Dinner at the Lakeside Cafe in Encino

Dinner at the Lakeside Cafe in Encino, California

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Dinner at the Lakeside Cafe in Encino, California

It’s Thursday night and let’s go out to dinner!
Chinese? Japanese? Deli? Where do you want to go?
I don’t know, someplace different.
Okay, ….

How about the Lakeside Cafe in Encino?

We went there one time for dinner a long time ago, it was soon after they opened in the old El Torito building on Ventura Boulevard (just east of Balboa Blvd) adjacent to Los Encinos State Historic Park with a fantastic view of the lake.

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Los Encinos State Historic Park

Los Encinos State Historic Park

El Torito Mexican restaurant had been in the same space for years and was an Encino “constant”! After they closed, a couple of other restaurant/bar/club ventures tried to make a “go” of it and failed. And now the tenant is the Lakeside Cafe, a combination coffee house and bar-restaurant and now also a performance space with live jazz and other music.

El Torito Mexican Restaurant

We went there just for dinner at about 6:30pm. They have Valet Parking for $3.00 in a lot off Ventura and there’s metered street parking that operates 8am-8pm everyday except Sunday. We found a spot on the street and entered through the Valet lot entrance (there’s also an entrance on Ventura).

 

The “Front-of-House” on Ventura is set up like a coffee house.

Lakeside Cafe “Front-of-House” on Ventura Blvd – Coffee House

 

You can enter the restaurant from Ventura Blvd through the coffee house area and center room. There is additional inside table seating here away from the bar area.

Lakeside Cafe Center Room, Host Desk Entrance from Valet Lot, Additional Indoor Tables and the Waiting Area as seen from Coffee House side

If you enter through the Valet lot you walk into the center room and arrive at the Host desk and the waiting area. There are couches, a coffee table and benches for additional seating against the wall.

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Center Room & Waiting Area

Center Room, Waiting Area and Coffee House

Center Room Guest Desk

There is a side guest table as well. Would you care for some literature?

Lakeside Cafe Promotional Material

Lakeside Cafe Promo Card

Lakeside Cafe Promotional Material

Sunday Brunch, Happy Hour 3pm-6pm, Live Jazz on Saturdays and the Catering Menu are featured on the promotional material available on the guest table, on your table and inside the menu. Quality marketing and promotion is good business (direct to customer inside the restaurant).

The Dining Room, the Bar and the Outdoor Deck Patio on the Lake

The restaurant’s dining room is open to the elements because of the outdoor seating and deck. It was a lovely evening, the doors were open, but as the sun set it got cooler, and then colder due to its location on the lake. We knew this was inevitable and we decided to sit inside the bar area dining room away from the doors when we arrived.

There was a good crowd, but it wasn’t too crowded when we arrived. They have it set up as a “cafe” with wood 4-top tables and nice chairs in the dining room. On our previous visit we sat at a bar table on tall stools and it was not comfortable. The dining areas are wide open, so it has a cafeteria vibe where you’re eating with everyone in the room. Also, there are only hard surfaces indoors (wood floor and glass windows), so it gets really loud inside even when it’s not crowded. I would not recommend trying to have a romantic dinner inside, although it might be nice place for a rendezvous outside during the afternoon or on a warm summer night.

There is a small covered outdoor deck patio, which is separate from the other outdoor seating by the lake. It would be nice for having a small private cocktail or dinner party.

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The Dining Room

The Bar in the Dining Room

Wine Selection in the Bar/Dining Room

Outdoor Patio Deck on the Lake

The Bar at the Lakeside Cafe

The Bar at the Lakeside Cafe

They have a very nice bar, unfortunately it takes up a lot of space in the Dining Room area, and makes the dining room part of the bar area, adding a lot of traffic and noise to the room.

NOTE: There is a DISCLAIMER NOTICE in the menu!

Read the DISCLAIMER in the Menu!

 

 

Outdoor Seating – Dining Al Fresco on the Lake!

The Lake and the Dining Room Entrance from the Outdoor Seating Area

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Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Seating

There’s outdoor seating by the lake, which is a beautiful place to dine al fresco on a warm San Fernando Valley day or night. Be sure to read the Disclaimer in the menu though!

The Dinner Menu and Bar Offerings:

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Cocktails $12?
It’s a nice place, but they have “westside” prices in the heart of the valley!
The food was good, but their food items and drinks are expensive compared to many other neighborhood restaurants, which is probably the reason we haven’t been back since the first time we ate here. We most likely would have ordered drinks otherwise.

