Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: Point Vicente and Marineland Memories

Nearly 25 years after Marineland was unceremoniously shut down by its new owners (who also happened to own San Diego's Sea World, and were looking to eliminate a competitor and take its killer whales -- read the 1987 Los Angeles Times piece here), Rancho Palos Verdes still mourns the loss of its signature attraction.

The Terranea resort, which opened in 2009, finally brought the old Marineland site back to life, after 20 years of neglect. But thousands of Angelenos still remember the sea life park -- opened in 1954, a year before Disneyland. And that's why the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, which is primarily focused on illustrating the peninsula's unique environment, has found much success with an exhibit dedicated toward Marineland.

The exhibit includes plenty of old Marineland memorabilia -- such as one of the killer whale statues that sat outside the park. (By the way, check out some old Marineland ads and videos from a Retro Friday post we did last February here.)

Located next to the Point Vicente lighthouse (built in 1926), the Point Vicente Interpretive Center is also a great location to do a bit of whale watching. Details:

The almost 10,000 square foot newly expanded Interpretive Center, re-opened on July 15, 2006, features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the Pacific gray whale. This premier whale watch site provides spectacular opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale, from December through April.

Point Vicente Interpretive Center
31501 Palos Verdes Drive West
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-5370

Some pics from the center's Marineland exhibit, as well as the nearby lighthouse:

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: The Wayfarers Chapel

Rather than brave a lengthy road trip or pay for exorbitant plane tix, for our vacation this year we kept it local. Palos Verdes Peninsula, if you imagine hard enough, could very well be the coast of a Hawaiian island. (You've got the topography, the blue waters and the island in the distance -- in this case, Catalina.) There are the sites and attractions in nearby San Pedro to visit; a pair of lighthouses to check out (more on those in future posts) and the brand-new Terranea resort.

The most calming of attractions on the peninsula? It's easily the Lloyd Wright-designed Wayfarers Chapel.

The Wayfarers Chapel is a popular spot for small Southern California weddings, but it's much more than that -- including, of course, a house of worship. Here's some history from the chapel's website:

When the Chapel was built in 1951 it stood alone like a precious jewel on a deserted dusty knoll overlooking the blue Pacific. It was soon to be known as “the glass church” after its most prominent architectural feature.

The completed Chapel was dedicated as a memorial to Emanual Swedenborg, theologian and scientist from the 1700’s. His spiritual illumination of the Bible is the basis for its sponsoring Christian denomination, the Swedenborgian Church.

Today, what you are looking at is not a glass church but a “tree chapel.” Chapel architect Lloyd Wright, son of the renowned American architectural pioneer Frank Lloyd Wright, had been inspired by the cathedral-like majesty of the redwood trees in northern California. The redwood trees that surround the Chapel are forming living walls and roof. Since its dedication in May 1951, millions of visitors have toured the Wayfarers Chapel and its surrounding gardens.

Like so much of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the views are stunning from the Wayfarers Chapel. A new Visitor's Center provides more history and a gift shop, while the grounds are free to roam.

Some pics from the Wayfarers Chapel:

Big Changes at KOST-FM

In a business known for constant turnover, it's pretty amazing that Bryan Simmons served as an on-air DJ for adult contemporary KOST since 1982 (with the exception of a two year stint at sister KBIG). That all ended on Friday, however, when KOST canned afternoon drive host Simmons with no warning.

Simmons wrote on the Radio-Info message boards:

I suppose I shouldn't care, but I will be interested to know how this will all play out. Radio is a much different landscape than when I started. I am trying to remain positive, but it's hard knowing how tough it is to get a job now days. As far as I know there are some big changes expected at KOST. I know not what they are, but I've heard the rumors about new format captains and how the premium choice programming will be replacing many local talents across the nation for Clear Channel... To those who listened all of those years, thank you! Without you I wouldn't have been here as long as I was working for such a great radio station in one of America's finest cities.

There's some speculation that Simmons might end up at crosstown rival KTWV "The Wave." In the meantime, Simmons has already been stripped from KOST's website, but here's the cache.

A permanent replacement for Simmons has not yet been named. Meanwhile, another KOST daypart is also undergoing change. KBIG midday DJ Kari Steele is moving in to take the daytime 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. slot on KOST, reports LARadio.com. I used to listen to Kari Steele back when I was in high school in Hawaii, and she was the morning news sidekick on Hot I-94's "Rory Wilde and the Morning Luau" show, and later on KQMQ's Michael Qseng "Morning Madness" show. (By the way, I also used to listen to KABC-TV sportscaster Rob Fukuzaki when he was a nighttime top 40 DJ on Honolulu's KXPW Power 92X). She's been out here for several years now, first at KOST and then at KBIG since 2001.

