A long-billed Curlew searches for lunch just north of Malibu. They migrate from Northern California to winter in Southern California. It was the first full day of autumn, and it seemed only appropriate that we should play hooky by going to the beach and soaking up the vestiges of summer rays. The air was calm …
Drivin’ the I-5
IT WAS OUR FIRST ROAD TRIP since the pandemic, an eight-hour drive from Southern California to the Sacramento area. On the way north, we took I-5 (also known as "The Five" in Southern California parlance). The I-5 can take you from Mexico to Canada (and I've driven the full extent, though not in one trip). …
Rules of the Road for Driving in L.A.
Los Angeles is a big place and in its own world. This is especially true when driving. The rules of the road apply a bit differently to L.A. drivers, so before you roll, it’s good to know what you’re in for. To begin with, those little white lines separating lanes are merely a suggestion. L.A. …
Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees
THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN Los Angeles are empty. The stores are closed. The museums are quiet. The tourists have disappeared. But the wildlife, for the most part, seem quite content to be the only hustle and bustle around. Each morning, when the sun peaks above the skyscrapers to illuminate our little window garden, the bees …
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Watching the clouds go by
This is our view of the tip of the San Gabriel Mountains, touched by a bank of clouds on a recent sunset. This panorama is visible from our apartment in downtown Los Angeles. In the other direction, we can see all the way to Long Beach. On a clear day, we get a tiny glimpse …
Taking time to unwind
One of the disadvantages of working from home is that you are never far enough away from your work to not work. It's always there, right in front of you. So, after about a month of toiling every day, we decided to put the brakes on and break away from it all. We can see …
Hiking L.A.
It is possible to go hiking — in Los Angeles — and get away from it all. Well, almost.
How to Cater to Tourists
Many cities could learn a thing or two from Capetown.
99 Miles From L.A.
If this title does not evoke a melody in your head, well, then thank your lucky stars you missed the schmaltzy tunes of the '70s. The only thing worse than Art Garfunkel chirping away at this song is having it on auto-replay in your brain as you are crawling through the megalopolis of greater Los …