Summertime in the LBC. The weeklong public mural festival has been renamed Long Beach Walls and…read moreArt Renzei. Read all about it here: https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/pow-wow-is-now-long-beach-walls-heres-your-guide-to-the-colorful-mural-festival https://www.longbeachwalls.com/ https://www.artrenzei.com/ https://www.instagram.com/longbeach_walls/ There are events centered around this week. One past year, Sun Bum (sunscreen) was a sponsor and held an event at the beach that ended in a movie showing. Some year before that, KCRW held a party in collaboration. This last time, I joined in the free yoga session (with RSVP). Led by Pedal Movement, bike tours are held during this time to visit the murals. The run club I'm involved in throws a couple of the murals in the downtown area being worked on into the running route during this time. Volunteer opportunities are available (such as being on site with the artist making sure they have what they need.) Look out for it next summer!

"Pow! It's the impact that art has on a person. Wow! It's reaction that art has on a viewer."…read morePowWow - a gathering that celebrates culture, music and art. The weeklong event that originated in Hawaii has expanded out to other parts of the country and world, including its 5th year in Long Beach. I was a bit disappointed the first year or so because they brought in a lot of outside artists when there are so many talented ones here. It also seems as if there is little collaboration between the artists and the places they paint. Businesses offer their walls and artists are given the freedom to create whatever inspires them at the time. Sometimes, the pieces seem random, whereas, others perfectly reflect the feel of the establishments. This year, I was happy to see a lot more local artists represented in the community. Some of them even took the time to collaborate with either the business or Parks & Rec to design pieces that emulate the nature of the places. I live close to Drake Park and was happy to see 3 artists beautifying it by adding more color and character. By request from neighborhood folks, Crisselle Mendiola and Jason Keam added butterflies to match the playground while Bodeck Luna depicted young people shooting hoops along the wall facing the basketball court. Another highlight from Pow! Wow! Long Beach was the closing party in the Promenade. I absolutely loved that KCRW DJs Mathieu Shreyer and Anthony Valadez came and served us some eclectic dance music. I can't wait to see what's in store next year!

I went to this garden a few weeks ago. The garden was pretty, though not as spectacular as I…read moreexpected. One of the docents engaged us in conversation. She was rude and aggressive. She was upset that I had used a selfie stick to take a picture of the main gate. (I was standing outside of the property.) She explained no selfie sticks were permitted. I understand there are "rules" but these rules were posted inside. I think her approach could have been more professional. I was not on live in social media, I was not involving any other guests, I wasn't interfering with anyones enjoyment of the property, and I wasn't even taking a selfie. My friend and I were disappointed with this reception. It marred our visit. I visit gardens and museums in locations within and out of the US, docents usually receive guests with kindness and provide guests with information on the grounds. Do better docents. Do better.

I really liked the rose garden, it had paths adorned with Japanese Boxwood bushes and pergolas…read moregarlanded with roses, it felt very manicured and something you'd see from a manor house. The Japanese garden has a pagoda next to a small pond with koi fish and ducks. This is such a tranquil garden. It's small but it's free. It's close off the freeway, perfect for a stopover before a drive to Santa Barbara or other places north.

I went to Paramount Ranch yesterday for the SAMO Fund's "Film and American Landscape" guided walk…read more It was nice. While on the guided walk, I learned about what has been shot at Paramount Ranch and how devastating the last major fire was that came through the park. During the guided walk, I walked some trails and got to go inside the train depot and church briefly. Part of the guided walk included a brief presentation on special effects and sound effects in movies with props on hand. Once the guided walk ended, I decided to explore the surrounding area a bit and sat on a bench. While on park grounds I saw woodpeckers and turkey vultures. I love that Paramount Ranch has been used to make shows, movies, and commercials. This place is of great historical significance. I'd recommend that anyone who pays a visit bring enough water and food to sustain them. Also, dress appropriatey for the weather.

A lot of the stage sets have burned down in fires over the year so not much is left. However, the…read morechurch shown on Westworld is still here. The church is at the entrance so you really don't have to venture much at all. There are some okay trails here, but they don't really end in any good views or landmarks and are more loops. So, it was a bit underwhelming for me. There may be possible gems that I'm unaware of tho... Nonetheless, it's good if you need to get out and want something simple.

Sitting below The Long Beach Museum's charming café, one can view the elusive movable sculpture…read more"Puff of Wind". Here is its story as printed in the local news and on YouTube: https://www.gazettes.com/entertainment/arts/outdoor-art-sails-into-long-beach/article_95a56070-6448-11eb-a1bb-03404587afa9.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP0v6pDUWrk

This is awesome public art display of a special tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter that…read moreunfortunately passed away in a plane crash in 2020. There are plenty of murals dedicated to them throughout the United States that are popping up over the years. I thought this was a wonderful display that pays tribute to them

If you are a lover of both history and art, take some time to go over to Burbank Blvd. and…read moreColdwater Canyon in Van Nuys and walk the length of the Great Wall of Los Angeles. Told in a series of murals, the Great Wall of LA tours you through time. The Dust Bowl...The Zoot Suit Riots...World War II...Rosie the Riveter...the Japanese internment camps...the Baby Boomer era...the era of covered wagons...The Gold Rush... all are depicted in beauty and tragedy alike. There is so much history here told in art that I cannot write it all out. Go for yourself and see how much you know -- how much you learn.

The great wall of LA spans, many yards. I don't know how long distances really, but it goes on for…read morea long time and has a lot of different paintings murals in pitchers in the school to check out.

Cool art work that I saw while driving down the street in LA. It is the Freedom Sculpture. I like…read morepublic art and I like to see all the things LA had to offer. Go check it out and see the wonderment.

The sculpture is an elegant reminder of an Empire the West has chosen to ignore. It pays homage to…read moreCyrus the Great. Arguably one of the most visionary leaders of all times and his human rights proclamation; the first of its kind.

Enjoyed my visit at Frederick R Weisman Museum. It was my first time here and I absolutely loved…read moreall the art pieces on display. Such profound types of art work on display for people to view and absorb. It was amazing. I wasn't even aware that Frederick R Weisman Museum is on the Pepperdine University campus. Art pieces from Dave Chihuly, Mike Kelly, John Register, Alison Saar, Al Souza and Andy Warhol to name a few are beautifully displayed. Absolutely worth visiting Frederick R Weisman Museum again as I did with a few of my friends.

Absolutely stunning museum. Loved every bit of it…read more Thank you for sharing with the general public.

Cool place to visit if you're into folk art. My visit was short since there's only a two hour…read morewindow that you can visit on Thursdays. Some areas are in need of repair; some loose pieces were on the ground so look where you step. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos here. There is no parking on this narrow street so you'll have to park and walk.

Magical garden hidden in a private home. It is open to the public two hours a week while the…read moregardener works on the garden: Thursdays, 10am-noon. However, these hours are contingent on the gardener, who may not show up or may come late / leave early. If you're coming from afar, it might be a good idea to email the owner at gardenofoz@me.com and ask about that particular week. I found the email address on a webpage about the garden. I emailed at the start of the week when I wanted to come but heard back the following week. Turns out the gardener had car trouble so the garden was closed the previous week. The owner did email me back again letting me know the garden would be open the following week, which was nice of her. So, if you're driving from afar, reach out to confirm. Don't come at the last minute just in case the gardener leaves early. It's not the easiest to access but hey, this is a private home and we're lucky to have any access to it. This is interesting for anyone who loves folk art, mosaics, outsider art, etc. It's a large space with a lot to look at. No photography is allowed. Parking is on the street. The streets are narrow and hilly but there should be available parking within a reasonable distance.