: Archive

Metro Series - Civic Center, Day Two

Having been so sure what I was going to write before embarking on my first day of Civic Center exploration, I now found myself on the opposite side of the spectrum. Heading back downtown to fill in some gaps, I was no longer sure what I would say, unable to find a through line, unable to piece together my own narrative of the area. I had tried to organize my thoughts the night before, but they...

Apr 13th

14 tags

Metro Series - Civic Center, Day One

The night before my exploration of Civic Center, I had a fairly clear picture in my head of how it was going to go. While there are a handful of interesting sights in the area (some of which I had to postpone lest I venture into Pershing Square territory, thereby cannibalizing my next entry), as the civic and legal center to the city there are understandably not a bevy of tourist spots. Aside...

Mar 31st

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On the Road in Cinco, California

Having felt the siren call of the open road calling to me more clearly for the last few weeks and with a sudden wealth of time on my hands, I finally succumbed and hopped into my car for a familiar trip. I find comfort in a familiar destination, like the warm embrace of an old friend, but I also have to admit that reliving these trips is my version of updating obsolete technology, my way of...

Mar 3rd

1 note

20 tags

Metro Series - Union Station

Staring out the window of the Orange line watching the vaguely familiar buildings pass by as it makes its way toward North Hollywood I feel something that I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever, in Los Angeles. I feel like a tourist. For perhaps the first time in the thirteen years that I have called Los Angeles home, I feel like a visitor to the city and I kind of like it. I’ve often wondered...

Mar 1st

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December Festivals

And then it was December. Where did the last 11 months go? December 4-5 - A Country Christmas (4th, 10th, 11th, & 12th, Yucaipa) - Big Wave Dave & Christmas on the Farm (Nov 26th - Dec 20th, Moorpark) - Chill at the W (Nov 19th - Jan 2nd, Westwood) - Christmas Tree Holiday Train (Nov 27th - Dec 12th, Fillmore) - Downtown on Ice (Nov 18th - Jan 17th, Pershing Square) - Ice...

Dec 3rd

November Festivals

And just like that the bulk of the festival season seems to be over. A few offerings for this weekend with more to follow… November 6-7 - American Indian Arts Marketplace at the Autry (Los Angeles) - Escondido Renaissance Faire (Oct. 30th-31st and Nov. 6th-7th) - Harvest Festival (5th - 7th, San Luis Obispo) - Hot Chili Peppers Festival (Los Angeles) - Japanese Garden Festival...

Nov 3rd

October Festivals

As hard as it is to believe in a week that saw record breaking temperatures in Los Angeles (113, seriously!?) fall is upon us and thus a slew of autumnal themed festivals, and for some crazy reason a whole handful of Oktoberfests. Small update now, more coming later… October 2-3 - Autumn Arts, Grapes & Grains Festival (2nd only, Santa Maria) - Bates Nut Farm’s Pumpkin Patch...

Oct 1st

Southwestern Colorado - A Visual Tour

Instead of waiting until I write something before I post some pictures I figured I would post a quick visual tour of my recent roadtrip through Southwestern Colorado, a trip that found my sister and I visiting old haunts and finding new treasures (when we weren’t foiled by a serious lack of 4WD). Day 1 Boreas Pass… Como… Day 2 St. Elmo… St. Elmo… St....

Sep 24th

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September Festivals

Somehow it is September now. Two thirds of the year have passed by and I’m not quite sure how that happened. Here are some things to do in September… September 4-6 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Festival (Long Beach) - Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fair (2nd - 6th, Bishop) - Fiesta Hermosa - Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival (3rd - 6th, Bishop) - Labor Day Festival of...

Aug 31st

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August Festivals

I’ve gone and done it again, playing from behind at the start of the month. I’ll post events that happened the first weekend as a historical record. August 7-8 - Chula Vusta Lemon Festival (8th only) - Fiesta Street Festival (8th only, San Clemente) - La Habra Corn Festival (6th - 8th) - Long Beach Crawfish Festivall - Norco Valley Fair (5th - 8th) - Old Spanish Days...

Aug 10th

Japan, Part 2 - A Frightening Trip Up the Mountain

Any worries that I had about being able to find Fushimi Inari-taisha vanished immediately upon seeing, shortly after stepping out of the train station, a large vermilion torii gate marking the entrance to the shrine. Passing through and approaching the main shrine we find what we had quickly come to recognize as a typical Shinto shrine. The torii gate, a purification fountain, decorative stone...

Jul 19th

July Festivals

July 10-11 - Celebration on the Colorado Street Bridge (10th only, Pasadena) - Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival (11th only) - Camarillo Street Fair and Festival (9th - 11th) - Old Fort MacArthur Days (San Pedro) - Pageant of the Masters (July 7th - Aug. 31, Laguna Beach) - Sawdust Arts Festival (June 25th - Aug. 29th, Laguna Beach) - South Bay Greek Festival (9th - 11th, Redondo...

