Travelin' Local » California

Sing-a-Long Saturday – The California Consolidated Drum Band

Lisa Newton — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:01:15 +0000

Did you know that California has its own “Fife and Drum Corps?”

Created in 1996, the California Consolidated Drum Band combines the Field music of the National Civil War Association (NCWA), the Fife and Drum Corps of are the Re-enactors of the American Civil War (RACW), and members of the former Fort Sutter Fife and Drum Corps.

In 1997, the CCDB became California’s Official Fife and Drum Corps.

Their mission is to:

Preserve, strengthen & promote the traditional American music of fife & drum
Increase public awareness of our musical heritage
Research and recognize the role of fife & drum in California history
Provide fellowship among fifers & drummers in California
Rouse and inspire Californians with the stirring music of fife & drum
Have fun!

Its band members are recruited from across the state. In its infancy, the Band members had a difficult time to assemble, because of the distance between each of them.

However, they came up with a plan:

Civil War reenactments.

Below is a great video of the California Consolidated Drum Band’s performance in Monterey:

A Guide for California Wildflower Lovers

Lisa Newton — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:16:39 +0000

Every year, many of California’s State Parks become a land of beauty and wonder.

With over 6,000 native plants and wildflower species, Springtime is the time they bloom in full blown color.

Not sure where to find these beauties?

No worries!

The California State Parks (PDF) have helped you find the place that’s right for you:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Located East of San Diego–via Highways 78 and 79, in Imperial, San Diego, and Riverside Counties–the Anza Borrego Foundation, will be having upcoming wildflower events. Wildflowers are currently being reported in many areas of the park, which can be seen on a map (PDF).
Andrew Molera State Park: Located 21 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, in Monterey County, features a variety of springtime flowers. The park’s phone number is (831) 667-2315.
Antelope Valley is California’s Poppy Reserve: Located 15 miles west of Lancaster, in Los Angeles County, it’s a reserve which features its best blooming period in April–depending on the weather and rain.
For more information, call the poppy reserve’s hotline at (661) 724-1180 or the Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline.
Azalea State Reserve: Located five miles north of Arcata in Humboldt County, preserves outstanding examples of azaleas, which generally bloom annually during April and May. This reserve has both a parking lot and trails.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Located in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties also features Wildflowers. For more information, call (831) 338-8860 or (831) 427-2288.
Garrapata State Park: Located 6.7 miles south of Rio Road, in Carmel, Monterey County, features the Soberanes canyon/ridge trail that winds through meadows, a riparian zone, a lovely redwood grove and an exposed coastal ridge.
On certain sections of this trail, visitors can feel that they’re swimming through flowers, which ncludes Shooting Stars, Johnny Jump Ups, Blue Dicks, Golden Buttercup, Elegant Clarkia, Goldfields, Douglas Iris, Checkerbloom, Star Zygadine, Fushia-flowered Gooseberry, Trillium, Tidy Tips, Footsteps of Spring and a fantastic variety of Bush Lupine.

Visitors can also encounter the more common Monkey Flower, Seaside Painted Cups, Coyote Brush, Lizard Tail Yarrow, Mock Heather and regular Poppies.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Located 20 miles north of Garberville in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, provides excellent displays of wallflowers along the Avenue of the Giants.
Visitors will find Humboldt Lilies and orchids from late March to April, and Dogwood into April to early May, depending on the spring weather. For more information call the park’s visitor center at (707) 946-2263.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park: Located four miles north east of Arnold, on Highway 4, in Calaveras and Tuolomne Counties, this big Tree State Park is known for its wildflowers during June–especially along the Lava Bluffs Trail. Their park phone number is (209) 795-2334.
Carmel River State Beach: This park can be reached from Highway 1 in Carmel. Wildflowers abound along the bluff’s trail. The park’s phone number is (831) 624-4909.
Castle Crags State Park: Castle Crags State Park has a variety of wildflowers in the spring. Their park phone number is (530) 235-2684.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park has magnificent displays of rhododendrons, that can be seen from the highway as well as the numerous roadside turnouts throughout April and May; depending on the spring weather. For more information call the Redwood National and State Park information center at (707) 464-6101, extension 5064.
The Henry W. Coe State Park: Located in the mountains–south and east of San Jose in Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties–is a wonderful place to see spring wildflowers.
Early in the year, visitors will be able to see white milkmaids, blue hounds tongue, or yellow buttercups. As spring progresses, the flowers become more numerous with goldfields, owls clover, butter and eggs, columbine, delphinium, and many other species.

Visitors might even get lucky and see the charming tiny purple mouse ears. The park’s phone number is (408) 779-2728.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park: Located 11 miles northeast off Burney, on Highway 89 in Shasta County, features a variety of wildflowers in the Spring. Their park phone number is (530) 335-2777.
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area: Located 20 miles northeast of Fresno and Madera Counties, features spring flowers on its Blue Oak Trails.
Visitors who enjoy a strenuous hike on the Buzzards Roost Trail, can also find spring flowers here as well. The park’s phone number is (559) 822-2332.
Montaña de Oro State Park: Located seven miles south of Los Osos on Pecho Valley Road, in San Luis Obispo County, features hills covered with poppies, lupines, sticky monkey flowers, wild radishes and mustard.The best time to visit is during April and May. For more information call (805) 528-0513.
Mount Tamalpais State Park: located North of San Francisco’s Golden Gate in Marin County, features spectacular and easily-accessed wildflowers every spring.
Visitors can get to the park from Highway 101, and then take Highway 1 to the Stinson Beach exit, and then follow the signs to the mountain. The park’s phone number is (415) 388-2070.
Olompali State Historic Park: Located three miles north of Novato,is located on U.S. 101 in Marin County, features spectacular and easily-accessed wildflowers each spring. Its entrance is accessible only to southbound traffic from Highway 101. The park’s phone number is (415) 892-3383.

