Tag ArchiveEverywhere Once |

Artful L.A.

by Shannon on March 22, 2013 in California, Travel, United States

The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA

L.A. museums get a bum wrap. While researching things to do there, I noticed message board commenters often recommended that out-of-towners take in the city’s museums before immediately adding a caveat. Almost by way of apology, it seemed, they would note that the museums were worth a visit “but” weren’t as impressive as those in other cities like New York.

While it’s true that many museums fall short in a head-to-head with New York’s legendary Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles has plenty to offer art lovers. Here are three museums well worth a visit…on their own merit. And in addition to impressive artwork, both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center have an added bonus that Manhattan museums do not: Pacific Ocean views.

Griffith Park

by Brian on March 20, 2013 in California, Travel, United States

One of the things we love about the West coast is how much its residents seem to love their open spaces. During our time in L.A.’s Griffith Park, we estimated that locals outnumbered us visitors by at least three to one. We understand the attraction.

Hollywood Cheese

by Brian on March 18, 2013 in California, Travel, United States

If we were going to be serious about stalking L.A. celebrity sites, and why wouldn’t we be, we couldn’t leave town without taking a trip to Hollywood Boulevard. After all, most celebrities of any stature have made their own pilgrimage up the red-carpeted Boulevard to the Dolby Theater on Oscar night.

Desperately Stalking Dexter

by Brian on March 15, 2013 in California, Travel, United States

Someone once asked us how we choose the things we do in the various places we visit. In some ways, I think that question has it backwards; the things we do largely choose us.

We’re fortunate in that we really do enjoy most activities and environments. In cities we’ll busy ourselves with architecture, museums, culture, and history. Elsewhere we’ll go hiking, or caving, or kayaking, or, really whatever happens to seem interesting at the moment. In short, we’ll do whatever there is to do in whatever location we happen to be. More than us choosing things to do, we mostly let each destination decide for us.

That is precisely how we ended up standing in front of a pink house at 3319 E. 1st Street, in Long Beach, CA.

Peace, Yo

by Brian on March 13, 2013 in California, Travel, United States

When Lithuanian born artist Jacques Lipchitz dedicated his masterwork Peace on Earth at Los Angeles’ Music Center he set a high standard for success. Of the ten-ton bronze statue depicting a dove delivering the spirit of peace to the world he said: “if peace does not come, it is bad sculpture.”

With those nine words Mr. Lipchitz both understated his accomplishment and simultaneously overstated the ability of art to affect human nature. Perhaps it would have been more fitting, albeit less hopeful, to call it a perpetual work in progress.