Sandi Hemmerlein/AvoidingRegret.com

Photo Essay: Boney Island Gets Reanimated at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles [Updated for 2025] The Boney Island haunt has come back from the dead at NHMLA—after closures in a Valley neighborhood and Griffith Park and an absence during COVID-19.

The Boney Island skeletons will stay dormant this year (but hopefully only this year). Here's a peek at them in action in 2023: www.avoidingregret.com/2023/09/phot...

These are the top cat names in the US | Cat Ownership | Cat Sitter Blog These are the top cat names in the US

The Cat Sitter's Blog on Meowtel @meowtel.bsky.social features my story about the Top Cat Names in the U.S. #cats meowtel.com/blog/post/th...

Mexican Wrestling In a Mayan Porno Palace [Updated for 2025—Closed] The operator of The Mayan in Downtown Los Angeles has closed the former theatre after 35 years. No news on future plans for the nightclub/music venue.

What will happen to The Mayan now that it's no longer operating as a nightclub and music venue? www.avoidingregret.com/2018/03/mexi...

This 1950s Coffee Shop Is Back, Baby! (Or, The Penguin Lives!) - Updated for 2025 (The Building's For Sale!) The Googie-style former Penguin Coffee Shop in Santa Monica at the end of Route 66 is now a Mel's Drive-In.

Mel's Drive-In will occupy the former Penguin Coffee Shop space until at least June 2029—so what happens after that? www.avoidingregret.com/2018/07/this...

I'm so glad you kept it!

Keeping Tabs on Montrose Bowl — Renovated, With New Owners The Crescenta Valley's circa 1940 Montrose Bowl was renovated in 2023 and is open for special event bowling alley rentals.

Montrose Bowl reps insisted the c. 1940 bowling alley wasn't for sale in 2018—and then it sold during the pandemic. New owners have fixed it up and it's very nice and still retro! www.avoidingregret.com/2018/08/who-...

oof, sorry to hear that! Next time I go to a big concert I'm going to try wearing a mask again, womp womp

A Matter of Taste What began as loss of appetite turned into a Covid-induced journey of sensory deprivation.

Now I'll simply enjoy whatever I can actually taste—no matter what it is. www.avoidingregret.com/2025/09/a-ma...

yay!

you're DEFINITELY up for it!

Photo Essay: Derby House, Lloyd Wright's Mayan Fortress of Yucca In Concrete [Updated for 2025] The Derby House in Glendale, California is a Mayan-inspired masterpiece of concrete blocks by architect Lloyd Wright.

What happened to the interior of Lloyd Wright's Derby House in Glendale? See my update to my 2022 blog post here: www.avoidingregret.com/2022/07/phot...

I read this as "Creeps Cafe" and I was like, "I'm in." LOL

wow! Gorgeous view for a gorgeous man!

Let us know how it went!

OMG!

A breakfast club in Griffith Park has been LA's best-kept secret for 100 years The club began as a way for the city’s rich and famous to share a meal and have fun.

I'm interviewed in this @laist.com article about @labreakfastclub.bsky.social, its centennial, and its upcoming book I've written laist.com/news/los-ang...

Come hear an excerpt from the upcoming The Los Angeles Breakfast Club history book I've just finished writing, this Sat 8/23 at Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-...

Photo Essay: The Aztec Hotel's Mayan Legacy [Updated for 2025—For Sale] For Sale: The Aztec Motel, designed by Robert Stacy-Judd in the Mayan Revival style, along Route 66 in Monrovia, California.

Route 66 landmark The Aztec Hotel is for sale. My 2013 photos are better than the ones on the listing link (both found here: www.avoidingregret.com/2013/02/phot...)
#preservation

Photo Essay: Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, Home of the Bakersfield Sound [Updated for 2025—Closed] Buck Owens opened his Crystal Palace in Bakersfield in 1996—and it now serves as a museum and monument to his career and the Bakersfield Sound.

Buck Owens Crystal Palace in Bakersfield has closed per the Owens family wishes. www.avoidingregret.com/2022/01/phot...

Mexican Wrestling In a Mayan Porno Palace Making up for lost time and missed opportunities, one adventure at a time.

There are so few historic theatres regularly open in Downtown LA. Even though it was operating as a nightclub, it's really sad to hear The Mayan will be closing. www.avoidingregret.com/2018/03/mexi...

Photo Essay: Sequoia National Park's Only Public Cave Reopens (Claustrophobes Beware!) You can once again take a claustrophobic tour through the narrow passageways of Sequoia National Park's Crystal Cave, which was closed for four years.

A big 2021 wildfire and a wet 2023 winter closed access to Sequoia National Park's Crystal Cave for 4 years. But now it's back open! www.avoidingregret.com/2025/07/phot...

Share this to help Save Cole's French Dip / P.E. Buffet!

There is now a pop-up on the Cole’s website (www.colesfrenchdip.com) asking interested buyers to get in touch with Derrick Moore (213) 613-3334 derrick.moore@cbre.com.

The right steward is out there -- spread the word!

Photo Essay: Beasts, Bagpipes, and Very Good Boys at Idyllwild's 4th of July Parade Idyllwild, California hosts a parade in celebration of Independence Day, annually on July 4. The 2025 event featured a meet and greet with Mayor Max.

Vintage cars, the Idyll-Beast, and Mayor Max: The 4th of July Parade in Idyllwild, CA www.avoidingregret.com/2025/07/phot...

Photo Essay: The Uphill Battle at Sequoia National Park's Moro Rock I didn't think I'd be able to climb Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, but I decided to try to conquer the monolithic granite dome anyway.

Some uphill battles you choose.
www.avoidingregret.com/2025/07/phot...

Gathering of the Sun Worshippers Upon Summer Solstice Making up for lost time and missed opportunities, one adventure at a time.

Happy Solstice! Every year, this celestial event is celebrated in Santa Barbara. Here are my photos from 2017: www.avoidingregret.com/2017/06/gath...

Too sleepy for 7 a.m. breakfast? Learn all about @labreakfastclub.bsky.social + our centennial book at this *afternoon* talk given by my coauthor Rachel Skytt at PRS in #LosFeliz this Saturday www.eventbrite.com/e/a-century-...

Photo Essay: LA's Underdog Basketball Team Gets a Billion-Dollar Dome The Clippers may play second fiddle to the Lakers in terms of LA basketball, but they can boast of their billion-dollar Inuit Dome in Inglewood, CA.

Been to Intuit Dome yet? You don't have to be part of Clippers Nation to enjoy a tour around this new arena in Inglewood www.avoidingregret.com/2025/06/phot...

Let this sink in.

Even the Los Angeles Police Chief, Jim McDonnell, made it clear: the people protesting immigration raids were not the ones causing violence.

During a Sunday evening press conference, McDonnell condemned the violence as “disgusting”

Trump told reporters at the White House that the protesters in Los Angeles “are insurrectionists.” That’s false. January 6 was an insurrection, this is a protest. But by using that language, he may be laying the groundwork to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act.

Photo Essay: Nevada's Home of the 'Miracle Metal' That Helped the Allied Forces Win World War II Henderson, Nevada began as a company town for Basic Magnesium, which manufactured a critical material of aircraft parts and bombs during WWII.

Henderson, NV was the center of wartime manufacturing—earning it the designation of an American World War II Heritage City www.avoidingregret.com/2025/06/phot...