Santa Monica Sunday

The relatively recently opened Annenberg Community Beach House at 415 PCH, sits atop the footprint of the former Marion Davies Beach House, and is now a public center for beach activity including swimming in the restored original swimming pool for those who prefer a dip in fresh water rather than the Pacific Ocean's salty, sandy and seaweedy wash. By the way, Marion Davies' beach house is a beach house in the same manner as Windsor Castle is the British monarch's vacation getaway from Buckingham Palace.  

Marion Davies' Beach House begun in 1926.

Marion Davies' Beach House was 100+ rooms of opulence, splendor and fun.  I'm learning to be a docent for the Annenberg Community Beach House through the impressive efforts of the Santa Monica Conservancy so I'll know more about this fantastic public recreation center when I complete the training.  For now, it's just fascinating and exciting to be walking the halls where the truly splendid Marion Davies -- as well as other celebrities -- once spent time.  If you live in Santa Monica -- and you appreciate living here -- go and enjoy 415 PCH. I'm pretty sure Marion would have loved the idea this space is still place of family fun (although I wonder if she'd be saddened that the main house was demolished in 1956). 


On March 13, 2011, I walked from my abode on 11th St. to 415 PCH to take the free docent led tour of the Guest House.  There are still some homes of interest built by filmdom's founders in the early 1900's  -- before it became a film industry.  I'm still learning about some of the architects who built spectacular homes along Santa Monica's "Gold Coast" during that time (much to learn, much to retain).  I do know the amazing Julia Morgan -- architect for William Randolph Hearst's Castle -- also designed the Beach House.  


Walking along the bike path on the way to 415 PCH, there are still a few homes from the 1920 era that have not yet been lost to the destructive bent of development. I'll have to call upon my friend Steve Vaught who once walked with me along the beach path and pointed out homes built by Louis B. Mayer, Harry Warner, Samuel Goldwyn, Irving Thalberg & Norma Shearer -- but I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten which names go to which homes.   

As I recall, the salmon-colored house in the center is a house of interest but I don't recall who makes it "interesting".

I've seen this slightly out of focus home on postcards from the early 1900's but I'll have to go through my collection of Santa Monica post cards to find out who's associated with it (or ask Steve). 

In the sitting room of the Guest House, a lovely fireplace graces the room. I'll bet there's an interesting story behind the female bodied mantel pillars and I'll bet it wasn't originally painted all white. 

Sitting room (fireplace behind me) doors face the ocean.  I find it hard to believe the furniture is representative of what was in the Guest House before the estate's sale in 1947.  The chairs, couch, tables and lamp seem to be left over from the Sea & Sand Hotel which is what the Marion Davies Beach House became after she sold it.

 Photos of one of the two restored bathrooms in the Guest House.

The whimsical, Julia Morgan designed tiles were uncovered under layers of paint and the bathrooms restored to their former glory. This is what Marion Davies' family and friends would have seen when they lived in the Guest House. Unfortunately, my camera's batteries died just as I got to the Guest House and had to resort to my iPhone instead.  The photos just don't do justice to the interior. The square masted ship is a metallic copper color, as are the sea crests and delightful sea creatures.

View from the beach-facing 2nd floor balcony. 

Okay, here's the surprise. There's free wifi here and anyone with a laptop who wants to spend the late morning, early afternoon in one of the Guest House rooms surfing the net instead of the waves, can do so by just showing up when the Guest House is open. 

The Annenberg Community Center is a gem and should be used, admired, loved and appreciated by both Santa Monica residents and the public at large.  The Guest House is a throwback to a more graceful time of architecture and a historic treasure.  Plus, it's fun to imagine Marion Davies walking into the very room in which you're standing.   


I'll take better photos next time. There's much I didn't photograph which deserves to be seen and shared.

Birthday in Santa Monica

My birthday snuck up on me again.  It always does.  One minute it's all "Happy New Year!  Who brought the champaign" and the next it's early morning Facebook chirps from my iPhone, delivering birthday greetings  to my FB wall. I have to say thank you to Facebook -- I had friends from all over the U.S. leaving delightful and appreciated birthday greetings.  And not one of them ask my age.  Good people.


I worked half a day opening trouble tickets for DSL behaving badly, answering questions about billing, and incorrectly answering questions about email behaving badly.  I love email but I still can't quite get a grip on all the variations and configuration algorithms (see previous post). I've been doing this for nearly 11 years.  It's pathetic -- inexcusable really -- that I still tell customers email is based wizardry and fairy dust.  Thank the internet Krakens for web email -- I don't have to deal with that.

Around noonish, I tidied up my little office, donned my Asics, wobbled off with my baseball cap and camera to take pics of what ever I saw.  My self-imposed mission: create a picture essay of my birthday. 

No many how many times I walk to the beach, I never tire of photographing the sparkling water, the track-stained sand and rippling waves and everything along the way.

What the?

Just beyond the barrier along Pacific Palisades park, I noticed more of he cliff had collapsed or eroded and now revealed what appears to be stone stairs.  In the early Twentieth Century, there was a long, steep wooden stairway leading from the cliff top to the beach.  However, that stairway was further north (where a high rise luxury condo building now stands guard) near Adelaide Drive and they're long gone, victim, as I recall, to a harsh storm.  These may not be steps -- they may be reinforcement from some earlier decade.  This is much further south, closer to Broadway Street.

