Getty Glimpses 1/14/24 Visit to The Getty Center - Brentwood - Los Angeles - City Views - Sunset

This January 14, 2024 visit to the Getty Center happened on the last day of the William Blake exhibit. Thus, crowds beyond the average jammed into the parking structure, the "three-car, cable-pulled hover train people mover," and the galleries themselves. Outside, the clear skies made for easy viewing across Los Angeles from Santa Monica Bay to Downtown. 

If you look real close facing east-ish, you can spot Century City, the Park LaBrea apartments, the Beverly Center Mall, the Ninety Two Towers at the west end of the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, and the downtown L.A. skyline in the far distance. 

Facing west-ish, you can spot the Santa Monica Bay itself as well as the beach cites all the way down to a hazy Palos Verdes Peninsula.

A vibrant sunset appears later in the video with an array of colors certain to give you a pause, a tingle, perhaps even a meditative moment.  

Of course, people watching figures prominently in this brief glimpse of the Getty.

 Enjoy!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Center

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!

Torrential Rain & Thunder - Then, Peaceful Steady Rain 3/7/24 Westside L.A. - ASMR Meditation Exercise Zen

After a morning and early afternoon of some clouds and huge patches of clear skies, torrential rain with thunder suddenly appeared. The noise of rain, thunder, car horns, and people running reached a pinnacle, then the harshness retreated and the rain turned steady and peaceful. 

Who says "It never rains in Southern California?" I love the rain. 

Bring it on!

Alfred's Window - Westwood Village 2/20/24 Fast Speed - Rain - ASMR

Okay, let's imagine we've finished our workout or left the theatre after the matinee ended or humped it down from UCLA to Westwood Village to find ourselves enjoying a cup of coffee at Alfred's while sitting on a seat at the window. Alfred's is located at the north-east corner of Westwood Boulevard and Lindbrook Drive. This historic building was originally a Ralphs Market. During my time at UCLA, the Bratskellar, a restaurant and bar, occupied the space. A huge roaring fireplace dominated the restaurant and the foyer had a telephone booth I used regularly. During rainy weather, this proved to be an excellent choice for drying out and getting wet (hehehe). Prior to this Alfred's incarnation, a Peet's Coffee rested here. Some say there's a link between Alfred's and Peet's, but I hear contradictory stories. Who knows?

Anyway, sitting at this window on a rainy day in Los Angeles, people watching (one of my favorite hobbies) can be a pure delight. I'm posting this video twice, once in real time and once in fast speed. You can decide which version works for you. 

My favorite sequence in this video is watching a driver park his HUGE SUV in the red zone in front of the store, put on his hazard lights, walk into Alfred's, order a coffee drink, and finally return to his illegally parked vehicle. What's AMAZING to me is that he didn't get a ticket. Westwood Village has ALWAYS been a tough place to park and the traffic police are legion. Good for him! I hope he enjoyed his afternoon coffee. I did mine. (Black, no sugar or milk.)

If you enjoy this for people watching, ASMR, or meditation, or for just zoning out, ENJOY YOURSELF! This is another little bite of human history. Just think:  a hundred years from now someone might watch this to get a glimpse of life in 2024. History is bad ass!

Driving in L.A. Drive safe!

Alfred's Window - Westwood Village 2/20/24 Real Time - Rain - ASMR

Okay, let's imagine we've finished our workout or left the theatre after the matinee ended or humped it down from UCLA to Westwood Village to find ourselves enjoying a cup of coffee at Alfred's while sitting on a seat at the window. Alfred's is located at the north-east corner of Westwood Boulevard and Lindbrook Drive. This historic building was originally a Ralphs Market. During my time at UCLA, the Bratskellar, a restaurant and bar, occupied the space. A huge roaring fireplace dominated the restaurant and the foyer had a telephone booth I used regularly. During rainy weather, this proved to be an excellent choice for drying out and getting wet (hehehe). Prior to this Alfred's incarnation, a Peet's Coffee rested here. Some say there's a link between Alfred's and Peet's, but I hear contradictory stories. Who knows?

Anyway, sitting at this window on a rainy day in Los Angeles, people watching (one of my favorite hobbies) can be a pure delight. I'm posting this video twice, once in real time and once in fast speed. You can decide which version works for you. 

My favorite sequence in this video is watching a driver park his HUGE SUV in the red zone in front of the store, put on his hazard lights, walk into Alfred's, order a coffee drink, and finally return to his illegally parked vehicle. What's AMAZING to me is that he didn't get a ticket. Westwood Village has ALWAYS been a tough place to park and the traffic police are legion. Good for him! I hope he enjoyed his afternoon coffee. I did mine. (Black, no sugar or milk.)

If you enjoy this for people watching, ASMR, or meditation, or for just zoning out, ENJOY YOURSELF! This is another little bite of human history. Just think:  a hundred years from now someone might watch this to get a glimpse of life in 2024. History is bad ass!

Driving in L.A. Drive safe!

Rainy Westwood Village 2/5/24 - ASMR

On Monday 2/5/24, rain pounded heavily onto the streets of Westwood Village in West Los Angeles amidst the historic movie theatres at Broxton and Weyburn Avenues. Those who enjoy people watching may enjoy this little taste of rainy L.A. Look for the little dog carried by a masked man holding an umbrella and waiting for the signal lights to change. ASMR fans can zone out listening to the subtle changes in the intensity of the rain sounds. As a lifelong resident of L.A., the thing I like best about a rainy day in my city: No squinting!

Broxton Avenue and Weyburn Avenue

Weyburn Avenue & Gayley Avenue

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.