2007 Swanking ideas
 

I've been much too busy to swank much lately, but there is still so much I want to do and see locally. I realize right now is NOT the time to plan anything, but, come January, I think we're all a lot less busy. So, let's get some ideas going. Where do you want to play in 2007?

Some things to start off with:
Magritte exhibition at LACMA
Getty Malibu
Eat/Drink at Social in Hollywood
Downtown tour

Add yours....

Anything swanky from 24th March to 7th April will suit me..............

We're up for a Swanking the first week of April as well.:)

It's still a ways off (September), but I have my eye on the Birth of the Cool exhibit coming to the OC Museum of Art.

I've never been to the Getty on the 405.

So, out of towners, where would YOU like to go? The possabilities are endless.

We could have a LoT Beach Party or a house party as well.

Not 5 minutes after posting this, I got a "Buy a membership" email from the OCMA. They're watching me!

Greystone Mansion Picnic?

I can get a good deal ($18.95 per person) on a really fun Downtown L.A. walking tour (entirely accessible via Metro - you can easily ride from there to the Getty Center for the afternoon)

I'm also hoping to do RHPS @ the Queen Mary

How about a nice road trip to our Nations Capital?

The cherry blossoms are quite lovely in the spring.

Absolutely one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed...

I also remember that trip because a homeless person pooped on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that day...

Hearst Castle

Ooooo...... That sounds keen!

Already booked & Paid. We're seeing it Mon April 16th 2007 @ 11:40am :p

You're welcome to join us, of course ! :D

While I love RHPS, screening it on the Queen Mary is a desecration. The poor old lady has suffered so much.

I think they screen it in her.... ;)

We could always go visit the Pirates I/II/III sets again :D

I should be in Baltimore the second week of October - is that close enough?

Probably a tad late for peak cherry blossom season but definitely close enough for a good swanking. Keep me posted.

If it involves a weekend, I might be able to make it. I've been wanting to see the Museum of the American Indian.

Excellent, this snowball is picking up steam... Let me know if you and € can work out a time. The Moonliner Multi-Passenger Motorized Mobile Mover is at your disposal for runs to/from Baltimore and DC.

Have lunch at their "cafeteria" which is actually the definition of swank fare.

Hmm, we were starting to plan an October trip to NY....

Isn't there an EPCOT anniversary this year?

See my post above re: Cafe Sabarsky.

And we can look at the names on the wall. :)

I'm road-tripping to Hearst Castle in July with some out of town swanker-film friends. This will be a our pre-SF Silent Film Festival trip. Staying at a B&B called The Pickford House, naturally, I will be in the Rudolph Valentino room.

As for swanking to LA, as an out of towner, I'm totally up for a Getty on the 405 trip. I've not been to the Getty in many years, and like CP, never to the new (not so now) museum.

A walking tour of the Whitley Heights neighborhood could be cool, as well.

A picnic at the Hollywood Bowl if the entertainment is good?

A Griffith Park excursion?

Awww. To share with the class: the hubbo's name is engraved on an honor wall at the National Museum of the American Indian for his work with the Eastern Shoshone. I'm so proud of my snookywookums.

Camping in the spring

Errr, Isn't there an anniversary every year? :p

Tom and I have the swanking for September taken care of. ;)

Hey, It's just a quick train trip from New York City through senic New Jersery down to Baltimore and DC.

The moonie mobile seats 42 abu ghraib style or up to 8 if you are into comfort and seatbelts.

Crud, why didn't we think of this when I was still in VA near DC? :mad:

Oh well, you're just going to have to make a trip North sometime. No moonliner, but we do have NASA

Camping
Getty
Winchester Mystery House - Midnight Flashlight Tour ;)
Sea World

We REALLY want to do this !! It's closest to SFO, isn;t it ?

I want to do the Winchester Mystery House as well - it's one place that's been on my list that I haven't quite made it to!

How long have we been talking about doing this?!?

It is actually closer to the San Jose Airport, but it is only 35 or so miles from SFO

The 2007 Flashlight Tour Dates are

I wanna go see Sharky 2 still! I cannot believe he is still there! I may fly up on the 6th for the day (morning flight, fly back in the evening). If anyone else wants to go PM me.

We were going to do a family trip to Scandinavia, starting with a stopoff in Iceland, on to Sweden, and finally Denmark. Then a doofus ran a red light and totalled our Jeep. Thank God no one was killed, right? I am grateful but the insurance company owed us only a used Jeep and I'm not buying a used Jeep. The insurance money + the trip money = a new Jeep.

Plan B: we're taking one of our kids to a swanky camp in New York state, same town as Stan4d_Steph! Guess who's coming to dinner, Steph. :D

I suggest a field trip.

I cast another vote for a visit to the EMP!

Goody ! I just love Electro Magnetic Pulses. :rolleyes:

I keep reading the thread title and thinking, "How are we gonna come up with that many ideas?"

EPCOT Center celebrates it's 25th Anniversary on October 1st. Could be interesting but a bit far & pricey. I think a road trip somewhere out of SoCal (like Winchester or even just Las Vegas) would be fun.

LoTs Vegas MUST HAPPEN!

Viva

Will someone go to "O" with me? Then you can probably count me in.

Not for everyone.

I hate Vegas.

LoT Vegas! I love it!

I love Vegas. And we have two residents on our board!

Vegas is so-so. Cirque du Soleil is devine. I will go see "O" with mousepod, or anyone else. And Zumanity. And yeah, I'll be seeing Love.


Edited to add: The Wynn Hotel is the epitome of swank. If we win LoT LoTto, we can afford to stay there!

Yes, San Jose. About 40 miles south of SF. I'd be ready for that, too, it's been years since I've been there.

Winchester Mystery House
 

Moonlight Tours are restricted to any Friday the 13th date and Halloween.

Info can be found here

Event prices seem to be $39 for a moonlight walkabout the place.

San Jose has not been on my exploration list for some time, but with all the new building and renovating going on in the last decade, I think it's worth a trip for investigative purposes.

