It’s actually a French bakery, but it’s owned and run by no-nonsense Argentinian women. The Grand Casino is a sta(ple of main street; they provide yet another damn fine reason to drink your coffee in Culver City. Family owned and operated businesses abound here, each one with a distinct flair and feel. The Grand Casino’s desserts and confections are irresistible, as is their mochas made with some sort of Argentinean choco crack. They make nice sandwiches, too.
3826 Main Street, Culver City
Goda Yoga opened in downtown Culver City in the fall of 2000. They offered an introductory weekend workshop that intrigued my partner enough to sign up and I joined her. The women who own the studio ran the workshop and though I went primarily to support my spouse, I was gobsmacked with how much I enjoyed the practice. We went to classes three times a week and formed a deep friendship with one of the teachers. It was through yoga that I began to understand that I could participate in a physically challenging activity that had nothing to do with the person on a mat next to me, that competing with others was futile since we have different bodies, different habits, different lives. While my time on the mat expanded the space between joints, elongated tight muscles, and connected my conscious mind to parts of my body that had been on autopilot my whole life; the biggest change I experienced was with my relationship to my body. Comparison and competition were stopping me from being a physical person. The crippling fear of coming in dead last, or looking stupid while trying something new, or not being good at something had stopped me from trying. Yoga changed everything for me. I was very lucky to find a teacher who led a secular practice with a rigorous focus on forging connections between the mind and body. She knew her anatomy, was unafraid of a challenge, and would only praise me for showing up – regardless of results. There are a wide variety of classes in this neighborhood studio. The two co-owners met via Anna Forrest’s teacher training, but both have evolved their own practice as teachers and studio owners. If you are looking for a wonderful studio committed to its students and community, I highly recommend GODA Yoga.
(310) 287-1255, 9711 Washington Blvd, Culver City
The El Segundo dog park is a long, narrow park that has plenty of room to throw balls with your Chuckit while watching jets take off and land at LAX. The quality of the El Segundo dog park has dwindled over the years. Upkeep has been lax (lax – LAX, hah!) so the grass has been chewed down to the rock underneath. My pitbull tends to tear up her paws pretty badly because she has no off switch, even when her feet are bleeding. Pitbulls were bred partly for their pain tolerance, and it can be difficult to check her feet when all she wants is to PLEASE THROW THE BALL AGAIN! My greyhound can lap the whole park in five seconds, but that has more to do with the fact she’s an ex-racing greyhound than the size of the park. Weekends are more busy than weekends, obviously, and your pooch doesn’t need to have an El Segundo dog license to enjoy the park. Clean up after your dog, and visit the doggie wash (whose name escapes me – review coming) just down the street afterwards.
E Imperial Avenue & McCarthy Court, El Segundo
25 yards wide, 50 meters long. Lap lanes from 6:45am to 8:45am, classes for everyone from under 6 swimmers to adults like myself. Two weeks of classes, five days a week, half an hour long, were $45 as a Culver City resident. How much do I LOVE the Culver, baby?! 2007 is my triathlon training year, culminating in my first event, the L.A. Triathlon on September 9th. I’m a strong recreational swimmer but needed to learn the front crawl/freestyle for the official races. The classes at the CCP were cheap, taught by friendly staff, and always fun. I’m an odd duck; I enjoy doing things that are new, strange, and difficult. I can run dozens of miles, bike forever, but swimming is an incredible workout that requires stamina, coordination, and a relaxed but steady form. The instructors at the CCP have been great in getting me ready, quickly, for my triathlon! Entry is $3 per visit, you can also get a frequent multi-day pass. Full lockable lockers, bike rack in the front, and working hot water showers for both sexes.
(310) 253-6680, 4175 Overland Ave, Culver City
Cheebo was an odd choice at first. The day-glo orange paint on the outside and initial hippie-dippy menu initially made me want to turn around and head for a burger. But Cheebo is actually outstanding food and a great place for a weekend brunch. My eye doctor and my favorite clothing store, DNA, is just down the road, so I find myself at Cheebo with the wife more often. Their brisketwich is awesome, espcially plated without bread. Since going on a diet I’ve excised bread almost entirely, so it’s always nice to see menus who can plate their food without fuss. Cheebo also now stands as the best latte I’ve had since getting back from Greece.
(323) 850-7070, 7533 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
Culver City Dog Park
The Boneyard was a long time coming. We donated funds early on to get it going and now we try and take our two dogs at least once a week for socializing and general activity. There’s enough room to run around, but little shade. In summer it gets very hot and you should watch your dog’s feet to make sure they’re not getting chewed up on the grounds. It’s very dusty so you’ll probably want to hose down your pooch afterwards. The closest dog wash I can think of is the Dogromat down Venice Blvd, assuming you don’t have a house and hose yourself. If I had my druthers I’d have more shady spots for humans and dogs to cool off, but I guess I’ll have to cough up some more scratch to make that happen! Please note, new dog licensing requirements go into effect July of 2007. Since Culver City (like Santa Monica and Beverly Hills) is its own incorporated city, they can impose restrictions like this to both curb interlopers without vaccinations as well as generate revenue that goes back into city parks and services. Please register your dog!
Duquesne, north of Jefferson Blvd, Culver City