The Streets of Santa Monica

Local blog L.A. Stories is getting ambitious, launching a new web project to document every street in Santa Monica. They’re currently in the “A”s.

The blog’s Don tackles Airport Avenue:

From one corner of Santa Monica to the other, the next stop on my tour of Santa Monica is Airport Avenue which runs along the southern edge of the city separating the airport from Mar Vista. I had expected it to be a rather dull walk, after all, Google Satellite view showed a wasteland of industrial-looking buildings.

But reality turned out to be a bit more interesting. There was a rather tacky faux castle house overlooking the airport on the Mar Vista hill, but also the infamous Santa Monica dog park (out of town dogs must pay for the privilege of cavorting off-leash).

I’m guessing this may be a project that takes a while to complete…

GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2008: 18.3 Miles Later, We Did It!

And you thought we were all crazy! We did it, we hiked 18.3 miles from Union Station to the ocean on a beautiful Southern California Saturday.

For the third annual Great Los Angeles Walk, I chose the longest course yet. And yet we attracted the biggest crowd yet too.

Approximately 150 of us (some say more, some say less, several of us settled at the 150 estimate) gathered early in the day (some had been up super early, parking in Santa Monica and then taking the bus out east) for the event. We started at Union Station at 9 in the morning, and after a quick detour through Olvera Street, made it on to Cesar Chavez Blvd. From there, Cesar Chavez quickly turned into Sunset, and we hiked on, through Echo Park, past Dodger Stadium and on to Silver Lake.

At Sunset Junction, we peeled off onto the start of Santa Monica Blvd. We continued, onward past the Hollywood Freeway (and the former Hollywood Star Lanes site, RIP), and into Hollywood. We scored some free water from the Jackson Hewitt tax prep company, walked past Hollywood Forever cemetery, and into West Hollywood. Groups broke for lunch at several Weho spots… and many of us reconvened right at the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills border at 2 p.m.

From there, we walked the dirt sidewalk of Bev Hills (apparently they’re resurfacing the bike path) and made it to the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire (home to the first walk in 2006!). Several of us walked into the old Trader Vic’s restaurant at the Beverly Hilton, where an auction was taking place — the famed Pickford estate. Furniture, clothes, photos… some reasonably priced (including a menu from a 1930 William Randolph Hearst dinner!). Onward, we passed by Century City and the Mormon temple… and then under the 405, and soon, as we hit Santa Monica, we began to feel the cool ocean breeze.

Santa Monica is always a snap, as the numbered streets help count down to the finish line.

Here’s the crazy part: Some walkers sprinted so fast, they got to the finish by 3:15 (I worry that they didn’t get a real sense of the route, having sped by so fast!) The bulk of us, including me, got to the end between 5 and 5:30 — still faster than last year, when we walked 2.5 miles less, yet got there at the same time. (We were pacing around 20 minutes a mile — check out my Great LA Walk Twitter feed to see.)

A handful of walkers did it right: They got to the end at around 6:30, having taken their time to explore sites along the way. Whatever the pace, most made it to the Britannia Pub after all to toast their feat. And rest their feet.

I’ve uploaded a ton of photos at our Flickr group site: www.flickr.com/groups/greatlawalk. If you were on the walk, feel free to add your pics to the group as well!

And please send me the web addresses to your blog posts and photo collections, we’ll post all the links here, for easy access.

PHOTO STREAMS:

:: Check out the Franklin Avenue shots here.

:: Anthony’s got some great shots here.

:: The Atwater Village Newbies’ shots here, and blog post here.

:: Scott Lowe of Tropico Station fame has some pics here, and a post on the day here.

:: Will Campbell’s shots here.

:: Pamela “Meekorouse” put her pics here.

:: Jeremy Miles (“Beautiful Freaks”) took these shots. He blogs about the adventure here.

:: Sean “Ztainment”‘s shots are here.

:: El Daybeh’s shots are here.

:: Follow Raul’s pics here. He also recaps the day at his blog here. Raul’s crew also gets points for being most creative — re-enacting the number for each mile marker (above, they do “8″s for mile 8 — Martel).

:: Sha in LA’s shots are here.

:: Melanie’s pics are here.

:: See Todd’s shots here. Todd has his blog recap here. He definitely took full advantage of modern technology with the walk!

:: David Johnson’s shots can be found here.

::LA_OC_Foodie has put his pics here.

:: Abby Phoenix has posted her pics here.

:: Pics here by Miss Martini.

:: Three-time Walker WALT! has his pics here.

