Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Tweet Photos by Randy Stern There’s plenty of MotorGeek content to catch up in here. But wait, I don’t like catsup! What’s up with that? This past weekend in Los Angeles has a lot of automotive elements going on that … Continue reading →

TweetNOTE: If you want see photos from this past weekend, click here. If you attended the Reunion and can help identifying people in those photos (including married names), e-mail me (resedabear@yahoo.com) to help me fill in the blanks. Thanks! High … Continue reading →

TweetA week from today…is it really a week from today? Holy smokes! The year’s gone fast, hasn’t it? As I was saying, a week from today, I’ll be touching down at LAX for a weekend of reunions and such. After … Continue reading →

TweetEvery time I think of Reseda, I am haunted by Thomas Wolfe’s famous line “You can never go home again.” Two years ago, I defied Wolfe’s words and returned home for a weekend. I met old and new friends, reconnected … Continue reading →

Photo by Randy Stern

Monday was May Day. Traditionally, this is a huge celebration where folks celebrate spring by dancing around the Maypole. Communists and Socialists celebrate this as a traditional labor day off. Here in Los Angeles, this first day of May is a “Day Without Immigrants.” In this largely Latino city, the impact of this day was expected to be immense in terms of the numbers leaving their jobs, refusing to patronize any retailers and joining protests throughout the Southland.

In Los Angeles, the mayor has offered his support with some caution. Though he will speak at a rally at Macarthur Park on Wilshire Boulevard, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa advised students to stay in school and not cut to attend the rallies around the city.

Frankly, I do not want to include politics in my posts or get into a discussion on the above subject. Though being here gives me a bird’s-eye view on the impact this issue has on this city.

However, I have taken a different tack for this day… Continue reading →

Waking up in Burbank was a strange experience. I’m used to waking up about 15 miles away from where I am staying. This is not to diminish the experience so far. This whole trip is about reconnecting with where I came from to where I am at now. Yesterday was a shock of the new. Today will bring the past further up-to-date.

A Sunday morning down the freeway was a much-needed fix. I forgot how fast L.A. drivers go. A reverse culture shock indeed! I made my way to Long Beach, a place I spent a brief time of my life in during 1996. It is a time I like to forget really. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., I met my friend Scott Schumacher in Long Beach and we hung out this really cool coffeehouse on East Broadway called The Library. It was this place where our friendship was cemented. It’s funny that now Scott lives in the same city I do now. I’m certain he’ll appreciate my return to The Library. Continue reading →

There used to be a time when waking up at 3:00 in the morning to head to an airport was effortless. That was before I turned 40. Luckily, I was able to rise to the occasion and be ready for a delayed SuperShuttle. No surprise. My experience back when I lived in Northern Virginia prepared me for late SuperShuttles who have problems finding homes in nice, quiet residential areas.

I was already nervous. The SuperShuttle showed up late and I was on my way. That was fine. My nervousness after six years of not flying anyway was slowly calming down. As I did not need to check luggage through with a carry-on and my satchel, my next task was to tackle the Security checkpoint. Did I have to take off my shoes? No. Did I have to take off my belt? Unfortunately, yes. But, I forgot to put my cell phone on the conveyor and I got grief about not taking my iBook out of the sleeve. Ok, fine! You win! I will admit that it wasn’t as bad as I thought now that I have gone through the experience for the first time. I’ll just have to better prepared next time. Continue reading →

OK, so how’s this so-called “Return To Reseda” thing coming along? In about 19 days, I will be back in my hometown.

Originally, I was pitched the idea to do an essay project using words and photography to chronicle this trip. However, I have decided not to do so. There’s going to be a lot of personal situations that I would rather not chronicle on here, but I do hope to take some photos to put on my Flickr site and write about some highlights and obervations. In all, I’m going there on vacation and to meet up with folks old and new. Continue reading →

If you have been following this blog, you probably read about a trip to Los Angeles coming up in April. This may not be a big deal for someone who grew up there to “come home,” but there’s a lot more to this particular trip than just a weekender.

It has been ten years since I was back home. The last steps in California were spent boarding a plane at LAX to my new life in the Washington DC area. It also has been six years since my last flight on a plane. You can thank al-Qaida and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security for that. Also, my want to scouring the Midwest by car supplanted any need to fly back to my hometown.

In my case, the time seems right to head back to Southern California. After publishing The Boy From Reseda, it has been suggested by many folks here in Minnesota to head back and return to the place where it all began.

Then, the ideas started spurring around. Now, I have an assignment: a photo/word blog of the trip. A charming idea, and very doable, but, c’mon, no one wants to work through a vacation! Continue reading →