[Oh, Snap] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ V10

May 23, 2016Leave a comment

Spring has most certainly sprung in Los Angeles and though the weather can seem a bit finicky at times, the neighborhood mornings have been beyond lovely and have given me ample inspiration to restart my “workout routine”; whatever that means. But, between a three months of unlimited membership at One Down Dog, the local yoga studio to Eagle Rock, and the LA Fitness in Pasadena – something has to give….eventually…maybe. Until then, I’ll enjoy my morning frolics outside, breathing in the fresh(ish) air of the city and filling my soul with the hearty buzz of the city. The flowers are blooming, the sun’s up early – not to mention, I’m up with the sun. I smell some big things brewing for the rest of the year and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Is that a painting? Nope! We found a mirror on our morning jaunt and it made for some fun photos of the town.

These last few pics aren’t necessarily of Eagle Rock, but they’re a few of my favorites that I’ve taken lately and they go to show just how beautiful it really is right now in each and every corner of the city.

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[Oh, Snap] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ v9

February 16, 2016February 16, 2016Leave a comment

Over the last few days, the air has been vibrant with floral fragrances and the coquettish dancing of birds, bees and butterflies while temperatures have sky rocketed back into the 90s. No, Summer isn’t quick on our heals and Spring isn’t exactly just around the corner – it’s simply another mid-February heat wave in Los Angeles. Half my mind is wrapped up in the sheer beauty of nature right now, while the other bemoans the fact we haven’t had a good rain in quite some time.

The year itself is accelerating at a rapid pace, while a proverbial bullet train of emotions, feelings and thoughts trace geometric patterns in my mind. I’ve had friendships ebb and flow as trust has been simultaneously instilled in and and removed from those who have one way or another, proven themselves to me. I refuse to be sad or remorseful over the loss of people in my life – while intentional or not, the lessons that I’ve learned and the mechanisms that have inspired my maturity and growth are tantamount to my self understanding in the same way that the love, support and friendship of others have lifted my spirits. As with pulsating tidal waves on a brilliant seashore, the push and pull are one in the same and it’s the totality of myself that I’m truly in awe of at this point. The resilient, bounce back of personality and perseverance of passion – it hasn’t left, instead the flames have been fanned higher.

[Oh Snap] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ v8

October 16, 2015October 16, 2015Leave a comment

These past few weeks have left me in an emotional haze, like a Winter fog has eclipsed my mind while my body meets a stalemate, marinating in the quicksand. Thoughts seems to swirl in a thousand separate, cascading ways before reaching any remotely reasonable destination. It’s not you, it’s not life – it’s me; tt’s me and my idiosyncratic thoughts merging with my wayward anxieties. This year has brought about a lot of change: all of it necessary, most of it good but on the whole I realized there’s a lot that I’m still processing.

There are connections that have disintegrated, but then there are friendships that have been borne of that same radioactive relationship rubble. Job dissatisfaction isn’t uncommon, but then again balancing two careers on equal but opposite ends of the entertainment industry is. Life goes full circle, yes, but what no one relays is those circles are concentric. Like rungs around a tree, the golden ratio and the Fibonacci sequence – life builds, blossoms and builds again. I’ve found that a basic level of routine is inspiring, and nature is indisputably nurture. With the change in seasons, I’ve found myself waking up earlier and roused to leave the comfort of my home.

There’s something about witnessing the sunshine ebbing and flowing between clouds as scattered rain cleans the air and the feeling of freshly fallen leaves crisply crunching beneath my weathered sandals that grounds me back within the moment. No anxiety around the unforeseen future, no fear of the fleeting past – just a grasp on the breadth and depth of each moment. I find comfort within the confines of creativity, both wrapping my world in wordplay and taking pictures of the nuanced wonder that I’ve discovered lately.

Even though I’ve lived in Eagle Rock for a year and a half, this was the first time I’d actually noticed this little sign right off of the 210 – and we finally found a hike that takes us up to the actual Eagle Rock! (But, more on that later)

In the past year, I’ve seen a drastic shift from traditional lawns to Desert landscaping that takes our current drought into consideration. This is one of my favorite lawns, and somehow the sun always seems to halo on me.

Just call me the cat whisperer, and this one was a beauty!

Something to leave you with, because I just finished reading through ‘You Are Here‘ by Tinch Nhat Hanh and this part has truly stuck with me for the past week. If you’re looking for a good, quick read – I highly suggest it!

“When you look at the surface of the ocean, you can see waves coming up and going down. You can describe these waves in terms of high or low, big or small, more vigorous, more beautiful or less beautiful. You can describe a wave in terms of beginning and end, birth and death. That can be compared to the historical dimension. In the historical dimension, we are concerned with birth and death, more powerful, less powerful, more beautiful, less beautiful, beginning and end and so on.

