persons were investigating.

Going to my car later in the day to begin some errands, I noticed someone laid out sleeping in my back seat just before I got into the car.  The Police were called, again.  Revolvers drawn, 3 policemen made the arrest of a guy loaded with tattoos who had broken in; they simply described as a “criminal”.

I was really glad that I had not tried to drive away when: Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear –and are criminal!

Worth the Wait in Traffic

On a happy note: Guests had a chance to be up close and personal as Taina Elg had her Close–Up at the Finlandia Foundation National’s Performer of the Year event.  Also featured was Heli Sirviö.

A former Performer of the Year herself, the beautiful and talented Finlandia Foundation’s Maria Kizirian had a party concept that worked brilliantly.  Celebrating old Hollywood with guests encouraged to ‘dress up’ made for a fun event in the gardens.  Hats, feathers, pearls, caftans, Hollywood moguls in Panama hats, and “pin-up” girl styles were the order of the day.  It was fun!

Maria, Leena Tukiainen, Jeff Neff, and I had fun planning the retro-Hollywood style passed hors d’oevres we served.

Here is the menu we came up with (prepared by volunteers in my kitchen):

Kon Tiki Chicken Salad on Toast Rounds

Butternut Squash in Demitasse

Mini Mushroom Quiches

Roman Holiday Goat Cheese Tomato Tarts

Pate California Grape Croustades

Ham Asparagus Radish Roulades

Albacore/ Salmon Tea Sandwiches

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Mini Bagel Bites

Sweet Gluten Free Mini Treats from (Finnish) Natural Baking Company

Mimosas

Coppola Claret

Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc

European Roast Coffee

Paul Halme, Esq. (Head of the Paloheimo Foundation) warmly welcome the Guest of Honor and all enthusiastic attendees.  All enjoyed tasting the delicious Danish pastries he brought from his wife Susan’s Solvang Bakery.  Ms. Elg remembered the Paloheimo family fondly, having spent time with the family when they lived in the mansion during her days here.

Paul presented Ms. Elg with a beautifully framed Arnefelt piece usually reserved for FFN trustees.

As part of her visit to Los Angeles, the gracious and generous “divine Ms. Elg” donated her beautiful Finnish national costume to the Finlandia Foundation.  It will have its permanent home at the Tupa.

Being close up to such a big star was such fun.  We love you, Taina!!  Thanks for coming.  Thanks for starring at our event!!!!!

Next Up

The Los Angeles Finlandia Foundation had its “Scholarship Picnic” –the annual fundraiser usually held in the Gardens, the Curtin House, or the Giddings Room.

When I pulled up to get into the normal parking lot, there were security guards, catering trucks, and lots of people scurrying about.  It looked like a very big turnout for the L.A.F.F. event!  They were turning people away from the parking lot.

It was a movie shoot!  Why not—this is Hollywood!

The Grand Portico of The Feynes Mansion was covered in black cloth (used to block sunlight or to simulate nighttime for inside shots).  What was last year’s picnic venue was swarming with the actors and crew so it was blocked off from our use, too.  The Curtin House was also closed.

Resilient and resourceful as Finns are, the LAFF members made the Tupa a cozy, friendly, and fun venue for the luncheon.  We all got ‘up close and personal’ with the newly gifted Taina Elg National Costume.  Valerie Jokela struck some poses for photos with the costume, aided by Sirvo who was celebrating a birthday.

 

The sounds of our wonderful music brought in some ‘movie people’ to listen and compliment! Your ever-curious interrogator just had to ask what was being filmed.  The answer: a Barbie commercial!    Getting ready for the Christmas season, I suppose—Things Are Closer/Bigger  Than They Appear.  I did see some props looking like parts of a merry-go-round in the trucks.

Speaking of the Carousel: the treasure on the Santa Monica Pier is having its 100^th birthday!  It is older than Finland by a hair!  It is a fun famous landmark.  Marilyn Monroe was a frequent visitor.  The movie The Sting was filmed there.

Sometimes it is fun to look back and find that Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear!!!

Sometimes it is important to look back.  I heard a Finn recently quoted as saying:  “Finns don’t look in the rear view mirror”.

I take issue with this “…look-Ma-no-hands-until-you-hit-the-wall” approach.  My new rear view mirrors remind me that things are bigger and closer than they appear sometimes.  As Finland approaches her Centennial, let us at least look in our collective, historical rear view mirror with reverence and appreciation for what was done so well and with such great sacrifice by our fore fathers.

