Hollywood Swinging

Dates: September 9 - September 11 

JetBlue Flight: Only a one hour flight. It was fairly uneventful, but for some reason Kelynn had major issues with the cabin pressure and her ears hurt unbearably.  Maybe it was the speed or altitude of the flight. Other than that the JetBlue Crew did a good job of getting us there with little incident, nice job again JetBlue!  Only curious point was the leg room seats, nobody took that option and they stood out prominently, guess you win some you lose some on the extras.  LA History: Did not know there are still 2000 indigenous Indians of Los Angeles still around nor did I know that the Los Angeles City Government of the early 20^th century was one of the most corrupt and ruthless that this country has ever known,  

Los Angeles History seems worthy of a movie even bolder than "Chinatown".  

Current Events: http://www.latimes.com/

Hotel: Marriott Marina del Rey

Noteworthy Activities: Runyon Canyon, West Hollywood, 

We hit LA buzzing, got in on time off the flight at 4pm and was set for a quick unpacking and a night on the town , but immediately we hit a couple of small bumps.  Jet Blue did not have a direct flight from Las Vegas to LA so we had to land in Long Beach, Airport.  No worries, only about a 30-45 minute drive to LA.  The first bumpy part though was the Hertz rental, thought JetBlue had a great discount, but turned out to be just a regular 10% one.  We won’t blame JetBlue totally because we did not do our homework on this one, just thought the discount was of the 30% nature.  Let us know if we missed something here.  The second bump was we did not purchase a GPS, thought the Iphone4 GPS should suffice.  And It would have had one of us (Eric) remembered that you had to manually enable your GPS to have it as a viable optionJ  Our 45 minute drive turned into an hour and 45 minute odyssey, but we did get there in one piece and in good spirits.

Marriott Marina del Rey

The Marriott is a beautiful hotel just overlooking the Marina and about 3 blocks from Washington Boulevard which leads directly to the beach. The room we booked faced the marina and the hotel also had a club right in the lobby called Glow ,it was basically a outside a lounge  with beautiful courtyard fire pits.  


The Hotel was great, and Glow was tempting, but we both had plans to go out with friends and see the sights, so we unpacked quickly, freshened up and hit the rather cool night air (what’s up with that by the way?, both LA and Vegas were chilly, low 60’s high 50’s in early morn and night).  

Eric

the first night we hung out with my friend Steve Kimbrough, a real free spirit,  I think the term "Flying by the seat of your pants" was invented for SteveJ Steve was going to be a great guide, a former stand up comedian now turned freelance producer/promoter he knew of a lot of places to go.  I met Steve about ten years ago when we both lived in the same nabe in NYC, we been good buds ever since and when he moved to LA 7 years ago we stayed in touch.  The first night in LA was a blast, Steve took us to Hollywood Boulevard and we hit a few places most notably Lucky Strike Bowling Alley and Restaurant. We hung out there and enjoyed the food and atmosphere, we didn’t bowl though….next time J  


Venice Beach 

The next day we hit Venice Beach, a beautiful and famous area where many flock daily to get their signature California tans and a cup of mellow.  We got our toes wet in some sand and also rented two bikes.  Theres nothing like riding the beach on a sunny day.  The day was just beautiful everybody was out and about and enjoying themselves.  Man, its hard to believe this is the way it is everyday out here in LA!  We rode up past Venice Beach about twenty minutes to Santa Monica Pier.







Santa Monica Pier is sort of like a small version of Coney Island in NYC. Ferris wheel, arcade, boardwalk and some trinket vendors.  

Santa Monica Pier

The twenty minute bike ride to and from the pier was just great and the day was perfect, we spent the majority of the morning walking the beach and shop hopping the famous Venice Beach Market.

A Bromantic Evening

After our day at the beach we but decided to split up so Kelynn could reconnect with her pal for a Girls Day/Night Out.  That of course would leave me with a chance to see my friend Steve again for a "Guy Night" out. 

