For the first time in more than 20 years, the Congress of the International Federation of Film Archives retuned to the U.S., co-hosted in Los Angeles by the Academy Film Archive and at the UCLA Film & Television Archive. After Macedonia, Sydney and Canberra, and Bologna, the location seemed a bit pedestrian to many in the organization, but I as excited to return to our old home, revisit some of my favorite places, and catch up with old friends.

I arrived a few days early and hung out with my mom, visiting the Last Book Store, the new (to me) Broad Museum, and of course, Loteria for some tasty lunch.

I also made time for two very L.A. events, the Museum of Ice Cream and the 14th Factory, which was a really terrific collection of sculpture, video art, and a recreated room from Kubrick’s 2001, which was the reason I’d heard about the place to begin with.

A trip back to L.A. was also, of course, a chance to revisit the New Beverly, which I managed to do three times (that’s three double features, of course) over ten days. I ran into friends there, introduced the cinema to a visiting French film archivist, and in general enjoyed the unfamiliar films and fascinating subculture who celebrate its existence each night.

The congress was great, with interesting talks and tours, an evening celebrating Christopher Nolan with a 70mm screening of INTERSTELLAR, and lots of good chances to connect with colleagues.

It was great to catch up with old friends, including a Dodgers game in a luxury box with Caroline (which I won’t soon forget, if only for the insane dessert cart that came by) and lunch at Stout with the old gang from work.

It was slightly distressing to note that our first apartment is now nearly overgrown with vines, our second has been demolished and replaced by a giant apartment complex, and our third place, our house on Westgate, now has a second story addition. It’s been less than four years, but time moves on…