Lazy Fridays #7

Lazy Fridays #7: LAX

What? LAX? What? Why would I include this? Well, LAX is what most people first see when they enter into Los Angeles. The Airport is the entry point for any planes landing in the area, unless you're in a small plane landing at Santa Monica or in Long Beach. So let's say, the entry point for commercial airlines.

Located in Westchester, the Airport is a great place for plane and people watching. There's an In-N-Out just by the runway in Westchester with a small patch of grass that's great to lie down on and watch the planes fly in. If you prefer being inside the airport, having lunch in the international terminal and then sitting by the windows to watch planes go in and out is fun too. This also gives you the chance to see the international travelers pass through on their way in and out.

If you're really looking for something unique to do, have dinner in LAX's Theme Building, which opened in 1961 and was styled with the Jetsons in mind. Just keep in mind that it is expensive to dine here.

Enjoy

Lazy Fridays #5

Lazy Friday's #5: Angel's Flight

Keeping with the Downtown L.A. theme this week, I wanted to introduce you to Angel's Flight.

Angels Flight was originally opened in 1901 by Colonel J.W. Eddy, and is known as the "Shortest Railway in the World." It connected Hill Street with Olive Street in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown L.A. The railway did not receive its name until 1912, when it was officially acknowledged as Angels Flight (a nod to the cities name Los Angeles, which translates from Spanish to The Angels, and as recognition to the name that hung over the Hill Street entrance).

The railway opened in 1901 and ran until 1969, when it was closed due to redevelopment in the area surrounding. The pieces of the railway were put into storage in hopes of a restoration and reopening. Angels Flight was reopened in 1996 half a block from the original site, but closed following a fatal accident in 2001. The Flight has now been opened for a third time as of March 2010, and has run safely since the reopening.

I remember taking the railway during a class field trip to Downtown in second grade about a year before it was closed. It's a cool ride to take and with the original 1901 tramcars being used, it feels a little like being a part of history. It certainly has a way of feeling like 1901, with the tram fare being twenty-five cents, probably making it the cheapest transportation you will ever take in Los Angeles.

So if you spend an afternoon in Downtown, take a time to see something that has seemingly made its way down the path of history: Angels Flight. Enjoy!

Lazy Fridays #4

Lazy Fridays #4: Abbot Kinney, Venice

It's really appropriate that this is a Friday post because what I want to talk about only happens on Fridays. Abbot Kinney Blvd. features small boutiques, art galleries and trendy restaurants. But on Fridays it becomes the site of "The Roachcoach Festival" as my friend so lovingly calls it. Starting a 6:30, food trucks from all over come and park on the Blvd. Suddenly, Abbot Kinney becomes flooded with people, making it almost impossible to walk or drive.

The food trucks range from Japanese to Mexican to Brazilian and everything in between. There are crepes and shaved ice trucks. There are tacos galore and plenty of sushi to go around. There's chocolate and ice cream and every other sweet thing you can imagine.

I was only just introduced this experience on Friday and it something fun and strangely exhilarating to do at night. While eating a coxinha (croquette) from the Brazilian truck, you can wander into the free art galleries that pass from one building to another. Or you can sit on the stoops of shops that have been closed for the night.

It's a very cool thing to do when if there's nothing else to do on a Friday night. The other pluses are that the food is cheap and the shops are open late. Enjoy!

Lazy Fridays #3

Lazy Fridays #3: Griffith Park and Observatory

First off, I'm sorry this is two days late. I fell asleep on my first attempt to write this and then forgot about it for a day.

Now that that's done, Griffith Park is a staple in Los Angeles. On the south side of Mount Hollywood, the park overlooks Hollywood, Downtown L.A, and the Pacific Ocean. Not far from the park is the Hollywood sign, now closed to the public. The Observatory sits in the center of the park, serving as a launch point for the hiking trails.

The park is a great place to hike, have a picnic and hang out. Parking is free at the observatory, but getting a space isn't guaranteed (granted, where in L.A. is parking ever available?). There are several trails that lead to the top of the mountain and you are greeted with a beautiful panoramic view of Los Angeles. As with any hikes, wear good shoes (not converse, I made that mistake) and bring lots of water. At the top, there are picnic tables so if you want to bring some food, that's perfectly acceptable and highly recommended.

The observatory however, is the main attraction. Built in 1933 and opened in 1935, the Observatory was funded by the WPA as a way to bring in money through public works. The observatory features two main telescopes, several exhibits on space and astronomy and a planetarium show. With the exception of the show, everything is free. The lawn outside is lush and makes for the perfect picnic spot. You can get a view of Los Angeles from any angle of the observatory and telescopes dot the premises if you want to take a closer look.

It is a beautiful experience to come up to the mountains and do something far detached from the usual Los Angeles culture. Up on the mountain, you can be very much at peace by yourself or in the company of your friends. The sounds of traffic and busybodies is nonexistent up in Griffith. You are more likely to here a dog bark from one of the far up properties of the Hollywood Hills than the honking of a car horn.

Enjoy this wonderful piece of L.A. life!

Lazy Fridays #2

Lazy Fridays #2: The Farmer's Market

The Original Farmer's Market opened in 1934, and has become another landmark in Los Angeles' cityscape. Located in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the simple and chaotic charm of the Farmer's Market is nestled, if not overshadowed by the Grove.

The Farmer's Market is located at the very end of the Grove, where a sudden change becomes apparent. The Grove is very polished with expensive stores, art deco style buildings and a trolley. The Farmer's Market is a collection of small novelty stores and restaurants reminiscent of food stands. Many places require you to come up to the window to order before you go and sit down at one of the many picnic style or cafe style tables. Other restaurants have you sitting right up at the counter (much like the delicious crepe place where you watch them flip crepes in front of you).

Many of the original restaurants are still there, while included in the blend are new restaurants and coffee shops like Chipotle and Coffee Bean. The shops range from the expensive to the cheap; everything from Sur La Table to Sticker Planet (a childhood favorite of many of my friends).

While you do need some money to enjoy the delights of the Farmer's Market, it is a Los Angeles experience not to be missed. Enjoy!

Lazy Fridays #1

Lazy Fridays #1: 3rd Street Promenade

What? 3rd Street is a shopping center? What does this have to do with free places to visit?

Well, I'm not talking about 3rd Street Shopping in this post, but if you are ever so inclined, go ahead and shop. I'm talking about the performers who come out everyday and put on shows for shoppers.

Street Performance is a huge thing in L.A. Go to any of the major entertainment centers and you will find a performer there. You have the options of Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Hollywood, etc. to experience the untapped talent of L.A.'s performance circuit.

On and around 3rd Street, there are at least fifty performers a day showing off what they can do. It ranges from stunning Slavic acrobats to Regina Spektor-esque singers on tiny pianos to crowd-pleasing hip-hop dancers asking for crowd participation.

If you don't have the money to shop, its always great to just sit on the sidewalk in front of your favorite act and listen to them. If you love them, then there is no shame in dropping a couple dollar bills into their guitar cases and hats.

Some of the more eccentric acts on 3rd Street include: the Slavic acrobats that I mentioned earlier (a father and son pair, although now they bring in students from the acrobat school they run); another acrobat who is a war veteran with amputated legs, his skills are brilliants as he only balances on his hands not only on the floor but on poles as well; belly dancers and traditional Eastern European dance who generally space out on each block of the promenade; and a silver/gold man who makes himself a statue to the music of the Black Eyed Peas.

Some of my favorite performers are John West (a guitarist who performs nearly every weekend), the hip hop dancers who usually are performing in front of the Forever 21, the salsa dancers (who you can join in with) on Sundays and the aforementioned amputated acrobat.

This is only a small list of performers on the promenade, but new ones come in every day, so it's impossible to name them all.

Go out and see for yourself. Enjoy a free concert, dance performance, or acrobatics show if you have a day to spend lazily. Enjoy!