71. Observing the Observatory

After an almost four year renovation and expansion, the Griffith Observatory, 2800 East Observatory Road in Los Angeles, reopened to the public on November 3, 2006.

Chances are if you read post 69 and 70, the 2800 East Observatory Road address looks familiar.  The farthest end of the parking lot for the Griffith Observatory is where George Harrison's Tree and the beginning of the Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail also known as Charlie Turner Trailhead are located.

When you visit Griffith Park to sightsee George Harrison's Tree and walk the Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail, if you haven't experienced the newly renovated Griffith Observatory, I highly suggest allowing your self the time to do so unless it is Monday.  The observatory is closed on Monday.  Tuesday through Friday the observatory is open from noon until 10 pm.  Saturday and Sunday the observatory is open 10 am to 10 pm.

Here's the news that makes this an almost must see: the price of admission for the Griffith Observatory is FREE.  Parking is FREE.  There is only a fee if you wish to see the planetarium show.

If you are looking for someone to thank for free admission, that would be Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, whose photo hangs in the lobby of the Griffith Observatory.  In his will he donated funds to build the observatory and stipulated admission be free.

From the moment you step into the lobby doors where you are greeted by the stunning foucault pendulum and the Ballin Wall and Ceiling Mural, you know you are in for a treat as you observe all the wonderful exhibits the Griffith Observatory has to offer; inside, outside and interactive.

70. Dante's View is Still an Eye Full

My last blog post was about the George Harrison Tree in Griffith Park, which may be seen at the farthest end of the parking lot from the Griffith Park Observatory building (2800 East Observatory Road).  

George Harrison's Tree is also a landmark for the Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail also know as Charlie Turner (1906 - 1997)  Trailhead.

The first point of interest as you follow the trail is Berlin Forest, dedicated to the friendship between Berlin, Germany and Los Angeles, sister cities since 1967.

The Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail is the road to the area of Griffith Park known as Dante's View.  Dante's View was named for a park lover, Dante Orgolini, who started a garden there in 1964.

Dante's View has picnic tables and benches making it a lovely area to take a brief respite from the hiking trail.

Dante's View suffered some devastation from the fire that went through the area in May, 2007.  Walk Dante's View today and it is almost hard to imagine this lush area was kissed by flames.

While Dante's View is a lovely garden area of Mt. Hollywood, in my opinion the view from Dante's View is the eye full which will take your breath away.

When you take the time to traverse the Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail all the way to Dante's View, I suggest giving yourself time to walk the remainder of the trail.  The top of the trail allows for what may arguably be one of the best three-hundred sixty degree views of the Los Angeles area there is.

For your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal the view is tantamount to a religious experience.  As I look out onto the city of Angels I love so much, I think about what Colonel Griffith J. Griffith must have seen as he stood atop Mt. Hollywood at the end of the 1800's compared to what the Divine Creator and man have co-created together over these last hundred years or so.  I think of all the people who have stood where I stand over the years.  I think about while the top of Mt. Hollywood seems not to change much, with all the possibilities of what one may view, no two moments of view are ever exactly the same.

One thing seems to be certain (at least in my mind); surely, you can't see a view like the one from the top of Mt. Hollywood and not be effected.  What?  Don't call you Shirley.  I know that was a little lame.  However, the view from Dante's View and the top of Mt. Hollywood is not.  This is one L.A. sight I highly recommend.

69. George Harrison, They Say It Is Your Birthday

George Harrison's, aka the lead guitarist for that little known rock quartet (wink, wink), The Beatles, birthday was February 25, 1943.   The 67th anniversary of George Harrison's birth is February 25, 2010.  

In less than three years after his passing in November, 2001, the city of Los Angeles declared February 22, 2004 George Harrison Day.  On that day the plaque shown in the photo was unveiled marking a tree in Griffith Park now known as the George Harrison Tree.

The plaque reads:

     "In memory of a great humanitarian who touched the world 

          as an artist, a musician and a gardener.

          'For the forest to be green, each tree must be 

            green.'  George Harrison (1943 - 2001)"

In case you did not know, Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks whose 6.58 square miles (or a little less than a third of the size of the island of Manhattan in New York) is located in Los Angeles, California.  One of the amazing sights included in Griffith Park is the Griffith Park Observatory located at 2800 East Observatory Road.  This is good to know if you wish to honor George Harrison's memory by visiting his tree located at the farthest edge of the parking lot from the observatory building.

