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)
graphemic
Sep 12, 24 2:59 pm
Apologies I start to write something down and then get overwhelmed. Like three times now.
proto
Sep 12, 24 6:48 pm
doesn't have to be precious -- what would you do with a full day?
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!
citizen
Sep 13, 24 6:12 pm
Also in Weho is Cesar Pelli's many colored Pacific Design Center... Not a fantastic project, but certainly worth a drive-by.
citizen
Sep 13, 24 6:19 pm
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!
reallynotmyname
Sep 16, 24 4:22 pm
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.
Donna Sink
Sep 16, 24 12:30 pm
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!
kjpn
Sep 16, 24 12:52 pm
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
betonbrut
Sep 16, 24 1:25 pm
Start at One Wilshire blvd and take it all the way to Santa Monica.
Carl Burdick
Sep 16, 24 2:40 pm
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.
proto
Sep 16, 24 5:01 pm
good stuff, thanks!
(yeah, def not trying to be all-
encompassing with this trip...we'll get back another time for more)
graphemic
Sep 17, 24 4:44 pm
I feel a little guilty sharing some of these.
Miracle Mile: Original Farmer's Market, Park La Brea, Pan Pacific Park, Craft Contemporary, Petersen Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA, Academy Museum, Samsung Tower, Wilshire Courtyard, LOTS of galleries on La Brea, shopping around American Rag, Canter's Deli, Braindead Studios, All Seasons Brewery, Leopardo, Irv's Burgers
Downtown: Westin Bonaventure, LADWP, Grand Park, Disney Concert Hall, One Wilshire (read the wiki), Broad, Central Library, Wells Fargo & AECOM towers, Pershing Square, Grand Central Market, Bradbury Building, SOM courthouse, City Hall (you can go to the top on weekdays), MOCA, Holy Basil
West LA: The Getty, Hammer Museum, Sawtelle, Will Rogers State Park & Beach, Reel Inn, Hinano Cafe, Chez Jay
Los Feliz/Silver Lake: VDL House, Hollyhock House, Red Lion Tavern, Griffith Observatory (hike up to Mt. Hollywood!), Skylight Books, Hollywood Reservoir, Little Dom's
Other favorite restaurants: Horses, Spicy Sugar, Etra, Hibi, Damian, Dan Sung Sa, The Prince, any Astro Burger, Here's Looking at You, Northern Thai Food Club
I'll also add to the chorus that staying in one neighborhood the whole time is probably best. That's also when Metro and DASH really shine. Download the Transit app and you're golden.
sameolddoctor
Sep 17, 24 9:49 pm
I second the restaurants of Thai Town, some amazing ones there mostly in strip malls Another great one downtown is Holy Basil.
sameolddoctor
Sep 17, 24 9:52 pm
Oh Holy Basil was already on your list lol. Anyways, great list Graphemic, I am going to copy it into an email to send to prospective LA visitors. Theres so much to do in this town that its exhausting to even compile a list...
betonbrut
Sep 18, 24 1:57 pm
Canter's is a must!
graphemic
Sep 18, 24 3:56 pm
The tree ceiling!!
citizen
Sep 18, 24 5:59 pm
Great list!
OddArchitect
Sep 20, 24 10:56 am
My wife was visiting LA for work this week. She really appreciated this list! Way to go graphemic!
citizen
Sep 18, 24 5:56 pm
Speaking of Downtown... LA City Hall (1928) is a fantastic piece of architecture. Back in school, when learning about "what buildings do" (for their surroundings) in addition to what they are in themselves, an instructor explained how that 4-story podium shaped the street frontage and garden spaces down low. The 10-story "shoulders" then helped transition to the amazing tower. And yes, that top floor is an observation space. (This view is not accurately proportioned, btw.)
Growing up, local DJs called it "the pointy building" when talking about LA politics. In early practice, going for plan check on the fourth floor then needing to visit Planning downstairs, I discovered that those large lower floors were vertically connected by several convenience stairs scattered throughout; you didn't have to get back to the central bank of elevators and stairs. Very convenient for carrying out the municipal bureaucracy indeed. And these were not enclosed tower stairs-- they were several feet wide and marble-finished, connecting wide corridors at several points. All this was a great lesson in public facility design, and programming for circulation as well as net area.
When in DTLA, you should visit.
