96. Where to Find the Secret to Writing

Beautifully tucked away in Bergamot Station, Southern California's largest art gallery complex and cultural center, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica; is the twenty years young, founded by Jeffrey Gordon, Writers Boot Camp.

Jeffrey Gordon has come a long way since the early days of boot camp, which he was inspired to create because at the time there were no writing classes that got writers to write, held in his living room.

Today the boot camp boasts plenty of A-list Alum like Matt Nix, Burn Notice tv series creator, and Darnell Martin, Cadillac Records.

Your SoCal gal has an idea for a movie but didn't know what to do next.  That's how Writers Boot Camp (WBC) and Robert Morgan Fisher (rmf) entered her consciousness.   RMF gave her the 411 on the boot camp.  There is a program which takes you through writing a script to help you decide if this is for you or not.  And then there is Think Tank, which is a more intensive 24 month program.  Think Tank is like the Harvard for screen writing.  RMF told me to write that down.

Or maybe you simply have an interest in the inner workings of the entertainment biz.  Just about every other Wednesday, Writers Boot Camp hosts a breakfast they call, Business Breakfast at Bergamot.  Recent speakers include Nancey Silvers, Screenwriter, TV and Cable Movies and Judy Cairo, Producer of the movie Crazy Heart.  Both of these amazing professional women are also WBC alum.

As your SoCal gal writes this, the next Business Breakfast at Bergamot is April 14, 2010.  For ticket information call 310.998.1199.  Scheduled guest speaker is producer, Robert Katz.  Among his many credits in an over twenty year career is his most recent release, Law Abiding Citizen.

The WBC Bergamot facility is also available for evening event rental.

BTW: The secret to writing?  Writing.

Boots at this boot camp?  Completely and personal preference optional.

FYI.  Have a movie idea, don't know what to do next and don't live in L.A. or New York City?  No worries.  Writers Boot Camp has on-line courses available.  

92. How Do You Spell Art?

Chances are you do not spell art B - E - R - G - A - M - O - T.  That is unless you are in Santa Monica.  And then you just might.

While Bergamot Station (2525 Michigan Avenue) may sound more like someplace a railroad or trolley might stop (at one time this was a stop for the Red Line trolley), since 1994, Bergamot Station, revitalized by acclaimed architecture firm, Pugh & Scarpa, has become a popular art gallery complex while retaining its industrial look and feel.

Bergamot Station is the largest art gallery complex and cultural center in Southern California.  Click here to view a Bergamot Station calendar. 

The facility is open Tuesday through Saturday.  Hours vary depending on the venue.  Parking is free.

In case all of the art viewing and/or buying has you yearning for a bit of something tasty, the complex includes the Bergamot Station Gallery Cafe.

Now, how do you spell art?

81. Surprised by Monument in Santa Monica

Your CaliforniVacation: SoCal gal went on a quick visit to Santa Monica to sightsee their Civic Auditorium at 1855 Main Street.

"Why?  Why, Lori, why?", you may be asking yourself.

Well, it just so happens this structure built in 1958 was home to the Academy Awards ceremonies from 1961 to 1968.  This, in itself, was a wee surprise she thought.  You know, since Santa Monica isn't Hollywood.

On the particularly lovely day in March, 2010, this auditorium was her last stop from a long list of venues to visit that had previously housed Academy Awards ceremonies.  The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, designed by architect Welton Becket (also designer of the Capitol Records Building) in what is generally known as mid-20th century International Style and still available for events of many types, is an impressive sight.  Yet it was a surprise monument that stole the show for Lori.

Note in the video that she looked at the tree appearing object (also in the photo) and assumed it was a tree (and, no, the sun was not in her eyes).  Only to get closer to find the "tree" is a monument which was erected in 1991.  The piece is entitled, "Chain Reaction" and is also known as a peace sculpture.

This peace piece is a work by Paul Conrad, who is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist.  Bronze sculptures are merely a hobby.

