What Gloom?
End of the line
Do cloudy, overcast skies give you the blues? Do your nerves become frazzled over a little pre-lunch drizzle or fog? Do you think June should be sunny all the live-long day? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not like me. Because, I love the So Cal phenomenon known as “June Gloom” and wish we could have it year-round. Sometimes called “May Gray” when it arrives early, June Gloom is a weather pattern we enjoy from late-spring to early summer that treats us to cool mornings (afternoons, too, sometimes) and then burns off around lunchtime. (More info here.) I think of June Gloom as a buffer or transition period between the coolness of Spring and the relentless, wilting heat of full-bore Summer. During my early morning commute, the gray skies keep the sun at bay and make it very nap-conducive, no sunglasses required. Then, once I’ve arrived in downtown LA, I can walk to work and it’s not yet the Bataan Death March it will be in August, since it’s so cool out. To illustrate June Gloom (for those of you not partaking of it in your area) I’ve hauled out the hipstamatic. Here’s the walking-to-work tour: Union Station, the end of the line for Metrolink commuters from the Inland Empire to Los Angeles. Being it’s mid-June, it’s dressed up for the annual patriotic spasm we call 4th of July … not gloomy at all, is it?
Y la musica?
Next stop, Olvera Street! That’s the central plaza’s bandshell with its filigreed decorations and colorful pierced-paper (well, plastic, actually) flags. Really festive, no!?
Noir symbol
Ah, Los Angeles City Hall … possibly the city’s most iconic architectural statement. Today it looks especially cinematic. Very noir, right, Jake?
My desk awaits
The Times building, and our last stop. Today it’s looking really monolithic, imposing … I won’t say oppressive, but, certainly, er, domineering. You know, in an architectural sense. It’s Friday (thank God!) and it’s been a long week. It’s June Gloom-y and I love it … and, thankfully it’s not affecting my mood at all.
Rancho Reubidoux 
Hey hopefully you don’t have too much piled on your desk at work…that can be gloomy!!
Great hipstamatics! Did you use the shake and take technique? We live in the gloomiest part of town here in SF (out by the beach) but it’s been remarkably un-foggy this June too. I’m sure we’ll get a sunless stretch of a couple weeks pretty soon.
Thanks, I did use the shake’n’take hipstamatic deal, although I didn’t realize i’d set that up until later (i’m really quite lame with computers and phones) … i love cool weather, any time of year!
Oh Reuben! You have such a delightful way with words: Is it really the Bataan Death March in August?! I love the pix, too – especially the Olvera Street one.
For me, yes! August is usually deadly hot for someone like me who walks everywhere, though I admit I was being just a touch dramatic in my description … thanks for the compliment!