I was supposed to have a post this morning detailing how we’re going to take our super minty Pontiac Aztek up to Monterey Car Week. In fact, when I flew into Los Angeles yesterday afternoon I had a long list of tasks to accomplish before leaving for Monterey this morning. Many of those things did not happen.
Why? First, David bailed on us because he decided he wanted to install a transmission cooler in the Aztek before our trip and he needed some very specific Aztek parts. Jason and I got to Galpin from the airport around 3:00 PM California time and barely had time to settle in before Jason had to “borrow” a Ford Expedition from Galpin and take it to a shop to get these magical Aztek transmission magnets.
So Jason left on his sidequest and I went over to talk to the fine video folks at Galpin Media over at their offices about all our plant for the Aztek this week. That’s when the phone rang. “I have to take this,” Chris de la Garza, the main guy behind most of our videos, insisted as he picked up the receiver. He had to take it because it was Beau’s wonderful Executive Assistant Alexis
(Side note: everyone who works at Galpin is amazing so if I refer to someone here just assume they are a delightful blend of competent and funny. Everyone I meet seems to take their jobs seriously while not taking themselves too seriously. It’s great.)
At this point, it’s maybe 4:30 PM. Our plan is for David to finish the Aztek, go to the Horseless Carriage restaurant at Galpin, grab some tuna melts, and write a bunch of posts.
Here’s what happened instead.
Chris turns to me halfway into the call and says “He’s right here, you don’t need to look for him. Yes, I’ll put you on speakerphone.”
“Beau would like to know if you could join him and the Buchmanns at Spago at 6:00 pm, can you make it,” Alexis asked.
The great thing about working here is you can say “no” to things. You can disagree. It’s the best kind of partnership. However, you’d be insane to turn down a meal with Beau as he always knows exactly what everyone wants to eat (whether it’s on the menu or not) and then orders more than enough for the table. You almost don’t even need to order your own food because dishes just start appearing and sharing is highly encouraged.
“Uhh… gimme three minutes. I’ll walk over to your office and I’ll have an answer.”
I call David, who is arms-deep in the Aztek parts. He needs to keep working on the Aztek, but he’s at a good stopping point. He thinks he can shower and make it. I call Jason, he’s rushing back with parts and he, too, thinks we can make it if nothing goes wrong.
As I walk into the main office I let Alexis know we’re good-to-go and can probably get the restaurant in time.
“Ok, but remember to dress nice,” Alexis says, politely not pointing out my wrinkled my post-airplane attire.
“Uhhh… sure.”
Jason and I duck into an Uber and race to our hotel. We have negative time so we have to change as fast as possible. I ask the driver to wait and make a bet with Jason: The first person back gets to order the drink for the loser.
I win, of course, because I decided our elevator was slow enough that I could just change in there (no one caught me, thankfully). Here’s the drink:
Honestly, less embarrassing than I thought and kinda delicious. It’s a peach-y take on Sex on the Beach called a “Teaches of Peaches” which, surely, is a reference to this video:
Our dinner companions are Beau’s delightful wife Mary and special guests Rainer Buchmann and Kathrin Buchmann of bb -Auto fame, who will also be a part of this trip. Side note: Porsche Santa Clarita and bb will be showing something incredible at Monterey this week:
It was a great dinner. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were a couple of tables over. I ate a salmon pizza (so good).
Unaware of our bet, David took one look at Jason’s drink and said “I’ll have one of those.” It is, in fact, a perfect David drink.
Of course, look what David put on the table:
Genuine GM parts! On the table! At Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s famously hip Beverly Hills restaurant!
It was one of those meals that never slowed down, the conversation never ceased, and all of a sudden it was super late and we were full of food. Jason and I offered to go help David finish the Aztek (Jason was slightly more sincere than myself, I was pretty wiped).
“Nah, we’ll be fine” David insisted to all of us. We’ll be driving to Monterey in a couple of hours with an Aztek that has a transmission cooler mounted, but not connected, and a bag full of parts. We haven’t written any posts or prepped anything. We’re going to be starting the trip in a big hole.
So it’s already shaping up to be a pretty normal Autopian adventure!
I’ve been to Spago only once years ago. I had the lobster risotto and it was lovely.
And I never heard/of that Peaches song before, but after looping the video a few times, I kind of like it.
I always did like Elly Walker.
Our favorite drink was the Blue Hawaii at Kimo’s in Lahaina (RIP). We had one (or two) while we were working out where to get married. It helped with the stress.
Restaurant offering finger bowls and hot towels, pass.
Restaurant with tubs of Fast Orange on the table, check.
Why doesn’t Jason own a sport coat made from one of the 1974 Cadillac interiors? Persian lime firemist would be a bold choice for a high end place.
Oh for the love of god… please don’t give him ideas! 🙂
“Everyone I meet seems to take their jobs seriously while not taking themselves too seriously. It’s great.”
as I read that, my mind immediately went to an obscure reference that I ran across as a young man- in “The Supreme Commander”, about Dwight Eisenhower’s wartime command years by S.Ambrose, Eisenhower recounted one of the life lessons imparted to him by Major General Fox Connor: “Always take your job seriously, never yourself”.
a hundred years later it’s still true.
Do they have Spaghetti Shower Style?
“No elbow fittings on the table”, as my mom used to remind my brothers and I.
At least they were new in the box
Or hope it was a new one. Could have put the old one in there and whatever oil was left is hanging on for deal life.
You never know with this crowd, most specifically DT
David really has gone Hollywood, going from eating cheap pizza with motor oil-stained hands to rubbing shoulders with the elites at a fancier restaurant than I’ve ever stepped foot in.
(No hate, I’d love for somebody to buy me a fancy meal too, haha. Happy for all of y’all!)
The shoulders are still saturated in motor oil, however.
Pontiac Aztec is my fever and design beat world.
Reminds me of the Kids in the Hall’s “Girl Drink Drunk“
It’s a … *girl drink*…
(deleted/mis-placed)
Everyone having fun without me again, I see.
It makes your posts much more fun.
They need to keep your rage up at all costs. Those costs being your well being
Cruel injustice and indignity befell the dark knight. Alas his thousand pound boots kept him grounded.
Adrian Clarke, the Zoidberg of Autopian.
I would ABSOLUTELY order a Teaches of Peaches.
Also, that rainbow Targa looks incredible. 10/10, would hoon. Give it to me.
Targa look’s like Washing grater.
It’s not my favorite body style per se, but the neon rainbow lines on this one really work. Love it.
I’m so glad you guys get to do stuff like this. It’s been a long time coming and is well-deserved.
I know an ex-military guy that’s about 6’4″, musclebound with a big beard and covered in tattoos.
His first order in any bar is “give me the biggest, girliest drink you have.”
It was funny when one time it showed up and he just frowned, saying it was pretty underwhelming both in look and taste.