The area around there is both better looking and less interesting since Santana Row (very nearby) was completed.

I've done the moonlight tour and didn't find it all that interesting (though there were some people in our group that weren't necessarily fun to be with so that may have influenced things).

"Look! A crazy lady built a crazy house." That sustained things for about 10 minutes.

We recently strolled the grounds of the Winchester House. We were staying nearby...geesh, I forget the name of the place but it was a ten minute drive from there. We also went to the Mission. It wasn't open. :rolleyes:

I didn't do much there but the Chickie and fiance spent two whole days exploring. They went to an Egyptian museum {?}. Found Vegan places to eat. We went to Carls' Jr.

BUT back to topic~that would be the best if it were all a gang of people you knew to do the tour with. And no babies!!! :evil:

Me too. (But then again, I grew up there, and learned to loathe it.)

Probably the Rosicrucian Temple and Egyptian museum. Freaky cool.

The Rosicrucian Temple and museum is indeed cool. Just go in knowing that a fair amount of the history presented is fraudulent (as you'd expect from an 19th century fraternal organization that truly believes it has a continuous history extending all the way back to ancient Egypt).

But if you keep that in mind it is cool. And a lot of the straight Egyptology on display is accurate, just be wary of the claims about the organization. (Here's a brief overview)

What a name!! No wonder I call it 'The Egyptian Museum'. :D

There is films at the Aero. I heard mentioned a James Bond marathon. Hmmmmmmm....

You guys can come to AZ and party in my backyard. No? Well, there's not much else to do here, sorry. Sigh...I miss DL.

OMG is it ever! NM and I had the pleasure of visiting one of the panoramic view suites on our trip last spring. Three bedrooms, 4 baths, bar, flat screens in every room, massage room, you name it! Sweet suite! Oh! If you want to get the VIP treatment, have a theme for your group (we were all dressed as super heroes). That was a swanky way to do Vegas.
:cheers:

What would Captain Profundity wear?

Oh, Duh.... Something Profound, of course.... :rolleyes:


:p

...sorry, I just had to...

A laptop, of course! And carry a martini glass.

I used to work at the Winchester House and gave several flashlight tours of the place. Please be advised, in most cases the tours from 8PM to about 9:30 are usually loaded with someone that's inebriated (or a group of someones.) The tours go in every 10 minutes so the house is usually packed with people.

I would personally recommend trying to be on the first couple of tours that start at 7 (or is it 6 now?) That way you get the house for the most part to yourself, you don't have to worry about people wondering around from other tours and you might even get to see sludge.

The guides are supposed to share stories of strange experiences that have happened over time at the mansion, some do, some don't. The tour that you get is the same one you can take during the day with the strange experiences mixed in. That's the only difference.

Hey Dexter !! *Hugs*

Good to see you here ! :D :cheers:

Thanks Lashbear, I'm happy to join this hip community, I'm just working on finding my groove.:)

Just be you !!

For example: I'm so un-hip, it's a wonder my bum doesn't fall off. But I still have fun :blush:


(Now what other hip places can I suggest for 2007... I know... the La Brea Tar-pits. :D )

The Tar Pits are cool and also share grounds with some other museums including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

I love LACMA, but it always seems to rain when I go there.... :confused:

Norton Simon, South Pas, Gamble House and environs.

Ooooo....Gamble House!

What sort of gambling ?

zapppop suggests we form a large group for a taping of The Price is Right. It'll be Bob Barker's final months, and a large enough group would give us a decent shot at one of us being selected for the game ... which would make the proceedings way more fun.




On the museum side, several have suggested the Getty on the 405 ... but I'd much rather visit the relatively recently reopened Old Getty in Malibu.


If a tour through an actual Air Force One 707 is swanky, there's always the Ronald Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.



And I insist we could make a LoTs Vegas outting so koolsville it would swank your pants off.


(well, maybe after a few drinks.)

Maybe something like Hustler Casino! ;)

Not that kind of Gamble. Here.


(ETA: Henry Greene was kinda cute!)

Price is Right would be so much fun.

Oooooo... How about a trip to Hollyhock House?

I can get group set ups for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno...

With Keifer? Or Keifer? How about Keifer?

You just need GRR for that ;)

I've wanted to go to a Price is Right taping since I was a kid. Sigh.

There is also Mary Poppins Sing Along at El Cap in January and Peter Pan in March I think.

Keifer who ? ;) :p

OK, he's really hot, but Ross the Intern is hotter !! :D

i would love to participate in the swank :)

It occurs to me that the "formal" swanking season is the winter and spring. Summertime usually sees its own, more common social events ... and the ensuing "holiday season" stretching from October to, well ... now, often finds the social calendar full as well.

I noticed last year that the attempt at organized, monthly swankings lasted only till May. Cemetery screenings, 4th of July, Disneyland Birthday and general summer fun tended to "interfere" with events more planned-out. And ditto for everything from Labor Day to New Years, though there's hardly been a lack of fun during any season of the year.

The dead of winter seems to need the most "help," and there are certainly enough suggetions so far (and keep 'em coming) to provide a good half-dozen events for the Swanking Season. Let's try to best last year's season, and offer a monthy event thru June 2007!

Hopefully, we'll come up with some finalists early in January ... because we should have our first swanking of the year within the next 31 days!!

Thank you for that info! Greystone sounds great!! Maybe when I am going up to see Wicked at the Pantages we'll make a side trip there.

The Getty...
Looking for famous people's graves in Hollywood...
San Diego Wild Animal Park...
Sea World...
The art museums I spoke with Lisa, Chris, Steve and Isaac about but don't remember the names of...
A ghost tour of some sort...
Hearst Castle...
Vegas...
Tahoe...
Mammoth...
Lone Pine...

Your list GC~

My sister loves finding graves throughout Hollywood, wherever. Do you look on line for places to go?

Wild Animal Park~ haven't done that in ages...I wouldn't go on a hot day....

Sea World~since you are close, check in to the special where you get the year for a days price? Might need AAA but I am not sure...or it may be two days...but there is/was something.

