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Old house tour…

The Newland House…

Newland House, 1898, Queen Anne style. Oldest residence in Huntington Beach.

…the kitchen…

…parlour…

The house has a turret, and from the time I was a little girl, I always wanted to know what was in it. It was a sewing/spinning room.

The view from the turret. What a wide open vista would have presented itself in 1898.

My favorite room. This girls’ room. I love the bank of wood-framed windows.

The stairs were…steep.

The barn, now a wedding venue.

I had a great tour, given by the city historian.

2024 Movie Diary, Part 7

19. WHITE ZOMBIE (1932)

One of the worst acted movies I’ve ever seen (except for Lugosi, who strikes the right tone of genuine menace and glee). The visuals, however, are great and very stylish, and there are moments of genuine creepiness.
Verdict: Pretty awful and pretty fun at the same time, if you know what you’re getting into.

20. HIS ONLY SON (2023)

A low-key, thoughtful take on the story of Abraham and Isaac. It’s nicely done, and although slow, the very quiet yet charismatic performance by Nicolas Mouawad as Abraham keeps you engaged.
Verdict: Slow as molasses, but well acted, and very earnest. Pretty good.

21. STARGATE (1994)

When a movie feels a lot longer than it actually is, that’s not a good sign. And this one feels like it goes on forever. It has its delights, mainly James Spader as a dorky archaeologist with wire-rimmed specs and a fabulous set of surfer bangs. He’s pretty damned good, but he’s not enough.
Verdict: Once was enough. Maybe too much.