Kelynn left in the early afternoon to go meet up with her friend and I met up with Steve late afternoon to hit Hollywood again.  This was going to work out great as I also had a friend Al Thompson  who is a Actor/Producer/Director.

Al lives in LA now, but maintains a residence just down the street from where I live in NYC. Met Al two years ago, the guy is pretty prolific in film, but he is still down to earth, loves sports, especially basketball, and when we play together he never met a shot he didn’t likeJ   Al would connect with us at the Hardrock Cafe later that evening.

Steve picked me up from the Hotel and we drove to Hollywood, about a 60 minute drive with traffic about a 25 minute drive without. LA traffic is definitely no joke but we got there no worse for the wear.  I liked the scene on the strip, can’t beat times square in NYC, but where really canJ  Now on to get something to eat, Steve’s treat.  We went to the Hard Rock and connected with Al, ate heartily (pic) and reminisced  about old times back in NYC. Steve and Al had never met, but believe it or not they were able to collaborate at the Hard Rock on a small project

 thanks to me introducing them of courseJ. 

All in all we had a nice night…hit a few other hot spots like The Highlands Nightclub, Mel's Drive-in, Pinks Hot Dogs and a few places with no namesJ  Along the way we saw some interesting sites, especially on Hollywood Boulevard

I really enjoyed my  boys night out to the fullest before calling it a wrap, but had to wonder what Kelynn had been up to on her Girls day/night out??????


Girl's Day/Night Out

It had been five years since I last visited my college roommate D.L. when she was living in San Francisco. She was the epitome of a great tour guide on that trip. She took me to the vineyards of Sonoma valley, Ghirardhelli Square, the Haight, Fisherman's wharf, all the while regaling me with interesting stories about the city.  I had a great time back then and couldn't wait to see what she had up her sleeve now that she was living in L.A. It would be a challenge however, because we only had one afternoon. But D.L., being a woman who knows how to rise to the occasion, picked me up just after 1pm and we hit the ground running for an abbreviated yet fantastic time in Los Angeles.  

Runyon Canyon: Running with McConaughey?

We started out in Runyon Canyon, a popular and scenic spot for folks to hike the trail for exercise. It is a steep and windy path that twists up to mountain peaks that overlook the entire city of Los Angeles. You can see for miles, and off in the distant catch a glimpse of the famous Hollywood sign. D.L. told me that it is not uncommon to have a celebrity sighting during your daily workout up there.  Mathew McConaughey and Adrien Grenier have both been spotted here.  The scenery was amazing, the homes along the winding roads were gorgeous and tucked away in the little nooks and crannies of the mountain. When we reached the top I was stunned at just how beautiful the view was, however my knees started to knock from the height. The hill top seemed to be the size of a pin point with rocky slopes dropping off hundreds of feet at both sides! If you don't mind the heights, hiking these trails is a great workout. I had the sweat to prove it. In fact, you may not even realize that you are burning off calories because the air is so crisp and the view so breathtaking. Me? Well, I didn't realize I was exercising because I was too busy looking for Matthew McConaugheyJ 

Beverly Hills: Where are Kim Kardashian…and  Brenda Walsh?

I grew up during the first generation of 90210; back in the Brenda, Brandon, Dylan and Donna days. Somehow, two decades later, being full grown and completely sane, I still rode past that Beverly Hills sign expecting to run into Brenda Walsh. Ridiculous…(oh and for all who don’t know Brenda Walsh, she was the leading role that the notorious “bad girl” Shannon Doherty played in the series) 

Beverly Hills is the home to Sprinkles, the first cupcake bakery in the world. Both D.L. and I are cupcake junkies, so we went there to get our fix. D.L. says the place is so popular the line usually stretches down the block and around the corner. Apparently Kim Kardasian loves cupcakes and has been to Sprinkles. No one on that line even looked like Kim K, but there were a few Jennifer Anniston doppelgangers. I got a Red Velvet cupcake with creamy cream cheese icing and a Vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting.  Delicious.  

