A Top Notch Afternoon

It’s always fun to discover something new to do, especially something close to home. This past Sunday, Steve and I were invited by longtime friends Mark and Katharine Warner to go to lunch with their friends Dan and Lana Tartre (shown at right with Steve and I) at the Top of the Notch restaurant at the summit of Mt. Baldy. I had not even heard of the restaurant and, not being a hiker nor a skier, was totally unfamiliar with the location.

We drove 45 minutes on the 210, then drove another 20 minutes until the end of the road that brought us to the ski lifts for Mt. Baldy. We met our friends there, boarded the chair lifts and were gently carried upward to the restaurant.

This is definitely not for those uncomfortable with heights or who get nervous at the idea of being perched on a chair that sways back and forth when a bit of wind comes down the canyon. But for those who are unconcerned with such matters, this is really something you might want to consider doing. It was absolutely serene…very calming.

Arriving at the top, we chose an outside table and grabbed menus, which offered quite a variety of fare. I chose bratwurst (sauerkraut on the side) and a beer. Others had fish and chips and tri tip sandwiches.

After relaxing for a bit and admiring the views, we hopped aboard our chair lifts and headed down. The view was amazing.

Our friend paid for us, so I can’t say how much the afternoon cost, but I think he said that he bought the package online on Travelzoo under Local Deals.

I do recommend wearing closed toe shoes and on sunny days, sunscreen.

A very fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

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I know that change is inevitable, but sometimes you’re caught off-guard, even if you’re warned.

Case in point: last Friday was the last live broadcast of KLOS’s The Mark & Brian Show. The duo of Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps had been on the air for 25 years on KLOS (truly remarkable given the competitive field of radio) and Mark, married with three kids, decided that he wanted to leave the SoCal airwaves while the show was on top and relocate to North Carolina.

I had only been a listener for the past 10 or so years and thoroughly enjoyed the show, listening to them rattle off lists, “fun facts” and other information – mostly incidental. It was also entertaining to hear them interview guests of the show, some famous, some just odd. Perhaps my favorite part of the weekday show was the “10 – 10 Approved,” a trivia game. I remember back in the mid-2000s picking up my son Matthew from his morning class at the Montrose Bowl and us listening to that show as I drove him back to school, guessing at the answers.

Mark had made the announcement back in the spring that he would be leaving the show on Aug. 17, but Brian was in negotiations right up until the last day when it was announced that he, too, would be leaving.

To say that the final broadcast was a tear-jerker would be an understatement. The show was filled with final reminisces, but mostly ongoing displays of gratitude for the many years of friendship shared among those at the station. I sat spellbound at my desk listening as did my office manager. I would be a liar if I said I didn’t shed a tear or two.

Kudos to the management of KLOS for allowing the graceful departure of two L.A. icons who were part of the SoCal culture for so long.

  Robing GOLDSWORTHY