The peace piece plaques (yes, there are two) read, "This is a statement of peace.  May it never be an epitaph."

To borrow from Alfred Joyce Kilmer's infamous poem, "Trees":
"I think I shall never see a statement of peace lovely as a tree.

Yet, your SoCal gal saw a statement of peace sculpted as a tree.  In her opinion it is amazing how the artist was able to fashion chains into something that looks like a tree and almost as lovely.

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.

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.

61. Best Sight L.A. to See a Spitting Dinosaur in Front of a Pinkberry

As you most likely are aware, it is currently award season in L.A.  In honor of the season, I've created a Bjork's Best Sights L.A. Award for "Best Sight to See a Spitting Dinosaur in Front of a Pinkberry".  And the award most deservedly goes to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

Today's award is inspired by the line from Disney's movie, Aladdin (still one of my sons and my favorite animated movies), "Watch out, they spit!"  Of course, the genie so brilliantly voiced by Robin Williams, was referring to camels.  In my opinion the dinosaur fountain in the photo appears to give spitting a much better image.

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 I've decided to name, the Hotel California Tour.  The Hotel California was an award winning sight in my series.

The Hotel California (Pacific and Ocean Avenue) is located very close to the Santa Monica Pier (Colorado and Ocean Avenue), also an award winner.  By walking a mere one block north on Ocean from Colorado, then turning right onto Broadway, you are two blocks from the south end of the Third Street Promenade.

The entire promenade is three blocks long ending at Wilshire Boulevard.  Like whimsical bookends, the spitting topiary dinosaur fountains flank the north and south entrance to the promenade.  When the dinosaurs were first installed on the promenade they breathed fire at night.  This was short lived due to risk assessment.  Too bad!  I know more than a couple of people who would have found fire breathing dinosaurs to be much more cool than spitting dinosaurs.  I digress.

Much has been written about the Third Street Promenade for it is an enjoyable L.A. sight. I thought, however, it might be nice to give a shout out to the artists, Claude and Francois LaLanne, for their clever 1989 usage of copper, stainless steel and foliage which resulted in these much admired dinosaur fountains.

While there are many places to see a movie, be entertained by street performers, buy a book at Barnes and Noble, grab a Latte, or eat a tasty breakfast at Barney's Beanery (just to name a few of the sights you'll find on the Third Street Promenade too); if you wish to see dinosaurs spitting in front of a Pinkberry there's only one place: The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

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

P.S. To find out more than you probably ever wished to know about the Third Street Promenade's history, click here.

59. Best Sight L.A. for Playing Air Hockey on the Pier

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. for Playing Air Hockey on the Pier".  And the award goes to the Santa Monica Pier.

Now if you have been following my "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'm putting a mini-tour together I have decided to name, The Hotel California Tour.  Coincidentally, the Hotel California was the previous blog post award winner.

Located at Ocean and Pacific Avenue, the Hotel California is a very close neighbor, just a few blocks, to the Santa Monica Pier at Ocean and Colorado Avenue.  It just seemed perfect to create a category worthy of honoring this well-known pier.

Right about now you may be thinking, Lori might have awarded the Santa Monica Pier for being the most world famous pier of those in the greater Los Angeles area; included in many movies, TV shows and music videos.

 

She might have awarded the Santa Monica Pier for being the longest pier in the greater Los Angeles area at 2,000 feet.

She might have awarded the Santa Monica Pier for being the only pier in the greater Los Angeles area with a Ferris wheel and amusement park on it.

She might have awarded the Santa Monica Pier for being the best pier in the greater Los Angeles area for anglers.

She might have awarded this pier for being free and open every day of the year, 24/7.

She might have awarded this pier for being the pier to stand under to practice yelling like Peter Klaven in the movie, "I Love You, Man".

She might have awarded this pier for being the only one with a pier-adjacent carousel and an aquarium under the pier.

