Steven Taylor on Remembering Los Angeles’ Black Mamba

Steven Taylor understands that it is now two days after the 2nd anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s unfortunate accident. However, one must understand that writing about the memories of someone who inspired not just Steven Taylor, but perhaps everyone in Los Angeles can stir up quite a mixture of emotions. It’s a concoction of nostalgia, happiness, and sadness towards the untimely passing of Los Angeles’ legendary Black Mamba.

Steven Taylor remembers it like it was yesterday. We were all just going about our daily lives. It was a beautiful morning as we recall, that one fateful January 26, 2020. Just as Steven Taylor and the family are about to have breakfast, the news finally hit the boob tube; Kobe Bryant, legendary Los Angeles Lakers player, his daughter Gianna, and several other passengers died in an accident after their helicopter crashed. 

That moment felt so unreal. To think that this 41-year-old Lakers veteran would suddenly say his goodbyes to everyone who loved and idolized him dearly. Steven Taylor would always look upon Kobe Bryant as a shining example of hard work and dedication. This man values hard work above all and it certainly made him very popular among LA Lakers fans. One of LA Laker’s best shooting guards and an admirable human being, he spent 20 of the best years of his life doing what he loved best. 

His time as an NBA player was certainly the best time of the Lakers. He made history as one of the best basketball players of all time, but that certainly didn’t get into his head. He practiced, he perfected his gameplay, and he won the admiration of not just his colleagues, but even with the normal, everyday people he encountered. When one visits LA and asks anyone about Kobe Bryant, almost anyone has a story to tell about their encounter with the famous NBA veteran.

Even today, two years later after the unfortunate accident, Kobe Bryant is still well-remembered. He still lives on in the memories of everyone who loved him dearly. Legendary Lakers veteran and general manager Jerry West spoke of his “shock and sadness” when he learned of Kobe Bryant’s passing during an interview. One can also remember the visible sadness displayed by his friends when they heard the news; Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan gave such tearjerking interviews that the audience can clearly remember the pain and the loss they felt.

Black Mamba’s greatness will never fade. It will never die, thanks to the fans who remember the great man all too well. 2 years after his death, a fan built a sculpture of Kobe and his daughter and placed it on the site of the helicopter crash. One can see countless murals on the streets of Los Angeles, in which Steven Taylor also dedicated a mural in honor of the legendary player.

Again, thank you for the great game of life, Black Mamba. Los Angeles will never forget you.

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on February 1, 2022.

Steven Taylor on the Best Apps to Use while Exploring LA

Steven Taylor believes in the power of technology. Not only does it make lives more comfortable, but it also gives people the ability to do things that are not quite possible in the past. Take, for example, exploring a huge city on their own. 

In the past, tourists visiting Los Angeles have two options when exploring the city. The first option is to get the services of a tour agency while the other option is to bring a map while exploring. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. One would have to pay for the tour, but you go along with a crowd, and it’s easier to navigate a big city like Los Angeles when touring with a bunch of people. Having a handy map is the cheaper option, but one can hardly identify the right city or alley without familiarizing the entire area. And that can take a week or two.

Now here is where technology helps out people. With mobile applications available, it is now very easy to access roads and establishments because one is provided with the exact location and/or description of the place that people want to go to. Even Steven Taylor takes advantage of these applications just because Los Angeles is an ever-changing city. It is always busy and people are always on the go. And these apps are so easy to use; all it takes is a solid Internet connection and a compatible phone!

So for tourists who are having a hard time exploring Los Angeles, here are the best mobile applications that Steven Taylor recommends:

Modern Hiker

For the tourist who loves to go hiking, then this is the perfect mobile app. Modern Hiker highlights the best and safe areas to go hiking while you are staying in Los Angeles. They have a library of images featuring full trail guides that helps users find the best place for a great hike. 

Lyft

Los Angeles is notorious when it comes to traffic and passenger congestion. Steven Taylor always has issues riding public transportation simply because there are always too many people! Fortunately, there are many mobile apps that can help people in getting a quick ride in LA. Lyft happens to be one of those great apps. When using the app, it matches you to a local driver near your area, picks you up, and drives you to your destination. Easy!

