The town I live in: San Pedro

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Jamie

When people ask me where I live I tell them: San Pedro.  Sometimes I observe the looks, sometimes I’m asked further questions, and sometimes the conversation ends there.

When I think about the town I reside in, I think back that this small little California town does have a lot to offer, and I am fortunate for what is brought to this area.  I now what to share some of my favorites with you: These are places I’d recommend visiting during the day or for a visit to San Pedro just for the day.

1) Ports of Call Village

The Ports of Call Village is located right off the Port of Los Angeles.  A place that has a lot of family owned seafood restaurants where you can pick out the catch of the day, and eat in a family style dining area while you watch the boats float on by.  You can go out on a boat cruise, or just watch the fisherman at work.

They also have ice cream shops, and cute little shops throughout the little area.  I have been known to buy a few of my cute dresses here from time to time.

2) San Pedro Fountain Show


Every night from the hours of 8pm to 9pm, there is a lighted fountain show that goes off with music.  It is pretty fun to see.  This fountain show also goes off every half hour on the hour throughout the day with another full hour show between the hours of Noon to 1pm.  During the summer, the kids like to fun in between the fountains to play amongst the water.  For a photographer, it’s pretty fun to capture especially at night.

3) CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles

An old warehouse building that was redesigned to be taken over by Los Angeles local artistans.  From CakeBar LA to The Donut Snob to scrap booking supplies to smelly lotions to succelent plants to pretty jewelry.  CRAFTED, which opened up at the end of June has something for everyone.  It is only in phase one right now which includes about 100 different craft vendors.  Phase 2 will bring in another 100 different craft vendors, and every 3 months it will continue to expand.

4) Pacific Trolley Car

Every weekend you have the opportunity to ride the old trolley car along the Harbor Boulevard of San Pedro.  Hop on the trolley from the Ports of Call Villages and head down to the fountain to catch the water show.  Or ride it all the way down to 22nd Street where you can cross the street and check out CRAFTED, for only 1 dollar enjoy a bit of the past.

5) Korean Friendship Bell

Drive along Gaffey Street to the end and you will run across the Korean Friendship Bell which sits atop a hill that overlooks the beautiful ocean below.  As you capture the amazement of this wonderful gift from our friendship city, stay awhile to capture one of the beautiful ocean sunsets.

6) First Thursdays

The first Thursday of the month, Downtown San Pedro comes alive as their artwalk comes into play.  All the galleries along 6th and 7th streets in Downtown San Pedro open their doors to the crowds as we take in the beautiful artwork from the surrounding artists.  The galleries have only grown within the past year.  It is our evening of art and the food trucks come align the adorning streets.

7) Battleship Iowa

This battleship which resided in San Francisco has finally arrived in San Pedro.  Opening weekend was on Saturday, July 7th.  For 18 dollars, you can hop aboard the Battleship and see for yourself what it’s all about.  It will be open for a limited time before they close it down to do further work on what it will become ;0

8) Farmer’s Market

Every Friday morning from 9am to 2pm, 6th Street in Downtown San Pedro is closed off for their Farmer’s Market.  They have great vendors that come out and adorn the streets.  It is worth the trip to check out on a Friday morning.

Along with the activities above there are a few annual festivities the community of San Pedro does:

*Fort MacArthur Days*  Which happens the first weekend in July

*Shakespeare in the Park* Which happens every night Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Point Fermin park.

*Taste of San Pedro* An annual event that occurs in August.

*Lobster Festival*  Yes, San Pedro does their very own Lobster Festival

*Cars and Stripes* The last weekend in June which brings in old fashion cars with the night ending in fireworks

And some other community events that happen throughout the year.

San Pedro is just a hop, skip, and jump away from Long Beach which also offers a plethora of activities throughout the year, and right around the corner from Palos Verdes with some pretty amazing hiking spots, and great views for those beautiful sunsets.  It really is a great place to reside.

 

 

 

 


Categories: Life, Photography, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

Making the MOST of your VACATION photos!

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Jamie

We love to travel.  We love to visit new places, and we love bringing our cameras to these new places.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about vacations, and  how to make the most of your photos when you’re out in and about.  I was just on vacation not too long ago, and came home with a ton of pictures.  Some I was very proud of, some others I could have done without.  So what can we do to MAKE the most of our VACATION photos?

