Special events in special places

Mass Historia has an interesting take on historic houses and parks. It keeps a calendar of reenactments and other gatherings where historic costumes will be worn or activities like dancing or banqueting might take place, like the Queen Mary Art Deco Festival on September 3 for instance.

Historic Beach Hideaway

My friend, the travel maven, let me in on this intriguing remnant of Southern California history. The city of Santa Monica now offers tours of the Marion Davies Guest House, the one remaining structure of the lavish estate built by Davis and William Randolph Hearst where movie stars like Greta Garboand Clark Gable once lolled around the pool. That very same pool by the way is now open to the public along with meeting rooms and a beachside restaurant. The website has lots of historic background, but the actual hours are a little puzzling, but as I read it there will be free tours every day except Wednesdays at 11 am, noon, and 2 pm starting June 19 through August 31. Parking costs $6 a day.