One Final Take: The Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 on YouTube

Great Los Angeles Walker Dru writes:

Just wanted to say thanks. This was my first time doing the walk and I really enjoyed it. It was lots of fun. I can't wait to do it next year!

I put together a video of the walk that I would like to share with you... Unfortunately the camera battery started running low around mile 4... Next year I'll be better prepared. Hope you like it.

It's pretty cool to see people give their take on how they heard about the race -- and why they're doing it.

Thanks again to everyone who participated! We'll see you next year -- as usual, the Saturday before Thanksgiving: Nov. 21, 2009.

GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2008: 18.3 Miles Later, We Did It!

And you thought we were all crazy! We did it, we hiked 18.3 miles from Union Station to the ocean on a beautiful Southern California Saturday.

For the third annual Great Los Angeles Walk, I chose the longest course yet. And yet we attracted the biggest crowd yet too.

Approximately 150 of us (some say more, some say less, several of us settled at the 150 estimate) gathered early in the day (some had been up super early, parking in Santa Monica and then taking the bus out east) for the event. We started at Union Station at 9 in the morning, and after a quick detour through Olvera Street, made it on to Cesar Chavez Blvd. From there, Cesar Chavez quickly turned into Sunset, and we hiked on, through Echo Park, past Dodger Stadium and on to Silver Lake.

At Sunset Junction, we peeled off onto the start of Santa Monica Blvd. We continued, onward past the Hollywood Freeway (and the former Hollywood Star Lanes site, RIP), and into Hollywood. We scored some free water from the Jackson Hewitt tax prep company, walked past Hollywood Forever cemetery, and into West Hollywood. Groups broke for lunch at several Weho spots... and many of us reconvened right at the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills border at 2 p.m.

From there, we walked the dirt sidewalk of Bev Hills (apparently they're resurfacing the bike path) and made it to the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire (home to the first walk in 2006!). Several of us walked into the old Trader Vic's restaurant at the Beverly Hilton, where an auction was taking place -- the famed Pickford estate. Furniture, clothes, photos... some reasonably priced (including a menu from a 1930 William Randolph Hearst dinner!). Onward, we passed by Century City and the Mormon temple... and then under the 405, and soon, as we hit Santa Monica, we began to feel the cool ocean breeze.

Santa Monica is always a snap, as the numbered streets help count down to the finish line.

Here's the crazy part: Some walkers sprinted so fast, they got to the finish by 3:15 (I worry that they didn't get a real sense of the route, having sped by so fast!) The bulk of us, including me, got to the end between 5 and 5:30 -- still faster than last year, when we walked 2.5 miles less, yet got there at the same time. (We were pacing around 20 minutes a mile -- check out my Great LA Walk Twitter feed to see.)

A handful of walkers did it right: They got to the end at around 6:30, having taken their time to explore sites along the way. Whatever the pace, most made it to the Britannia Pub after all to toast their feat. And rest their feet.

I've uploaded a ton of photos at our Flickr group site: www.flickr.com/groups/greatlawalk. If you were on the walk, feel free to add your pics to the group as well!

And please send me the web addresses to your blog posts and photo collections, we'll post all the links here, for easy access.

PHOTO STREAMS:


:: Check out the Franklin Avenue shots here.


:: Anthony's got some great shots here.


:: The Atwater Village Newbies' shots here, and blog post here.


:: Scott Lowe of Tropico Station fame has some pics here, and a post on the day here.


:: Will Campbell's shots here.


:: Pamela "Meekorouse" put her pics here.


:: Jeremy Miles ("Beautiful Freaks") took these shots. He blogs about the adventure here.


:: Sean "Ztainment"'s shots are here.


:: El Daybeh's shots are here.


:: Follow Raul's pics here. He also recaps the day at his blog here. Raul's crew also gets points for being most creative -- re-enacting the number for each mile marker (above, they do "8"s for mile 8 -- Martel).


:: Sha in LA's shots are here.


:: Melanie's pics are here.


:: See Todd's shots here. Todd has his blog recap here. He definitely took full advantage of modern technology with the walk!


:: David Johnson's shots can be found here.


::LA_OC_Foodie has put his pics here.


:: Abby Phoenix has posted her pics here.


:: Pics here by Miss Martini.


:: Three-time Walker WALT! has his pics here.


:: Caroline on Crack's pics are here, and her blog post here.

:: Scott's shots are here. These are some of Maria's faves; Scott has a good eye of details that a lot of us missed!

:: Justin Canada's pics are here.

:: Joni, the Accidental Yogist, has her recap here.

:: Frenchy But Chic's blog post is here.

Now, some of my shots from this year's event:


Part of the crowd gathers in the Union Station courtyard


Signing in


I brief the crowd


Eric Lynxwiler opens with a pep talk


On our way


Leaving Union Station


Passing through Olvera Street


Crossing the 110


It's Dodger country


Guava for sale


Sounds good to me...


The friendly nun (photo by Anthony)


Super Barack!


Cool old neon sign


Andrea models one of the spiffy Great Los Angeles walk t-shirts -- still available at Cafe Press.


The Beautification Team has its work cut out for it


Jimi!


Jackson Hewitt tax folks pass out water


Ask for "Rico"


Hamburglar?


Will Campbell has a message for one of those LAPD spy cameras.


We were tempted, but ultimately decided a Formosa pit stop would steer us off course.


Required Great L.A. Walk wear (photo by Anthony)


Excited to be at the Beverly Hills border


Heading back out for the afternoon portion of the walk -- only 8 miles to go!


Beverly Hills City Hall (photo by Anthony)


R.I.P., Trader Vic's! (photo by Anthony)


Live webcast hosts monitor the Pickford auction at the old Trader Vic's. Sad to see the old bar, now empty!


Autographed Mary Pickford photo at the auction


Hey, yo, that's cheating! (Don't worry, he promises via the comments that he did, indeed, retrace his steps!)


Stereotypes 'R' Us


Scott fixes his feet


Historic Route 66


Walking to the finish line


One of the several groups to hit the finish line


Sunset at the end

The Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 Happens Tomorrow!

The Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 takes place tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.! For those of you walking, a reminder: You that you should make sure you have a transportation plan in place, so you're not stranded after walking all day!

I've heard from several of you, and it seems like a consensus is brewing that the best option for those of you without anyone picking you up is to PARK IN THE MORNING in Santa Monica, and take the bus all the way to Union Station BEFORE the walk. (That way, your car is waiting for you when it's all done.)

Veteran walker Joni was the first to give this tip:

For those choosing to leave their cars at the end of the walk route (or for those who live in Santa Monica like I do), the Big Blue Bus #10 is a freeway flyer that goes from Santa Monica and 4th (near the Britannia Pub, our after party location) to Downtown's Union Station.

It runs less often than the 704, but it gets there much faster:

http://bigbluebus.com/busroutes/schedule.asp?bus_route=10&dayofweek=saturday.

The 7:17 am bus arrives at 8 am, 7:47 am at 8:30 am, and 8:17 am at 9:03 am; one-way fare is $1.75. (I would strongly suggest taking that 7:17 am bus so you're not late... if you arrive early, you can always have breakfast while waiting for the walk to begin.)

The #10 makes a number of stops along Santa Monica Blvd before it hops on the freeway at bundy, so you don't have to drive all the way to the Promenade to catch it (and you can always catch the big blue #1 to get back to where you left your car from the after-walk party).

GOOD ADVICE, JONI! Thanks.

For those of you who nonetheless decide to park at Union Station, that Big Blue Bus #10 heads back to Union Station from 4th & Santa Monica at 5:44 pm, 6:15 pm, and 7:16 pm (the last trip of the evening), each scheduled to take about 55 minutes.

ESCAPE ROUTE: Along the route, if you're exhausted and want to take the bus either to Santa Monica or Union Station, you've got a couple of bus or rail options (thanks to David for this info):

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/704.pdf
The 704 Metro Rapid line runs eastbound from 2nd & SM Blvd in Santa Monica to Union Station but last Saturday bus leaves at 7:01pm and takes 80 minutes.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/004.pdf
The #4 regular line runs eastbound every 15-20 minutes from 2nd & SM Blvd in Santa Monica to Metro Rail stations at Vermont and Civic Center downtown. The Red Line subway terminates at Union Station.


I'll be updating mile by mile, as well as when we stop and start, take breaks, etc. at www.twitter.com/greatlawalk.