I want to do the Museum of Tolerance with the family. Went with the 6th graders. So emotional but so relevant.

L.A. has a lot of ghost tours. San Diego does have one, too and I really want to go!!!

How long does it take to get to Hearst Castle? I've only done the first tour. I love it.

Never been to Vegas....like to go for a show....

Missing Tahoe. Stay in a cabin on the lake. Not enough time off of work to go. :(

Lone Pine? Do tell!!

I want to go to the Calico Ghost Town {or whatever it is called} that Knott's gave to the state {?}. I hear you can stay on the grounds {some cabins? camp ground?} and that it is haunted!!! Oooo!!!! But it is far. Am I right?

We only have a trip planned to Yosemite. I say only because we normally hit up Tahoe, Monterey, Frisco, San Simeon. Sadly, not enough time.

Anyone going to Yosemite? We are scheduled to be there 3/12-3/15. Staying at the Lodge.

There were tons of old movies shot in Lone Pine. It's a beautiful area. It's also a short car ride to Mt. Whitney. It's pretty up there...

C'mon folks! Mary Poppins!! I don't wanna go alone!! :(

:p

We did Yosemite (Camp Curry) last Columbus Day weekend. We're going back (to the Lodge) 4/15-4/18. It's wonderful.

Calico is fun. You can camp, or rent a cabin (some are "haunted"). It's not that far, about 3 hours from Orange County, near Barstow, off the 15. One of the guys up there does a ghost walk tour which is pretty fun. They take a group of about 10 people through the ghost town at night. It's pretty dark, and of course everyone hears all the stories and you are pretty much all on a hair trigger when you walk around the town. All you have to do is touch the person next to you to get the whole group to freak out. One person with us was walking through the graveyard during the daytime and looked at us and noticed that there were 5 shadows for 4 people. I'm not sure how much I believe but it's fun nonetheless.

I'll do Yosemite any time.

OK, HERE'S something I'd like to accomplish this Spring........CAMPING.

I do love those areas, GC, like along the 395 maybe?

I love the location of the Lodge. We were toying with staying at the Awahnee but it is so far from everything. But they do have a pool....

We've stayed in the cabins and loft rooms at Curry Village. Lisa, the closest I've been to camping in years was Housekeeping camp. We were lucky there weren't any knuckleheads at the time. Lots of families.

That Calico trip sounds like something the LoT gang might enjoy...scares and laughs....

BFL~ LOL I doubt if when the time comes you'll be doing MP alone....

Lake Tahoe Half Marathon!

I think most of us better start at sea level before even thinking about trying it at altitude.

Girlfriend, you have gotten the running bug!! I haven't been running much {outdoors} since the Hubster hurt himself {dah, forget what it is called but it is his foot....}.

I have seen the ones in Montery, too, that look awesome. I think they have short ones {my speed} and long ones that go up the 1. I wouldn't mind being there for the fun but I don't think I could do that. Well, not now. Lucky to run 2 miles on the treadmill.

And, GD is right. That altitude will cut you short! Your breath, that is.

If we were actually to do this, I have a number of books that point out locations and have been to all of the major local cemeteries, with the exception of Westwood Memorial Park (Marlyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Natalie Wood, among others).

Anyone who has gone to the cemetery screenings is already familiar with "Hollywood Forever" (Valentino, Mel Blanc, etc.. There are also both of the Forest Lawns in Glendale and Hollywood Hills (Walt Disney, Liberace, Stan Laurel, etc.) as well as Holy Cross (Bing Crosby, Sharon Tate, Bela Lugosi, etc.) and Hillside (Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Lorne Green, etc.) both of which are near LAX.

If swanky people get exercise, a fun thing I did the other day was go up Runyon Canyon in Hollywood -- people walk their dogs and stuff there -- and when you get to the top, you have a view of Los Angeles from downtown to the ocean.

There's a similar hike over where the Hollywood sign is, I can't remember the name of that canyon...

Anyway, a nice hike, a nice view, and a nice dinner in West Hollywood seem like a fun way to burn off steam...

Have you been to John Wayne's grave? It's a really nice location in Newport Beach, great view of the Pacific.

When is it? January is filling up fast. There are so many people that we've put off seeing until after the holidays that I'm freaking out just thinking about it. I could probably schedule us through Feb if I wanted to. :( I love seeing people but sometimes I wish for spontenaiety. When you're talking about LA and SD (which we always are), you can't have spontenaiety.

As you should be, 3894 :)


Not sure if this classifies in the swank book but I am making a trip to Victoria, BC this year if it is the last thing I do. ;) My grandma, who lived in Seattle for years but was from Wales, England, use to take us as kids and I love it there. We haven't taken the time to go in years . . . too busy going to DL I suppose. ;)

Mary Poppins is January 11th thru 30th. I read somewhere opening night will have guests. Same with Peter Pan on February 1st. !! :)

Oh sweetie... You're campy enough! ;)

A weeknight opening night, how wonderful. :rolleyes: And I'd suppose that if you go any other night it'll just be swarms of children screaming along. Sigh.

Here's another vote for Camp Swank.

I'll 2nd that.

or would that be third?
either way, count me in for that.

Yeah, they always open on a Thursday!:eek:

Camp Swank sounds fun!!

There are some neat petroglyphs out there too.

Yosemite Info
 

Winter fun from $44!!

Enjoy an unforgettable winter adventure with great rates at YSNP.
Call (559) 253-2085 or book online at www.YosemitePark.com. Use promo code YPESCAPE to book.

Rates at Curry Village
$44 per night in Heated Tents
$54 pernight Cabins {both without baths}

Rates at YLodge At The Falls
$89 per night
$150 per night {March 11-15}

Rates at the Ahwahnee
$264. per night.

YL rates: 1/7-2/15 and 2/25-3/1 and 3/11-3/22
Curry Village rates: 1/1-ah, not clear, maybe 1/1-3/28. Or not.
Ahwahnee: 2/2-2/4 and 2/11-2/15 and 2/25-3/1 and 3/4-3/8 and 3/13-13, 3/18-22, 3/25-28.

