It’s no secret that I love the Banning Museum and Drum Barracks Civil War Museum and especially at Christmas time. This last weekend they hosted their over 30 year old Annual Victorian Christmas. The grounds were humming with activity and joyful celebration. The Museums grounds were transformed into a Christmas Festival featuring Victorian period entertainment. Of course I had to attend.
Read MoreOur Universe
Eight billion people is a fantastic achievement, but the amazing part of that story is how we all got here.
The Earth was clumped together from gas and dust surrounding the young Sun by gravitational forces about 4.5 billion years ago. For a few billion years the Earth’s environment was totally hostile to life, much less human life. So, what happened?
Read More“Mary had a little lamb, some lobster and some prunes.
A glass of milk a piece of pie and then some macaroons.
It made the naughty waiters grin to see her order so.
And when they carried Mary out… her face was white as snow.”
Read MorePeople always ask ,”How did you get started being Dr Christmas?” I always have two answers. The first is “Well I couldn’t sing” and the second actually comes from Film legend Lana Turner.
Read MoreTerpsichore is one of the nine Muses and Goddess of dance and chorus in Greek mythology and the origin of the word "terpsichorean" which means "of or relating to dance" that’s fundamental to global cultures from the beginning of time; and relevant to story in the films suggested for your viewing pleasure that might inspire to “turn the light fantastic”.
Read MoreSPECIAL EVENTS
Chesley Bonestell - A Brush with the Future - zoom and dvd. (Virtual) Sunday, January 29, 2023⋅4:00 – 5:00pm. Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for Zoom event with the filmmaker and Rancho Palos Verdes resident Douglass Stewart who will discuss the amazing life and career of Chesley Bonestell. $30 per family includes home delivery of dvd, which participants can view in advance of this date.
Read MoreThe Palos Verdes Historical Society is Pleased to Present an Exclusive Not-To-Be-Missed Event and Party at La Venta Inn on February 8, 2023
Read MoreIt’s the time of the year where Santa check his list on who was naughty and who was nice this year. Just in case I ended on the naughty list, I leave Santa the naughty list cookie bars with cup of hot tea to warm his belly and heart to encourage him to leave a nice gift for me.
Read MoreEvery December, tucked away in the south west corner of Torrance is the famous Christmas Light Area, which has been covered on the TV news and in newspapers.
Read MoreWhen you hang out with loving, supportive people, you become a better, more successful person and you add value to their life. When you build healthy relationships, you build a better you. So, here are some helpful hints to make you and others WINNERS on all levels:
Read MoreWhether you’re religious or not, the holiday season feels a bit more magical when you connect with something outside of yourself and reflect on all the things you’re grateful for this holiday season. From the first hint of the Christmas season, our minds are set on a magical journey of hope and nostalgia.
Read MoreJust seeing all the decorations at this time of year always makes me feel festive.
So whatever you celebrate join me on a little seasonal tour around Southern California.
In a normal year, one of my favorite places to visit during the holiday season Is Terranea, they decorate so beautifully and I love that big tree they usually have out on the lawn.
Read MoreIn 1892, William, Joseph, and Hancock Banning, sons of Phineas Banning, “The Father of the Port of Los Angeles”, purchased Santa Catalina Island from George Shatto.
Read MoreThe RMS Queen Mary is the last survivor of the golden age of ocean liners. She was a symbol to many of hope for the future out of the depression, and eventually became even more symbolic after World War II. She now sits docked in Long Beach as a historical landmark, hotel, museum, and events venue, still a sight to behold, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the beginning of her construction, December 1, 1930.
Read MoreThe Ricotta Cheese Bread Twist can be a nice addition to a charcuterie board or complimentary side dish to your favorite soup or Cioppino Seafood Stew.
Read MoreGrowing up, I absolutely loved watching “I Love Lucy.” Lucille Ball was the quintessential comedian. Hilarious and quick-witted, stylish and graceful with never a hair out of place. I used to dream of growing up in the fabulous fifties. The good ole days when women got dressed up to go to the corner store and where dinner at a friend’s apartment was an elegant affair.
Read MoreThe Los Angeles area has many art collectors with noteworthy collections that the public does not always get to see unless they are loaned to a museum. One unusual collector – a public high school – has some of its treasured paintings
Read MoreMy journey was one of self-teaching. Classroom settings were not really for me so I had no formal photography training. Instead, I learned by observing and reading. I read all I could get my hands on regarding photography, and studied photographers I admired. Ansel Adams’s black and white photos come to mind. How did the photographer apply what I had read about, as far as, rules of composition, use of lighting and subjects?
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