Los Angeles/Downtown

From World travel guide

To some, Downtown Los Angeles is only interesting (or even open) during business hours on weekdays and on Saturday morning. The only reason to go downtown on an evening or weekend is if you have tickets to a concert, show, or sporting event. Otherwise it is a ghost town (which happens to be great for a calm Sunday morning bike ride on challenging hills). To others it is a place where one can take the Gold Line to Olvera Street for a bite at La Golondrina, stop at Union Station for a drink (Traxx bar); or hang out at at Ciudad (5th and Figueroa) listening to bossa nova music. And there is always the option to have a steak at the Original Pantry (9th/Figueroa)- (the joint that never closes).

L.A. is a city of many cultures, and there are three cultural areas close to downtown that are popular tourist destinations including Grand Central Market, MOCA, Disney Hall, The Music Center, Olvera Street, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Natural History Museum, and the Japanese-American Museum. There are also a few shopping districts, a couple museums and some stunning American architecture.

Contents 1 Get Around 2 See 3 Do 4 Buy 5 Eat 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 Contact 9 External links

Get Around

Drive your car (you rented a car right? just kidding) to a parking lot and go it by foot from then on. Downtown isn't all that big. And most likely a DASH shuttle has a stop where you want to go.

If you MUST drive, park at the NE corner of Hill and 9th to check out the Fashion/Garment District. Incredible deals, great restaurants, beautiful architecture (check out the Orpheum and Eastern Columbia Buildings across from the lot). There is also Cliftons further up Broadway, The Arcade Building which, like many of the historic building downtown, is being converted into upscale lofts.

• Parking: Some people are partial to parking at any one of the lots around the Music Center or Civic Center in roughly the area bounded by Grand to Spring and Temple to 2nd. But Pershing Square has good centralized parking. If you are checking out the Convention Center (only do if you are actually going to a convention there) consider parking there, although it is adjacent to Staples Center, which is a block from the Hotel Figueroa (check out the bar and the Moorish architecture), which is a block from the Pantry, which is, well you get the idea.
• 'DASH': A shuttle service run by LA Dept. of Transportation. When your feet get tired or to better expand your travel area use the DASH. It has several convenient routes that whisk you to almost all of the worthwhile spots Downtown. A ride currently costs a quarter and pamphlets can be had from most MTA stations (Union, 7th/Olive) and convenience stores Downtown (spotty weekend and after hour service though).

See

• Olvera Street: An alley filled with Mexican trinket stands and Mexican restaurants. Right across the street from Union Station. This is actually historically significant and very old. I think the mission was around here.
• Chinatown: Filled with small shops and restaurants.
• Little Tokyo or J-Town: LA's little Tokyo district features restaurants, museums, and shops. J-Town sits in the area between Temple and about 5th and Spring through Alemeda.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Has two locations, one up near Civic Center and the Music Center and another in J-Town at 1st and Alameda. The gift shop (free entrance) is fun for at least 20 minutes of wonder and awe. But the museum has no 'traditional' art. Don't be surprised if you don't like some of it if you don't have an open mind. Check out the Weiland Brewery at Central and First- the cheese fries are to die for.
• Union Station: No trip to downtown LA would be complete without a visit to Los Angeles's historic Train Station. The station was built in 1939 with a Spanish mission exterior. The large waiting room and restaurant appears like it would have looked like in the 1940's. They also use Union Station in lots of movies, including Blade Runner, where the main hall was used as the Police Station.
• Music Center and Disney Hall: Impressive hall architecture complete with tours most days. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is open to the public Christmas Eve day with almost round the clock performances by amateur cultural arts groups. The Walt Disney Hall has daily tours, check website for schedules.
• The Los Angeles Central Public Library: Huge library rebuilt in the '80s and '90s. Almost always has a public exhibition going.
• L.A. Conservancy Walking Tours: See the grand Vaudeville/Movie theaters of the 20s and the impressive Art Deco office buildings in several easy to handle walking tours. Strongly recommended for those wanting to grasp a feel of LA's history. Reservations are strongly recommended. Check their website: http://laconservancy.org
• Fashion District: Where style and cheap textiles smash together. Important for the addicted shopper. You can find the district in the Southeast corner of Downtown roughly where Spring and Main meet going Southeast.
• Jewelry District: Wonder where all of those West Coast Rappers get their bling bling? Well, if they are frugal, they get it in the Jewelry District. Bounded by Olive-Broadway and 6th-7th, it is conveniently close to Pershing Square (parking and Red line access).
• The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels : Standing in the midst of downtown Los Angeles, the Cathedral serves as a "model Church for all Parish Churches" in the style and content of its liturgical celebrations.
• St. Vincent Court. 7th Street between Broadway and Hill. A tranquil hideaway tucked in the heart of the Jewelry District.

