Starting in Chicago and ending on the Santa Monica Pier, Route 66, which began in 1925 by an act of Congress, which connected a variety of existing roads to create a new highway–by 1938, it was a “continuously paved” thoroughfare.

Officially decommissioned by the Federal government in 1985, Route 66 still remains in the hearts and minds of many people as the ultimate cross county road tour.

Composed in 1946 by American actor/songwriter Bobby Troup, Get your Kicks on Route 66 was recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole.

In an interview he [Bobby Troup] once said the tune for the song, as well as the lyric Get your kicks on Route 66, came to him easily, but the remainder of the lyrics eluded him. More in frustration than anything else he simply filled up the song with the names of towns and cities on the highway. Source: Wikipedia

The song is so popular that at least 43 artists recorded it, including the Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and The Cramps.

But that’s enough reading–let’s sit back and enjoy listening to the song:

Interestingly, of all the eight states that Route 66 passed through, only Kansas and its cities are not mentioned in the song.

Ergo, Santa Monica isn’t cheap.

But, who can resist the beaches, walking on the Pier, or strolling in Palisades Park.

Averaging over 310 days of sunshine, it’s easy to see why people flock here.

However, because living on a budget, eating out can be tough stuff in this part of Los Angeles, in order to eat at a reasonable cost.

Well, no look farther than Travelin’ Local’s list of the top 12 cheap eats in Santa Monica.

It varies from vegetarian to burgers to breakfast; to be su, this list has a wide variety to choose from. So, without further ado, here is the list:

1. Bagel Nosh Deli
1629 Wilshire Boulevard
(310) 451-8771

2. Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln Boulevard
(310) 395-8279

3. Big Jo’s
1955 Broadway Street
(310) 828-3191

4. California Chicken Cafe
2401 Wilshire Boulevard
(310) 453-0477

5. Flying Saucers Caffeine and Art
306 Pico Boulevard
(415) 533-5185

6. Greens Up! Salads
703 Montana Avenue
(310) 394-1111

7. Hungry Pocket
1715 Pico Boulevard
(310) 450-5335

8. La Playita
3306 Lincoln Boulevard
(310) 452-0090

9. Tacos Por Favor
1406 Olympic Boulevard
(310) 392-5768

10. Tada
1814 Berkeley Street
(310) 586-7419

11. Thai Vegan
2400 Main Street
(310) 581-4255

12. The Cutting Board
3330 Ocean Park Boulevard
(310) 450-9595

What other restaurants would you add to the list?

Iif you need a map to find all of these eating venues–here ya go:

View Top 12 Cheap Eats in Santa Monica in a larger map

Well, clearly Disney World was the prevailing party.

Opening Saturday, July 28, 1958, Pacific Ocean Park, or POP for short, consisted of 28 acres of fun–rides, food, theatrical shows, and much more–all based on a nautical theme.

On its first day of operation it attracted 20,000 people.

Here’s a great video of POP from that opening day:

At the outrageous price of $.90, which included most of the 27 rides and special attractions, POP was a great way for families to spend time together. Considered a bit revolutionary at the time, POP also stood for Pay One Price, so for just the cost of admission, most attractions were accessible.

By January 5, 1959, Pacific Ocean Park had attracted 1,190,000 visitors.

Unfortunately, the fun didn’t last. Due in part to neglect, mismanagement, and to Santa Monica’s need to renew itself, the Park’s proceeds started to decline in 1966, and ultimately it was shut down in October 1967.

This shot pf POP courtesy of the Santa Monica Public Library, was taken on June 25^th, 1975:

Lastly in 1974, after a fire destroyed the last vestiges of the rotting remaining elements of the Park, the City was forced to rid itself of POP’s last lingering pieces.

Now with the Park gone, part of Santa Monica’s beach that the Park used to be situated is part of the beach’s sand and ocean front.

While passing by, most people have no idea that at one time, hundreds of thousands of people used to have fun at a huge amusement park here.

This wonderful parcel of land in Santa Monica, has many splendorous–and perfectly maintained–blades of grass for both Yahoo! employees, and the general public to enjoy.

Along with its immaculate manicured lawns, the Yahoo! Center Park has both tennis and basketball courts, alongside ample areas to relax and take in some sun, fresh or indulge with a picnic.

Even more rewarding as you delve further into the Yahoo! Center Park, is that it’s home to three wonderful pieces of Public Art.

Even better, they’re all totally off the grid and beaten path.

