Brooklyn Heights in Los Angeles??? Brooklyn Avenue?? Brooklyn?

The east Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights originally included a section called "Brooklyn Heights" on its northern side, centered on Prospect Park. A commercial area developed along "Brooklyn Avenue," which has been since renamed "Cesar Chavez Avenue." Historically, diverse immigrant ethnic groups (Mexican, Jewish, and Japanese) occupied the neighborhood. Today, Boyle Heights continues to change, undergoing a slow gentrification, but the avenue continues to retain and project a Mexican-American presence. 

While not a comprehensive documentation of the neighborhood, this video challenges you to watch and feel the "Brooklyn Avenue experience" by driving both east and then west along the street, along with a brief circling of historic Evergreen Cemetery. 

For more detailed information on Boyle Heights, this is a link to the Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyle_Heights,_Los_Angeles

Driving in L.A.? Drive safe!

FROM THE BEACH TO THE BOONIES - Driving to Topanga 9/14/23 3X High Speed Meditation Exercise ASMR

The other day a rock slide occurred on Topanga Canyon Road, closing the southern entrance and exit to the somewhat "rural" village of Topanga Canyon, known as one of the last outposts of the classic Southern California bohemian hippie lifestyle.

Topanga is the name given to the area by the Native American indigenous Tongva tribe, and may mean "where the mountain meets the sea" or "a place above." As of this writing, the road is still closed and the promise of another storm this weekend may lead to its remaining closed for a while longer. This video travels South Topanga Canyon Road northbound from Pacific Coast Highway at the beach to the heart of the village where it meets Old Topanga Road. Recorded on 9/14/23, the day was warm and the road was clear.

FROM THE BEACH TO THE BOONIES - Driving to Topanga 9/14/23 Real Time Meditation Exercise ASMR

The other day a rock slide occurred on Topanga Canyon Road, closing the southern entrance and exit to the somewhat "rural" village of Topanga Canyon, known as one of the last outposts of the classic Southern California bohemian hippie lifestyle.

Topanga is the name given to the area by the Native American indigenous Tongva tribe, and may mean "where the mountain meets the sea" or "a place above." As of this writing, the road is still closed and the promise of another storm this weekend may lead to its remaining closed for a while longer. This video travels South Topanga Canyon Road northbound from Pacific Coast Highway at the beach to the heart of the village where it meets Old Topanga Road. Recorded on 9/14/23, the day was warm and the road was clear.

CORVETTE on FIRE! Encino Traffic Madness Firemen Policemen Traffic Horrible

Okay, so we're driving in the San Fernando Valley, heading west on Ventura Boulevard in the lovely city of Encino, when traffic stalls. In the distance, smoke arises from the line of cars ahead of us. The smoke competes with the bright late afternoon sun. There's a tragedy going on. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.

My feet hit the sidewalk. My hands carry my camera. There it is: a gorgeous CORVETTE in FLAMES!

Firemen hurry to pour water over it. Policemen reroute the traffic. The smoke abates. The precious vehicle begins to smolder. Water falls from the wreck and slides into the gutters.

There's a car wash across the street. Is that ironic? This car will probably never see another washday.

An aggressive driver tries to pull too close to the emergency and threatens to drive over the water hoses. Authoritative shouts demand the driver to stop.

The Corvette's owner returns. A fireman asks him if he has anything of value inside to be removed before the fireman soaks the interior. Confusion remains. But the fire is out. The emergency is over.

We get back on the road and drive slowly past the scene. To this day I still wonder how the fire started, if the Corvette proved salvageable, and if Encino ever returned to normalcy?

(This incident occurred on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.)

Night Time Driving Palm Springs to West L.A. 11/25/23 4X High Speed - Meditation Exercise ASMR

We all know that trying to drive from L.A. to Palm Springs at certain times can result in a traffic nightmare. But what do we know about the best times to drive from Palm Springs to L.A.?

The first time I went to Palm Springs, I was 17. My high school pal had relatives nearby and we planned to stop for one night in Palm Springs before visiting them. My pal said it was a long drive and decided we needed to leave early in the morning. I still remember driving westward on the freeway with the sun rising in the east. I believed him. We wound up in Palm Springs in time for an early breakfast. After pancakes and coffee, we drove around until the motel opened for check-ins. Turns out the tram was closed for the season. The town looked empty. We wound up going to the movies. I mean, what else can you do when you're 17 in Palm Springs? We went on to visit his family and spent a few days enjoying the desert, but I have no memory of our drive home.

