Griffith Swank : November 18th

[Morrigoon]

Okay guys, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time, get a bunch of good friends together and go enjoy some of the delights Griffith Park has to offer, most of which I've not experienced before.

There are a couple options that could be changed in or out, but here is the tentative itinerary:

8:30am: Meet up at LA Equestrian Center

9:00am-10:00am: 1-hour horseback ride ($25/hr per person under 220 lbs, $45/hr pp 220+ lbs)

11am: Be some of the first people on the Griffith Park Carousel (yes, WALT’S carousel) as it opens up for the day ($2)

11:30pm: A delightful picnic lunch in the park

1:00pm: Travel Town (FREE), LA Live Steamers (FREE), and Walt Disney’s Train Barn (FREE but donations to the Carollwood Pacific Historical Society are accepted)

Now, if we have 10 or more people for horseback riding we can make reservations (otherwise it's just a matter of showing up). Alternatively, if nobody wants to do the horseback ride, we could either go on a hike to the Bat Cave or bike ride around the park.

LA Live Steamers and Walt's Train Barn close at 3. I'm guessing we'll have done all 3 by that time, but just in case, we'll leave Travel Town stuff till last because they stay open until 5.

Also nearby of course is the LA Zoo ($10 - $7 if we have 15 or more people) and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage ($9)

(The reason for the particular date chosen is that the Carollwood Pacific Historical Society only opens up Walt's Train Barn once a month, on the third Sunday of the month.)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm up for pretty much anything other than the horses, but I can't commit to any dates at the moment.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

I've always wanted to go there! I hope I can make it :)

[BarTopDancer]

Sounds like fun. Except for the horses. No thank you!

[innerSpaceman]

The only thing I have any interest in at Griffith Park is seeing the revamped Griffith Observatory ... and they've made that an unbelievable hassle to do.

But if anyone wants to hike up the hill with me first thing in the morning (and we can't stay to see things thru the telescope, cause cars are towed away at 6pm), I'd be up for that.


But Travel Town - beyond boring. Horseback Riding - uh, if I'm going to do that, I've got a prior committment to support a friend's new buziness.

[BarTopDancer]

But Travel Town - beyond boring. Horseback Riding - uh, if I'm going to do that, I've got a prior committment to support a friend's new buziness.

ooo. Maybe she can get me on the horses. They are beautiful but scare the bejezzers out of me.

[Not Afraid]

I love "vacationing" locally. There's so much to see that I haven't seen before and I think this sounds like a great idea. I'll have to check the date as we get closer - it's the start of busy season for my work.

[Morrigoon]

Like I said, if folks aren't up for the horses, there are some great alternate activities, including just taking a leisurely bike ride through the park, or hiking up to the bat cave, or the zoo, or the Gene Autry museum, etc.

The horses thing was because it was something so very different to do. (And if ism has a friend's business to support, maybe that's a swanking for a different time!)

[Ponine]

I'm terrified of horses, and not sure I still know how to ride a bike, but otherwise, thats not bad.

[Capt Jack]

never been on a horse. donkey once, motorcycle a few times...but never a horse.

love to try though. its just like a really big dog, right?

[madmonkeygirl]

I'm not sure about the date just yet (depends on new store manager scheduling or not scheduling) so i can't commit. Horses would be fun but lately i've been needing sleep since my hours are so late at night. Plus who knows about the weather then as well...

[Isaac]

Didn't this place catch fire & burn up a few months ago ?

http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=5776

[lizziebith]

Horsies! I haven't ridden since I quit lessons a couple of years ago... I really miss it!

On a side note, isn't the batcave on the other side of the park from the horsie-area? Like, driving-distance far? That's how I remember it, anyway. :confused:

[Morrigoon]

Yes, it is. But if we were skipping horses, we would have all morning free for Bat Cave.

Griffith Park is friggin' huge. Some 7 times the size of Central Park, if I recall correctly.

[BarTopDancer]

Is the Bat Cave a real cave with bats? As in underground?

[Morrigoon]

No, it's actually more of a tunnel cut through a hill back when the area was a quarry. In the old Batman TV series, when you see the Bat Car leaving the Bat Cave out the side of a hill (in the opening sequence, as well as during the show), that's this tunnel. But people call it the Bat Cave because of that.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I'm tentatively in (no horses or bikes for us) and it sounds like fun!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I believe it's called Bronson Cave and it's been used in a LOT of TV/movie shoots. We shot some scenes for Star Trek VI there.

[Morrigoon]

It is indeed the Bronson Cave. aka the Bat Cave (that's what we called it at Camp Hollywoodland)

[Morrigoon]

Okay, so it sounds like horsies are not a popular option.

I'm thinking 11am at the carousel could be the "basic" meetup time, but if some folks are interested, maybe have an earlier meeting time for either bikes or hiking.

We could also look at following up the day at the park by going over to Forest Lawn to Walt's grave, or hopping down to the El Cap for a film.

