Secret Stairs - Old Hollywood Revisted

This post has been sitting in the "draft" section far too long now. This Secret Stairs walk was a repeat of the very second one we ever did... and it will not be the last. Traipsing all over the original Hollywood hills neighborhoods, this is easily one of the more difficult walks, with some of the most beautifully shaded cases

In 2010 we did our first secret stairs walk, which led to enough enjoyment to continue, but this second walk was what really opened my eyes to what Los Angeles was really hiding in her canyons. These neighborhoods were stunning and so fully of vegetation.

The above picture is the approach to one of the stair cases. If you can look closely at the top portion of the picture, on the left side, you can see tiny steps where the case continues. The two pictures below are from the mid point & nearing the top of the steps. Just one of many...

Wonderful scenes off the busy boulevards.

Over time we have come to trust the author of Secret Stairs (book), he tends to have travelers hike a large case, but then wander around the neighborhood in flat sections before tackling the next arduous battle of 1920s concrete.

I tend to fall behind on these walks b/c there is just too much to take photos of while out and about. There is a perfect blend in many of the neighborhoods of strong colors, odd shapes, flora & breath-taking architecture.

The picture below is of a famous staircase, it has two sides to it, one fore traffic going up, the other for people going down. Alas, it is so steep there are concrete benches built into it from day one. Local residents have fashioned an abacus type contraption to count their accents of the case while exercising on this beast (seen below).

Georgette likes all things cat oriented.

Did I mention there were large numbers of shaded stair cases on this walk? We also managed to take a wrong turn at the very same point as the first trip. Back on the path we slowly descended out of the old 1920s Hollywood hills.

Back to our concerns of the modern world.

Hollywood Sign Hike w/ Londoners

Isn't it fun when people come to visit? My long lost 'across the pond' friend Peyman, who hosted myself while traveling Europe, & his good friend were visiting from London for a few days. We had seen Venice, had drinks & done other various bits and pieces through the city. In an attempt to get out of the hustle, while still right in the middle of it, we made a trip up the trail to the famous Hollywood Sign.

We set out at the teramis of Beachwood Dr amongst the gnarliest cluster of cars I have had to navigate just to hike. After a good ten minutes spinning my car 360 degrees a couple times, we were off at the pace of any person that is not from America.I joke, but travel anywhere else & we are a slow bunch on foot.

 

This was a short 45 minute walk, consistently uphill on dirt fire roads. I would most certainly say to check out directions on the internet b/c the trail does change course a few times onto different fire roads. We jokingly laughed about tourist who would be hiking all through hills and never find the sign in the mid summer heat w/ no water planning on an easy jaunt.

 

Then sure enough, while coming back down the trail, the day was getting warmer & without fail, hoards of tourists in jeans, polo shirts and sandals slowly making their way around the first steep sections of the trail. Smiling and knowing what they were in for, we just kept on.

Hopefully the time my friends spent in Los Angeles was a good one, however after SLO & San Francisco I know it's hard to live up to it in just 3 days. However, they really got to see all the corners of the city and look down on it from the ceiling. Best wishes and say travels to you two!

 

PS. No trip to LA is complete for me w/o a picnic at the Hollyhock house, looking out over Hollywood and the greater LA.

Secret Stairs - Alta Loma Terrace Again

Many of the recent posts on the blog have been chronicles of the adventures had while searching out new neighborhoods in Los Angeles via the book Secret Staircases of LA.



However, this time was unique b/c the people who gave me the book for Christmas last year got to finally join us on a hike, my Mom & Dad.



After about thirteen or so missions into the hills, we decided that the most unique neighborhood we've seen yet was Alta Loma Terrace in Hollywood. Tucked away behind the Hollywood Bowl, this neighborhood is a walk only with no access to cars.



Started in the 1920's, this neighborhood in the hills relies on a private elevator shaft (above), that takes residents from the lower garages, built into the hillside, up to their bungalow style residences.



