Wanderings

The Mountain Mermaid

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:05:04 +0000

What a beautiful location, this old gambling house hands down has some of the most character I’ve seen in a building. The Mountain Mermaid no longer a gambling house, is now rented out as a reception and event hall. I was there to assist the wonderful photographer Prakash Shroff. It was my first time working with Prakash and hopefully it will not be the last. He was a joy to work with and inspiring to see what his eye captures. Here are a couple behind the scenes photos I took with my iPhone enjoy.

Ivana Milicevic in one of the many courtyards at The Mountain Mermaid.

A custom made knocker for The Mountain Mermaid.

One of the many ceiling lights with some character. Inside the main room at The Mountain Mermaid.

The entryway and front courtyard at The Mountain Mermaid.

Road Tripping to Big Bear

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:55:48 +0000

My friend Jen and her roommate organized a trip to Bear Lake, and asked me to join. Knowing me I couldn’t turn down a ski trip. So I packed my things jumped in the car and rode up to Big Lake for the weekend. The snow conditions were not ideal, but I got to ski. Plus the company was spot on, so all was good.

Emily, Jen, View Out My Window and Kevin

First Road Trip of 2012

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:01:21 +0000

After a hectic and busy finish to the year I thought it would be a wise idea to take a short week break from work. Some might sit at home and relax for that week but that just isn’t my style. Instead I took a week long fully packed road trip starting from Los Angeles. The first stop was to Tempe, AZ where I met up with my good friend Janet and her boyfriend Jordan, amazing and extremely hospitable people. Stayed in Arizona for the evening then it was off to Albuquerque, New Mexico for some time with family. This stop included, buffalo steak, a 25 year old bottle of Glenlivet, a day of skiing, and who could forget the night shared with purple spandex and Johnny Walker. Next stop on the list was Colorado. Here I met up with some old friends and then tagged alone with my brother on the slopes. After a day of skiing fortunately no one got hurt, at least that day, but I had to be heading on back to Los Angeles. It was a beautiful and relaxing drive home until I hit LA traffic, but it was all worth it. Another adventure for the books, 3,000 plus miles in the car and 6 days of pure smiles.

Utah sunset on the drive back home

Kiitos, Finland & Estonia

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:51:55 +0000

I’m back, and have moved two countries from my need to go there list to the I need to visit again list. It was a quick short off season trip but it was amazing nonetheless. This whole trip was spearheaded by my good friends Aimee and Tuomas. Tuomas originally from Finland, took his lovely bride on his business trip to Helsinki. This meant during the day poor Aimee would be wandering the streets of Finland alone. I couldn’t let this happen, so when Aimee asked me to accompany them to Helsinki I jumped at the opportunity. Plus it would allow me to see Johanna and Heikki again whom I had meet the pervious year at Aimee and Tuomas’ wedding.

The visit started by Aimee taking me to the open air market in the Port of Helsinki, where we started the day with a couple delicious crepes, and Salmon soup. I had never had salmon soup before, and if you haven’t you’re missing out. Later that night Aimee, Johanna, Tuomas, Heikki and myself took in a Finnish hockey game, boy was that a treat. The sporting atmosphere in Finnish hockey is completely different than that in the States, people are constantly cheering and chanting, there were cheerleaders in all the aisles, and the rink almost looked odd to me with the lack of flashy advertisements, which made it more about the game. Also, there is no alcohol allowed at your seat. This meant that in between periods instead of everyone rushing to use the restroom everyone was rushing to the bar in the lobby for a pint. The home team HIFK won in a shoot out, which made the atmosphere even better. What a way to start the trip.

I was in Finland for only five short days the first part of which I stayed with Aimee and Toumas in Helsinki the other part in Espoo at Johanna and Heikki’s house. During the rest of my stay Aimee and I went to Suomenlinna, an old island fortress complete with cobblestone roads and stone walls around most of the boarder. Even though it was cold windy and raining we managed to have an amazing time exploring the island, and at times danced in the rain. I took the train into Helsinki from Espoo and toured around the city until Johanna meet me for happy hour. Johanna, Heikki, and I took a cruise over to All-Linn, Estonia for a day with. All-Linn, or Lower Town, is one of the best preserved old towns in Europe. It looked like something out of an excellent period piece. While there we had dinner and drinks, I had bear meat for the first time, another delicious treat.

This trip just scratched my wander lust for a bit, wetting my appetite for what I hope will be another visit. I learned that a week is not nearly enough time to fully experience another country but the duration I was there is the only thing I would change about this trip. I thank all of those who helped make the trip possible especially Aimee, Toumas, Johanna, and Heikki for letting my stay with them and putting up with me for as long as they did.

Viru Gate All-Linn, Estonina ~ Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland ~ Street Art in All-Linn, Estonia

Suomenlinna in Helsinki ~ Port of Helsinki

Market Square ~ Market Hall

Zuma Solo

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:15:02 +0000

I had the day off and thought it would be a great opportunity to try out a new hike. Since it was such a warm day I narrowed the options to hikes in the Santa Monica Mountain, since they are closer to the cost they are usually cooler than the inland hikes. After looking through some guides I decided that Zuma Canyon was the trail for me, with an estimated hike time of 6 hours and a difficulty rating of 4 out of 5. I arrived at the trailhead just after noon because traffic was horrible and it took me two and a half hours to get to the trailhead. After hiking for about an hour and a half I came to the section where the trail ends. Normally I would be all gung-ho about this part of the trail. However, I was hiking solo and because of the traffic I had got a much later start. So after hiking in for another half hour I thought, A) What is something were to happen? I wouldn’t have the back up of another person, and B) I didn’t what to be finding my way back in the dark. So after weighing the risks I thought it best to head back, and finish the hike another day with a friend. Later that evening my roommate arrived home surprised to see me watching the boob-tube, he thought I would have still be hiking. We had a quick debate on wether we should go for a run or head to the pool hall, in which the pool hall won by a landslide. Even though I didn’t get to finish the hike and traffic was horrible it still turned out to be a pretty fantastic day.

Plants along the edge of the trail, Trail Marker.

Roots, Rock, just missing the reggae. Me at the beginning of the trail.

Jason racking them up, Jason 8 ball corner pocket.

Peacock Flats

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:21:05 +0000

On Larbor Day I was invited to go hiking with two friends, Bridget and Lauren, down in Rancho Palos Verdes. This was to be my first hike in the area and it was a grand adventure. The day was clear, sunny, and hot, might be an understatement, especially for the costly partition if Southern California. Never the less we headed out, with Beast my friend’s dog, and tackled the hills of Peacock Flats, stopping to take pictures, enjoy the shade, or to pick up Beast when he decided he didn’t want to go any farther. It was an enjoyable hike that had some spectacular views. Afterwards we went to get some frozen yogurt then to watch a movie which was a great way to come down and relax after the long hike.

A weathered pine, Lauren and Beast enjoying the view.

Portuguese Bend, Catalina Island

Colors of the Night

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:46:26 +0000

“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” – Vincent Van Gogh

After a very long week of work, this weekend was all about relaxing. Started the weekend by shooting some pool on Friday night, nothing too exciting just a calm chill night. Saturday during the day I caught up on all the choirs I had been putting off. In the evening we set out for the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, for Cinespia‘s showing of Edward Scissor Hands, the purple night sky was beautiful. It set a perfect pre-show treat to enjoy our picnic style dinner to. Sunday evening my roommate told me to step outside and take a look at the world coming to an end. When I took his advice and stepped out the door the sky brilliant, bright vibrant colors that appeared to be painted in the sky by a master painter. The western skies had rich oranges, reds, and pinks yet the eastern skies were a stark contract in colors with its vibrant blues and pinks. At one point there was even a rainbow in the easter sky. A beautiful, peaceful, yet lively moment that I am glad I did not miss.

Sunset at Hollywood Forever just before Edward Scissor Hands started 3rd September 2011.

The western skies, and eastern skies both at sunset 4th September 2011.