[Disneyphile]

We could also look at following up the day at the park by going over to Forest Lawn to Walt's grave, or hopping down to the El Cap for a film.Or a round of drinks and pub food at the Tam o' Shanter. ;)

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Well, I'd totally be up for a horseback ride, provided we get there and the horses are in good health. I'm no expert, but I considered going horseback riding on Catalina Island once, and then saw that all of their horses were swaybacked and looked very ill cared for. If the people who run the place care for the horses and provide enough instruction for the riders (so they're not riding in a way that could harm the horses, etc. blah-blah), I would love to meet you for an early ride. I've been thinking about signing up for lessons this winter or next spring.

[Not Afraid]

We walked past a horse harnessed to a carriage in PS and Chris had a immediate allergy attack. I'm thinking he's not going to be riding.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I can't commit to a date but this sounds like fun. It's a toss-up between bikes and horses though.

[NirvanaMan]

I'm game. But can we do the horse riding a touch later. It is a long drive for me (I say selfishly). And instead of horses, can they be dirtbikes? With machine guns? And spikes for tires.

[Morrigoon]

We can do the horses later, yes. Not so much with the dirtbikes and sharp pointy things.

[Snowflake]

Or a round of drinks and pub food at the Tam o' Shanter. ;)

Now, I've not been to the Tam-O-Shanter for a while.

Maybe a possible swanking in January to start the new year?

Pub food is good!

[BarTopDancer]

And instead of horses, can they be dirtbikes? With machine guns? And spikes for tires.

If these are the "horses" we're riding I'm in for horseback riding.

[BarTopDancer]

Ok, since Morri said no sharp pointy things... if they have nice horses and there aren't giant cliffs to be thrown off of I'll give it a shot.

Time to conquer the fear.

[Morrigoon]

Okay, so it's just under 2 weeks away, I guess we should find out who's in for what.

Me: I'm thinking we meet at the Merry-Go-Round, have a nice swanky picnic lunch in honor of Mickey and Minnie's birthday (which, coincidentally, happens to land on that day), then head over to Live Steamers to see Walt's Train Barn (which is only open the 3rd Sunday of the month, and hopfully might do something special since it is the aforementioned day of importance).

Monetarily, I could skip the horses, but I can manage it if there's enough people wanting to still do it. If we did, we can push the time back to the 10 o'clock ride since that seems to be the preference.

Please chime in and let me know, guys!

I unfortunately won't be able to stick around through dinner plans because it's apparently Alex's brother's birthday, so I have to hoof it down to Long Beach in the late afternoon. But if folks want to, the Tam O'Shanter is not that far away.

[Chernabog]

I don't think my back is so much into horseback riding.... but I'd be down for doing whatever at Griffith Park as long as it included Walt's barn (which as Morrigoon mentioned can ONLY be viewed the third sunday of the month).

The Tam O Shanter sounds fun too if people wanted to eat some din din.

[Morrigoon]

That's okay, people seem about 50/50 on the horses anyway, and since I'm in the $45/hr weight range... I could certainly hold off on that for another time... like a time NOT close to Christmas!

[BDBopper]

Why do I get the sudden desire to move to SoCal now? (pouts)

[GusGus]

It all sounds like fun! (except the bike part - dirtbikes sound ok tho' - I'm all about the motor!)

[Kevy Baby]

It all sounds like fun! (except the bike part - dirtbikes sound ok tho' - I'm all about the motor!)You've never even been on a motorcycle!

[GusGus]

You've never even been on a motorcycle!

I know - sounds like fun.



and what I really meant was that I'm less about the pedals.

[Disneyphile]

Ken is picking up some extra hours at work that day, so we're out.

[Morrigoon]

Well guys, who's in? We can put this off till some other 3rd-Sunday-of-the month if you want.

But I need to know who's actually IN if we do it this weekend.

[BarTopDancer]

I am 99% out. I am so far behind in school that it's not even funny :(

No, it's not something better to do. I'd rather go play.

[Morrigoon]

Okay, folks, I'm going to make an executive decision here and officially put this swanking "on hiatus" till some time next Spring.

(perhaps a mod would consider editing the thread title to reflect that? Thanks.)

[Chernabog]

Awww pootietang. I was looking forward to doing this, had it calendared and everything.

[JWBear]

Probably for the best.

[Snowflake]

Okay, folks, I'm going to make an executive decision here and officially put this swanking "on hiatus" till some time next Spring.

(perhaps a mod would consider editing the thread title to reflect that? Thanks.)

Well, I for one think this is cool. That means with a rescheduling, I might be able to fly down for it and join in on the fun. :snap:

[Kevy Baby]

This sounds good, the timing just wasn't there for me. Make sure to resurrect this after the first of the year.

[Morrigoon]

Yeah, I'm going to look at doing it when some (eg: I) can actually afford the horseback riding... because that sounds fun.

Which hopefully means this will be earlier in the year than later - I hate being out in the heat ;)

[Chernabog]

Which hopefully means this will be earlier in the year than later - I hate being out in the heat ;)

I pray that Cheesedog and I will be out of the Valley and on the other side of the hill by next summer -- cuz last summer .. ugh.

[Kevy Baby]

The Valley is a great place to be FROM.