Missouri

Missouri at the Webb Schools in Claremont, CA

Los Alamos Saloon

J and I got off the 101 Freeway to take a break on our way back from the Bay Area on June 11. We were both entertained by this dog sitting at the door of the saloon.

J and I fought like we have never fought before. I didn't get much sleep. I wish we can stop fighting all the time.

Angeles Crest Highway

I took a ride on the Angeles Crest Highway last Saturday. I proceeded from the foot of the hill at Flintridge to Mt. Wilson (5715 feet). It's one of the most scenic mountain rides in Southern California. The day was crystal clear and I could see downtown LA from about 3,000 feet up. However, after 4,000 ft, cloud covers took over and I was riding in a mixture of fog and really bright sunlight. After visiting the Mt. Wilson Observatory I was too cold to go any higher and headed home for lunch.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles

Jennifer and I visited a old slice of Los Angeles at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles. This is the location where a group of Spaniards from the San Gabriel Mission founded Los Angeles in 1781.

Now the Pueblo is a state park that is commonly known as Olvera Street. The area is composed of a open plaza that houses the Chinese Historical Museum and the Pico House, a former hotel founded by Alta California's last Mexican governor.

On the day we visited, we found a group of dancers doing some kind of Mexican hat dance. We walked the narrow Olvera Street and had a late lunch.

Bimbo bread is like any other sliced white bread. But I think the name is funny.

Jennifer and I visited the Santee Alley, an open air market just a few blocks from our apartment in the Fashion District in downtown LA. Although I wasn't interested in buying anything on the offering there, the neighborhood was interesting. The place was packed with people. It was so crowded that one can only move at a slow pace and try not to bump into the person in front. This isn't the kind of shopping environment I like. But it was worth visiting.

 

Jennifer and I went to the Yucaipa apple country today. We originally were going to the orchard to pick some apples ourselves. But we ended up at the Parrish Apple Shed and really enjoyed their selection of apples, apple products like apple turnovers and apple wines and ciders. It was a pleasant day at 72 degrees and we spent a nice day out of the city.

The Parrish Apple Shed in Yucaipa 

Southern Californians used to get all their apples from San Bernardino County, about 80 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Now Washington State apples dominate the markets. But Southern Cal apple orchards still exist out in Yucaipa.

 

Yucaipa's apple country 

The Apple Dumplins House in Yucaipa's apple country 

Happy Jack

 

Morning @ Silverlake Dog Park

 

I took Jack to play at the Silverlake Dog Park a couple Saturdays ago. We had a lot of fun meeting new dogs from the neighborhood and just relaxing next to the Silverlake Resevoir.

Here we have the dogs greet Jack upon our entry into the park.

 

 

 

Downtown LA buildings are into rooftop neon signs. Many of them simply announce the building's name. Some signs are essentially advertising.

It's ironic to find this sign in a city associated with entertainment and indulgence.

The building in the back is the old United Artist Theater, one of the grand theaters built in downtown during the 1920's. Other grand theaters also line Broaway, including the Orpheum (listed in the photo below), the Los Angeles, the Mayan, the Rialto, etc. Most of them sit empty now In the United Artist's case, it is now used as Universal Cathedral Sunday service location. An outline of the downtown LA Theater District could be found at http://www.gmrnet.com/theaters.html