If you’re not brown bagging lunch, just round the corner is the Daily Grill, which is located inside the Yahoo! Center building, you probably haven’t seen this Giant Pitcher, featured below:

Now, I’m not sure if the water wasn’t flowing on the day I was there because it was before business hours, or if the water is just turned off, but regardless, you definitely get the feel of this large piece.

Scattered among the tables, this water pitcher, which stands at least 10 feet high, fits in very nicely with its surroundings.

After passing by the eating enclave you’ll see this rather Unique Bench:

Although the seating is limited to a party of one, I was able to indulge and pay homage to the Public Artwork.

Aptly enough, sometimes Public Art plays duel roles:–as both a glorious piece of Art, and simultaneously providing a practical purpose. At first blush, neither the water pitcher or bench artist’s names are displayed on the works, despite my further investigation. I’m sure however, if I contacted the office building’s owners they would be able to proffer up the 411!

Nonetheless, sometimes it really doesn’t matter, as you’re still able to appreciate the object matter:

This whimsical group of ball players is the creation of JoeSam., an artist whose work can be seen throughout the nation.

I was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. I vividly remember looking at colors and textures. I spent a lot of time looking at hues of peeling paint. It was that old lead-based paint that peeled periodically, especially when the ceiling leaked. We always had these incredible designs on our walls.
I am a mixed media artist. Whenever possible I use materials in the state in which they were found. Whatever the media, the surface if my work is textured or shaped. My work reflects the fact that I’m a Black artist. My colors, patterns, and designs are multi-faceted and combine many parallel elements in a single piece of work analogous to the way African derived music combines parallel rhythmic and melodic elements. The content of my work reflects issues and ideas concerning people of color.

JoeSam.’s work can also be found at the Rosa Parks Metro Station, which is a major transfer point for the Blue and Green Lines. Just look up at the ceiling under the station, and you can’t help but smile:

It’s been my experience that you never know when you’ll collide with Public Art as it’s part of life’s living in the moment.

From the outside, the Yahoo! Center–a public park of all things–is located at 26^th and Broadway in Santa Monica, is an unassuming building.

But once I walked into the park and courtyard, literally in Yahoo!’s building’s backyard, I must confess that I was both taken aback by what’s inside the park and courtyard.

Silly me, after all these years, I’ve come to find out that an entirely different world exists right down the street from my office, and where I could have been working out these past few years!

YAHOO! How totally cool and awesome is that?

You can play basketball, walk, or get a good upper body workout here.

Also, I can use the bars for pull-ups, isometrics, and stretching. Of course, relaxing by a garden, while enjoying your lunch is a given:

Or I could play a spirited game of tennis, a sport I love.

So, the next time you’re headed toward Santa Monica, or even live there, go to the Yahoo! Center because life isn’t always something that passes you by and Yahoo! isn’t just about that huge global website conglomerate.

In other words, Just Do It!
]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/the-yahoo-center-park-in-santa-monica/feed/ 2 http://www.travelinlocal.com/its-time-for-the-santa-monica-pub-crawl/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/its-time-for-the-santa-monica-pub-crawl/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:19:45 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=24802 With the Holidays inching closer, it’s that time again.

Time for the Santa Monica Pub Crawl

Starting on Saturday, December 18^th at 5:00pm, the 2nd Annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl, is an annual adventure exploring Santa Monica’s best bars and restaurants.

To top off the festivities, the Santa Pub Crawl is going to raise money and food for those in need, through a partnership with the Westside Food Bank.

Last year’s Crawl, with over 2,000 participants, raised 4,000 pounds of food for charity.

For this year’s event, three possible routes are being featured:

And last but not least, if I forgot to mention it, there’s also going to be two after parties:

So now that we have your full attention how do you get the 411?

To sign up, just click on the picture above.

Since it’s that time of year again, let the festivities begin……………………..

Located just off the 405, on the dirt section of Mulholland Drive, there’s a hiking trail perfect for either walking, as I did, or mountain biking, as I saw several others taking advantage of.

The park’s trail is actually a fire road, and is also dog friendly. But the best part of the park is its location. The 10.2 acre park offers one of the most stunning and spectacular vista vantage points for 360-degree views of Los Angeles County:

From this vantage point, I’m standing about 20 miles from Los Angeles, while you can see from the photograph much more of the horizon from here. Stating the obvious, to fully appreciate San Vicente Mountain Park, you have to be there on a clear day.

Just a slight turn away, here’s the Encino Reservoir, and the rest of the San Fernando Valley.

Delving a bit into Los Angeles’ military history, from 1956-1968, San Vicente Mountain Park aka LA-96, was one of but sixteen Los Angeles area Nike-Ajax supersonic anti-aircraft missile launch sites during the Cold War.