Right about now you may be thinking, Lori might have awarded the Santa Monica Pier for many things which make it one of the premier, must-see sights it is.

In response, I would share that for me the Santa Monica Pier is the only pier in the greater Los Angeles area with air hockey tables.  And, its where I played air hockey with my grown son and won.  Once.  And, yes!  To add insult to injury (for my son, that is), I did a little celebration dance after my momentous victory.

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

P.S.  For those not staying at the Hotel California, the video below shows walking from the parking structure at Colorado and 2nd to the pier all the way to the end of the Santa Monica Pier.  Enjoy!

58. Best Sight L.A. of a Hotel with the Same Name as that Eagles' Song

It's currently award season in L.A. (okay, I'll admit it's almost always some sort of award season in L.A, but that would be too long to write all the time).  In honor of the season, I have created a Bjork's Best Sights L.A. Award for "Best Sight L.A. of a Hotel with the Same Name as that Eagles' Song".  And the award goes to the Hotel California, 1670 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica (866.571.0000).

So, Yes Virginia, there is a Hotel California.  As far as I know, there are three; my award winner, its sister hotel in San Francisco and one in Italy (the country).

As I was writing this blog post, a the thought popped into my consciousness, "inquiring minds may be curious if this is the actual hotel the specific members (Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey) of the Eagles credited with writing the song, Hotel California, were referring to".  Being the hard hitting journalist I am (are you laughing yet?  More likely I am a soft inquisitive blogger.), I called the Hotel California.  What the heck.  Didn't you notice?  It is a toll-free number.

I asked the gal who answered the phone how long this Hotel California has been in business.  12 years.  Just look how willing I am to bring you the skinny, the low down, the...well, I think you get the gist. Couldn't be the same hotel. As most of us know, the song Hotel California was first released in 1977.  Do the math. Of course, had I read the entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the Hotel California song, I would have saved myself a phone call.

Now if you have been following my "Bjork's Best" blog posts so far, you know there is a method to my madness with the sights I've chosen to honor.  The mini-tour I've been putting together began with you imagining your arrival at LAX with the excuse of having a few hours to burn before checking in to your hotel.  What if your hotel was the Hotel California?  I mean if we are imagining, right?  Maybe you even refer to your CaliforniVacation visit as your Hotel California Tour because you stay at the Hotel California.  

If you've been following "Bjork's Best", you were last at the best sight to Park and Surf (or park and watch surfing) from the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  When you get back in your car, you simply continue going south on the PCH until you pass the exit on your left for Interstate 10.  Take the next exit on your left which brings you up the hill to Ocean Avenue.  Turn right onto Ocean Avenue.  Barely a block later on your right is the entrance to the hotel parking lot.  Pull in before you see the sign in the photo. 

I have had the pleasure of touring the hotel.  I put together a little video from the tour included at the end of this blog post.  In the interest of full disclosure, I share that I have never stayed over night in one of the rooms.  The Hotel California isn't paying me to write this piece nor does it even know I am.  My interest is purely from a place of nostalgia and love for the Eagles' song, Hotel California.  If I didn't live in L.A. but was planning a trip to L.A., I think it would be a fun place to stay.  The hotel seems reasonably priced compared to other hotels in this area, especially for basically being on the beach in Santa Monica.

Yet, it is not right on the beach.  The video shows the property is connected to a staircase you must descend in order to be beach level.  If you have a problem with stairs, this may not be the place for you.  Also, there is no pool, hot tub or exercise facility located on the property.  However the rooms look clean and well-maintained.  They offer a complimentary continental breakfast.  The particular room I show in the video is actually one of what they consider their suites.

The beauty of the Hotel California's location is that once you check in, you are within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier, the Third Street Promenade and if you walk the beach going south, you run into Venice's beach and infamous boardwalk.  Depending on how long you stay in L.A. for this Hotel California Tour, you may never have to get back in your vehicle again (there is an extra fee for parking your vehicle in the hotel's lot) until you "boo hoo" sadly must return to the airport.

