Reflections

The patterns and shadows of the Wachova office tower juxtaposed against the blue sky and white clouds earlier this month made for an interesting photo.

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This was taken earlier this month in Brentwood at the corner of Wilshire Blvd at San Vincete while waiting for the light. An upside to traffic in L.A.

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No Stopping Any Time

I was in downtown Los Angeles a while back and snapped a quick picture of these two signs on the corner of Los Angeles & Temple Streets. A somewhat ironic placement of parking and street signs.

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The image of "laid back Los Angeles" is often just that, an image. The reality is that Los Angeles is fast-paced, driven, competitive city.

The early 20th Century industrialist and billionaire John D. Rockefeller was once asked, "how much is enough?" His response, "just a little bit more," reminds me how often I get trapped in the "more more more" attitude of society - an attitude only magnified in places like L.A.

If not in "stuff," then in work, in achievement, in recognition.

I like the slogan "work hard, play hard," but would add to it "rest hard" - or, perhaps better, "rest intentionally."

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Even when the signs around me say otherwise.

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Pink My Ride

Earlier this month I was in Van Nuys, a community in the San Fernando Valley, with a couple of UCLA students. There are tens of thousands of Mercedes Benz in Los Angeles, but this is the first pink Mercedes I've ever seen.


Yep, it's a Mercedes. After I took this picture, I noticed the liscence plate frame said "Pimped" -- as in "Pimp My Ride" a fairly popular show on MTV.


Hey, it's for sale! Is that correct? Is the price really $1250? No, wait, it's got to be $7250. The paint job alone would cost two grand.


The paint is pretty impressive, although it's not my style. Reminds me somewhat of the classic lowriders, including those that were on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum last year (see my post from May 14, 2008 http://zagrodny.blogspot.com/2008/05/la-vida-lowrider-petersen-automotive.html).


Over the years, I've heard Christians ask "what would Jesus drive?" - kind of an American take on "what would Jesus do?" It's sort of a weird question - kind of like asking "what kind of private jet would Jesus own?" Jesus would have taken the bus, or walked.

Meanwhile, the Apostle Paul, a leader in the 1st century church, would have driven "whatever" to get from point A to point B in advancing Christ's Kingdom.

For believers living in Los Angeles (and the rest of the Western world where owning a car is actually a possibility) that's a great principle. Not just with a car, but with pretty much everything.



I'm currently not in the market for a car, although - assuming it runs - $7250 seems like a fair price for a Mercedes.

I guess. What do I know? I'm no expert on cars.

Wonder what insurance goes for?

Happy motoring.

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Gourment Food Trucks on Abbot Kinney Blvd: Passing Fad or Future Trend?

Driving home through Venice on Abbot Kinney Blvd I noticed yet another gourmet food truck in the parking lot at The Brig. As these trucks are usually out at night, I decided to pull over, check this one out.


This is "Nom Nom Truck". Thanks to twitter, you can follow where they are, when they'll be in your neighborhood.


Bánh Mi - the big item on their menu - is a Vietnamese baguette sandwich. OK, I had no idea what Bánh Mi was until I looked it up on the Internet. But it sounds yummy.

Nom Nom specializes in Vietnamese food, including something called a Vietnamese Taco.


I've had a good experience with a gourmet food truck (see my post from September 26, 2009 http://zagrodny.blogspot.com/2009/09/korean-burrito-at-la-taco-truck.html), but already had dinner. On another night I might have tried something.


A block later on the same street I came across Fish Lips Sushi.


No tacos here: Fish Lips Sushi specializes in - surprise - sushi.


These two trucks were a block apart on the same street.

Are they a passing fad, or a peek into the future?

Los Angeles is known for setting trends that influence the rest of the country and the much of the world. Ten years from now, will cities like Omaha, Nebraska and Little Rock, Arkansas have similar gourmet food trucks, or is this a passing fad ... just another "L.A. thing?"