On The Menu: fried calamari, a Santa Fe salad, fettucine chicken alfredo and a coke

Fried Calamari w/lemon, marinara sauce & aoli

Santa Fe Salad

Fettucine Chicken Alfredo

The calamari was excellent, lightly fried and crispy/chewy! The Santa Fe salad was good, but The Cheesecake Factory’s salad dressing is the standard to which all other Santa Fe salads are compared. This one “not as good”. And the fettucine chicken alfredo was tasty, but just a little bland. The thin sliced chicken and pasta was cooked perfectly, which is sometimes hard to accomplish with a pasta sauce. The service was only okay, it was a little scattered and could have and should have been better. Our entrees arrived pretty soon after the appetizer (while we were still eating the calamari), which is good for fast service, but bad in relation to “timing the meal”. Nothing to really be upset about though.

According to the literature, they have Sunday Brunch and Happy Hour at the bar 3pm-6pm. They have live music on Saturdays and they do catering too.

Here’s their Catering Menu:

Lakeside Cafe Catering Menu

Lakeside Cafe – 16817 Ventura Blvd., Encino, California 91436
818-616-2430  www.lakesidecafe.com @LakesideEncino

Read our previous Blog Los Encinos Park

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Visit & Win at the Lakeside Cafe!

READ THIS! Former National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis’ message regarding Trump:

READ THIS!

From the Association of National Park Rangers (US)

Former National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis’ message regarding Trump:

This morning former Director Jon Jarvis made this statement about recent events involving the National Park Service:

“I have been watching the Trump administration trying unsuccessfully to suppress the National Park Service with a mix of pride and amusement. The NPS is the steward of America’s most important places and the narrator of our most powerful stories, told authentically, accurately, and built upon scientific and scholarly research. The Park Ranger is a trusted interpreter of our complex natural and cultural history and a voice that cannot not be suppressed. Edicts from on-high have directed the NPS to not talk about “national policy”, but permission is granted to use social media for visitor center hours and safety. The ridiculousness of such a directive was immediately resisted and I am not the least bit surprised. So at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta should we not talk about his actions to secure the rights to vote for African Americans in the south, or is that too “national policy”? At Stonewall National Monument in New York City, shall we only talk about the hours you can visit the Inn or is it “national policy” to interpret the events there in 1969 that gave rise to the LGBT movement? Shall we only talk about the historic architecture of the Washington, DC home of Alice Paul and Alva Belmont or is it too “national policy” to suggest their decades of effort to secure the rights of women can be linked directly to the women’s marches in hundreds of cities last weekend? And as we scientifically monitor the rapid decline of glaciers in Glacier National Park, a clear and troubling indicator of a warming planet, shall we refrain from telling this story to the public because the administration views climate change as “national policy”? These are not “policy” issues, they are facts about our nation, it is how we learn and strive to achieve the ideals of our founding documents. To talk about these facts is core to the mission of the NPS. During the Centennial of the National Park Service, we hosted over 300 million visitors (now that is huge) to the National Parks and most came away inspired, patriotic and ready to speak on behalf of the values we hold most dear. The new Administration would be wise to figure out how to support the National Park Service, its extraordinary employees and their millions of fans.”

—————————————————————

Kilauea meets the sea. Volcanoes National Park – Big Island Hawaii

JOIN NOW! You don’t have to be a park ranger to “Like” what they stand for – or even to join ANPR as a full-fledged member! The have categories for park employees, students and park supporters. http://www.anpr.org (RIGHT CLICK and “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)

NOTE: A freeze on federal government hiring was instituted on January 24, 2017 by executive order. The memo, which does not apply to military personnel, states that “no vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017, may be filled and no new positions may be created, except in limited circumstances”

Trump put a freeze on federal government hiring, and it could seriously impact the National Park Service and the need to hire thousands of seasonal rangers and other employees for the summer! Beyond seasonal positions, there are many permanent positions that parks are trying to fill and people who have already been offered permanent jobs but haven’t begun working… this will definitely affect the visitor experience and park safety!

Waimoku Falls – Haleakala National Park in Hana-Maui, Hawaii

DON’T LET THEM SELL OUR FEDERAL LANDS
TO THE LOGGING, MINING & OIL COMPANIES!

PROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT!
CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL! (NOT A HOAX)

http://www.sierraclub.org

“O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties. Above the fruited plain! 
America! America! G-d shed his grace on thee.”
– America the Beautiful

from a poem written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1893
(after a visit to Pikes Peak in Colorado)
music composed by Samuel A. Ward
–
Pikes Peak, named in honor of American explorer Zebulon Pike, is one of the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The 14,115-foot mountain top is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles southwest of downtown Colorado Springs. The summit of Pikes Peak is a high alpine environment with a polar climate due to its elevation. Snowfall is possible year round at the top and thunderstorms are common in the summertime. Pikes Peak, above 14000 feet, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
–
http://www.nps.gov

JoshWillTravel in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias – Yosemite National Park

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JoshWillTravel in Yosemite National Park (Wawona Tunnel Picture Point)

 

PARTY AT GROUND ZERO!