And, let us never forget the Veterans and Lottas who got us to this point!

Does it matter if it was Winston Churchill who said: “…he who does not recognize the past is bound to repeat it!”  Sometimes, Things Are Closer/Bigger Than They Appear.

Big Love Sandwich Cake

I have heard from many local Finns that they have not made and/or are intimidated about making the traditional Finnish Sandwich Cake.

This month’s recipe is more of a pictorial assembly instruction than a recipe of how I make mine. It is great for summer entertaining, showers, weddings, and the like.

You can do it and should do it!  Show your love!!  You will blow away your Finnish and non-Finnish guests when you serve this at a tea party, wedding, baby shower, memorial service, or bring it to a potluck.  Your Sisu will rise to meet your challenges; your creativity will take over and you will have fun with it!

Be sure you have a large empty shelf available in your refrigerator for the assembled cake as it needs to be chilled overnight.  [It is 112º F in Beverly Hills as this is being written!]  A large tray or foil covered piece of heavy cardboard will be needed.

Ingredients You Will Need:

2 Fillings of your choice: chicken salad, egg salad*, ham salad, salmon salad, tuna salad**, lobster salad, olive tapenade, or the like.  Use your own favorite recipes.  I have given 2 favorites.  The amounts are approximate.  You will know when you get to a nice spreadable consistency in your fillings.

Butter: about a pound of salted butter softened to room temperature to spread on bread slices

Bread: apologies to my homeland, but this time use American white bread [what my father used to call vaahtokumi (foam rubber).  He really missed his hapanleipä in the early days here.]. American white sandwich bread is sold in every store here.  It works.

Here is a great tip: If you can find a bakery outlet store near you that sells what my dad jokingly called “used bread” –really, “day-old” product sold at a discount.  You will have scored a bargain and have a perfect ingredient.  The day old white bread will not be mushy, but will be the right consistency to be trimmed and assembled for your masterpiece.  Some chain grocery stores have a discount rack near the back of a store for overripe produce and used bread.  It helps to know where to look to get “lucky”!  If worse comes to worse, buy new bags of bread a few days before you need them!

Mayonnaise: lots for frosting and decorating.  Good quality preferred since it is a prominent flavor.

Garnishes: radishes, chives, shrimp, olives, parsley, cucumber, fresh dill, salmon roses, lemon slices, and/or whatever you think fun or pretty!

* Egg Salad: 1 dozen large, peeled, hard boiled eggs; about 3 cups of good mayonnaise; 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon curry powder; salt and pepper to taste.  Chop all ingredients fine or process in food processor.  [There may be filling remaining—refrigerate—tomorrow’s lunch is made!]

** Tuna Salad:  1 giant can (66.05 ounces) water packed Tuna; 3 cups good mayonnaise; finely chopped celery; 4 tablespoons pickle relish; pepper and garlic salt to taste; 1 tablespoon dried dill.  Chop all ingredients fine or process in food processor.  [There will be filling remaining—refrigerate—tomorrow’s dinner is made!]

FUN TIME!!!

Now it is time to get closer.  You are about to create a Finnish Big Love Sandwich Cake!

If you have friends or children around to join you, this is a great, rewarding, fun time.

After removing crusts from bread by knife, line the pieces up on the first layer of your creation. Lightly butter each layer on the top to prevent leakage of the filling.  Put on first filling, spreading evenly to the edges.

 

Put on a second layer of crustless bread squares.  Butter with offset spatula and add second filling, as above.

Place third portion of bread squares on top of second filling.  Continue to build layers as above.  Or, if you like, stop here.   Place ‘gently’ moistened paper towels over the sandwich cake; wrap in cling film; and keep refrigerated overnight.

 

Party Time:

Frost cake with Mayonnaise; decorate with squiggles, stars, or whatever with a cake decorating bag.

Place garnishes.

Step back—admire your creation!!—applaud your helpers!!!

You made it!!!!

AFTERWORD

Have a nice, relaxing and most of all, fun Summer!

From Finland to Stardom, an Afternoon with Actress Taina Elg

From Finland to Stardom: An Evening with Taina Elg
Event photos by Jonny Kahleyn Dieb

 

Finlandia Foundation hosted ‘From Finland to Stardom: An Evening with Taina Elg’. Through anecdotes, Ms. Elg offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life as a young star at MGM Studios and life in Hollywood. She spoked candidly of her experiences and touched on her view of the film industry today.