Ahhh!  The Hotel California.  Such a lovely place...to enjoy that bottle of Rosenthal wine to celebrate the sights of L.A.

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

53. And the winner for Best Beach Reveal L.A. is...

It's currently award season in Los Angeles (L.A.).  Since I am also the L.A. Sightseeing Examiner for examiner.com, I began to feel I might come up with a few of my own awards for the sights in L.A.  Here is my first submission.

Imagine you live somewhere landlocked.  Imagine you love the beach.  Imagine you've booked a flight to Los Angeles.  Now the day you have been waiting for has finally arrived.

Your airplane touches down safely at LAX.  You had checked your luggage. Your luggage has made the trip safely, as well. You tote your luggage with you to pick up the car you rented.  "Would you like an upgrade?" the rental car agent asks.  You think, "hell yeah!"  You say, "but, of course.  Thank you."

By now you are feeling good.  So good you find your self in the "this is going to be the best trip" zone.  You think, "three hours until my hotel check-in.  Where should I go first?"

That's when you remember this blog written by that CaliforniVacation woman.  Bjork something or another.  You know, like the singer but not.  You recall her writing that the best reveal of an L.A. beach involves asking your rental car agent (who you know already from the upgrade is excellent at customer service) to point you in the direction of the 405 so you can go north.

Then once on the 405 you continue until the Interstate 10 exit going west to Santa Monica.  Then you stay on the 10, which will technically end.  You stay on this road as it leads you to the tunnel that curves right onto the PCH.  When you emerge from the tunnel...there...revealed in all its glory is beach and Pacific Ocean.  And it IS glorious!

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

P.S.  The video gives you an idea of the drama of the reveal, but sadly pales in comparison to the actual experience.

43. Not A Record (follow-up to post #40)

Before I get into the actual post, I just want to say that due to the photo being taken at night many of the unlit candle's on the menorah were difficult to see.  I placed a number above the candles to assist.

Okay, so this is my update of my Hanukkah post about lighting the third candle of the menorah event at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California.  The event's host, Santa Monica Synagogue, hoped to have enough of a crowd/dreidel spinners to break a world record.  Alas, no.

So no record, but I am now the proud owner of a lovely hot pink, plastic dreidel to commemorate the event.

Toda lax vekol tuv bahemshex.

40. On the Third Day of Hanukkah at the Third Street Promenade

Starting at 5:45 PM on Friday, December 11, 2009 one candle will be lit on this Menorah (located between Santa Monica Boulevard and Arizona on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica) to celebrate the first day and the beginning of the eight days of Hanukkah this year.

If you are like me...wait...if you are like me in some ways, like the way where I have always wanted to participate in a world record, then you may want to show up to the Third Street Promenade for the third day of Hanukkah on the 13th of December for the lighting of the third candle on the Menorah festivities.

Okay before going too much further, I give formal credit here to the Metromix Los Angeles' article, which first informed me about what I think will be a fun event...a sight worthy of me seeing.  Click here if you wish to peruse it.  I wish no disrespect to the author, but I felt an inner nudge to confirm what was written in the article, especially since a Google search for the event only came up with the Metromix article.

Here's what I found out.  While the first candle will be lit on December 11th to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the event attempt to break the record will not be until the third night, December 13th.  The event is listed as taking place at 5:45 PM and that participants should show up at dusk.  Dusk is...  Darn!  I thought dusk was the beginning of darkness in the evening, which occurs before the sun actually sets.  Currently in L.A. that would be right around 4 PM.  In my effort to clarify and define I checked handy, dandy Wikipedia only to find out I was wrong...couldn't be more wronger (if you are a regular, treasured reader of my blog you may be sensing a pattern).  Dusk is the end of the evening civil twilight.  Currently in L.A. that would be about 5 PM.