Along this hike you pass a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, the Samuel Freeman House. This was the first visit I made to the house where there wasn't a car parked out front. Being a little more darning now, the family explored the front yard & peeked into the narrow windows of the outer walls.



Following the long, narrow, overgrown corridors of foliage and hidden homes we became overwhelmed with the hidden qualities of this neighborhood. There is even a home designed by Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright's son that shares the hillside.



Thanks Mom & Dad for the book! It will bring many great adventures.

Secret Stairs - Alta Loma Terrace

This week the Secret Stairs book took us to a really great new neighborhood



This was an area that has homes w/ no cars allowed. The Hollywood hillside is dotted with homes that you can only access by walking through shady over hanging lanes



There is even an elevator built into the hillside for the 30 some odd homes that make up the Alta Loma Neighborhood.



You may even recognize part of the area from The Long Goodbye.

ODDSac - Hollywood Premeire

ASTOUNDING.
Cinerama dome - Los Angeles, CA

Danny Perez directed, visual album teamed with Animal Collective



An all-encompassing experience that is not quite for everyone, but for those few... it's the bees kneees. Coming to DVD soon & select cities for one near you... maybe.

100th Post - Spread the Music

I'll admit I have been a little distracted lately... I have a new creation that is taking off a little, little bit. Lights & Sound is up and waiting for you to pillage its free concert audio download!



I felt it proper timing to spread my blogging wings a little more, this being my 100th successful post on Day in History via... Just take a look back to my first mile stone.



Went off to Amoeba in Hollywood today with the company of Georgette & Collin. I was determined to purchase some good vinyl vibes of the reggae persuasion.

The Wailers Live: Talkin' Blues
King Tubby: Lost Treasures
Lee Perry & The Upsetters
Don Drummond: Best of

Hostel Living

Just over two years ago, I spent sixty some odd days as a traveler. Each day involved a new journey & something amazing new to see, but it also made me aware of my surroundings in a completely unique way. With each day, brought night & a need for a place to rest our eyes. This was where a new world of hostel living entered my life.

Venice Beach Hostel & Hollywood Blvd Hostel

Recently though, I have been noticing around many of the places I frequent here in Los Angeles there are second and third floor hostels in areas I had never even noticed before. I found myself looking up to the windows, barely catching glipses of rickety bunk-beds & kaki clad Europeans on adventures of their own.

Alas, looking up into those same windows I can see my past experiences. The times when I sat on the edge of my bunk, looking out of a forgein window, down at a magnificent city I had only read about in books, or out at the Jungfrau at the foot of the Swiss Alps. I was there. Ready to explore.

Above is a picture of the hostel I stayed in while visiting Interlaken in Switzerland. I only hope the travelers today are enjoying my city as much as I enjoyed theirs.

X-Games Meets Poncho

Last week's vacation was pretty much the greatest (see below post), but this week is shaping up to be pretty good as well. On Monday, my roomate and I went and saw the new XGames 3D movie. It's only out for a week so get to it before Friday! Below is a still of one of my most favorite and innovative skateboards of our time, Mr. Bob Burnquist.

To see Burquist's switch BS180 the mega ramp on the big screen was worth the $16 alone.

It was quite the show of athletic ability... I found myself wondering about the difference in atheles in this modern world. There is the classic sports, such as baseball or basketball, that have seen a proven decline in viewership and participation, but still the individuals seem to make millions of dollars. When on the flip-side you have the ever increasing individual sports like snowboarding, surf, and skateboarding that make so little to get by b/c so so many corporate ties have burdened the sport. I mean really, why do YOU think they added snowboarding to the Olympics years back? Beacause viewership was down...........

Anyways, on to Tuesday's fun....

Streaking underground, carried by two rails, some friends & I were off to Hollywood & Highland for Wine and free Latin Jazz. However, this was not just ordinary latin jazz. It was the grooves & rythms of one of the best in the world, Pancho Sanchez. By the end of the first set there was a decent two or three hundred people watching the event. Good times were had all around.