Venice Sign lit by Matthew Modine with Al Jardine performing

The annual Venice sign lighting with holiday colors took place this evening on Windward Avenue just across Pacific from the actual sign.

The party started at 6 with musical performances by among others, the Kenneth Brian Band and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine performing hits like “Help me Rhonda”, “Surfin USA” and “Barbara Ann” among others.

Al Jardine with the Kenneth Brian band at the sign lighting
Al Jardine with the Kenneth Brian band at the sign lighting
Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine
Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine
Kenneth Brian from the Kenneth Brian band
Kenneth Brian from the Kenneth Brian band
A view of the snowflakes projected on the "Mao's kitchen' wall
A view of the snowflakes projected on the “Mao’s kitchen’ wall
Al Jardine
Al Jardine
Al Jardine receives an award from the City of Los Angeles
Al Jardine receives an award from the City of Los Angeles
Councilman Mike boning hands the microphone to local actor Matthew Modine for the sign lighting ceremony
Councilman Mike Bonin hands the microphone to local actor Matthew Modine for the sign lighting ceremony

The Sign lighting ceremony this year was handled by local movie star Matthew Modine, who did an excellent job flicking the switch to turn the lights on.

Matthew Modine is getting ready to light the sign
Matthew Modine is getting ready to light the sign
Venice sign is lit in Holiday Colors once again
Venice sign is lit in Holiday Colors once again
A look at the crowd and the lit sign
A look at the crowd and the lit sign
More Holiday Cheers from Venice, the Christmas lights are up on Grand Canal
More Holiday Cheers from Venice, the Christmas lights are up on Grand Canal

Electric Bug in Venice

Futuristic looking VW spotted on Windward this morning
Futuristic looking VW spotted on Windward this morning

This morning there were a few futuristic looking cool Volkswagen’s spotted on Windward Avenue in Venice California. It looked like a shoot for a commercial and in particular one of the cars looked “electric”. It turns out these cars were introduced as concept cars at the Paris Motor Show in 2016, which was held October 1 – 16 at the Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France . The top car is a VW Concept ID car, here is a link to the VW UK site that has more information. These autos can be seen in person at the LA Auto show Friday December 1 – 10 2017. More info about, and tickets for the LA Auto show here.

VW Concept ID sedan from the front
VW Concept ID sedan from the front
The hip surfers dream...
The hip surfers dream…

You can certainly hit the waves at the Venice breaker in style showing up in this VW!

A total of three VW autos were spotted on Windward Avenue
A total of three VW autos were spotted on Windward Avenue – all in the new ID concept series of Electrical Vehicles..
A Red sedan that is assumed to be another new VW seen closer
A Red sedan that is assumed to be another new VW seen closer – it is actually a VW ID Crozz, another EV concept car from VW.
The three amigos VW's seen with the famous venice sign in the background
Two of the three VW’s seen with the famous Venice sign in the background

Surf’s up in Venice

Surf in B&W looking North towards Santa Monica from the Venice breakwater.
Surf in B&W looking North towards Santa Monica from the Venice breakwater.

We have been having a week or more with pretty good surf in Venice, currently as much as 8′ breakers. The surfers love it of course, and they come out every morning to enjoy the big waves full out. Add the fact that the weather has been unseasonably balmy, and it is all set up for some awesome times out there!

View towards the Venice Pier from just North of the pier.
View towards the Venice Pier from just North of the pier.
Breakwater splash.
Breakwater splash.
Sunset over Venice.
Sunset over Venice.

Hyde park and the Fish

Round Pond in Hyde Park
Round Pond in Hyde Park

Hyde Park is London’s great oasis. People come to walk their dogs, ride their horses, sit on the benches, watch the birds, walk around, run around, ski around, ride their bike around, smell the flowers, listen to the birds  – and to Fish! Hyde Park came to be in 1536 when Henry VIII took the land from Westminster Abbey to use it as his private hunting grounds. Hyde Park was opened to the public in 1637 and has been immensely popular ever since.

Fox of Hyde Park
Fox of Hyde Park

There are wild animals apart from birds in Hyde Park, and these guys are not hunted anymore…

Horse riding in Hyde Park
Horse riding in Hyde Park
Skiers are out in Hyde park to perfect their cross country skiing before the season starts.
Skiers are out in Hyde park to perfect their cross country skiing before the season starts.
Kensington palace
Kensington palace

Kensington Palace has a number of apartments in it and it is the current home of, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate as well as William’s brother prince Harry. Both William and Harry grew up in the palace as it was the home of their parents Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife Diana Princess of Wales. After their parents divorced Kensington palace continued to be the home of their mother, the beloved princess Diana, until her death in 1997.

Princess Diana memorial Gardens at Kensington Palace.
Princess Diana memorial Gardens at Kensington Palace.
Walkway around the Princess Diana memorial Gardens.
Walkway around the Princess Diana memorial Gardens.
Statue of Queen Victoria outside of Kensington Palace which was her childhood home.
Statue of Queen Victoria outside of Kensington Palace which was her childhood home.
A fisherman at the one spot at the Serpentine where fishing is allowed.
A fisherman at the one spot at the Serpentine where fishing is allowed.

The fisherman has cast far out towards a small island in the Serpentine lake. It looks like he might have a bite

Typha Angustifolia, a.k.a. Narrowleaf cattail growing at the edge of the Serpentine.
Typha Angustifolia, a.k.a. Narrowleaf cattail growing at the edge of the Serpentine.
Anne Andrews bench in Hude Park.
Anne Andrews bench in Hude Park.

The inscription reads: “ANNE ANDREWS WHO ENJOYED VISITING THE GARDENS”. We have not been able to find any information on memorial benches in the Royal parks, however donated memorial benches can currently be installed in the City of Westminster owned parks, more info here.

Fall colors are slowly beginning to appear in the park.
Fall colors are slowly beginning to appear in the park.
Another fascinating tree in the park, Araucaria-araucana, or the Monkey puzzle tree.
Another fascinating tree in the park, Araucaria-araucana, or the Monkey puzzle tree.
The park is filled with memorials of different types, here is one memorial to the Cavalry.
The park is filled with memorials of different types, here is one memorial to the Cavalry.
Yes, the fisherman had a bite, here the fish is inb the b=net and about to be hauled out of the lake.
Yes, the fisherman had a bite, here the fish is in the net and about to be hauled out of the lake.
Fish is out of the lake and resting in the fish bed.
Fish is out of the lake and resting in the fish bed.
Closeup of the fish, a good sized Carp.
Closeup of the fish, a good sized Carp.