Sandi Hemmerlein/AvoidingRegret.com

I will forever miss the Kermit-dressed-as-Chaplin @charliechaplin.com statue on La Brea but at least it went to a good place www.avoidingregret.com/2024/08/a-la...

Photo Essay: The Reopened Vista Theatre, In Its Tarantino Era The Vista Theatre in Los Feliz reopened in November 2023 under the new ownership of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and shows new & classic movies on film

It was nerve-wracking to watch the construction, but the Vista in Los Feliz is looking pretty good www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Photo Essay: John Lautner's Salkin House Emerges From the Lost and Found [Updated] The Salkin House—a.k.a. the "lost" Lautner restored and landmarked by Trina Turk—was open for a Blakehaus exhibit before being sold again in Dec 2025.

Turns out, John Lautner's Salkin House wasn't as "lost" as it's been reported! New details added to my photo essay (and a photo of the architectural plans) www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Photo Essay: Paying My Respects with a Final Meal at Saugus Cafe [Updated—Reopened Under New Management] Saugus Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles County, served its final meal and closed its doors on January 4, 2026. Will it reopen?

I went to check out the reopened Saugus "Restaurant." What do you think? Will you support the new management or boycott in solidarity with the former management? www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Photo Essay: The Peabody, A Grand Hotel of Marching Ducks and Memphis Royalty The two main draws for me to spend my birthday weekend at The Peabody historic hotel in Memphis were Elvis and the ducks.

I had a ducky time celebrating my milestone birthday at The Peabody in Memphis, with the Duckmaster himself! www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

If it is safe to do so, have a video recording going. State clearly once: “I do not consent to this entry or to any search.” Say it calmly and out loud, even if they ignore you.

PSA St. Paul 🚨🚨🚨

If they break down your door anyway (yes we see the videos)

Do not physically resist, even if the entry is unlawful. Resisting can escalate the situation and put you in danger or expose you to additional charges. Stay calm, keep your hands visible, and avoid sudden movements.

PSA: If ICE bursts down your door, put your dogs or other animals in a cage or a closed room. ICE agents have been trigger-happy before. Let someone know they are there.

Photo Essay: Paying My Respects with a Final Meal at Saugus Cafe (Closed, Temporarily?) - Updated Saugus Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles County, served its final meal and closed its doors on January 4, 2026. Will it reopen?

The plot thickens (thank you @laist.com and The Santa Clarita Valley Signal)
www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

stay safe!

Photo Essay: John Lautner's Salkin House Emerges From the Lost and Found The Salkin House—a.k.a. the "lost" Lautner restored and landmarked by Trina Turk—was open for a Blakehaus exhibit before being sold again in Dec 2025.

How do you "lose" a John Lautner-designed house? www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Photo Essay: Things We Lost In the Fires (Palisades and Eaton Edition—Continuously Updated) The concurrent Palisades and Eaton Fires in the Los Angeles area have left untold destruction in their wakes. Here's a glimpse at some of the losses.

One year ago www.avoidingregret.com/2025/01/phot...

Photo Essay: Paying My Respects with a Final Meal at Saugus Cafe (Closed, Temporarily?) Saugus Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles County, served its final meal and closed its doors on January 4, 2026. Will it reopen?

I thought it would be my last chance ever to eat at Saugus Cafe. www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Photo Essay: Starting Over at the Rose Parade (In the Rain) Making up for lost time and missed opportunities, one adventure at a time.

This was the first time it rained on the Rose Parade in 20 years. And boy did it rain. www.avoidingregret.com/2026/01/phot...

Year In Review: 2025 Updates to Past Posts The Eaton and Palisades Fires took a lot from Los Angeles in 2025. But some historic places are still going strong, or have bright new futures ahead.

Here are the stories I was tracking and updating in 2025: www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/year...

Top Posts of 2025 The top posts on AvoidingRegret.com for 2025 included photo essays of the Wallace Neff Bubble House, Silver City Ghost Town & two unusual races.