Argh. If these are confusing and you are really interested,I can scan my flyer.

You can enter the code on the webpage or over the phone.

While the San Diego Zoo was not on the list, if you get an annual pass to the SD Zoo, it also covers the Wild Animal Park (and vice versa). Their AP is not much more than a single day. Susan and I had a "couple's pass" and it was only like $18 more than two single day passes for the two of use. They also have a "family pass."

About 4 hours from either LA or San Francisco. I could plan out a great weekend which would include Hearst Castle, outdoor hot tubs in the woods at night at Sycamore Mineral Springs (see photos below), possibly staying at the Apple Farm (Susan and I's FAVORITE hotel) and other fun surprises.



Just make sure you know that most of the town (if not all - I am not sure) is a rebuild. Most of it burned down is a massive fire a few years back.

You can join Susan and I (and a couple of thousand others) at the Portrero War. You can watch a bunch of (Renaissance and before) geeks put on a lot of steel and go beat up on each other. Or you can participate if you like, but that is (in my opinion) WAY too much effort!

See my San Luis Obispo suggestion above. Instead of staying at a hotel, we could stay at one of the wonderful campgrounds on the Central Coast (Montana de Oro or others).

I've camped at Montana del Oro (actually filmed there and fed 50 people) and have been to Sycamore Springs (my nephew was the restaurant manager there). There are many fun things to do on the Central Coast. Monarch Butterflies at Pismo is fascinating as well. So is Moonstone Beach. Snowflake is staying in a B&B that I stayed at MANY years ago sometime soon.

Of all of the central coast, Big Sur is by far my favorite place.

Perhaps we can have a Lashbear in Pismo swanking? I believe that's in his itinerary.

My birthday is April 9th :)

Now that's my kind of camping, although it's been awhile since we dragged the pavilion out to some dusty or muddy field.

How's this for a pavillion:

Huzzah!!!

Our pavilion is a bit more modest - but it just houses the two of us. Pavilion plans here. I still need to finish the slat bed.

The bright blue and red tent belongs to our friends. The thing is freakin' huge! Each circle is about 25' in diameter. Each easily accomodates a queen sized bed and still has LOTS of room left over.

I made three portable queen-sized beds (one for Susan and I and two for friends) for these events. It can be assembled on site in about five minutes:

Depending how far into building the bed you are, I would be happy to make one for you (see above - you posted while I was composing).

It's a generous offer, but I'm stubborn about making my own gear most of the time. Honestly, I've barely started. I've cut pieces to length and now they sit in my garage awaiting purchase of a jigsaw.

Meanwhile I'm frantically trying to make a corded bodice for 12th night because I haven't had new garb in at least 3 years.

Got my vote :)

Neither have I!

I'd be totally up for this

Never seen Hearst Castle either, but I'm not free on a Monday like Lashbear.

Hollywood Bowl is ALWAYS a good call. Well, except when John Williams conducts (snooze...) I'm heartbroken about losing John Mauceri, but hopefully we'll get someone good to replace him.

Dude, Kevy, I wanna party with you!

"Hear ye, lords and ladies of the realm, and hie ye down to Camp Swanke for a jolly olde time!"

For the record: none of those are ours. It's just the encampment where we stay.

Hmm, you'll have to count me out for the Ren Faire inspired stuff. Not my bag.

I'm totally up for camping camping though.

Our pavilion's small enough for regular camping. I'm never going back to the dome tent. I love a tent I can actually stand up in, that doesn't turn into a nylon pressure cooker shortly after sunrise, and that I can actually move about in.

Running is not swanky.

;) :D

a quotable quote if ever there was one.

:snap:

Aw, it is if you can do it.

Me? I am a 'poser'. I have the gear but I will not run, on a regular basis, for more than 25-30 minutes. After that, I look and feel like I need a medic.

Thank goodness I can't post the pics of me in the Coronado Bridge run. Awesome shots but I look like I've been running for hours and not just 45 minutes.....:blush:

Well, those of us who wouldn't run could always be the pep squad...swanktified. :snap:

I shake a mean pom pom!

I shake a mean booty. ;)

Well there ya go, we have the pep squad covered! We can make signs and everything!

I'm totally up for Ren Faire. A friend I've known her for nearly all my life dances at them every year and I have yet to see her.

~MS~ and NA: :snap: :snap:

It could be so much fun to sit along side and shake our pom poms and booties!!!

I only went to one faire at the Old Globe,many many years ago. I love the atmosphere. All of the pics are awesome!!!

Camping is out for me unless it includes an electric outlet. One cannot sleep with one's CPAP in the open air.

Can one hook a CPAP up to one's car battery?

Well, there is a travel version available for the low, low, price of $335...with free shipping! :)

Things are looking up!

http://www.koa.com/where/ca/05195/

I was looking into this campground a few years ago. They have rental cabins that look pretty dang swanky! ;)

I only know of the few places I've experienced/heard of.

I know Housekeeping camp has electricity. An outlet or two inside and one outside.

A lot of 'cabins' that are bare minimum {bring your own everything} have outlets.

I've stayed in many a KOA Kampground in my time and quite a Kamper Kabins.

While they are fine for what they are, there is, as a general rule, nothing swanky about KOA Kampbrounds (though the one outside of Victoria almost manages to feel like a campground and not a parking lot).

I know a lot of people have had bad experiences with H.C. in Yosemite.

I remember we were not happy to have to stay there as opposed to a room and I thought how silly of people paying so much to stay there for a number of days. I thought I would only stay there as a last resort, like that time, the following two nights we had a very nice room in Curry Village, the loft Standard room in the building right next to main parking lot. But I digress...

Those people who had rented units for 4 or 5 days were in a group of 4 or 5 families/groups. When we went walking around we saw how cool they had set things up.

Lights, card tables for games, water toys for play. Sort of didn't matter at that point how uncomfortable the 'bed' was.

