Beverly Hills Beach Club

School’s out for summer and Brandon gets himself a summer job at the Beverly Hills Beach Club.  Remember that?  A great opportunity to have the girls (and boys) in bathers.  And oh the plot lines that summer has to bring.  Ratings gold.  Of course I’m not talking about real life but my “past life” of 90210 Aaron Spelling style.

There’s a reason so many songs are about summer–carefree joy, fun in the sun and good old-fashioned fun.  Good old-fashioned fun.  Add LA style and it’s even better.

When I first said I was moving to LA we all wondered where we might live.  To think we’re living in Beverly Hills 90210 is a spinout but that’s nothing new to you now either as we’re acclimating together.

Even today when I’m giving out my address or talking about where I live I’ll get a comment, “Oh my God.  The most famous postcode in the world.”  And it is.  Thanks of course to Aaron Spelling.

The thought has crossed mine and many of my friend’s that Brenda and Brandon (aka my son & daughter) have moved into a new school in the middle of this surreal world and we’re constantly drawing parallels to our lives (but sadly no sign of Dylan).

So, when my daughter was going to a party at a Beach Club in Santa Monica that we “have to get membership to” I thought of Brenda begging Jim to do the same.

I was trying to arrange end-of-year drinks with a friend and it was all getting complicated.  90210 might be the most famous postcode in the world but it’s just the same as everywhere else in the world–you’re busy ferrying kids from one invitation and party to the next.  We were marrying up our commitments and realised we were both going to the same place in Santa Monica.

The Beach Club.  Technically the Jonathan Club.

“OMG,” I said to her (who knows me well enough by now that I don’t feel weird saying this), I’m totally picturing Kelly, Brenda & Donna at the Beach Club for summer where Brandon got his summer job.  Is it anything like it?”

Of course my friend hadn’t really thought anything of it until I mentioned it.  To her it’s just normal.  In fact (as she pondered life from where I sit) yes it is.  She actually wondered if that Club might be the setting for the “Beverly Hills Beach Club”.  Alas no it’s not.

(Here’s the backstory on the Beverly Hills Beach Club–and other 90210 locations–if you’re interested).

I was beside myself.  First issue what to wear.  Second issue what to bring.  Third issue regaining my composure & finding more people to tell.  That’s what Facebook is for.

To me it was anything BUT normal: valet parking (of course), Guys in polo shirts getting your beach chairs, beach volleyball, the buffet set up for dinner by the beach, beach chairs set up by the water, shower facilities with warm, fluffy towels.  A bar.

 

Don’t get me wrong, being at the beach at our Beach House on Magic Beach is pretty special but this is lovely.  So LA.  So 90210.  If there was one fault I’d find with it it’s that Brandon is not there taking my cocktail (or wine) order.

At 7:00 the sun is still out and everyone’s at the buffet.  Time to get some food.  My friend was squeezing me and clenching pulling that face–you know the one Cameron was pulling to Ferris in the taxi when his dad is in the Cab next door to him?  That one.  I knew someone was there I just didn’t know who.  I’d heard Sarah Michelle Gellar was there so I started looking for her.  Nope.  Man right next to me was a hotty.

“Oh, is he someone?”  Yep, Liev Shrieber.  With our very own Naomi Watts.  Just getting food at the buffet.  Alongside yours truly.  Like everyone else.  At the “Beverly Hills Beach Club”.  Obviously I had to do some talking so he hears the accent.  A “warm exchange” related to heating up the hamburger buns and I was in a happy place.  Naomi & I could’ve bonded over the serviettes and cutlery but she wasn’t as interested.  I’ll take Liev any day anyway.

So my end of the school year (remember the kids first in the US=big) and the start of my summer turned out to be pretty 90210.  Love an impromptu gathering.

The other thing that could’ve made our night was a Kings win to take home the Stanley Cup.  They were playing in New York however so to take home the Stanley Cup at home is the next best thing.

Need a refresher on the Beverly Hills Beach Club? Here’s a clip featuring Kelly & Brandon.  If you think about it Beverly Hills is no where near the beach so clearly there’s no such place as the Beverly Hills Beach Club.  Just like there’s no West Beverly High.  Hashtag bubble burster.

Kelly & Brandon moments at the BH Beach Club

Eight grade breakfast

Yes summer is here and my eldest son finished Middle School and to commemorate they had a little breakfast at school before they jumped on buses to Magic Mountain.  (The transition from Middle School to High School is a big deal here–like the transition from Elementary to Middle School).

I’d forgotten my son’s year was the “famous” year.  Everywhere I looked there was an actor, rock star, agent, TV Show Creator etc.  You know you’ve acclimated when you forget you’re going to bump into some of the most famous people in the world (for the older generation at least) but I did get a little kick when it was everywhere I looked–which ever direction I looked I remembered their kids were in the same year as mine.  Cool.

Like I said, nice way to end our first school year in the US.  In the land of 90210 no less.  Best part of all is that we can reflect on how we’re finishing the year strong.  Friendships struck and forged, comfort levels normal (we no longer feel like a fish out of water and talking to said famous people–even if I still couldn’t speak to the most famous of them all) and we live to tell the tale.

Enjoy your summer (sorry to my Aussie mates where it’s winter).

xx It Started in LA xx