PARTY AT GROUND ZERO!
written by Angelo Moore, Kendall Jones and John Norwood Fisher of Fishbone in 1985

FISHBONE!

Fishbone! “Party At Ground Zero” music video directed by Henry Selick in 1985:

And Fishbone “Party At Ground Zero” LIVE at Fenders Ballroom, Long Beach, CA in 1987:

The song is about “Dancing around Armageddon” and having a good time without worry or concern….

Party at ground zero – A “B” movie starring you
And the world will turn to flowing – Pink vapor stew!
Johnny, go get your gun, for the commies are in our hemisphere today
Ivan, go fly your MIG, for the Yankee imperialists have come to play
Johnny goes to Sally’s house to kiss her goodbye
But Daddy says to spend the night
They make love ’till the early morning light
For tomorrow Johnny goes to fight
Johnny, Ivan, Ian, everybody come along for our nations need new heroes
Time to sing a new war song
[CHORUS]
Please do not fear ’cause Fishbone is here to say (say what?)
Just have a good time the stop sign is far away
The toilet has flushed and green lights are a ghost
And drop drills will be extinct
Speedracer cloud has come
They know not what they’ve done
Sin has just won
The planet is a crumb…
[CHORUS]

The term “Ground Zero” is generally used to mean the point directly above or below the earth’s surface closest to the detonation when a nuclear explosion takes place. The term is also used to mark the point of the most severe damage or destruction.

Inauguration Day has taken place on January 20 every year following a presidential election since 1937. Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017 around noon on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol. The president-elect and vice president-elect will both take the Oath of Office, followed by the inaugural address and the presidential procession and inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

The United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
– The Oath of Office of the President of the United States (as mandated by the United States Constitution in Article II, Section One, Clause 8)

More than 50 House Democrats are planning to boycott the inauguration in Washington D.C. after Trump’s divisive campaign, and most recently his twitter attack this week on civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis (after he called Trump’s victory illegitimate due to Russian interference in the election). And 200,000+ people are also expected in the city the day after for the Women’s March on Washington to protest Trump’s election.

Trump is scheduled to be sworn in on January 20, 2017

Our Thoughts on Trump’s Inauguration:

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government elected by the citizens (well, actually the Electoral College) of the United States of America to a four year term of office. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces the most expensive military (with the second largest nuclear arsenal) in the world.

TELL THE USA TO DUMP TRUMP!
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NOTE: During the Cold War, a snack bar that used to be located in the open space in the center of the Pentagon was nicknamed “Cafe Ground Zero, the deadliest hot dog stand in the world.” Soviet satellites saw groups of military officers entering and exiting the hot dog stand at about the same time every day. They concluded that the stand was the entrance to an underground bunker.

The Pentagon – Arlington, Virginia

“Rumor has it that during the Cold War the Russians never had any less than two missiles aimed at this hot dog stand. They thought this was the Pentagon’s most top secret meeting room, and the entire Pentagon was a large fortress built around this hot dog stand. They thought the officers were going to get their top secret briefings in a protected area, but really they were just going to get lunch” – Brett Eaton, an information and communications officer for Washington Headquarters Services

Cafe Ground Zero was torn down in 2006 and a new building was built in its place. The Pentagon was declared a national historic landmark in 1992 and the courtyard is one of five historically protected features of the building. The hot dog stand was replaced by a modern building of roughly the same size and exactly the same shape.

Cafe Ground Zero at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia (torn down in 2006)

The New Building: The Center Courtyard Cafe at the Pentagon (opened in 2008)

Construction of the Pentagon was completed in approximately 16 months at a total cost of $83 million. Ground was broken September 11, 1941 and the building was dedicated on January 15, 1943. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Designed by American architect George Bergstrom (1876–1955), the building is 77 ft tall, and each of the five sides of the building is 921 ft long  with a five-acre central plaza. It has five floors above ground and two basement levels. One of the world’s largest office buildings, the total square footage is about 6,500,000 square feet. More than half, 3,700,000 square feet is office space. The concentric rings are designated “A” through “E” from the center out with additional “F” and “G” rings in the basement. “E” Ring offices have the outside view and are generally occupied by senior officials. Supposedly, it’s possible for a person to walk between any two points in the Pentagon in less than seven minutes.

The Pentagon After 9/11

On September 11, 2001, exactly 60 years after the building’s construction began, American Airlines Flight Flight 77 (from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport) was hijacked and deliberately flown into the west side of the Pentagon at 9:37am, killing 189 people according to the official report. 59 civilians and 5 terrorists on the airplane were killed, as were 70 civilians and 55 military personnel in the building. The damaged sections of the Pentagon were rebuilt in 2002 and the occupants moved back in August. The America‘s Heroes Memorial and a chapel opened in 2002 and is located where Flight 77 crashed into the building. The Memorial is open seven days a week, year-round and is the only place at the Pentagon where photography is permitted.