Now all you have to do is plan the time and visit the parks and go. And, don’t forget your camera!

Sing-a-Long Saturday – Incubus and a Road Trip

Lisa Newton — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:10:11 +0000

In last week’s Sing-a-Long Saturday, I brought back memories of music and my kids, featuring Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

This week I’m also bringing back more fond memories, but featuring a California born and bred band–Incubus.

When my oldest daughter turned 18, I knew I didn’t have much time left to spend with them, so off we went.

I and my four daughters packed up my mini-van and in the first three days, I drove from Washington DC to Roswell, NM.

For the next three weeks, we traveled over 10,000 miles, visited 24 states, spent almost every night in a different motel room, and had the best time ever.

We didn’t plan too much ahead of time. Basically the only framework we followed was that I had to be in Boise, ID on a certain date to visit my sister who lives there, and back in Ohio at a certain date to visit my family who lives there.

Before we left, we planned a few places we had to visit– numerous National Parks, the Pacific Ocean, Mt. Saint Helens, San Francisco–with the list expanding as time and expense allowed. O

On the day we left San Francisco, we needed to reach Eureka, CA by nightfall.

Taking the the most scenic route possible, which of course is Route 1, which runs alongside the northern coastline.

However, if you’ve never traveled Route 1 south of San Francisco, you’ll soon discover that speeds over 40mph are impossible. The road twists and turns alongside the high cliffs and bluffs of the Pacific’s edge.

So, after we stopped at Fort Ross State Historical Park, I had to find a way to get back to the 5 or we would never make Eureka in time. I asked at the Park, and they told me the best way was to turn around and backtrack 1.5 hours. That’s not what I wanted to hear.

Overhearing our conversation was a local who recommended an alternative.

Go a few miles up the 1 and turn onto a dirt road, which leads back to the 5.

Now, I’m adventurous but the idea of taking my fairly new mini-van on a dirt road with 4 kids in the car wasn’t something I was comfortable with, but then again, at the time it seemed as the best alternative. So, off we went.

As we drove the bumpy, dirt road, my daughter’s Incubus Morning View, CD was playing, which, for me, always reminds me of that portion of our road trip–Wish You Were Here:

and Drive:

Diving on that dirt road with my kids is one memory I won’t forget soon and it was also tied to a particular song.

What music memories do you have?

2010 California Census Data Now Available

Lisa Newton — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:09 +0000

Over the past few weeks the US Census Bureau has been releasing the results of its 2010 nationwide census data for each of our individual states.

I’ve have been watching some of the other state’s Census Data, and been eagerly waiting for California’s, and all of the changes in our population, demographics, etc., from a decade ago.

Somehow I was under the impression that people were moving out of California in droves, but that isn’t the case at all.

In fact, we’re still growing, albeit more slowly. And Los Angeles County’s is only 200,000 people away from breaking 10,000,000 people who reside in L.A. County!

Below is a map of california with some of the current Census data presented on it in visual form:

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The Importance of the U.S. Census affects us and our nation in many ways:

The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2 mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states, for the House of Representatives, be carried out every ten years (decennially). Apportionment is the process of dividing the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives among the 50 states. Congress decides the method to carry out the apportionment and, since 1940, has used the method of ‘equal proportions’ in accordance with Title 2, US Code.

Using equal portions, each state is assigned one congressional seat (as provided by the Constitution). The apportionment formula then allocates the remaining 385 seats one at a time among the 50 states until all 435 seats are assigned.

In addition to apportionment, the decennial census results are used to:

Distribute almost $200 billion annually in Federal and state, local, and tribal funds

Draw state legislative districts

Evaluate the success of programs or identify populations in need of services

If you’d like to know more about each of the various questions asked on the census form, here’s a great link.

California Receives Unexpected Windfall to Build High Speed Rail Projects

D. J. Schwartz — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:16:02 +0000

Although Wisconsin obtained commitments of approximately 800 million dollars for High Speed Rail projects, and an additional 400 million dollars from the Federal Stimulus package–a total of 1.2 billion dollars was pledged to Wisconsin.

Unbelievably, Governor-elect Scott Walker last week vowed to kill the planned 110-mph Milwaukee-to-Madison passenger train route that was to be funded with Wisconsin’s share of $8 billion in Federal High Speed Rail funds, and requested that the money already pledged for Wisconsin be repatriated to other States.

Not to be outdone, Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich also rejected $400 million in Stimulus funds already committed to the State for a planned 79-mph line connecting Wisconsin’s State’s three largest cities.

Governor-elect Scott Walker decided to kill both of the two proposed projects from the pledged Federal money “because he sees the rail line as a symbol of excessive government spending.“

Well, because of these decisions, perhaps unwise, California and a few other states will receive the money instead, which are earmarked for High Speed Rail and other infrastructure projects.

With California receiving the lion’s share of the earmarked money estimated at 624 million, apparently ideology tops realism in Walker’s decision.

In fact, that’s not the total story–even with the federal government paying all construction costs, Walker also said he doesn’t want Wisconsin state taxpayers to bear any of the operating costs once the proposed projects would be completed.

The State estimated those operating costs at $7.5 million per year after subtracting fare revenue, but revised ridership would have cut the taxpayers’ share by $2.8 million. Additionally, the state could have used part of its federal highway funds to cover 80% to 90% of the taxpayer’s share.

As an economical and environmentally friendly means of travel, high-speed rail transportation is the latest industry to receive a whole host of support and investment, with California and Florida the first states to be given funding and grants.