Here are a few more people who plan to Twitter:

twitter.com/justin_canada
twitter.com/meekorouse
twitter.com/la_oc_foodie
twitter.com/maxually
twitter.com/drtiki
twitter.com/neverlost
twitter.com/anotorias
twitter.com/nay63
twitter.com/melanieo
twitter.com/zentertainment
twitter.com/jc_losangeles
twitter.com/Carolineoncrack
twitter.com/wildbell


If you plan to, let me know, so I can compile a master list.

Meanwhile, we'll see you on Saturday! The crowd will be gathering in the courtyard outside (on the right of the main hall, if you're facing the entrance) of Union Station. We'll then head through Olvera Street and make our way to Cesar Chavez... and we're off!

Two Days Until the Great Los Angeles Walk 2008!

We're just two days away from our annual urban hike! If you haven't yet, please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions, located here.

A few notes:

-- Several of you have inquired about transportation back to Union Station. Unfortunately, we didn't get enough interest early on in renting a bus, so everyone's pretty much on their own to find a way back home -- either via the Metro Rapid bus (which heads back to Union Station straight back on Santa Monica Blvd.) or via a friend or family member. Here's a piece of advice: Last year, several walkers parked in Santa Monica at around 7 a.m. and then took the bus EAST in order to get to the starting line. Traffic's light that time of morning, so the bus ride is relatively quick. And that way, when you arrive in Santa Monica, your car is waiting for you.

-- The Great Los Angeles Walk is open to everyone, and people can do as much or as little walking as they want, at the pace they choose. If you're interested in joining along the way, you can keep up with our progress via Twitter. I'll be updating, and I'm sure others will be too. Be sure to check updates throughout the day at

www.twitter.com/greatlawalk.

I'll be updating our progress at every mile. ALSO, if you're on the walk, you'll be able to keep up with where everyone is (just in case you fall behind, or somehow pace far ahead of us). You'll especially want to keep track of when we're stopping for lunch, etc.

BTW, if you plan on Twittering the walk, let me know -- I'll include your Twitter address in our final email, so others can follow your progress as well.

-- We'll be making a handful of stops on the walk: Once at the intersection of Santa Monica and Sunset, once in West Hollywood for lunch, and potentially a few others. That way we'll be able to bunch back up and eventually arrive at the end of the walk as close together as possible.

-- Speaking of lunch: When we do break, walkers will choose where they want to eat on their own (we'll make sure to break close to several eating options, at the west end of West Hollywood). We'll break for at least an hour, then pick up the walk where we left off.

-- In case you haven't seen, the afterparty will be held at Britannia Pub in Santa Monica. They're expecting us around 6 p.m.

-- Don't forget the basics: Water, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, cell phone, and of course, a camera to document your walk! If you don't have a Great LA Walk T-shirt, no worries; but try to wear a white T-shirt -- if we're all in white shirts, it will more easily identify us.

Any more questions, feel free to email. We'll see you Saturday morning at 9!

Great Los Angeles Walk's Afterparty to Be Held At Santa Monica's Britannia Pub

(Pic via the Los Angeles Times.)

Thanks to the fine people at Yelp, we've found a spot to celebrate on Saturday!

After our 18 mile hike down Santa Monica Blvd. (and more), we'll be heading over to Britannia Pub for our afterparty.

We'll probably make it to the ocean by 6 p.m., and then we'll head to the Britannia, where we've reserved the upper floor.

See you all on Saturday!

Great Los Angeles 2008 FAQ

Last chance to get your Great Los Angeles Walk T-shirt in order to wear it while hiking on Nov. 22! Several different T-shirt styles available, all with the cool logo designed by Maria. We're not making a dime off these things; the prices you see are exactly what Cafe Press charges. Check out our Cafe Press site to order.

Now, the Walk FAQ:

1. WHEN/WHERE? Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 -- the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We're meeting at Union Station; people will start to gather in the front of the historic train station in the 8 a.m. hour. Just look for the crowd of people who look like they're about to embark on an urban hike. We leave at 9 a.m. sharp.

2. WHO? We're expecting over 100 hikers this year. We're still taking RSVPs at franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com... but we'll take anyone who shows up too!

3. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? C'mon, it's completely free! But you're on your own when it comes to lunch, dinner, water, etc. So don't forget to plan accordingly.

4. WHAT'S THE PATH? From Union Station, we'll hike down Cesar Chavez, which turns into Sunset. Near Sunset Junction, we'll switch over to Santa Monica Blvd. After that, it's Santa Monica all the way to the ocean.

5. WHAT IF I CAN'T GET THERE THAT EARLY, OR DON'T WANT TO START THAT FAR EAST? Just wait for us somewhere on the path and join in once we pass by. Several hikers will likely be Twittering as well; if you're interested in sending Tweets throughout the day, let us know.

6. HOW LONG IS THE HIKE? 18 miles. That's two miles more than last year's; but we're also hiking down a much more lively (and, dare I say, pedestrian-friendly) route this year.

7. WHEN WILL WE GET TO THE END? With so many hikers, people will eventually start to space out. Faster walkers will get to the end sometime after 5; others will get there closer to 6. We'll stop midway for lunch, likely in West Hollywood.

8. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WALK IS DONE? We'll take a group photo at the ocean... and then celebrate at Britannia Pub in Santa Monica. The fine folks at Yelp are helping us throw the party; you'll want to at least stop by for a special souvenir that's being planned.

9. HOW DO I GET HOME? Last year, we arranged for a bus to take stranded walkers back downtown -- but didn't get enough takers. We'll throw it out again this year: The bus costs $300 -- and we need to hear from enough people to make it worthwhile (and make sense cost-wise). I figure we'd need at least 10 people (at $30 a pop) to make it reasonable. If you want to join in, email franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com by Friday.

But as Great Los Angeles Walk vet Will Campbell notes, MTA's No. 704 line runs regularly from 2nd and Santa Monica Blvd all the way to Vignes and Cesar Chavez beside Union Station. That obviously would be a lot cheaper... and would also make your return a little more flexible (allowing you the chance to stay longer at the after party).

10. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR/BRING? Loose, comfy clothing. I'd wear shorts, a t-shirt and then bring a jacket -- it gets chilly in Santa Monica. Also, tennis shoes... sunglasses... a hat... sunscreen... extra socks... a blister kit (optional, of course -- I haven't brought one, although Band-Aids are a good idea)... and most importantly, a camera! We'll all be documenting it and posting pics later.

11. HOW SHOULD I TRAIN FOR THIS? It's not a marathon, so training isn't really necessary. I suppose you should walk around your neighborhood in the days before hand... but I'd avoid any big gym routine the day before, so you're not sore the day you're hiking. But other than that... I didn't train at all for the last two walks, and came out just fine.

12. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Why not? There's no special reason, no charity, no protest, no issue we're promoting -- other than a passion for Los Angeles. In 2006, I organized our walk down Wilshire to mark my 10th anniversary in Los Angeles. But it was so much fun, and it was a chance to meet so many new people, that we did it again last year, down Pico. It's the Saturday before Thanksgiving as well, so somehow I don't feel as bad gorging on sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie a few days later. And hey, it'll be a cool conversation piece at your holiday party.

Update: Shirts, Facebook and Lunch/Afterparty Recommendations

The response has been great so far -- I'm expecting the biggest turn out yet for our third annual Great Los Angeles Walk. There's still plenty of time to join in -- just email us to let us know you're coming!

To answer the two most frequently asked questions: Is it free? Of course. And is this a fundraiser of some sorts? Nope. The only cause here is "just 'cause." We walk because we love Los Angeles, and there's no better way to see the city up close than on foot, along with other fellow Angelenos.

Now, two notes:

-- Time's running out to order a shirt, if you want to wear it during the walk. According to Cafe Press, it takes 7-9 business days for the shirts to arrive via the cheapest shipping method. Check out our Franklin Avenue Cafe Press store to order. Again, we don't make any money off these; as a matter of fact, we're doing this through Cafe Press so that we don't have to deal with money, period.

-- Our Facebook event page is up. Feel free to head over there and join the list.

-- We're taking recommendations (or even better, looking for eateries that might be willing to partner with us) on where to hold the after party in Santa Monica, and where to gather for lunch in West Hollywood. Suggestions? Email or comment below.