In case you did not know, George Harrison, MBE (among other things) found great comfort gardening.  George is the only Beatle with a published autobiography, "I, Me, Mine".  George dedicated the book "to gardeners everywhere".

In case you didn't know, George Harrison was survived by his second wife, Olivia.  Olivia has an L.A. connection, which includes graduating from Hawthorne High School in 1965, just five short years after another Hawthorne High alum, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.  And just eight short years after your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal's mommy, among other family members, graduated from Hawthorne High.

In case you didn't know, George and Olivia have a son, Dhani Harrison, (pronounced "dhaa-knee).  Dhani bears a considerable resemblance to his father and is also a musician with his own band, thenewno2.

In case you are unable to honor George Harrison's birthday by visiting his tree in Griffith Park, perhaps you may consider honoring his memory by sharing a moment or two of appreciation for all trees.  As you probably know, trees serve humanity by inhaling carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen.  Of course, trees perform this service whether we appreciate them or not.  It's what they do.  

I didn't know George personally.  I can't help but feel, though, that if I loved trees and gardening as much as he did, it would make me smile to know trees were being appreciated in my honor.

George Harrison, Happy Birthday.

68. Best Sight L.A. of a Park with the Same Name as a Beach Boys' Song

Everyone (okay, maybe not everyone)...those who attend concerts know a good concert includes an encore song.

Your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal has put together what she dubbed, the "Hotel California Tour".  For this travel concert (if you will extend me the metaphor), we shared some sights in Santa Monica.  We shared some sights in Venice.  We shared sights in walking distance of the Hotel California in Santa Monica.

For our tour encore, we share and award the "Best Sight L.A. of a Park with the Same Name as a Beach Boys' Song".  And the award goes to, Palisades Park in Santa Monica.

For you song purists, you may recall the song Palisades Park was written by Chuck Barris.  Some of you may remember him best from the The Gong Show.  The song was originally recorded by Freddy Cannon.  The song has been covered by many artists, including the Beach Boys.  The kicker: the song is not about this particular park of the same name, but a tribute to New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park (wonder if the Sopranos ever visited).  This explains why your SoCal gal was a little confused when she first visited and noticed the signs for Palisades Park in Santa Monica wondering, "Where are all the carnival rides at?"  Live and learn.

In my mind the park begins at Colorado and Ocean Avenue tracking north on Ocean Avenue for about a mile and a half until Palisades Park ends at Entrada Drive.

As you begin to walk the park, you note there are two paths you can go by.  One path tracks the west edge of the park giving you the best bird's eye view of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the beach and ocean below.  The other path tracks closer to the street.  The first time I had this thought about the two paths, a certain song's lyrics started flowing through my mind..."Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there's still time to change the road you are on."  You know which song.  I know you do.

There are many interesting landmarks along the park paths, regardless of which one you choose.  I liked the one in this photo with Chaplin etched in the round part of the stone marker (as seen in the photo).

There is a wonderful monument dedicated to all the different armed forces along the path shown in the photo below.

Maybe you don't wish to traverse the entire length of the park.  Perhaps going as far as Wilshire Boulevard is enough for you.  Then you might walk east on Wilshire to the north end of the Third Street Promenade.  Then walk the Promenade to allow for a great little Santa Monica sightseeing circle.  Or...

...Where Wilshire Boulevard meets the park, is where the statue of Santa Monica is located.  Pass the statue of Santa Monica to the west edge of the park; you find yourself at the dedicated sight to John Percival Jones.  Mr. Jones is credited as a founder of Santa Monica.  The area dedicated to Mr. Jones is said to be his favorite sight where he often wandered to view the sunset of his beloved Santa Monica.  It's a lovely place.  How can you fault him?  A video of this view is included with this blog post.

As you may imagine in such a lovely outdoor nature setting as Palisades Park, wildlife abounds.  On one visit I was elated to watch a squirrel enjoy a little afternoon nosh.  A video is included with this blog post.