Government officials hope these transportation plans will bring an economic boost and job prosperity throughout the country, particularly for our financially burdened and heavily unemployed Golden State. Source: Travelin’ Local

The reasoning behind the politicians’ decision in Wisconsin to reject the money was because they based their decisions on pure ideological grounds ignoring how the improvements would add real benefits to their citizens:

My congratulations to the workers in California and Florida. As a result of this decision, you will have a merry Christmas," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said at a news conference. "I’m just sad the same won’t happen here in Wisconsin. Source: OSOnline

Although California will receive $2.3 billion in Federal Stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to build an electrically-powered high-speed rail system that will span 800 miles, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the extra money will pay huge dividends in both employment, length of rail, and other improvements than previously estimated.

Although the powers that be in Wisconsin decided to fall on their own sword, there’s no question that the conundrum of density and transportation in our fair state can only benefit from addition means of alternative transportation.

Lastly, with both our congested roads and freeways and need for additional jobs, this latest development is a win-win scenario for California.

California State Park Initiative: Prop 21

Lisa Newton — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:46:35 +0000

Travelin’ Local typically avoids political topics, but the California State Park Initiative, aka Prop 21, needs attention because it affects our leisure activities and lifestyles.

It’s a new initiative–called the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund– which will provide a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding for the State of California’s 278 state parks.

It will be funded by raising the fee for every California motor vehicle–including motorcycles and recreational vehicles–by an $18.00 tax.

The difference with this tax is that Prop. 21 will give California vehicles (meaning us), a total free day-use admission to all state parks in exchange for the new $18 vehicle license fee.

Currently, if you go to a state park, most of them charge a day-use or parking fee ranging between $5.00 – over $10.00. So, it’s a trade-off. Instead of paying on a daily basis, Prop 21, in essence, provides everyone with an annual state parks pass.

Due to the California’s budget cuts, many state parks decreased their hours of operation, and some few increased their fees. $1.50 per month for free access and increased funding opportunities for these local state parks is a deal too good to be true:

Antelope Valley California Poppy State Natural Reserve
Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
Dockweiler State Beach
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Leo Carrillo State Park
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Los Encinos State Historic Park
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Pio Pico State Historic Park
Placerita Canyon State
Point Dume State Beach
Rio de Los Angeles State Park Recreation Area
Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach
Saddleback Butte State Park
Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Topanga State Park
Verdugo Mountains State Park
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park
Will Rogers State Beach
Will Rogers State Historic Park

These are just the Los Angeles County State parks–there are many more across the entire State, to be sure.

Another point to consider about Prop 21, is that if the annual pass is approved, people are more likely to visit the State parks–which will increase revenues for the surrounding areas, which in turn, helps to stimulate the local economies;

Another win/win scenario.

Therefore, when November 2^nd is upon us, Vote Yes for Prop 21.

It’s good for you, everybody else, the State Parks, and California.

Tomorrow is California Library Snapshot Day

Lisa Newton — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:14:53 +0000

Growing up, the local library was an invaluable resource–and they still are.

Indeed, as my kids were growing up, I took them to the library at least twice a month to choose books to read, attend various library activities, and occasionally purchase a used book or two.

Obviously, with both our national and state budget crises, your local library’s hours and other services may have been cut. To be sure, living here, our Los Angeles and California budgetary issues are inter-mixed, so we’re basically out of the loop as to being in a position to assist with this issue.

But, the smaller budget hasn’t stopped the libraries from doing everything in their power to keep all of their services in place–the inventory of new and older books on their shelves, the amount and frequency of both children and adult activities which they host, Internet access, their frequent book sales, and all of the various initiatives that they sponsor for their respective communities (which, if you haven’t been to one lately, you’re in for a surprise!).

On Monday, October 4^th, most local libraries are hosting California Library Snapshot Day, a day to create a compelling picture of library services in California.

The California Library Association (CLA) will use the data to advocate with legislators at the state and local level, and to demonstrate the value and importance of libraries to California’s citizens. We will also package the data so that you can use them in local advocacy efforts.

The correlation between reading and knowledge are axiomatic and incontrovertible–I live close to a Westside LA branch that has CD’s, DVD’s, Internet services, and much more.

My oldest daughter lives within walking distance of a local library and can be frequently found there. and in my case, my second daughter took her love of reading and writing–obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and is currently studying for a PhD in Women’s Studies. I”m sure that all of you have positive memories and experiences–both current and older–of time that you and others have spent at various libraries.

Although you probably will never know how the public library will affect you or your children, if you have any, frequenting your local California Library is a habit that’s certainly better than a lot of others.

Not surprisingly, the CLA wants you in the picture. So, if you haven’t been to your local library recently, October 4^th, will be a great day to get back in the groove.

And if your library happens to be closed on Monday, they may be celebrating California Library Snapshot Day on a different day during the week. Be sure to check your local library’s website.

Sing-a-Long Saturday – I Love You, California

Lisa Newton — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:19:15 +0000

Today is Sing-a-Long Saturday, a brand new series on Travelin’ Local.

Every Saturday, a new song either about California or a specific CA city, will be featured with a little background about the history of the song, the artist, the band, and more.

Some of the songs may be well known, some not so much.

But, that’s part of the beauty of music–discovery and rediscovery is one of the joys of music.

For today’s inaugural song, what better way to launch Travelin’ Local’s series than featuring California’s state song:

With words written by Francis B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles clothier, and music added by Abraham F. Frankenstein, who was then the conductor of the Orpheum Theatre Orchestra, I Love You, California was copyrighted in 1913, but not officially adopted as our state song until 1988.

I Love You, California lyrics:

1. I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all
I love you in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore,
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

Chorus: Where the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o’er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.

2. I love your redwood forests – love your fields of yellow grain,
I love your summer breezes, and I love your winter rain,
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine,
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.

3. I love your old gray Missions – love your vineyards stretching far,
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar,
I love your purple sunsets, love your skies of azure blue,
I love you, California; I just can’t help loving you.

4. I love you, Catalina – you are very dear to me,
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite,
I love you, Land of Sunshine, half your beauties are untold,
I loved you in my childhood, and I’ll love you when I’m old.

