It was a special kind of streetcar. One whose sole purpose was to ferry passengers between the Maryland hotel in Pasadena, and Virginia hotel in Long Beach. It was the fastest car in the Pacific Electric fleet, clocking in at 109mph.

It was the Maryland Special. The year was 1900.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

Mrs. Viola E. Williams. Mrs. Mae Baker. A line has been drawn in the concrete of Westchester.

The year was 1951.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

They were soldiers from the Spanish-American War who served under Theodore Roosevelt. They were known as Teddy’s Terrors.  They gathered at First and Broadway in Los Angeles.

The year was 1904.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

I’ve beaten the dead horse about the things you can find when you give yourself the chance to look at the city out from behind a windshield. One of my passions is the “streetfiti” I discover either on my bike or my feet — most of it rather happenstance, such as this amazing one I found today. I’ve passed the bus stop on the west side of La Brea at Wilshire hundreds of times, but it was only on this morning’s bike commute that I happened to be stopped behind enough cars at the red light to be immediately adjacent to it. And looked down.

(click for the bigger picture)

Unlike most of the concrete hand-scrawlings I find that feature a name and maybe a year, this one provides both and in greater detail: it’s signed “G.I. Shoes” (or at least “Shoes” is my best guess) and posts a definitive date of “5-12-44.” But in conjunction with the date and name, it also offers some rare and compelling (if misspelled) biographical information “Returned from Itay” (Italy is my guess). Given the date and the “G.I.” it all points to the writer being a soldier who arrived back in Los Angeles after serving his country during World War II and felt compelled to immortalize his homecoming in some fresh concrete. Sixty-five years later, it’s still there.

Where was this taken? This was taken here.

Previous snapshots:
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook • Inter Here • Stunflower •
Dueling Coyotes • Restoration Era • The Domain Of The Green Lynx •
Why Is This Alligator Lizard Smiling? • Bearing Witness •
Right Thing • Street Art Drive-Bys •

Jesus may have walked on water, but, during the next few days, you can walk — or ride — over it. First, the Marina Del Rey Water Bus ends its summer run on Labor Day, September 7.  I took the Bus across the Marina Harbor on July 4th, with an actual destination, but it’s a total and picturesque blast just to get on it and buzz around the Harbor.  We saw and waved (local hipsters, if such people exist in the Marina, flash the peace sign.  horizontal like.  from outside in) at a bunch of people partying on their docked boats.  We even saw seals basking on the docks!  And the Water Bus only costs a buck each way!  You can get on and off at a bunch of stops (see website).  In fact, you could even take the Water Bus on Sunday afternoon, and then walk down Abbott Kinney (about a mile) and meet up with the L.A. Metbloggers and friends for coffee at Intelligentsia! I may do just that.  So forget those pricey, snooty cruise boats that go to Catalina or into the Bay or whatever where you have to get dressed up and drink Chardonnay and listen to lite jazz.  The Water Bus is where it’s at baby!
Click for more wet fun

How do you get to Restaurant Row on La Cienega? The bus, of course.

It was the new Line 99. The year was 1958.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

After a long hot day, what a refreshing evening of cool breezes, salty air and fresh fish we had at The Reel Inn last Saturday night! Thanks to all who came out to partake of the fun and fish and festive company. There was surfing trivia and Primo beer, and I personally was stoked.

Mohans, a Metblog author from Dublin staying in Cali for a few months, made it up from Irvine for the event, yay for him! We also had some other first timers to Classic Eats – welcome Shannon, hopefully the regulars didn’t scare you off the next one.  Burns! and Mr. Hooks — you were both missed.

Thanks again for a fun, low key, hot summer night!

Look for Classic Eats #8 coming in a few short weeks…more on that in another post.

More pix after the jump.

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See you tomorrow at 6pm at the Reel Inn for Classic Eats: Hot Summer Nights Edition. The Reel Inn has tons of outdoor seating, which is where I’ll be with Metblogs signs.

Just FYI, the Reel Inn has a counter where you order, then they call your name. So come on in, get in line, get your order up and then come out and find the gang enjoying a beautiful LA evening.

The Reel Inn
18661 Pacific Coast Highway (just past Topanga Canyon Blvd.)
310-456-8221

6pm

Bone up on your surfing trivia and we’ll see you there!

At times, it would get hot. Wipe-your-brow-with-your-shirtsleeves kinda hot. That’s when a man would saddle up to the bar to get his fix. That’s when a man paid a visit to the Monarch Saloon in Newhall.

The year was 1903.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

Winning by a landslide, Classic Eats #7: Hot Summer Nights Edition will be at The Reel Inn this Saturday, August 29 at 6pm! Spend an afternoon at the beach, then dust the sand off and mosey over to The Reel Inn for some fresh seafood and great outdoor patio to relax after another beautiful summer day in LA.

The Reel Inn
18661 Pacific Coast Highway (just past Topanga Canyon Blvd.)
310-456-8221

6pm

Bone up on your surfing trivia and we’ll see you there!