Retro Friday: The Birth of Monday Night Football

It was 1970... the NFL and the AFL had just merged... and ABC introduced the revolutionary "Monday Night Football" franchise. (ESPN has aired it since 2005.) Check out this groovy, oh-so-70s promo to help promote it.

A 2-Year-Old in the House

Blogger Baby 2.0 is now Blogger Toddler 2.0. The baby turned 2 last week, and has become a talking machine in recent weeks. That's great for communicating... but it's also trying when he communicates exactly what he wants two, three or (most likely) 20 times. Right now he's obsessed with the song "Shyness" by Thieves Like Us (which was a part of my 2010 end-of-year "Choice Cuts" mix). If we don't play "Shyness" every time we get in the car... well, the toddler will just repeat "Shyness." "Shyness." "Dadda, 'Shyness.'" "Shyness." You get the idea.

To be fair, the mind of a 2-year-old is a fascinating and fun thing to behold. Here's the toddler counting: "Two, Three, Five, Seven, Eight, Four, Three, Five..."

Yesterday, the toddler shoved a tiny Lego up his nose. While we were on vacation. Visions of spending the day in the emergency room... until I thankfully was able to fish it out with a coffee stirrer. A belated Happy Birthday to our little character.

New York Times on L.A.'s Growing Coffee Scene

The New York Times goes on a Los Angeles coffee crawl (although it didn't get a chance to hit one of my faves, Cafe de Leche in Highland Park).

A few of their picks:

Bru Coffee Bar
1866 North Vermont Avenue (Los Feliz), Los Angeles; (323) 664-7500.

Coffee Commissary
801 North Fairfax Avenue (Fairfax District), Los Angeles; (323) 664-8633.

Cognoscenti Coffee at Proof Bakery
3156 Glendale Boulevard (Atwater Village), Los Angeles; (213) 986-6624

Espresso Cielo
3101 Main Street, Santa Monica; (310) 314-9999

Espresso Profeta
1129 Glendon Avenue (Westwood Village), Los Angeles; (310) 208-3375.

Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea
3922 West Sunset Boulevard (Silver Lake), Los Angeles; (323) 663-6173.
1331 Abbot Kinney Boulevard (Venice Beach), Los Angeles; (310) 399-1233.
55 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena; (626) 578-1270.

Paper or Plastik
5722 West Pico Boulevard (Mid-City), Los Angeles; (323) 935-0268.

Spring for Coffee
548 South Spring Street (Gallery District), Los Angeles, no telephone.
817 South Los Angeles Street (Garment District), Los Angeles, no telephone.

Back in March, the LA Weekly came up with its own list for best coffee in Los Angeles.

Last Chance: Pasadena's Leavitt Pavilion Concerts

One of summertime's best bargains, the free concerts at Pasadena's Leavitt Pavilion, ends this Sunday. And actually this Sunday marks the only ticketed event of the summer, a fundraiser featuring Brian McKnight, with proceeds going directly to Leavitt Pavilion.

Here's what's still on tap:

Thursday, Aug. 25: BMI Summer Nights Presents TOY SELECTAH & Master Blaster Sound System (8 p.m.)

"Toy Selectah presents a whole new hybrid by mixing Mexican sounds capes with contemporary urban riddims and electro cumbia. Joined by Master Blaster's flesh sound and beats for a new generation of cross-pollinated youth."

Friday, Aug. 26: JESSICA FICHOT (8 p.m.)

"Ms. Fichot Takes us on a twisting journey out of the French chanson tradition into the lands of gypsy jazz, Chinese and Latin American Folk."

Sunday, Aug. 28: BRIAN MCKNIGHT (7:30 p.m.)

"Help support our free summer concerts by purchasing a ticket to our benefit concert."

Bring the family, and a picnic too.

Practice Dinner: Papilles Bistro, Coming to Los Feliz

Over the course of our nine years blogging at Franklin Avenue, we've had the opportunity to visit many restaurants -- and of course, we've reviewed more than 250. But last week we received our first-ever invite to a private dinner in a downtown Los Angeles loft. I was intrigued.