Los Angeles is the music capital of the world, so stay “tuned” for all of the different categories, genres, and types of music that we’ll now be featuring every weekend, dedicated to celebrate CA and LA, our way of life, and the musicians who made it all come a reality.

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia

Protecting our Oceans, Gulfs, Coasts, and Waterways

D. J. Schwartz — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:07:17 +0000

For many, the unique experience that fills our soul, being, and life in between infinity and eternity–are our oceans and waterways. They’re magical, mystical, and for millions, a way of life.

Here in Southern California, where we love our long coastline–reading, hearing, and watching about this ongoing horrific and terribly unimaginable oil spill, fills us, as with the rest of the affected areas and the nation, with disgust and grief.

What the oil spill has wrought upon our nation’s gulfs, marshlands, water eco-systems, fishing, diving, and seafood industry and workers, hardly is tolerable, nor can we accept it as a "status- quo" as to its damage.

We are not a political site nor is this a political message.

It’s a universal message that there’s something about oceans, gulfs, water-ways, and coasts, that everyone needs, something that a life spent wholly on land and inland would be missing. It has nothing to do with sunny, sandy beaches, diving, fishing, or purchasing real estate.

It’s our earth’s greatest and most magnificent resource.

We’re not going to delve into the how’s. who’s, this’, and that’s to seek blame, but Travelin’ Local’s readers all know that we treasure our environment because we’ve been blessed with one of the greatest one in the world.

To our readers that are dealt this miserable hand our hearts go out to you as well as our constant vigilance in thought and effort to assist.

No more truer words have been spoken, than you never know what you really have until you lose it.

Note–we don’t want to lose our oceans, coasts, gulfs, waterways, and natural resources. On that, we don’t think there’s a dissenting voice to be heard.

We celebrated Earth Day not too long ago, so get in touch with the many credible organizations to see what you can do to help the gulf’s oil spill victims get some relief.

It’s not about Paper or Plastic

Lisa Newton — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:26:29 +0000

It’s about single use. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, I’m talking about bags. Those convenient items which are at the end of most stores checkout lines–both the plastic or paper bags you get at your local food retailer.

California’s municipalities are currently deciding to see if a ban on plastic bags is in the best interests of its residents. In 2007, San Francisco passed a ban on plastic bags, but much to the chagrin of environmentalists, paper bag usage then skyrocketed.

Thus, the issue isn’t really one of either paper or plastic bags–but using reusable tote bags:

One idea to cut back on all single use bags, regardless of material, is taxing each bag. In January 2010, Washington DC passed a $.05 tax on all single use bags, and has subsequently seen dramatic results. In fact, “plastic bag usage in supermarkets and other establishments dropped from the 2009 monthly average of 22.5 million to just 3 million in January." That’s quite a difference!

After all, how many taxes are offered to people as a choice? It’s up to each individual consumer if they want to pay this tax. People can either choose to use reusable bags, or be taxed for using a single use bag provided by the retailer.

When April 15th comes around each year, no one can say, "Oh, I don’t want to pay my taxes this year." However, by using a reusable tote bag, you choose not to pay the $.05 bag tax.

The eco-friendliness of the bag tax doesn’t stop yet

A portion of the tax proceeds collected from the tax goes to environmental projects. In the case of Washington DC, $150,000 will go to help clean up the Anacostia River.

So to summarize the benefits of using single use bags–it helps to keep our environment cleaner by dramatically reducing single bag usage, while raising money for environmental causes. In ordinary jargon, that’s a win/win situation.

So Yo, California Legislators, why not consider a tax on all single use bags instead of a ban on only plastic ones? During these tough economic times, doing good and doing well for both the environment and your tax proceeds, can’t be a bad idea.

Photos courtesy of Samuel Mann and Keng Susumpow

The Neighborhood Flag Project: LA Style

Lisa Newton — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:05:10 +0000

Have you ever thought about designing a flag to represent where you live? Los Angeles is full of so many different neighborhoods, and each has its own character. Even though we may be separated by Los Angeles’ large geography and land mass–the heart of Los Angeles lies in its people and the areas that they call home.

Yesterday, a friend of mine was talking about going to the Channel Islands. I told her that I hadn’t had a chance to visit there yet. She was surprised, but then I said, “I haven’t seen all of LA, yet either, so the Channel Islands will have to wait a little longer.”

But, I digress.

Speaking of neighborhoods and flags, Good Magazine recently “asked a few talented designers, artists, and illustrators to create flags celebrating their neighborhoods.”

And design they did!

In fact, I can see each of the neighborhood’s character presented in these designs. Before you scroll over each of the flags to see the particular enclave that’s featured, try to guess what neighborhood it is first. As you scroll, you’ll also see the designer, and if so desired, click each flag for more information:

I’ve only featured the LA neighborhood flags here, but in total, Good featured 60 worldwide neighborhoods. If you’d like to see the rest, they’re definitely worth a long, glorious look: The Neighborhood Flags Project

From the flag, I’m sure you can guess the neighborhood featured in the slider and thumbnail above. It’s Northeast Los Angeles, and the designer is Jesse Spears.

Can you ride a boat down the LA River?

Lisa Newton — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:00:57 +0000

The Los Angeles River isn’t what people often think of when they think of a river. When I first moved here, my opinion of the LA River was that it was some kind of joke.

Growing up in Ohio, and living over 20+ years on the East Coast, where a “river” means a large waterway, a place to ride a boat in, a place to sit back, relax, watch the water go by, and swim in if you want.

But, when you look at the LA River, the idea of boating in it doesn’t seem possible at all.

For Pete Sake’s, I mean, look at it:

Does this look like a “traditional” river?

But, actually it is. The “official” definition of a river, as defined by the Clean Water Act, which is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution, is all waters with a "significant nexus" to "navigable waters." So in order for the LA River to qualify for water pollution protection, it must be navigable, but is it?