Dancing with the Sun

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:18:14 +0000

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about the little things… I play with the leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.” a quote by Leo F Buscaglia. This quote resonated strong within when I read it. Because it truly is the little things that get me through rough time, or even turn a good time into a great one. Take for instance the photo in this post noting spectacular but it was taken this evening during a hike after a frustrating day. The way the grass was dancing with the warm setting sun, and the calming nature of my hike melted the frustrations of the day away. Another example happened recently, I was having a great week, work was going smoothly, I got to catch up with an old friend, and was looking forward to a barbeque for another friend’s birthday. The morning of the barbeque I woke up for work and received a picture of a friend on the other coast, who had fallen upon some rough times. The picture was of him and a gift that I had sent. He had a child sized smile from ear to ear, after seeing this nothing could get me down. I will continue to run with the little things and enjoy every moment.

I Almost Died at Tar Creek

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:32:50 +0000

One of my good friends, Jason Oppliger, and fellow wanderer recently moved to Los Angeles. He suggested that we go up to Fillmore, Ca for the weekend to hike at Tar Creek. Me enjoying the outdoors as much as I do, and in desperate need of a good wander jumped to the opportunity. Plus it would give me a chance to test out the new underwater housing I got for my point and shoot. Jason phoned one of our mutual friends in Ventura to see if we could stay the night with them, to be closer to the trail and not have to get up at 3am. Kaitlyn and Sam being the amazing people they are graciously allowed us to stay the night. Thank you again you guys. The adventure began after I got off work on Friday night. I got home packed, then Jason and I grabbed a slice of pizza at the Garage and finished it in the car on our way. Got to our gracious guess’ house sat around chatting and catching up well into the night. We woke up early in the morning, got some last minute previsions and head out. It was the first adventure at Tar Creek for both of us and we were not sure if we took the right trail head, but after a couple backtracks we reached the the upper pools. These cliffs were between 10 and 20 feet high depending on which of the two you were jumping into and from which side. The first pool also had a natural water slide which wasn’t too bad but not quit the rush of throwing yourself off a cliff. We met some great kindred sprits in the fellow cliff jumpers, a big thank you to Ray. While we were enjoying ourselves in the upper pools he told me we should head down stream about 45 minutes to the 70 foot cliff. I thought 70 that’s not too bad, 45 minutes later I was slightly changing my mind. However, after about 15 minutes of checking out the cliff I decided to go for it. As soon as I left the edge I looked down, my first thought was I should have jumped farther out. Then time stood still, it felt like I was frozen in mid-air for a second or two. When the illusion of time finally snapped back with vengeance, it was in fast-forward, the next few seconds were a blur. What I do remember is, hitting the water, going under and swimming up to the surface, so full of adrenaline that I couldn’t form any sort of words so I simply let out a lively cheer. Which was much to Jason’s relief. I decided that escaping death once in a day is enough and we headed back. That evening we grabbed some CPK and some frozen yogurt at the mall with Kaitlyn and Sam. Then headed back to their place to watch O’ Brother Where Art Thou. Needless to say this was a unforgettable adventure that would not have happened if it were not for the amazing people around me. Here’s to all of you, cheers.

Taking a break and breathing it all in, Jason rounding the corner.

Jason at the base of the 2nd pool, Me after the 70 foot jump.

The canyon and pool of the 70 foot fall.

Tar Creek – Fillmore, Ca from Brian Lipps on Vimeo.

A weekend trip up to Tar Creek for a hike and some cliff jumping, which later became known as “The Day I Almost Died”.

Howdy Folks

Brian Lipps (Admin) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:13:49 +0000

For the past few weeks Jen has been trying to plan a horseback tour. Well, this afternoon our schedules finally allowed us to take the journey, to Sunset Ranch Hollywood. The weather was pretty close to perfect a warm sunny Southern California day. I haven’t been on a horse for years, so I was kind of glad they were only trail horses. However, my over zealous nature would have liked to gallop a bit and not have to wear the silly riding helmets. Our guide Pancho took us on a tour that wound its way through Griffith Park near the Hollywood sign offering up some great views of the Los Angeles Basin. Riding was a nice change of pace, and part of a relaxing Sunday, which also included a trip to the cinema and some acoustic guitar at the apartment.

The best framing I could get of Sherlock while riding.