A Day in Catalina

I was lucky enough to be asked to fill-in on a panel at the Santa Catalina Film Festival.  It was a great location for the inaugural film festival.  The island was once owned by the Wrigley Family and has seen many Hollywood scenes filmed there from Rosemary's Baby to Apollo 13. So, with an illustrious history and short 75-minute ride by ferry from Long Beach, it makes it the perfect place to showcase the arts.  I invited my friend, Maria, to trudge along with me on our adventure.  She kindly sat through my panel and afterwards, we hit the town.  A margarita, some gelato, and lots of hilarity ensued on our chilly, cloudy adventure.  Enjoy the photos and add this to your must-see list on your next trip to Southern California.  Thank you to the Santa Catalina Film Festival for hosting my trip.  I will see you next year!

If you missed the panel, you can view it again here.  It was live streamed by Stickam.

The Queen Mary (now a haunted hotel) in the Long Beach Harbor.

The Carnival Splendor docked in Long Beach.  They are famous for their Mexican booze cruises.

The casino in the Avalon harbor of Catalina Island......

And the panel begins......

Talking away on the Social Media panel for New Media Markets Convergence.....

Hanging downtown after the panel, you can tell it wasn't that warm.

Me and my pal, Maria......

We asked for a margarita.  Instead, we got a gallon of margaritas.  It was strong and it lead to a giggly trip through town.

 Avalon Harbor......

The architecture on the island is reserved for small, but quaint, bungalows that are built close together....(and yes, golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation.)

....or you have a larger home in the hills.  You can see the juxtaposition between the two types of homes.

 Can you spot the crab in this photo?

Santa Catalina Film Festival

This is the week of last minute surprises.  Earlier in the week, I was asked to moderate a panel at the Digital Hollywood Content Summit sponsored by SAG New Media on "Commerce and Communication".  I had literally just stepped off of the plane from two weeks in NY, when I got the call.  Even though I was ready for a day off, I couldn't say "no" when SAG New Media called because the panel was on a strong topic and filled with people I know and respect.  While the panel was going on, I received a text asking if I could fill in and sit on a panel about  "Social Media Behaving Badly:  Campaigns That Miss The Mark" at the Santa Catalina Film Festival on Sunday.

The Digital Hollywood Content Summit Panel sponsored by SAG New Media.  

I haven't been to Catalina in about a decade, but it is a small scenic island off of the coast of Southern California.  You get to take a ferry in and most of the island is filled with golf carts versus cars.  It's charming and lovely, so I cannot wait to enjoy the day in Catalina and share the photos with you on Monday.  If you happen to be in the Southern California area and are looking for a great excursion for the weekend, check out the Santa Catalina Film Festival and the panel information here.

Thank you to Canyon Prince and Hayden Black for making my panel appearance at the film festival possible.  I appreciate it.

Pre-panel pose at Digital Hollywood with ElfQuest producers, Paula Rhodes and Stephanie Thorpe.

Now, share your big plans for the weekend!

Photo 2:  Courtesy of SAG New Media
Photo 3:  Courtesy of Stephanie Thorpe