The American Flag on the Pentagon for the 6th Anniversary of 9/11

After the attack on 9-11, the destroyed World Trade Center’s 15 acre site in New York City became known as “Ground Zero” and is now the new The World Trade Center and the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.

“Ground Zero” after 9-11 at the World Trade Center in New York City

 

Views from the WTC in 1994:

Manhattan from the World Trade Center – New York City 1994

New York City – View from the top of the World Trade Center 

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – New York and New Jersey

 

September 11, 2001 – NEVER FORGET!

 

ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER

One World Trade Center (aka “Freedom Tower”) – New York City

National September 11th Memorial – New York City

September 11, 2001

Armageddon as it is written in the Book of Revelation (the last book of the Bible’s New Testament) is the prophesied location of the gathering of armies for a final battle during the end times. According to the Book of Revelation, the purpose of this gathering of kings in the “place called Armageddon” is “for the war of the great day of G-d, the Almighty.” Also called the “Revelation to John” or the “Apocalypse” it is interpreted as either a literal or a symbolic location. The term is also used to refer to any “end of the world” scenario and the climax of the ongoing struggle between good and evil.

NOTE: In religion and theology, a revelation is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth or knowledge through communication with a deity or other supernatural entity.

Tell me who’s that writin’? John the Revelator
Tell me who’s that writin’? John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’? John the Revelator…wrote the book of the seven seals!
– ” John The Revelator” by Son House

Sam Moore as Reverend Morris at the Revival Meeting in the film “Blues Brothers 2000”:

 

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USA! The United States of America!

 

 

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Party at the Culver Hotel in Culver City

Graduation and Dinner Party at the Culver Hotel in Culver City on Sunday night!

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The Culver Hotel in Culver City, California

A beautiful Sunday evening in Los Angeles and an invitation to a Graduation and Dinner Party at the historic Culver Hotel in Culver City, California.

The Culver Hotel and The Lion’s Fountain in Culver City

The party was called for 6pm, so we left the San Fernando Valley a little after 5 o’clock, and drove the 405 freeway to the Venice Blvd exit and into Culver City. We decided not to valet park or park in the public parking structures, so we drove around for a little while and finally nabbed street parking at a metered space. The meters don’t run on Sunday, so we took a short walk and arrived at our destination right on time.

The 405 Freeway south (through a dirty windshield):

The Getty Museum

Joie De Vivre Hotel at Sunset

Office Towers at Santa Monica Blvd

Exit at Venice Blvd/Washington Pl

Downtown Culver City (founded 1917)

The intersection of Washington Blvd and Culver Blvd in downtown Culver City.

View of Washington Blvd & Culver Blvd in Culver City from Harry Culver’s Office

Parking Sucks! There is metered street parking and there are public parking structures in Downtown Culver City (first hour free, then $1.00 every 30 minutes) in case you don’t want to valet park. However, you don’t have to pay to park at the meters on Sunday, so if you can find a space on the street, you’re golden. Be sure to check the signs carefully, because there are many restrictions and some other strange valet parking rules.

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Walk With Me: Sunday Evening in Downtown Culver City!

 

The Historic Culver Hotel 1924 Six Story Flatiron Brick Building

The Culver Hotel in Culver City, California

National Registry of Historic Places 1997

The Culver Hotel in Culver City, California

 

 

Built by Harry Culver, the founder of Culver City. Originally named the Hotel Hunt and later known as the Culver City Hotel. Culver had offices on the second floor of the hotel.

Harry Culver’s Office (Then)

Harry Culver’s Office (Now)

Stairs up to the 2nd floor

2nd floor Lobby & Gallery

Harry Culver’s 2nd floor

Harry Culver’s 2nd floor

Culver City became a movie-making mecca in the 1920s and was the home of MGM Studios. Many legendary Hollywood stars maintained private residences and cast members from classic films like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz  (including the 124 actors who played the Munchkins) were guests of the hotel.

The hotel was later owned by Charlie Chaplin. Legend has it Chaplin lost the property in a poker game to John Wayne, who owned the hotel for several years and eventually donated it to the YMCA.  The property fell into disrepair, was boarded up for a time and almost demolished in the 1980s.

Dwight D. Eisenhower had a Presidential campaign office in the hotel in 1952.

The Culver Hotel was restored and reopened by Lou Catlett in the mid 90’s and was then purchased by Abraham Hu who ran it for several years until 2007, when he sold it to the Mallick family. Since 2007, the entire plumbing and electrical systems have been upgraded and the guestrooms and the public spaces have been redone, all 140 handmade windows in the guest rooms have been replaced while maintaining the property’s history and architectural integrity.

