We’ve all heard of the three Cs, right? Character, compassion and commitment. But maybe not the three Cs that resonated with me just a little over a week ago … Culver City, California. As I wrote in a previous blog, my twin boys are living their dream in Los Angeles. Good ole dad had an opportunity to visit and see what the hype was all about.

Ryan and Tyler recently moved into an apartment in Culver City, an eclectic enclave in the heart of Los Angeles. Ryan’s girlfriend, Michelle, made the move from Orlando a month after Ryan arrived. Tyler’s girlfriend, Amanda, will be joining him from NYC at the end of September — four bright, resilient, brave and amazing millennials taking on the world! It doesn’t get any more exciting than that! I dubbed them the Culver City Crew. Another three Cs that has special meaning.

Prior to writing this blog, Ryan, Tyler, Michelle and I were kicking around various titles. I came up with Culver City Cool. Michelle thought Cruising Culver City would be a good one. Ryan modified that a bit by suggesting Culver City Cruising. Even Cool Culver City Cruising was thrown in there, but that was going a bit overboard with the Cs. So, what’s the point of all this, you ask? Nothing really, but it was a fun exercise. The vibe of Culver City inspires one to come up with something catchy, clever and creative (more three Cs) to describe the city.

Culver City is what I consider a sweet spot in the Los Angeles area. It is situated in close proximity to the beaches, LAX, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and downtown L.A. It is home to Sony Entertainment studios, visible from my sons’ apartment. Within walking distance are many multicultural restaurants, unique shops and vibrant parks. Friendly people, laid-back attitudes and beaming smiles are the norm here.

Our first order of business when I arrived was a trip to a Korean BBQ. Oh my, what an amazing experience! If you have never tried it, you must. The next day was packed with as much as Culver City could dish out. A great breakfast at Ronnie’s Diner was the right start for the day. They even served Southern-style grits. In California … really!? We ate outside and enjoyed the Southern California weather, sunshine, mild temperatures and no humidity. We then cruised over to the former Helm’s Bakery. It was recently converted to several furniture and home décor showrooms. We walked around dreaming of affording all the beautiful furniture pieces. It was my version of California dreaming. I wanted to buy them a housewarming gift, so we headed to Target instead for some California reality. A beautiful area rug from mom and dad was the perfect gift.

Several hours of shopping brought out the munchies in me. Donuts came to mind (and what a great mind). Just around the corner was the famous and iconic Randy’s. It was truly donut nirvana! My calorie count for the day was shot in two bites. The variety, the flavors and the decision were mind-boggling. Thank goodness the line was long. I needed that much time to decide on my choices (which was agonizing). Box of donuts in hand, we headed back to the apartment to gorge ourselves. After recovering from an amazing sugar high, we made a trip to Norwalk to visit my cousin Belinda and her “dear,” Chito. We got a chance to pick Filipino mangoes from their backyard before closing a wonderful day with a delicious family dinner.

Like all good things, it had to come to an end. It was a short weekend visit and even shorter time with the kids. I had to conduct business in L.A. that week, so leaving was bittersweet. My time in Culver City was filled with food, fun, laughter, love and bonding. Cruising Culver City was comprehensive, captivating and carefree. Vitamin C for the soul. Enough Cs to warm the heart for a long time to come.

— Bill Lodzinski, director of sales