Los Angeles Photogathering this weekend!

[poker]

I would like to propose a 1 day photography excursion. I'll gladly organize this summer event.

If you are interested please reply to this thread and we will start from there.

Suggestions off the top of my head are:

PCH Beach Tour
Nature Hike (e.g. Bear Mountain Hike, Death Valley, or any of the many SoCal trails)
Explore Downtown Los Angeles in combination with Hollywood Blvd walk
Botanical Garden Run

If you are not in SoCal, but are interested, feel free to chime in.

- Eric

[walterick]

Eric, that's great. Thanks for suggesting something like this. We call these get-togethers "Photogatherings." And we certainly don't have as many as we used to!

I'm about 5 hours from SoCal so I could make it potentially. I would probably need a place to crash for the night though.

Let's see what kind of response you get!

Rick

[poker]

I'm about 5 hours from SoCal so I could make it potentially.

That would be great! Hope we get a good response.

[racingpinarello]

My wife and I are due for a trip to Los Angeles. Her family is there, and and our favorite Argentina restaurant is in West Hollywood so we would be encouraged to go.

Loren

[walterick]

Any photogathering always starts with dinner. Is your Argentinian place down to our standards?

[poker]

My wife and I are due for a trip to Los Angeles. Her family is there, and and our favorite Argentina restaurant is in West Hollywood so we would be encouraged to go.

Loren

Great! Love your site by the way.

Rick, West Hollywood restaurants generally have high standards. I've never been to a West Hollywood eatery that wasn't picture perfect

[Photo-John]

I would be interested in going, depending on the timing. I haven't made a trip to LA in a long time and it's not far from San Jose. I'd be interested in downtown. I haven't explored downtown LA since I was in college. I'd like to visit the old market next to the Million Dollar Theater, and the Bradbury building.

[poker]

I would be interested in going, depending on the timing. I haven't made a trip to LA in a long time and it's not far from San Jose. I'd be interested in downtown. I haven't explored downtown LA since I was in college. I'd like to visit the old market next to the Million Dollar Theater, and the Bradbury building.

Awesome! Hope the timing works out for everyone interested.

Downtown Los Angeles has tons to offer from old to new architecture and a diversity of cultures. Back in college years, I use to drive through Broadway just to stare at the old theaters. It's sad to see some of them in their present condition. I was shopping for jewelry with my wife once and I looked around only to realize I was in a grand theater turned jewelry swap meet.

If we go this route, I'll call the preserved theaters to see if they will allow a group tour inside.

[walterick]

Oh well then. Pizza and beer it is again.

A trip like this would kill a few birds for me:
1) I have never been to downtown LA
2) If I ever go to downtown LA, I want to be shown around
3) I would like to meet Manacsa
4) I have not met Loren's wife yet
5) If Photo John comes, maybe I can convince him in person to shave

Like PJ though it depends on the date.

[Kokopeli]

Count me in!!

Rick, you can stay at my place, PJ, you could too if you don't feel like dishing out the dough for a hotel... For that matter, I can make room for a couple more if anyone else needs a place to crash.

If we are up for it, we could all get together for a BBQ on night #1 and then do LA the next day, ending with a dinner up there.

As for timing, I can make time whenever, but anytime between july 21 and Aug 25 works best for me. What works for everyone else?

[poker]

The following are the weekends 1 month from now. Use it as reference and refer to the weekend based on the number if possible. I capped it right before labor day weekend because....it just seemed right.

I'll be browsing L.A. Weekly in case there is a corresponding event that may be of interest....but will not play a heavy factor.

  
  
  
  

    
Weekend
    
Friday
    
Saturday
    
Sunday
  
  

    
1
    
7/14/2006
    
7/15/2006
    
7/16/2006
  
  

    
2
    
7/21/2006
    
7/22/2006
    
7/23/2006
  
  

    
3
    
7/28/2006
    
7/29/2006
    
7/30/2006
  
  

    
4
    
8/4/2006
    
8/5/2006
    
8/6/2006
  
  

    
5
    
8/11/2006
    
8/12/2006
    
8/13/2006
  
  

    
6
    
8/18/2006
    
8/19/2006
    
8/20/2006
  
  

    
7
    
8/25/2006
    
8/26/2006
    
8/27/2006
  

[poker]

I can not do weekends 2 and 5. Weekend 2 is mom's birthday and 5 is camping in Santa Barbara! The wife didn't mention anything else

[poker]

3) I would like to meet Manacsa

"Well, isn't that special." said like the Church Lady by Dana Carvey from SNL.

http://www.danacarvey.net/media/snl_cl_special.wav



To be in the presence of a PR moderator would be glorious...



Damn, I hope this works out!

[Kokopeli]

Weekends 2 thru 6 all work for me.

[racingpinarello]

Rick,

My place is dope.... http://www.carlitosgardel.com/ The parilla is amazing...

Mid July - August is probably the best month... in September we're off to Bali...

Karen is from LA too so she has a lot of history to share also.

Loren

[racingpinarello]

I hope it pans out.... It would be great to have a SoCal gathering...

Loren

[walterick]

Weekends 1, 4, & 5 are definitely out for me - classes. 6 and 7 look the most likely right now. 2&3 I could probably make work...

[walterick]

Thanks Brian I would love to crash your place. How far from downtown LA are you?

I think the bbq idea sounds great. We did something like that at the Colorado gathering. That way you can get to show off your grilling skills in person

[walterick]

Oh, dear. Loren that place looks a little too nice for this scraggly bunch of photographers. If you think they would let us through the door, we could do our LA dinner there the second night. Would camera bags and backpacks be a problem?

[Kokopeli]

Rick,

My place is dope.... http://www.carlitosgardel.com/ The parilla is amazing...

Their menu looks damned fine and I have yet to add Argentenian food to my ethnic food list so I'm game.

[Kokopeli]

Thanks Brian I would love to crash your place. How far from downtown LA are you?

Sweet! I always look forward to a good get together and BBQ.

I'm roughly an hour south of downtown. I don't anticipate traffic on a saturday morning so no more than an hour and 15 minutes.

You have any dog or cat allergies? I have both so be advised.

[schrackman]

Wow, a socal gathering! What a great idea, Manasca.

Depending on the date and time, I'd love to join in. What would be neat is if we could kinda hit three major spots along the day, like downtown L.A., Santa Monica, Venice Beach (just as an example).

Rick, my house is right off the I-10 freeway about an hour east before you hit L.A. You're more than welcome to stay over even if I'm unable to attend.

[poker]

Hypothetically, if we were to do the Downtown Los Angeles idea, I would imagine an itinerary like this:

9AM (or 10 because of hang over) Meet somewhere at the rim of Downtown. (Staples Center, home of the Lakers/Clippers) I know this parking structure where you can shoot the downtown cityscape from the top floor.

Next, hit the Broadway Corridor:
http://www.experiencela.com/MA_BroadwayCorridor.htm

Next, hit Chinatown or Olvera Street:
Chinatown
Olvera Street

We will eat there since it will be around noon by then.

After lunch, we can jump back into Downtown:
more of downtown Los Angeles
Bunker Hill

Later in the afternoon we can hit Hollywood blvd. We can hang there until the sun goes down for day and night photography.

Then have dinner at Carlitos Gardel.

*************************

Alternate ending:

After Lunch we still spend more time in downtown....
then go straight to the Santa Monica Pier....
Go to Carlitos Gardel for dinner...
Go to Hollywood/Sunset Blvd for night shooting and act like paparazzi!!!

How does that sound?....hypothetically of course.

[racingpinarello]

It's a very easy going restaurant. I'm sure they'll let us bring in backpacks and cameras. If it's a go I can make the arrangements for Saturday.

Loren

[schrackman]

Manasca, I like the broadway/hollywood area idea. Lots to see down there.

It might also be beneficial to get an earlier start since the sun is already up pretty high at 8 am, although I am sure some people wouldn't mind the extra sleep time. But hey, that's what Starbucks is for!!

I also really think that we should at least include Venice Beach or Santa Monica in the mix as well. Perhaps toward sunset? Little Venice is also really nice at that time of day.