1) Posing

Wherever we travel to, there is most likely a very iconic place we visit.  Whether, for me, it being the Golden Gate Bridge, or say it’s Las Vegas and we’re walking along the famous Strip, there is something iconic, and meaningful in that place we’ve gone to visit.  Usually we like to pose in front of such an iconic place.

This is where the fun can start.  Start thinking creatively.  Instead of just standing arm to arm, think of another way to display the place (jumping shots, pretending to lift the iconic image up, etc.)

2) Use of foreground and background!

I am a huge fan of foreground and background when taking a picture.  It can really add a lot to an image.

3) Candid Shots. (action shots)

Sometimes when you’re on vacation you may have someone with you.  Stop a minute and just observe the person and how they’re taking in the place you’re visiting.  A great shot will come out of that.  Whether it is them dancing in front of a place, them trying out oysters for the first time, or perhaps walking along railroad tracks, a picture can come out of it.

4) Composition

As of lately I recognize when you visit a famous, iconic location, there’s a plethora of shots of this same iconic image.  So I start to think, “what is a picture I can take” that perhaps no one else has.  Like the image above, adding the simpliest of details can help to make your picture stand out.

So start thinking of composition, and what you can add to your photo to make it different from the typical, “picture.”

Inside Fort Point

5) Label Your Photos!

At the end of each travel day, write down a list of the places you’ve visited, and what you took pictures of.  That way, when you look back at your pictures you can describe the pictures perfectly, and remember where you went, even years from now with the correct labeling.

and really, it comes down to having fun, and enjoying the surroundings around you.  For me, when I go on vacation I don’t leave home without my camera so I’m capturing every moment as I experience it so when I come home I can share with others and make them feel as if they’ve just been on vacation with me.

Or, to come back and I am able to tell a story through my pictures.  Work on doing a photo essay where your pictures tell the story, as opposed to your words telling the story, etc.

Bon Voyage!

 

 

 


Categories: Photography, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyard!

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Jamie

Last week I was in wine country.  One thing I mentioned to my SO (significant other) before going on the trip was this, “I can not go to wine country for a second time and not go to any wineries.”  As much as I have fallen in love with wines in the past year and a half, there was just no way.  He made me a promise, and last Saturday was one of the best days of my life.

We visited a total of 4 wineries, and one wine tasting room, and lets just say by the end of the day I was feeling pretty good 😉 And the next few weeks I will be showcasing each of the wineries I visited.

The first winery of the day was Gloria Ferrer caves and vineyard.  They are known for their champagne.  When I heard champagne I couldn’t wait because I love my bubbly and my sweetness.

For my first winery in Northern California I had no idea what to expect.  As I walked into the building small displays showcased the floor, and there were casings along the walls filled with awards, bottles of wine, cheeses and meats.  We then walked up the bar area where they told us to find a table, and at Gloria Ferrer the tastings took place table side.

And this is what greeted us upon our table:

We took a bit to look over the menu as our waiter came over to us and explained the different champagne options.  I chose the Va di Vi, which means “It’s about the wine” in Barcelona.  The VA di Vi as explained on Gloria Ferrer’s site is: VA de VI is the stylish new méthode champenoise sparkling wine that celebrates our Spanish heritage. This ultra-premium cuvée adds new dimension to our house style. Elegant and refreshing, dry but not too dry, VA de VI is a classic blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with just a trace of Muscat. VA de VI captures the exuberant aromas and luscious flavors of perfectly ripened fruit and reveals them throughout a long, soft finish.

And let me tell you, I loved every last drop of this splendid champagne.  As I said earlier I am partial to sweet, and this was definitely that.

I also got to try out the “Sonoma Brut” which: Delicate pear and floral notes backed by toasty almond. On the palate, one finds lively citrus, toast and apple flavors overlaid with persistent effervescence, a creamy mid-palate and toasty finish.  This one was a bit more dry for me, and didn’t appeal to me nearly as much as the VA di Vi.

Afterwards I walked out to the courtyard to take a peek at the Carneros vineyards, and this is what greeted me:

The building sits atop a hill in which the vineyards fall below, and it is quite the site to see.

Each glass of champagne ranges from $5 to $10 dollars, but it is worth every drop.  I also enjoyed peeking at all the merchandise found in the main room.  From chocolate covered wine bottles to sunhats to wine candles, they had it all.

For my first Northern California winery, this left a lasting impression.  Thank you Gloria Ferrer, I am your newest fan!

 


Categories: Travel, Wine | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments