EXTRA |
|
STEPS... |
ONLY IN L.A.
|
In Marina del Ray, my dog Porter encountered what surely must be the world's smallest dog park, no bigger than a small bedroom. He looked at me like he was being punished. But oh those views!
From Sunken City in San Pedro to Karl Johnson Field in Pasadena, these walks take you to communities that time forgot. This shot is of the old Surfridge Estates neighborhood near Playa del Rey. In the words of one of its former residents, Mel Blanc, "T-t-t-that's all, folks!"
Growing up in Los Angeles, I was told to "steer clear" of the city's high-crime neighborhoods, including Hollywood and much of the Eastside. They now make up some of the more vibrant and interesting places to walk. And of course, now the pendulum has swung so far the other way, preserving a community's character remains an ongoing concern.
|
You gotta love the giant former Midas Muffler men who dot L.A.'s landscape, vestiges of '50s roadside architecture. They often morph into different uniforms -- and ethnicities -- when the businesses change ownership. This rugged gentleman fronts an auto shop in Lincoln Heights. His hands most likely held a golf club at one point, brought here from a golf course. Would it be too much to stick a muffler in his hands?
Everyone knows the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, but I hadn't realized how many other sidewalk-plaque knock-offs there are. Among them: The Rodeo Drive Walk of Style in Beverly Hills, the Aviation Walk of Fame in Westchester, and the Surfers Walk of Fame on the Hermosa Beach Pier, pictured right, made famous by the movie La La Land.
Much of Los Angeles' greatest public art and engineering owe a debt to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program, which created the Works Progress Administration as a way to put people to work and lift spirits during the Great Depression. WPA projects pop up like Easter eggs where you least expect them, like this 18 foot high sculpture of "Santa Monica" standing sentry at her city's Palisades Park.
|
BY THE NUMBERS... |
MAD PROPS... |
|
10,000 steps per walk
9,999 photos logged, with 0.5% making it into the book 472 square miles in Los Angeles 57 walks in book, all with recommended picnic ops 55 walks with restaurants along route or nearby 52 walks within walking distance of Metro bus stops 46 walks that are dog-friendly 18 walks within walking distance of Metro rail lines 14 municipalities, outside of L.A., included in these walks 5 miles, approximate distance of 10,000 steps 1 pedometer used (Omran) on all my walks 0 number of squirrels caught by my dog Porter |
Like so many creative projects, the cover for 10,000 Steps a Day in L.A. underwent several drafts before the current cover came to fruition. Though we didn't end up using her version, Sydnee Davidson presented some really cool alternates, including a foot concept in which the toes ingenuously spelled out "10,000." If you're looking for an awesome graphic designer, connect with her on LinkedIn!
|
HEY, PORTER!
Just a few candids of my trusty walking companion, Porter (RIP), who accompanied me on many dog-friendly walks, always willing to go that extra step.