Please note Palisades Park has signs posted politely asking visitors to refrain from feeding the wildlife.  A third video is included with this blog post that shares what may happen when people feed the wildlife.

There's much more to see at Palisades Park than what I've already shared in this blog post.  The park is jam packed with nature eye-candy.  The perfect choice for an encore, if I do say so myself.

Ahhh!!!  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.

67. Best Sight L.A. for Canal Kayaking

In L.A. it is currently award season.  In honor of award season, your CaliforniVacation SoCal Gal has created an award for "Best Sight L.A. for Canal Kayaking".  And the award goes to the Venice Canals.

If you have been following the award blog posts, you know there is a method to my madness with the sights I've chosen to honor.  All awards relate to what I've dubbed, "The Hotel California Tour".  The Hotel California in Santa Monica, a staircase walk away from the beach, is an award winner in this series and less than a mile and a half from the north end of the Venice Ocean Front Walk.

If you are willing to walk another mile down the ocean front walk, you will reach South Venice Boulevard.  Take a left.  In less than two blocks you reach the north end of the Venice canal (runs to Washington Boulevard).  As you walk along the canal, note most homes have kayaks, paddle boats or something similar.  You may be tempted to borrow one of them for your kayaking pleasure.  Probably not the best way to win friends and influence people.

Maybe kayaking isn't your thing.  The canal is also a great sight for mallard ducks, white herons and other wildlife sightings.  I had not noticed how orange a mallards webbed feet are until I saw them as up close and personal as I did at the canals.

I almost forgot about including the Venice canals as a sight for the "Hotel California Tour" until seeing the canals in the movie, "Valentine's Day" reminded me.  In seeing the location sights in the movie, I feel the canal shots must have been from a while ago when the water level was higher.  If you are a kayaking enthusiast, I'd be sure to check the water levels first before choosing this location.

One of the things I love about the canals is the peaceful energy of this area which is just about the opposite of the eclectic and frenetic energy of Venice's Ocean Front Walk, while being less than three blocks from each other in location.

Ahhh!  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.

P.S.  For most it probably goes without saying, but just in case...please remember, if you walk the canals you are basically on the edge of someone's yard.  I'm sure they would appreciate you following the golden rule.  As a reminder, the golden rule is not "he who has the most gold...rules!"  The golden rule is "treat others and their property with the same respect you would prefer".  Thank you.

66. Best Sight L.A. for Coffee, Cheesecake and Channeling a Sleeper Hold

In. L.A. it is currently award season.  In honor of award season, your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal (aka Lori Bjork) is having fun creating categories for "Best Sights L.A." awards.  Today's category is no exception.

Without delay, the award for "Best Sight L.A. for Coffee, Cheesecake and Channeling a Sleeper Hold" has to go to delizia Cafe & Catering on Ocean Front Walk (301 to be exact, at the corner of Rose Avenue) in Venice, California (most days opens at 8 am...call first 310.392.3900).

If you have been following my award blog posts, you know there is a method to my madness with the sights I've chosen to honor.  I am highlighting sights one might consider for what I have dubbed Bjork's "Hotel California Tour".  The Hotel California in Santa Monica is an award winner in this series.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I created awards for location sights in the movie, "I Love You, Man".  Doing so is fortuitous because some of these location sights are in Venice, Santa Monica's next-door neighbor to the south.  

Today's award winner is the sight from the movie where Lou Ferrigno as Lou Ferrigno puts Jason Segel as Sidney Fife in a sleeper hold, which I personally found funny.  So, I just had to go there.  You know how I am.

You know how sometimes "they" say "the third times the charm"?  With delizia Cafe & Catering, this was true for me.  

First visit. When I arrived ready to eat, it was about 5:50 pm.  They were no longer serving.  I was told they closed at 6 pm.  Now I did pretty good in school.  So I feel confident that 6 pm is after 5:50 pm, but what do I know?  Seriously, what do I know?  It's all good, though.  I ended up eating somewhere else that evening, which I enjoyed.

Second visit.  Thinking I had until 6 pm but "just in case", I arrived there at 5:30 pm.  Closed.  