Santos Uy, who owns downtown's Mignon wine and cheese bar (and before that, opened Bacaro LA), is about to open a brand-new French concept restaurant in Los Feliz (on Franklin Avenue, natch). To spread the word and test things out, he invited a handful of bloggers to his loft last Thursday.

Maria couldn't make it, but I brought along my pals Paul and Diane, who were equally intrigued. Santos gave us the rundown: Papilles (French for "taste buds") Bistro is inspired by a recent trip to Paris, where the “bistronomique” movement has taken off. "It's simple but well-executed French food," he says. More from his website: "We strive to serve the same quality food as one might have at a Michelin starred French restaurant, but in a casual, bistro setting. Our wines will be French heavy. I’m an admirer of Beaujolais. I also love esoteric Eastern European wines."

The plan for Papilles: Weekly three-course meals in a small space (currently occupied by a pizza joint, one block west of Gower) that will seat around 24. Uy plans to move fast, opening the restaurant within two months. (The chef is remaining anonymous for now, as this person first has to give notice to their current restaurant.)

Here's what we ate:



“Chilled almond soup with figs.” Also with almonds, almond oil, and a mahon tweel.



“Warmed nicoise salad nouveau.” A deconstructed nicoise salad with pan-seared tuna, boiled potato, haricot vert, olive; arugula, spinach and sherry vinaigrette “dots.” It was nice, and as a bonus, Diane says it was the first time she could appreciate rare-seared tuna.



“Braised veal cheeks, artichoke fava ragout, cooking jus.” This was the highlight. Diane didn't finish hers, so Paul and I happily split what was left.



The dinner was capped with cheese: cana di cabra with honey. It was quite a treat, and the dinner went off without a hitch. We're looking forward to checking Papilles out once it opens.

A Night Out at HM157 in Lincoln Heights

Maria and I found ourselves with another date night on Saturday night -- and no place to go. We'd just seen a movie last week, and given how rare our evenings out are sans kids, another movie seemed like a waste of precious babysitter time. That's when I remembered about HM157.

HM157 -- Historical Monument #157 on the California Historical Landmark list -- is an aging Victorian house in Lincoln Heights that has become the home to quirky music shows, art showings, movie screenings, discussions and other events. The LA Weekly even called it the “Best Underground Date Night″ in 2009 and the “Best Escape From Corporate Entertainment" in 2010.



On Saturday night, HM157 presented Summer de Amor y Obsesión, a revue headlined by vocalist Gabriela Crowe and backed by dancers, singers, flamenco guitarists, novelty act The Turtlenecks and The TC4, who also serve as backup for the 60s-style girl group The Damselles.

The show, directed by Shelly Lyons, featured a wide range of performances, including Latin boleros, opera, and 60s pop. It was all held in the space behind HM157. Before hand, Maria and I grabbed dinner at the Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park -- making it a Northeast Los Angeles kind of evening.

Some pics from our evening at HM157:

















Up next at HM157: On Aug. 27 it's The Petting Pantry, featuring live music, vaudville acts, movies, burlesque and more.

Retro Friday: 1980s TV Guide Magazine Edition

For decades TV Guide magazine commercials could be seen all over TV -- mostly because of tradeouts. Stations would get ads in the magazine, and TV Guide would get spots on the air. Above is a curious one from 1983: A slang-talking newspaper stand vendor boasts that TV Guide sells "like hotcakes."

Below, another strange one. "Why do runners read TV Guide?" How about, "Why are you asking runners why they read TV Guide?"





Above, wow, I totally remember seeing this commercial ALOT in the late 1980s. A spot from circa 1988.



I remember this campaign as well -- from 1985, the TV Guide jingle "That's Entertainment!"



And finally... the best of them all. Mr. Belvedere (Christopher Hewett), Mrs. Poole (Edie McClurg) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat) pimp TV Guide in the mid-80s!

Three Months Until The Great Los Angeles Walk 2011

It's coming! It's coming! As always, the Great Los Angeles Walk will take place the Saturday before Thanksgiving -- which this year means Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011.

We're still figuring out which route to take -- and that's where you come in. Vote! And let us know where you'd like to urban hike this year! Take the poll below.

Things I Wish I Hadn't Missed: The Donut Summit

I don't have many regrets this summer, but one of them is having to once again miss Blogging.la's annual Donut Summit. Work committments (it was the TV Critics Assn. summer press tour) kept me away from the foodie fun... but no matter: Billy Vasquez, The 99 Cent Chef, took this video of the event, above.

I'll (hopefully) be there next year!

