4th of July 2021

We promised to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine on this surprisingly temperate Los Angeles summer day. After a quick stop at what seemed like the busiest/worst Target on Santa Monica Blvd., we went and picked up our favorite sandwiches from Mendocino Farms. We trekked up to Lake Hollywood Park and set up our picnic and painting supplies. At first glance, this park always seems busy because of the drive-by tourists there for a picture with the Hollywood sign, but once you pass through the entrance it’s quite easy to find a shady spot to settle in. I remember sitting near a couple on their first date and a man running around with his German shepherd puppy. Andrew and I decided to both paint the same tree that we were sitting under. It’s funny to see how our interpretations turned out. Andrew’s branches were very angular and more realistic and each leaf was meticulously painted on. Mine was colorful, the branches were rounded and bendy, a much less careful approach.

We laid out at the park for a few hours before heading back home. Like always, it was much hotter as we drove east back to The Brewery. I remember calling our friend Zoë and subtly inviting ourselves over to watch the fireworks. Perched atop the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Blvd. we watched from Zoë’s rooftop as if a scene from our own A24 coming-of-age film. With pizza and drinks behind us, the smell of sulfur filled the air and lit our way back home to The Brewery to endure the never-ending barrage East L.A. offers up each year.

No parade or BBQ… but a very memorable first Fourth of July with the people I love the very most.