I never went to summer camp but it seemed to me that it must have been something like that. :)

Oh, and music. A must.

whoa! wait a sec. cabins? I thought we were talking "camping"

you know....camping? tents? building a cookfire? (vs starting the Coleman stove and opening freeze dried fillet mignon)

no?

Yes, you were. :D

ummmm. . . . I can wave like a princess! :D

(I am having trouble grinning with a mustache . . . I spend a lot of money keeping mine at bay! LOL ;) )

I know. And people who play music in a campground are the people who spend the weekend getting glared at (as we did last year at King's Canyon when the next slot over played the same three CDs for three days).

But then I grew up with camping where there wasn't another person within 25 miles so car camping in crowded campgrounds isn't my ideal.

There are battery starter thingies (I bought one for my dad) that you use to kick start your car battery when flat. The same devices can be used to run a mains power appliance for about 6-8 hours. If you only need 6 hours sleep then you're set !

I can't wait to use my CPAP in the plane on the way over !! :D

Kittens, you're camping without 3894 .... or Helen. The Great Outdoors and I are through! I've paid my dues, summer after summer in Wyomin'.

This summer: Prince Edward Island and lobsters. Lots and lots and lots of lobsters. Also butter.

Well, I can't live without music but I won't blast it. But I have to have it.

I have camped/slept in places like that but I don't like it much. But, then again, sleeping so close to so many people with basically a shower curtain seperating us didn't bode well with me, either.

But I would feel safety in numbers...

I always try to camp as close to a river as possible so a) I'm not surrounded and b) I get the whote noise of rushing water to drown out loudmouths.

Those {at HC} look like to be the perfect ones. It would be awesome to wake up with the river next to us and look up at would it be Half Dome or Yosemite Falls? Either way, awesome.

I once quite literally (in the CP approved sense of the word) saved a squirrel's life at Yosemite. I'm a local hero. I bet they still tell tales of my exploits.

Oh *eyes big with curiosity* do tell.

What about the bats, anyone see them? And, I've never seen one bear....

My son took practically a whole roll of film solely of squirrels.....

On our last trip, Heather and I were hiking up to Glacier Point. I looked off the trail to my left (the mountain was to my right) and saw a bear, who looked right back at me. Heather was about 10 feet in front of me, so I just told her to keep walking, and when we were out of sight of the animal I told her what had happened. About 5 minutes later, we passed a couple who were hiking down the trail, and I told them about the bear. They had never seen one, and were so excited that they almost ran down the path. Stupid people. Once we got to the top, I asked a ranger about the bear (I was close enough to have read the tag in its ear). He told me that it was a female who had been a food thief in the past, but who seemed to be more out of sight this year since she had cubs. I was glad I didn't see the cubs.

I look forward to seeing many deer and coyote and squirrels in April.

Oh my gosh! I am glad I have never encountered a bear. Especially a female with cubs!!!!

I love to see deer {but they can be mean,too, if you aren't careful} and the coyote. They are getting quite bold, though, with people bribing them for pictures.

Aw, it seems we will miss each other. We normally go the end of March but schedules aren't permitting that. :(

Those times are still beautiful. Last March, we enjoyed lovely heavy snowfall. We hiked in it and it was awesome!

our camp was raided by bears on one trip. who knew they were so adept at opening locked coolers, let alone car doors?

on any given camping trip I've seen bats, elk, deer, racoons, possums, snakes, more squirrles and rabbits than you could count, lizards, scorpians, hu-freakin-mungous spiders, whatever the 773H those freaky rat lookin' things were that attacked us, mountain lions, coyotes, a mole (by far the weirdest looking thing Ive ever seen) and some of the most incredible birds you could ever lay eyes on...its all part of the fun!

all you can do is try not to piss em off. :D

please tell me where you've met up with these creatures so I can avoid that place....:eek:

I saw a bear right down by the visitor's center at Rainier. My boyfriend at the time wanted to go up and pet it. In retrospect, I should have encouraged him.

all over. my dads idea of vacations were family camping trips to death valley in august. :rolleyes:

the bear thing was in the sequoias. I'd face a dozen bears to see it again.
the weird rat lookin' things was the grand canyon. middle of the night, black as pitch outside our lil igloo, they start throwing themselves against the outside of the tent (and everything else in sight). tore the camp to pieces. all running in one direction for as far as my mag lite would shine. freaky sh!t

it was sooo coooool :cool:

I have taken notes.....:snap:

Prudence, I tried to send you some mojo but couldn't. Love your retrospect. :evil:

Music - we always bring it and never listen to it

Bears - I once encountered a large black forest dog, Lisa says it was a bear, but I think it moved to fast for the lumbering bears I've seen on TV

My husband. Mr. Outdoors! :rolleyes:

We've actually seen quite a few bears over the years. They are all over the Sierras and not uncommon to spot.

I like the kind of camping that comes with room service.
:D

Camping is great fun, but it's not swanky.

We saw big 'ol banana slugs in the Redwoods

Ah, but when we do it, we make it swanky - it usually revolves around food and drink, camp sangria, blackened red fish, lamb Kabobs in a curry yogurt sauce. I also hike with a cocktail shaker - nothing like having a delicious sidecar when you reach the top of the trail.

sigh - I miss camping

Ew, big banana slugs???

When you see something like that, can you ever sleep without wondering if they are under your sleeping bag??? Or crawling in your ear???

Well, of course the Swankmiesters would do camping up right. :snap:

LOL On our hikes we carry beef jerky, Aquafina, and granola bars.

Music~ I would imagine if you have enough people to talk with you wouldn't even hear it if you played it. That has happened.

Bears~ Have I mentioned I don't ever want to meet one? I have smoked a cigarette in my vehicle to get rid of the smell of food to try and make sure they don't break into it. And, I am a real cow about not eating in the car until we leave the park. I love my car and I mostly love that it carries me to Yosemite and other destinations. I don't want it to be opened up like a can of tuna.

Will you visit the Bay of Fundy?

Drawn Butter ?? Or just loosely sketched ? :p

[Homer]MMMMmmmmmmm.... Lobsters.... [/Homer]

Rendered in 3D.

