WHEN WE CONSIDER THE CULTURE WE WANT, WE MUST BRING JOY TO IT.
I’VE UNEARTHED A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS ON MY ROUTE 66 RESEARCH. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I’VE READ DOZENS OF BOOKS, LISTENED TO COUNTLESS PODCASTS, SCOURED YOUTUBE, AND EVEN WATCHED THE ROCKFORD FILES. IT’S FELT LIKE A ROAD TRIP THROUGH TIME, FILLED WITH MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY AND JOY.
I FIRST ENCOUNTERED CLOWNARINA DURING A VENICE ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE BIKE RIDE, AND IT’S NOW WHERE I GO TO GET ANY SHOTS I NEED, WHICH IS SO TYPICAL OF THIS PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE IS PECULIAR MOVIE STAR LORE ON EVERY STREET. (I’M LOOKING AT YOU, NORTH ITALIA!)
THAT LED ME TO WATCH THE SANTA MONICA CANON, STARTING WITH THE GRAPES OF WRATH AND ENDING WITH JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS. (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)
CAN YOU IMAGINE I WAS BESIDE MYSELF WHEN I CAME ACROSS A PHOTO OF HER, HEAVY BANGS AND HAIR DOWN TO HER ASS - AMERICAN FLAG BLOWING IN THE WIND - FROM HER TIME LIVING IN SANTA MONICA, WHILE CRUISING THROUGH THE SANTA MONICA HISTORY MUSEUM ARCHIVE.
FOR ME, ROUTE 66 MEANS CARS. I GREW UP WITH PARENTS WHO WATCHED THE BLACK-AND-WHITE TV SHOW OF THE SAME NAME, AND A FATHER WHO STILL REGULARLY TAKES HOME TROPHIES AT VINTAGE CAR SHOWS. IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY COUSIN DROVE US TO THE BEACH IN HIS ‘65 CHERRY-RED MUSTANG.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT SANTA MONICA BLVD. I THINK OF GROWING UP, DRIVING FROM PORTLAND TO THE OREGON COAST ALONG SUNSET HIGHWAY. OF IT BEING COLD AF, BUT WE WENT ANYHOW. AND OF THE OBLIGATORY ICE CREAM CONE WE GOT AT THE 50’S-STYLE DRIVE-THROUGH ON THE WAY HOME.
I OFTEN MISS A MORE COLORFUL TIME OF THE PAST. WHERE PEOPLE WEREN’T SO AFRAID OF USING IT. AND THE SIMPLICITY OF ENJOYING A SUNSET.
WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AMPLIFY, AND CELEBRATE EXPERIENCES THAT UNITE OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, I HOPE YOU SEE WHAT I SEE: ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT’S TO COME, A NOD TO THE PAST, AND A TOWN FULL OF REALLY COOL FOLKS THAT ENJOY A GOOD BUZZ AND HAVIN FUN ON SANTA MONICA BLVD.