LAX

For those who don’t want to miss their flight while in Los Angeles, LAX has it covered for you. Because the app is in sync with every flight detail in the Los Angeles International Airport, you have an updated screen full of domestic and international flight schedules loaded on your mobile phone’s screen. Never be late for your next flight again!

Steven Taylor on the Top 5 Things Not to Do While in Los Angeles

If Steven Taylor remembers correctly, he may have already written an article about the top things to do while in Los Angeles. It’s not surprising to remember that article well because it was a very fun article to write about. However, it’s also good to mix this article up a bit. Instead of another article talking about the funs and joys of Los Angeles, this time, Steven Taylor is going to write about the top five things anyone should not do while in Los Angeles.

LA is a fun city to live in. It is truly one of the best places to visit among tourists. But of course, just like with any other big city, Los Angeles also has places and certain activities and attractions that don’t come highly recommended.

Now before anyone reacts, Steven Taylor wants to make it clear that this article is not meant to shame or ridicule anyone or any place or business with this article. It’s also important for everyone to know that this article is for educational purposes only. The aim of this article is not to make fun of the selection of activities or venues listed below, but to give everyone Steven Taylor’s honest opinion on why those said activities or attractions are not as popular compared to the others in the city.

And now, with that out of the way, it is time to look at the top 5 things not to do while in Los Angeles!

Going to the Sunset Strip during the day

During the daytime, Sunset Strip is just another area where it’s filled to the brim with regular cafes and shops. There’s nothing really exciting going on in the area in the morning. Steven Taylor recommends visiting Sunset Strip at night because this is the time of the day where the area’s beauty shines up, thanks to the city lights and the attractions in the area.

Relying on Public Transportation

There is absolutely nothing wrong with saving a few hundred dollars in one’s wallet by not renting a vehicle or using Uber. In fact, it’s a very common thing to do nowadays. Except that one doesn’t rely on LA’s public transportation. Los Angeles is one of the most notorious cities when it comes to heavy traffic, so Steven Taylor recommends visitors to bring their own cars or, when possible, rent a vehicle. This will make visiting LA so much easier and more enjoyable!

Walking the Venice Beach Boardwalk during the Weekend

The Venice Beach Boardwalk looks absolutely lovely during the day. Except for when the whole area is jampacked with people. So if one is allergic to crowds, do stay away from the Venice Beach Boardwalk during the weekend. 

Jaywalking

When visiting Los Angeles, the worst thing a visitor or tourist can do while in the city is jaywalk. LA has the most efficient, if not the strictest, police force in the United States. If one is feeling lucky, one can probably get away with just a warning, but most of the time, jaywalkers often get an expensive fine. Even celebrities wouldn’t want to mess with the police.

Gawking at Celebrities

Los Angeles is, of course, home to a multitude of celebrities coming all the way from Hollywood. So expect to see a famous actor or actress while shopping in the downtown area or while just relaxing on a public beach. That said, avoid harassing or pestering these people for autographs or selfies; these are also regular people who are enjoying their well-deserved rest!

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on January 20, 2022.

Steven Taylor on Surviving a Rainy Day in LA

Just a few months ago, Steven Taylor remembers how hot it was in LA. Everyone was doing everything they could to cool down. That was back in November. When December came, however, everyone was very surprised when the cold weather suddenly rushed in from out of nowhere. Now everyone in LA is scrambling to buy cold weather clothes and umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain.

One could ask if this weather is normal in Los Angeles. Steven Taylor believes that this is normal weather. According to weather experts, the hot weather in Los Angeles “...starts from late June to early July and ends in September or October” - Wikipedia, Climate of Los Angeles. It is during the last few months of the year when the summer monsoon thunderstorms start appearing. The surprise, though, is that nobody in Los Angeles expected the heavy rains to last for weeks.

If one looks at the local news nowadays, the weather forecast is all about moderate to heavy rains for all of Southern California. Steven Taylor is always on the lookout for weather reports because if one is caught in a heavy downpour, health consequences are sure to follow. So if one is like Steven Taylor, concerned always for the health and well-being of family and friends, here is some good advice on how to survive the rainy days in Los Angeles:

Online Shopping is Available - Need to buy something important? Does one’s refrigerator need restocking? It’s time to open your mobile phone or computer for some online shopping. Applications found in mobile phones allow the user to choose and buy groceries, food, and other important items online. It’s also easy to pay for these items too, thanks to online bank transactions. Sure, there’s the small delivery charge, but that’s a small price to pay compared to walking outside in the rain!

Plan your Trips - Absolutely need to go out? Book a cab or an Uber driver for convenience. There is no need for a person to go out and get drenched under the heavy rain. If you have your own vehicle, plan your route and always make sure to dress in the proper attire for the rainy days. If you need to use a heavy coat because one feels very uncomfortable because of the cold, then do so.

Checking the Water Heater - Since it’s going to be a very cold December until the New Year, it’s always recommended to get the water heaters checked in one’s apartment or own home. Steven Taylor always makes it a point to check the heaters in the apartments in preparation for the cold weather. Besides, this is way cheaper compared to calling the service crew when the heater dies. Not only is it going to be expensive, but it’ll also be a chilly and uncomfortable experience too!

Steven Taylor on How to Cope with LA Traffic

It’s December. It’s the season of the holidays. It’s also the season that Steven Taylor fears the most when it comes to driving in LA’s streets and highways. With the holiday season coming in, there will be more vehicles due to everyone who will be busy preparing for Christmas dinner and doing some holiday shopping.

Now, is Los Angeles traffic that bad? Well, Steven Taylor says it’s indeed bad. Among all cities in Southern California, LA takes the cake when it comes to traffic. According to one article, the City of Angels “...has a congestion level of 45 percent, while San Francisco comes in at 39 percent.” - San Gabriel Valley Tribune. While everyone in the city is already using bikes and public transportation, using cars and other vehicles as a means of transportation in the city is by far the easiest way to get around LA. And this is especially true if you’re a tourist.

So how does one cope with LA traffic? Fortunately for you, Steven Taylor knows his way around vehicles and LA traffic. Here are some of his easy-to-follow advice on how to deal with heavy LA traffic.

Just Deal with It

The first piece of advice Steven Taylor has for all motorists in LA today is to just accept the fact that the city is plagued with traffic problems. In fact, all of the biggest cities in the world are always prone to traffic problems. Road congestion “...is a growing problem and it is primarily due to ongoing urbanization and population growth.” - U.S News on the World’s Most Congested Cities.

The earlier you admit this to yourselves, the better you’d be at peace while driving on the road. Steven Taylor has encountered many friends who used to road rage every time they encounter heavy traffic. However, when they realized that they really couldn’t do anything about it, they all calmed down and just thought of ways how to survive the ordeal!

Turn off the Radio

Are you surprised by this advice? Even Steven Taylor is also surprised when a good friend told him to stop listening to music on the radio when facing heavy traffic. In fact, cut off all distractions. Turn off the phone and shift your attention to the road in front instead. This will give you focus while driving, which will help you get out of the traffic jam faster and help you avoid committing driving mistakes too.

Plan Ahead

Knowing when and where you’re going with your vehicle can also help you in dealing with the heavy LA traffic. For shorter distances, try using commuting or even walking to the destination. If one needs to drive a vehicle, Steven Taylor suggests scheduling the drive during a time when traffic congestion is not at its peak. It’s really easier to drive when there are only a few cars on the road.

Originally published at http://steventaylorlandlord.wordpress.com on January 8, 2022.

Steven Taylor on the Unique Historical Facts about Los Angeles

Steven Taylor’s love for Los Angeles knows no bounds. Of course, that love is tested time and again through fun trivia nights together with the family. The kids would usually ask questions about Steven Taylor’s knowledge in this great city of California. 

Steven Taylor, proudly born and raised here in Los Angeles, would regale them with my secret knowledge. But of course, a human being can’t know everything and there will always come a time where a person also has to do some research to learn new things. So when the kids suddenly asked about the original name for Los Angeles, Steven Taylor broke into a cold sweat. For the first time, Steven Taylor had no idea so the only option is to search for the answer online.

While reading up about the origins of Los Angeles, Steven Taylor also found other interesting and unique historical facts about Los Angeles. 

LA was once known as “EPDNSRDLASERP”

Steven Taylor is not kidding. Back when Los Angeles was founded, it wasn’t called Los Angeles from the get-go. Instead, the founding fathers of LA named the place “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Ángeles Sobre el Río Porciúncula” during its founding in 1781. 

The name was so strange that the Los Angeles Times wrote an article about the whole event.

Apart from the long name, the article also asserts its other name: “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reyna de los Angeles. - LA Times” 

LA’s Hollywood sign originally said HOLLYWOODLAND

It’s unimaginable to recognize Los Angeles without its famous HOLLYWOOD sign. In the past, however, the sign actually spelled a different name. Instead of Hollywood, the sign actually read “HOLLYWOODLAND”. The sign was built in 1923 as part of what was a marketing stunt to advertise a “segregated housing development - Fodor” It was only in 1949 when the LAND part was taken down. 

Steven Taylor imagines the whole housing development marketing campaign must’ve worked then.

The film industry moved to LA when Thomas Edison hounded them for the patents

When the film industry started, it was Thomas Edison who was poised to reap the rewards. And as history would have it about this particular man, he was known to be very demanding, especially when it came to intellectual property rights and his business style. 

With his patent on the kinetograph, which is essentially the world’s first camera, Edison hounded filmmakers, demanding that every movie made from the device he patented should go through him first. 

Filmmakers, of course, who didn’t want to pay Thomas Edison, left the East Coast to find an area suitable for making movies and far away to escape Edison’s clutches.

They found the perfect land; Hollywood. A once backward area that was bought by Harvey and Daeida Wilcox in 1886 and was being developed as a fig farm. When that didn’t materialize, the couple eventually divided and sold the property.

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on January 6, 2022.

Steven Taylor on the coming Holiday Season in LA: Will it Be Merry and Bright?

At the time of writing this article, Steven Taylor will realize that December really is just around the corner! And when December comes, that familiar holiday season is also sure to come next too! 

 Steven Taylor is excited about the upcoming holidays. Truly, December really is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s because, during these months, Los Angeles shines up like a diamond especially under the night sky. It’s the time of the year where parks are decorated with outdoor Christmas trees and sparling outdoor lights. 

 

It’s not just the parks that will be shining throughout the night; even Steven Taylor’s neighborhood will also be decorating their homes, in anticipation of the coming holiday season.  

 

Steven Taylor’s heart is indeed filled with excitement, but it is also filled with worry. That’s because not everyone is going to enjoy a merry and bright holiday season.  

 

The current pandemic has left many homes devastated with the loss of lives and the loss of jobs. The economy is currently recovering, but as long as the pandemic continues to threaten everyone, businesses in LA remain on edge. You also have the tired front liners; the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who are giving it their all, sacrificing their precious hours to make sure that those who got the disease are given the best of care. 

 

This is why Steven Taylor believes that even with all the anxiety, the scare, and the economic pressure that everyone in LA is experiencing, there is still hope. Hope that everyone in Steven Taylor’s community will get through this pandemic with bright smiles on their faces. Steven Taylor and his family are doing what they can to help and support their local community and make sure that everyone has the means to get through this time of hardship and anxiety.  

 

And it’s not just Steven Taylor who is giving back to the LA community; numerous business owners are also giving back to LA with whatever they can spare or muster. The local government is also doing its best by pushing for everyone in the community to get vaccinated and by helping the families of medical front liners through incentives. All in all, the whole city of Los Angeles is filled with hope, thanks to wonderful people who are willing to help each other out, all in the name of community and love. 

 

And with that, Steven Taylor still believes that this year’s holiday season in LA will still be merry and bright!