With a total of 40 defensive areas, the NIKE missile sites were typically located in key urban and industrial areas scattered throughout the United States, and was part of the US Army’s first operational anti-aircraft missile system..

As the US – Soviet Cold War escalated, the then Soviets developed airplanes that our radar could not detect. So, In the early 1960s at the San Vicente Mountain Park site, the military built this tower to house advance radar that could help to neutralize the Soviet planes.

During the time that our soldiers were stationed there, their reconnaissance was always on a 15 minute alert, in case of a potential enemy attack.

If the enemy airplane was located by LA96C (Control), where you’re now standing, the computers would have activated missiles at the companion site LA96L (Launch), located in the Sepulveda Basin, 4.5 miles away.

There, one of 30 NIKE missiles had the capability of launching and intercepting incoming hostile enemy aircraft before it could drop any bombs on Los Angeles. For security reasons, the soldiers only knew their own specific routine and duty; and none knew exactly how the NIKE system worked.

Obviously, this all took place in a different time and era, but it’s amazing just how close we were always seemingly on the brink of a nuclear war with the U.S.S.R.

Today, there are several signs like the one above, that provide additional stories about what went on during that epoch. Nowadays, the San Vicente Mountain Park provides an excellent place for a day get-a-way, and to exercise either by walking or biking.

A reminder, this park in only accessible via the dirt section of Mulholland Drive, so be prepared in case of rain or mudslides–but in that case, the road will most likely be closed.

Parking is available within a hundred yards of the road, which changes from tar to dirt. The day I was there Mulholland Drive was closed to motor traffic, but it extends all the way to Santa Monica.

In the map above, the Water and Power Pole Road, is the hiking and biking trail and for people to occasionally “get away from it all,” if not for a short while.

Another attractive feature of the park is that cars are not allowed.

For the adventurous, these trails lead to the Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, and also to the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park as well, if you really want to do some serious hiking. .

When you’re in the mood for either a short hike, or to appreciate the panoramic views of LA, or both, be sure to visit the San Vicente Mountain Park, as it’s not only easily accessible and part of our city’s lore, but in the end, its a great place in the city to enjoy.

Ranging from the Los Angeles Film Festival to the current ongoing American Film Institute (AFI) Film Festival, there are many more to choose from–including the Silver Lake Film Festival, The American Black Film Festival, Outfest – the LA Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival.

To smaller ones including Dances With Films or the Valley Film Festival.

Being the birthplace of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Los Angeles is the birthplace of Film and Television.

For the most part, Film Festival’s are very serious events. As far as child friendly events; well they’re not, because they’re not supposed to be.

Perhaps when your children are older, they’ll be able to appreciate Film Festivals, but very few 7 year-olds will likely get it.

Unless, of course, it’s the 6th Annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival.

Featuring short films from around the world – animation, live action and documentary – they’re all made for children and teens.

This year’s free event is being held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Theater in Santa Monica, adjacent to Santa Monica’s Main City Library, at 601 Santa Monica Boulevard. It starts this coming Saturday:

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 13^th: 10:00 – 11:00pm

Program #1: Short films for all ages

• A World Without Numbers
• Chubbie & Cheesy – A Very Special Umbrella
• Footprints
• Out on a Limb
• Picture Window
• Sharing
• The Little Things
• The Locket & the Sea
• The Smallest Thing

Saturday, November 13^th: 11:00 – 12:00pm

Program #2: Short films for all ages

• Alex & Alex
• Electric Car
• Luna
• Mission H20
• New Digs
• Sparky
• Suds
• Test Anxiety
• The Gift
• The Gift of the Magi
• Tom & Esther Learn Lessons
• Toothnapped

Saturday, November 13^th 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Program #3: Short films for ages 7 and older

• Box of Buttons
• Flight Training
• Foursquare Day
• Kabamir
• Mbegu
• Shpourky & Ombra
• The League of Imaginary Heroes
• The Sun Jar
• Tratado de Liligrafia
• Young Love

In Los Angeles, there’s always something for someone.

In fact, when I was in the 7^th grade, one of the first activities my US History teacher did was quiz the entire class on about which were all of the nation’s capitals, and yours truly was the only student who knew them all.

I’m not sure if I still remember them all–but if not, I know that I can always refer to a map to find out.