Taina Elg, who won two Golden Globes, including one for her role in the 1957 film Les Girls starring Gene Kelly, told her story in an intimate interview format conducted by Heli Sirviö, a Finnish television and stage actress.

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AROUND LA WITH AVA®: Seeing Double

AROUND LA WITH AVA®: Seeing Double

Spring brings on nature’s bounty –and flowers bloom, the animal world comes alive, evidence of rebirth and reproduction is everywhere.  Celebrities show off their “baby bumps”, birds build nests to hold their eggs, and the woodchuck aka ‘groundhog’ looks for his shadow.

Electrifying, this multiplying stuff.  The air smells different here in LA, even without a whiff of El Nin͂o.

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AROUND LA WITH AVA®: A DATE FOR LIFE

Los Angeles is a city of great love stories—real and fantasy.  Let me tell you one of them.  After all, February 2016 has Valentine’s Day and Sadie Hawkins’ Day—that every 4 year phenomenon of a 29^th day Leap Year.  [In days of yore, on Sadie Hawkins’ Day a woman/girl was permitted to ask a man/guy for a date.  Yes, the world has changed.]

Even in our ‘hook-up’ environment, preliminaries usually begin with a “date”.

A word with multiple meanings, “date” in its simplest form is the fruit of the palm tree (taateli).  Date can mean (treffit) –a potentially romantic meeting between two individuals.  The Internet and all of its iterations has redefined “dating”, but for our purposes we will use its simplest, old-fashioned form where a lady or girl was invited by a gentleman or boy for some alone time with an agreed-upon starting hour, on a specific day, for a shared activity such as a meal, a movie, a concert, or a prom. Both parties played by the same rules hoping to make a romantic connection leading to a possible future relationship—or, at least, another date.  Hollywood made millions on movies of the varieties of good, bad, tragedy, and comedy premises.  My date story is of the ‘50s “… and they lived happily ever after” genre.

But, for an added ‘hook’, there is a palm tree involved!

Our beloved City of Angels is known for its palm trees.  Finns have called it missä palmut huivuu –the place where the palm trees sway.  There are many species of palm trees, but the most prevalent here are the tall coconut and date palms.  If you drive around west LA and Santa Monica, you will see these amazing, tall, skinny ‘towers’ bending and swaying with the wind.  Their supernatural structures endure the Santa Ana winds and other environmental issues in seeming defiance of the laws of nature and physics with a fairly small root structure.  Their inner fortitude seems to say: “I belong here.  I can take it.  I am here to stay.”

Each morning, my first view at first light is of a palm tree across the street.  The palm is probably approaching 150 feet tall, rising majestically above all other trees and landscape in the neighborhood.  Let me tell you the love story behind that palm tree.

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AROUND LA WITH AVA®: MANY HAPPY RETURNS

 

Many Happy Returns??  Americans have never quite bought into Boxing Day when the rest of the world blatantly returns gifts that “… do not fit” without guilt.  And, to be perfectly honest, I am not anxious for some marketing guru to find the “hook” to get us back into the stores.  I know, the drones are coming –but I really can wait!

The happiest returns of the holiday season—or of any season, always seem to involve a renewed acquaintance, the return of a favor long forgotten, the return to a location with fond memories, or just a chance recollection of times gone by through a serendipity of circumstances for an unknown purpose.  The momentary smile on my face may be the only physical manifestation of a profound experience.  I like that.  It feels good.  Yes, I am Finnish.

As another frantic year draws to a close, our souls recall the beautiful Peace of Finnish Christmas.

 But

As the distal boom of the old year melds into the crescendo of the year ahead on the ever spinning, ever so busy cycle of life here, recent events have been so fun to look back on with fondness.

A Personal Favorite: Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen’s return to Los Angeles for a major speaking engagement at the World Affairs Council luncheon at Spago was the culmination of this Finn’s ‘season’.  I had been present at her first World Affairs Council speech as Foreign Minister and, now again, as a former Finnish President at the pinnacle of her status as an influential world leader sharing her perspective of times past and present.  I was fortunate to be able to raise a question referencing her answer to one issue raised on her last visit regarding defense of Finland’s border with Russia.  It was fun to recollect on years past from old and new perspectives.

