Avoiding Regret

Home
United States
Costa Mesa, CA
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!"

09/08/2026

The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round has been closed for repairs since 2022. Here's a detailed look at the carousel from a recent open house https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/09/photo-essay-griffith-park-merry-go.html

08/22/2026

You guys I've been really busy finishing up the book I've been writing for The Los Angeles Breakfast Club — and I'm thrilled to announce that the club historian and my partner-in-book and I will be appearing at Resort-O-Rama in October to introduce new folks to The Democracy of Ham and Eggs and share some fun mid-century stories and images!

08/08/2026

The world is watching as Jackie the bald eagle remains in critical condition under the care of Ojai Raptor Center. Here's a look behind the scenes at the rehab facility, which I visited in 2018: https://www.avoidingregret.com/2018/11/photo-essay-ojai-raptor-center-open.html

07/24/2026

A quick but pretty thorough walk-through of Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara during the local theatre organ society's open console event https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/07/photo-essay-rare-pipe-organ-hides.html

07/23/2026

I've driven past the Cinerama Dome so many times since it closed in 2020, hoping to spot some signs of life. Now, after a passionate preservation campaign by Save the Cinerama Dome, Sony Pictures has announced that its subsidiary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will reopen it in 2028. Here's my blog post from 2018: https://www.avoidingregret.com/2018/04/the-dome-on-sunset-boulevard-that-makes.html

07/16/2026

The San Diego Padres play at a ballpark that was built around an existing brick building from 1909—and it's fantastic. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/07/photo-essay-petco-park-home-run-for-san.html

07/08/2026

Every carousel has its own unique little story. This one was a touring carnival ride that was built in New York and spent years in storage in Oregon before arriving to Long Beach over 20 years ago. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/07/photo-essay-riding-every-carousel-long.html

07/06/2026

I took a boat cruise to see the fireworks over The Queen Mary in Long Beach https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/07/photo-essay-celebrating-americas-250th.html

07/04/2026

Happy 4th! Did you know there's a shrine to Abraham Lincoln in Southern California? https://www.avoidingregret.com/2022/04/photo-essay-only-museum-devoted-to.html

06/26/2026

A century-old elevator you need a key to ride! Streamline Moderne! A thrilling climax to one of my favorite movies! This pocket behind the Hollywood Bowl has it all. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/06/photo-essay-riding-elevator-to.html

Address

3333 Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA
92626

Website

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wGInYUZ, http://www.avoidingregret.com/, https://bio.link/avoidingregret, https://www.labre

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Avoiding Regret posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed Photography Service in Costa Mesa?