ICP Graduation 2016 and Dinner Party on the 2nd Floor

 

Diplomas were awarded and Speeches were made before Dinner

6pm Reception, Cocktail Hour & Hors d’oeuvres
7pm Welcome, Introduction, Graduation Speaker & Graduation
8pm Dinner & 9pm Dessert (with a brief award presentation in between)

On The Menu: Tray passed appetizers: mac’n’cheese, tuna poke with wasabi cream cheese and bruschetta with cream cheese & tomato; red wine, Buffet: chicken, salmon, pasta in red sauce, roasted cauliflower/broccolini/root vegetables and a coke; Dessert: mini cannoli and macaroons….didn’t stay for coffee.

Party at the Culver Hotel in Culver City

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Tuna Poke with wasabi cream cheese

Mini Mac’n’Cheese

Buffet Dinner

Mini Cannolis & Macaroons

 

The Ground Floor Lobby and Bar are used for special events. There was a wedding in progress and we took a couple pictures on our way out.

Culver Hotel – 9400 Culver Blvd Culver City, CA 90232

All Photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel

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Moonstone Beach – Cambria, California

Moonstone Beach – Cambria, California

Saturday Evening and Sunday Afternoon at the Pacific Ocean in Cambria.

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Pacific Ocean View, Big Sur, California (not my pic)

We have combined the pics from previous blogs and added new pics into this one.
This Blog was just UPDATED April 9, 2017.

Hearst San Simeon California State Park owns and controls most of the waterfront property along the 20-mile segment of Highway 1 north of Cambria on the Central Coast as well as Hearst Castle and the surrounding land. There are thirteen different beautiful, uncrowded and remote “hidden gem” beaches in northern San Luis Obispo County and southern Monterey County between Cambria and Big Sur.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

Moonstone Beach is a California State Park and part of Hearst San Simeon State Park. It runs along Moonstone Beach Drive and parallels Highway 1 in Cambria. The shoreline is made up of brown sandy beaches and coves separated by rocky headlands. On the beach, there are a number of natural ocean tide pools filled with marine life, and in the park there are easy hiking trails and an abundance of natural flora and fauna.

NOTE: Dogs are allowed on-leash on the trails and the boardwalk, but not on the beach!

SATURDAY EVENING

Marine Layer Rolling In Over Cambria and the Pacific Ocean on Saturday Evening

Moonstone Beach was the end of a long road trip from Ashland, Oregon. We left in the morning without a destination and arrived in Cambria at sunset. The marine layer and heavy fog had rolled in as we were coming down Highway 46 from the mountains, so there were gray skies and it was chilly outside the car when we reached the ocean.

NOTE: Read the previous Blogs about our Spring 2016 Oregon Roadtrip, Historic Cambria, the Vault Gallery and the Bluebird Inn in Cambria (see the links below)

Sunset at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

We parked the car at the Beach next to the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. The marine layer was over the ocean and there was only a thin line of orange on the horizon as the sun went down over the ocean, but it was really beautiful as we watched the sunset.

Sunset at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

The one and a half mile long boardwalk runs the length of Moonstone Beach along the bluff top and walking it is a great way to experience the beauty of the Pacific Coastline.

The Boardwalk at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

There is easy access to the sandy beach via stairs down from the bluffs and there are many wooden benches along the Boardwalk to just sit and enjoy the view.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

As the sun set, we called and found a room was available at the Bluebird Inn. We had a very nice dinner at Robin’s restaurant and went for drinks afterwards at the Cambria Pub and Mozzi’s Saloon and then stayed the night at the motel.

Read the Previous Blog! (RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)
Saturday Night at The Bluebird Inn Motel in Cambria http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3gi

NOTE: There is not much to do after 9pm in Cambria. There is no real nightlife, except for a few bars and restaurants that stay open late.

The Bluebird Inn Motel

The Bluebird Inn Motel

The Bluebird Inn Motel

The Bluebird Inn Motel

Dinner at Robin’s Restaurant in Cambria

Cambria Pub & Steakhouse

Mozzi’s Saloon at night

Cambria After Dark

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

After a good night’s rest and the morning breakfast buffet at the Bluebird Inn, we spent the early part of the day walking around downtown Cambria exploring historical sites and visiting shops and galleries (Read our previous Blogs).

The Bluebird Inn Motel

Old Santa Rosa Chapel

Old Santa Rosa Chapel

Old Santa Rosa Cemetery

Greenspace & Chinese Temple

Greenspace & Chinese Temple

Vault Gallery in the Old Bank of Cambria 1928

Country Collectibles Antiques

Sweet Offerings Confectioners

Read the Previous Blogs! (RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)
Sweet Offerings Confectionary in Cambria, California! http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3ik

It was still overcast, so we decided not to drive north to Big Sur. Instead, some time after noon, we walked back to the car at the motel and then drove down to Moonstone Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

Moonstone State Beach in Cambria, California

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

SEAGULLS!