Looking deeply, we can also see that the waves are at the same time water. A wave may like to seek its own true nature. The wave might suffer from fear, from complexes. A wave may say, “I am not as big as the other waves,” “I am oppressed,” “I am not as beautiful as the other waves,” “I have been born and I have to die.” The wave may suffer from these things, these ideas. But if the wave bends down and touches her true nature she will realize that she is water. Then her fear and complexes will disappear.

Water is free from the birth and death of a wave. Water is free from high and low, more beautiful and less beautiful. You can talk in terms of more beautiful and less beautiful, high or low, only in terms of waves. As far as water is concerned, all these concepts are invalid.

Our true nature is the nature of no birth and no death. We do not have to go anywhere in order to touch our true nature. The wave does not have to look for water because she is water. We do not have to look for God, we do not have to look for our ultimate dimension or nirvana, because we are nirvana, we are God.

You are what you area looking for. You are already what you want to become.

[LA Life] CERB Brings Their Fall Plant Sale to Eagle Rock City Hall on 11/7

October 2, 2015October 1, 2015Leave a comment

Known throughout the community for their eco-friendly initiatives and local landscape beautification projects, the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful (CERB) is delighted to host their annual Fall plant sale on Saturday November 7th, 2015 at Eagle Rock City Hall.

From 9AM to 4PM, CERB invites the community to an informative fair focused on drought resistant landscaping. With current drought restrictions, native plants and succulents can reduce residential water footprints by 60-90% while preserving resources such as soil, fertilizer and pesticides.

Featuring a wide assortment of California natives and succulents, many plants featured at the Fall Plant Sale are locally sourced and harvested in Eagle Rock by CERB volunteers, students at Occidental College and members of the community. A post-Halloween treat for the whole family, the plant fair features a Kids Zone full of children friendly activities as well as a variety of food trucks and other local entertainment. All proceeds of the Fall Plant Sale will go to Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful to assist their local efforts of neighborhood maintenance and support their annual projects.

Event Details:
Saturday, 11/7/15 from 9am to 4pm
Eagle Rock City Hall
2035 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Since 2001, CERB has cemented its status as a local resource while working towards lasting change throughout the neighborhood. Yearly events for CERB include neighborhood events such as A Taste of Eagle Rock, the maintenance of the Eagle Rock Canyon Hiking Trails and the promotion of drought resistant landscaping through active work on major street medians like Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevard.

Join the Facebook event here and invite the neighbors.

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For more on CERB and their Fall Plant Sale, connect on social media:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful

The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful was established in 2001 by longtime Eagle Rock residents John Stillion and Esther Monk. With almost two decades of service in the neighborhood, CERB has evolved into an esteemed non-profit organization fueled by local volunteers and resources for a homegrown effort in reducing fiscal dependence of city-funded maintenance programs. Curated within the community to discourage the removal of native trees, preserve local open space and inspire cohesive drought tolerant landscaping, CERB is devoted to leaving a lasting legacy through both action and awareness.

[LA Life] CERB and A Taste of Eagle Rock

June 10, 2015June 11, 2015Leave a comment

Do you ever feel like your entire life is one giant sign? Anxieties, troubles and tribulations tend to occur for me when I don’t pay attention to the motion of internal tides.

A few weeks before Danny and I left for Lightning in a Bottle, we haphazardly stumbled across one of the cutest sights I’d ever seen in the middle of Eagle Rock. We were on our Sunday stroll through the neighborhood, and for the past few weeks we’d talked about the strange and almost human-like mannequin in the middle of the road. Approaching from the other side, we finally made out a sign – a sign for Know Reality Pie. We took one long look at the pie truck, parked delicately next to open grass and a pop-up cafe, and then nodded in agreement: this was it.

As we settled into our triple berry and richly flavored apple pies, we noticed that each and every person coming in was in some way, shape or form a young professional and we felt naturally compelled to strike up a conversation with all of them. From Kelly behind the counter pouring us morning mimosas, or the procession of puppies that galloped into and around us, we were enamored in conversation and instantly felt an urge to be something more within the community. Slowly delighting our fresh drinks, we met a lovely lady named Sarah with a refreshing demeanor. After a few minutes of talking about our start in the neighborhood, photography, social media and festivals, she got to telling us about Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful. They’re a local, non-profit volunteer organization that focuses on creating a more sustainable environment within their community and as it turns out, they’re the ones responsible for the large, local push towards the reintegration of succulents and California landscaping around Eagle Rock that I’ve been enamored with. They were about to host a CGhrc6OUgAEX0V3 weekend event they were calling ‘A Taste of Eagle Rock’, featuring dozens of our fantastic local food joints, some local drinks and – hopefully – a great turnout from the town; they were looking for an event photographer, and it just so happened – I was engaged to one! After we exchanged laughs and business cards, and enjoyed another drink or two, Danny and started on our way home and looked at each other with excitement coursing through our veins. This is something we’ve been wanting for so long, and now – we were about to get it!

