So here's a video I caught today co-produced by a talented college buddy of mine. It's pretty entertaining.
Better yet, I love that they wind up at the Route 66 marker on the Santa Monica Pier ... because I was just there!
IAAP | Route 66 from Blue Coffee Pictures on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
8.15.2013
6.01.2013
Homeward bound
I'm sittin' in the airport terminal, got a ticket for my destination. Mmmm ...
I'm leaving Los Angeles this morning after what has been an amazing week of exploring the city and connecting with some really awesome university alumni doing some really awesome things. The Photographer and I caught up with people managing e-commerce at a popular shoe and accessories company, producing movie trailers - including the man responsible for the "Inception" trailer, producing apps and games for The Jim Henson Company and writing for Disney. All of them, inspiring.
And the city. It's interesting after spending several days in a place how the streets and sights become familiar and you begin to engrain yourself in the area. You begin to get comfortable and at times sort of forget it's not home. ... Beyond that, it's been amusing to drive the streets, see the signs and pass locations of places I grew up hearing about in Beach Boys songs and rock n' roll documentaries -- places like Doheny Drive, Santa Monica Boulevard, the Hollywood Bowl, Hawthorne, Pasadena and Laurel Canyon.
After our long day Wednesday, we got a good night's sleep and a hardy hotel breakfast. Thursday morning, we made our first foray into Hollywood to visit a trailer production company, where we interviewed an alumnus - and got a neat preview of a few noteworthy films due out in the next year.
From there, we headed north to Santa Clarita, a Los Angeles suburb, to meet an alumnus who has had success in the radio business and now runs a company that produces promotional spots and sound effects.
With our work complete for the day and a free Thursday night, The Photographer and I ventured to Anaheim. I wanted to capture one of my baseball dreams - seeing an Angels game at Angel Stadium. Better yet, the Angels were playing the Dodgers, the team I adored growing up.
Like all of our destinations throughout the week, we were within 30 minutes of the stadium. But - against rush hour traffic - it took us about 90 minutes to get there. We found the game on the radio and listened to it until arriving at the parking garage sometime during the third inning. There, we got our first good view of the stadium and began the walk to find seats. Breath-taking ...
Unfortunately, the cheapest tickets available in the stadium were going for $42 and on the third deck of the stadium. The Photographer and I didn't like it but after the time it took us to get there, we decided to suck it up and make the best of.it. Besides I had some graduation gift money to spend, and I was chasing a dream.
The cost of the ticket pretty much knocked out my hope of purchasing a souvenir rally monkey - which by the way would have set me back another 30 bucks. I love my baseball, but the ridiculous prices make me want to scream, and these days that's limited my spending to buying the ticket and rarely anything else. In days past, I might have bought an Angels cap to add to my collection of hats representing Major League cities I've visited. This time I didn't even bother looking at the price tags on the caps. Aye.
The cost of the ticket pretty much knocked out my hope of purchasing a souvenir rally monkey - which by the way would have set me back another 30 bucks. I love my baseball, but the ridiculous prices make me want to scream, and these days that's limited my spending to buying the ticket and rarely anything else. In days past, I might have bought an Angels cap to add to my collection of hats representing Major League cities I've visited. This time I didn't even bother looking at the price tags on the caps. Aye.
We traveled three sets of escalators and found our seats behind the left field foul pole. Immediately I began taking in the stadium, gazing at all the features I've seen for years during Angels games on TV. I would have enjoyed the view no matter where we were sitting. ...
We settled into our seats in time to see Ramon Hernandez hit a home run over the left field wall and tie the game at 2-2 for the Dodgers. ... The Rally Monkey made his first appearance around the sixth inning, jumping around on the jumbotron to the roar of the crowd. There was a comical scene from The Bachelorette, too, in which the monkey hopped from a limousine and the latest bachelorette - I don't know their names - was babbling about how cute the monkey was while it jumped and clapped.
And, oh, the crowd. The upper decks were filled almost entirely with Hispanic families, couples and youth. I had known the Dodgers and Angels are quite a draw for that population, but seeing their enthusiasm for the game only enhanced the experience. The Angel red and Dodger blue in the stands were evenly split, and when one of the teams made a good play or took a base, that team's fans were quick to fire friendly jabs at the opposing fans.
After the seventh inning stretch, we took a walk to explore the stadium further and find a different view. We settled into a couple seats on the first base line for the final inning.
As we left the stadium, we headed to the main entrance because we missed it on the way in. Outside, we took in more of the stadium features while a collection of fans made noise behind the Fox Sports set as a pair of analysts were doing the post game show.
