Newport Beach- Balboa Island

I went to a small section of Newport Beach called Balboa Island on the recommendation of a coworker. It is in Orange County about an hour north of where I live. "Balboa" must be Spanish for "Multi-Millionaire" because I'm pretty sure it's a requirement to live there.

The neighborhoods had small streets filled with relatively small but well-kept cottages. It was odd to me that they all had a northeast, Cape Cod feel to them and not any So. Cal. adobe houses. It makes this town very unique for California.






Small canals ran through parts of the neighborhood and every house had it's own dock, many with yachts or at least a sailboat and kayak.










This particular street was full of college pride. Almost every house had some sort of college flag outside, and they were all for different schools.



There is a main street when you first enter the island that is full of cute little shops.



This one is for Kelly V. and Lil' Jake.








There is another section of the island that can only be accessed by ferry.
















Some random photos....

July 4th Weekend in LA - Hollyhock House - Part 4 of 4

As an architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright fan, I made a trip to the Hollyhock House in Hollywood. I got a tour, but they don't allow people to take pictures of inside the house.



















I think Frank Lloyd Wright would approve, don't you?



This was another building on the property.











The view from around the house. Recognize anything?


The Griffith Observatory





The story behind the Hollyhock House is pretty interesting. It was commissioned by an oil heiress around the 1920's. It was originally on about 34 acres in the middle of Hollywood right before LA became the movie capital over New York. They have sold some of the perimeter land since.
For more info on the Hollyhock house visit the website here.