Posts Tagged Santa Monica
Weekend in the sun
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels on 090914
I never learn. Years ago, in my mid-teens, I visited the Algarve coast with my family. My skin wasn’t used to the strength of the Portuguese sun and I received a serious burn on my face. Ever since my nose light up as a signal light every time the sun peak out. I’m usually good using 30 SPF on my face, but this past weekend, in Los Angeles, I forgot – again.
I was walking like I often do in the weekend. Saturday spent along the Pacific coast down to Venice. It’s been a while since I walked all the way down. Strolling with the alternative crowd. Window-shopping on Abbot Kinney, having a nice cup of coffee and enjoying Mew’s new album on my iPod.
Sunday I headed north, on the bluff along Ocean. Up towards Pacific Palisades, an area I hadn’t walked before, just driven through. It’s nice. I enjoyed finding something new to explore. Headed back over to Montana and had a great lunch at R+D Kitchen while watching the Bills – Giants game.
It was a relaxing, quiet weekend in the sun before the hectic week ahead.
The return of E3
What a relief to look over the Pacific Ocean after days in the desert heat. As always, it felt good to be back in California. This time to attend the annual E3 show downtown Los Angeles.
Santa Monica. I always stay down by the sea when I visit LA. The view of the ocean, the possibility of actually walking around – a rare thing in this city – and the opportunity of a morning jog on the beach are too good reasons to change that pattern. I’ve been on a good work out routine lately and was pretty bummed that I missed my exercise as my bag was on route to some random destination earlier in the week. At Loews, where I often stay, I got the chance to make up for lost time. It felt good.
Over the years I’ve acquired a decent understanding of LA. Friends in the city have been so very kind driving, and showing me around to the different neighborhoods – for something I’m ever so grateful, in case I don’t say it enough. In turn I end up being a mini-guide for follow visitors. It’s a city with so much to offer, it would be interesting to actually spend a longer period of time – to experience that too. I know it would be different, but not how.
E3 used to be the biggest tradeshow in LA. Three days where the video/computer games industry pounded its chest and celebrated its existence. After the 2006 show, which was humongous, it was decided to scale down the event. The following two years were nothing less than disastrous, so it was with a happy heart I saw some of the past promise return this year. It was great to hang out and chat with peers, friends and new acquaintances in the industry as well – all in all a very good week.
When in LA there’s always a good chance to meet or at least see people who normally are fifteen feet tall on the silver screen. Watching James Cameron talk about Avatar, Pele about a new football game, standing next to Steven Spielberg on the show floor and sitting next to Megan Fox enjoying a Jerry Seinfeld performance was my star struck moments of the week. It was fun.
California
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels, Work on 090329
I’ve always liked California. Flying in, stepping out of the terminal with a feeling of anticipation of what the visit will bring never fails. And most of the time the warmer air does the trick too. This time however I stepped out of LAX and froze. It was much colder than in Beijing. Almost 10 degrees (Celsius) difference – and I, how was looking forward to warmer weather.
Spent a few relaxing days in Santa Monica. Enjoyed myself under the grey skies and cold wind. Visited Samy’s of course and walked out with a new beauty, used it well after. New for me this time was visiting Palos Verdes. On the south side of Los Angeles, this beautiful peninsula was well worth the drive down. I also stocked up at Whole Foods Market. I wish we had that store back home.
The following week I spent in San Francisco – a very hectic week. Flew in for the annual GDC (Game Developers Conference). In preparation of this week I suffered a case of extreme meeting booking syndrome and during my days in the City I paid for it. Over 40 meetings in four days, phew… It went well, but I slept eleven hours straight after the last day.
I did get some time to enjoy life outside the conference scene as well. Had a marvelous meal at Beretta (23rd/Valencia) in the Mission. The worlds best Tuna Melt, and great tour of Pacific Heights and Marina and some time under a warm sun. Great weather the whole week – the way it should be.
Touch me
Sitting on a plane over the Atlantic on my way home. Looking down the aisle and through the thin dividing curtain I see chocolate sauce being poured over scoops of ice cream – nice – for those sitting down there.
Gotcha Harry
But young Potter did not slip through. Standing in a looooong line with kids of all ages for the midnight sale here in Santa Monica I picked up my copy of the seventh book ending the tale of Hogwarts and the faith of… Well, we just have to see don’t we.
Slipping through my fingers
I had it in my hand. I want to play, but they wouldn’t let me. I tried, god I tried for days. Talking with customer service representatives here and there. On the phone, net and in the store… Without a social I was lost. Maybe it’s for the best. Better to wait till the one-point-five or the two-point-zero version to be out. I know there are ways to get around the code to use the little marvel without the telephone connectivity. But i’m not looking for that. I’ll have to wait. C’est la vie.
City of angles
I’m very fortunate. Over the past years I’ve made numerous visits to California. With help from local friends and business associates I’ve gotten to know the city quite well over the years and it is truly a fascinating, frustrating, enormous, diverse place.
After loosing my glasses in London last week I spent quite sometime up and down Montana looking for some new frames. Typically enough I ended up buying the first I saw, after looking through all the other stores to confirm my initial thought. Can’t wait to get new prescription glass inserted when I return to Norway. Not too fond of wearing contacts – They itch. The rest of the day was spent on Melrose, at Samy’s (second only to B&H in New York) and got a new lens – yay, the Grove and Farmers Market and of course back to Santa Monica where I like it the most.
