Here are some of the highlights:
TUECH FAMILY VACATION
My sister Karen came out for two weeks with my nephews Tyler 11 and Cameron 9. They flew into Las Vegas to spend time with our friends Paula and Mike and then drove to Glendale on Friday June 9.
CARS AT THE EL CAPITAN THEATER
Their first night here, we went to the historic El Capitan Theater to see Cars. Outside the theater were life-sized version of Lightening McQueen, Sally and Mater that looked identical to the film characters. Once inside, an organist played a medley of Disney tunes, which we quizzed each other on. Then there were two previews, a NASCAR pit crew demonstration, an audience challenge, and finally, the actual movie, to which we all gave a thumbs-up.
SOLVANG
My family is Danish, so the next day, we headed up to Solvang, a Danish community north of Santa Barbara. We shopped, we ate, took lots of pictures, and stopped off at the Danish bakery to eat a little more. There were windmills, a statue of Hans Christian Andersen, half-timbered houses and shops. There are more pictures here:
http://www.solvangca.com/1/photo/index.html
MISSION SANTA INES
Another important part of Solvang is Mission Santa Inez, the nineteenth of the twenty-one missions on California’s Mission Trail. We enjoyed touring the grounds but you can’t beat the view of the Santa Ynez Valley from the parking lot.
http://www.missionsantaines.org/home.html
LEGOLAND
Another Danish thing. We drove to Carlsbad to visit the only Legoland park in the United States. One of the things I love about the park--besides all of the Lego brick sculptures everywhere--is the absence of background music. What you hear most are other families enjoying their day. http://www.legoland.com/California.htm
Karen, Tyler, Cameron and I competed against three other families in the Fun Town Fire Academy. Karen and I had to power a fire truck using the pump mechanism of a railroad handcar. Once we arrived at the end of the track, Tyler and Cameron jumped out and, with life-saving accuracy, put out the fire. They jumped back in and we returned the truck back to the starting point for a first-place finish.Tyler and Cameron also did the Volvo Driving School. The cars are single-passenger and kid-sized so parents have to watch from the sidelines. And because the cars are not tethered to a track, drivers must stay on the right side of the road and obey traffic lights and stop signs. Most of the kids took these instructions seriously, but both times we were at the attraction, there was one kid who was either beyond the task (too young) or “over it” (too old.) And believe it or not, one of the older girl drivers was talking on her cellphone and ran a red light. The operators called her out over the PA system and she had to hang up. If only it were like that in real life…
Of the three coasters at the park, Tyler and Cameron’s favorite has to be the Lego Technic: Test Track. The queue was short so they rode this wild mouse-style attraction five times. They even got Karen, fear of heights and all, to join them three times.
After Test Track I think the most time we spent at one attraction was Miniland, which includes re-recreations of New York City, Washington DC, New Orleans, San Francisco, and New England. Florida is there, too, represented by Kennedy Space Center and Daytona International Speedway.
New York City features Central Park, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, the Guggenheim, and the Statue of Liberty. The skyline includes the Empire State Building, the Chrysler building, and an under-construction Freedom Tower.
The detail at the street level was amazing and there were button-activated sounds and vignettes. I think our favorite was making the break dancers spin on their heads to old school rap music. This website has some great Miniland pictures:
http://neptune.lunarpages.com/~mindsc1/ca2001/miniland.htm
PETCO PARK--PADRES vs. DODGERS
Later than night we headed to San Diego and the recently-built Petco Park for a baseball game between the Padres and the Dodgers. This was a fun game because the rivalry was so bitter. And of course, the Dodgers lost.
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=sd
STAR OF INDIA
Our hotel was a block from the water and the San Diego Maritime Museum so our view included the Star of India the world's oldest active ship. Built in England in 1863 as a cargo vessel, the Star of India has sailed to India, New Zealand, Australia, South America and the Bering Strait. Read more about this beautiful ship and others in the museum at http://www.sdmaritime.com/contentpage.asp?ContentID=48
Other vessels in the collection include a steam ferryboat, a soviet attack submarine, and the H.M.S. Surprise, which Russell Crowe famously captained in Master and Commander.
SAN DIEGO ZOO
Long-considered the premier zoo in America, it was one of the first to create more natural-looking enclosures without any bars. Karen and I loved it when we visited in 1979 and it was still pretty awesome. They’ve added a lot to it and there are more trees.
As if riding the coaster the day before wasn’t enough to test Karen’s fear of heights, the first thing we did was drag her onto the Skyfari for a leisurely open-air ride about 10 stories above the zoo. She was a great sport, especially when Cameron began pointing out how rusty some of the passing gondolas were.
We arrived safely at the back of the park and spent the day making our way towards the entrance. It was a good plan, but no matter what route we took, there was going to be a lot of walking. Luckily, the park has added moving sidewalks at a few of the steeper inclines and a double-decker bus route with stops throughout the park.The warm temperature didn’t bother the elephants or giraffes but the pandas were napping, the lions were lounging and the koalas were curled up in slumber.
We enjoyed the new Monkey Trail exhibit since the chimpanzees were active and entertaining. Another popular exhibit with the Tuech/Utt clan were the aviaries where you had to keep your eyes peeled for all the species hiding in the trees. Our favorite animal encounter was probably the lone meerkat who “barked” at us repeatedly while he stood guard. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/
BALBOA PARK
The zoo is part of the cultural/museum/performing arts complex known as Balboa Park. There are thirteen museums throughout the complex including the Air and Space Museum, the Model Railroad Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Museum of Photographic Arts. Most of them are free on Tuesdays. For a full list of what’s there and the admission prices click here: http://www.balboapark.org/
We walked most of the grounds and saw the Botanical Garden, a recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, the Japanese Friendship Garden and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion [which Tyler recognized from a Tony Hawk video game.] The predominately Spanish Revival architecture reminded Karen and me of Rollins College.
SAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
We had time to do one museum and Tyler and Cameron picked a good one: the San Diego Automotive Museum. It’s basically one big room filled with classic cars and motorcycles. We spent about an hour taking pictures of the collection which included the first dune buggy built with a fiberglass body by Meyers Manx, a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, a Model T, and some Indian motorcycles. http://www.sdautomuseum.org/ContentPage.asp?ContentID=100
The vehicle I spent the most time at was Louie Mattar’s 1947 Cadiallac, which he and two other men drove from San Diego to New York and back without stopping [except at lights and stop signs.] It was a 6,320-mile trip that required them to eat, cook, sleep, bathe and use the bathroom in the customized car. Louie had installed a refrigerator, stove, sink, washing machine and chemical toilet. There was a supply trailer/tank reserve that they pulled behind them that they gassed up at airports using moving fuel trucks. They could even check the engine or change a flat tire without stopping the car.
ROADSIDEAMERICA.COM
If you are planning a trip by car, check out Roadside America. They catalog all the low-tech, mom-and-pop attractions, and crazy architecture that is generally found on our nation’s two-lane highways. No matter what state you are from or heading to, I’ll bet there’s something that will pique your interest.
For example: I can’t believe I lived in Orlando ten years without knowing there was a replica of Graceland in the Pine Hills area. Not a model, but an actual house with the music note gates and all. Check it out:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==1899
MORLEY FIELD FRISBEE GOLF COURSE AND SHOE TREE
Roadside America had this listed for the San Diego area and I was intrigued by a tree covered in cast-off shoes. This tree was three stories tall and it had shoes on every single branch. There were sneakers, slippers, heels and even two pairs of roller blades. I’m not sure how or why it was started but it is still going strong.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D12032
Just as interesting to the four of us was the fact that the Frisbee Golf Course was being used. I thought the sport was just a fad from the mid-70’s, but Morley field was doing fine attendance-wise. We were even asked to step aside twice so that people could play through.
GRAVITY HILL--LA JOLLA
We left San Diego on Friday, heading north on the Pacific Coast Highway on our way to La Jolla. Although it is correctly pronounced “LAH HOY-uh,” the boys enjoyed pronouncing it “LAH-joll-LUH” for the duration of the trip.
We took a fifteen-minute detour to experience Gravity Hill. Following the instructions on Roadside America, we lined up the back wheel to the proper telephone pole, shifted into neutral, and immediately felt the car being pulled uphill. Spooky. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==3418
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Continuing up the PCH, we next stopped at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Billed as the “Jewel of the Mission Trail,” San Juan Capistrano is the seventh of the twenty-one missions and dates back to 1776. http://www.missionsjc.com/
On March 19th [St Joseph‘s Day] the cliff swallows return to the Mission and the town after a 6,000 mile flight from Argentina. Leon Rene wrote a 1939 hit song about the annual bird migration called “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.“ It’s been recorded by folks like Glenn Miller, The Ink Spots, Pat Boone and Elvis Presley. The birds stick around until October 23rd [Day of San Juan.] and then it‘s back to South America. I wonder if there is an Argentine song called “Cuándo los Pájaros Retorno a Goya, Corrientes?”
We thought we saw a swallow, but it flew by so quickly that none of us was really sure. Yesterday, I read that because of development in the area, the insect population is decreasing and that many of the birds have begun to relocate. With or without the swallows, the Mission truly is a jewel.
LONG BEACH AQUARIUM
We continued up the PCH, driving through towns like Encinitas and Oceanside and ended up at the Long Beach Aquarium just in time for its Shark Lagoon Free Friday Nights. We were able to pet sharks, rays, horseshoe crabs and guitarfish “using at least two fingers.” Then we moved over to the large tank and watched the nurse sharks and swordfish swimming around. We peeked in on the adjacent lorikeet habitat and then checked out the gift shop. Afterwards, we walked over to the Long Beach lighthouse for a view of the Queen Mary. http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/VISITOR_INFO/visit.htm
WALT DISNEY’S TRAIN BARN
Back in Glendale, we headed over to Griffith Park to see Walt Disney’s Train Barn which is open the third Sunday of the month. Walt had an extensive steam train layout occupying the backyard of his house on Carolwood Drive and in 1999 his train barn was relocated to become a museum operated by the Los Angeles Live Steamers.
On Father’s Day, Imagineers were sharing old blueprints with interested dads and granddads. Inside were pieces from Walt’s Carolwood Pacific line, lots of railroading/Disney memorabilia, and train-themed Disney cartoons.
http://www.carolwood.com/
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Next we headed to the other side of Griffith Park to visit two Frank Lloyd Wright homes.
HOLLYHOCK HOUSE
This house gets its name from a geometric motif Wright created based on the flowers that were to be planted around it. Recently restored after the 1994 earthquake and located in Barnsdall Park, the Hollyhock House offers daily tours. We enjoyed walking through the 3000 square-foot home and comparing the blooming hollyhocks with Wright’s design. Here is the official website: http://www.hollyhockhouse.net/hhphotos.html
ENNIS HOUSE
We then drove into the neighborhood of Los Feliz to check out the Ennis House. Built in 1924 for Mabel and Charles Ennis, this larger and more-famous structure was also damaged by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Unfortunately, last year, it was declared unsafe after heavy rains caused a retaining wall to fail. A full-scale restoration is in progress so the property is surrounded by chain link fencing. Even so, the house is still an imposing sight. The Ennis House Foundation website has before and after pictures.
http://www.ennishouse.org/htmls/photo_page.htm
http://www.ennishouse.org/htmls/threat.htm
FYI: Over 20 movies have been shot at Ennis House including The Rocketeer, Rush Hour, House on Haunted Hill and Blade Runner. It was also used in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
RANDY’S DOUGHNUTS
The next day we started out at Randy’s Doughnuts, the place with the giant doughnut on its roof. It’s an icon of California Crazy architecture and pops up in LA-specific films. The doughnuts were tasty and the service was friendly.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/donut.html
KINDLE’S DO-NUTS
About three miles east was a place that looked almost identical to Randy’s, except for the name and the spelling. We were at Kindle’s Do-nuts to sample the Texas Donut. It’s not spiced with jalapeno or anything, it’s just an enormous doughnut. It’s as big as your head. You could use it for a cushion. It fed our family of four. Seriously. http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/california/socal/socaleats/socalsnacks/
WATTS TOWERS
Another few miles to the east and we were at Watts Towers, a National Historic Landmark.
There are three major towers in this amazing piece of folk art and the tallest one stands almost 100 feet tall. The whole thing was built over a period of 33 years single-handedly by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia without any scaffolding or special tools. He didn’t use any plans, he just built the forms out of metal, bound them together with wire and then covered them with cement and decoration. No welding, no rivets, no bolts.
From 1921 to 1954, he filled the triangular piece of land next to his house with the towers, a gazebo, a birdbath, the “Ship of Marco Polo,” a 300-foot long wall and other objects all decorated with shells, bottles, broken pottery and tiles. And when he was done, he deeded the property to a friend and moved away to live near relatives. He died in 1965 without ever returning to see the towers.
