A local fisherman's bar + a bunch of gals on a photo shoot + a kite tied to a fishing pole = September fun on one of the last days of summer.  

I've driven by Santa Monica pier countless times but hadn't walked it since I was a child. Amongst floods of tourists, I was entertained by this quintessential SoCal destination with its anti-war (but peaceful) demonstrations, money-collection street musicians and of course the Terminator, er—our California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger leaving celebrity restaurant staple, The Ivy. In his brand new Porsche. Recession, what?

It's never fun having to wait over two hours for in the border crossing line from Tijuana to San Diego, but it can be entertaining. For once I actually got out of my car (I wasn't driving) and walked around talking to the roaming salesman who peddle everything from porcelain Virgin Marys to Mexican blankets to cinnamon-covered churros.