According to a spokesperson at the Santa Monica Synagogue, whose Rabbi Jeff Marx will be lighting the third candle at the event, the festivities are scheduled to begin at 6 PM.  Still, why not get there early to take a little stroll around the beautiful Third Street Promenade to admire the holiday decor.  Perhaps you might grab a bite to eat or some warm beverage to hold onto as baby it will be cold outside during the event.  Arriving early also ensures you will get yourself a good spot close to the festivities.

All right already.  Lori, you keep mentioning a record breaking opportunity at this event.  What is it? 

When you attend you are gifted with a dreidel.  If more than 602 are in attendance, participate and spin their dreidels simultaneously, then we that participate will bask in the collective glow of a new world record.  If not...well...let's expect it isn't whether we will succeed.  We will succeed and have fun doing so.

L'Chaim!

   

P.S.  Some of you may be thinking, "Lori, Bjork doesn't sound Jewish.  We bet your ancestors didn't change your family name at Ellis Island from Bjorkstein to Bjork.  Why would you participate?"  And I would respond, "good observation!"  I'd like to believe God is non-denominational and that fun, a close cousin to love, is too.

39. Santa in Santa Monica Weekends at the Third Street Promenade

Santa was the special guest at the tree lighting festivities on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Saturday, December 5, 2009.

Pat Prescott from the Wave's 94.7 morning show assured the crowd that the Santa in attendance is the real Santa because his beard and hair are real...not just realistic seeming facsimiles.  This is reason #1 to visit this Santa who will be at the Third Street Promenade every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 PM until Christmas.

Reason #2 is there is no charge to visit and sit on this Santa's lap.  Of course, this means you must bring your own photo taking equipment to get a photo of the visit.

Reason #3 is there is no age limit to believing in Santa and no age limit for visiting Santa.  I'm just sayin'!

P.S.  In the photo is my sisters and me (at 18) with this lucky Santa.  And don't you love how Santa must have been experimenting with his glasses look back when this photo was taken.  I mean all those years wearing the same gold framed glasses, you can't blame him for wanting to change it up every now and then.  Am I right?  Or am I right?  Or am I right?

35. Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade

The Third Street Promenade, the pedestrian only area of Santa Monica, celebrating its 20th Anniversary, is located a mere three blocks from the ocean on Third Street between Broadway Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

On Saturday, December 5th at 5 PM the Third Street Promenade will host Light Up The Season with Brian McKnight.

The Promenade is always a fun and festive place to enjoy on a Saturday night with its many venues and street performers that pepper this site.  One of the restaurants I enjoy eating at is Barney's Beanery, which I admit I decided to frequent after seeing the boys from Entourage there during one of their episodes.

During weekday visits to Third Street Promenade, especially not in the summer, the weather is fine and the site less crowded.  On a Saturday night in December expect it to be crowded and a little chilly.  I suggest dressing warm.

Enjoy!

34. Santa Monica Just May Be Lamborghini Heaven

One of the things I frequently notice since moving back to California from Minnesota, which I allude to in one of my other posts, is cars.  One never knows what exotic sports car, like a Lamborghini, they may see next on the mean, crowded streets of greater Los Angeles.  Okay, the streets aren't mean.  I just threw that in the mix for effect.

In one of my other posts, I mention Santa Monica.  Due to a comment, I decided to look for the statue of Santa Monica in Santa Monica.  The photo of the statue of Santa Monica is one of the few photos I've included in my posts that isn't one of mine.  I choose to write about places I've been to and experienced.

That's when it happened.  It's one of the things I love about writing this blog.  You never know what you might see that you didn't expect.  The only downside in this instance is I had already run out of memory for my camera and almost didn't get a digital recording.  Luckily, I have okay enough photo capability with my mobile phone to at least relay the gist of the experience.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find out why all of these Lamborghinis were lined up and displayed.

