FrogBlog | Translating Los Angeles

If I were a mouse, this perspective would probably make me squeak and run:

Somehow I am glad that I am a bit taller than mouse size…

Law 12 of the International Rugby Laws: Charge Down

If a player charges down the ball as an opponent kicks it, or immediately after the kick, it is not a knock-on even though the ball may travel forward.

Too complicated? Not at all – this is a perfect example:

Descanso Gardens is not only a delight for lovers of flowers, but also for connoisseurs of architecture and interior design. Overlooking the garden area sits the “Boddy House,” built by the Los Angeles architect James E. Dolena, well known as the “architect to the stars.”

In 2007 Boddy House was completely renovated and restored to all its glory. Interestingly each room was done by a different interior designer with only one rule applying: The redecoration had to be done in “Hollywood Regency Style.”

The result is nothing but spectacular. Hollywood Regency is all about the glamor. A design style from the early 60s, this style has the minimalist details of modern design, infused with ornate and classical details. It is the perfect meeting of the minimal with decorative scroll work, shiny metals and opulent fabrics.

Boddy House is a place I would not mind living in!

Foyer

Salon

Formal Diningroom

Every corner is just so beautifully done

With the weather being what it is in SoCal, flowers are blooming all year round. Some, however, can only be seen in winter. One of the most spectacular displays of camellias one finds in Descanso Gardens, famous for its display of 34,000 plants on 20 acres. A walk through the Camellia Forest is probably as near to walking through an enchanted garden as one can get.

This snoozing hippo was not the only one totally disinterested in the sporting event of the year.

After the rush to the stores to stock up on chips, dips, beer, wings, pizza and related foodstuff essential for a Superbowl Sunday the streets emptied out and the town was all ours.

Unamerican? No, nice!

Junior took a peak. So much to see!

After a few minutes Mom gave him a pat on the head and Junior returned to the safety of the pouch.

Mom is always right, little one, better safe than sorry.

Before the rains the L.A. River looked like this:

After four days of rain and storms one could see this:

Once the rains stopped the mountains looked like this:

I have never seen that much snow up in the mountains – it is simply amazing. In the ski resorts everybody is happy – skier, snowboarder, they all put the chains on their vehicles and drove up to enjoy the freshly fallen powder snow.

They are having fun up there, while we down here in the Flatlands are enjoying the lush green sprouting everywhere.

Breaking Waves in San Pedro

Yes, yes, the rains have arrived – finally! That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the rains came on the wings of some quite remarkable storms; we’re just through the second wave of winds with gusts of over 72 miles per hour and two more storm waves are expected until Friday of this week.

Down at the coast jetties and piers are closed, a sensible precaution in the face of 15-foot waves. There was some flooding of streets, an urban and small stream flood advisory plus a coastal flood watch is out.

The most damage is expected from mudslides in the areas which burned down last summer. Hopefully it won’t come to that…

It used to be that one could see the odd cormorant when walking along certain stretches of the L.A. River. By now they are hanging out there in whole flocks; and apparently they hunt for fish, too, because this splendid specimen is drying its feathers after diving.

Double-crested Cormorant

Then one sees anglers. This again raises the question: “Fish? In the L.A. River? Big enough for people to catch? Has it really recovered that much?”

Anglers at the L.A. River

It has indeed, as can be seen from the catch of one of these gentlemen:

Carp

Six carp, each weighing in at about 3 – 4 pound.

So yes, the revitalization of the river is progressing. But can one eat the fish? Not a question which troubles the cormorants very much, but the anglers might be a bit concerned.

Here comes the next surprise: Yes, one can.

In September 2008 FoLAR published their second report, titled The Fish Study. According to this report the L.A. River is now populated (at least in the revitalized parts) by mosquitofish, tilapia, green sunfish, fathead minnow, carp, bullhead, Amazon sailfin cafish and largemouth bass. FoLAR also tested the fish for toxicity and found that all samples were below the OEHHA advisory levels for folks eating fish three times a week. So while some might decide to go for catch-and-release, the fish caught can be eaten. FoLAR advises however that it might be safer to just eat the fillets than cooking stew or soup, as chemical can concentrate in the head and guts. (By the way, that was what the gentleman with the six carp said – he was going to put the fillets on the barbecue the same evening.)

And there you are – the river running through L.A. is gaining back life in a big way. With cormorants and men going for fish, overall it does not look too bad for the water quality.

They used trains and built train stations. One of them is the Santa Fe Depot in San Bernardino.

Station Streetside

This building, which replaced an earlier structure, was officially opened in 1918.

Station Trackside

At that time this was the largest and finest train station west of the Mississippi. As the former station building had burned down, the new structure was build to withstand fires, using mostly bricks and glazed tiles for the roof and interior decoration.

Glazed tiles and stucco

The Santa Fe Depot was extremely busy until the 1950s, when the general decline of rail travel began all over the United States. With the decline in travel came the decline of the building. This changed in 1992, when efforts to restore the historic building where started. Restoration began in 2002; a few years and $ 15 Mio. later the station was reopened in 2008.

Restored and still in use

Today the Santa Fe Depot is serviced by Amtrak (once a day) and by three Metrolink lines. The building also houses a small museum (open on Saturdays) and office space is for lease. Just imagine – sitting in an office where one is reminded every day of the long and amazing history of train travel in the West.

Just for good measure I’ll throw in another of my favorite winter motif.

SoCal Winter - Palms and Snow