get off the couch: beverly hills

Showing posts with label beverly hills. Show all posts

Friday, October 18, 2013

moonlight hike

on our way to tree people

Tree People

12601 Mulholland Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Telephone (818) 753-4600

info@treepeople.org

TreePeople

twitter

facebook

Tree People

"TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and nature-based solutions to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Simply put, our work is about helping nature heal our cities."

"TreePeople’s mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable and to share the process as a model for the world."

"...Early efforts in the 1970s focused on educating and inspiring people to plant and care for trees. Why? Because more trees means cooler temperatures, cleaner air, replenished groundwater supplies and a safer, more beautiful city."

Moonlight Hike

Moonlight Hikes

www.treepeople.org/moonlighthikes

"Hike our park under the moonlight!

Everything changes after dark – the trails, the trees, the entire park. Experience Coldwater Canyon in a whole new light with hikes led by TreePeople staff and volunteers."

"Take in inspiring views of the San Fernando Valley, as the moon rises over coast live oaks and black walnut trees. Listen for owls. Absorb the peace, tranquility and beauty of the canyon trails after sunset."

View from the Hike

This is truly a fun and exciting event. It costs $5 to go with the TreePeople up on the hike which lasts approximately an hour. No hiking experience is necessary, water and a flashlight are not required, but highly recommended. All walks of life were there for the hike, young, old, slow, and fast. Reservations are needed for the hike, and you can contact them at moonlight@treepeople.org or visit the moonlight hike section of their website for more information. Keep in mind travel time, it does take a bit to get to this location so keep that in mind when you go...

TIP: Bring some clothes to change in the car, you are only miles away from Beverly Hills & some great eateries.

MILK

7290 Beverly Blvd,

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323)939-6455

Milk

I had been reading a lot about this restaurant in a lot of blogs, raving about their ice cream macaroon sandwiches. I had to try one. MILK has a variety of sandwiches, ice cream flavors, and bakery sweets. I tried the Media Noche Sandwich, Lemonade (to die for), & a Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwich.

Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwich

My only complaint about this place is the fact that you have to eat dessert before your meal. The lines are normally too long to make line for your food then for your dessert. BUT I didn't ask if you could pay for your meal and dessert and pick it up after...

Overall, this place is amazing, the lines are definitely worth the wait...ill definitely be checking this place out to explore their other treats!

PARKING

Daytime parking is available from 10 am to 6 pm on Poinsettia Pl., in the parking lot located behind Kearn's Market.

Nighttime parking is available from 6pm to close in the lot located at 7369 Beverly Blvd.

menu:

http://themilkshop.com/MilkToGoMenu.pdf

To walk off the food, walking up and down Beverly Blvd is quiet a visual delicacy on it's own. The street is filled with a variety of unusual furniture shops.

This impromptu night out was fun! Saw some amazing views and ate some amazing food. I love exploring LA, the little things one would miss if we didn't take the time to find them.

"A life without adventure is likely to be unsatisfying, but a life in which adventure is allowed to take whatever form it will is sure to be short."

-Bertrand Russell

for more pictures visit:

kriswithakay.smugmug.com

Friday, August 30, 2013

beverly hills shenanigans

Well the summer weather has decided to make a late arrival this summer. It's been ridiculously hot here in southern california. Sweating bullets and air conditioner at full blast in the car, today's adventure took us out to

Beverly Hills, CA.

- Virginia Robinson Gardens

- Spadena House (Witch House)

- Beverly Hills Trolley Tour

-Good Shepard Catholic Church

- Beverly Hills Civic Center

- Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial

Virginia Robinson Gardens

Hours: 10a-1p

RESERVATIONS ARE NEEDED (approximately 2 weeks in advance)

Fee: $11/person

www.robinsongardens.org

The Virginia Robinson Gardens are a representation of an early twentieth century estate. Harry and Virginia Robinson were known for their department store called Robinson's and civic philanthropy. They built the main house in 1911, in a Beaux Arts style. The residence is furnished with antiques and artifacts collected from around the world.

The Renaissance Revival Pool Pavilion was built in 1924 and is modeled after the Villa Pisani in the Tuscan region of Italy. Decorative panels of Sgraffito ornamentation adorn the Roman arches at the entry to the pavilion's Solarium. The Pavilion overlooks a long pool with mosaic tile wainscoting.

Virginia Robinson Gardens

The tour last approximately about an hour and a half.

There is a lot to see and great picture opportunities. If you are going in the summertime like I did, prepare yourself with a bottle of water.

Overall it was a great experience, and amazing history behind the beginning's of Robinson's May.

Spadena House (Witch House)

Hours: all the time? it's a private residency so please be mindful

Fee: FREE

516 Walden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The Spadena House, also known as The Witch's House, is a story book house in Beverly Hills, Ca. Located on the corner of Walden Drive and Carmelita, it is known for its fanciful design that intentionally cause it to look dilapidated and old, and is a landmark included on tours of the area.

The house was designed by Hollywood art director Harry Oliver, who went on to play a major role in Storybook architecture. It was originally built in 1921 to serve as the offices and dressing rooms for Irvin Willat's film studio in Culver City, and was moved to its present location in 1934. The converted private home, with its pointy, lopsided roof, tiny windows and stucco with a distressed paint job were then surrounded by an intentionally overgrown English-style garden and a moat-like pond.

