Little Miss Sunshine in CA, Pt. 2

Day 2 of Little Miss Sunshine’s CA trip began at the Lafayette Hotel in North Park. We met Christy’s bed-jumping bestie (Marlene) there for breakfast. How they looked when they first met in 2014 at the Chateau Marmont:



12 years later and they’re ready for the next adventure, this time at Beginner’s Diner. Marlene is all about the boozy milkshakes!



The obligatory group selfie with the breakfast bounty:



Since Christy had never been to the Lafayette before, we gave her the grand tour.



I still have yet to swim in this pool.



The 1961 Showalter Fountain on the Indiana University campus was a frequent spot for us to pose, as in this circa 1994 photo:



One of our post-midnight visits to the Fountain included a Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction. Yes, it can happen!



32 years later, Christy still has the urge:



Christy and I bid Marlene “adieu” and then drove to Los Angeles for another big adventure. Literally.



I finally made the trek to the film location used in “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985). While the house is a different color now, it still looked the same. Just without all the tchotchkes.



My outfit was an homage to Pee Wee.



I brought along my NECA action figure for a photo. The next best thing to Pee Wee himself.





Next up: The Buxton Mansion, where Pee Wee confronted Francis on the theft of his precious bike.



How it looks today. The commentary track says that they used a wide-angle lens to make it look bigger; even taking that into consideration, there have obviously been a lot of renovations to the property since 1985.



The next stop was the Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard. This time it was room 67, one I hadn’t stayed in before!



Always a warm welcome.



While I took my obligatory photos of the room, Christy hung out on the balcony and called her mom.



Once done, I joined Christy and took some shots of Monteel Road below from the balcony.



When I tried to get back in, I realized that the latch on the inside had fallen back into place, locking us out of the room. Oops! I tried everything I could to get back in but to no avail.



Christy got a good laugh out of this one. “Why don’t you just call the front desk?” she asked. “Because I don’t want to look stupid,” I replied. Still on the phone, her mom shot back, “Well, ya’ kinda’ are already!” Sad but true! I called the front desk and they were up in a jiffy and all was well. No, I won’t tell you what they said when I asked, “Has this ever happened before?”



Two Christys for the price of one!



We had a view of the pool below, so we headed down for a quick bite and beverage before our evening event began.



Nothing like a Garden Gimlet to take away the embarrassment of being locked out on the balcony. The Chateau’s burger and fries are second to none.



A quick change of clothes and then it was off to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown LA:



As President of the James Dean Museum in Fairmount, Christy had been invited out for the L.A. Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats showing of “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955).



We’ll just leave you here at the entrance until the next installment!



See more of my photography at my main website.

The Lafayette at Christmas, 2025 edition

NO place in San Diego decorates for Christmas like the Lafayette Hotel and Club on El Cajon Boulevard. Just take a look at this festively lit grand entrance!



El Cajon Boulevard used to be known as the red light district; thanks to the Lafayette, it can be labeled as the red AND green district.



Two nutcrackers greet you as you enter the premises, wearing the signature purple garb of the hotel:



Inside, an explosion of lights, trees, garland, and ornaments signal the holidays:



This little alcove, which is slated to eventually be a gift shop, is where Santa Claus makes his appearance and lets you sit on his lap. I guess my 6am visit was too early for him.



Atlas at the bar now has to bear the weight of a Christmas tree in addition to his usual globe.



A blowup Frosty the Snowman watches over the proceedings at the pool:



Even the pool floaties are themed for the holiday:



The pool bar looks magical with the lights on:



If you’re into Instagram opportunities, the Lafayette (like any Consortium Holdings property) abounds with them. A sleigh at the pool is ready for your next pose:



…and this sleigh outside the Gutter:



Beginner’s Diner was mild in its decor; just some garland strewn around the booths:



The buckwheat pancakes were devoured quickly:



If you are thinking about checking out the decor at the Lafayette, don’t expect it to be empty like my photos; that would require a 6am arrival time. By 9am, you will be swatting off others with the same goal like flies.
 
See more Lafayette Hotel and Club in San Diego photos at my main website.

The Art Bungalow at the Lafayette

On the last Friday of each month, I typically attend the Creative Mornings breakfast lecture. Mashonda Tifrere, artist advocate, singer, curator, and writer, spoke at the October event and I was deeply impressed by her poise, grace, and support/participation in the arts. She also talked briefly about her book, Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family, which describes the journey of co-parenting with her ex. Rarely an easy situation to navigate. When I thanked her for her talk, she suggested I attend The Art Bungalow event at the Lafayette Hotel, put on by Art Genesis, which presents unique opportunities for emerging artists committed to advancing the culture. Art? The Lafayette? Say no more. I was there, with camera in tow. Held in Bungalow 191, it was an experience well worth leaving the comfort of my couch for!



Featuring the works of 15 international artists with music curated by DJ Tokyo Rose, it was a unique way to present art. Since it’s renovation a few years back, The Lafayette has become a beacon for creatives impressed with the artistic details that are sprinkled throughout the historic property.



Inside the two-story bungalow, paintings and photographs were hung, almost blending into the background of the already heavily decorated suite.



This piece was probably my favorite.



The one drawback was that the art too often blended into the background of the busy walls, or was not easily accessible to view because of where it was hung. The piece below is a prime example. The harsh light of the sconce next to it did it no favors.



The Lafayette itself already has a number of accessories and fixtures that one could call art.



It was a bit difficult to ascertain what belonged to the exhibit and what was a permanent part of the bungalow.



This serpent carpet is something every home should have!



Overall, it was a more than worthwhile experience. The bungalow was jam-packed with attendees and the energy was all positive. I hope this is something that continues there on a regular basis.



On another note, how did we skip November and already slide in to the Christmas holiday season?



See more Lafayette Hotel in San Diego photos at my main website.