In 2008, a group of hardly individuals set out to finally prove once and for all, the Los Angeles River can be traversed by boat. But, even more, the LA River is home to birds, fish, and plants. You can even fish there, with the proper license of course.

Pure and simple, the LA River is indeed a river—albeit much more different than any other river one would think of.

Below is a clip from the movie entitled, Rock The Boat, which documents the entire 52 mile LA River Expedition, kayaking down the LA River:

If you’d like to see the nearly-completed documentary, it will be shown at the Los Angeles Eco-Village at 117 Bimini Place in LA, Friday, on May 21^st, from 7:30pm – 10:00pm.

A suggested donation (it will help to fund the crew that’s completing the film), of $20 is requested – but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Once there, it will be an evening of fun to meet and hear the real stories from the expedition’s organizer, George Wolfe, the film’s director, Thea Mercouffer, and expedition participant, LA Creek Freak blogger, Joe Linton.

Who knows, in a couple decades or less, perhaps we can do something exceptional and turn the LA River into something uniquely LA, that will put other rivers to shame.

Meanwhile, it’s an important part of our city, our history, and our future.

This year’s Los Angeles Bike to Work Week

Lisa Newton — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:17:18 +0000

Usually, it’s the simpler and gentler solution to problems that are the first to get overlooked. For example, if you want or need to lose weight, typically eating less and exercising more helps.

So when it comes to alternative transportation, bikes are a great way to lessen our carbon footprints and to be “green” in how we can rely less on cars. So it’s that time of year to be reminded just how easy using a bike can be to travel to work or to do local errands.

Monday, May 17^th, 2010 marks the start of Bike to Work Week here in Los Angeles.

Why Bike to Work Week is Important

With statistics like these, it’s easy to see why:

25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home
40% of all trips are within two miles of the home

So the goal of Bike to Work Week isn’t only about biking to work, although that’s definitely important–it’s also about using a bike for short trips to the grocery store, dropping a letter off at the post office, or going to the bank.

In Los Angeles, driving to a location may be easy, but parking isn’t. It sometimes take longer to find parking then it does to get to where you’re going.

For this year’s Los Angeles’ Bike to Work Week, here’s the current list of events:

Monday:

In front of the new LAPD Headquarters, at 8:00am, Chief Charlie Beck will join Metro Chair Ara Najarian, City Council member Tom LaBonge, and several others who’ll encourage motorists to safely share the road with bicyclists. LAPD has partnered this year with Metro, LADOT, and LACBC to promote bicycle safety throughout the city.

At 7:00pm, the Glendale Library is hosting a showing of “Contested Streets.” This film tells the story of New York City in the 20th Century, and how their transportation decisions forever altered the Big Apple. In recent years, New York City has become a leader in the use of bikes, road safety, and commuting.

Tuesday:

The Blessing of the Bikes at Good Samaritan Hospital, located at 1225 Wilshire Blvd. is the place to be. Get Blessed! Get Breakfast! Get a Free Bike Check! It all starts at 8:00am.

Wednesday:

At 8:00am, Metro is sponsoring a bike tour of Downtown Los Angeles, starting and ending at the historic Olvera Street South Plaza. If you want a preview, here’s the map.

Thursday:

Bike to Work Day is being observed at several local transit agencies–including Metro and LADOT. They’re providing free rides to cyclists and “pit stops" around the county to make the morning commute easier. Many of the pit stops will feature food and free prizes. For a list of participating transit agencies, click here, and for a map of the pit stops, click here.

Friday:

Bicycle Riders All Aboard! The Pasadena Crosstown Ride will scour the streets of Pasadena, picking up new riders at various Pasadena districts (Paseo, Lake, Playhouse), before ending up at One Colorado for a fun evening including a silent auction, music, prizes, drinks, food and more! Meet at 6:00 PM for registration and food, Ride departs at 7:00 PM at the One Colorado Courtyard, in Pasadena.

After the ride, be sure to watch the screening of “Return of the Scorcher,” a classic bike film that captures the essence of bike lifestyles from all over the world.

And after the movie is the C.I.C.L.E. Pedal Party. It sounds like a fun night for everyone!

Travelin’ Local’s mission includes not only the unique and special places here that we like to escape to and find places to do various things—we’re also passionate about Los Angeles, and want it to always be the best that it can be.

And this year’s Los Angeles Bike to Work Week is a great way to accomplish that

Sit Back Saturday

Lisa Newton — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:00:18 +0000

Each week as I’m writing Travelin’ Local’s Sit Back Saturday article, I recommend that my readers should take a few minutes to relax and grab of cup of coffee. But today, it suddenly occurred to me that in this day and age, many of you might not be sitting or even at home for that matter as you’re reading this.

Maybe you’re riding the bus with your laptop, surfing the net at Starbucks, or even sitting in the park with your iPhone. Because the Internet is now available at so many different places and on so many accessible platforms, it’s likely that more than a few of Travelin’ Local’s readers are probably reading this edition of Sit Back Saturday from about anywhere and doing just about anything.

So, today, I’ll skip the usual preface and head straight to the beach. To be sure, I’m still going to relax, but with sand between my toes instead of carpet.

Speaking of the beach, I want to give a shout out to a friend of mine, Sara Bayles, who is nominated as a finalist in the Oceana Ocean Hero contest, which recognizes people who are trying to make the oceans a better place to visit. It only takes a minute to vote, plus, with each vote, Oceana receives a $1.00 donation. Take a look:

Sara Bayles is on a mission to clean up the Santa Monica beach. For 20 minutes each day, she picks up garbage, and so far she has collected almost 500lbs.

Thank you, Sara, for all the work you do, and I hope you’re the 2010 Oceana Ocean Hero!

