Even though Travelin’ Local’s mission tagline is "From Los Angeles to San Diego and everything in between," many people would only include SoCal in that analysis. In that, they would be wrong.

Also included would be Las Vegas.

Yes, Vegas, baby, Vegas!

For millions of Southern Californians, Vegas is considered part of our Backyard.

For each generation, including the present, Las Vegas is, both in time and place, where we’re able to let our hair down, gamble and drink, bask in the sun and sit by the pool, get married and divorced, and eat great food, at less than cost.

In short, we can go there, have a great time, and be back home in time for Monday’s work or other commitment.

As the graph below illustrates, Vegas is directly and axiomatically tied to the ethos and tourists from Southern California. The growth and dream of Hollywood and Los Angeles, as the "Industry Town," is a direct mirror image of Las Vegas. And Vegas had already grown into its own, as the Playground of the stars, while providing the glitz and glamor for the average person.

Vegas is omnipresent in our psyche and state of mind, as being "Our Backyard" as well as being part of "Southern California’s"backyard. Looking at the chart above, that sentiment is firmly based in reality and an extension of our dreams and pioneer spirit.

From the "Rat Pack" playing packed houses, to Judy Garland, Bette Milder, and thousands of celebrities playing Vegas show circuits, they’re just as glamorous as Hollywood; but in its own inimitable way.

Of course, with its non-stop gambling and nightlife, young and old, will forever be drawn and attracted from Southern California to Vegas Baby Vegas!

To be frank, not all " What happens in Vegas, now stays in Vegas, and it may not be as important as it used to be." Travelin’ Local will not only tell you why, but we’ll be covering the new Vegas extensively as part of what is deemed part of the Southern Californian experience.

Being only a few hours away–slowly but surely–Vegas is becoming something other than it was just a few years before. And that’s occurring on a cyclical basis–that, you can bet on, and "beat the house."

Here, take a look at 1959 Vegas:

There is a thread that runs through the whole history of this place as it relates to America and American culture. It’s a place that you run to. It’s a place that you indulge yourself in. It’s a way out of the incredible straight jacket that we find ourselves in, in our highly regimented and regulated lives. By the late 1960’s, the primly conservative values of post-war America were folding faster than a poker player with a busted hand.

In the rest of America, the goal was to get rid of the establishment.

For Las Vegas, the establishment had only just arrived –in the form of corporations, like Ramada and Hilton–who had finally decided Las Vegas was the place to be–and even then, we have to remember, Vegas was a small place. It was a place where you could walk in to a casino and people really would know your name.

For more than two decades, Sin City had made the visitor number one. Now, that exalted position belonged to the stockholders –and Las Vegas’s corporate managers were hell-bent on maximizing their returns. During the seventies we entered into an era of corporate Las Vegas.

Returning visitors immediately discerned a difference in the newly-corporate Las Vegas.The once world-class service was now notably sub-par. Worse still, the buzzing energy of the old Sin City seemed strangely muted. Glitzy had given way to bland.

However dowdy, sleazy, or tame Las Vegas may have seemed to visitors, it was still the only big city in America, outside of Reno, where a person could legally sit down at a blackjack table and throw his life savings away. But now, even that distinction disappeared.

With a total metropolitan population now of more than 450,000 people, and an annual tourist tally that still topped ten million, Las Vegas was in no danger of disappearing. But it was tempting to conclude that its spectacular rise had reached a natural limit.

Like an aging showgirl, Sin City seemed an unlikely candidate for a second act. Those who were inclined to count the city out, however, didn’t know a thing about Las Vegas.

Here’s Vegas in 1991:

In 1988, after a fifteen-year construction slump, a highly anticipated new resort called the Mirage, began to rise up on the Strip. Not since Bugsy Siegel’s, Flamingo Hotel, nearly half a century before, had a Las Vegas hotel-casino generated quite so much buzz. Local curiosity had been mounting ever since the man behind the project, longtime Las Vegas resident and casino owner Steve Wynn, had gone public with his somewhat mysterious plans.

“They don’t need another casino in Las Vegas,” Wynn had told one writer, "but they sure as hell could use a major attraction." The Mirage, he promised, would be the Sin City-equivalent of Disneyland. The business that had built Las Vegas and fueled its growth for more than half a century was about to be turned on its head.

Historically, within the internal organization of a resort, the casino was king, and the showrooms, the rooms, the bars, they existed merely as appendages to the casino, didn’t matter if they made a profit or not. They were the lure to get people into the casino. Well, Steve Wynn changed all that, and Vegas at the same time.

