Avoiding Regret

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Avoiding Regret

The personal blog of writer and photographer Sandi Hemmerlein, author of "The Los Angeles Breakfast Club: A Century of Hollywood, Hi-Jinks, and Ham & Eggs!"

06/02/2026

Yet another turn of the knife — The Beverly Hilton not only demolished its original Trader Vic's in 2007 and closed the poolside version of it in 2017, but now it's demolished the entire pool area. See my story about the pool and a view of the current construction here: https://www.avoidingregret.com/2020/08/dwelling-on-lost-tropical-paradise-of.html

06/01/2026

Why lie down on the hard floor when you can have an entire queen-sized bed all to yourself? Here's my experience of taking a sound bath at Mattress Central.
https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/06/an-after-hours-sound-bath-among.html

05/27/2026

New developments afoot at the historic Harvey House restaurant space in Union Station Los Angeles! Welcome Everywhere, open now. (See links in comments for some background info.)

05/21/2026

Horse ceremonies have been happening at The Los Angeles Breakfast Club for 100 years. Here's the latest one https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/05/griffith-park-ranger-horses-partake-in.html

05/19/2026

Over 100 new puppets were designed and fabricated for Bob Baker Marionette Theater's first entirely new puppet show in over 40 years, Choo Choo R***e. Here's a report from opening weekend https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/05/photo-essay-bob-baker-marionettes-choo.html

05/17/2026

I'll admit I'm glad that so much of the Bernie's stuff has been removed from Johnie's Coffee Shop, which recently opened up as a pop-up gallery coinciding with the grand opening of the D line. Here's a look back at what it looked like 10 years ago as "Bernie's Coffee Shop" https://www.avoidingregret.com/2016/05/photo-essay-hollywood-diner-campaigns.html

05/15/2026

The new Metro Los Angeles D line extension stations in Miracle Mile and Beverly Hills are destinations unto themselves! https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/05/photo-essay-riding-d-or-bringing-d-to.html

05/07/2026

The Bollman House by Lloyd Wright has had dozens of owners since 1922. The current ones are hoping to bring back some original features, like the characteristic textile blocks on the exterior. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/05/photo-essay-lloyd-wrights-legacy-lives.html

05/04/2026

Mountain Oaks and the ruins of the former Verdugo Lodge were annexed by the city of Glendale in the 1950s, but the property has been kind of in limbo for decades. Now, the MRCA/L.A. Mountains has acquired some of it to conserve it as publicly accessible open space for years to come. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2014/05/photo-essay-mountain-oaks-resort.html

04/30/2026

It was a long four years—but Historic Woolworth's luncheonette in Bakersfield indeed did reopen! Here's my report.
https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/04/photo-essay-promise-keptwoolworths-is.html

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3333 Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA
92626

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