The Bradford Building is really beautiful, and restored. There is a lot of light, and it is old.

Do

• Downtown Art Walk: A free monthly self guided tour, held on the second Thursday of every month, to art galleries and museums in Downtown LA.

Buy

Eat

• Empress Pavilion: Chinatown. Most food is brought around on carts but there is also a menu.
• Philippe's: Chinatown. A couple blocks from Union Station. Famous for their 'French Dip' sandwiches. But the real reason to go is the price and the pastrami. Place is mobbed on the nights of Laker's and Dodger's games, beware. Others enjoy Phillipe's for their double-dipped sandwiches (the beef is recommended), and their incredible lemonade.
• Clifton's Cafeteria: Downtown. Since 1935, located on Broadway, serves cafeteria style food. One should experience the history, the food at affordable prices, and of course view the mountain theme.
• Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet: Downtown. In continuous operation since 1908 and the REAL home of the French Dip.
• The Pantry: Downtown. A 24 hour restaurant, located on 877 S. Figueroa, that has been around since 1924. The place is known for its great food and speedy service. Best place for breakfast after midnight. Cash only accepted.
• Water Grill: Downtown. Very pricey, but elegant and wonderful.
• Angelique Cafe, Fashion District (kinda). Great French food with real French people running the place. Lunch is their best meal.
• Grand Central Market: Huge indoor bazaar of Central and South American vendors. Get fresh tortillas, huge Mexican papayas and tasty Tortas. On Hill and Broadway between 3rd and 4th (closer to 3rd). Conveniently near the Bradbury Building (unique architecture) and the Pershing Square Red line stop (Northeast access).
• Traxx: Fancy-Schmansy restaurant in Union Station. Good food, pricey but the ambience of Union Station makes it worth a splurge.
• Nick and Stef's: Fantastic steak house, run by the Patina restaurant empire. If you like beef, this is some of the best in town, with a glass-enclosed aging room where you can view the meat as it ages. Try the dry-aged Ribeye, it will make your head spin. They also have 12 kinds of potatoes on the menu. Not sure why, but they're all good. In the Wells Fargo Center, across from MOCA.

Drink

• Golden Gopher - Ms. PacMan + Jukebox + Classiness. Wishes it were New York?
• Ciudad
• The Standard
• Cole's - Dive on 6th and Los Angeles, claims to be more Original with their french dip than Philippe's!
• Broadway Bar
• 410 Boyd - happy hour 4-7 weekdays for the loft-dwellers and (last time i was there, anyway) hot, hot staff!
• club mayan - best singles spot downtown! dress code.

Sleep

There are numerous residential hotels in the area. You may rent weekly or monthly here. It will be very economical. Some were clearly formerly glorious, but don´t expect much in terms of cleanliness now. You will meet interesting people. The Alexandria was actually used by famous stars and has marble bathrooms. Some of the rooms were favorites of particular stars, and the door has a little plaque for that star. The stars probably won´t mean anything to you unless you are old enough, but it is still kind of interesting, and most of the residents will be older than you as well. You can wander around the public areas. There is even laundry in the basement. Be prepared to use gallons of Febreze of get lots of incense. You might want to bring your own mattress and bedding. The advantages would be price and being at the center of the transit system where you can get buses and trains to different places.

Note that some would argue that no one in their right mind would stay at the Alexandria since it is used for film shoots depicting decrepit, sleazy plots. Other options include Checkers (Grand south of Fifth), or the Biltmore (at Pershing Square), or the Bonaventure (5th/Figueroa), or the Marriott (3rd/Figueroa- has a theatre in the basement), or the New Otani (Little Tokyo).

Contact

External links

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