LA Marathon

Once a year, the runners flood the streets of LA...starting at Dodger Stadium and ending up in Santa Monica.

Lots of families come out to support the runners....

The first runners make it in within 2 hours.....and this one looked especially fit...and ready to make a call.

Brings out the best of Los Angeles....everyone loves a winner!

Happy 4th of July - along Main Street

We had a spirited 4th of July parade in Santa Monica today....filled with kids on bikes, rebel types, the police and fire department who all marched down Main Street.

So many different entries....

And let's not forget the animals...

My favorite moment came when a Marilyn Monroe type character wheeled through....

Seeing so much joy generated by all the silliness made for an effervescent yet patriotic event. It does feel a bit like "only in LA."

Brit Week - all along the mall

Clever marketing to park a Black Flat on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica,  or a few brand new Jaguars in there too.

Or even some English/Welch dancers....with synchronized dance moves and poles to clink against. They had a full war face paint....

The flag alone is a draw....fun adventuring with the out-of-towners!

Even when they come begging...but truth be told, he said they were making a movie, so must be sort of a jokey kind - terribly British.

California sunshine...bikini weather!

Yes, we have the weather......! We have had a few startling earthquakes too.   Other than those, it has been pretty pleasant!

 

While out on my bike, I noticed a neighbor sunning herself quite early in the morning - 9a. Somehow it felt rather surreal, looking at her year-round Halloween decor.

My thougths were of the sculpture George Segal  - but in real time.

http://www.segalfoundation.org/index2.html

Happy Birthday Marion Davis!

Marion Davis was the long-term girlfriend to the newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst. She was a MGM actress under contract, and the consummate hostess.

Whether she spent time at Hearst Castle up in Cambria, CA or at her beach house in Santa Monica, she was always up for a making the party fun, and making merry.

Her house was built in the 1930's and has a spectacular view of the water. What remains is the guest house, which is where they were celebrating her birthday. Lots of people dressed up to fit the era, so it was a very fun occasion.

Even a friend of Marion's showed up, a Miss Carlisle, also of MGM fame. She was just a few weeks away from her 100th birthday.

She regaled us with stories of the festivities and what it was like to be on-board a rail car trip with Mr. Hearst and Marion  and the entourage.

We were there to re-imagine life in the world of Marion Davis and all that Hollywood glamour, and what a thrill that must have been!

Dramatic December skies

I wake up to the amazing sky lights....

and today was especially spectacular!

Hot...hot pink.....and then hues of blue skies come in.

When a vision of downtown Los Angeles, comes shining through. I think of it as the land of Oz, dreamy in its silouette.

And then the rise of the moon....

 

Amazing, isn't it??!

 

Glow!

About every 3 years, the Santa Monica beach welcomes art projects set up at night that GLOW.

 The Ferris Wheel also got into the act, it colors from the Mandela created on it's face.

Open from sundown, until 3a- it is a night for reveling in the evening atmospherics.

 

How not to think that this is all pretty priomordial and elemental to our being.

Most enjoyable.

 

Santa Monica Main Street 4th of July Parade

Here's to the American spirit and celebration of 4th of July.....

Uncle Sam appears on bike to greet the crowds.

Red Cross - when you need them.

Santa Monica is a beloved community, with loads eco -cars and a bent for planting gardens and buying local.  Boyscouts, Brownie troops, Meals-on-Wheels, torreadors and sega-driving mayors were all part of the mix.

Young, old, dogs and good humor was all a part of today's festivities.