As a follower of Christ, I think there is something to be said about living in a city that sets trends that influence the rest of the world. I've met numerous Christians who've intentionally moved to Los Angeles for that very reason: wanting to make their faith real in a city whose impact spans the globe. Those who've moved here have found it challenging, and by that I mean on a practical day to day basis. Sure, you can twitter the location of a gourmet food truck, but good luck finding a Target or a Walmart.

2500 years ago the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah reminded the people of God to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you ...[pray] for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

True anywhere - especially in a city like Los Angeles.

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Sunset, North of Sunset

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean, one mile north of Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, California. November 4, 2009

Earlier this Fall, I had a chance to hear a professor at Cal State Northridge speak on Christian stewardship of the environment. He made some convincing arguments, including a statement I had never thought of before: the ability to see and enjoy the creation helps point individuals to the Creator.

The New Testament states that "since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

Air pollution, water pollution, toxic waste, acid rain ... the list goes on. They affect not only the quality of human life, but also humanity's ability to see and recognize their Creator. The complexity and beauty of creation point to a Creator. The inability to see and enjoy God's creation makes it harder to recognize Him.

Los Angeles has both wonderful climate, beaches, the ocean, mountains, palm tree lined boulevards .... as well as a sprawling and sometimes gritty urban environment. I appreciate the work of men and women a generation ago to vastly improve the air quality here in Los Angeles (traffic has replaced "smog" as a major problem) and those who are currently working to improve the water quality of the Santa Monica Bay. Helping improve not only the quality of life, but the ability to see and enjoy the Creator's handiwork.

Including a sunset.

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An afternoon at Star Fleet Academy (aka Cal State Northridge)

http://webdesign.timches.com/2009/05/13/639/star-trek-reset/

Last May my wife and I went and saw the new JJ Abram's Star Trek movie. I realize I'm probably in the minority here, but as fan of the original series, I was generally disappointed with the film. Can a movie have too many special effects? Too many explosions? Fight scenes that are so unrealistic that they border on the absurd? Can a movie have so much "action" that it actually detracts from the story?

Wow, Lenord Nemoy is really getting old. And where was Bill Shatner? They couldn't find a cameo for him?

Of course, the movie had some enjoyable scenes, including the ones featuring the "Star Fleet Academy" in a futuristic San Francisco. I thought to myself, "Star Fleet Academy really looks like the library at Cal State Northridge." A few more minutes into the film, I realized it was the library at Cal State Northridge.

Living in Los Angeles, it's fun seeing how familiar (and not so familar) places are changed to fit in a film - especially if it's set in the past or the future.


This past week I was meeting with some professors over at Cal State Northridge and took some pictures to see if I could match the photo from the film. Pretty amazing what some special effects can produce.


http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEzjYEDCoV1nDB

I found this photo from http://www.movieweb.com/. Someone from CSUN took a few photos through an office window during the filming on campus in March of 2008. You can clearly see the "blue screen" which allowed the special effects crew to matte a 23rd Century San Francisco.

www.starfleetbase.com

Here's another shot from the film that really took advantage of blue screen and mattes. The only part that's Cal State Northridge is the grass, the steps, and the palm trees. Maybe that's how CSUN will look in the year 2309. But this being Los Angeles, I imagine there will be some zoning issues with the homeowners associations around campus.

So, what's the appeal of Star Trek? Perhaps that deep down most of us are hoping for a better future for our great-great grandkids and for planet earth - even if it's 300+ years in the future.

Of course, some of the "futuristic" technology in the films already exists. And while other things like "transporter beams" may never happen, they look very cool on film.

Over the years, Star Trek (the shows and the movies) have surfaced some great questions: What is humanity's purpose in the universe? What does it mean to be human? Are there moral absolutes? Is there life beyond planet earth? Is there an afterlife? Who - or what - is God?

While I don't necessarily agree with all the answers the show proposes, they're still great questions.

http://homepage.mac.com/m5comp/trekbits/

Wasn't it Socrates who said "the unexamined life is not worth living?"

Here's to finding the answers to those great questions.

Have a treky day.

