LA Westside BlogPOINT

Many know it just as 'The Tennis Courts on Barrintgton' - an apt description considering the limited view from the street when driving by.  If you were to park and look a little closer, you'd find that the Barrington Recreation Center (located at 333 South Barrington Avenue just below Sunset Blvd.) in Brentwood is a full-spectrum recreational resource for all ages.  It's operated by the city's Department of Recreation and Parks and offers a well-rounded menu of sports and events including:

Tennis (4 Courts free of charge) - from Beginner to Advanced

Youth Classes - from Soccer Clinics to Skateboarding to Basketball

Girls Baseball and Flag Football

Co-ed Baseball and Flag Football

Dog and Puppy Training Classes (plus Companion Dog Training)

Basketball Camp (ages 9-16)

Parent and Me Classes

Senior/Adult Classes - from Bridge to Yoga to Physical Firtness

It's been there ever since I can remember (and that's a long time) and has slowly evolved over the years.  There is however, an effort underway by the Friends of Barrington Recreation Center to further elevate it to a 'state-of-the-art recreational facility that will serve the community for generations to come'.  They could use your support and those interested should check out the site for more details about this and all of the team/event sign-up information.  Even if you reside in Westwood or Pacific Palisades, this is a family-fun resource that's worth the time to drive over and explore.

When you think of urban Los Angeles, horses are not something that immediately comes to mind.  Yet a quick turn off Sunset Boulevard just west of Mandeville Canyon will bring you to the entrance of an equestrian enclave where the term 'rustic lifestyle' is an understatement.

Most of the homes in Sullivan Canyon reflect the brilliance of renowned architect and builder, Cliff May, who created the 'California Ranch-Style' home in the late 1930s and come with corrals and open stalls.  They were built to blend into the landscape while their low profile and extensive use of glass render them timeless both inside and out.

The first home in Sullivan Canyon was built around 1906 and local folklore credits the naming of the Canyon to one it's first squatters - a Civil War veteran named Sullivan.  As you explore the Canyon either from it's Sunset Boulevard entrance or access the still undeveloped back-half (see picture) from Queensferry Road off Westridge Road above, you'll readily appreciate how seemingly little has changed over time. 

Welcome to Brentwood's lost world . . . .

For many, the Thursday Farmers' Market is a reminder that the  weekend is right around the corner as well as   an opportunity to get some weekend shopping out of the way in advance. 

The CC Farmers' Market is a presentation between the hours of 11:30AM and 3:00PM by vendors featuring everything from flowers, fruits, produce, clothes and jewelry to of course, food.  One should note that many of the food vendors offer free samples.

The lines can get long at the lunch hour particularly at the Thai-Mex and Hawaiian BBQ stands, but if you have the time, it seems to be worth the wait. 

If the chilling weather we've been experiencing in the past month or so is any indicator, I'd say we're in for a pretty cold winter season.  That said, there's no better time than right now to launch an energy audit of your home's energy consumption.  The following tips are courtesy of Michelle D. Alderson, a periodic writer-contributor for the California Association of Realtors.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make it more energy-efficient.  Such action can ultimately benefit your pocketbook and reduce your carbon footprint.

You can do a preliminary energy audit yourself by looking for air leaks, inspecting both the interior and exterior of your home.  You should also check to see if any holes around your sinks and faucets need to be caulked.  The U.S. Department of Energy's website has instructions for you do-it-yourselfers.

If however, you want an energy audit done professionally, you can contact the California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA) at www.cbpca.org  to find a qualified professional to do the job.  Costs for an energy audit range from $300 to $1,000 and in the long run, may well prove to be an excellent investment with strong returns on energy cost-savings.

The Beverly Hills Farmers' Market is a weekly, outdoor-certified market which provides the community with the finest of California-grown, fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables, juices, breads, specialty items and more in a festive outdoor street setting.

The Market hosts more than 60 farmers and vendors every Sunday - rain or shine!  It's open from 9AM to 1PM and is held on the 9300 block of Civic Center Drive.  Aside from great shopping for unique food items, you'll find some form of entertainment on most Sundays usually between 10AM and 12:30PM. 

There's also something for the kids as well.  A 'Cookin' Kids' program featuring tasting, recipes and more for children is presented also between 10AM and 12:30PM.  On certain Sundays, the Kid's Zone is presented, which offers pony rides and a petting zoo.  For information on scheduling and any other questions you may have, give a call to the Market at 310-285-6830.  See you there!

Many thanks to the City of Santa Monica for developing this ingenious little website:  http://parkingspacenow.smgov.net that gives real time parking availability updates for it's city-wide parking facilities.  The guide's mission is to get you out of your car and on with your day a little more quickly.

You'll find lots of helpful information about the city's 16 parking lots and structures (including the Santa Monica Pier and beach parking lots along Pacific Coast Highway).  The overview map will give you detailed information about lot locations, hours and rates and most importantly, the number of available parking spaces at any given time!

If you left your PDA at home, you can still navigate to a lot with available spaces by tuning into WQGR AM1680 - Santa Monica's parking and traffic information radio station.  Now if they could only do something about those broken meters . . . . .

If you've been looking for some unique and charming sources for your Holiday shopping, check out Brentwood Village.  The merchants are quietly located where Barrington Avenue and Sunset Boulevard cross in the heart of Brentwood (see website map).  They take pride in being independently owned and operated mainly by local families some of whom have been familiar faces in the Village for more than three decades.

A day of shopping in Brentwood Village might include a diamond pendant, a couture outfit, designer shoes and/or handbag, some dog treats, intense kick-boxing, yoga or pilates and top the day off with a delicious meal at any one of the 8 terrific eateries.  A great place to explore!                                                                

Historic Chevron Tower 

It was this day in 1948 that the Brentwood Country Mart first opened it's doors.  The red-board structure is unique in many ways beginning with it's design - an English-style country marketplace crafted as a hub of shops and stalls surrounding a charming central courtyard.  It currently is home to a U.S. Post Office, great eateries, a shoe repair, exceiptional boutiques from around the world and ah yes, the old-fashioned Barber Shop. 

Located on 26th Street just below San Vicente Boulevard (the western border of Brentwood), the Mart became a community fixture and favorite meeting grounds early-on (1950).  Today, many community groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the American Red Cross, the Cancer Society and artisan groups use the inside patio as their primary place to gather. 

It's a great place to loose a few hours on a Saturday afternoon and I highly recommend you drop by when in the area.  You'll be glad you did.

     Brentwood Country Mart in 1948

 . . . . . in Pacific Palisades that is.  The Temescal Canyon Association founded in 1972 dedicates itself to many interests and activities in the Santa Monica Mountains and Temescal Gateway Park in particular.  For over 30 years, they've conducted hikes into these beautiful mountain areas and everyone is invited.  Membership is not required and even children when accompanied by adults are welcome as well.

Hikes are are conducted one Sunday a month during the winter months and every week on Tuesday evenings during Summer.  For more information on their activites, intiatives and current hike schedule, visit them at www.temcanyon.org.