So, when I came across a list of the City of Santa Monica’s Designated Landmarks (PDF), I became very excited, because you must have been living under a rock during the years Google has developed an application with their maps division—aptly titled Google Maps, which comes in extremely handy in having them as a trusted guide, as well as it is equally useful in creating various types of maps which literally span the globe in a person’s ability from their favorite places, guides, or walks, and the numerous applications which show how usefulness as “a map” of the world its become useful for ordinary people and programmer it’s really become.

Established in 1975, the stated goal of the Landmarks Commission of Santa Monica was clear from the beginiing:

To protect improvements and areas which represent the City’s cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; safeguard the City’s historic, aesthetic and cultural heritage; and promote the use of landmarks and historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people.

Contained within Santa Monica’s 89 Designed Landmarks are several trees, many apartment buildings, private houses, and of course, one very large park. Unfortunately, some older landmarks have been made way for the new, hey but that’s what we call “progress,” right? Well, to be perfectly honest, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

But, each of the remaining Santa Monica Designated Landmarks does indeed offers a unique look at a small city–but one with a rich and varied cultural and vital history.

I’m sure you have probably passed by many of these houses, without even realizing–or knowing–their significance.

All of the information to create this map was obtained from the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department.

Last updated on June 12, 2009, the Designated Landmarks list map shows approximate locations and if you click the icons, you’ll find more information, for example, the date it was designated, the time it was developed, the name of the architect or builder, etc..

Bear in mind many of these map locations were done specifically for you–Travelin’ Local’s readers, to have some fun exploring many of Santa Monica’s past historical and cultural historic locations:

View Santa Monica Landmarks in a larger map

After reading this news, I thought I’d play with Google a little bit to see how well Metro, and the Big Blue work together.

After all, the Big Blue Bus–for the most part–only runs in Santa Monica, so connecting with the Metro buses is a real boon for our great city.

So to test out my curiosity about the new merging of the Big Blue and Metro Buses on Google, I plugged in 600 Ocean Park Boulevard, in Santa Monica, and then 100 South Grand Avenue in Downtown, Los Angeles.

As you can see below, they worked together seamlessly:

Then the real fun came as I subsequently changed the departure time. In this example, the route above was for a 5:15pm departure, which will take about and hour and 35 minutes.

But here is how it looks at 4:00pm departure:

On this route, you can get downtown using only the Big Blue. BTW, this route takes about an hour and 37 minutes.

This is the same route at 8:00am–which takes approximately an 1 hour and 14 minutes, to get from one point to the other.

If you’re planning to leave to travel at about 9:00pm, Metro is your only choice:

If for some reason, you find yourself in Santa Monica at 3:00am, you still have options:

This route, which isn’t exactly a beeline to downtown–but if you’ve had a little too much to drink–it’s a great way to get where you want to go without hassle or worry. This route’s time frame takes about an hour and 39 minutes.

After looking at all the options available, I–and probably everybody else that takes both the Big Blue and the Metro, will be happy to have this new feature now on Google maps, and if you’re lucky, your friendly smart phone.

Although most of our fair city’s steps are located in the Silver Lake – Echo Park regions, a few of them also call Santa Monica home, as well.

The most famous of the Santa Monica steps–are the two sets off Adelaide Street;which are located right off San Vicente Boulevard and 4^th Street.

On any given day–as well as any given time–you’ll always find people climbing up and down these two stairways:

Sweat dripping, heavy breathing, workout attire varying from basic sweats to high end leotards, and of course, sneakers are part of the ambiance.

Although I’m not a regular step climber, my experiences here have always been positive–most here, are usually very friendly.

Everyone understands why they are there–to have a great workout that’s free, and the fact that everyone respects their space; along with everyone elses.

Anytime you go, you’ll see professional workouts taking place. In fact, you’ll often find vans loaded with all the basic necessities you’ll find in a small gym, kettle-balls, weights, mats, etc.

Here’s a map of the Santa Monica 4^th, Street Stair Walk:

View Santa Monica Short Stairs Walk in a larger map

The west stairs closest to 4^th Street, are concrete and narrow, with a couple of turns.

Further down, the east steps are wooden and wider. With the combined stairways and the loop, the total mileage is almost ½ mile. I think you’ll discover that the walking in between the stairways is another way way to catch your breath, as you’re determined to “shake that body.”

If you really want a complete 100% workout,– ride your bike to the stairs; but if you drive, there is free parking on Adelaide Street.

However, due to street cleaning, you can’t park on Adelaide Street from 9:00 to 11:00am on Fridays. And if your desired time is to park after 6:00pm, you might have a little trouble finding the space–but I’m pretty sure you can still park on San Vicente at anytime of the day.

Here’s the Santa Monica Stairs:

Now, don’t just sit there, let’s get to them now!