It feels like the SCGS Jamboree started two days ago, but the official opening isn’t until midday today. This morning is filled with tours, meet-ups and workshops; yesterday was a packed crowd for the Genii Writers’ Conference, and Wednesday was the L.A. Drive-By Tour for a few out-of-town bloggers.
The fun really started Wednesday morning when Donna Pointkouski, Past is Prologue, and Lisa Alzo, The Accidental Genealogist arrived from a week touring San Francisco and Napa with bloggers Kathryn Doyle and Steve Danko. Within the hour, we were joined by Sheri Fenley, The Educated Genealogist, and later in the day added footnoteMaven to the group.
Like all good travelers, we started with LUNCH! First stop was Philippe’s, Famous French Dip Sandwich in downtown Los Angeles. I have been going to Philippe’s since I was a little girl; it’s my dad’s favorite lunch spot. The atmosphere is all about casual: sawdust on the floor, big long tables, and tasty perfect roast beef (or turkey, pork, or lamb) on a fresh French roll. You never know who will be sitting next to you perched on a little stool sipping 10 cent coffee; it could be the Mayor, a movie star, or a mommy with two little kids.
Alas, we did not see any movie stars, so on to Hollywood…
The tour guide (me) took a circuitous route to show the sights of the downtown Los Angeles: Union Station, Olvera Street, the Library, Our Lady of Angels Cathedral, and Staples Center. Then on to Hollywood, via the back streets where, someone (yes, it was Sheri) spied “something” hanging in a little shop that we just HAD to have. This resulted in a shopping detour and giant score. I won’t spoil the fun by telling you what we bought — more to come later!
When we finally arrived at Hollywood and Vine, the sun was beginning to peep through the gloom, and the stars were out. Well, the starts were on the sidewalk. We missed Donna’s favorite, Gene Kelly, but did get an eyeful of Hollywood tourists and hot spots. No movie star sightings, so it was on to Rodeo Drive…
Beautiful stores, beautiful streets, beautiful people. What more can we say. Everyone bought coffee at Starbuck’s. It’s the same price in Beverly Hills as everywhere else, an affordable treat.
Back to Burbank for a quick freshen-up before dinner… then to Pasadena for dining al fresco (ok, ok, they brought out the patio heater) at our favorite Mexican restaurant.
And that was only, the PRE-Jamboree day!
Denise Dahling,
Please send photos from this most wonderful day. You were the hostess with the mostess and I cannot thank you enough!
XXXOOO
Denise,
You all had too much fun, but Thank You for sharing.
Russ
And we did the Rose Parade route and practiced the Queen's wave! We got it, baby we got it. Thanks, Denise. Great guide job. New career?
-fM