Much to the detriment of the tourists’ pocket book. What that meant, was that while it would cost the tourists a lot more because the day of the twenty dollar a night room was gone, and the free meals were being fazed out, he upgraded the level of luxury to a point where a middle class person could come to Las Vegas, and feel like he really was a millionaire.

Between 1989 and 2005, many of the city’s most iconic landmarks –the Dunes, Sands, the Hacienda, and even the Desert Inn –would be leveled, making way for what would come to be known as "the New Las Vegas.

And the European sense of construction and the Eastern American sense of construction is that you build for the centuries. And in the west, but particularly in Las Vegas and Hollywood, I think, there is this notion that you build for what you want now.

By 1999, Las Vegas was drawing some 37 million tourists annually, from all over the world, eclipsing even the holy city of Mecca, as the most visited place on the planet.

At a time when cities are forced by certain economic and cultural pressures to look more and more alike, when it’s harder and harder to figure out what differentiates Dallas from Atlanta say, Las Vegas is one American city that still feels distinct. But reality too, also forced Las Vegas in another direction because as cities grow, they inevitably change. It is, in fact, now a more traditional city, more like other places.

But it can’t admit that to the world or it won’t be Las Vegas. These would soon be followed by dazzlingly elaborate replicas of New York City, Paris, Lake Como and Venice.

In the end, there would be more hotel rooms on the corner of Flamingo Road and the Strip, than in the entire city of San Francisco.

Las Vegas has done a great job of selling itself as an acceptable mainstream experience. It’s interesting, a generation ago people defined Las Vegas in very moralistic terms.

Everybody in the world feels they ought to try to get here, just to see what it’s like, and a lot of people if you were to say to them, what’s your definition of the great life, would say without irony, without hesitation, "Well, a great weekend in Las Vegas.

That’s got the lot. That’s the package.

Now, here’s Las Vegas in 2009:

Vegas just keeps getting brighter and brighter, as it gets bigger and bigger. Maybe what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but in the case of Travelin’ Local, we plan on bringing you more news, places, and things to do in, and about, our Vegas Baby Vegas!!

Soon, we’re sure, Vegas will be our new and improved version of Monte Carlo, but until then, we’ve got plenty of time for fun in the sun, here and there.

Photos used in this article are courtesy of StevenM_61, Las Vegas Tips, and LasVegas4Newbies.

Southern California’s physical beauty is immense and vast.

That’s why California is aptly named the thee Golden State. Indeed, many of us take for granted what living here really means.

California’s long association with gold make this a natural nickname for the state. From the naming of the state in the 16th century to the California Gold Rush of 1848 and the fields of yellow poppies(official state flower) that bloom in the springtime, gold, in one form or another, has been intertwined with the history and development of California. The state legislature made “The Golden State” the official nickname of California in 1968. Source: NetState

It means that we have some of the most beautiful beaches, mountains, hills, gardens, skies, deserts, islands, national and state parks, bays and many other places of physical beauty. 

Hopefully with that in mind, the goal of this article is to remind people of one special place that I love a lot–the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach. 

Across the street from Bolsa Chica State Beach, the Wetlands are a great place to go for a walk, bird watch, or just take a break from the constant barrage of shopping centers and traffic. 

I’ve been going to the wetlands for many years, and while in high school participated in monthly clean up days, that involved picking up trash (tossed from the cars driving down Pacific Coast Highway), and removing non-native plants (like ice plant, which has spread all over California, and overpowers less aggressive native plants). 

In the early morning, people can come to watch the rising sun start to melt the dew from the walkbridge over the sub-tidal habitat, or come at night to watch the sun set over the ocean and watch birds peck at the newly exposed land from the falling tide.

The wetlands is not a difficult hike, there are flat trails and benches scattered for resting. It’s a popular place for jogging, but people are conscientious of sharing the trails.  For first time visitors to Bolsa Chica, the first Saturday of each month offers a tour led by the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, and on the third Sunday of every month, is a tour lead by the Bolsa Chica Land Trust.

I draw attention to this little piece of land, because it’s very existence was challenged many times, and only with the involvement of the community and the state, has its presence been preserved and assured.

A Short history of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Orange County

After years of oil drilling, the land was bought by a housing development company in the 1960s’s, accompanied by a massive land-use proposal with plans to build a marina and thousands of residences.  But fortunately, the Developer’s plans were hampered, when the state objected, and 300 acres were set aside for wildlife. 

Unappeased, the Amigos de Bolsa Chica was formed in 1976 with their mission (as told on their website) to expand and keep the Bolsa as large as possible:

to advocate the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the Bolsa Chica, to encourage the public acquisition of all the wetlands and sufficient surrounding open space to create a viable ecosystem, and to provide education about the importance of wetlands.