Donna Sink
Sep 19, 24 7:27 pm
citizen this description makes me want to rewatch the recent Perry Mason shows! I love how LA is portrayed in them.
citizen
Sep 23, 24 6:29 pm
Haven't seen the re-remake, Donna, though I'm intrigued. But don't forget about LA Confidential. One of my favorite movies... all that sleaze and slime, set in a wonderfully (and mostly realistically) framed view of the city and its buildings of that era.
pj_heavy
Sep 19, 24 8:12 pm
Gonna hijack this thread, we are travelling to the US end of year so far we have 3 days gap between Seattle and NYC … thinking of San Fran / good idea ? We are foodies and archi nerds. PS. we don’t want LA or Chicago in our itinerary.
sameolddoctor
Sep 19, 24 10:04 pm
Make a new thread for San Francisco ! Its obviously a great idea, very different from LA. Very walkable, lots of interesting architecture and urban design. But food and coffee wise, LA has become way better these days (biased opinion)
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)
I feel a little guilty sharing some of these.
Miracle Mile: Original Farmer's Market, Park La Brea, Pan Pacific Park, Craft Contemporary, Petersen Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA, Academy Museum, Samsung Tower, Wilshire Courtyard, LOTS of galleries on La Brea, shopping around American Rag, Canter's Deli, Braindead Studios, All Seasons Brewery, Leopardo, Irv's Burgers
Downtown: Westin Bonaventure, LADWP, Grand Park, Disney Concert Hall, One Wilshire (read the wiki), Broad, Central Library, Wells Fargo & AECOM towers, Pershing Square, Grand Central Market, Bradbury Building, SOM courthouse, City Hall (you can go to the top on weekdays), MOCA, Holy Basil
West LA: The Getty, Hammer Museum, Sawtelle, Will Rogers State Park & Beach, Reel Inn, Hinano Cafe, Chez Jay
Los Feliz/Silver Lake: VDL House, Hollyhock House, Red Lion Tavern, Griffith Observatory (hike up to Mt. Hollywood!), Skylight Books, Hollywood Reservoir, Little Dom's
Other favorite restaurants: Horses, Spicy Sugar, Etra, Hibi, Damian, Dan Sung Sa, The Prince, any Astro Burger, Here's Looking at You, Northern Thai Food Club
I'll also add to the chorus that staying in one neighborhood the whole time is probably best. That's also when Metro and DASH really shine. Download the Transit app and you're golden.
I second the restaurants of Thai Town, some amazing ones there mostly in strip malls Another great one downtown is Holy Basil.
Oh Holy Basil was already on your list lol. Anyways, great list Graphemic, I am going to copy it into an email to send to prospective LA visitors. Theres so much to do in this town that its exhausting to even compile a list...
Canter's is a must!
The tree ceiling!!
Great list!
My wife was visiting LA for work this week. She really appreciated this list! Way to go graphemic!
Speaking of Downtown... LA City Hall (1928) is a fantastic piece of architecture. Back in school, when learning about "what buildings do" (for their surroundings) in addition to what they are in themselves, an instructor explained how that 4-story podium shaped the street frontage and garden spaces down low. The 10-story "shoulders" then helped transition to the amazing tower. And yes, that top floor is an observation space. (This view is not accurately proportioned, btw.)
Growing up, local DJs called it "the pointy building" when talking about LA politics. In early practice, going for plan check on the fourth floor then needing to visit Planning downstairs, I discovered that those large lower floors were vertically connected by several convenience stairs scattered throughout; you didn't have to get back to the central bank of elevators and stairs. Very convenient for carrying out the municipal bureaucracy indeed. And these were not enclosed tower stairs-- they were several feet wide and marble-finished, connecting wide corridors at several points. All this was a great lesson in public facility design, and programming for circulation as well as net area.
When in DTLA, you should visit.
citizen this description makes me want to rewatch the recent Perry Mason shows! I love how LA is portrayed in them.
Haven't seen the re-remake, Donna, though I'm intrigued. But don't forget about LA Confidential. One of my favorite movies... all that sleaze and slime, set in a wonderfully (and mostly realistically) framed view of the city and its buildings of that era.
Gonna hijack this thread, we are travelling to the US end of year so far we have 3 days gap between Seattle and NYC … thinking of San Fran / good idea ? We are foodies and archi nerds. PS. we don’t want LA or Chicago in our itinerary.
Make a new thread for San Francisco ! Its obviously a great idea, very different from LA. Very walkable, lots of interesting architecture and urban design. But food and coffee wise, LA has become way better these days (biased opinion)