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

 

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

Moonstone Beach – Parking Lot and Picnic Area

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SQUIRREL! “Hey, nice marmot!”
They Have No Fear! Please DO NOT feed the wildlife!

SQUIRREL! No Fear! Please DO NOT feed the wildlife!

This little squirrel tried to “panhandle” us in the parking lot!
It came right up (not even 3 feet away) and posed for these pictures exhibiting little fear of people and obviously looking for some food from the tourists…
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, consisting of small or medium-size rodents. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs.

That word “squirrel” first specified in 1327, comes from the Anglo-Norman esquirel which is from the Old French escurel, the reflex of a Latin word sciurus. This Latin word was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word σκίουρος, skiouros, which means shadow-tailed, referring to the bushy appendage possessed by many of its members.

The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula. “Beechey’s Marmot” (named after Frederick William Beechey, an early 19th-century British explorer and naval officer) is common in Oregon and California and its range has relatively recently extended into Washington and northwestern Nevada.

California ground squirrels live in burrows which they excavate themselves. Some burrows are occupied communally but each individual squirrel has its own entrance. They readily become tame in areas used by humans and quickly learn to take food left or offered by people. They spend most of their time within 82 feet of their burrow and rarely go further than 160 feet from it. The squirrel’s fur contains a mixture of gray, light brown and dusky hairs; the underside is lighter, buff or grayish yellow. The fur around the eyes is whitish and around the ears is black. Head and body are about 12 inches long and the bushy tail an additional 6 inches.

Squirrel! No Fear! Please don’t feed the wildlife!

 

TRAVEL ALERT!
Highway 1 IS CLOSED! Pacific Coast Highway from Cambria to Big Sur!

 

HIGHWAY 1 NEAR BIG SUR IS CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE!

There are currently temporary closures on Highway 1 after winter storms damaged the coastal road again. The highway north of Big Sur has reopened but a full closure due to landslides (Paul’s Slide) near the town of Lucia will continue for at least four to six more weeks. The highway continues to deteriorate at Mud Creek near the town of Gorda as slide activity continues. It is currently closed there and it is also closed at Ragged Point, 24 miles north of Cambria. They remain closed to travelers according to Caltrans as of April 4, 2017. Caltrans completed demolition on the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge just south of Big Sur Station on March 20 after the bridge failed in mid-February and is planning to build a replacement bridge. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, the only road that cuts through the Santa Lucia Mountains from Highway 101 and allows access to Big Sur, reopened in late March.

Big Creek Bridge and Cove – Big Sur, California (not my pic)

Moonstone Beach at Hearst San Simeon State Park –
6216 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria, CA
Free parking along Moonstone Beach Drive and in the park parking lot.
NOTE: Bring a sweater or jacket! It can get cold, even in Summer.

Read the Previous Blogs!
(RIGHT CLICK AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW”)
Master Blog! Spring Roadtrip 2016 to Ashland Oregon! http://wp.me/p3dhVM-35M
Seagulls! Moonstone Beach in Cambria http://wp.me/s3dhVM-seagulls
The Bluebird Inn Motel in Cambria http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3gi
Historic Downtown Cambria, California http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3yI
The Vault Gallery in Cambria, California http://wp.me/p3dhVM-4lQ
Sweet Offerings Confectionary in Cambria, California! http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3ik

Hearst Castle website: http://www.hearstcastle.org

All Photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel

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Pacific Ocean at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

 

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

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Historic Downtown Cambria, California

Historic Downtown Cambria, California

Sunday afternoon on our walk around Cambria we discovered a lot of history!

So, we took a lot of pictures. Here’s a Blog with pictures of some of the historic buildings we saw: the Santa Rosa Church Chapel and Cemetery, the Cambria Historical Museum inside the Guthrie-Bianchini House, the Cambria Chinese Temple & Greenspace Creekside Reserve are functioning tourist attractions, while the Bluebird Inn Motel, the Bonomi House, the Taylor House, the Squibb House and many others have been restored and repurposed as commercial buildings housing retail businesses.

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Chapel and Cemetery 1870

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Chapel in Cambria, California 1870

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Chapel in Cambria, California 1870

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

 

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Cemetery in Cambria, California 1870

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Cemetery in Cambria, California 1870

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

Santa Rosa Catholic Church Cemetery in Cambria

Cambria Historical Museum inside the Guthrie-Bianchini House 1870

Cambria Historical Museum in the Guthrie-Bianchini House 1870

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

 

Guthrie-Bianchini House Kitchen Well 1870

Cambria Chinese Temple & Greenspace Creekside Reserve

Chinese Temple in Downtown Cambria, California

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

Greenspace & Chinese Temple

Well, well, well… (filled in so no one falls in)

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

Greenspace & Chinese Temple

Cambria Chinese Temple & Greenspace Creekside Reserve

The Bluebird Inn Motel 1870 (see our previous Blog about the Bluebird Inn Motel)

The Bluebird Inn Motel Office and Lobby 1870

 

The Bluebird Inn Motel Office and Lobby 1870

The Bluebird Inn Motel Lobby with Stone Fireplace 1870

Some Other Historic Buildings in Downtown Cambria

CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!