:: Caroline on Crack’s pics are here, and her blog post here.

:: Scott’s shots are here. These are some of Maria’s faves; Scott has a good eye of details that a lot of us missed!

:: Justin Canada’s pics are here.

:: Joni, the Accidental Yogist, has her recap here.

:: Frenchy But Chic’s blog post is here.

Now, some of my shots from this year’s event:

Part of the crowd gathers in the Union Station courtyard

Signing in

I brief the crowd

Eric Lynxwiler opens with a pep talk

On our way

Leaving Union Station

Passing through Olvera Street

Crossing the 110

It’s Dodger country

Guava for sale

Sounds good to me…

The friendly nun (photo by Anthony)

Super Barack!

Cool old neon sign

Andrea models one of the spiffy Great Los Angeles walk t-shirts — still available at Cafe Press.

The Beautification Team has its work cut out for it

Jimi!

Jackson Hewitt tax folks pass out water

Ask for “Rico”

Hamburglar?

Will Campbell has a message for one of those LAPD spy cameras.

We were tempted, but ultimately decided a Formosa pit stop would steer us off course.

Required Great L.A. Walk wear (photo by Anthony)

Excited to be at the Beverly Hills border

Heading back out for the afternoon portion of the walk — only 8 miles to go!

Beverly Hills City Hall (photo by Anthony)

R.I.P., Trader Vic’s! (photo by Anthony)

Live webcast hosts monitor the Pickford auction at the old Trader Vic’s. Sad to see the old bar, now empty!

Autographed Mary Pickford photo at the auction

Hey, yo, that’s cheating! (Don’t worry, he promises via the comments that he did, indeed, retrace his steps!)

Stereotypes ‘R’ Us

Scott fixes his feet

Historic Route 66

Walking to the finish line

One of the several groups to hit the finish line

Sunset at the end

The Great Los Angeles Walk Happens Tomorrow!

The Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 takes place tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.! For those of you walking, a reminder: You that you should make sure you have a transportation plan in place, so you’re not stranded after walking all day!

I’ve heard from several of you, and it seems like a consensus is brewing that the best option for those of you without anyone picking you up is to PARK IN THE MORNING in Santa Monica, and take the bus all the way to Union Station BEFORE the walk. (That way, your car is waiting for you when it’s all done.)

Veteran walker Joni was the first to give this tip:

For those choosing to leave their cars at the end of the walk route (or for those who live in Santa Monica like I do), the Big Blue Bus #10 is a freeway flyer that goes from Santa Monica and 4th (near the Britannia Pub, our after party location) to Downtown’s Union Station.

It runs less often than the 704, but it gets there much faster:

http://bigbluebus.com/busroutes/schedule.asp?bus_route=10&dayofweek=saturday.

The 7:17 am bus arrives at 8 am, 7:47 am at 8:30 am, and 8:17 am at 9:03 am; one-way fare is $1.75. (I would strongly suggest taking that 7:17 am bus so you’re not late… if you arrive early, you can always have breakfast while waiting for the walk to begin.)

The #10 makes a number of stops along Santa Monica Blvd before it hops on the freeway at bundy, so you don’t have to drive all the way to the Promenade to catch it (and you can always catch the big blue #1 to get back to where you left your car from the after-walk party).

GOOD ADVICE, JONI! Thanks.

For those of you who nonetheless decide to park at Union Station, that Big Blue Bus #10 heads back to Union Station from 4th & Santa Monica at 5:44 pm, 6:15 pm, and 7:16 pm (the last trip of the evening), each scheduled to take about 55 minutes.

ESCAPE ROUTE: Along the route, if you’re exhausted and want to take the bus either to Santa Monica or Union Station, you’ve got a couple of bus or rail options (thanks to David for this info):

<a href="http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/704.pdf
” target=”_blank”>http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/704.pdf
The 704 Metro Rapid line runs eastbound from 2nd & SM Blvd in Santa Monica to Union Station but last Saturday bus leaves at 7:01pm and takes 80 minutes.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/004.pdf
The #4 regular line runs eastbound every 15-20 minutes from 2nd & SM Blvd in Santa Monica to Metro Rail stations at Vermont and Civic Center downtown. The Red Line subway terminates at Union Station.

I’ll be updating mile by mile, as well as when we stop and start, take breaks, etc. at www.twitter.com/greatlawalk.