We drove around Beverly Hills and rode along Rodeo Drive. I was texting Eric at the time with a quick note when D.L. told me I was sure to miss Rodeo Drive if I even looked at my phone. That is how I learned that Rodeo Drive was only about three short luxurious blocks long.  I suppose it's like when tourists come to New York City and imagine that "Fifth Avenue" stretches for miles like the Yellow Brick road, when in fact the section known for its opulence and luxury is only a few blocks in radius. I later learned that name of this street comes from the original name for this area, El Rodeo de las Aguas, a gathering place back in the 1700's where water was abundant. 

As we weaved in and out of the city by car, D.L. told me that Beverly Hills is one of, if not the only neighborhood, in Los Angeles that marks its area limits with a sign. That famous sign. I saw that sign at every road that led us in or out of the famous Beverly Hills. 

The Grove: Don't Stalk Brad Pitt!

The Grove is a gorgeous outdoor mall with a beautiful fountain at its center that's home to several vibrant orange Koi fish. There's a farmers market where you can get fresh produce, meats, cheese, coffee, wines, and can then sit down and enjoy a meal at one of their many eateries. Before we arrived, D.L. warned me that Brad Pitt sometimes comes to The Grove to shop and that no one speaks to celebrities here, but that everyone just lets them be.  I have to be honest there was no Brad Pitt, but there were some hunky fire fighters who showed when one of the fire alarms went off. J Staff in black uniforms were setting up tables on a lush lawn in the center of the square. D.L. said they use that area to hold concerts and events. Tonight they were setting up for Fashions Night Out.

Hollywood Walk of Fame….Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

In contrast to Rodeo Drive, one section that threw me for a loop in terms of its long length was The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Those stars on the sidewalk went on forever and ever and ever.  For some reason, I thought it was a small area in front of Mann's Chinese Theater where a few stars twinkled to commemorate Hollywood's most beloved, but in reality it stretches for 15 blocks. It also includes several empty stars that line the streets waiting for their time to shine and carry the names of future noteworthy entertainers. 

Youngwood Court:  Too Many Davids

We were headed up towards D.L.'s home when we passed a house that caught my attention so suddenly and unexpectedly that I almost got whiplash. Out of my peripheral vision I saw this Grecian looking home that was blindly white and uniquely decorated. About 17 white statues of The David stood along a circular driveway while filigree gates and window guards laced the building. Who the heck lived here?! Well, of course D.L. knew. The story goes that a music producer named Norwood Berry Young bought the house painted it white and put 17 provocative statues of The David in the yard. His neighbors were appalled and took him to court. Mr. Young by contrast believed that he had done the neighborhood a great service with his styling. Upon researching more about this guy I learned that he had quite a history of family and celebrity drama. What an interesting character

The Warehouse at Marina Del Rey

By the time dinner rolled around we were exhausted. We had planned on a big girl's night out dinner in L.A. but were both too pooped and decided to find someplace close to my hotel so I could crash quickly after. We agreed on The Warehouse, a seafood restaurant in Marina del Rey, that was tucked away behind a small forest of palms trees, with a small lagoon and bridge in the front. We sat towards the back of the restaurant looking out at the boats on the pier. What an excellent choice. The food was delicious, the drinks superb, the conversation magnificent and the service excellent. They even had heating lamps which warmed the chilled night air. And just when we were about to leave we heard the sounds of Salsa coming from the inside of the restaurant. Curious, we went inside and found couples dancing their hearts out.  Before I knew it, I felt a hand grab mine and whip me out onto the dance floor. It wasn't long before those Salsa lessons I took years ago came rushing back to me.  I laughed out loud and danced with abandon for a dance or two. I thanked my dance partner (who I learned was a Frenchman named Pierre) and headed back to the hotel. By now I was tired, happy and ready to hit the sheets. 