On that positive note, here’s the rest of today featured stories for Sit Back Saturday:

Ebie, over at The Main Ingredient, went to Windwolves Preserve and shared her photo spread. I’ve just added this location to my long list of fantastic CA places that’s on my ever growing to-go list.
Have you ever wanted to see Flat Stanley meet the Los Angeles Fire Department? I did, so I visited the San Pedro Daily Photo. Lori and Flat Stanley give some great facts about the LAFD along with great pictures as well.
Over the last two years, an intersection in Silverlake has been receiving a band new makeover, and now it’s almost finished. The Eastside LA has the story.
Because Los Angeles has over 114 LA neighborhoods, it’s often easy to lump them together, like the Westside, Santa Monica, the Valley, the Eastside, and so on. But, this isn’t really the best practice because each neighborhood has qualities all its own. Will takes a little offense at people claiming “Atwater Village, Echo Park, Los Feliz Village, East Hollywood, Elysian Park/Valley, Historic Filipinotown, and Angeleno Heights is in the public’s knee jerk version of their definition of what comprises the ‘Eastside.’" What do you think? Should it be renamed “The Upside?”
Over at a [view] from a loft, Ed takes a closer look at Cinco de Mayo, its history, and of course, a few photos. Because Ed’s information is quite enlightening, that’s why reading other people’s websites and blogs is so interesting and fun.
A regular feature on Sit Back Saturday, Californiality “visits” each of the gubernatorial candidates and gives his own spin on each of them. From “The Queen,” to “The Hippie,” and “The Rebel,” to name a few, you’ll be able to keep up with who’s who.

With that in mind, I’m heading out for more things to cover and report about. So on that note, I hope everybody has a safe, fun, and sun filled weekend.

And if you want to add to yesterday’s Free Friday places to go and things to do, high on your list should include taking Travelin’ Local’s walking tour of the Hollywood/Highland area. It’s a little known corner of LA you might not have seen before– I know I really enjoyed my time there.

Los Angeles Free Friday

Lisa Newton — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:00:07 +0000

Can you believe it’s Friday? As summer gets closer and closer, each work week seems to get a little longer, so by the time Friday arrives, I’m ready to find a local free event and have some fun.

Also it seems that the there’s more free events going on around the Los Angeles area than ever before, and this week is no exception. From art to the LA River to a bike festival, it’s all here–even a weekday event.

Clover Park, located at 2600 Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, is hosting the 19^th Annual Santa Monica Festival. For a day filled with a wide variety of music and dance, traditional craft demonstrations, and hands on family activities–all with a zero waste policy–the Festival on Saturday will be from 11am-6pm and is the place to be. If you plan on riding your bike there, bicycle valet parking will be available.

If you live in, for example, Pasadena, you might not get to Long Beach too often, but the Long Beach Bike Festival is definitely worth a trip down south. For three days, May 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th, downtown Long Beach is anything and everything bicycle-related–from bicycle polo, to a charity benefit beach ride, a fashion show, and of course, the USA Cycling Bicycle Grand Prix. And bring your appetite with you, as there is going to be plenty of food and music. The event represents the ongoing Bike Long Beach campaign, an innovative plan to make Long Beach "the most cycling friendly urban city in the United States."

Listen up Los Angeles, it’s time to get the LA River looking spic and span. On Saturday, from 9am-noon, Friends of the Los Angeles River are hosting the LA GRAN LIMPIEZA, THE GREAT L.A. RIVER CLEANUP. All you have to do is grab some garbage bags and a loved one’s hand; and head off to any of the several local hot river spots listed on the website, download the necessary form, and you’re ready to go. If you’d like a peek at last year’s event, here’s a video:

Jan Prytz, who blogs about her “Prytz Family,” shared the information about National Train Day with me. What a wonderful idea! If you’re looking for model trains, train equipment displays, culinary demonstrations, featuring Amtrak’s Chef Marcel Lagnazand, and music from the USC Trojan Marching Band and Playhouse Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve, Union Station, located in downtown LA at 800 N. Alameda Street, from 11am-4pm is all things train.

If you’re thinking about “greening” up your home, the Alt Build Expo will be presenting and hosting a great learning experience. They’ll have over 150 exhibitors both this Friday and Saturday, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium between 10am-5pm, There you can learn about sustainable landscape, environmental plumbing, alternative energy, and water conservation products. Here’s a list of the exhibitors: AltBuild Expo Exhibitor

If the previous events weren’t enough to satiate your free wants and needs to have fun and to keep you busy, definitely head to the Bank of America Plaza during the upcoming week. From May 10-14, 2010, the Motorexpo will transform the Bank of America Plaza, located at 333 South Hope St., in downtown Los Angeles, from 10am-6pm, with a free-to-visit display of the very latest vehicles from many of the world’s leading motor manufacturers. With such illustrious car brands and lines including Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Tesla Motors, and Volvo who could resist. I know Carbon will be there.

And just in case your forgot, Sunday, May 9^th, is Mother’s Day. As a mother of four daughters, I know I’ll be enjoying my day.

Regardless of your plans, Travelin’ Local wishes you all a safe and happy weekend.

Reach Out and Read Los Angeles

Lisa Newton — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:33:06 +0000

Do you like to read? Do your kids like to read? Some kids love to read, but others often struggle. That’s where Reach Out and Read comes in. I discovered this wonderful program via facebook, and Emily Laird, who blogs over at Reach Out and Read LA. I approached her about writing a guest post for Travelin’ Local in order to share the wonderful work she and all the other people are doing over there.

So, without further ado, here’s Emily:

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all."

— Jacqueline Kennedy

In an age where most children spend far more time on the computer playing video games, or watching television than they do reading, it’s more crucial than ever to encourage a healthy love of books for our children. I recently began working with the Los Angeles branch of Reach Out and Read, and I’d love to share with you a little about this wonderful organization.

In case you haven’t heard of us before, Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and school readiness in children by encouraging parents to read to their young children every day. The Los Angeles chapter of Reach Out and Read works with 89 local health clinics and hospitals by training doctors and nurses to advise parents about how important it is to read aloud to their children daily.