Here are a few more people who plan to Twitter:

twitter.com/justin_canada
twitter.com/meekorouse
twitter.com/la_oc_foodie
twitter.com/maxually
twitter.com/drtiki
twitter.com/neverlost
twitter.com/anotorias
twitter.com/nay63
twitter.com/melanieo
twitter.com/zentertainment
twitter.com/jc_losangeles
twitter.com/Carolineoncrack
twitter.com/wildbell

If you plan to, let me know, so I can compile a master list.

Meanwhile, we’ll see you on Saturday! The crowd will be gathering in the courtyard outside (on the right of the main hall, if you’re facing the entrance) of Union Station. We’ll then head through Olvera Street and make our way to Cesar Chavez… and we’re off!

Retro Friday: Getting Your Kicks on Route 66

On honor of this Saturday’s Great Los Angeles Walk — which will cover portions of the old Route 66, now Santa Monica Blvd./Rte. 2 — here’s a clip from the old B&W TV show, “Route 66.”

Great Los Angeles Walk Afterparty Location: Britannia Pub

(Pic via the Los Angeles Times.)

Thanks to the fine people at Yelp, we’ve found a spot to celebrate on Saturday!

After our 18 mile hike down Santa Monica Blvd. (and more), we’ll be heading over to Britannia Pub for our afterparty.

We’ll probably make it to the ocean by 6 p.m., and then we’ll head to the Britannia, where we’ve reserved the upper floor.

See you all on Saturday!

Santa Monica Cracks Down on Outdoor Exercisers

(Flickr pic by btmeacham.)

A few years ago, Maria and I used to travel to Santa Monica to climb up and down the famed Santa Monica steps. (We usually preferred the Franklin Hills steps closer to our home… but you can’t beat those ocean breezes.)

But with so many people turning the neighborhood surrounding the steps into their personal gyms, the nearby residents have had enough. Writes the L.A. Times:

In response to homeowners’ complaints, Santa Monica police two months ago started warning those who exercised on the medians that they were violating a 1970 city ordinance. Residents had griped that the affluent neighborhood had been overrun by groups of people who sometimes showed up with exercise benches, balls and boom boxes — creating a sort of outdoor Gold’s Gym.

“The median has turned into a de facto park,” said Jim Sweeney, an area resident who along with neighbors complained to City Hall about 18 months ago.

The story notes, though, that the exercise buffs aren’t letting go without a fight.

THE GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK: Hike Santa Monica Blvd. With Us on Nov. 22

It’s official: For our third annual Great Los Angeles Walk, we’ll be pounding the pavement from Union Station to the ocean.

All told, that’s 18.3 miles — including portions of Cesar Chavez and Sunset, before marching down Santa Monica Blvd. in its entirety.

This year’s Great Los Angeles Walk takes place on Saturday, Nov. 22 — we’ll meet at Union Station and leave at 9 a.m. sharp. We’ll spend the day walking, before celebrating over food and drink in Santa Monica. (Details for the after party still to come.)

In 2006, we walked the length of Wilshire Boulevard. Last year, we walked — and ate — our way through Pico Boulevard.

This time out, we’re sticking with our downtown-to-the-ocean theme (that ocean breeze helps pick us up in the afternoon as we inch closer to the water), and sticking with the Saturday before Thanksgiving (there’s something about walking this much a few days before stuffing your face that makes you feel better about that Thanksgiving gluttony).

This time out, Sunset and Santa Monica promise plenty of interesting sights — and we’ll even hop off the path once or twice to check out sights like the Angelino Heights Victorians.

Santa Monica Blvd. also cuts through four cities — L.A., West Hollywood, Beverly Hills (then L.A. again) and Santa Monica.

Above, in a pic from Will Campbell, Great Los Angeles Walkers kick things off at the start of the 2007 walk.

Wanna take part? Simply email us at franklin_avenue@yahoo.com. Leave us your name and email address… and we’ll keep you informed of details.

Meanwhile, we’ve already got several different Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 shirts ready for purchase via Cafe Press. (We don’t make a dime on these, we only uploaded the image just in case you wanna show off your feat.) Check out our Franklin Avenue shop here. You’ve got a week or so to order if you want to wear the shirt to the walk.

Santa Monica, Five Years Later

The L.A. Times’ L.A. Now blog marks the five-year anniversary of the Santa Monica Farmers Market tragedy, and prints a remembrance from reader Helen K. Garber. She writes:

We live in Santa Monica and after my husband took an office near the Third Street Promenade, we made a habit of having lunch every Wednesday after shopping through the Farmers’ Market. You get to enjoy the freshest ingredients at the local restaurants on a Wednesday afternoon. It is a wonderful part of living in Los Angeles to be able to sit in outdoor cafes all year round. Farmers markets are also wonderful places to shoot photographs, and occasionally, I would shoot while my husband would shop.