How We Doing

We are doing well, our trip to Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier was great, but it is obvious we enjoyed our time apart in LA.  The time spent with friends was amazing, just hanging and getting into adventures with them was a good break.  To be honest when the two of us are together it’s a coordination and a compromise on what to do, but when we are with friends we can let them lead and kind of just relax.  We are not saying we are tense, just that the time with friends gave us a chance to recharge our batteries and be refreshed for our continued journey together.  The moral to this story is…  absence might make the heart grow fonder, but there is no question some absence can make trips more funJ

To Live And Get By in LA?

LA is the film capital of the world, a city of make believe and dream seekers.  It was absolutely a great scene, a great time and we met some great people, but amongst all the shine were some things that caused us concern, things that were not easily seen amongst the sunshine, beaches and bright lights.  Things like homelessness amongst those carefree easy seeming beach dwellers and things like runaways, pimps and prostitutes in downtown LA.



What is the point of us highlighting this in our blog when every big city has these problems?  Well, every big city does have these issues, but LA puts make up on its warts better than any city we have ever been to.  LA lulled us into a feeling of bliss and calm, was that a good thing, we don’t know, but we just wanted to share a different perspective…so just be advised if you come out here and fall in love with the scene and start thinking of relocating, just know that it looks easier than it is… to live and get by in LA.

Learning Las Vegas!

Dates:      September 7- September 10, 2010 


JetBlue Flight: 5 hours, but felt more like two. Smooth and easy

Weather: Reports said it would be 100 degrees, but it was actually more like 70. We were so cold. Thank goodness for those JetBlue jackets!


Current Events: http://www.lvrj.com/

Hotel: The Mirage

Noteworthy Activities: The Gun Range, Left of Center Art Gallery, The Cravings Buffet

At first, our Las Vegas plans were to hit the casinos, walk the strip and see the night life. But both of us had been to Las Vegas before and were already bored with that game plan before we even got there. So we decided to go off the beaten path and look for some unique things that might show us a different side to Las Vegas. Turns out we would both learn that Las Vegas is much more than gambling and casinos. 

Vegas History 

We learned some very interesting facts about Sin City while planning our trip to Vegas. We did not know about the plight of the Paiutes Indians or the role that Mormon gangsters played in forming the city, yeh Mormon Gangsters!  Or, how real life mobsters helped desegregate the casinos. Las Vegas History is worth checking out. 

The Mirage: Seeing is Believing

You can get a better bang for your buck at the Mirage. In the past we have stayed at other hotels including the Bellagio, but to the Mirage's credit you can get more for your dollar there.

Mirage entrance

Entrance to casino

Fish at the concierge

Beautiful Waterfall

The Food: It's a Real Gamble

Food in Las Vegas can be summed up in one word “Overrated”.  Las Vegas food is expensive and from what I experienced during this trip average at best.  Even room service is not guaranteed to satisfy (I ordered roast chicken that was drier than the Nevada desert).  I would recommend any traveler really pick carefully or stick to the buffets if you can. The Mirage had a nice one called Cravings. It truly was the most enjoyable of all the places we ate in Vegas. We got to pick from a variety of options, beverages were part of the deal and it was for  just one reasonable price.  Pick a nice clean buffet and skip the disappointment.     

You might just get the cravings for Cravings

Buffets: Pick what you want and leave the rest

American Shooters Gun Range

American Shooters Gun Range

Eric Says:

The first stop on our Las Vegas adventure was The American Shooters Gun Range.  I have been to American Shooters several times in my visits to Vegas and I enjoy the experience of handling, loading, firing a gun; just getting my aggression out. The political aspects of gun ownership is for each person to decide for themselves. I will say though I am for gun ownership, but also in favor of gun control…ok, nuff on that.  My desire to come to American Shooters had more to do with Kelynn than getting my “Charles Bronson” fix.  I know that Kelynn had never shot a weapon before and that maybe it would be an interesting experience since it was outside of her comfort zone, so I encouraged her to go with me. The effect it had on her... well, let's just say it's a trip she won't forget anytime soon.