With things like Lightning in a Bottle around the corner and my lack of actual time to manage, I’d only been in touch here and there. But after Lightning in a Bottle (which I cannot wait to dish on!), curiosity caught the cat, and I asked how I could really help. I inquired about their social media presence and as my luck has it – that’s exactly what they needed. On top of the five accounts already in my Tweetdeck, it wasn’t exactly absurd to add just one more!

Sunday was the day, and let’s be honest – we didn’t get cold feet per-say – but they were at least lukewarm. It was a stunning day out, and before the June Gloom and awkward midday showers started; bright, crystal blue skies sent down succulent rays of sunlight as we approached our final destination. We’d managed to meander to an area of the neighborhood that we frequently stroll through, camera in hand and a bounce in our step – the houses are sweeping, with plush yards encompassing them like moats. “This is where we’re going…?!” we both mused.

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Winding around the house were tables and EZ-ups, with pile upon pile of delicious, local eats and treats. From Milkfarm and Public House Eagle Rock – two of the latest establishments to cruise onto Colorado Blvd – out the traditional grubberies Little Beast, Max City BBQ, Capri, Four Cafe, Spitz, Dave’s Grillin and Chillin’ and the delectable Caramia Gelato stand up to the national spots like Chipotle, Trader Joe’s and Jamba Juice, everyone was there and doling out their Sunday best. We even got to do some Cider and Wine tasting thanks to Cider House 101! Within the first 45 minutes over 200 people had shown up to grub down and chill out, and the property was a buzz with warm energy.

We showed up dazed, slightly confused, knowing only one person and absolutely hungry – we left with full bellies, happy hearts and a hope to really do some good within the community. There were so many familiar faces, from weekly walks and random restaurant romps. Even though we didn’t make any new best friends – we feel committed to the mission of CERB and are beyond excited to be part of future endeavors. And I’m excited to say that I’ll be stepping into a bigger role, but for now – I’ll just be doing their social media 🙂

For more information about Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful and all the details on their next wonderful event, keep in contact through their website, Facebook and Twitter.

All photography by Daniel Leist: Flickr – Facebook – Website

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[Oh, Snap!] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ v7

March 8, 2015March 8, 20152 Comments

So far this year I’ve learned that if you’re on the West Coast you should literally pay no mind to Punxsutawney Phil; he might know a thing or two about weather on the East Coast but when it comes to us, just consider him Jon Snow: he knows nothing. For the past few weeks, Danny and I have been on a determined fitness kick. With festival season right around the corner and the wicked terrain of Lightning in a Bottle heading our way in almost T-3 months, we’re planning on kicking our own asses, taking some names and making our bodies into lean, mean, workout machines. A few weeks back, I snagged a sweet crystal ball off of Amazon and we’ve been having a ball (pun) snapping pictures using it. We’ve even managed to discover a few new walking trails around our apartment. Enjoy our journey!

[Oh, Snap!] Exploring The Eagle Rock / Glenoaks Canyon Trail

February 15, 2015February 15, 20151 Comment

In my never ending quest to take in all the nature I possibly can in Los Angeles, the idea of finding lush, green pastures and wind swept trees locally has more often than not escaped me. When I was living in Korea Town and West Hollywood, I was easily and habitually reminded of the close proximity of the heart of the city. I could feel the pulse of the streets and yearned to be closer to nature. So, thank goodness I moved out to Eagle Rock – there’s all the amenities of West Side living but paired with the lackadaisical but passionate work ethic of the modern Renaissance person, advocating equal time for work and play. Instead of being engulfed by the traffic and smog of the city, I’m constantly in awe of the natural beauty that surrounds this area.

For Valentine’s Day weekend, Danny and I had a few friends stay with us and we got to explore a whole new side of the neighborhood. Just over the freeway, where the 2 and 134 meet, there’s a wonderful little trail right on Sleepy Hollow Lane, oh and also – most adorable street name ever. We walked a few miles while the blazing succulent sun-rays rained down on us and I couldn’t think of a more beautiful way to spend my Friday afternoon. What’s even better, is this is just 5 minutes away and boasts a view of Big Bear, Orange County’s Saddleback Mountain, Downtown LA, Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean.