Bob Kent 1/10/17 Bob Kent 1/10/17

Sunrise to Sunset in Southern California

My brother and his family come home every holiday season. He is a photographer too, so we look for some time while he is here to go out to shoot. I enjoy his company and it forces me over the rest of the year to get out and to check out places in Southern California for his next visit.

Now I am a 3rd generation Angeleno. I have lived in Southern California all my life. Between work and exploring I get around a lot and considered myself a seasoned local. I thought I had been to most of the interesting places we have here. Wow was I wrong. After a few years of checking sites out for our shooting day, I have realized there is absolutely no way possible you could ever see all that is interesting in Southern California.

This year's photo shoot happen to be on a day where we also had a lunch planned in Marina del Rey with one group of friends and a dinner with family in Calabasas. So we figured we would find a place to shoot the sunrise down south and work our way up to catch the sunset at El Matador State Beach. This way the social engagements were in sync with our photo shoot.

We chose to do the sunrise at the Griffeth Park Observatory. I have been to the Observatory many times at night. I had never even thought about going there for sunrise. It was awesome. It was a clear day and Los Angeles in the golden glow of the morning is beautiful.

After a while it was time for breakfast. Since we were close to downtown and my brother wanted to shoot the Bradbury building I suggested Philippe. Most people know Philippe for their French Dip sandwiches; usually before a Dodger game. What most don't know is Philippe has a great breakfast. My favorite is their Pork Chops.

After breakfast we headed over to the Bradbury building. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Bradbury it is a historic office building at the corner of Broadway and 3rd. It was built in 1893 and has this incredible 19th style century interior with very intricate ironwork ornamental railings and a glass ceiling. One of the building's claim to fame is being used in the cult classic movie Blade Runner. That is only one of the many movies and TV shows shot in the building. Others including Pay it Forward, Marlowe, Outer Limits, and Chinatown. It is free to check out the lobby and the first staircase platform. Well worth the time to visit and there is a host of other things to see within walking distance including the Grand Central Market, Disney Concert Hall, and the new Grand Park.

Right across 3rd street from the Bradbury is one of my favorite building murals. It is called the “Pope of Broadway” and is a painting of Anthony Quinn dancing. Eloy Torrez painted the mural in 1985. He portrays Anthony Quinn as a Christian icon. The image of Quinn has the traditional posture of Jesus on the cross; outstretched arms, slightly bent knees and head tilted to one side. The small enclosed parking the mural is behind gives it a church-like setting to view the mural. The religious theme is reinforced by crosses under Quinn's arms. These crosses are painted in arched doors which mirror the design of the door in the north entrance to the Bradbury building just across the street. I was so excited when I saw the mural this time. Over the years it had gotten pretty worn down. It was faded and the paint was flaking off. Viewing it this time I was overjoyed to see that it had been restored to its original glory.

So after the Bradbury, we went to our lunch and then headed for El Matador State Beach. It was suppose to rain later that day and there were these beautiful high clouds heralding the storms coming. It looked as though they would not block the horizon. This would set up the possibility that they would turn that nuclear red you sometimes see just after sunset. Alas, that was not going to be the case. We had the wonderful subdued pastel sunset instead. What gave the soft sunset some character was the fact that there were 20+ commercial fishing boats just off the shoreline. There must have been one hell of a big school of fish off the beach because they were all still there well after sunset.

Big Stopper

We then headed off to dinner. It was a great way to spend sunrise to sunset and a reminder that Southern California is a treasure trove of beautiful places.

Bob Kent 12/7/16 Bob Kent 12/7/16

Update on Operation Santa

This is so cool. One of my friends, Ralph Nunez, read my blog on Operation Santa and wrote back to me. He offered to join in with me on my Christmas quest. He wrote "He was Feeling old and need some Christmas Spirit! So now, thanks to Ralph, two families are going to get presents for Christmas! When I wrote back to tell him he is in he responded with “Feeling younger already! “ Man I am getting that Christmas Spirit.

Now according to Arlo Guthrie in his Alice's Restaurant song....

Now according to Arlo Guthrie in his Alice's Restaurant song; when two people doing something, in harmony, well its notable* but..( *look up the actual lyrics they are much more colorful)

But if three people do it, well....

And if three people do it! Can you imagine three people walkin' in, singin'
A bar of "Alice's Restaurant" and walkin' out? They may think it's an
Organization!

So come on folks let's make this thing so big it is an Organization! Can someone else become an Elf and make some kid, who got dealt a crummy hand in life, have an awesome Christmas!

Chip in and make us an Organization!

Here are the links with all the details again:

To find out what Post Offices have the program click here. And for more information on the who, what, when and how(s) go to the site How to be an Elf.

If you do let me know so I know I started an official Christmas Organization!

To get a sense who you are helping. Here are the letters I pulled.

Dear Santa Claus

My name is blank. I am 11 years old. This year my dad din't get that much work. So he couldn't buy me or my two brothers much stuff. So we would really appreciate if you can send some presents. The one thing I would really like for Christmas is a doll, any doll, or a doll house. My brother, he is 15, and would like a soccer ball, And my older brother is 17 and he would love a gift card, for any store. My mom and dad would really love if you could send them a gift card so the can have dinner together. These are the things that we would love to have this Christmas. Hope you can give it to us.

Thank you

Sincerely

_________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Santa

My name is (blank). I am in first grade I have straight A's and I have been good. My mom has been sick she has canser. She has not worked for a while. I was thinking because I have been good I can get some cool gifts this Christmas. I like Ironman, pokemon, Mario Sonic Music. My favorire colors are yellow and red. Star Wars. And I want to make a ginger bread house with my Mom. PS I also like that makey robot toy. I also would like a EDS with eny games for it and also an iphone 6 and cord iphone

To Santa from Issac

Dear Santa

My name is Blank and I am Blanks Mom. As you just read my son has been good in school, so far. His grades were, in every subject, outstanding! An overall A. As you know, this year has been a difficult one for us. On November 15, 2015 our lives completely changed. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Stage 2, with a football size tumor resting/compressing my left lung and heart. Fortunately, thanks to God, on September 1 I was officially in remission. But my battle is not over yet. The tumor is still 2/3rds it size which means they do not believe I well be cancer free more than 8 months. So I have been told I must proceed with a stem cell transplant, and surgery with a month long stay at City of Hope. Which unfortunately, because of timing, I may be in the hospital for Christmas or hopefully the week after. Unfortunately it is not up to me. If I am admitted before Christmas, it will be the first Christmas I spend without my son. As you can imagine will be very hard for a single Mom as myself. Luckily his Father is present in his life and would be able to be with my boy if needed. The joy and happiness and will to fight has all been driven for the love of my son. And he has been so amazingly strong throughout the entire process. But what he doesn't know is that I may be gone Christmas and I have also exhausted all of my Disability funds which will be making the holidays extremely difficult. Luckily my mother, who I sue to take care of this past year has been helping me and my son. So I am asking if you could please make this Christmas as wonderful as possible for Issa and answer his Christmas letter. His happiness with or without me, means the world to me. Thanks so much for your kindness.

Sincerely

Pulls you heart strings doesn't it. Its Christmas Spirit time act on it...