What tickled me is that before today if I'd seen A Lamborghini, I most likely didn't recognize it as it whizzed past me.  Today I seem to have hit the mother lode of Lamborghini sight seeing.  There had to be at least ten Lamborghinis in a rainbow of colors that pulled up and parked in their temporarily reserved parking spaces on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.  More than likely that number was probably closer to twenty.

I really enjoyed seeing the driver of one of these fine looking automobiles who pulled a one-eighty turn in an effort to pull into his spot.  Motor revved.  Tires squealed.  About two seconds later cop car and peace officer in said driver's face to issue a citation for...who knows...wild driving?

From my research I can only assume it had something to do with Lamborghini's decision to open its North American Sales arm in Santa Monica.  A smart move when you consider California represents about one-third of Lamborghini's North American sales.

So class, what have we learned?

Correct.  If you are in the market for a Lamborghini, now you know.  Get yourself to Santa Monica, California or Orange County, which you will find from my L.A. Sightseeing Examiner "Wo"manifesto is part of the greater Los Angeles area.

22. Calling All Saints In L.A.

If you didn't know, hallow is another word for saint.  Halloween initially was celebrated as the eve of All Saints Day (November 1).  You know, get your sinner on before you have to behave like a saint.

With this in mind, I decided to get my Google on and see what would come up if I searched, "saints in los angeles", assuming a list of saints would show up.  Then I could pick one to visit and write about.  (Okay, let's just take a side bar here to mention what the process for becoming a saint is.  This way you'll understand a living person can't actually be a saint.)

I was a little surprised to find what did show up in the top spots.   The wikipedia page for Motley Crue's Saints of Los Angeles, their ninth studio recording effort released on June 24, 2008, and corresponding music videos for the title song of said recording.  The first not Motley Crue listing was in postion #28, the Home Page of All The Saints of the City of Los Angeles.  Finally.  Something I could work with...until I clicked on the link.  While the creator, J. Michael Walker, appears to have put together something quite amazing it still wasn't going to help me much.

What's a girl to do?  Rely on her own brain?  That's right!  I knew that the word "santa" is spanish for the english word "saint".  I started searching my own personal data banks for a town close by which starts with Santa.  Please insert your own game-show-clock-ticking-music here while the search ensues.  Hola?  We have a winner. Santa Monica!  And excitement of excitement I had just visited and video'd Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.

I desired to go ever since I heard about this thing that was supposed to be going on at the promenade for domestic violence awareness, the Tunnel of Hope, part of the Shop 'til It Stops program sponsored by Marshalls.

What's the saying, "A day late and a dollar short"?  Well, I was definitely days late as the display ended October 15th and it was Octobeer 29th.  (Okay, can we take another break here to laugh at my typo, Octobeer? Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha. Freakin'. Ha. Makes me think of something I could do next year with all the other things October is said to represent, domestic violence awareness month for one.  Octo is 8 [so why is it the 10th month? hmmmm] and beer is beer.  So, it's the month for drinking 8 beers a day.  Responsibly, of course.  Okay, I'm not totally serious, but then maybe I'm not not serious either.)

What is exciting is that because I was aware of this event, well...let me back up.

So, my own personal immense brain data base came up with Santa Monica.  Mmmm hmmm.  I like it.  Let's check it out.  I googled Saint Monica (aka Saint Monica of Hippo) and sure enough, there is a Saint Monica and Santa Monica, California is named for her.  It just so happens that she is known for her virtue of patience and for helping other wives of her place and time be free of domestic violence from their husbands, as she had.

I wish I could report that Santa Monica is so named out of a love for this saint.  Alas, no!  Wiki knowledge reveals the town is so named because the area on which the city is now located was first visited by Spaniards on her feast day.

I'm thinking if I am Saint Monica of Hippo I don't care so much why this lovely city is named for me, I'm simply thrilled that such a lovely place is named for me.