Where
the history, culture, bright lights mix,
downtown
By Jill Thomsen
On-line Forty-Niner
Downtown
Los Angeles is undergoing a revitalization
that makes it an interesting and unique
spot to spend a weekend getaway. Full of
history and culture, a weekend downtown
will almost make you forget you’re in “La
La Land.”
For accommodations stay at the hipper-than-thou
Standard Hotel, the recently opened spin-off
of Andre Balazs’ famed Sunset romp-room.
The Standard is all about attitude, so simply
act as if no one in the world is more important
and things will go swimmingly. Much like
the Hollywood version, the Standard exudes
style with Astroturf floors outside, white
walls inside and big beds with giant televisions.
On Friday night, head to the Mayan for salsa-dancing
excess. Located at 1038 S. Hill, Club Mayan
is people-watching bliss and is open from
9 p.m. to 3 a.m. for your dancing pleasure.
The place is always hoppin’ and the music
is fabulous. However, there is a cover charge
and the dress code is strictly enforced.
On Saturday morning, head to the Biltmore
Hotel at 10 a.m. to take part in one of
the Los Angeles Conservancy walking tours.
Lasting about two hours each, the tours
cover locales from Little Tokyo to Union
Station. The art deco and Broadway theater
tours, take visitors inside some of the
most gorgeous structures on the West Coast.
Downtown definitely slows down on the weekend
as thousands of office-workers are absent
from the streets. The tours have a time
travel effect as you learn about the history
of Los Angeles and begin to realize that
many things are shot downtown including
Gap commercials, “The West Wing,” “Angel”
and next summer’s “Daredevil” movie starring
Ben Affleck.
For lunch take your time and savor the Grand
Central Market experience. Located on Broadway,
Grand Central is a large open-air market
full of fresh foods and is a great cheap
lunch. The burritos are divine and the size
of a small child.
There are several museums downtown, with
my favorite being the Museum of Contemporary
Art at the Geffen Contemporary. The space
is great and there is always an interesting
exhibit that usually appeals more to the
general masses than serious modern art buffs.
The current exhibit running through March
of next year is “Retrofuturism: The Car
Design of J Mays,” the designer of the new
Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Thunderbird.
Saturday night you won’t have to go far
to be at the newest hot spot in all of L.A.
— the Rooftop Bar of The Standard. For a
late-night dinner head to The Original Pantry
on Figueroa, a landmark institution with
wonderful bread, coleslaw and blue-plate
specials. Open 24-hours, the Pantry is a
cash-only dive owned by former Mayor Richard
Riordan.
After sleeping in on Sunday in your swank
room, head to the Music Center on Grand,
home of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark
Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theater. Any given
Sunday afternoon there will be a least one
performance, either opera, orchestra, or
theatre. Student rush tickets are sold for
$10 cash two hours before any performance.
After the show take a look at the outlandishly
beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall being
built across the street. Designed by architect
Frank Gehry, Disney is awe-inspiring even
under construction.
On your way out of downtown, stop at Philippe
the Original for the world’s best sandwich
under $5. Frequented by local cops,
tourists and long-time Angelenos, Philippe
has sawdust on the floor, waitresses that
have worked there long before you were born
and some darn good lemonade.
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