Many years ago my brother and I rented the first Superman movie. We were staying with our dad for the weekend and we watched the film over – twenty – times! On the second day we new all the lines by heart, saying them out loud before the actors. Thinking back it’s just amazing how patient our dad was that weekend. I watched the new film this week, and I liked it. Looking forward to see it again at Colosseum in Oslo, my favorite movie theater.
This has been my fifth visit to California this year. Not sure I’ll return again before the sun turns. Work will send me to the other side of the globe in the months to come – but you never know, I for sure wouldn’t mind =)
Travel log – Los Angeles
Over the past days I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve visited and experienced many new places around Los Angeles, too many to mention them all. Following are the some main “attractions”. So without further ado…
The Getty Center is place I’ve been wanting to visit for years but never had, or given myself the time to drive up there. Built almost ten years ago for a pile of money it sits on top of not one, but two mountains overlooking Los Angeles. Well, I don’t really agree on the mountain theory, I’d call them hills but the tour guide was very persistent. I’ll let it pass, for now. It’s not the art collection that hits you when you first walk into the center, It’s the architecture. Beautiful, clean, limestone buildings following the axis of either the 405 or LA street grid. I’m too lazy to go into details why. Send me a mail if you are interested, or better yet, go on the architectural tour yourself. The Getty Center is well worth the visit.
Malibu. “Small” summerhouses. Surfers. Fun at the beach. Had a wonderful brunch at Geoffrey’s overlooking the Pacific. The sun was blistering. Like a dream.
The Huntington Library is not only a library but a fantastic botanical garden with samples and themes from all over the world. Walk through the rose garden down to the Japanese garden. Sit down, exhale. Ahhh.. You can walk for hours on this private property. Californian rail mogul, Huntington bought this property at the turn of the last century and landscaped a quite remarkable oasis. The art collection, presented in the main building, did not floor me, but the library is worth visiting.
When visiting Huntington, you drive to Pasadena. I’ve always had the impression that Pasadena was a name on the map, and nothing more. And I was, as often before, very wrong. Old town Pasadena is a good place for a stroll. Nice cafes, restaurants, galleries and shops. Pasadena also has a long motorcycle tradition, which I learned a bit of when buying a vintage biker jacket from the fifties. It’s sooo cool. Vroom, vroom.
Drive down south from Santa Monica, past Marina del Rey and you’ll arrive in Manhattan beach. The beach volleyball capitol of.. Somewhere. The many many nets on the beach proved that there are more than a little interest in running around punching a ball in the air. Also a local ice-cream vendor has one of the best milkshakes in mankind, the real deal. Wonderful.
I’m not sure how many times I’ve visited Santa Monica. Not a few. Probably more than twenty, and over the years I’ve never visited Main Street. Well, that’s not exactly true. I spent an evening at Circle Bar five, six years ago, but I don’t remember much of that evening… Anyways. It’s pretty amazing/pathetic that I, only a four minute drive, or twenty-minute walk from Third Street, have not treaded a street before now. And it’s a shame, because it’s a nice place with bars, cafes, restaurants and shops, really nice shops. Hardly any big retail chains, but lots of small boutique stores. Needless to say, I walked away with a few bags.
I must mention Urth Café, the ideal place for tasty, fresh, healthy food. I will return, and return.
I’m very glad I’ve learned a bit more about this enormous city. Every time I find something new, but this visit has been a leap into the pool that is Los Angeles.
Travel log – Los Angeles
Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles. (Frank Lloyd Wright)
“72 and sun, sun, sun” Steve Martin exclaims as the weatherman in LA Story. It’s not always true but for the most part, yes it is very sunny. And how I enjoy it. I arrived in LA eight days ago. Purpose of the visit; E3. Seventy thousand visitors makes this three day extravaganza the largest entertainment event in the world. Forget Cannes film festival and Popkomm. This is the venue for fun and, of course, games. True the games industry lack the star factor of the film and music but it’s getting there, ever so slowly.
As with every major city in the world I could fill pages upon pages with impressions. Over time I’m sure I’ll do just that, but for now I’ll focus this travel log on Santa Monica.
Santa Monica, west of Los Angeles, on the beach looking out over the Pacific. This is the place a put my head to rest whenever I visit the city of angels. It’s cooler, the air cleaner and you can move around without a car. The car being the shoe of every Angelenos. The city, or better yet, collection of cities are so wast that there is no way you can live without a car. Thus traffic is bad and distances long. A two hour commute to work is not unheard off. Spend some time on the 405 in the morning and Michael Douglas character in “Falling down” comes to mind. If I ever move to this city I need a bad ass sound system to keep me sane on the road.
It’s bliss to get down to the seafront after a long day working in downtown Los Angeles.
And starting the day walking and/or running along the beach should be a human right. For a guy born and raised in the north, where the sun is only truly warm for a quarter of the year its truly fantastic. I love the sea, and gazing out over the pacific day or night is very soothing.
Santa Monica pier. The ferries wheel. You’ve seen it in numerous films. I’m not to fond of it. Too many people. Too plastic fantastic. It’s the kind of place which is nice to visit once, early in the morning.
Third street promenade. Five, six blocks with shops, restaurants, entertainment, lots of people and no cars. nice. Touristy, but it’s a good place to hang out on your first visit.
I love smoothies, and you get no better than at California Squeeze in Santa Monica Place. I have a few traditions when I travel and a their strawberry banana smoothie is one of them. Every time I’ve visited Los Angeles over the past 10 years I’ve bought at least one. Love it.
That’s all for now. More on Santa Monica and other parts of Los Angeles later – I’ll do better next time. promise.
