When I worked in Culver City over fifteen years ago, the intersection of Washington and Robertson was offices and warehouses. The area that is now Ivy Station was a greenhouse/nursery where I would pick up staff birthday gifts. Back then, I would have called this area more of an industrial park with its production offices, commercial printers, and interior design agencies. It is hard to imagine this now. When you…
weekend
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Day Trip to Catalina Island
From the beach towns lining the Pacific Coast Highway, like Santa Monica, Venice, and Palos Verdes, you can see Catalina Island looming in the distance. For people like me, boat-less and helicopter-less Angelenos, it seems like an unreachable place. Unlike Seattle and other cities with…
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Whale watching in Southern California
Although it doesn’t feel like it to non-Angelenos the winter months are here. We are experiencing high winds, impending drizzle, and sixty-degree temperatures. Other phenomena mark this time of year as well. We become aware that living in California, we are in the path of…
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Where to eat on Abbot Kinney
There is a lot of fantastic food on this few-block stretch of Abbot Kinney, and the amount of choice can be dizzying. Should you eat healthy, grab a smash burger, something vegan, something quick, or something on the bib gourmand list? There are also a…
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Where to shop on Abbot Kinney
There are sections of city streets that draw people from all over the world. Sections of boulevards and avenues that become micro-attractions within a neighborhood. There is Las Ramblas in Barcelona and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Los Angeles seems like it is abundant in…
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If you are in Venice Beach
So, you have found yourself in Venice Beach. You came to experience the art, hit some tourist spots, or some other reason. If you are in Venice Beach, I have some great recommendations for things to do and eat. Places to eat No guide to…
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Intro to Venice: The Venice of America
On Sunday, Venice Beach celebrated its 116th birthday! It opened to the public on July 4th, 1905. In the advertisements luring people to the new resort town on the beach, it was called the Venice of America. On its opening day, it drew thousands of…
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Urban Hike: Santa Monica to Venice
Once upon a time, I helped friends train for the Camino de Santiago—a pilgrimage walk in Spain–covering 500 miles/804 km. To prepare, they would plan out local Urban Hikes of at least 10 miles. In Los Angeles, this involves a lot of planning. Many of…
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Where to eat in Malibu with mountain views
Malibu stretches along the coast and over the mountains. I spent my last post talking about places you can eat with ocean views, but those restaurants only tell one side of the story. Today, I will be taking you up winding roads, through canyons, and…