Erosion

The pathway between the white wooden fence (above) and the cliff drop-off, used to be part of the original walkway along Pacific Palisades. 

Ocean Blvd. circa 1950s (?)

I've seen a number of postcards circa early 1900's depicting Pacific Palisades near Broadway and it's astonishing how much of the cliff has fallen away. Some members of City Hall blame the erosion squarely on squirrels (I kid you not), but I'm not convinced.  I think it's just cliffside giving up its battle with gravity.

Lazy Wednesday day on Santa Monica's beach

On Sunday's this part of the beach, just north of the Santa Monica Pier, is where Veteran's for Peace create a vivid reminder of the cost of war, with Arlington West.

End of the Road

This is at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, a display of Route 66 maps and trinkets. 

Santa Monica Feathered Sentinal

Penguin or Photographer's Shadow?

Making Friends.

On Second Street with a Downtown Ambassador

 On the way home, I saw a member of Santa Monica's "Downtown Ambassador" team wheeling along alone on a Segway on Second Street.  I asked if I could take a photo of him but was told he was not allowed to have his photo taken unless he was posing with someone.  Just then an obliging young man exited the adjacent building and cheerfully allowed himself to be photographed with the Ambassador.  Unfortunately, I did not ask either man for his name!  What's the matter with me?  Anyway, they're a fine example of the pleasant and helpful people in Santa Monica.  Despite the traffic, we know we live in paradise.

Groovy Wheels

I love this bike.  It was locked to a parking meeter in front of Real Food Daily on Santa Monica Blvd., a casual restaurant with a vegetarian menu.  Hallalujah!

End of a Beautiful Day

The final delight was to meet Steve and Taylor for dinner and a long awaited get together at Bistro of Santa Monica -- which accommodates the vegan in me and my friend's taste for wild salmon.  The other attractive thing about Bistro of Santa Monica, is that they don't pump loud music at the dinners.  I love me some rock and roll but not when I'm trying to hear my friends talk.  Instead they have a pianist who tinkled quiet arrangements of pop music with an easy listening twist.  Sean was our delightful and handsome young waiter who tended to our every need flawlessly although we constantly teased him.  At one point we all were laughing so loud the gentle and pleasant owner ambled back to our table.  He was smiling but I had the sneaking suspicion he was about to make us eat at separate tables.  We must have quieted down enough so he didn't make us move. I had Insalata Contadina (tomatoes, roasted bell pepper, baby onion, grilled eggplant, celery heart and fresh basil) that was huge and perfectly delicious.  For dessert I had a luscious Raspberry sorbet, Taylor had the warm bread pudding and Steve had an sinful chocolate item. I don't know about them but my food was great.

It was a beautiful day. 

Be Careful What Your Children Know That You Don't

Here's this year's birthday card from my beloved and generous daughter.  

Seems like a nice offer....

Until the card is opened...

Surprising sinister turn...

I laughed and laughed and laughed as I began to imagine several embarrassing scenarios where I could do nothing but fumble with my cell phone, make feeble excuses and pathetically try to turn off the several electronic choruses of "Happy Birthday".  

I wasn't prepared for the "tee hee hee!" It makes me laugh every time I read it but I can't help but wonder what else she's been up to.  

It's a beautiful thing.

Cooking Always Gets Me Into Trouble.

I hate to cook.  It always gets me into trouble but I accidently made an ain't-no-diet-today delicious pot of vegan spaghetti sauce.  I don't know how it happened since I made it from scratch with no recipe.  Of course, I am one-quarter Italian. Maybe that explains it.  


I rarely cook but yesterday was an exception since I was out of boxes that say, "just add water" so I was forced to actually make a meal. If I could settle for a life time of oatmeal and Pop Tarts, I wouldn't have to cook.  Cooking involves dangerously long and sharp knives, garlic aromas that linger longer on the finger tips than skunk stink on a cat, onion tears and fresh luminous vegetables -- the kind of fresh vegetables I impulse-buy at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Arizona and Second Street.  In the midst of all those lovely vegetables, I'm dazzled by their vegan beauty and I forget that I always manage to slice off a tip of fingernail along with the mushrooms or slice myself while vivisecting the bell peppers.  All I can remember is how delicious the vegetables are and I kind of disregard my distaste for the process it takes to make a pot or pan of anything. My relationship with cooking is something of a metaphor to the wisdom of a one-night stand. But I digress.

Ohhhhhhhh the temptation!

Today the sauce was in its better-the-second-day stage and simmers on the stove.  At some point, it turned into a kind of magic elixir that requires repeated "does it need anything?" taste tests. I seem to have no ability to stop myself from visiting the pot for just one more 4 ounce ladle of sauce (no pasta)  -- just in case it suddenly got better or worse or needs some additional herb.  Since I live alone, there's no one to shame me into some form of self-discipline or to block my way to the kitchen.  Therefore, the only way to stop me is to put locks on the kitchen doors that slam shut between 8pm and 9am. Of course, locked doors would block the only indoor path to the bathroom.  An unavoidable midnight piddle would require a furtive, nightgown-clad trip out the front door, along the length of the bungalow to the brightly lit back door. Odds are, I'd lock myself out. I don't even want to think about the humiliation of being reported by the resident homeless guy in the alley for disturbing the peace, then being booked and printed for attempted breaking and entry while still in my nightgown.  Cooking always gets me into trouble.  

