Casa del Portal at Malaga Cove Plaza



Timeless beauty, Spring 2012

Every spring I just have to take a few photos of this beautiful building constructed in 1929.

Click HERE for the link to Palos Verdes Library - Local History Collection for a view of the building just after construction.

Night Shots: Neptune (Implied)

Malaga Cove Plaza, PVE  (30 Jan 2012)

Photo-students (implied) at work around the Neptune fountain during the second session of the Night Photo class offered by the PV Art Center with Bernard Fallon.
(Can you spot Neptune?)

Above Malaga Cove Plaza

By chance, I discovered a new walk today, which hugs the hillside looking toward LA basin, and is a old road which was orginally an extention of Paseo Del Sol that now serves as a fire road. In this view, in the center is the charming 1920's Malaga Cove Plaza (with the Neptune statue) surrounded by residential and business buildings. The cluster of buildings of Downtown Los Angeles can me just barely made out on top left.

Here is a link to what the grounds looked like in 1924, probably from almost the same spot.Cleared area for Malaga Cove Plaza (Palos Verdes Library - Local History)

"Putto" with dolphin - "Fontana del Nettuno" (detail)

From the Neptune fountain at Malaga Cove Plaza. Here is the link to the photo of the original bronze in Bologna, Italy

The Gardner Building

The Gardner Building, 1925
Malaga Cove Plaza, Palos Verdes Drive, between Via Corta and Via Chico
Webber, Staunton, and Spauling
"First strucutre built as part of the arcaded theme at Malaga Cove Plaza. Dedicated on Sept. 13, 1925. It housed the PV Home Association, Art Jury, Building Commission and Mr. Schaffere's Grocery & Meat Market. " (from Rancho Palos Verdes Historical Society plaque.)


In the 60s, the corner store was a wonderful drugstore with a soda fountain. My husband remembers getting great burgers and hashbrowns there as a kid. Now, the space is occupied by a realty office.

Paths and Passages (February Theme Day)

Because of the hilly terrain and relatively low traffic on weekend mornings, Palos Verdes is popular with serious bikers. A section of a bike path goes along the Palos Verdes Drive North, past Malaga Cove Plaza.

The first of the month is City Daily Photo's theme day.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Malaga Cove Plaza at Sunset

Detail of the prettiest arcaded building at the Malaga Cove Plaza, build in 1924.
In the '60s, my husband used to go to a barber shop which was next to the corner store under the arcade.More beauty at the plaza can be seen often as it's a popular place for engagement/wedding photos.

Malaga Cove Plaza - Balcony with Bouganvillia

Office building detail next to the arch entering the Plaza. The Spanish style plaza is the first development on the peninsula.



For historical photographs of the plaza, visit Maureen Megowan's History of Palos Verdes Estates.

At Malaga Cove Plaza - Among the Cars

Walking & talking

Dog walking in style

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I realized that the impression PVDP must leave is that there are no people to be seen on the streets, at the mall, in the parks. Well, people are around, but most often I see them in their cars, driving to or from somewhere -- after all, this is LA County.

A Classic Beauty: Malaga Cove Plaza

One of the earliest developments in Palos Verdes in the city of PV Estates, build in the 1920's in Spanish renaissance style. The view is of the back of the buildings forming the plaza, and the arch leads into it.