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A Boy Named Martial: The Getty Villa, Part I

One of the most moving and impressive pieces of art in Los Angeles is a nineteen hundred year old marble bust of a young boy named Martial, located at the Getty Villa.
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The Getty Villa is the original campus of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The museum now consists of two campuses: the Getty Villa and the much larger Getty Center a few miles away. More on that later. The Villa's collection focuses exclusively on Greek and Roman antiquities. It's an amazing place and definitely worth a visit.


What I found so compelling about the bust of Martial wasn't just how incredibly life-like and detailed the artwork is, or the fact that this piece is almost two thousand years old, but the actual young boy behind it all.

In Rome, as today, only the very wealthy could commission artwork of themselves or their family. In contrast, this little boy, who we know as Martial, was a slave. The tombstone, paid for by his owners, tells us that he died when he was 2 years, 10 months and 8 days old.

As a father of two children, I was emotionally moved thinking of this beautiful little boy dying at such a young age. I realize that historically, death among children has been common and tragically that's true today among children in the Third World. Yet putting a name with a face, as it were, and knowing the exact age when this child died, makes it so much more real.

As a Christian, I'm reminded how un-natural death is.

I wonder about Martial's family: were they polytheists - as were most Romans - or were they followers of the one true God? Did they have a hope in eternity? Of life beyond the grave? Of the resurrection of the death?

The bust of Martial is a reminder to me that the Christianity of the 1st and 2nd centuries wasn't simply an ethical code or a way to pass an hour on a Sunday morning. It was - and is - based on the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christians of Martial's day were so convinced of this fact that they were willing to lay down their very lives for it.

I wonder if Martial's family had this same hope - or knew anyone who did.

Next to the bust of Martial, is another bust of a young boy from North Africa. We know much less about him (no inscription). My question here is how was the artist able to sculpt the marble of the boy's hair so intricately and realistically? Amazing.


Also interesting is that while Martial, who was European, was a slave, this young boy from North Africa was free. Unlike the New World, slavery in the Roman Empire wasn't based on race.


There's lots and lots to see in the Getty Villa, including these busts of wealthy or influential Romans (aka dead white males). These were the men who called the shots 2000 years ago (kind of like J. Paul Getty) ... but I was strangely moved by a little boy not yet three years old.

More on the Getty Villa in the next post.

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Great for Kids: The Getty Villa, Part II

The Getty Villa is a great place for kids.

We've been there several times as a family, and - trust me - if you have kids you'll want to spring for the $5 headsets. Worth every penny.


"Meet Herakles, the Super Hero of Ancient Greece" begins the narration especially designed for kids. Throughout the museum, our kids would tune into the specially designed kids' track on the headphones and listen along. In all honesty, I found the adult track of the same things a little dry and ended up listening to the kids version as well.

By the way, the entire museum was designed around this statue of Herakles (whom we know as Hercules).


The headsets made even little displays like this pottery behind glass interesting.


After lunch we turned in the headsets and headed over the "family room" - another real hit with our kids.


My son working on a Greek urn. Too bad the Greeks didn't have erasable markers. It would have made life so much easier.


My daughter working on a Greek urn as well. Hands on is always great with kids.


We were there on a Thursday. Weekends can be a bit more crowded.


Afterwards we explored the gardens. More on that in a bit.

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Mosaics: The Getty Villa, Part III

One of my personal favorites at the Getty Villa is the tile mosaics. I honestly forgot to write down (or photograph) the information of where these are from, or how old they are. Based on everything else in the museum, my guess would be that they're at least eighteen hundred years old.

I find the ability to make such lifelike images from pieces of colored tiles amazing.


While I'm impressed with marble statutes, the color mosaics remind me that the men and women of ancient Rome were real people, with real lives, real problems. This was the world in which the Christian church grew and developed.


Who were these men and women? What were their lives like? What were there religious beliefs like? Did Christianity have an influence in their city or village, among anyone they knew, or in their own lives?

More on the gardens and the museum itself in the next post.

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Gardens & Columns: The Getty Villa, Part IV

What's unique about the Getty Villa is that the buildings that house the artwork are part of the museum experience as well. This is the Inner Courtyard (or Peristyle) and the first view when you enter the museum.