I got to his office late on July 16, 2003. My husband was very hungry and and since it was also the day that Whole Foods opened in Santa Monica, he asked to go to lunch directly and for me to shop afterward at the Whole Foods. So instead of being directly in the path of Mr. Russell’s car, we heard and watched his car careen through the market from our front-row seats at the patio at Lago on Third and Arizona.

Read more at L.A. Now here. Garber notes that she bought stock in Whole Foods later, as a thank you for opening that fateful day, of all days, keeping her from the market.

SAVE THE DATE: The Great Los Angeles Walk Returns Nov. 17

All right, now about that announcement we promised ya on Friday (and kudos to Shannon for nailing it!): Last year, we hiked Wilshire Blvd. end-to-end, 16 miles from downtown to Santa Monica. This year, we head a few blocks south and conquer Pico!

For the second year in a row, we’re clearing out the Saturday before Thanksgiving — Nov. 17 — for the all-day hike. (Consider it license to then gourge yourself a few days later on stuffing and cranberry sauce.) Those of you who joined in the festivities last year know the drill: We’ll meet up early for breakfast, and hit the road by 9. We’ll stop along the way at anything that looks interesting, as well as for lunch… and make it to Santa Monica by dinnertime, where we’ll celebrate.

We had a great turnout last year — I still can’t believe how many people made it end-to-end. (Above, the Walkers at the finish line in Santa Monica.) Now, I’m hoping to get an even bigger crowd on board.

Wanna take part? Simply email us at franklin_avenue@yahoo.com. Leave us your name and email address… and we’ll keep you informed of details.

So why Pico? For starters, I was inspired by the famous tale of L.A.’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold, who decided to eat his way down the boulevard when he was 20.

What’s more, it’s just a visually stimulating street. While Olympic (and even Wilshire) has long stretches of uneventful, residential areas, Pico is consistently loud and frantic.

Just ask Massive Attack. Check out the 1991 video to “Unfinished Sympathy,” singer Shara Nelson walks down Pico between New Hampshire Ave. and Dewey Ave. in one uncut shot:

Keep it tuned here as we talk more about the Great Los Angeles Walk 2007 in the next few days. We’ll be discussing transportation (including the possibility of a bus to shuttle us back to downtown), Pico eating options (perhaps J-Gold will give us some tips) and more.

But most importantly, keep Nov. 17 open. You’re gonna be out walking — walking! — in L.A.

(Pico sign pic via Flickr by Powerkeni.)

SAVE THE DATE: The Great Los Angeles Walk Returns Nov. 17

All right, now about that announcement we promised ya on Friday (and kudos to Shannon for nailing it!): Last year, we hiked Wilshire Blvd. end-to-end, 16 miles from downtown to Santa Monica. This year, we head a few blocks south and conquer Pico!

For the second year in a row, we’re clearing out the Saturday before Thanksgiving — Nov. 17 — for the all-day hike. (Consider it license to then gourge yourself a few days later on stuffing and cranberry sauce.) Those of you who joined in the festivities last year know the drill: We’ll meet up early for breakfast, and hit the road by 9. We’ll stop along the way at anything that looks interesting, as well as for lunch… and make it to Santa Monica by dinnertime, where we’ll celebrate.

We had a great turnout last year — I still can’t believe how many people made it end-to-end. (Above, the Walkers at the finish line in Santa Monica.) Now, I’m hoping to get an even bigger crowd on board.

Wanna take part? Simply email us at franklin_avenue@yahoo.com. Leave us your name and email address… and we’ll keep you informed of details.

So why Pico? For starters, I was inspired by the famous tale of L.A.’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold, who decided to eat his way down the boulevard when he was 20.

What’s more, it’s just a visually stimulating street. While Olympic (and even Wilshire) has long stretches of uneventful, residential areas, Pico is consistently loud and frantic.

Just ask Massive Attack. Check out the 1991 video to “Unfinished Sympathy,” singer Shara Nelson walks down Pico between New Hampshire Ave. and Dewey Ave. in one uncut shot:

Keep it tuned here as we talk more about the Great Los Angeles Walk 2007 in the next few days. We’ll be discussing transportation (including the possibility of a bus to shuttle us back to downtown), Pico eating options (perhaps J-Gold will give us some tips) and more.

But most importantly, keep Nov. 17 open. You’re gonna be out walking — walking! — in L.A.

(Pico sign pic via Flickr by Powerkeni.)