Each time a child comes in for a checkup, they receive a new book donated by Reach Out and Read. You can think of it as a prescription for reading.

I first became involved with Reach Out and Read when I was in high school, where I organized a book drive for the western Massachusetts branch. A few years later, after moving to Los Angeles, I was in between jobs and contacted Debbie Navarro, the regional coordinator for the L.A. chapter. For the last few months, I’ve have been working with Debbie on starting Facebook and Twitter pages and a blog to further its mission.

The message of Reach Out and Read is important to me because I sincerely believe in the importance of reading for a a child’s proper development and education. Currently, less than half (48%) of children are read to daily, and the majority of learning to read and write begins with a child learning to love books, especially in their formative years, when they’re young. I feel blessed to have had two parents who read to me every night when I was growing up, and encouraged me to keep reading, from elementary school and Dr. Seuss, to high school and Harry Potter.

Because my love of reading continued as I got older, my goal is to spread the message of how important it is to read to children regularly, and my hope is to accomplish this through my involvement with Reach Out and Read Los Angeles.

Connect with Reach Out and Read Los Angeles:

via Facebook

via their Blog

Twitter

Reach Out and Read prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.

In this day and age of hyper world competition and the need for a well rounded liberal arts education, reading comes in handy, even if your main enjoyment is for your own benefit and nobody else.

California has only 1 Restaurant among the World’s 50 Best

Lisa Newton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:18:50 +0000

In its eighth year, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy — an 806-member panel of the globe’s most venerated chefs, food critics, restaurateurs and gourmands–just released the annual S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010 list.

Disappointingly, the entirety of California has but only one restaurant in the entire list:

The French Laundry, located in Yountville.

Foodies throughout the State might take no solace of this fact. Though many lay claim to being of great status, delight, and a foodie paradise, these claims hold no quarter with 806 of the world’s Best Restaurants Academy.

Arguing against their list, is simply foolish. So what’s the Great State of California to make of this fine mess one might ask?

What does it all Mean?

It means that we have a long way to go in building California fine dining and cuisine to meet other world restaurant standards–calling all entrepreneurs!

We’re a leader in most industries, but as restaurateurs we’re apparently not!

Eight of the restaurants crowned this year — Alinea in Chicago, Illinois; Daniel, Per Se, Le Bernardin, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, wd~50, and Eleven Madison Park in New York; and The French Laundry in Yountville, California — are in the United States, this year’s most honored country.

Of the remaining 42 top finishers, six are in France; Spain and Italy each have five. Here is the full list:

Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
El Bulli (Roses, Spain)
The Fat Duck (Bray, England)
El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)
Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)
Alinea (Chicago, Illinois)
Daniel (New York)
Arzak (San Sebastián, Spain)
Per Se (New York)
Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France)
La Colombe (Cape Town, South Africa)
Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France)
L’Hotel de Ville – Philippe Rochat (Crissier, Switzerland)
Le Bernardin (New York)
L’Astrance (Paris, France)
Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
D.O.M. (São Paolo, Brazil)
Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands)
Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany)
Chef Dominique (Helsinki, Finland)
Les Créations de Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden)
Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York)
Quay Restaurant (Sydney, Australia)
Iggy’s (Singapore)
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Paris, France)
Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek, South Africa)
The French Laundry (Yountville, California)
Martin Berasategui (Lasarte-oria, Spain)
Aqua (Bath, England)
Combal Zero (Rivoli, Italy)
Dal Pescatore (Montava, Italy)
De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
Tetsuya’s (Sydney, Australia)
Jaan Par Andre (Singapore)
Il Canto (Siena, Italy)
Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
Oaxen Krog (Oaxen, Sweden)
St. John (London, England)
La Maison Troisgros (Roanne, France)
wd~50 (New York)
Biko (Mexico City, Mexico)
Die Schwarzwaldstube (Baiersbronn, Germany)
Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
Hibiscus (London, England)
Eleven Madison Park (New York)

Travelin’ Local take no joy in reporting this to you; however we do take solace in letting our readers know that opportunity awaits those eager, hungry, and ambitious enough to take on the task of being among the World’s Top 50 Restaurants.

Los Angeles is the Hub of Diversity

Lisa Newton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:30:10 +0000

Los Angeles is about people–and as President Lincoln said:

“That this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Our city is not about buildings, movies, parks, architecture, and culture solely, because we’re responsible for why these things exist and are celebrated.

Through our diversity, ethnography, sociological, economical, educational, gender, occupational, age, and every other difference imaginable, our commonality is that we’re a city rich in people–short people, tall people, brown people, black people, and purple people (Hey, I just thought I’d throw that in there to see if you were paying attention).

Our city is a huge melting pot that works despite all of our differences, because our common bonds as Americans and denizens of Los Angeles is home for our common dreams, hopes, and aspirations remain as vibrant and strong, as when Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

In that Cause Célèbre, courtesy of Flickr’s Creative Commons, here are some of the few who comprise the many of my favorite people shots:

What can I say, I love LA!

Thank you for the inspirational photos Jennifer Chong, Lord Jim, ubrayj02, pinguino, JM Rosenfeld, Adrian Miles, ricardodiaz11, and Marlin Harms.

Los Angeles Free Friday

Lisa Newton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

This week’s Free Friday offers books, fashion, Earth Day, and a campfire for your entertainment consideration.

Los Angeles isn’t just about about celebrities, Hollywood, and movie making. We’re an extremely diverse group of people, as evidenced in our everyday lives here, and as this morning’s article is testament to.

As always, all of the events listed below are free, so if you’re looking for some ideas and things to do this weekend, below are some interesting things for you to consider:

For family fun, the Los Angeles Historical State Park is hosting a sunset campfire. Find out the history of the park, roast a few marshmallows, and watch a dramatic sunset with the beautiful city of LA as a backdrop. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your blanket. Location: 245 N. Spring Street, Downtown LA. When: Saturday, April 24^th, at 6:30pm.