2025 was a rough year, but I still managed to go on some adventures, take some photos, and do some writing. Here's a recap of what my readers enjoyed this year: www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/top-...

I know but if they'd just maintained it while the bulbs were going out one by one, it wouldn't have seemed like such a monumental task. But I have hope.

I wish they would fix the incandescent bulbs. Johnie's is too dark right now!

Photo Essay: The Wizard of Oz Gets Weird at the Sphere Vegas The Wizard of Oz is scheduled to screen at the Sphere in Las Vegas through March 2026.

People love The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere Las Vegas. I loved the multi-sensory, immersive experience of going—but the revisions to the original film are pretty weird. www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

Photo Essay: Hark! The Blow-Mold Choir Sings at Lilley Hall (Or, "The White Christmas House") Lilley Hall in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles features an impressive display of Christmas-themed blow molds, lights, and music for the holiday season.

The blow mold decorations in Toluca Lake are up through New Year's www.avoidingregret.com/2021/12/phot...

Merry Christmas!

Photo Essay: A Wizard of Oz Christmas at Hotel del Coronado This year's Christmas theme at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego is "Holiday in Oz," with themed trees and a dazzling light show.

Is The Wizard of Oz... Christmasy? www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

Photo Essay: Christmastime at the Arboretum's Queen Anne Cottage The Queen Anne cottage is a Victorian guest house built by Lucky Baldwin at today's Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden.

A Victorian Holiday at Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Gardens' Queen Anne Cottage www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

Photo Essay: The Chicken Takeover of a Sweeping Googie Coffee Shop on Ventura Boulevard To save the Googie coffee shop landmark in Sherman Oaks once known as Stanley Burke's, the Lamplighter, and Corky's, it had to become a Chick-Fil-A.

The Googie coffee shop once known as Corky's, Stanley Burke's, and the Lamplighter is now a Chick-Fil-A @chickfila.bsky.social www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

I never get character photos when I'm at Disneyland, so I made sure to stand in line last night at D23 Jolly Holiday on the Disney lot to meet Goofy, Daisy, and Buzz Lightyear (and not just stand in line to go shopping) www.facebook.com/media/set/?v...

Photo Essay: A Station Master's Tour of LA's Monumental Train Terminal A tour of Union Station with its former station master went into the clock tower and basement & above the ticketing lobby and Harvey House restaurant.

From the clock tower to the basement and so much in between, this is a side of LA's Union Station you've NEVER seen www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

Photo Essay: The Life and Career of Elvis Presley, As Seen Through Graceland's Costume, Car, and Airplane Collections Beyond the mansion where Elvis lived, Graceland also presents multiple museum collections of his costumes, automobiles, planes, memorabilia & more.

Graceland isn't just the mansion where Elvis lived. It's an enormous archive and museum collection, too www.avoidingregret.com/2025/11/phot...

Photo Essay: Holiday Bells and Whistles at the Bellagio Conservatory The Bellagio Conservatory's train-themed holiday display "All Aboard for Holiday Bells and Whistles" is on view through January 3, 2026.

Going to the Bellagio @bellagiolasvegas.bsky.social Conservatory on Thanksgiving night was such a good idea... everybody else did it too! www.avoidingregret.com/2025/12/phot...

Photo Essay: The Stahl House, from Dusk to Night [Updated for 2025—For Sale] Pierre Koenig's Stahl House (Case Study House #22) is for sale for the first time

The Stahl's have been such good stewards of Case Study House #22, but they've decided to put the Stahl House on the market www.avoidingregret.com/2012/07/phot...

Photo Essay: These Hobbit Houses Are a Long Way from Middle Earth (Updated for 2025) The Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments, a.k.a. the Hobbit Houses, are a landmark example of storybook architecture near Culver City.

It was a little worrisome when the Hobbit Houses went up for sale earlier this year—but honestly, I don't think they could've found a BETTER buyer www.avoidingregret.com/2022/07/phot...