« 9-11: You Shall Not Forget | Main | Best of the Jewish Blogosphere #182 »
September 12, 2008
My Beautiful Neighborhood, Part II
It's Friday, Baruch HaShem. Time to take a break from politics and terrorism. Time, once again, to take a stroll around my wonderful neighborhood here in Los Angeles and focus on the startling beauty that is everywhere.
Found this beautiful industrial composition on the side of a building on La Cienega Blvd.
On Pico Blvd., I was transfixed by part of a wall that looks like an archeological dig.
Street display from a Jewish-Persian store on Pico Blvd. This is a fine example of the classic Jewish-Byzantine-Elvis style.
On a side street off Pico Blvd., I found this mellow yellow grill.
Discovered these color-coded steel girders on Glenville, off Pico. They look like huge toys.
Karen and I were enjoying a relaxing hour at our local Coffee Bean. I looked up and noticed that our table umbrella and the roof next door created a powerful visual dynamic.
A rich green fence in back of a parking lot in Pico-Robertson.
Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The undulating curves remind me of Marilyn Monroe. But, hey, that's just me.
My Beautiful Neighborhood, Part I.
Karen and I wish all our friends a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at September 12, 2008 09:07 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Great photos! Good use of negative space in your Coffee Bean photo. Marilyn Monroe might be in that negative space, too.
This art falls under the heading of the Jewish, Byzantine, Elvis style.
LOL!
Have a Shabbat Shalom.
Posted by: Leora at September 12, 2008 10:15 AM
The Coffee Bean photo is fabulous composition, and that gorgeous blue sky is wonderful.
When I did photography for a course many years ago, I took a lot of reflective shots in windows, fountain waters...and it was rare that I held my camera straight. Always on an angle, just a little "off" -- representing my personal view of the world.
I see you've got Elvis, Marilyn and Karen in your world...!
Posted by: Pearl at September 12, 2008 10:56 AM
The last picture is very similar to the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain. I saw it recently. You may remember it from the opening scene of James Bond's "The world is not enough"
Posted by: Ted at September 12, 2008 11:09 AM
Such stark contrasts on display here: I see a bitter feud between Hollywood's higher cortex and its older limbic and reptilian brain. Then again, it might be the end result of several generations of cocaine snorting.
Posted by: a. acacia at September 12, 2008 12:05 PM
Nice pictures :)
LA is very interesting, there's always something to see amongst all the hustle and bustle. When I'm there (or anywhere I guess) I like to take my camera out and snap some pictures and appreciate the beauty of the place, small or large.
Thanks for sharing! Shavua Tov :)
Posted by: Sarah at September 13, 2008 04:19 PM
Thanks for these great pictures.
You're inspiring me to get back out there and start taking a few of my own.
Posted by: Rahel ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 13, 2008 11:37 PM
Leora:
Thanks so much for the kind words. The Coffee Bean shot is my absolute favorite.
P.S. Really enjoy your HTML tips. I'm hopeless when it comes to tech stuff.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 14, 2008 10:58 AM
Pearl:
I'd love to see your “reflective shots.” Why don't you post them on your blog?
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 14, 2008 11:01 AM
Ted:
We should not be surprised. The Disney Concert Hall and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain were both designed by the great American-Jewish architect Frank Gehry. Gehry is also designing the new Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 14, 2008 11:04 AM
Sarah:
People, especially New Yorkers, take pleasure in making fun of L.A. I see beauty everywhere here and feel sad for the provincial attitudes of New Yorkers.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 14, 2008 11:09 AM
Rahel:
Shavua Tov.
So glad my snapshots inspire you to go out and shoot some of your own.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 14, 2008 11:12 AM
... the classic Jewish-Byzantine-Elvis style.
Great line.
It seems to me that the artwork resembles what you see on candle holders for Catholic votary candles sold in our stores in New Mexico.
Ironically, a significant number of Hispanics in northern New Mexico were originally Jews expelled from Spain and later forcibly converted to Catholicism. A few remained crypto-Jews, secretly passing along the religion, typically from mother to daughter.
Posted by: Kent G. Budge at September 15, 2008 11:42 AM
Kent:
Hey, welcome back. It's been far too long since you've graced us with one of your enlightening comments.
I know about the Southwest conversos. I've always wanted to do a film abut such a family.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 15, 2008 05:57 PM
There's already a lot of things I wish you could do a film about. This one might actually sell, since it makes Catholics the villains. Though I wish there was another way ...
Posted by: Kent G. Budge at September 16, 2008 11:37 AM
Wow . . . I've seen that concert hall dozens of times, and never looked at it that way . . . Star Wars always came to mind, but hey that's just me
Posted by: Mottel at October 4, 2008 05:17 PM