Images: Tang and Ting (or Ting and Tang, as you prefer), the elusive Beverly Tang joins me at a celebration at Marcos Manor

I had to chronicle the above moments of my Saturday reunion with my elusive Mt. Washington friend, the amazing visionary and lighting designer Beverly Tang–who is so visionary that she rarely steps outside of her studio laboratory in the hills. Her and her loving partner in crime Thomas stepped out with me to celebrate the engagement of Marcos Lutyens, a hypnotist/architect/visionary in his own right (with architecture genes going back to Sir Edwin Lutyens) and fiancee Yi-Ping. We hadn’t been to Marcos’ Mexican casita out yonder on the East Side in perhaps two years since he bought it–and it was amazing, totally restored to ‘conquistador of style’ glory.

Anyway, had some heady conversations about everything from the Big Bang, energy and quantum physics, to psychoanalysis cognitive behavioral style. I was fascinated to hear Marcos’ friend Mike tell me about his marijuana dispenary’s unique approach to the ‘product.’ They are apparently very serious about scientifically studying the exact brain-chemical correlations with different strands (”one pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small”). These folks are psychedelic free-thinkers amidst the usual L.A. ’sheeple’ which can be a refreshing change. Thomas also gave me some cool audio books including Alan Watts and Arthur C. Clarke. A twist of brain-mutating epiphany with your Martini with a twist?

Posted by Shana Ting Lipton