Jul 9th

Jul 8th

2 notes

June Festivals

Well there I go again…letting the beginning of the month pass me by with no festival updates. So for those festivals last weekend, you can look forward to your chance to hit them up in 2011. June 5-6 - Beaumont Cherry Festival (3rd-6th) - Cairo Caravan (Long Beach, 4th-6th) - Dia de San Juan Festival (San Dimas, 6th only) - Downey Greek Food Festival - Fiesta del Sol (Solana...

Jun 11th

May 10th

9 notes

May Festivals

Those pages keep flying off the calendar. How did one third of the year already pass? As we enter the warmer month we are seeing more festivals, a fine time to get out there before the real heat of summer hits. May 1-2 - 9th Annual Armenian Festival (Glendale - Click on Events for information) - California State 37th Annual Chili Cookoff & 9th Annual Inland Empire Menudo Championship...

Apr 29th

Japan, Part 1 - Lost in Translation...or not

Leading up to our trip to Japan my mental picture of the country had been shaped in large part by images from popular culture - stereotypical caricatures of the people and culture - tempered with a few half remembered scraps of information I’d picked up in college, bits of Shinto and Kabuki colliding in my memory. Imagining the history of Japan I flashed back to Kirosawa films, the Japan of...

Apr 29th

April Festivals

Where the heck did March go (other than planning for and taking a trip to Japan)? Seems that I’ve missed a whole month of festival updates. Well, let’s see if I can make up for it in April. Need an exciting day out? Try one of these… April 3-4 - Cambodian New Years Parade (Long Beach, 4th only) - Thai New Year Festival (Thai Town, 4th only) - Spring Fair (Easter Fair)...

Apr 3rd

3 notes

February Festivals

It looks like we are finally seeing a bit of an increase in the number of festivals after the slower winter months (not that we are out of the winter months, but this is Southern California…). Looking for a bit of distraction in February, try a few of these on for size. February 6-7 - Echo Park Art Walk (6th only) - Laguna Flokdancers Festival (5th-7th) - Riverside Dickens Festival...

Feb 5th

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Chop Suey, Chow Mein, Dancing

I’ve stood on this corner before. Many times. There is nothing inherently remarkable about the intersection at Jackson Street and 7th Avenue in Seattle – lying in the shadow of I-5, an optometrist on one corner, the Chinatown Market on another - and yet I’ve made it a point to pass by nearly every time I am in the neighborhood. It is the view from the corner that calls to me. Across Jackson...

Jan 13th

1 note

January Festivals

I swear, you’d think that being in Southern California we’d have a few more options on the festival circuit in the winter than your average city in a colder climate, but that does not seem to be the case. Well even if there aren’t a lot, I give you some January festivals. As always, if I find more I will add them to the list. January 9-10 - Cable Air Show (Upland) - Signing...

Jan 13th

December Festivals

Where oh where does the time go? Here it is already December and even approaching the half way mark. A little belated but better late than never I give you some Los Angeles area holiday events. December 5-6 - Big Wave Dave & Christmas on the Farm (Moorpark, 5th-6th, 12th-13th) - Christmas in Calico (Yermo) - Christmas Tree Holiday Train (Fillmore, Sat-Sun Nov. 28th thru Dec. 20th) -...

Dec 10th

November Festivals

It appears that October is festival month in Southern California. November, not so much. Whether it’s the post-harvest doldrums or the pre-Christmas calm, there appears to be quite a bit fewer festivals in November. I’m not done seeking out worthwhile activities but don’t imagine I am going to suddenly stumble upon a hidden treasure-trove of festivals so figured that I should...

Nov 5th

Jim Colbert Memorial Road Trip, Part 3 - Heading...

June 21, 2009 - Home again, home again jiggity-jigg… As soon as the alarm goes off I am back to regretting having bedded down in a place so far from our first stop of the day. With over an hour drive to get back to Bodie and my strong desire to get there as close as possible to opening in order to beat the crowds and take advantage of the early morning light we are forced to drag...

Oct 26th

October Festivals

Is it actually October already? We’re entering the best time of the year folks…October through December. Beginning of autumn, putting the summer clothes away and getting out the sweaters and jackets (if you live anywhere other than the madness that is the San Fernando Valley…). Want some nice autumnal festivities to take you into the happiest time of the year…I bet you can...

Oct 24th

Coming Soon...

Arab American and Northern African Festival/Target High Line Festival A Visit to New York City… Nisei Week/Tanabata Festival Japanese Festival on the Homefront… North to San Jose Either that’s a big Monopoly board or I shrunk… Los Angeles Greek Festival Another Greek Festival… Chinatown Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Despite Appearances, Not the Festival of...

Sep 17th

September Festivals

Looking for some exciting festival options this month, well apparently September is Greek Festival month. We’ve already got tickets to the St. Sohpia Greek Festival and will have to see if we are still clamoring for more Greek food after that. It also seems to be Lobster month. If only someone could create some magnificent hybrid Greek Lobster Festival. Know of something that’s not on...

Sep 1st

1 note

27 tags

Jim Colbert Memorial Road Trip, Part 2 - No One...