In 1990, the developer and the Amigos created the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, to educate the public about the importance of the wetlands, and in 1992 the Bolsa Chica Land Trust was formed to aid in saving more of the mesa than just the wetlands.

In 1997, the state purchased another 880 acres of the wetlands, and in 2000, the California Coastal Commission ruled that no development could occur on the lower half of the mesa, because it was too valuable a Californian natural habitat for wildlife and thusly needed protection. 

To this day, there’s still court battles raging between the various parties due to some developers still wanting to build on part of the upper half of the mesa, which remains in private ownership.

On August 25th, 2006, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and the Pacific Ocean were connected for the first time in over 100 years, in hopes of creating a major wildlife sanctuary.  Originally, the ocean connection had been cut off in 1899 by a duck hunting club, and the reconnection was a major event for the community members and organizations who had fought so hard to prevent the development of housing and to preserve the area.

To best enjoy a hike in the wetlands, bring a sweater, as the sea breeze that travels across Pacific Coast Highway–aka "PCH"–can be chilly in the morning and late afternoons.  Dogs or any pets are prohibited, as they can be harmful to the ecosystem and native wildlife.  There are parking lots on Warner, near the PCH intersection, and on PCH. 

The beauty and the serenity of the place is often paid homage to in photographs, so bring your camera if you want, otherwise comfortable walking shoes will suffice.

Some commonly seen birds are herons, geese, ducks, pelicans, finches, hawks, and a multitude of others. Since the ocean was reconnected, salt marsh habitats and changing tides show the different shifts of the birds, and sometimes rays and small sharks can be seen from the walkbridge.

If so inclined after experiencing the natural beauty of the wetlands, visit the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretive Center on 3842 Warner Ave. Their hours are, Tuesday-Friday 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday 9 am – noon, and Sunday 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm, to inquire about monthly clean ups.  The Conservancy partners with the California Department of Fish and Game to provide visitor services and information.

To understand the wetlands layout click on this map, and when you have the chance, come enjoy the natural beauty of Southern California’s Bolsa Chica Wetlands as soon as you’re able.

]]>Southern California’s physical beauty is immense and vast. That’s why California is aptly named the thee Golden State. Indeed, many of us take for granted what living here really means. California’s long association with gold make this a natural nickname for the state. From the naming of the state in the 16th century to the California Gold [...]http://www.travelinlocal.com/the-bolsa-chica-wetlands-in-orange-county/feed/0http://www.travelinlocal.com/the-bolsa-chica-wetlands-in-orange-county/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TravelinLocal/~3/bT2-R-bv6yw/FoodRecipesKristi RimkusMon, 01 Mar 2010 00:04:39 PSThttp://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=9850Do you ever have one of those moments when an idea for something exciting lands on your lap? That happened to me last week when I decided I was going to lighten up my favorite burgers. Last week’s burger was a terrific beef burger.

When you put beef, poultry, or seafood between two pieces of bread with a few really great toppings, that makes people happy. You can’t go wrong serving burgers for lunch or dinner, and you’ll never go wrong serving them to company.

So why not lighten up the calories a bit, and make your friends and family a bit happier?

When it comes to my favorite burger, I choose chicken. I am a legend in the family when it comes to the consumption of chicken. In fact, my Dad often joked about how much chicken I could eat in one sitting.

More often than not, when you order a chicken burger at a restaurant, it comes with a chicken breast. I prefer ground chicken. When I eat a burger made with chicken breast, the bun and toppings slide all over. They eventually land on the plate, and not in my mouth. I want a chicken burger that holds all my favorite toppings inside the bun.

I’m not opinionated at all when it comes to my burgers, am I?

At the grocery store, you can find ground chicken breast, or ground chicken, which will include light and dark meat. Ground chicken usually has more moisture, but also contains more calories. I’ve used ground chicken in this recipe. This same recipe works equally as well with ground turkey.

You will love the subtle taste of rosemary and apple in this burger, and the Swiss cheese adds some tang. This is a burger you can feel good about eating.

Stay tuned next week for another delectable burger!

Juicy Rosemary and Apple Chicken Burger

1 pound ground chicken
½ tablespoon rosemary, finely minced
½ medium apple, finely chopped
¼ small onion, finely chopped
1 large egg white
¼ cup bread crumbs
½ cup low fat Swiss cheese
2 ea whole wheat burger buns
4 tablespoons low fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Servings: Makes 4 main dish servings

Directions:

In a food processor, finely chop the apple and onion. Add the rosemary, chicken, bread crumbs and egg and combine. Stir in the cheese, and form into 4 patties.

