This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Our Glorious Lion

Even in winter, it maintains an irresistible allure for kids of all ages.

Depending on how you feel about an evening of children indulging in sugary goodness, there lies either a major obstacle or a favorable distraction on the path between dinner at Victor Jr.’s and dessert at the Cold Stone Creamery.

The complication of which I speak is none other than The Lion's Fountain.

In a relatively short time, Douglas Olmsted Freeman’s public sculpture, installed by the in 2004, has become a part of our lives and a beloved local landmark. Though I clearly remember a time when there was not much more to speak of in downtown Culver City than the and a lot of empty space, it now seems as if The Lion has always been with us. In fact, for my kids and others of their generation, it always has.

Find out what's happening in Culver Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A fitting icon of our as well as a proud emblem of downtown’s recent revitalization, on any warm summer afternoon or evening, boisterous crowds of children can be seen frolicking in its waters. And though, on one particularly cool night last week, the pack was considerably thinner, my children—seemingly impervious to the cold—wasted no time getting soaked to the bone.

All Brian and I could do was shake our heads in parental amusement and let the inevitable happen. Unlike the parents of a 2-year-old named Aidan, we were lucky enough to have finished dinner before our family encountered the fountain’s  temptations. On their way to a spontaneous meal, Aidan’s parents left the house in a hurry and had forgotten that necessary staple when you're out with a toddler: a spare set of dry clothes.

Find out what's happening in Culver Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Because he got as waterlogged as my children and ended up inadvertently canceling his family’s dinner plans, they were forced to beat a hasty retreat towards drier land. For our part, all that got canceled was the trip to Cold Stone Creamery.

Even with pant legs rolled up over wet knees and shivering in the night air, Miss T still had the enthusiasm to ask “are we gonna get ice cream now?” I had to let her down gently with the promise of “another time.” To her credit, she ultimately admitted she was, indeed, very cold and climbed into the car without a struggle, her desire for a Friday night of fun and entertainment thoroughly (and inexpensively) satisfied.

Do you have pictures or memories of your kids playing in The Lion's Fountain? Comment or post them on our Facebook page. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?