That was then and this is now: On Saturday 11/25/23, we decided to try driving home to L.A. in the nighttime. The day of the week being Saturday (thus the time of departure being Saturday night), the combined day and time became more data to factor. Now, Saturday night could be more busy, could be more trafficked, and could be more dangerous. Sunday afternoon could be even worse with all the going home traffic. We wanted to be home on Sunday to enjoy the remainder of the weekend, so driving Saturday night remained the choice. What was the drive home like? See for yourself. Zone out. Zen out. Run a treadmill mile or two. Find some delight in your rare taste for ASMR (if driving videos affect you that way). Enjoy!

Driving Westward Beach at Point Dume 9/14/23 Malibu Sunset Meditation ASMR Exercise High Speed

Watching the sunsets from Westward Beach at Point Dume in Malibu can prove to be a genuinely ethereal experience. The "point" at Point Dume marks the top of the Santa Monica Bay crescent shape. Standing on the beach, one can see a northern coastal view not possible from most of the shoreline within the crescent. Add to this a fog covered mountain range and a sunset worthy of a painter's brush, then you'll find yourself in a little taste of paradise. 

I have frequently driven a self-guided tour from Santa Monica, along Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon, to Mulholland Highway, into Ventura County, and stopping at Point Mugu. My return trip usually includes a drive along Westward Beach Road just south of Zuma, a jaunt through the residential areas of Point Dume, and a reacquaintance with Pacific Coast Highway to facilitate the drive home.

California Historical Marker on the site reads:

NO. 965 POINT DUME - On November 24, 1793, English explorer George Vancouver, commander of an expedition to determine the extent of settlement of the northwest coast of America, named this rocky promontory, Point Dume, after his Franciscan friend, Father Francisco Dumetz, at Mission San Buenaventura. Point Dume is the western terminus of Santa Monica Bay and has been an important landmark for navigators since Vancouver's voyage in 1793.

I recommend frequent visits to Point Dume. Check out the cove where the final sequences of THE PLANET OF THE APES (1968) were filmed and where the beach was clothing-optional in the 60s and 70s. Watch out for tides if you're wearing street shoes. 

Driving in L.A. Drive safe!

Driving Old Topanga Canyon Road 9/14/23 Real Time ASMR Meditations

Driving Old Topanga Canyon Road 9/14/23 Real Time ASMR Meditations

This 9/14/23 drive begins at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Old Topanga Canyon Road. The vehicle travels northbound till reaching Mulholland Highway. 

This video presents the drive in real time.

Meditation

ASMR

Driving in L.A. Drive Safe!

Driving Old Topanga Canyon Road 9/14/23 High Speed ASMR Meditations

Driving Old Topanga Canyon Road 9/14/23 High Speed ASMR Meditations

This 9/14/23 drive begins at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Old Topanga Canyon Road. The vehicle travels northbound till reaching Mulholland Highway. 

This video presents the drive in 4X high speed. 

Meditation

ASMR

Driving in L.A. Drive Safe!

Driving into Cloudy Sunset - Palm Springs to West L.A. - ASMR - Driving Meditations

Monday afternoon (9/11/23) is not the best time to be driving from Palm Springs to West L.A., unless you can drive in the HOV lane. This allowed the drive to be quick and unencumbered with heavy traffic stops even on a Monday afternoon.

All afternoon, this vehicle drives WEST into the oncoming sunset. Luckily, the western skies proved cloudy, so there are no overly bright challenges to your sight and sanity. Instead, the light plays with the clouds and they provide some awesome views. 

The drive begins in the greater Palm Springs area at the Ramon Road onramp to the westbound 10 Freeway. The drive continues west and transfers to the westbound 60 Freeway near the 10/60 Interchange near Beaumont. Further west, the 60 Freeway overlaps with the 215 Freeway until the 60/215/91 Interchange near Riverside. Continuing west on the 60 Freeway, the vehicle passes the 60/15 Interchange near Ontario, then the 60/71 Interchange near Chino, then the 60/57 Interchange by Diamond Bar, then the 60/605 Interchange near the City of Industry, and then the 60/710 Interchange near East L.A. At this point the vehicle transfers from the westbound 60 Freeway to the westbound 10 Freeway at the 10/30/101/5 Interchange near Boyle Heights. After this, the vehicle passes the 10/110 Interchange and continues west until the 10/405 Interchange where the drive transfers to the northbound 405 Freeway. The vehicle arrives in West Los Angeles, exits the freeway at the eastbound Wilshire Boulevard exit, and continues east into the Westwood neighborhood.   

Drive in L.A. Drive safe.