The Getty Villa opened in 1974 as the original Getty Museum. When the larger Getty Center opened in 1997, the Villa was remodeled and reopened in 2006 with a focus exclusively on Greek and Roman Antiquities. Here's a link to a post on the Getty Center: http://zagrodny.blogspot.com/2008/07/finding-christ-at-getty.html


The Getty Villa is a a re-creation of the Villa of Papri at Herculaneum (near Pompeii) which was buried under tons of ash at the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.


The details of the buildings, fountains, and gardens are amazing.


The East Fountain.


The Outer Peristyle, looking north toward the main building.


Looking toward the Pacific Ocean (unfortunately barely visible in this photo) and the Villa de Leon. The Villa de Leon sits just above the Pacific Coast Highway, and is often misidentified as the Getty Villa. Here's some info from a previous blog entry: http://zagrodny.blogspot.com/2008/11/not-getty_18.html


Another view of the Outer Peristyle, this time looking south towards the ocean.


The small lily pond.


A final look across Inner Courtyard, looking back towards the entrance.

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Getting There: The Getty Villa, Part V

Getty to the Getty Villa is easy, but there are a few things you need to know.

First: admission is free. That's right. Free - every day the museum is open.


Second, you need to make a parking reservation ahead of time.

This can be done on-line http://www.getty.edu/ or over the phone (310) 440-7300.

But you can't just show up and expect to get in. And, yes, they really do check (above).


Third, while admission is free - parking isn't. It now costs $15 per vehicle to park.


And, no, you can't park in the neighborhood and walk in. The only walk-ins allowed are people coming in by public bus or taxi. And, yes, they really check. Traveling with kids, we just made parking reservations and paid the $15.


Walking toward the entrance. Fourth, be sure and pick up a map, and schedule of the free tours, and - if you have kids - the guides for children.


Here's the main entrance to the museum.


I stopped and took a photo of the incredible marble tile work just before walking in at the entrance. Wow.


This is your first view as you enter. Fifth, I highly recommend the headsets rentals (esp if you have kids kids) which are found to the left.

As an aside, the Getty Villa refers to itself as being in Malibu, but it's actually located within the in the City of Los Angeles (in Pacific Palisades). In fact, the Malibu city border begins a mile west of the Villa.


Sixth, and finally, don't forget a camera.

Whether you live here in Los Angeles, or are an out of town guest, it's definitely worth a visit. http://www.getty.edu/

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Drive Safely

A few months ago my wife and I were driving north on Fairfax (next to the Peterson Automotive Museum) and noticed that the guy in the lane next to us was driving around in a car without doors.

Hmm, is this even legal?



This is at the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Fairfax, with the old May Company department store in view, heading north.

Both these pictures were taken through the front windsheld of my car.

Decided it best not to pull right up to the guy to try and get a better shot.

Welcome to L.A.

Drive safely

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Bruin Theater, Westwood Village

The Bruin Theater, Westwood Village, Wednesday Night Oct 14, 2009.

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According to http://www.cinematreasures.org/: The Mann Bruin opened in 1936 with 670 seats. Small, but elegant, this theater is often seen in the backdrop of movie premieres taking place across the street at the Mann Village Theater.

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Its wrap-around marquee can be seen from all four streets which intesect at the theater.

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Mann has announced in August 2009, that the company will no longer operate the Bruin Theatre as of March 2010. The Bruin Theatre may then go dark, awaiting another use.

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Pico and Sepulveda: an Intersection, a Song, or a Couple of People?

A trip to the local lumber yard normally would not warrent a blog entry, except that Anawalt Lumber is located at the corner of Pico and Sepulveda.


Pico Blvd travels east - west from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean 16 miles away.


Sepulveda Blvd travels north - south from the edge of the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. At over 42 miles, it's the longest street in Los Angeles.


Looking northwest: as you can see, there is absolutely nothing unusual to see at the intersection of Pico and Sepulveda.