I am passing on a request for at least some of the swankings not to be museums.


Certainly, and I agree with this reasoning, there are other things somewhere between sophisticated art appreciation and rustic camp life that are swanky.

I agree. I've been to most of the major So Cal museums or go with some regularity. There are loads of other things to do that are a lot more interactive.

How about a hike in Will Rodgers State Park? Shopping on Melrose? A Day at the Santa Monica Pier/third street promanade?

(OK, so I'm heavy on the museums and shopping....but that's why I asked for suggestions!)

By your command.

Here is one just for you. Oh and in addation to the run of the mill stuff, they also have circus acts! :D (stress on the word "acts").

Well, I'll certainly be suggesting various dance and music performances as they come, as well as suggest some swank club & dinning experiences such as the Standard, but feel free to suggest away - the year is young and there's plenty room for swank.

Oh, I truly hope for lots of off-the-record, quasi-spontaneous swank. But I think it's been demonstrated that the official monthly swankings are likely to reach a grand total of Six.

I know of at least one LoTter who has been there.

If you want another type of swanking, plan one. I sure as hell don't have time to plan them all.

I'd love to see a Dita Von Teese Burlesque show the next time she's in the area

As for hiking, LA Mountains is a great site that outlines all of the hiking areas in the (surprise) LA Mountains.

No, no, no ... you miss my point. (And it's not even mine, but one I am relaying for someone who has no internet access at the moment).

In rougly six pages of ideas, most of them intriguing and worthwhile, the suggestions are heavy on museums and out-of-town trips. Let's face it: Out-of-town swankings will be hard to pull off ... and I expect, in the end, for there to be few or one of them.

I'm just passing on a request to vary the types of activities when the eventual selections are made from the genuinely good ideas contributed thus far, and in the future.

But no obligation is being pressed on anyone to do or plan anything. Nothing of the sort.

As for restaurants - peruse here.

Well, this is a group effort. If Mr. "has no internet" wants to relay a message about some ideas, please have him do that. There are PLENTY of fun, local things to do. Too many to ever do in a mere 6+ events.

Just a handy re-cap:

Local
Museums and Exhibits
Magritte exhibition at LACMA (and perhaps the Tar Pits)
Getty Malibu
Getty 405
Norton Simon (and the Gamble House)
OC Museum of Art - Birth of the Cool exhibit (September)

Misc.
Eat/Drink at Social in Hollywood
Downtown tour
Greystone Mansion picnic
Sea World
Price is Right taping
Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Hollywood (2)
Celebrity Cemeteries
Local Hikes
Pirates of the Caribbean Sets
RHPS at Queen Mary


Out of Town
Hearst Castle / Big Sur and other central coast things
Winchester Mystery House (San Jose)
Egyptian Museum (San Jose)
LoTs Vegas
Camping
Epcot's Silver Anniversary in October
D.C. for the cherry blossoms, American Indian Museum ... oh and a dozen other fantastic museums and places of national historic interest and awe

If I can get my hands on a video projector that is powerfull enough, and at a price that doesn't send me in to cardiac arrest, Bill and I would love to host some outdoor movie screenings in our back yard this summer.

Oh and here's another place I want to go to: The Edison

I wanna go to Beach Blanket Babylon again - I really need to see who they're ripping into now. :D

I wanna go to bed

I wanna be sedated

Discovery Science Center
Beach BBQ parties
Houseparty Potlucks (we all bring stuff so the host doesn't go broke)
movie nights
bonfires
forest fires
baseball game
hockey game (duh)
train ride to san diego
Catalina

How about a train ride to Catalina?

forest fires?

On a short pier?

Yeah, that one caught my attention as well. I think I'll bow out on the forest fire swanking.

Now THAT sounds swanky!

Read as: I think I'll blow out the forest fire swanking.

I just wanted to see how many people would catch that.

There will be no forest fires.

Hey Kevy, Why don't start working on those train tracks.

Never underestimate what could result from a LoT camping trip. ;)

"Ok folks, only YOU can prevent forest fires".

~Smokey

I thought only Hugh could prevent florist friars?

Ken and I are SO ready for a camping trip. We even have this new shiny cooking device we're dying to try out. It's *the* Cadillac of camping stoves, complete with side shelving, utensil hooks, etc. :D

We can build a plain ol' campfire for roasting marshmallows. But, I totally intend on making bacon-wrapped asparagus skewers, roast corn, steaks, stir fry veggies, and then pancakes in the mornin'!!! Woohoo!!! :snap:

Hmm, I was just recalling the awesome whale watching trip with fondness. Perhaps some sort of boating outing, in Newport Beach, or something?

Diving with Sharkies!!!!!!

Or you could rent a duffy (electric) boat and cruise around the harbor.

Just no Natalie Wood impersonations, mkay?

Where will she wash her hair?

So ... swank camping. Let's do it! Where and when?

I've never been to Sequoia/King's Canyon ... so that's my personal preference. Of course, some of our very own swankers have never been to Yosemite, a situation that must be remedied at some point.

zapppop and I are in the Grand Canyon the first week of June, so I request camping any other time but that.

I would suggest King's Canyon/Sequoia in pre-Memorial Day May. The crowds won't be so large and the waters in King's Canyon will be high and fast.

I'll third Kings Canyon - Sheep Creek campground to be exact, next to Sheep Creek. And, Alex is correct. Pre-Memorial Day is best.

How about one of the swanky campgrounds near Disneyland?

I love Kings Canyon - some of the caves might be open too before Memorial Day - let's do it

I am 90% on a pre-Memorial Day trip to Yosemite but if that doesn't line up I'd be interested in King's Canyon.

Alex, when is MA?

I don't know.

Whatever date was announced is the one they are trying for but until all the logistics are hashed out it could change.

Definitely not in May, though.

k, should we tentative for 1st weekend in May? We could do a long weekend for those who can swing it, but including weekend weekend for those who can't.

I'm still up for doing Yosemite the swank way someday - - the Californians who haven't yet been are living in sin - - but for now I'm really more excited to discover California places new to me.

