Palos Verdes: Wayfarer's Chapel

This church. Is. Amazing. I love the simplicity of it and how it frames the nature surrounding it so beautifully. Wayfarer's Chapel, also known to me as the "glass church," was dedicated in 1951. Sponsored by the Swedenborgian Church, it was designed by Lloyd Wright – son of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright – and is unusual because it is made almost entirely of glass. Wright was actually inspired by the redwood trees in northern California and how they formed a cathedral-like formation.

Lloyd Wright found himself in complete accord with the positive outlook of the Swedenborgian Church and its emphasis on harmony between God's natural world and the inner world of mind and spirit.

The site also includes a visitor's center that explains the history of the building, and also the theology of the church. Or you can find out more on their website.

Whether you think of this as a "tree chapel," the "glass church," or by it's official name – Wayfarer's Chapel – stop by here as you drive through Palos Verdes and take a moment to appreciate this church, the gardens, and the surrounding scenery.

Santa Monica: Camera Obscura

Kind of random, but I think this is now one of my favorite things Los Angeles has to offer. Possibly because out of my whole life living here and being in Santa Monica quite a bit, I've only heard about it recently, and therefore it seems to me this sort of visibly hidden wonderful treasure if that makes any sense.

The Camera Obscura is visibly located on Ocean Ave. near Santa Monica Pier. But it's also easy to miss. Aside from the very cool sign on the outside of the building, there isn't much that makes it known. The building itself is actually used as an adult/senior activities center, and you have to ask the lady at the window for a key to the Camera Obscura – almost like it's a secret code name.

Once you've got the key, and enter in, the Camera Obscura shows itself as a dark square-ish room with a white table in the middle and a hole at the top. The hole acts as a portal where light comes through and has mirrors that reflect images outside 360 degrees to show on the white table. It was built in 1898 by Robert F. Jones and was originally located on the beach.

Monthly Inspiration: March

When I asked my Grandma what her favorite quote is, she didn't understand what a quote was (she's Italian). So after explaining a little, she thought about it and said, "I like to walk."

It's not exactly the kind of "quote" I was looking for, but I love it because it's simple. And it's completely from her.