Kelynn says:

I had never fired a gun before or even held one in my hand so by the time we arrived at American Shooters I was curious about this new experience. We walked in, passed the store and headed back towards the gun range. Immediately my eye was drawn to a cornucopia of deadly weapons hanging on display; revolvers, machine guns and rifles. Eric asked for one of the largest hand guns and we wound up with two glock .45's. The  attendant gave us a lesson on how to hold the gun, pack a magazine and load the weapon safely. As Eric filled out the paperwork, I saw three women wearing tight skirts and 4-inch heels come out of the shooting range with machine guns pointed in the air and paper targets riddled with bullets dangling at their sides. They were some real live Charlie's Angels. 

I began to think....too much. All these weapons. All this ammunition. All these different personalities walking into this place and asking for a rifle…an Uzi. What if someone goes crazy right here? Stop thinking. Just learn to point and shoot.  The attendant came into the range with me and walked me through the drill of loading the magazine. The magazine held thirteen 45-caliber bullets, but the coiled spring got real tight at ten. I clicked the clip…it sounded just like in the movies. I was ready to take my first shot.

I looked at my target; a diamond right between the eyes. I squeezed the trigger and a blaze of fire flashed before me. The bullet seared through the paper target. I was a good shot.  

I fired again. again. again. again. again. seven more times.  The glock's chamber popped open signaling that my magazine was empty. 

My nerves were shot. Adrenaline raced. Shell casings littered the ground like peanut shells at the circus. The smell of gun powder wafted through the air. 

The attendant came to check on me. He warned me that the shell casings could fly out of the gun and bounce down my shirt if I stood too close to the wall. They are very hot to the touch he said. I backed away and he told me I would be fine. 

By this time, my heart was beating out of my chest and I didn't want to shoot anymore,  I had had enough. The attendant wasn't going to let me off the hook that easily. He grabbed my magazine, loaded it with lightning speed and handed it back to me.  "Try again", he said.  I was shaking. Is this what they called "shell shocked". 

BANG….BANG…..BANG….breath, breath, breath…..BANG….. breath, breath…BANG.  

A shell casing flew out, hit the wall and bounced right down my shirt and got trapped.  It burned like a heavy splatter of frying pan grease… times 30.  My God...

I turned my shirt around. The V-neck now faced in the back. I gave it one more go. Breath and BANG... Breath and BANG.  My own disjointed rhythm now joined the thunderous and rapid explosions from the more seasoned shooters around me.  I hit my target, over and over and over again. I am a good shot. I am a really good shot. I began to think again...too much. What if someone were hit by these bullets? People have been hit by these bullets.  Stop…Thinking.  Just stop thinking.  BANG. BANG…..You have learned to point and shoot. 


I can't say it wasn't somewhat satisfying to learn that I was a decent shot. But how could I be so good at it and feel so bad? American Shooters was a unique experience. However I don't think I will be firing a gun again anytime soon. This experience just reconfirmed that I am still the pacifist that I always knew I was. 

Left of Center Art Gallery: A Rose in the Desert

About 15 minutes and 9 miles from the Las Vegas strip sits an unassuming, white, rectangular building with windows so high up from the street that you can't possibly see inside. If I hadn't already seen a picture of the Left of Center Art Gallery on the internet we would have driven right past it. This modest, unadorned structure gives no outward indication of the artistic oasis that lies inside. 

As an artist myself, I came to Las Vegas thirsty to learn about the art scene in a city known for glitz, girls and gambling. It seemed at first that in Las Vegas, the term "art gallery" was synonymous with tattoo parlor. But after doing some research we found the Left of Center Art Gallery.  We would soon discover that this arts organization was one of the few refuges for local artists and those looking to enjoy the contemporary visual arts. 

Left of Center's owner is a woman named Vicki Richardson. A skilled artist in her own right, she opened the gallery 20 years ago after noticing a need for artistic representation in Las Vegas. 

