![\"buildings\"](\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/buildings.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Spellbound by the urban environment, my first shot was taken in Studio City.<\/p>\n<\/a>Nearby,\u00a0The Annenberg Space for Photography<\/em> was showing a major exhibit by Franz Lanting, one of my favorite photographers.<\/p>\n<\/a>With\u00a0so much to see, we took in a few attractions, beginning with the Griffith Observatory. Hiking trails are all around the property.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The exhibits inside were stunning, interactive and free. The Big Picture<\/em> of the universe is 20 feet high and\u00a0152\u00a0feet long, while the bronze statue of Einstein is a hit\u00a0with visitors.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0Perched high on the mountain, I could see for miles.<\/p>\nTourists lined up to have their pictures taken with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop.<\/p>\n<\/a>The overview of LA from the Getty Museum was also impressive, the art exhibits spectacular. You could spend countless hours there.<\/p>\n<\/a>The San Diego Freeway passes next to the Getty, through Sepulvida Pass and the Santa Monica Mountains.<\/p>\n<\/a>Little Tokyo was beautiful at night, especially with the lure of Japanese restaurants.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I found the sushi irresistible.<\/p>\n<\/a>My cousin John, invited us out to Wonder Valley in the desert next to Joshua Tree. The feeling there was one of awe, inspiration and isolation.<\/p>\n<\/a>John’s Baja Bug was a lot of fun off the road.<\/p>\n<\/a>Some of the desert rats even showed up.<\/p>\n<\/a>Ray loves to cook and prepared delectable tacos on his portable grill.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We had a Superbowl party at John’s desert cabin, with crystal clear reception on an outside TV under a crystal clear sky.<\/p>\n<\/a>The highlight of the trip was visiting Mission Street in South Pasadena. It still has a small town feeling, much like when I was little.<\/p>\n<\/a>My grandfather William, opened the Square Deal Barbershop<\/em> on Mission Street in 1924. He worked there the rest of his life, passing it on to his son, my Uncle Eddie. Likewise, Eddie continued to cut hair the rest of his career, leaving it to his son John, who now leases it to another barber. The old photograph of Eddie and grandpa was likely taken in the forties.<\/p>\nToday the barbershop is called Reedy’s,\u00a0<\/em>and still has a clean, welcoming appearance.<\/p>\n<\/a>Inside we met barber Steve Reedy with Frank Reader, a regular customer and talented lead singer for the popular Scottish band, Trashcan Sinatras<\/em>. \u00a0It was wonderful to see Steve carry on the tradition of cutting hair in that very same spot. And to think grandpa gave me my first haircut right there. Can you imagine the conversations in that building over the past 92 years?<\/p>\n