I posted about this a few weeks ago, but I finally loaded some Channel Islands pictures onto Flickr.  Enjoy the mist, flowers, and Santa Cruz Island foxes!

Baby Santa Cruz Island foxes playing.  We were really lucky to see these, even if it was from afar.

A petrified (?) rock that Ethan found.

Elephant Rock!  Fitting, given that pigmy mammoths used to live on the Channel Islands.

The whole set can be found here! Next up, my Joshua Tree pictures from April…

I’ve been looking forward to this for months.  The Stahl House is a perfect definition of life in the Hollywood Hills. Steep cliffs, walls of glass, and a (multi-multi) million dollar view.  Unfortunately a tripod was not allowed, but I managed to take a few decent pictures (thanks to a friend’s borrowed wide-angle lens).  If any of you ever visit, I’m happy to go back — it was incredible to see the sunset transition.

Update: the first picture was chosen as Photo of the Week on the LAist!

Last night I discovered a hidden treasure in Santa Monica — the Blues club, Harvelle’s, located on 4th Street. I had passed by dozens of times, but finally decided to go in with my uncle. I don’t know if it was just the band that night (The American Monster Show), but it was incredible. Highly recommended for fans of dive bars and live music.

Not technically LA, but I did a day trip to one of the nearby Channel Islands today. Totally different experience from Catalina, and I can’t wait to go back again (hopefully for a long weekend).

More photos from my aunt/uncle/cousin’s trip to LA to come!

Hidden away in the Hollywood Hills is a magical little garden inspired by The Wizard of Oz. I don’t want to reveal its exact location online, but just ask me and I can give you the address. It’s worth the trip.

I spent today introducing my friend Jay to the wonders of Venice, California. I didn’t take out my camera (phone) until late in the trip, but I got a few pictures to showcase the randomness of that city.

Went on a short but enjoyable hike in Griffith Park today. Great views of Los Angeles and much of the San Fernando Valley. I’d love to come back with my DSLR and a nice 200mm zoom, but my iPhone will have to do for now.

I took off a few hours this morning to explore a unique area in the Hollywood Hills.  High Tower Drive is a street near the Hollywood Bowl with a series of apartments and houses that are only accessible by stairs and/or a private elevator.  I had read about the area on various websites and went there planning to walk up the stairs and explore the area.  Fortunately, I ran into a realtor while admiring the elevator and he invited me and my friend up to check out one of the apartments that his friend purchased.  The apartment was adorable, but the views where what blew me away.  I had no idea the High Tower apartments were high enough to have the sprawling city views that they do.

I had to run off to do some hiking, but I’m looking forward to revisiting this area and exploring all of the hidden stairways.

I needed a break from work this afternoon and decided to go hit some golf balls at a range near Century City. Unfortunately it was closed due to last night’s drizzle, which evidently turned the “range” into a mud pit.

Heartbroken, I returned to the office. But then I read about this interesting driving range in K-Town that was built above a parking garage. It sounded too interesting for me to not try it out, so I hopped in my car and made the 20 minute drive southeast. It’s now one of my new favorite places.

First I learned that parking was free for three hours, which was a great start. Then I found out it cost $10 for 111 balls – a great deal for LA. And you don’t have to hit them all in one visit, you just get a card with credit and hit as many as you want that day. The balls come up on an automated tee system that’s gonna be hard to describe so I won’t try. But the best thing was just hitting a ball into the (sunset-filled) horizon.

I hope to make this a weekly thing.