Do you like books? How about listening and talking to your favorite authors? If this sounds appealing, then head on over to the LATimes Book Festival this weekend. It’s the place to be and an annual ritual here on UCLA’s campus. With book readings, book signings, lectures, interviews, panel discussions, and a wide range of children’s activities, you won’t be at a loss for things to do. Location: UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles. When: Saturday, April 24^th,: 10am – 6pm, Sunday, April 25^th,,10am – 5pm.

An interactive photo shoot entitled “Fashion is Art,” features several designers alongside the Hold Up’s (a local art gallery in Little Toyko) collection of contemporary art, and clothing from the Number A Boutique. They’ll also have gift bags, including apparel and accessories from their participating designers. Location: Hold Up Art Gallery, 363 E. 2nd Street and Number A Boutique, 374 E. 2nd Street. When: Saturday, April 24^th, 7-11pm.

Mark your calendars! The 21st Annual Fiesta Broadway will feature 25 square blocks of music, kid’s activities, food, and fun. Billed as “the largest Hispanic event, in the largest Hispanic market in the U.S.,” Fiesta Broadway will keep you busy and entertained. Location: Just go downtown to the Broadway Corridor, but consider using Metro. When: Sunday, April 25^th, 11am to 6pm.

To celebrate the Earth and the arts with green products, green organizations, water friendly plants, electric vehicles, children’s art workshops, art exhibitions, nonstop live entertainment, and Pasadena’s first swap meet where the public can give and take away items without exchanging money, you might be interested in attending Greening the Earth Day Armory Family Arts Festival. Where: 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. When: Saturday, April 24^th, 10am to 4pm.

This is an outdoor extravaganza where they’ll be featuring exotic food, eco-games and crafts, celebrities, and giveaways. STAR ECO Station Children’s Earth Day wide variety of green friendly organizations teaches many families and people here how they’ll play a role in the larger worldwide environmental effort of preserving our planet. Location: 10101 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. When: Sunday, April 25^th, 10am-4pm.

With everything going on this weekend, finding something to do and a place to go, should be a fresh breeze in a cool atmosphere.

Los Angeles Free Friday

Lisa Newton — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:30:37 +0000

Do you have plans for the weekend yet? I know I have several things I plan on doing, a few of which are on this list. If you need a few ideas of what you might want to do this weekend, you’ve come to the right place.

All of the events below are free:

In case you didn’t know, Earth Day is on Thursday, April 22^nd. Many locations in Los Angeles–and throughout the Southland–are celebrating it early—indeed, everyday should be Earth Day.

So put on a smile, get your groove on, and let’s get this party started. There’s many things to do, and quite a few of them are not only cool, they’re also good for Mother Earth. So get your Mojo working, and let’s have some fun “green” activities this weekend.

Earth Day on the Promenade: That’s the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica to be exact, where they’ll be celebrating 40 years of Earth Day. They’ll be featuring live music, exhibits, a petting llama, seed giveaways, and more. Earth Day on the Promenade is this upcoming Saturday, April 17,^th from 10am to 7pm. If you bring a reusable water bottle you can get it filled all day long with filtered water for free.
2010 Ring Festival LA: “Celebrating the Arts, LA Style,” from Friday, April 15^th – June 30^th, at the 2010 Ring Festival LA. It showcases a wide variety of exhibitions, symposia, museum shows, conferences, and special events. All of these will be thematically related to the first-ever presentation in Los Angeles of the four-opera drama of “The Ring of the Nibelung.” For a full schedule of events and locations, the Ring Festival’s website is the best place to look.
LA Eco Arts Tour : What is the LA Eco Arts Tour? It’s a “Four-venue City-Wide neighborhood tour of Theater, Arts and Cultural facilities, featuring noted and local artists, City departments and private vendors providing education and publications on energy conservation, efficiency, and savings designed to promote public awareness to empower the public and local business.” It’s happening this Saturday, April 17th,^th, from 12:00 to 6pm, at Barnsdall Art Park, 4814 Hollywood Blvd.
Record Store Day : To celebrate one of the largest Independent retail and specialty retail music stores locally and in the world. Amoeba music is celebrating Record Store Day. Amoeba Music, located at 6400 Sunset Blvd., is hosting and providing a day of music celebration for everybody. They’ll have live guest DJ’s, giveaways, T-shirt silk-screening for charity, and loads of limited-edition music releases (one per customer!) this Saturday, from 10:30am until everything is gone or the close of business, whichever comes first.

Here’s a small preview:

Glendora Earth Day Festival: Includes bike rides, tree planting, magic shows, and several workshops at the Glendora City Hall, Public Library, and the Plaza. It’s the place to be this Saturday, April 17th,^th, from 9am to 3pm. From 10am to 2pm, there will be free shuttle service running from the City Hall to the Native Plant Garden & Nature Center, from where you can take the walking tour.
Water: Our Thirsty World: At the Annenberg Space for Photography, in Century City, this exhibit features the work of National Geographic’s award-winning photographers. The exhibit’s curators compiled photographs and pictures of this most precious resource—considering its environmental, social, political and cultural perspectives. If you can’t make this event on Saturday, don’t fret– it will be on exhibition on every Wednesday – Sunday from 11am – 6pm, until June 13^th, 2010.
Earth Day South LA: For a wonderful day full of earth friendly community building through music, cultural performances, art, food, culture, and fun, head over to the Normandie Avenue Elementary School, at 4505 S. Raymond Ave., this Saturday, from 11am to 6pm. They’ll be featuring events including learning how to write poetry, making compost, or to create recycled art. They’re also planning to paint a community mural. This event is free, but a suggested donation of $5.00 is requested.