going to be in LA for a couple days on a weekend (driving thru), can you recommend:
1) a neighborhood to stay? [close to experiential stuff...could be beach, Broad museum, or just great sunset cocktails etc. but just there for a little over a full day...we don't need to take in all-the-things...!]
2) must see/do for modern LA [architectural or foodie] on such a short stop?
(not our first visit, won't be our last...looking for what's current from locals)
Consider Hollywood and West Hollywood. Grungy in places anymore, still there is the amazing Schindler House on Kings Road, and Wright's Hollyhock House on Hollywood Boulevard. You could finish up the afternoon at the Griffith Park Observatory, which is a nice enough old building, but the view is spectacular. It looks to be clear tomorrow afternoon. Just a couple of ideas... Have fun!
Okay, now I'm just avoiding work. Nearby at Fairfax and Wilshire is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a nicely renovated old department store with contemporary glass sphere addition in back. This is next to park La Brea, our own collection of Corbu-inspired apartment towers surrounded by townhouses. Again, not great, but worth a drive-by. LACMA, the county's Museum of art, is next door though I don't know how much is accessible during all the reconstruction. Thanks, Zumthor!
The Renzo Piano buildings are open, but I think the LACMA restaurant and bar have been closed and demolished to make way for the upcoming barren, unshaded plaza by Zumthor.
In January we stayed in Hollywood and I enjoyed it very much. I'll second citizen's suggestion of the drive up to Griffith Park Observatory. If you arrive late afternoon to either of the Getty museums you can likely get in even without a reservation and they are both worth seeing for both architecture and the views!
If you love Renzo go see the LACMA and Motion picture Academy, otherwise I would do the first 3
if you're in Orange County go see the Morphosis museum, it's really nice
I had an amazing time seeing a concert at the Mt Wilson Observatory recently... highly recommend... as an architect you won't be disappointed, but you have to attend an actual concert
For an architect...stay somewhere along the Wilshire or Santa Monica Blvd. corridors, or downtown, specifically grand avenue. Most of the best designed museum's and architecture with a capital A lives there. The rest of the city consists of sad, soggy, stucco buildings (sorry guys, but it's true). A few notable exceptions: If you are not from the sunbelt, a trip to Palms and Culver City is interesting for no other reason to see the dingbat lifestyle (for Reyner Banham fans) and the Hayden Tract (Eric Owen Moss's playground). Also the museum of Jurassic technology, the center for land use interpretation, and the Wende Museum are there, 3 underrated gems. I live near Venice beach, and that's fun, though can be a bit rough around the edges. The old remaining Abbot Kinney designed "Venice" buildings with colonnades and fake venetian details are interesting, as are the canals.
Also, keep in mind, LA is huge. Way bigger than nyc by land area. It's impossible to see it all in two days.
suggestions for LA?
going to be in LA for a couple days on a weekend (driving thru), can you recommend:
1) a neighborhood to stay? [close to experiential stuff...could be beach, Broad museum, or just great sunset cocktails etc. but just there for a little over a full day...we don't need to take in all-the-things...!]
2) must see/do for modern LA [architectural or foodie] on such a short stop?
(not our first visit, won't be our last...looking for what's current from locals)
Apologies I start to write something down and then get overwhelmed. Like three times now.
doesn't have to be precious -- what would you do with a full day?
Taco trucks
one of my go to places for anything but their hot sauces and al pastor is a glorious combo https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-guelaguetza-los-angeles
Consider Hollywood and West Hollywood. Grungy in places anymore, still there is the amazing Schindler House on Kings Road, and Wright's Hollyhock House on Hollywood Boulevard. You could finish up the afternoon at the Griffith Park Observatory, which is a nice enough old building, but the view is spectacular. It looks to be clear tomorrow afternoon. Just a couple of ideas... Have fun!
Also in Weho is Cesar Pelli's many colored Pacific Design Center... Not a fantastic project, but certainly worth a drive-by.
Okay, now I'm just avoiding work. Nearby at Fairfax and Wilshire is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a nicely renovated old department store with contemporary glass sphere addition in back. This is next to park La Brea, our own collection of Corbu-inspired apartment towers surrounded by townhouses. Again, not great, but worth a drive-by. LACMA, the county's Museum of art, is next door though I don't know how much is accessible during all the reconstruction. Thanks, Zumthor!
The Renzo Piano buildings are open, but I think the LACMA restaurant and bar have been closed and demolished to make way for the upcoming barren, unshaded plaza by Zumthor.
In January we stayed in Hollywood and I enjoyed it very much. I'll second citizen's suggestion of the drive up to Griffith Park Observatory. If you arrive late afternoon to either of the Getty museums you can likely get in even without a reservation and they are both worth seeing for both architecture and the views!
Top 3:
Getty Center
Getty Villa
Huntington Gardens
If you love Renzo go see the LACMA and Motion picture Academy, otherwise I would do the first 3
if you're in Orange County go see the Morphosis museum, it's really nice
I had an amazing time seeing a concert at the Mt Wilson Observatory recently... highly recommend... as an architect you won't be disappointed, but you have to attend an actual concert
Start at One Wilshire blvd and take it all the way to Santa Monica.
For an architect...stay somewhere along the Wilshire or Santa Monica Blvd. corridors, or downtown, specifically grand avenue. Most of the best designed museum's and architecture with a capital A lives there. The rest of the city consists of sad, soggy, stucco buildings (sorry guys, but it's true). A few notable exceptions: If you are not from the sunbelt, a trip to Palms and Culver City is interesting for no other reason to see the dingbat lifestyle (for Reyner Banham fans) and the Hayden Tract (Eric Owen Moss's playground). Also the museum of Jurassic technology, the center for land use interpretation, and the Wende Museum are there, 3 underrated gems.
I live near Venice beach, and that's fun, though can be a bit rough around the edges. The old remaining Abbot Kinney designed "Venice" buildings with colonnades and fake venetian details are interesting, as are the canals.
Also, keep in mind, LA is huge. Way bigger than nyc by land area. It's impossible to see it all in two days.
good stuff, thanks!
(yeah, def not trying to be all- encompassing with this trip...we'll get back another time for more)
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