Secret Stairs of June

So here's to a hot month with good friends dedicated to exploring our fair city. I know this post comes late, but it combines two different outings into one, so the reader has more photos to enjoy.

 

 If there is one thing ingrained into my mind about this walk months later is... "sweating". One time prior we attempted this loop & took a wrong turn, never completing our true objective. This time we were determined to have success.

With careful navigation we made it up to the numerous steps & onto the upper reaches of this thin mountain neighborhood.

 Curving slowly back down, we made sure to double check at each switchback turn to come out with a full work out on this trip.

The second adventure was an old walk with an old friend, for the first time. My friend Keith drove up from San Diego to take some photos & catch up on life.

We dove into the Alta Loma Terrace walk b/c it truly is one of the top five in the book. This was the fourth time walking the long shaded corridors & marveling at the 1930s elevator that accesses the neighborhood. This time was different b/c someone had photocopied & blown up the walk we were on!! (photo above)

After the standard walk we ventured across the street & circled Whitely Terrace for a bit more exploring. This was a really unique neighborhood with steep staircases. The photo below is looking at Alta Loma Terrace from Whitely Terrace. One of the more beautiful views in the cluster of Hollywood.

Ansel Adams & A Look at Downtown

 This Saturday we didn't Run To The Hills to get outdoors, we actually hopped the metro with our skateboards & headed for downtown Los Angeles. The Red Line is a beautiful thing, endless forays into Hollywood, Silver Lake, & downtown at every stop. There is also lots of good tourist watching along this route.

 

Choosing a metro stop close to a scenic part of downtown & allowing for a proper skate to the exhibit, the three of us set off through the streets. Navigating all those enjoying the wonderful March weather in sunny so cal. Managing a few stops along the way to snap a few silver gelatin stills of our own.

Finding the next watering hole above. Eventually Carlos would order the most exotic mixed drink I've ever tried. Something with chili peppers in it...

The exhibit at Drkrm Gallery was quite interesting. A collection of 30 some odd photos from a FORTUNE Magazine commission in 1940. Ranging from Lockheed Martin Plant photos in Burbank, to locations along Venice beach. It was neat to see these photos together & to take in the gallery in such a way that Ansel would be experiencing these photos... somewhat on a weeks stay with another photographer friend. We see photos of that family, the Lockheed plant in their neighborhood. Then groups of day trips to other regions of LA, just planned out to get certain shots for a magazine spread. Just my take on viewing the photos as a larger collection. Almost a city vacation for the photographer from the Sierras and the desolate landscapes that were Adams legacy.

A little bruised with a fair amount of road rash, but still smiling above. I didn't get any shots inside the gallery, but the first photo in this post is a shot from the outside, looking in, with many reflections, if you click to enlarge the photo it may be interesting to see the levels.

Bob Marley Exhibit & More @ Grammy Museum

ABOVE: The house Robert Marley was born & given by his grandmother on Nine Mile St.

Let me start off by saying how much I love LA. There are enough interesting things to see & do for a lifetime and then some in this great city. This post is about the Grammy Museum & how reggae's biggest start has impacted the music world. Keep in mind, there was supposed to to be no photography in the museum. These are all camera phone photos.



There was one point where I liked reggae music, then there was a point that came when I wanted to know ABOUT reggae music. I have spent the last couple years reading, listening & searching out the roots & history of the Caribbean & Jamaican music both folk & tradition reggae.


ABOVE
LEFT: "Judge Not" Robert Marley's first studio release (1963)
RIGHT: "Simmer Down" first pressing - The Wailers (1964)

Along with over twenty amazing photos, the Marley family has donated many many great artifacts from the legacy of Robert Marley's musical career. I felt this was an exhibit that would only help further my knowledge of one of reggae's most prominent figures... w/ neat tid-bits we might not always get to see in the public sphere.


ABOVE: The Kebra Nagast - The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom & Faith from Ethiopia & Jamaica

Much of the backdrop for reggae music is driven by religious & cultural views of the artist. While this is most commonly Rastafarian, there are many different sects w/ that one belief structure that all have different takes on their religion, just as any other culture. When these seep into the lyrics & morals of the songs presented.


(one of many walls)

The Grammy Museum is four floors of amazing interactive history about all different types of popular music history. One floor is dedicated to the last hundred years & also has a wonderful exhibit all about John Lennon. There are many hand written lyrics pieces & letters.


ABOVE: The originally penned lyrics for John Lennon's song Imagine

One of my other favorite portions was the area all about the history of American Jazz. Without going into too much detail, Jazz music history is another area that weaves roots so deep that must be explored over the coming years as well. However, it almost never fails, I find a Jazz artist I like & while looking into their discography I find links & traces to Blue Note Records somewhere.


ABOVE: The first release by Blue Note Records ever.



ABOVE: Daft Punk outfits from Kanye West's music video 'Stronger'


ABOVE
While walking through the entire museum there was a senior group that we talked with a few times & were really enjoying themselves. This older gentleman got down & played some electric drums reggae style. It was great!