Grill on the stove over medium heat using grill pan sprayed with cooking spray, or if you prefer on an outdoor grill.

Combine mayonnaise and Dijon mustard to make a sauce.

Toast buns and top with a burger and mustard sauce.

What’s good for me in this dish?

Lean chicken is a complete protein, with less saturated fat than beef. Chicken also has cancer protecting B vitamins, including Niacin and B6 for energy.

Apples are a great source of vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant for a healthy heart. The flavonoids in apples also contribute to heart health. High in fiber, apples can help lower LDL cholesterol.

Calories: 264, Total Fat: 13.15g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 225mg, Total Carbs: 11.17g, Dietary Fiber: 6.14g, Sugars: 3.30g, Protein: 25.79g, Weight Watchers Points 6

Currently, Kristi Rimkus authors her own blog over at Mother Rimmy’s Cooking Light Done Right.

Nutrition details obtained from http://www.whfoods.org, http://www.nutritiondata.com, http://www.about.com, and http://www.abouthomecooking.com.

]]>Do you ever have one of those moments when an idea for something exciting lands on your lap? That happened to me last week when I decided I was going to lighten up my favorite burgers. Last week’s burger was a terrific beef burger. When you put beef, poultry, or seafood between two pieces of [...]http://www.travelinlocal.com/lighten-up-that-chicken-burger/feed/0http://www.travelinlocal.com/lighten-up-that-chicken-burger/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TravelinLocal/~3/cPzclRgpEjw/Long BeachRecreationLindsay PullinSun, 28 Feb 2010 19:21:56 PSThttp://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=9860When it comes to choosing a Yoga studio, the amount of options available to choose from may be overwhelming.  A studio should be chosen according to the type of yoga taught , but more so, by the theme and vibe of the studio, as well as the teachers who can teach what you want to learn. 

Most people want teachers and instructors who are experienced in practicing, and being able to teach yoga effectively.

As well, the teacher should be able to offer various classes which meet different student’s skill levels, experience, and be able to have the classes both enjoyable and comfortable.

Yoga World, has two locations in Long Beach and has a cool vibe, and a large variety of yoga classes in the Hatha style.

Gabriel Hall and his wife, Michelle Hall, are the owners of Yoga World Studios. They started in 1996, and as they added more classes and attracted more and more students, they then opened their own studio. 

Yoga World first opened in Los Altos, and afterward, opened their second location in Long Beach (often referred to as the "downtown studio").

For those unfamiliar with Hatha yoga, it’s the category of yoga practice, that most people think of when they think of yoga. 
It’s a series of postures and breathing exercises when completed, help its adherents achieve a balance between both the mental and the physical inner and outer selves.

Yoga World’s classes all fall into the genre of Hatha, but span the complete spectrum of what Hatha entails–from slow and gentle therapeutic yoga, flow yoga, and intense and strong yoga. Each class offers something specifically different.

[Full disclosure] I’m a regular to Gabriel Hall’s intermediate classes, and here’s why:

Hall’s style of yoga is an evolution of influences, which has become a hybrid of Hatha, and mixes various forms of Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Viniyoga Yoga. It also delves into strength training.

For Yoga World’s founder, Hall, he’s found a way to make the breathing and sweating inherent in the Yoga experience–original and evolutionary for each individual class. This allows for students to enjoy and remain in the classes, even through sometimes impossible chaturangas (think push-ups), or confusing descriptions that sound incredible (he will break it down for you). 

Expect the class to laugh sometimes, which is in a way, encouraging and uniting, when you feel alone in your challenge.

Another hip element to Hall’s classes is his use of contemporary music to compliment the movements.  In one class, students might hear The Beatles, Radiohead, or the Velvet Underground.  The music accompanying these classes is another evolution to Hall’s style. In many other classes, more new age type music is used, but Hall found it was getting a little stale and borrowed a note from Yogi Steve Ross. Thus, he took inspiration and meditation from music that many people can relate to.

Some of the tunes were familiar to people, and offered a cross generational appeal. (For instance) the lyrics in the Beatles music is very yogic, written under the influence of yoga, (and helps people) get deeper into the experience.

Yoga World has since grown, and now offers approximately 75 classes every week between the two studios, and has a staff of over 15 different teachers.  Pilate’s classes are also offered, as well as a free meditation class one Sunday every month. 

Some upcoming events include:

"Integrating Meditation with the Healing Process" on March 6th (with Suzanne Toro Schafer), "Finding Joy through Movement with Live Music" on March 13th (with Michelle Libeu and musician Marti Walker), and "Yoga: The Essentials" with Gabriel Hall on March 27th (these events are purchased separately and must be pre-registered). 

