 |
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES -
A New Look...and...Ten Reasons Why You Should Visit
By Vern L.W. Howen
The Los Angeles area has been world famous for its beaches, Hollywood stars, and nearby tourist attractions. Now, you can add "Downtown Los Angeles" to the list of must-see areas of Southern California to visit. This is of because new outstanding building developments and renovations are breathing new life into the downtown area.
TEN OUTSTANDING REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES:
1. See a new landmark construction located at 151 S. Grand Avenue, the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This Frank Gehry-designed building at the Music Center is a leading new attraction that was built to resemble a steel-clad sailboat or a bursting-into-bloom-flower. This was constructed for use by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Because of the design, it has become one of the most popular stops for visitors and the Music Center of Los Angles County is now offering a self-guided audio walking tour of the building that is narrated by actor John Lithgow.
Through the vision and generosity of Lillian Disney, the Disney family, and many others, the city now has one of the finest concert halls in the world and is an internationally recognized architectural landmark. I was impressed with the stainless steel curves of its striking exterior and the state-of-the-art acoustics of the main auditorium. This 3.6 acre complex is a monument to the creative spirit of the new downtown LA.
2. The Museum of Contemporary Art is known as one of the most beautiful buildings ever built in downtown Los Angeles and is located at 250 Grand Avenue. Each year the museum presents a number of exhibits including historical, newly commissioned projects and works by emerging and established artists. These feature not only painting, sculpture and drawing, but also photography, film, music, performance, design, and architecture.
3. The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 East First Street in an historical Buddhist temple and in an area known as Little Tokyo with many shops and with a Japanese population of about a quarter million. The museum captures the history and experiences of the Japanese community including family and community treasures.
4. The Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture is located at 112 South Main St. and in the past has included the artwork of Quechua children from the Peruvian Andes, 20th century Mexico as seen through its popular calendars, the Mexican Revolution and scenes from Mexican films.
5. Museum of Neon Art, located at 501 Olympic Blvd, features neon artist, Lili Lakich with Richard Jenkins. They founded the Museum of Neon Art to provide exhibition space for artists to show electric fine art that were beautifully designed commercial neon signs and marquees. By re-imagining Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Lakich created the museum's logo "Mona".
6. In the heart of the city, the Civic Center is America's largest complex of government buildings outside of Washington, D.C. City, county, state and federal office buildings are located here, including the US Federal Courthouse where the infamous OJ Simpson murder trial took place in 1995 and in the past has been the location for films, such as, Superman and Dragnet. North across Temple Street from the City Hall is the excellent LA Children's Museum.
7. A few blocks east of the Civic Center is located the El Pueblo de Los Angeles, a 44 acre state historic park commemorating where Los Angeles was founded in 1781. One of the central attractions is Olvera Street with its restaurants, open-air marketplace, and shops where all manner of Mexican crafts are sold. Be sure to step inside the Bradbury Building where a sky-lit, five-story atrium is surrounded by Belgian marble, Mexican tiles, ornate French wrought-iron railings, oak paneling and a pair of open-caged elevators.
8. A few blocks north of El Pueblo you will see the Museum of Chinese American History in Los Angeles being constructed. Here, you will also find 16 square blocks of Chinatown where over 200,000 Chinese decent residents live. You will find herbalists, acupuncturists, and many restaurants and shops in this Chinese area.
9. Also, across from El Pueblo you will find the Union Station, one of LA's overlooked architectural treasures. Built in 1939 in Spanish Mission style you will not want to miss seeing this station.
10. You could also do well to step inside some of the city-center hotels, all of which are close to LA city-center cultural attractions. I stayed at the Ritz Milner Hotel, a "Boutique" hotel, and was delighted to learn that it is one of the best value priced hotels in downtown LA offering a complimentary American breakfast, complimentary airport shuttle, children stay free, cable TV with Showtime, in-room coffee and is convenient to subway connections to outlying areas.
The rooms of the Ritz were recently renovated and there is a pub and restaurant on the property and it is just across from a shopping complex. The Disney Music Hall is just seven blocks from the hotel, the Staples Center is only 3 blocks away, and it is only 4 blocks to the Convention Center.
GETTING TO THE HOTEL:
Exit from Harbor Freeway (US 110)
at either Sixth St. or Ninth St.,
then drive two blocks east to 813 S. Flower.
Telephone: (800) 827-0411 or (213) 627-6981.
www.milner-hotel.com
MORE LOS ANGELES INFORMATION:
The Convention and Visitors Bureau website:
www.visitlosangeles.info
310 393 7593
|