(I recently visited Joshua Tree for the first time, and intend to go back as often as possible. It's beautiful beyond my expectations ... and, at a mere 2.5 hours from L.A., worth a swanking in its own right.)

Sequoia is wonderful. Lots to see.
General Sherman is huge.

There are 4 or 5 birthdays that first week in May.

So I've heard. ;)


Well, if peeps don't want to celebrate their birthdays in the great outdoors with a gathering of great friends, we could go camping earlier.

Considering the apocalyptic weather we're having in January, April is the new May anyway.

Hmm. Birthday camping. Hmmmmm.

This year is a biggie for me and I really have no clue what I'm doing for it...hmmmmm. Unsure this is what I'd want to do. A week earlier might be good...though I might be celebrating my brother's bday then. Complications.

This is a respectful suggestion, in light of all the wonderful family birthdays you guys celebrate joyfully:

The only birthdays you control are your own. Whether you choose camping is up to both of you (and I recommend it would be wonderful), but those two seem to be the only ones you have no "obligations" for.

This year is a biggie for me too... and I'm not sure what I'm doing either.

Birthday camping could be fun - but between Coachella in the last week of April and MA either that weekend or the first weekend in May (the two potentials announced) it will be pretty crazy few weeks.

I think that sounds good. Maybe a Friday - Sunday venture? If we leave at the crack of dawn on Friday, we can definitely make it up there and have everything set-up by noon, and then head back down on Sunday afternoon. :D

That timing sounds perfect!

I also figure that a 2-night camping stay is perfect for first-time campers, or those of us who haven't been in awhile. Although, nothing excludes some folks from staying through to Monday if they want. In fact, return traffic might be a bit better.

We used to do a 4 night trip, M-F. Never been in King's Canyon during a weekend.

I'm leaning towards wanting to go. If anything, we can always do birthday stuff with family a week later when we'd be getting together for Mothers' Day anyway.

But it is a bigger birthday for CP, so it's ultimately up to her.

Here's the group camping info for Sequoia/Kings Canyon:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/camp_grp.htm

Easter is April 8th, so I am not available the week before/after (and will probably work my BD).

Hmm, it looks like the earliest any of the group sites in Kings Canyon opens in May anyway (Sunset).

So no one else is concerned about when MA is?

MA will probably be April 27th weekend.

I'm not sure we need to do a Group Camp thing. In the past, I've just gone early enough in the year to snag 2 or 3 adjacent campsites. Most will accommodate 2 cars and 2 tents. The Sheep Creek sites are VERY spacious.

Some real nice things about group sites though -

They usually have a large central firepit providing for much entertainment.

And, they are spaced away from "neighbors" without the group causing a noise problem, or being bothered by an adjacent noise problem.

We've also stayed at campsites before they were "officially" open, so I wouldn't worry about that either.

I vote for Ceder Grove (in the Valley)

If camping is the plan, you must let me know where to come pick up your mountain lion chomped corpses...
:D

Speaking of...has anyone seen the movie about the guy who was living with the bears in Alaska?

Yawn.



As for Group camping ... though I know nothing specific about Kings C/Sequoia ... I tend to have a negative view of group campgrounds. They are usually not as nice as "regular" ones. I would rather get 2 or 3 adjacent regular sites.

That said, I will have to defer to those who've been there as to specifics. What's the difference between Cedar Something and Sheep's Guts Somewhere being touted by both ends of the €uro/NA household?

"Grizzly Man". That was a good documentary. And the attack was caught on audio. I hope it never, ever hits the internet. Ugh.

Thank God the cap was on the lens. :(

I thought the movie was so awesome and so sad.

Did you catch the part where the writer was talking to the woman inherited all of his things and told her to destroy it?

He was a character but also being out there alone doesn't make anyone concerned about who hears them....he would have edited it better, I am sure.

I hope she did destroy it. I can't believe he actually listened to it...
I think the poor guy was a little touched in the head. It's such an awful ending to his life.
:(

Woosies. ;)

Oooh! I just thought of one.
Let's go see the L.A. Galaxies play kickball.
Of course, we should see them when the new season starts. I hear there's a new fella joining the team.

:whistles:

Pele?

I'd go.

Though I can't stop thinking about the time Ali G interviewed Beckham and his wife (that's Posh Spice). He asked them: "Would you want your child to be a great athlete like its father, or a great singer like... Madonna?"

lol! :D

Tis website has not been updated since 2002, is it still open to the public?

Yes, I've been there several times in the last year. It's a very pleasant spot.

Berlin anyone? Radisson SAS Berlin

I loved Berlin, I'd like to see it again as a united city - Dining under a giant cylindrical aquarium would be the icing on that cake.

Riding on the Metro...

Aren't you supposed to keep your cold-war spy career a secret still?

Thank you. Better song to have in my head!


hee hee I said head

Well, if we're talking international travel........Berlin, Prague and Bucharest would be quite fine.

Or Tijuana!

How about Banf National Park and Calgary, Alberta. Beautiful place.

Due to accusations that police weapons have been used in organized crime, all police in Tijuana have been stripped of their arms for inspection to discover any links. And the military troops that were supposed to come in to make up for that haven't arrived.


So depending on your perspective, this is either the best or worst time to visit Tijuana.

pass

every time, without fail, Ive ventured beyond the southern border, complete disaster ensues.

never again

I was mainly joking (as Tijuana is about as an un-international foreign land that I can think of).

I've only been once (a couple of years ago) and I was underwhelmed.

I live a stones throw from T.J. and we always joke about going there.

I don't know why, if they suspected some of the police guns as being used in murders, why they didn't take a small amount of them at a time to be tested? Instead of taking them all?

I made this suggestion to NA yesterday: How about a swinging swanking (not THAT kind!) at Memories?

We were thinking of strolling over the border and having a look - should we still plan this ?

Dude - No. Not exactly swanky. Ick.

I hear they have donkey shows.

