Those police cars that appear to sit empty alongside the highway for long periods? The officer is just catching a long nap in the back seat.
The original name of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce was the Malibu Business Men’s Association. Seems the women didn’t have one. That was in 1948 but by 1950, it had become the C of C.
Before the post office took its place in the Colony Plaza, the first tenant there was Euphoria Records. Remember Malibu’s local record store? Before that location, Euphoria was in the Malibu Country Mart. Originally, they were in the building that became PierView Restaurant.
There was once a lighthouse in Pacific Palisades, between Temescal and West Channel Road. It was located just east of the current lifeguard headquarters, practically across the street from the hot spot nightclub, Sunspot, also now gone.
PCH was first known as Route 60 when it opened to the public on June 29, 1929, then later U.S. Alternate 101. Now, if you don’t know, it is state Highway 1.
Imagine Heathercliff Road in 1970. The new shopping center had just opened but there was nothing on the left/east side of the road. None of the three office buildings. No condos. Next to the market, on the uphill side there was some open space to the apartment building. Dume Drive had no condos at the Heathercliff intersection and only vacant lots running up the street until the first house on the right.
In 1964, the first year Malibu voted to become a city, there were 37 candidates for City Council, though 10 opposed city hood and prevailed. In 1976, in cityhood attempt number two, 24 candidates entered, another defeat. When cityhood won with an overwhelming majority in the 1990 vote, 33 citizens ran for City Council.
You want to know the main difference between living in Malibu and living in most other places in the world? Here, when you have a bad day and/or feel depressed about something, there is a beautiful beach nearby to renew your spirits-and a beach walk always brings new perspective. For example, during your next bad time, I urge you to go to the Point Dume Headlands Park. If you are lucky enough to find one of the 10 parking spots open, park and walk to the edge of the bluff and down the stairway to the gorgeous half mile beach between Big and Little Dume (and once known as Pirate’s Cove and the nude beach). Have you ever been there? You need to go again. Spectacular any time of day, any time of year!
What are you in Malibu for? Visit the beach!
Incidentally, it is ridiculous they don’t pave over a little more of the Point Dume Headlands Reserve to allow more cars and visitors to such an amazing place. People get slighted in favor of weeds these days with our whacko-environmental governmental agencies. The California Coastal Commission should change its name to Commission that Hates Innocent Malibu People (CHIMP).
The Sierra Club should be renamed Sierra Club that Hates Reasonable Innocent Malibu People. The 20-year process that the Forges’ have endured against regulators and environmentalists to get their property built into a simple bed-and-breakfast is the most egregious violation against individual liberty in Malibu history. The Sierra Club, the great foe to individual property rights in Malibu, deserves shame.
Malibu is changing. One, the celebrity presence is more overt and the reported influx of despicable paparazzi has cast a cloud on our town. Stars have always bought homes and sought refuge here and were able to do so in relative anonymity. Not as much anymore. The celebrity factor has grown from secondary to primary in our identity.
Second, Malibu studies its heritage more closely. A greater interest in history and past lifestyles and the ways and reasons it came to be such a rich and exciting community are evident in all the recent books by longtime Malibuites, and increasing newspaper features.
Third, partly thanks to the coffee houses and culture, Malibu congregates perhaps more than ever, a parallel to a greater family component. They are few, just four coffee houses currently, but in a town this size they are places folks can go to see each other. Imagine a community park at the Civic Center or at Point Dume that would vitally increase our sense of community.
Fourth, the invasion against individual liberty to do what you wish with your own property is way out of control.
Highlights from past Along the PCH columns:
€ June 1995. Between Big Rock and the Malibu Beach Inn along the PCH, there are 347 utility lines that cross over PCH and 375 power poles along the roadside.
€ May 1996. I hope not too many locals felt their entire existence was summarized with the recent Malibu Theater marquee display: “Living in Oblivion…Flirting With Disaster…A Family Thing.”
€ Feb. 1997. Wouldn’t it be nice if someday there were palm trees lining Corral Beach, along the PCH?
€ Oct 2000. I don’t think you’ll ever get the drunk drivers to call 911 voluntarily.
€ May 2002. How in the world did the Coastal Commission allow Webb Way to be widened? Didn’t they know that valuable ESHA scrub and dirt was eliminated along the side of the road?
€ Jan 2003. If you drive along the PCH down the coast in the left lane and never change lanes, you exit the Harbor Freeway at 6th Street and drive right into the center of downtown L.A.
€ Aug 2003. Want to know HOWS Ralphs Cookes? With Pacific Greens.
€ Oct 1998. For many of us, living in Malibu is not only a personal choice, it is a personal accomplishment. Malibu residency for thousands of people symbolizes personal success, achievement and dreams come true.