Santa Monica Farmer's Market's Tempting Items

The Birds Are Back!

I have a special fondness for Birds of Paradise and I seem compelled to photograph them where ever and when ever I can.  Santa Monica is a great place for Birds of Paradise.  They're everywhere and I never tire of them.

Taken with my iPhone.

Santa Monica all a GLOW

I am extremely delinquent, nearly 5 months, in posting this but here goes GLOW anyway. 

Santa Monica hosted a half-day art event on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 7pm to 3am or dawn, which ever showed up first.  This is the second bi-annual Santa Monica GLOW art event and is located along Pacific Avenue (pier adjacent), the Santa Monica Pier and along beach path areas to the north and south of the pier. I had missed the first GLOW but was determined to be part of the 2010 variation.  


Due to my inability to comprehend and explain "GLOW", beyond, "I'm not sure what it is but it'll be cool, `cause, trust me, everything in Santa Monica is cool except the impenetrable traffic" surprisingly, all of my friends had to either a) wash their cat/budgie/neighbor's gerbil, b) go visit their great grand-daddy's Civil War era untended grave site or c) paint the carport and would not be available to penetrate the traffic, battle for a parking spot or walk around at night to view something that sounds like a candy bar.  I invited friends to see "GLOW" with me, sweetening the invite with an offer of my free parking via my guest parking permit and got no takers. Nevertheless, I walked the nine-tenths of a mile to the installation solo -- observing and chortling at the horrific traffic jam of cars along Broadway, Lincoln, and every cross street all the way to the beach. 

SUV running the red light at the corner of 4th and Broadway.

Maybe it's just me but this event should be seen with a companion (preferably a friend, family member with whom you're on speaking terms or a crowd-friendly pet).  

Soft and fuzzy companion -- apparently I couldn't be bothered to photograph the leash-holding human. 

I happen to think Santa Monica always glows -- at night -- particularly between 4th St. and the Santa Monica Pier. 

A View from the bluffs along Pacific Ave., overlooking the pier all dressed up by the GLOW event

here was a nearly full moon that night which served to heighten the FX glow. 

The "1" globe tries to compete with the moon.

Moon in the upper left.

Holiday Inn sign reads "TASTE"

Then is changes to "HEAT"

Sitting, dancing and/or drinking in the street.

Strangers with iPhones

I realized I was standing next to 6 or 7 other visitors also iPhone-photo-ing the same installation I was, at the intersection of Colorado and Pacific Ave. (entrance to the Santa Monica Pier).  I thought it'd be ironic and or funny if we all took iPhotos of each other with our iPhones and made the spontaneous request.  I thought I caught sight of a quizzical look on each of their faces as the entire iPhone group vaporized in my iPhone iPhoto view finder.  

I know.  My inner child often scares young adults when she comes out to play. 

More of the changing, glowing views projected on the Holiday Inn:

Green Giant says, "Think"

Multiple blue Marilyn Monroes

Full moon over the Santa Monica Pier

Yalla Truck offers healthy vegetarian food

 Unfortunately, YallaTruck.com doesn't work any more, but you can follow their daily schedule on Twitter and Facebook.

Tunnel under the Pier

The Georgian Hotel 

 Thought to be haunted, The elegant Georgian Hotel  alit in blue on Pacific Ave.

I just like this sign (hanging in the information kiosk)

Just enjoy - I have no idea what it is (other than art).

Pretty Blue glowy octopus-like light art.

Teenagers with Glow headgear.

The walk home along Broadway

Glow was just glowing.  I loved walking around the Santa Monica Pier, the beach, Pacific Palisades, and Broadway at night -- and I didn't have to worry about parking!

Sunday in Santa Monica

I love Sundays -- especially when I'm in Santa Monica.  It's quiet, little traffic noise, I walk to the local grocery store to get my copy of the Los Angeles Times, and often walk around the neighborhood for a few pictures.  There's always something to photograph in Santa Monica. 

Happy Poppies

Under the Vons sign at Lincoln Blvd. and Broadway, the poppies bloom.  One poppy has a green wriggly guest lounging in the warm sunshine.

Shimmering Calla Lily

Along Broadway, east of Lincoln Blvd. there are quietly stunning flowers and greenery.

Sunday afternoon in the park.
 Pacific Palisades park overlooks the beach. 

Spring starts early in Santa Monica

Content

Catalina from Santa Monica beach. 

Catalina Island, where so many movies have been filmed (especially in the early decades of cinema), is usually only visible from Santa Monica in December when there's no marine layer to shroud it from view.  It was a delight to see the island (just a background shadow behind the roller coaster) especially on the same day as the Academy Awards ceremony this year.  Seemed appropriate.