by beachraven | Aug 12, 2022
August 17th, 1977, I was on my way to work, driving down La Brea Boulevard in Hollywood, listening to my favorite radio station, and as I crossed Santa Monica Boulevard, they announced Elvis Presley’s death. The news appeared out of nowhere. The air felt thin, and as...
by beachraven | Jul 29, 2022
Sunset Manzanita, California Native What makes a garden feel at ease with itself? I love different garden styles: Chinese, German, and Zen. They all have an attraction and calm aesthetic when done right. But while some feel calm and relaxed, others seem...
by beachraven | Jul 22, 2022
Monterey Bay, Monterey, California We grabbed a window table at a cafe in Moss Landing. The smell of potatoes simmering in hot oil, bacon, and fresh coffee filled the small dining room. It was the kind of place where a guy in blue jeans and work boots fit in...
by beachraven | Jul 8, 2022
Venice Beach, California The Venice Pier had that blank, tilted feeling empty tourist spots have. The dawn sun cut low across the water as it winked in and out of the sea haze. Fishermen dotted the pier, and surfers rocked and bobbed on their boards, chatting...
by beachraven | Jul 1, 2022
The wind sings through the Monterey Pines, a short flourish overture with a low drone, mid-range whip, and a treble trickling of cottonwood leaves like a swift stream. And above it all, the trill of birds add sparkles of color as the oratorio begins. It moves with a...
by beachraven | Jun 24, 2022
I could describe what I’m seeing or hearing. I could even go deeper and explain how I feel and what’s happening around me or comment on the news. I could work past the layers of anxiety and regret that hang on me and drip like sweat off a boxer. I could discuss the...