The charm.  I arrived at 4 pm and they were still open.  Whoo hoo!  Celebration time.  C'mon!  (BTW. Had they not been open, it would have been my last visit.)  That is when I noticed a different sign delizia had posted stating they are open until dusk.  Upon asking, I was told if it is slow they will close early.  At any rate, this is not the place you go for dinner.  Breakfast?  Yes.  Lunch?  Yes.  Dinner?  Only if you are over 80.  Okay, that was not very nice.  Strike that.  Dinner? No.

Delizia is owned by an authentic Italian woman who loves cooking and is good at it.  Except for the croissants (which are technically French, so I feel we can forgive her) and the bagels (which are not Italian either), Delizia's food is lovingly created in-house for your eating pleasure.  They are also one of the few places I've noticed, so far, which serves Illy brand coffee.  Illy is one of the world's leading coffees produced in Trieste, Italy.

This is a place to enjoy a cappuccino and croissant for breakfast, pizza or a panini for lunch or (like I did) coffee and cheesecake for an afternoon snack (to name just a few of their food choices).  After stepping into the cafe to order and pay, step out into the eating area to enjoy your food and the Venice beach area view.  And don't worry about some over zealous character coming up to hassle you like Sidney Fife did to Lou Ferrigno in the movie.  The eating area is sectioned off with a short fencing.

Ahhh!  It feels good to safely celebrate the sights of L.A.

P.S.  If you read my blog, "Would You Call The Police?", you may recognize the six-story building in the delizia photo as the same building in the video.

65. Best Sight L.A. for a Love Hangover Cure

As I write this it is the day after Valentine's Day.  No one talks about it, but I wonder if it is possible to O.D. on too much love on Valentine's Day.  Okay, maybe not.

Let's say hypothetically that it is possible.  Then you know the place you need to go to get legal drugs (not including the at least five medical "kush" sights I noted along the Ocean Front Walk in Venice) is a pharmacy.

Not just any pharmacy.  For a love hangover, nothing less than a "Best Sight L.A. Award" pharmacy is good enough for my readers.  So..without further delay, the award for the "Best Sight L.A. for a Love Hangover Cure" goes to the CVS pharmacy on the corner of Rose and Main in Venice, California (255 Main Street).

I personally dubbed the very Venice-esque sculpture which adorns the CVS pharmacy, the "clown-erina".  Do you think there is a drug to cure being wrong?  The sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky is titled "Ballerina Clown"  To read the artists inspiration for this art piece, please click here.

But wait, there is more!

If you act now, I'll throw in a second award for no additional cost...

Okay, I think I may have momentarily been channeling a late-night infomercial. If you recall, however, no award was given away in my Valentine's Day blog.  Before the love hangover idea popped in my mind, I intended to give away an award for "Best Sight L.A. for Building Art that Cleverly Conceals a Parking Garage Entrance".  And the award would go to "The Binoculars Building, Venice, California".

This Binoculars Building was included in the Venice montage of location shots in the movie, "I Love You, Man".  Again as mentioned in my Valentine's Day blog, I watched the movie, saw the image of the Binocular Building and wondered, "If those binoculars are really in Venice, why haven't I noticed them?"  And of course, the immediately following thought, "I must go there."

The Binocular Building is located at 340 Main Street in Venice.  The building was designed by famed architect, Frank Gehry.  The binoculars as art, the coolest tunnel to a parking garage EVER (that I know of), was designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.  They also did the Cherry on the Spoon (as I like to refer to it, which is known as "spoon bridge") in Minneapolis.

The Binoculars Building is about half a block away from the "Ballerina Clown" CVS Pharmacy.  What I love about both of these L.A. Sights is the originality.  The risk to try something and then put it out there.  Isn't that usually what gets noticed?  You know when you thrive by being the best "YOU" ever...the most authentic you ever (By The Way, are the only you there will ever be), competition becomes non-existent.  You leave the competitive realm, also known as the plane of competition, to play hand-in-hand with the plane of creativity.  I'm just sayin'!

Wait!  Wait a minute!  Where did this soap box come from and how did I end up standing on it?  I'm getting off the soap box now.

BTW, it is my understanding one of the best ways to cure a hangover from seemingly too much love is more love.  I'm just sayin'!

Ahhh!  Love feels good.  You know what else feels good?  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.

64. Best Sight L.A. for a First Man Date

In L.A. it is currently award season.

I appreciate those of you who have been following my "Bjork's Best Sights L.A Award" series.  I love you, man.  I am having a lot of fun creating the specific awards.

In life it is currently Valentine's Day as I write this blog post.  I always had it planned to include, as part of my "Hotel California Tour", sights from Venice that are location shots in the movie, "I Love You, Man"  The 2009 movie, "I Love You, Man" celebrated the bromance in a humorous way.  I loved this movie.  Scratch that.  I love this movie.  

I am also a huge fan of the obscure.  If you consider Valentine's Day a day to celebrate and share love in general, then in my mind celebrating the bromance is an obscure angle to write about on this day for love.

One of the things I enjoyed about the Venice location shots in the movie is that...wait...let me back up a moment.  I put it out there that I am an original Cali-girl, an original SoCal gal born in the City of Champions, Inglewood.  Considering my family moved away from this area (and just about as far away in the U.S.A. as possible) to Medway, Mass when I was five, when I moved back to SoCal in 2004 I seemed to experience a sort of surrealness.  Please let me explain.

For just about forty years most of my idea of SoCal was what I saw portrayed on TV or in the movies.  Fantasy.  Then to live in L.A. and experience many of these sights on almost a daily basis was sort of like fantasy coming to life.  Lately I find it fun to watch TV or a movie with L.A. locations and somewhat smugly (yes, I admit it) acknowledge to my self "been there, done that".

Now imagine me watching the "I Love You, Man" movie seeing the illusion is the main characters, Peter and Sidney, spend time together in Venice, California.  For instance, their first man date at James' Beach.  I watched the scene and thought to myself, "What!  I've never noticed a James' Beach in Venice.  Let me check this out."

Lo and behold, next time I went to the beach area in Venice (okay, first I Googled James' Beach and found out exactly where it is located, 60 North Venice Boulevard) I had to take a peek.

I also found my self wondering, "Okay, James' Beach exists.  Why haven't I noticed it before?"

Watch the video.  Note across the street from James' Beach is one of the tallest buildings in Venice with a painting of a footless Abbot Kinney that spans almost the entire height of the building.  Abbot Kinney is a celebrated, historic Venice developer.  Were you thinking it too?  "What would Abbot Kinney have thought about bromance?"  I digress.

I mention this painting because I thought maybe I was so busy looking at it that I never noticed James' Beach across the street.  Truth for me is the real reason is when I go to Venice, I rarely find a reason to leave the beach and/or Ocean Front Walk.  While James' Beach is barely a block from "the Walk", it is not on the walk.

My first James' Beach sighting was during the day.  This restaurant opens at 5 pm with the kitchen opening for food ordering at 6 pm.  In the movie, Peter is warned not to have dinner any more on first man dates.  Unless you go there simply to drink at the bar, dinner is the only meal available at James' Beach.

Knowing I wanted to write about this sight, I went back and forth in my mind about my own personal due diligence.  I had vowed to my self I wouldn't write about something I didn't personally experience.  In my mind, technically, I had not experienced James' Beach since I hadn't eaten there.  I would have to go back.

I stepped into James' Beach at about 5:30 pm on a Wednesday.  I was about the only person in the place.  I was warmly welcomed as one of the wait staff explained to me I could order something to drink, but nothing to eat until the kitchen opened at 6 pm.

I stepped out to get a newspaper to have something to occupy my self with while I waited for 6 pm.  I returned about 5:45 and ordered a draft beer.  So far.  So good.

 

I perused the menu deciding what I would order so I was ready.  You know?  In case all of a sudden 150 people showed up at the door for the 6 pm kitchen opening.  Anything is possible.  Then I cracked open the newspaper looking for the Sudoku puzzle.  Another gentleman sitting at the other end of the bar, also alone, asked if he could have the front section of my L.A. Times.  Sure.  Why not?  The sudoku puzzle was not in the front section.

I was working my puzzle.  I watched as the bartender fussed with the twinkle lights on the palm tree close to the bar.  I listened while the man, introducing himself to the bartender as Christopher, I gave the front section of my paper to commented to the bartender, "I had to return to James' Beach because the pork chop was the best I ever had."  Christopher further commented to emphasize his sincerity, "And I never say such things."

Tick tock.  Six o'clock.

Tick tock.  I successfully finished my puzzle and am currently reading the section about the upcoming Academy Awards.  6:05.  6:10.  My beer, almost finished, refused to be nursed along much longer.  No James' Beach employee asked me if I want to hear the specials, order another beverage or order what I'd already decided to order from the menu.  If you are wondering, my choice was not the highly lauded in "I Love You, Man" fish tacos, which are the Tuesday special.  I figured they were a given.  Plus, I like fish tacos, but they are not a fave.

Tick Tock.  Six Fifteen.  Now a half hour since I ordered my beer.  

Granted I was by myself.  Granted I was wearing a hoodie and a House of Blues cap.  Granted I am not of the male persuasion or a man date couple.  Yet, I had made it clear I wished to order as soon as the kitchen opened.  And most importantly in my mind in these so called tough economic times, my cash money is just as green and legal tender, In God We Trust, as anybody's.  So, I fished some of my green, legal tender out of my purse to cover the price of the beer, tax and a tip.  I threw the money on the bar next to my empty beer glass and walked out.

At this point in my life I understand that just because I had a less than stellar experience at James' Beach, doesn't mean you will.  Still.  I will not personally recommend this restaurant as a "Bjork's Best" sight.  So today's blog post is sort of a "Psych" for no award will be given.

About now you may be thinking, "Wow!  Lori!  This is Valentine's Day.  Where is the love?"

My reply, "Every where."  I loved the movie.  I loved having an excuse to visit Venice.  I loved having an excuse to try something new.  And I would have loved giving James' Beach an award.  But I honor and love my self too.  And I love my self enough to be true to me first.

Here's to love.  Here's to celebrating and sharing love.  Here's to celebrating and sharing the sights of L.A.

Ahhh!  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.

Happy Valentine's Day.

P.S.  Video shows walking from Ocean Walk Park along North Venice Boulevard to James' Beach.  Enjoy!

63. Best Sight L.A. To See Skateboarding Without A Skateboard

In L.A. it is currently award season.  In honor of the season I created an award for "Best Sight L.A. To See Skateboarding Without A Skateboard".  And the award goes to the a little over four months young (grand opening celebration was October 3, 2009), infant, Dennis 'Polar Bear' Agnew Memorial Skate Park  on the beach in beautiful Venice, California (official address is 1800 Oceanfront Walk) aka Venice Beach Skate Park.

Now if you have been following "Bjork's Best" blog posts so far, you know there is a method to my madness with the sights I have chosen to honor.  I've put a mini-tour (if you will) together which I dubbed "The Hotel California Tour", as the Hotel California is an award winning sight in my "Bjork's Best" series.

In case you have not been following, we just learned a travel tip from a brown pelican while at the rock pile landmark on the beach in Venice.  We were about to turn left from there to see where it takes us.

Truth is on my turn left trek, I made a b-line right past this even if you aren't a skateboarder you will respect the design artistry of RRM Design Group in collaboration with Wormhoudt, Inc. and the construction effort of California Skateparks, Inc. that went into this multi-million dollar use of concrete fashioned into a skate park, which was funded through sources including Quimby developer fees and the Venice Area Surplus Property Sales Trust Fund to name a few.

As I have mentioned before, my cousin, Eric, is a bmx trick biker.  So, I walked to the adjacent concrete where the bmx bikers were riding to watch them for a while.

There were also some skateboarders in this area, which I dubbed a skate boarding "bunny hill" for beginners.  When you see the new Venice Beach Skate Park, you just have to figure it is not the place beginners go to learn.

After a few minutes I decided to check out the Skate Park area.  One of my very first blogs was about the skate park in Hawthorne, which I like to refer to as Skate Park 90250.  I would have loved to film some 90250 skateboarders in action.  Denied.  The reason I was given was they need to be careful that pedophiles won't end up hanging out there.  So I was concerned that someone might deny me filming at this skate park, as well.  Thankfully, this was not the case.

Watch the video.  Note how well these skateboarders get along.  Note how the skateboarders seem to defy gravity.  Note one of the skateboarders is female.  Note how there appears to be a magical, energetic field between feet and skateboard, which keeps the board from falling from their feet.

