Category Archives: Memoir

Eden

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Ellen Ross

In 1978 I was living in Barrington Hills on eleven wooded acres with a husband, a big apricot Standard Poodle named Arno and a baby bump who’s sex and name were yet to be determined. It was paradise- until during … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 12 Comments

Candyland

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Ellen Ross

In the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter, actress Juliette Binoche spilled the cacao beans. During the filming of the 2000 film Chocolat, she discovered that her co-star, Johnny Depp “actually didn’t like chocolate.” “He was spitting it out after … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, Nostalgia, pop culture | 16 Comments

Seventeen

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Calling All Girls: If the names “Enid Haupt” and “Colleen Corby” ring a familiar bell, this post should be on your “must read” list. When I was a pre-teen growing up on Chicago’s North Shore, I was rabidly interested in … Continue reading →

Posted in Magazines, Memoir, New Trier High School, Nostalgia, pop culture | 11 Comments

Young in Heart

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Ellen Ross

I was driving southbound down Green Bay Road in Hubbard Woods the other day. On my left I saw a large picture window in a building that looked like a charming, life-size doll house. Out of habit, I expected to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Memoir, pop culture, Winnetka | 17 Comments

Just My Type

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Ellen Ross

HERE I GO AGAIN. Dear Loyal Readers and New Subscribers, Forgive me. I’ll soon be off on another trip, and the exigencies of the blog can not be optimally-managed long distance. Letter From Elba will be back in your email box on … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, New Trier High School, Nostalgia, pop culture | 27 Comments

Hair

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Quick Quiz: Have you ever logged any time under the apparatus pictured above? Have you ever used any of these? Are empty frozen orange juice cans merely containers for the beverage from Florida to you? Or when you see them, do … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Memoir, Nostalgia, pop culture | 10 Comments

Granny Redux by Sam Tofias

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Good morning Mr. and Mrs. North and South America and all the ships at sea. Let’s go to press. This is Sam Tofias, cub reporter age seven months, reporting in from Boston. And I want to tell you all about … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Boston, Grandparents, Memoir, pop culture, Restaurants, Travel | 20 Comments

The Pursuit of Happiness

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Ellen Ross

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM ELBA ANNOUNCEMENT: I am taking a winter hiatus, folks. A short break to break up the gray gloomy doldrums. I’m going to travel and chill out. Hence my next blog will be in your email boxes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Memoir, New Trier High School, pop culture, Winnetka | 14 Comments

I Can’t Tell You Why

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Juno Shout Out: I just want to start today’s post by wishing all of my East Coast readers my very best wishes. Hope you’re staying safe and warm- and still have your Internet connections. And Boston, good luck with all … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Music, pop culture | 10 Comments

The Last Supper

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Ellen Ross

My heroine, the late great Nora Ephron once spoke about the importance of one’s last meal. She humorously – and rightly- pointed out that chances are one wouldn’t know that it was going to be the last meal, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, pop culture, Restaurants | 27 Comments