Bank of Cambria 1928

Vault Gallery in the Old Bank of Cambria 1928

Bonomi House 1939

Bonomi House 1939

Taylor House 1876

Taylor House 1876

Squibb House 1877

Squibb House 1877

Camozzi’s 1922

Mozzi’s Saloon at night

 

All photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel

RIGHT CLICK and “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW LINKS>

Spring Roadtrip 2016 to Ashland Oregon! http://wp.me/p3dhVM-35M

Saturday Night at The Bluebird Inn Motel in Cambria http://wp.me/p3dhVM-3gi

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Cambria, California – Clock 1867

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See Southern Oregon! (btw Sacramento CA & Bend OR)

Travel Answers about Southern Oregon!

Visit our Ashland, Oregon facebook page: www.facebook.com/theatreinashland

Q: What is a must see between Sacramento, CA and Bend, OR?

My husband and I will be driving from Sacramento, CA, to Bend, OR, in early August, what are some must sees along the way?  I just discovered the Mt Shasta Lavender Farm will be closed for the season August 4 the day we will be doing our drive north.

A: Must see between Sacramento, CA and Bend, OR?

Food, Wine & Theatre in Ashland Oregon with JoshWillTravel

Ashland in Southern Oregon is just across the California border on the 5 freeway.

Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Southern Oregon University, the city is a great place to stop and stay overnight or for a few days.

The OSF theatre season runs February to November, and there are free Green Shows during the summer. There are several other theaters in town and nearby, and the university has a full schedule of music, dance and drama programs as well. The Britt Festival Pavilion hosts great concerts and the Oang Medford Armory always has events scheduled.

Lithia Park – Ashland, Oregon

Lithia Park was just voted one of the best parks in the United States, and is right off downtown. There’s hiking, biking, sports, a playground, a lake for swimming, ice skating in winter and bandshell concerts in summer.

There are lots of really great restaurants in Ashland! Beasy’s On The Creek, Peerless Hotel & Restaurant, and Amuse to name just three of the best. Other food places of note are Callahan’s Lodge and Restaurant, New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro outside Ashland, Puck’s Doughnuts and Noble Coffee in town.

The historic Ashland Springs Hotel with Lark’s Restaurant is located on Main Street and the Lithia Springs Resort is just north of town. Both are good choices if you’re staying overnight, and there are many other hotels, motels, B&Bs, and other accommodations available in Ashland or any of the neighboring towns.

Rogue Valley, Oregon (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

There are great wineries that offer tastings throughout the Rogue, Applegate, Umpqua and Willamette Valleys like Weisinger’s Winery, RoxyAnn Winery and Grizzly Peak Winery, named for the mountain and there’s great hiking at Grizzly Peak Trail and Mt. Ashland Ski Resort.

Visit historic Jacksonville (Oregon) and drive by Medford, but be sure stop in Central Point at Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolatesand the Rogue Creamery cheese shop before continuing north.

Visit our facebook page “Food, Wine and Theatre in Ashland, Oregon with JoshWillTravel” for more info: www.facebook.com/theatreinashland

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Q: “Can’t miss” in Oregon Wine Country? Where’s best base? Best time to go?

We’re planning a trip to explore the best of Oregon’s wine country and would appreciate any insider suggestions as to when is the least expensive and least crowded time to go, where to stay to maximize the experience and what we should be sure to do!

It will be my boyfriend and I, less expensive is ideal, I prefer white wines but know this is red wine country!  Want to do as little driving as possible but understand that wineries are spread out….

Are there any festivals or events we should check out?

Oregon Shakespeare Festival (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)

A: Oregon Wine Country!

Visit the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon.Stay in Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Visit historic Jacksonville, home of the Britt Festivals and Medford, home of the Harry & David Country Village.

There are lots of great wineries: Grizzly Peak Winery, RoxyAnn Winery, Weisinger’s Winery, Trium Wine, EdenVale Winery and many others. You’re also just south of the Applegate, Umpqua and Willamette Valley wineries, so there are great day trips available.

There are also many great restaurants, places to shop, tourist activities and nice places to stay in addition to the wine and theatre available in Ashland. Please see my other answers for more details!

There’s skiing at Mt. Ashland Ski Resort if there’s snow.

Another great day trip is north 2-1/2 hours to Crater Lake National Park

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Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon

Q: Place to stay w/ Kids at Crater Lake?

Driving up to Crater Lake this summer w/ 3 kids in tow. Would love a recommendation for a place to stay for 2 nights as close as possible to the lake.