It's fortunate that you're looking to swankcamp the month prior to our wedding, during which Tom and I shall not have time to admit that we enjoy camping (if, by camping, you mean returning nightly to a cozy national park lodge.) Or, hell, go in June-- we're out of the state for the entirety.

Museums, however? Bring 'em on! Can't get enough of 'em. Also dance performances and restauarants and other interesting outings.

For instance, has anyone been to Topanga Canyon recently, or brunch at the Inn of the Seventh Ray? It's our favorite restaurant in the city.

I have a friend for whom "camping" means downgrading the hotel down to Best Western. Motel 6 is the equivelant of a hike-in primitive campground where you have to bury your own waste and haul out the used toilet paper.

Oh, so you've met my parents?

Oooh, I second the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga for a brunch swanking. It's a drive and a half, but worth it. Maybe it could be combined with an optional Malibu Mountains hike afterwards.


Oh, and for swankiness - - how can our bunch continue to avoid a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall? We simply must find a program with swank appeal, and attend before another season goes by.


(Feb. 8 - 11 - Lang Lang plays Chopin, which I mention because the L.A. Philharmonic will be conducted by the swankily-named Vassily Sinaisky. I think it's an omen.)

Not to jump off track~ has anyone seen 'Triple Espresso'? I have, once, and it was fun. A lot of crowd interaction.

Hiking in Malibu? Are these difficult ones? :blush:

I know people who won't stay anywhere but 4 star. Sadly, these same people I would love to take to Yosemite for fun but I doubt it will ever happen.

I don't mind so much, as long as if it is indoor, there aren't bugs. If it is outdoors, what can you expect, right?

Like Shrek 4D?

Here's something at the Disney Concert Hall for Geeks:

Monday, March 5:

Geek-Swanky Enough??

Well spotted, iSm. Sounds tres swanky.

Thanks Steve!

Who knows if I'll have the money for that after putting down my apt. deposit but I'll be hopeful and say YES to Chopin!

I'd love to camp at Sequoia. I've never been there. Yosemite, too.

Also, one of my aunt's best friends is caretaker to some lovely botanical gardens in Santa Barbara, so I'll suggest there, as well.

I'm also suggesting we go to a high tea somewhere in the city.

I scanned this as hitting the High Seas and envisioned transforming some derelict freighter into the LoT Floating Commune (and casino)

Offshore swankings....hmmmm.....

In international waters - mind you

We'd be pirates of swank
:argghh:

Yes, high tea would be very swank. We could be The Ladies Who LoT.

Also putting in a vote for an early spring TJ shopping trip.

Yeah, I want to go to TJ. Just for an afternoon. I really do!

Way better than tea. I'm with you.

The S.S. Swanketania?

I shall ring up the Commodore immediately!

This idea excites me even more than the commune on land! Even if it does mean somewhat fewer sheep.

The first ever travelling LoT commune?

Zomg! It could move! I got hung up on the exhilaration of being outside national borders. But movement?! We would have the swankiest tenders ever.

I officially love you. I don't even have a ring on my finger yet, but I just picked the site of my future wedding. That location has everything I ever wanted, and I don't even have to travel to Scotland to get it!

:snap:

And according to the website you can get married to Jay Mohr there if you like.
:D

J/K I think it's purdy.

If this is already on the list, I apologize.

http://www.barnsdallpark.com/

One of my favorite spots in L.A. and affords one of the most gorgeous views (on a clear day or night) of Hollywood and the valley below.

Plus, it's got Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.

I was just talking about gong to Hollyhock House!

Maybe we can take up a collection and buy this, and turn it into the Swanketania... :cool:

We aim to please. :)

Oh thank god, Tijuana's police force as been rearmed...by Bart Simpson and Dennis the Menace.

Soooooo. February?

Bill and I will be kinda busy in February....

We're stil nowhere near 2,007 ideas. I think I've only seen a couple dozen so far.

How 'bout we have Find Me a Boyfriend Day before February 14th?

Maybe we should drag Lashie down?

Ooooo.... That's a dangerous thing to ask this crowd! ;)

Lashstoat may have something to say about that.

hehehehehehehe... you said Drag !
Well, if it's Tijuana you're talking about - he won't go there without a group of us, so it would be perfect.

If youre talking about Drag, then that leaves him cold (when I do it). :p

Let's do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIaBThV1ekcct

linky no worky

.

Hmmm, not a bad swanking idea after all.

Maybe now it'll work right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIaBThV1ekc

That's a stretch.

Oh goodie goodie gumdrops. It's my own personal mini-swanking

I'm off on a three day jaunt up to New York City for a trade show.

It ain't no anaheim, but it ain't my desk either. So color me ready to go.

TKTS and hotel p0rn movies here I come!

The Charles Phoenix thing would be fun! Great idea.

Moonie, have fun in NYC!

I think a group swanking to NYC would be swellerific.



Where's that LoT RoadTrip bus???

"Come on get happy!"

That's a good age test.

We're tentatively looking at a ~2 week adventure to Chicago, NYC, and possibly Boston following Columbus Day.

This Monday would work better for me.

Is that a problem? :D

I assume you're flying from Chicago to NYC? They're not very close together you know...

Yes, the plan was to fly (the cities were not chosen for proximity but simply because they were the cities we wanted to visit).

But it is a pretty nice road trip, particularly if it is early (or late) summer and you go up north through Canada.

My drive from Chicago, through Michigan, into Canada, crossing back over at Niagara Falls, side tripping to Cooperstown for a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and then on to New York City (which we bypassed but drove close enough to to see the Statue of Liberty on our way to Boston) was a very nice drive. Except for the monster mosquitoes at an uncivilized campground (which was beautiful at dawn but horrible through the night of being consumed) somewhere in upstate New York.

A long road trip is in the cards one of these days, probably involving stops at baseball stadiums along the way. But seeing 2 major cities in under 2 weeks leaves little travel time so it will have to wait until another year.

Yes, but as GD said, given the 2 week time frame, there's no time left to explore Chicago and NYC.

Alex, you visited my stomping grounds! Sorry about the mosquitoes.