Karen and I took about 100 pictures at Watts Towers. It was fascinating to think about the time and money spent amassing the raw materials; lugging the tools, tile, and concrete 80 feet in the air using just a window-washers belt; staying committed for 33 years. It’s amazing what one person can achieve. Pictures and more of Simon’s story are at: http://www.arts.ufl.edu/ART/RT_ROOM/watts/tower2.html
MCDONALD’S
A few miles to the east we completed our tour of fatty foods in Downey, home of the World’s Oldest McDonald’s. Built in 1953, it was the last one to feature the red-and-white striped tile exterior. The building, and its 60-foot high neon sign with "Speedee the Chef" are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are some photos http://www.downeyca.org/visitor_mcdonalds.phpIt still has the golden arches and the walkup window, but they’ve added covered seating and a small museum. The four of us walked through the collection of photos, newspaper ads, commercials, and Happy Meal toys. Interesting fact: When the restaurant opened, a Cheeseburger was 19 cents, French Fries were 10 cents and a Shake was 20 cents. Funny fact: One of the commercials, featured a young Chris Meloni. [Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and HBO's Oz]
LOS ANGELES ARBORETUM
We ended up the day walking off the morning’s fat intake in Arcadia‘s Los Angeles Arboretum. In addition to flora of all varieties, there are free-roaming peacocks on the grounds (and in the trees.) Free-roaming film crews are also common here. The day we went a small production team was shooting some jungle scenes. We never found out the name of their film but I did find out some other things that were shot there.
The first Bob Hope/Bing Crosby/Dorothy Lamour film Road to Singapore did some location work here. Other notable film productions at the Arboretum include The Yearling, The Best Years of Our Lives, The Women, Till the Clouds Roll By, Notorious and most of the early Tarzans. Less notable films shot here include Cobra Woman, Cyclops and Attack of the Giant Leeches. Television series using the Arboretum include Sea Hunt, Mission Impossible, Lassie, Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Knots Landing, and Hart to Hart.
The most recognized location at the Arboretum has to be the Queen Anne’s cottage that was used as Mr. Roarke’s house on Fantasy Island. It looks the same as it did 30 years ago, so it’s not hard to imagine Herve Villechaize peeking out of the tower exclaiming “De plane! De plane!” Take a virtual tour of the cottage here http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getFrontPageFeature&catagory=history&FeatureID=80a9b6c5-5f83-11d6-a274-00d0b76949cb&TypeID=1&CFID=1308612&CFTOKEN=38498243
DODGER STADIUM--DODGERS VS MARINERS
The next day we were at Dodger Stadium to watch Los Angeles lose to Seattle. It was depressing. Maybe that’s why LA’s team motto is “Think Blue.”
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=la
OTHER THINGS
Believe it or not, we did a lot more before Karen, Tyler and Cameron left on June 22. We went to the Getty Center, where Karen overheard a woman ask the guard, “Are all these paintings real? I think some of them are fakes because I saw a Monet just like this one at the Bellagio.”
We toured Palm Springs with my Uncle Carl and took a moonlit hike through the desert. We played miniature golf in Ventura, drove by the Poltergeist house in Simi Valley, and shopped at the Brentwood Country Market. We went to the Hollywood Bowl, Chinatown, and the Walsh’s house from Beverly Hills, 90210. We ate Italian in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, barbeque in Montrose, French food in Larchmont Village, Thai food on Hollywood Boulevard, sushi in Glendale, and Baja Fresh in Beverly Hills.
In the car, we played about 20 rounds of the Alphabet Game but we never stopped playing Punch Buggy. That game is always on. And, because it’s summer vacation, there were daily viewings of The Price is Right and MXC when we returned to the apartment.
Daryl and I had a lot of fun hanging out with Karen, Tyler and Cameron. We were sad to see them go but looking forward to our next visit together.
LOS ANGELES FIM FESTIVAL
After Karen and the boys left, I spent a week in Westwood working at the LA Film Festival assisting with the different screenings and staffing the information centers. Even though I didn’t see any of the 250+ movies, I did attend a session with Jennifer Westfeldt, the writer and star of Kissing Jessica Stein and her new comedy Ira and Abby. http://www.lafilmfest.com/
STAR SIGHTINGS
Nobody this month, unless you count Kathy Griffin’s house from her Bravo series My Life on the D-List. Daryl is “pretty sure” he saw Anderson Cooper drive by us the week that he broadcast here. We were right by the CNN building too, but a positive ID was not made
Enjoy the Fourth! I can’t believe the American Bicentennial was 30 years ago…
Until next month,
James & Daryl