Place to stay w/ Kids at Crater Lake National Park?

A: The best place to stay inside the park is the historic Crater Lake Lodge inside the park on the rim of the lake. Spend the extra money and get a room with a view if available!

From the nps.gov website: http://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Crater Lake Lodge has 71 rooms and is normally open mid May through mid October (2014 Operating Season is May 16 – October 12, 2013). Advance reservations are strongly recommended and can be made on-line or by calling (888) 774-2728 

Cabins At Mazama has 40 units and is located in the Mazama Village complex. It is open late May through early October (2014 Operating Season is May 23 – October 5, 2014). Reservations are recommended. (888) 774-2728

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

Accommodations for spring and summer book early and sell out fast! Check the nps.gov website for info.

There are additional places to stay (motels and cabins for rent) and activities (rafting, fishing, horseback riding, and more) available outside the park near Lost Creek Lake, Prospect, Fort Klamath, along the Rogue River and Highway 62 down the mountain.

 

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The Historic Barrel Cafe on Vineland in North Hollywood is being restored!

The historic Barrel Cafe (Idle Hour Cafe, Rudy’s Keg, La Cana Restaurant) on Vineland in North Hollywood is being restored and protected! I was driving up Vineland the other day and saw that they were finally restoring the old La Cana Restaurant, so I took this picture. I posted the pic in a group on facebook, and a Blog just happened. The building has a great history and it’s being preserved!

The Historic Barrel Cafe on Vineland under construction (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)

The Historic Barrel Cafe on Vineland (Large photo Daily News; small photo HCM application)

Built in 1941 and closed since 1984, Bigfoot Lodge owner Bobby Green and his 1933 Group picked up the building at auction and a full restoration is underway. It reopens sometime next year as the Idle Hour Cafe.

The Idle Hour Cafe 1940’s

UPDATE! 17 January 2015 – The restoration is almost complete and it looks amazing! The woodwork is beautiful both inside and out! The gate was open and the guys were inside working on a Saturday afternoon. I asked if I could take a few pictures of the interior but they told me there was a “Gag Order” and they weren’t in charge of the decision. I’ll just say it was very impressive. The Bar, the interior space and the dining area…everything is beautiful wood. Opening in February as the new Idle Hour Cafe, or so I was told….. (and there’s a liquor license permit notice posted on the wall)

The Historic Barrel in North Hollywood (copyright 2015 JoshWillTravel)

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UPDATE: 2-27-2016

Completely rehabilitated by 1933 Group, the famous barrel bar, abandoned for years in North Hollywood, has returned. Built 75 years ago, the design was meant to draw in drivers. 1933 Group worked on this project for over 3 years before opening The Idle Hour in 2015.

The restored wood glistens with golden hues. Patrons can have a cocktail or eat inside the barrel or on the patio where the centerpiece is the rescued Bulldog Cafe which served ice cream and tamales 1928-1960 at 1153 W. Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles.

 

Bulldog Cafe – Idle Hour Patio – Phot0 by William Bradford

Idle Hour open daily 11 am-2am
21+ during all hours – Friday Happy Hour: 3-7pm
Parking: Metered street parking on Vineland and valet

Idle Hour – 4824 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood 91601 (south of Magnolia Blvd)

Food, Wine & Theatre in Ashland, Oregon with JoshWillTravel

Luxury Food, Wine and Theatre Experiences in Ashland, Oregon!

Ashland, Oregon Visitor’s Map – http://www.facebook.com/theatreinashland

Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Britt Music Festivals, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, the Craterion Theatre, the Camelot Theatre and Southern Oregon University.

The Green Show with Dirty Cello (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

Check out the 2014 Season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! “The Tempest”, “Richard III”, “The Comedy of Errors”, “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “A Wrinkle In Time”, “The Great Society”, “Into The Woods”, “The Cocoanuts”, the (free) Green Show and much more! Right Click for more information: www.osfashland.org

Taste the Fine Wines from the Umpqua, Willamette, and Rogue Valley regions.

Rogue Valley, Oregon (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

Enjoy Unique Foodie Finds and Elegant Dining.

Lithia Park – Ashland, Oregon (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

Walk in Lithia Park, Ski Mount Ashland and Visit Medford, Klamath Falls, Historic Jacksonville and Crater Lake National Park.

Ashland, Oregon (copyright 2011 JoshWillTravel)

Please enjoy the pretty pictures and insider information on our new facebook page:

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Contact us now for more information! email joshwilltravel@yahoo.com

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15-JUL-13: The historic Ashland Springs Hotel

The Lobby of the historic Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Oregon

The Lobby of the historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

The historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

The historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

The Lobby of the historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

The Lobby of the historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

Lark’s restaurant at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

Lark’s restaurant at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel (copyright 2013

Lark’s restaurant – BBQ pork sandwich and fries for lunch (copyright 2013

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