Note #58 with the white/black checked cap.  Watch him in the thick of the riding area. 

You would swear from his form he is riding a skateboard.  Watch him end his ride jumping off of the wheels under his feet...seemingly skateboarding but without a skateboard.  Amazing!

When I finished filming, this "wiz on wheels" was nowhere to be found.  Okay, nowhere that I saw.  I tried every Google search my brain would conjure so I may report about his wheels.  I found nothing.

One thing is for sure, I enjoyed the show.  The show, I mean skate park is open from dawn to dusk.

Just in case you were wondering, this 16,000 square foot skate park is the only one in the world located on a beach.  Kudos to Venice, who along with Santa Monica is considered to be pioneer skate boarding territory.

Ahhh!  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.

62. Best Sight L.A. to Learn a Travel Tip from a Pelican

Surprised? It's currently award season in L.A.

In honor of the season, I have created a Bjork's Best Sights L.A. Award for "Best Sight L.A. to Learn a Travel Tip from a Pelican".  And the award goes to the rock pile landmark on the beach in Venice, California.

Now if you have been following "Bjork's Best" blog posts so far, you know there is a method to my madness with the sights I have chosen to honor.  I've put a mini-tour (if you will) together which I've dubbed, "The Hotel California Tour", as the Hotel California is an award winning sight in my "Bjork's Best" series.

One of the perks of the Hotel California location is by going north you are privy to a smorgasbord of Santa Monica tasty sight delights.  If you go south, you are privy to an equally tasty smorgasbord of delights aka the beach area of Venice, California.

For your appetizer, I suggest walking down the stairway to beach heaven (assuming you are coming from the Hotel California).  Bring those flip flops (which in my mind should be voted "official footwear of California").  Seriously consider getting those tootsies wet.  Seriously.  Walk where the sand is wet.  Risk a rogue wave all too willing to cover your feet with its salt water goodness (unless, sadly, it has rained in the last week or so and then walk the wet sand in footwear which does not expose your skin to the water).  If you love the beach as much as me, your little journey to the rock pile will be a tasty treat.

I find this Venice beach landmark of rocks delightful as I watch the ocean waves smack up against them; intermittent waves causing water spray to leap in the air in random display.  On this day when I learned my travel tip from a pelican by this very landmark, I was scoping out where I would find myself if I turned left (going east) at the rock pile landmark.  I know where I would find myself if I went west.  In the ocean and wet.

At first from the glare of the sun, it wasn't until I was up close and personal that I spied this brown pelican.  As I stood what couldn't have been more than six feet from it, the pelican appeared to be enjoying the play of the intermittent waves that would make it over the rocks with the water landing at its webbed feet.  The pelican seemed to take my presence in stride.

Who knows what nature communing may have ensued if not for a group of teens who were now joining the pelican and me.

I try to remind myself that I once was a teen.  Actually, I try to remind myself to see the "little bit older than a teen" in others when I think of it.  If they are like me, regardless of the number of birthdays I've celebrated I still feel like I am about twenty-three. Although, much of what I found funny or entertaining then, I no longer do.  

Truth be told while I was very excited at this chance encounter, I was a little afraid.  What if the pelican inexplicably went wild?

Seemingly no such fear was present in the teens I was sharing this experience with.  They proceeded to attempt to touch and annoy the pelican.  The pelican moved closer to me in an effort to get away.  I thought the bird was afraid.  When you watch the video and hear me cry, "no!", part of it was fear for the pelican and part was fear for me because the pelican was coming closer to me as a result.

Later at home watching the video of this event, I feel I had a revelation.  This brown pelican (which are the smallest of the pelican family) in my mind never looked afraid.  It could have flown away at any time.  In truth if I were to assign it an emotion (assuming they have them) it would be "annoyed".

As you watch the video, notice how the pelican calmly walks amongst us until it is ready to fly away.

This is the travel tip I learned from the brown pelican.  If you find yourself in the midst of some annoying teens, just walk away.  

For those who wish to join me, we'll be going east in the next blog post to see what tasty sight treat I discovered.

Ahhh!  It feels good to celebrate the sights of L.A.