Monthly Archive: June 2015

Summer is Here!

Author: June 21, 2015

Eiffel Tower TwinklingSummer Solstice marks the official beginning of summer. Today, the longest day of the year, Los Angeles will have 14 hours and 25 minutes of daylight, while Paris will enjoy 16 hours and 10 minutes of daylight. The Eiffel Tower will be twinkling for Fathers everywhere.

In France, the Summer Solstice is a big deal. La Fete de la Musique is a major French cultural event. With free music everywhere you can experience new music trends, traditional music, jazz – whatever type of music you like, you can find it. The area around the Eiffel Tower transforms into a giant concert venue, and big-name talent performs throughout the day. Just about every street corner, restaurant and bar has free music and performances; singers, bands, solo artists, etc., and since the sun doesn’t go down until almost 11:00 pm, the party goes on nearly all night. People arrive from everywhere and spend the day listening to music, enjoying friends, relaxing along the Seine and taking river cruises. You can see people all along the Seine, under bridges, in every building along the river, dancing and dining along the river, and filling the streets of Paris.

  • Summer Solstice 2014 Summer Solstice 2014 Summer Solstice River Cruise 2014
  • Summer Solstice Bridges Summer Solstice Bridges A few of the 22 bridges that cross the Seine. People gather everywhere along the Seine.
  • More Bridges across the Seine More Bridges across the Seine More bridges that cross the Seine
  • Bridges at Sunset Bridges at Sunset
  • Pont Neuf Bar Pont Neuf Bar
  • Dancing along the Seine Dancing along the Seine
  • Effel Tower at Sunset Effel Tower at Sunset As the sun sets and you cruise by, you can actually see the three shades of brown on the Eiffel Tower.
  • View of the Shore View of the Shore The best way to get an overview of Paris is to take a river cruise about 9:30 pm.
  • Eiffel Tower from the River Cruise Eiffel Tower from the River Cruise
  • Free Entertainment for Summer Solstice Free Entertainment for Summer Solstice
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Paris

Lummis Day Celebration

Author: June 6, 2015

At the time I visited the Lummis House, The City of Los Angeles, which owns the property, was looking for a new organization to operate the Lummis site after failing  to reach an agreement with the Southern California Historical Society, which has occupied the building for nearly half a century. The Recreation and Parks Department is seeking an operator who will “provide and implement” a plan to restore, repair and preserve the Lummis Home in addition to other requirements regarding fundraising and public access; and proposals are due March 11, 2015. Click here for the entire story.

  • Map of Lummis House and Gardens Map of Lummis House and Gardens
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I haven’t followed up on the story but recently noticed that this weekend is the Lummis Day Festival. Click here for the schedule. This year, for their 10th anniversary, the Lummis Day Festival will expand to three days, in five different locations from June 5 – 7. Lummis Day “celebrates the arts, history and ethnic diversity of Northeast Los Angeles through educational and cultural events and an annual festival that draws the community together for a shared experience while providing a platform for cooperation among people of all ages and backgrounds.”

I strongly recommend that you visit the Lummis House, at 200 East Avenue 43, Los Angeles, CA 90031, built in 1897 by Charles F. Lummis who was the first City Editor for the Los Angeles Times. He was one of the founders and builders of the Southwest Museum.

 

 

Los Angeles