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FINNISH EDUCATOR PASI SAHLBERG TOURS THE U.S.: WHY THE FINNISH EDUCATION SYSTEM WORKS

FINNISH EDUCATOR PASI SAHLBERG TOURS THE U.S.
Reporter: Tomi Hinkkanen
Photos by P. Shalberg, Antti-Juhani Kaijanaho, Karri Huhtanen and  ‘Tungsten’

Finnish education system has repeatedly been ranked as the best in the world.
We asked Paul Sahberg, one of the most qualified experts in the area, what is so good about it  and what could be done to improve schools in the United States.

Q. Could you give us your title in English, explain what Cimo is (what does it do, who is behind that organization, etc.), and what do your duties there include. Also, if you could tell us a little about yourself – your background, family, etc?

My title is Director General at CIMO. CIMO is the Finnish Centre for International Mobility and Cooperation that operates as an agency of the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland. CIMO advances internationalization of Finnish society by offering students and youth opportunities to international exchange, internships, development cooperation and joint projects. CIMO serves as an information service point for foreign people who are interested in studying in Finland and supports teaching Finnish language in foreign universities, e.g. Columbia University and University of Madison in Wisconsin. CIMO has 110 staff in Helsinki and 22 in foreign universities around the world. I am director of CIMO.

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SUPERMODEL SUVI’S GREEN HAVEN

REPORTER: TOMI HINKKANEN – LOS ANGELES
PHOTOS: JONNY KAHLEYN

SUPERMODEL SUVI’S GREEN HAVEN

Suvi Koponen’s modeling career got started at 16 when she won a Finnish modeling TV show. The top prize was a contract with modeling agency which led to quite a splash at a Prada show in Milan. She then moved to New York City where she fell in love with a tall and handsome model named Tyler Riggs. Last summer the couple moved to Los Angeles and purchased a house in the leafy Sherman Oaks area. Life is smiling at the young couple as they look forward to welcoming their first Christmas in their beautiful new home surrounded by lush green vegetation.

Tall, gorgeous Suvi Koponen, 23, was born in Helsinki and grew up in Vantaa. She is the oldest of three children. Her mother is a kindergarten teacher and her father is the manager of an assisted living facility.

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DARUDE, THE FINNISH STAR DJ TOURS NORTH AMERICA

DARUDE, THE FINNISH STAR DJ TOURS NORTH AMERICA
REPORTER: TOMI HINKKANEN – ATLANTA, GA
PHOTOS BY MICKEY McNULTY AND TIM WILSON

Ville Virtanen, aka Darude, is best known for his 2000 hit single Sandstorm. He has sold over five million records. For the past decade, Ville has been touring the world, doing DJ sets in more than 40 countries. Ville has been ranked as one of the top 100 DJ’s in the world. He has moved to Georgia with his lovely wife Michelle. They have a 2 year-old child. The family lives in an Atlanta suburb, Georgia, where Ville works in his home studio and collaborates with artists around the world with modern techniques.

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THE PIA PAKARINEN PHENOMENON

STORY: PIA PAKARINEN
REPORTER: TOMI HINKKANEN – LOS ANGELES
PHOTOS: JONNY KAHLEYN
MAKE-UP AND HAIR: KRISTINA DUFF

The Finnish beauty queen was crowned Miss Finland in March, 2011, and by September she had abdicated her crown amidst terrible press. “What happened?” we asked Pia as she arrived in America for the very first time.

A year ago nobody knew anything about Pia Pakarinen, a 21-year-old country girl from Juuka, Northern Karelia. Then, last spring, she won the Miss Finland beauty pageant and became an overnight sensation. The beautiful and well-spoken blond bombshell seemed to be everywhere. With great triumph, the Nordic maiden was sent to the Miss Universe contest in São Paulo, Brazil. That’s when things started to go haywire. Reports began appearing in the media that Pia insisted that her entourage be brought along and that she demanded money for interviews. She returned from Brazil empty-handed and was said to be canceling and/or missing gigs that she had previously agreed to do. She then dramatically gives up her Miss Finland title in a live TV-broadcast and denounces the organization behind it. Pia Pakarinen was a persona non grata in Finland. There was only one thing to do: Go Hollywood!

Enter Maria and Paul Kizirian, a couple who work at the Network modeling agency in Los Angeles. The Finnish-born Maria happened to know Wille Wilenius, a friend of Pia’s.

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