Back at our car we sat in the parking garage for more than an hour, waiting for traffic to clear. Then it took us just 30 minutes to get back to our hotel.
By my count, Angel Stadium is the 11th baseball stadium I've visited. It's the 12th if you count Milwaukee County Stadium, which no longer exists (Click here. See No. 15.).
A good night.
* * *
Our Friday was packed with interviews, and none of them disappointed.
First, we hit the home of a young associate film producer. When he greeted us at the door and let us inside, The Photographer asked, "What fraternity did you kick out to get this place?" He hit the nail on the head. ... The home was decorated with dark wood paneling and wood floors. There was a pool table in the dining room, surrounded by bookshelves supporting vintage film equipment and other props. The living room had a piano and a built-in hutch filled with wine glasses. There was no doubt it was the home of a bunch of young artists. As he gave us the tour, the producer told us how the house had been passed down among grads of a certain film school, and his roommates now include several musicians, including a couple guys who play with Josh Radin. Pretty cool.
After the interview, with about an hour until our next meeting, we headed up the hill to the Griffith Observatory for a better view of the iconic Hollywood Sign, not to mention the city. Amazing.
Next up, The Jim Henson Company, where we met an alumna who produces apps and games for children's programming. She was another wonderful interview with an inspiring passion and energy for what she's doing. Adding to the fun, we graduated from the college at the same time and share some mutual friends to this day, but only knew of each other at the time we were going to school. As with all of our interview subjects throughout the trip, it was fantastic to establish that connection and hear about the great work my peers are doing.
We received a wonderful tour of the Jim Henson lot, which formerly was the home and work space of Charlie Chaplain. Many of the buildings where he worked and shot film are still standing and in use. We also got a peak inside the screening room, a green screen set. And it turned out some scenes from the latest Muppets movie were filmed on the lot. I need to see that again.
Finally, we headed over the hill from Hollywood to Disney Channel's offices in Burbank to see a writer/editor. This stop was made more fascinating for me by the fact that it was a home base for a lot of the TV shows Phoebe watches on an almost non-stop basis -- Phineas and Ferb, Sofia the First, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates, among them -- and the person we interviewed is responsible for promoting some of them. Had I interviewed him a few years ago, it would have been just another interview for me, and I would have had almost no idea about the show he was talking about. Show posters and illustrations dotted the walls, and a few youth bikes were parked in the hallways as remnants of a summer programming campaign.
* * *
With all of our interviews complete, we took the rest of the night to explore Hollywood. First, we headed for Hollywood Boulevard ... In a nutshell, I thought it was overrated, but I enjoyed the experience nonetheless. I enjoyed seeing the Walk of Fame and reading the names of stars - from Tom Hanks to Fleetwood Mac to Winnie the Pooh to -- whaddaya know -- Alice Faye.
And I enjoyed seeing the theaters - the Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, formerly known as the Kodak Theatre. And, of course, the Capitol Records building.
The fronts of the theaters were crowded with impersonators and costumed people performing, getting their pictures taken and trying to earn some extra bucks. We saw Batman, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Spider-Man, Tinker Bell, Michael Jackson and Chewbacca, to name a few. ...
The rest of the strip was filled with guys pushing bus tours and storefronts of all varieties -- T-shirt and novelty shops, cigar shops and hookah lounges, and a handful of other outrageous things that are a blur to me now.
For dinner, on the recommendation of the young film producer we visited in the morning, we tried 25 Degrees at the Roosevelt Hotel. Our producer friend claimed they serve up the best burgers you've ever tasted. ... I ordered the No. 1 and it was glorious. If I've had a better burger, I can't recall it.
And the fries. Without a doubt, those were the best fries I've ever tasted. Lightly fried in vegetable oil and sprinkled with salt and thyme. I'm not one to take photos of my food, but there was so much food beauty in front of me, I couldn't resist. ...
After dinner and after walking the remainder of the strip, the night was still young. The Photographer and I were eager to continue our exploration. So we hopped back in our car and drove up the hill, along the narrow and winding roads, through picturesque California neighborhoods, until we came to the Sunset Ranch.
We reunited with our car, and the sky was dark by the time we returned to the bottom of the hill. After stumbling upon and driving around a couple studio lots, The Photographer was intent on returning to Hollywood Boulevard, thinking there was going to be some outlandish nightlife. Though I had little interest in going back, I obliged ... But only after crossing one more stop off my list.
The Troubadour. I've been fascinated with its place in pop culture history ever since Kates and I caught the "Troubadours" documentary last year. I discovered we had been in its vicinity for most of our time in L.A., and I was determined to make a drive-by at the least.