June 20, 2009 - A Change of Plans… We start the morning greeted with the aftermath of the overnight storm, one which has left this little corner of Western Nevada feeling just a bit more “crisp” than the day before. While nothing to rival the feeling of a good autumn morning, the weather is a bit cooler, there is fresh smell to the air (the combination of the morning air, a good rain, and the...

Jun 20th

20 tags

Jim Colbert Memorial Road Trip, Part 1 - Is It...

June 18/19, 2009 – It begins…. By the time our first mile rolls onto the odometer it is well past midnight and I haven’t slept since the night before. Courtney had been called into action along with her house which was serving as a movie set for the day, keeping us from getting started any earlier. Given the circumstances, with the anniversary of my father’s passing falling on that night, I did...

Jun 19th

13 tags

Valley Greek Festival

Date: May 23, 2009 Location: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge Distance from Home: 12 miles Festival Fee: Free Parking: Pretty much street parking in a mainly residential area (although on a major street). I had heard from a variety of sources that the Greek Festival was one of the best festival offerings out there. Whether the Valley Greek Festival was “THE” Greek Festival that...

May 23rd

61st Israel Independence Festival

Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Woodley Park in Van Nuys, California Distance from Home: 1.5 miles Festival Fee: $5 Parking: Free – valet parking was also available, though I don’t recall the cost. Also convenient to the Metro Orange Line bus service. In retrospect, having seen the traffic situation caused by closing off the street on one end and creating parking on both sides of each side of the...

May 3rd

Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

Date: April 25 & 26, 2009 Location: Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio in Santa Clarita, California Distance From Home: Approximately 23 miles Festival Fee: $20 for adults, $10 for children aged 2-11 Parking: Free. There is no parking at the Melody Ranch for the festival. The city of Santa Clarita operates a free shuttle service from a parking lot (open field) about a mile away from the...

Apr 26th

Montery Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Date: April 18 & 19, 2009 Location: Barnes Park in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park Distance from Home: Approximately 20 miles. Festival Fee: Free Parking: Free (the park is located in a residential area just off of a more commercial thoroughfare, while there was parking on the street, we had to drive around for a bit to find it and had a short walk from the spot we eventually found to...

Apr 18th

Upcoming (or Already Passed) Festivals

There is such a varied collection of websites offering random and often incomplete information about upcoming festivals that I figured it would be a good idea to compile my research here in a single location (which can then join the multitude of websites offering random information and thus increasing the clutter). These reflect my current research which began in April (thus the lack of early...

Jan 2nd

In Search of the Quintessential Festival...

I love a good festival. At least I assume I do as I’m still somewhat of a festival novice, only recently having become aware of this hidden passion of mine, and having very few festivals under my belt. Perhaps I should rephrase that. I love the idea of a good festival. Growing up I was not a festival patron by any means. I was aware of a few, but the mere mention of one did not set my mind...

Jan 2nd

A Seattle Tradition

I have somehow managed to get an earlier flight than I usually do, a feat I would have thought impossible for I normally fly at the crack of daawn, but one which causes us to arrive in the city earlier than I am accustomed. This means we have to postpone the traditional first stop in the Seattle tour – a culinary stop – despite being fairly hungry. We could grab a bite somewhere else, but that...

Oct 11th

13 tags

The Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland. The holy grail of the family vacation. A Mecca for middle-America (and all points beyond). Chances are slim that I could tell anyone with more than a modicum of Disney knowledge something about the park that they didn’t already know. Nor am I likely to provide a comprehensive review of what to see and what to skip, filled with delightful tidbits of unknown Disney trivia. The best I can...

Oct 4th

Grand Canyon Road Trip, Part 3 - Homeward Bound

The allure of the waffle machines from the previous morning was too powerful to overcome, despite my insistence on being a French toast man when it comes to the griddle (or iron in this case). I had also come to the realization that while I wanted another English muffin for the marmalade, waffles and marmalade could also mix. So waffles it was. Thus fortified with our continental breakfast we...

Apr 21st

Grand Canyon Road Trip, Part 2 - How Green is my...

Dawn breaks and with it the temptation to just lounge around, luxuriate beneath the covers, avoid the seemingly frigid air. It is amazing what one comes to consider frigid after many years of Los Angeles weather – somewhere inside of me a Colorado boy hangs his head in shame. But we didn’t travel hundreds of miles to laze around in bed, so up we got and down to breakfast. Being the less seasoned...

Apr 20th

Grand Canyon Road Trip, Part 1 - The Journey...

The day begins with a small bit of non-road business, the ever popular visit to the eye doctor. Which is better? Number one or number two? While Courtney ponders these numbers I am considering number 405 to number 101. 101 to 134. 134 to 210. 210 to 15. 15 to 40. So many numbers, so much promise. Once the business with the eye doctor has been finished, the road opens up. The miles start rolling...

Apr 19th

Ghosts of the Road

Growing up in the Colbert clan, family vacations usually meant one thing – road trips. Rarely would we travel anywhere by anything other than the family’s trusty 1969 Volkswagen Bus. With Mom and Dad up front and us kids (my brother, sister, and myself) packed safely away in the back seat, we drove all over the Western US from our home in Colorado. Destinations from Seattle to South Dakota and all...

Jan 1st