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!"

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

06/22/2026

LACMA's inaugural Art Parade was a beautiful chaos! Here are some photos that didn't make it into my blog post (which you can read here https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/06/photo-essay-lacma-parades-down-wilshire.html )

06/15/2026

What planet did this Schindler house come from? https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/06/photo-essay-schindlers-outer-space.html

06/12/2026

This 1943 Army pool was closed for 20 years, suffering deterioration and vandalism. But now it's open to all — and has one of the best views you'll find at a public pool in LA. https://www.avoidingregret.com/2026/06/swimming-like-rookie-at-fort-macarthur.html

06/10/2026

I love getting permission to go where I'm not supposed to https://www.avoidingregret.com/2015/05/photo-essay-landmark-clubhouse-for.html

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3333 Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA
92626

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

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