The Photographer parked the car at a Walgreens one block over, and I walked up the street and along the parkway to get a better look and soak in the scene for a few minutes. So much music history ...
Eventually, we headed back to Hollywood Boulevard and parked the car in a seedy valet lot, trusting the car -- and our equipment -- would be there when we returned.
Hollywood Boulevard wasn't any more exciting to me the second time around. And the obnoxiousness The Photographer expected to find on a late Friday night was absent. But there was an impromptu bike parade that seemed to stretch for miles. ...
As we head home now, I'm fulfilled. It was a fantastic trip.
5.30.2013
Hello, California!
Oh, California. I’ve been here not even 24 hours, and I’m already in love.
Several months ago, I was tapped to assume the responsibilities that come with writing the cover story for the university’s alumni magazine. Those responsibilities took me this week to Los Angeles, California. … I’ve never been west of Denver and, therefore, with so much to see and explore, I’ve been anticipating this trip for months.
With a 7:30 a.m. flight, I was out of bed at 3:30 and picking up The Photographer at 4:15. At 8, we were in the air.
The flight was fantastic for the view alone. I’m so accustomed, from my years of flying over the Midwest, to looking over farm fields and residential neighborhoods dotted with pools, schools, playgrounds and highways dotted with cars gliding along them. … Today, the views were far different. I got my first-ever live look at the Grand Canyon and barren dessert as far as we could see.
After finding our rental car and settling into our hotel, we went to work, catching up and setting appointments with our interview subjects – and exploring the city during our down time.
Today’s interview subject was an awesome and inspiring young woman who graduated from the university last year. She was quite active as a student on the campus, and I got to know her while she worked as a social media intern in my office. She left a remarkable imprint on the university, and today she is employed at trendy shoe and accessories company. …
After a tour of her office complex, she took us to a hopping sandwich place, Mendocino Farms, for lunch. The line to place an order stretched out the door and past two storefronts. Once we got our food, the reason was obvious – the market fresh sandwiches and fresh salads they served up were very tasty.
Tonight, we spent five hours resuming our interview and photo shoot with our cover girl, with a break halfway through for a venture to grab some Indian food in Culver City. That was another first for me, and I liked it. …
Exhausted and pushed to our limits, we finally wrapped the interview and photo shoot at about 11:30 p.m., L.A. time – 1:30 a.m. central time.
The Photographer and I have put in a 22-hour day.
Some quick observations after one day in L.A. ...
The traffic doesn't seem to be near as intimidating or dangerous as other people or films make it out to be. I expected to spend a lot of time stopped in traffic jams, or see other cars whizzing by us at outrageous speeds. We've experienced none of that, and so far it's no different than every other big city I've visited.
And everything's so clean and well-kept. The fact that there are trash cans every 25 feet probaby has a lot to do with that -- if you litter with that many trash cans around, you're a fool. Properties are meticulously manicured, too.
During a break this afternoon, The Photographer and I headed for a drive. We found a classic rock station on the radio and “Take It Easy” came on. Cruising the palm tree-sided roadways, the bright sun overhead without a cloud in the sky, and hearing that song in the city where it was born – man, it’s never sounded better.
We made our way to the ocean front and eventually to the famous Santa Monica Pier. Truth be told, I thought it was overrated, but it was good to walk it.
Several months ago, I was tapped to assume the responsibilities that come with writing the cover story for the university’s alumni magazine. Those responsibilities took me this week to Los Angeles, California. … I’ve never been west of Denver and, therefore, with so much to see and explore, I’ve been anticipating this trip for months.
With a 7:30 a.m. flight, I was out of bed at 3:30 and picking up The Photographer at 4:15. At 8, we were in the air.
The flight was fantastic for the view alone. I’m so accustomed, from my years of flying over the Midwest, to looking over farm fields and residential neighborhoods dotted with pools, schools, playgrounds and highways dotted with cars gliding along them. … Today, the views were far different. I got my first-ever live look at the Grand Canyon and barren dessert as far as we could see.
* * *
After finding our rental car and settling into our hotel, we went to work, catching up and setting appointments with our interview subjects – and exploring the city during our down time.
Today’s interview subject was an awesome and inspiring young woman who graduated from the university last year. She was quite active as a student on the campus, and I got to know her while she worked as a social media intern in my office. She left a remarkable imprint on the university, and today she is employed at trendy shoe and accessories company. …
After a tour of her office complex, she took us to a hopping sandwich place, Mendocino Farms, for lunch. The line to place an order stretched out the door and past two storefronts. Once we got our food, the reason was obvious – the market fresh sandwiches and fresh salads they served up were very tasty.