However, this being Los Angeles, the 1947 song "Pico and Sepulveda" by bandleader Freddy Martin took an obscure interection ... and turned it into an obscure song. That is until Dr. Demento (a locally based DJ featuring off beat, odd, and humerous songs) made it a regular staple of his nationally syndicated show.



Pico and Sepulvdea (the song, not the intersection) actually has a catchy little tune. It was featured a a 90 second clip from the 1980 film "Forbidden Zone" (1980).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znHA1rYxmN4



A search on YouTube yielded another - actually more entertaining - version of the song. My kids like this rendition of of "Pico and Sepulveda" even more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98BR1DYrkg.

The song celebrates various place names in Los Angeles - many of which are mispronounced by visitors or new comers.


Pico (the person, not the street) was none other than Pio Pico (1801-1894), the last Mexican governor of California. Here's a little info for all you California history buffs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%ADo_Pico


Sepulveda (again, the person, not the street) was Francisco Sepulveda (1775 - 1853) a member of the influential Sepulveda family.

At one time Francisco Sepulvdea owned a 50 square mile cattle ranch in what is now Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and West Los Angeles. More info about the Sepulveda family can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Xavier_Sepulveda


Back at Pico and Sepulveda, this time looking west on Pico towards the San Diego Frwy.


The individuals may be interesting, the song may have a catchy tune, but unless you're in need of some lumber or something across the street at the mini-mall, Pico and Sepulveda is not a destination.

In another L.A. moment, I noticed a double decked tour bus at the intersection. The add for the HBO ad "Bored to Death" seemed to take on a double meaning.

No doubt those out of town guests are asking themselves: "why are we here?"

Hopefully, on their way to the beach.

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Seeing Stars Above Hollywood: An Hour at the Griffith Observatory

A few weeks ago I had a chance to make a brief visit to the Griffith Observatory, located in Griffith Park in the Hollywood Hills.

The Observatory originally opened in 1935 and recently underwent a massive restoration project.

It's back to it's former glory and well worth a visit. Plus, admission and parking are both free. Nice.


Outside of the Observatory is a large statue featuring Newton, Copernicus, Galileo and other astronomers.


Inside you'll find a Foucault Pendulum. It's movement is based on the earth's rotation.


There's also some incredible murals, including this ceiling fresco in the central rotunda.


There are numerous displays on the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" wrote the Psalmist.

As a Christian, I'm reminded how the night sky and the universe itself points to a Creator.

One hundred years ago, the majority of astronomers believed the universe to be eternal. The Big Band theory, now the accepted understanding of the origin of the universe, shattered that long held belief in an eternal universe, and sounds strangely like Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."


Over the years, I've appreciated hearing from and interacting with university level scientists who've found that the scientific evidence actually points to a Creator.

While the Griffith Observatory doesn't formallly make mention of the existence of "The Beginner" - that is, the One who began it all - it does acknowlege "The Beginning" - what is known as the Big Bang.

In terms of the history of science, this is both a relatively new, yet very ancient, understanding of the origin of the universe.

More displays, this section on the sun and stars.

I understand the Observatory is at lot more crowded in the evenings, especially on weekends. The last time I was up here at night was for "Laserium" (anyone remember that?) in the mid-1970's.

Still more displays downstairs. This focuses on our solar system. There's a lot more to see, including an excellent planetium show which my wife and kids and I saw last year.


Outside, much of the building is accessable. The Observatory sits on a hillside on the eastern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, and is visible for miles away.


There are also some incredible views of the city, which alone make it worth a visit. This is looking past Hollywood towards downtown Los Angeles - about eight miles away.


A group of German tourists enjoying a view of the Hollywood sign on nearby Mt. Lee.

Years ago I actually hiked up to the Hollywood sign, something I would not recommend today. Subject for another blog entry.


A final thought from one of the statuary astronomers standing at the entrance to the Griffith Observatory:

"No sciences are better attested to than the science of the Bible ... This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.... This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God." Sir Isaac Newton; Principles.

More information on the Griffith Observatory can be found at: http://www.griffithobs.org/

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