Is the Next Food Network Star in Los Angeles?

Food Network is coming to town to cast the 8th season of its hit "Food Network Star" franchise. The show's casting agents are looking for "passionate, charismatic individuals with major culinary chops" -- chefs, line cooks, home cooks, caterers and culinary enthusiasts.

Head to the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel (2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank) on Friday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Go here for more info: http://foodnetworkstarcasting.com/.

License Plate of the Day: Another Nathan Fillion Edition

Uh-oh. Is "Castle" star Nathan Fillion taking over my "License Plate of the Day" franchise? The actor has been tweeting quite a few vanity plates as of late. Here's another.

Fillion writes: "...but it wasn't a rock. It was a roooooock..."

As always, keep sending in your License Plates of the Day... or links to celebrity editions!

Saturday Night at Dodger Stadium

Sure, attendance is down, the Dodgers are having a terrible season and Frank McCourt is hated. But on a warm August night in Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium is still a pretty cool place to bring Blogger Kid and Blogger Toddler 2.0.

And as a bonus, the Dodgers were facing an even weaker opponent, the Houston Astros, giving the team a 6-1 win that night.

Live with the Cast and Producers of 'Phineas and Ferb'

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Thank goodness for "Phineas & Ferb." The Disney Channel cartoon rivals adult-oriented primetime toons like "Family Guy" for clever asides and witty references. (As a matter of fact, one of the "Phineas" creators even spent time on "Family Guy" before setting out to recreate that vibe, without the raunch.)

"Phineas & Ferb" is easily the most-viewed TV series in our household -- by virtue of the fact that it seems to be perpetually on in our home. (I believe we have about 13 episodes on Tivo at the moment.) It's a show that my kids can appreciate, but I honestly think more of the jokes are geared toward adults.

And that's by design. Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh spent 16 years trying to turn "Phineas & Ferb" into reality -- were looking to create an evergreen series that targeted several generations.

The concept -- two stepbrothers creating mini-adventures each and every day of summer vacation -- has proved to be fertile ground. Just last week the boys built a truck stop diner on top of the family RV. They’ve milked cows on the moon. They’ve built a biodome. They’ve opened the trendiest restaurant in town. They’ve built a teleporter, discovered the lost city of Atlantis, traveled inside their sister’s stomach, traveled back in time to the Jurassic Age and circled the globe after being inspired by Clay Aiken and Chaka Khan.

It all began with episode one in 2007, when the boys built a rollercoaster in the back yard. Four years later, it’s not just the biggest thing to ever come out of Danville and the Tri-State area – yes, even bigger than Love Handel and one-hit wonder Lindana. "Phineas and Ferb" is a huge Emmy-winning success for Disney. Just two weeks ago the Disney Channel Original Movie "Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension" attracted the best ratings of any basic cable movie this year.

I had the opportunity to moderate a panel this past Saturday at the Paley Center's 2011 Paley Fest: Family Edition, featuring Povenmire and Marsh, as well as voice stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Ashley Tisdale (Candace), Dee Bradley Baker (Perry the Platypus), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), and Mitchel Musso (Jeremy).

Among the tidbits:

-- I mentioned how the bumbling Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz may be the most-rounded cartoon villain ever. He's divorced and trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, leading to some (yes, really) touching moments. The producers noted that they battled Disney to actually say the word "divorced" on the show -- execs were worried that it might depress kids whose parents were actually divorced. But the producers believed the opposite: "Phineas & Ferb" is all about blended families and the reality of today's parental units.

-- A theatrical "Phineas & Ferb" movie, including live-action elements, is in the works and still on track to be released in 2013.

-- The busy cast rarely sees each other, and records in their own city on their own time. Events like this one and Comic-Con represent some of the few moments where they've actually been in the same room together.

-- When asked about their favorite episode, many of them go back to the one that started it all: "Rollercoaster."

-- The mouth movement that Perry the Platypus makes when he speaks is based on how actor Dee Bradley Baker contorts his mouth when actually making that sound.

-- Why a platypus? Because there hadn't been one before. The creators shared advice they learned from DreamWorks: When "Shrek" first hit, the studio realized that it could own the phrase "ogre." Everyone knew the word "ogre," but no one could really picture what one looked like. Enter Shrek. Now, when people think "ogre," a picture of Shrek comes to mind. DreamWorks now owns that mental space. Povenmire and Marsh hope they're doing the same with the platypus. Now, when you think "platypus," doesn't Perry come into view?