Hall also offers Thai Yoga Therapy, which he learned from his own teacher and mentor, Saul David Ray. Thai Yoga Therapy includes twisting and stretching your body’s routine. Its ethos and roots lie in yoga in order to heal your body, while releasing tension.

Don’t have a yoga mat? Not a problem. If it’s your first yoga class, just show up wearing loose clothes with an open attitude, as there’s no need to preregister. Mats are available to borrow in the back of the room, as well as straps, blocks, blankets, foam rollers, tennis and medicine balls, and anything else that you’ll need to stretch, meditate, or relax into yoga. 

Show up 15 minutes before each class starts to ensure a spot for your mat, and if you must bring your cell phone into the studio, make sure it’s turned off.  I can only recall one time that a cell phone rang during a class–needless to say it was startling and stressful, and not at all yogic.

Yoga World offers a list of Student Tips, if you’re unsure of what to expect during a yoga class, such as:

"Please inform your teacher of any injury of special conditions you may have prior to class" and "Accept where you are. Avoid over stretching or straining. No experience or flexibility is needed. Always honor your own needs and limitations."

For the complete list of Yoga World’s classes, skill levels, and times, click here

Most classes end with a savasana, or a meditation period that may start–guided or unguided– to allow your body to relax from the stress of the class and the day. Generally silent, it’s usually completed in the "corpse pose," (this words are are pretty self explanatory), as a way to transition back into the outside world.

I firmly believe that Yoga is an accessible form of bringing inner peace into your daily life. 

]]>When it comes to choosing a Yoga studio, the amount of options available to choose from may be overwhelming.  A studio should be chosen according to the type of yoga taught , but more so, by the theme and vibe of the studio, as well as the teachers who can teach what you want to [...]http://www.travelinlocal.com/yoga-and-yoga-world-brings-peace-into-your-daily-life/feed/0http://www.travelinlocal.com/yoga-and-yoga-world-brings-peace-into-your-daily-life/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TravelinLocal/~3/V2AxPW3zBYk/CultureDowntownLos AngelesLisa NewtonSat, 27 Feb 2010 19:39:53 PSThttp://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=9820Did you know that Los Angeles used to have the “Largest Trolley System in the World?”

With a fleet of over 900 electric trolley cars, covering over 1,100 miles of track, Los Angeles was the leader in streetcar transport and tracks.

Alas, it died a slow death when the last streetcar was put into “cold storage” in 1963.

Here’s a blast from our past:

The video above is LA circa 1950 or so. Even then, LA’s refined look attracted people from around the nation, and the world over, now a half a century ago.

But that was then, and this is now:

Streetcars are making a comeback, but in a much smaller way.

Although today is Sunday—we’re not showing another edition of Travelin’ Local’s Sunday Afternoon at the Theatre—because our goal is to keep you informed about our past, in order understand our present.

Ergo, a mini-break to talk about streetcars.

As evidenced from the title, streetcars and the theatres are related.

They are part of the “new” streetcar movement:

The goal is for the downtown streetcar system to run up or down Broadway and link to other destinations in downtown, such as LA Live and the Convention Center on one end and the Bunker Hill/Music Center area on the other. Source:  Bringing Back Broadway

To be sure, that’s the same Broadway that’s home to all of Travelin’ Local’s Sunday Afternoon at the Theatres stories we’ve covered to date.

In February, 2010, the City of Los Angeles submitted an application to the Federal Transit Authority Urban Circulator grant program, requesting $25 million for the Downtown LA Streetcar’s to be brought back.

Even though the total project cost is estimated to be around $100 million, a $25 million dollar grant would definitely be a step in the right direction.

The plan is to get the new streetcar system up and running by 2014.

Let’s hope for the best.

Isn’t it amazing how history repeats itself? Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t quote Santayana whose famous dictum is only too true—“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”

LA might no longer boast about having the largest trolley system anymore, but at a minimum, we’re striving to bring back Broadway one trolley car at at time.

]]>Did you know that Los Angeles used to have the “Largest Trolley System in the World?” With a fleet of over 900 electric trolley cars, covering over 1,100 miles of track, Los Angeles was the leader in streetcar transport and tracks. Alas, it died a slow death when the last streetcar was put into “cold storage” in [...]http://www.travelinlocal.com/los-angeles-streetcars-and-the-downtown-broadway-theatre-district/feed/0http://www.travelinlocal.com/los-angeles-streetcars-and-the-downtown-broadway-theatre-district/