Tonight, we spent five hours resuming our interview and photo shoot with our cover girl, with a break halfway through for a venture to grab some Indian food in Culver City. That was another first for me, and I liked it. …
Exhausted and pushed to our limits, we finally wrapped the interview and photo shoot at about 11:30 p.m., L.A. time – 1:30 a.m. central time.
The Photographer and I have put in a 22-hour day.
* * *
Some quick observations after one day in L.A. ...
The traffic doesn't seem to be near as intimidating or dangerous as other people or films make it out to be. I expected to spend a lot of time stopped in traffic jams, or see other cars whizzing by us at outrageous speeds. We've experienced none of that, and so far it's no different than every other big city I've visited.
And everything's so clean and well-kept. The fact that there are trash cans every 25 feet probaby has a lot to do with that -- if you litter with that many trash cans around, you're a fool. Properties are meticulously manicured, too.
During a break this afternoon, The Photographer and I headed for a drive. We found a classic rock station on the radio and “Take It Easy” came on. Cruising the palm tree-sided roadways, the bright sun overhead without a cloud in the sky, and hearing that song in the city where it was born – man, it’s never sounded better.
We made our way to the ocean front and eventually to the famous Santa Monica Pier. Truth be told, I thought it was overrated, but it was good to walk it.
11.04.2007
Sunday reading
Got to spend the afternoon with Joel and Stephanie, and Millie. The Packers won. The Colts didn't. Took a really nice nap. And got the yard ready for the winter...
Here's some of the good reads that caught my eyes during the last week ...
Politics ...
a Are we Colbert's punch line?
a Bush the Embracer: Interpreting the Presidential Hug
a From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld . . .
More about the California wildfires ...
a On Shaky Ground in California
a In the Line of Fire
a New developments mask wild land's deadly threat
TV, music, entertainment & art ...
a Hulu.com, NBC and Fox video site, looks promising in beta
a Schulz: The Good and The Grief
a The year’s best music
a Spears Calls World 'Cruel' in Interview
a A museum's secrets
a 'Bean' to get a companion: The 'Popsicle'
a Adults Revisit Their Teenage Traumas and Dramas to Create Compelling Performance Art
Sports ...
a Handicapping the contenders for A-Rod's services
a What's Wrong With Sports Illustrated
Life & stuff ...
a Driver in crash that killed horses could face additional charges ... A tragic and dramatic ordeal that happened down the road from us last weekend. Some of the surviving horses are now being put up for adoption. There's also a slideshow of photos here.
a Chimp who knew sign language dies
P.S. ... Kates is talking on the phone with a friend and we were just reminiscing about the wonderful National Anthem performances of John Williams and James Taylor during the World Series ...
In case you missed them ...
Here's some of the good reads that caught my eyes during the last week ...
Politics ...
a Are we Colbert's punch line?
a Bush the Embracer: Interpreting the Presidential Hug
a From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld . . .
More about the California wildfires ...
a On Shaky Ground in California
a In the Line of Fire
a New developments mask wild land's deadly threat
TV, music, entertainment & art ...
a Hulu.com, NBC and Fox video site, looks promising in beta
a Schulz: The Good and The Grief
a The year’s best music
a Spears Calls World 'Cruel' in Interview
a A museum's secrets
a 'Bean' to get a companion: The 'Popsicle'
a Adults Revisit Their Teenage Traumas and Dramas to Create Compelling Performance Art
Sports ...
a Handicapping the contenders for A-Rod's services
a What's Wrong With Sports Illustrated
Life & stuff ...
a Driver in crash that killed horses could face additional charges ... A tragic and dramatic ordeal that happened down the road from us last weekend. Some of the surviving horses are now being put up for adoption. There's also a slideshow of photos here.
a Chimp who knew sign language dies
P.S. ... Kates is talking on the phone with a friend and we were just reminiscing about the wonderful National Anthem performances of John Williams and James Taylor during the World Series ...
In case you missed them ...
10.24.2007
Wildfires
We've been marveling all week at the photos coming over the wires from the wildfires in California ...
They're both tragic and beautiful. Check out these slideshows here and here ...
And check out this video I found on YouTube. Crazy. I can't even begin to imagine ...
It is good to know, however, the chaos is more controlled than it was during Katrina ... if there is such a notion.
They're both tragic and beautiful. Check out these slideshows here and here ...
And check out this video I found on YouTube. Crazy. I can't even begin to imagine ...
It is good to know, however, the chaos is more controlled than it was during Katrina ... if there is such a notion.
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