Permanent Collection of African Art

The gallery's Art Director Mary Lou Evans graciously gave us a tour of the building's many colorful and vibrant spaces; a room that housed a permanent collection of African Art, a contemporary gallery currently showing the works of Orlando Montenegro, a huge studio space where artists use the space to create, commune or just celebrate each other's artistic energy. 


A downstairs gallery held the works of artist Harold Bradford. And just when I thought the tour was complete, Mary Lou led us into yet another large space where a spectacular array of paintings depicting several musicians like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie were propped up on easels. She told us that the University of Nevada Las Vegas had asked the gallery to compile a collection of artworks that the school would display on loan at one of its events. 

Artist Studio Space

Artist's Palette

Studio Space

Left of Center Art Gallery

I asked Mary Lou about the art scene in Las Vegas. She told me that unlike New York,  and L.A. people in Las Vegas are just not as interested in the visual arts, making it a challenge to promote the arts in this city. From my vantage point, the folks at Left of Center seemed extremely committed to maintaining the small community that they have created. Their galleries are fresh, current and beautiful. Their energy is uplifting. Their passion is palpable. There's no doubt that our our trip to Left of Center proved to be right on target. 


Check out Left of Center on Facebook for up-to-date details on gallery openings and events.  

One Las Vegas Local's Opinion

We had limited time in Las Vegas, but between our planned activities we also tried to connect with some of the people of the city.  We were hoping to talk to those who were actually born and raised in Las Vegas to find out how the city had transformed over the years. This was a harder task than we expected. We found that most of the people we encountered had been transplants, people who had migrated to Vegas. By chance, on our way back from the art gallery, we began talking to this engaging cab driver who had some great insights on the culture of Vegas, having been born and raised in the city.  Our cab driver Ray, was born near the strip in the mid 50’s and he had seen it all.  He had seen the vast expansion of the Casinos that had displaced him and his family. He also explained how the dominance of the Casino economy crippled many other aspirations of industry in Las Vegas.  Ray felt that the local population was merely being geared to be workers for the vast gambling complex from birth to the grave. 

Ray had seen the real estate boom and had felt the crush of the crash, as Las Vegas currently is the foreclosure capital of United States.  Before we get too far let me just say…Ray was not bitter, he was engaging, passionate and a delightful man, he just had some well earned reservations about how his home town had evolved over the years. Ray was also reliable and gave us his cell phone number in case we ever needed a cab in a pinch. We used him several times in our stay and we thoroughly enjoyed his dry wit and resilience in the face of his circumstances.  Ray’s view was of course not the only local residents view of Las Vegas, but it was the most intriguing one and for that I thank him.






How We Doing? Las Vegas

As we go from City to City or Country to Country we are sure those who read this blog would like to know what’s it like between the two of us, not just how we find our surroundings but how we find each other’s company.  This section will be called “How We Doing”

We had a blast. We got to see Sin City in many different forms and collaborate on writing this blog. At times it was fun at times a source of conflict. We had to decide when we should write and subsequently when we should go out and live it up. This sounds easier than it was to navigate, but we somehow got both done constructively if not smoothly.

We also had to decide where we should eat, when we should eat, how we should eat, healthy or junk, quick or sit down, what shows to catch or when to catch some sleep, when and where to exercise, etc.  Decisions.. decisions… decisions… that was the major issue in Vegas, but one decision we both agreed upon was what a great decision we made to come together on this month long trip and that’s the only decision that really means anything in the long run.

Leaving Las Vegas

Time to check out. We got an extended check out at no extra charge and left at 1:30 pm. We had a 10 minute cab ride to the airport for a 2:52pm flight to LA. We could either take a shuttle which is about 7 dollars, a private car which is about 35 dollars or a taxi which is about 15 dollars. We chose a taxi;  private, reliable and not too expensive.  


We recommend using a good taxi service in the Las Vegas area. If you get a driver you like, get their cell number and stick with them throughout the trip.  Traffic was no problem, as the airport is very close to the strip. We checked in quickly, no hassles and no worries,





Goodbye Sin City soon to say Hello to Tinsel Town!