The first residents of the 3,500 square feet (330 m²) home, the Spadena family, lent the house their name. A second family moved in and renovated the interior in the 1960s, making some exterior alterations including a skylight visible from certain angles. The moat began leaking under the second family's ownership and they filled it with dirt, and planted a garden. By the time the house came on the market again in 1997, it had fallen into disrepair. Because of the value of its prime location, it was unable to immediately find a buyer uninterested in a tear down of the property. Consequently Michael Libow, a real estate agent, who did not want to see the home torn down, purchased it and began a gradual renovation. After tall, black fencing was initially placed around the lot, the owner received hate mail from people who thought he was going to tear it down.

The home has been called a precursor to Walt Disney's concept of Imagineering, whereby stage sets become fully realized environments. And, architect Charles Willard Moore once described the building as the "quintessential Hansel and Gretel house."

Spadena House

You can not miss this house if you are in the neighborhood. It's a funny, quirky house that sits in the sea of gorgeous mansions and multimillion dollar homes.

You are more likely to see a car or two drive by and park while you're there.

Beverly Hills Trolley Tour

Hours: 11a-4p (trolleys operate every hour, last leaving at 4p)

Fee: $5/adults $1/kids

Departs from the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way

www.beverlyhills.org

This Trolley Tour is quiet a treat, it's a 40-minute tour that travels around Beverly Hills. The tour shows you a variety of celebrity homes, Beverly Hills "hot spots", and some random fun facts. For $5 you're not going to get a high end tour, but it's a nice little ride around town in a cool air conditioned car. We didn't make our initial 3:00 tour as we planned, so we went to visit the Spadena House, which is located less than 10 mins away.

TIP!: parking can be tricky in Beverly Hills, so make sure you know don't pay more than $2/hour and parking is FREE after 6pm in most locations (check for signs or posting for update parking information)

- if you're a walker you'll enjoy this next part -

Beverly Hills commercial district is rather small, so everything is relatively close within a mile or so distance.

We have walked the Beverly Hills Gardens before, and they're a fun easy breezy walk, however if you keep on walking you'll find some pretty neat treats.

Good Shepard Catholic Church

505 N Bedford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

This church is absolutely beautiful from the outside.

FACT: Frank Sinatra had his funeral services at this church.

(which we learned from the Beverly Hills Trolley Tour)

Unfortunately we were unable to go inside, but if you are planning to visit this church, check their website, or give them a call that way you can have up to date hours of operation.

Beverly Hills Civic Center
As we drove around Beverly Hills, I kept spotting this majestic tower with a golden dome. I was eager to see what it was, so we followed it which led us to the Beverly Hills Civic Center. This is where City Hall, Public Library, Fire Department, and Police Station are are all located for the city of Beverly Hills. Being Labor Day weekend all the facilities were vacant, so there wasn't much to do. We did however snoop around the grounds to see what we could find, and we did find quite a beautiful gem.

Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial

This beautiful memorial is located next to the fire department, and what a sight it is. The memorial features what seems to be an iron rod from the WTC (no confirmation or signage was found), a replica of the World Trade Center, as well as with benches and water features. This is one of the most well done tributes I have seen for 9/11.

I had a an amazing time exploring Beverly Hills, traffic is a mess as always but when you're not in a rush and have nothing but time, it's always fun just getting off the couch and enjoying the view.

for more pics make sure to check out my new photo journal

www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

discovering west la

Today was a fun day in west la we hit a lot of spot and great free places.

Hope you go check them out.

Peace and Awareness Labyrinth and Garden

If you're looking for a beautiful oasis in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Peace Awareness Gardens is the place to go. It's a beautiful mansion, with lush gardens and a very relaxing labyrinth. It's completely free, and easy to find (if you're using google maps, don't use the maps app on the iPhone).

Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Garden

Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Garden

Farnam Mosaic House

This little gem is quiet a beauty. It's a house that's entirely plastered with different mosaics. It's quiet a site to see. If your not one to appreciate the corky things about living in la this isn't the stop for you. It's on the corner of 26th ave and California.

Mosaic House

Farnam Mosaic House

Gehry House

My mom and I really got a lot of stops in during our adventure in LA. The best part about it was that a lot of the stops that we made were completely FREE. The Gehry house is a unique experience, can't go inside, but the site alone makes you wonder. In the sea of beautiful homes, lies a deconstructionist style house, made of recycled items. It's a massive property as you see when you get there that it almost consumes the entire block. This house is located on the corner of 22nd street and Washington. It's a fun little trip to take if you're in the area

Gehry Residency

Gehry House

Beverly Hills, CA

If you want to experience a different side of life take a stroll down Beverly Hills. Walking down Rodeo Dr. you see all the high end brands. If your not necessarily in the market for ultra expensive high in duds, a nice stop at Sprinkles Cupcakes are always a fun treat. A fun art walk is also walking down Beverly Hills Garden Park, there are a plethora of interesting sculptures.

Beverly Gardens Park

Sprinkles Cupcakes