Downtown Los Angeles suggestions

[Sarc]

I know a lot of you guys are based in and around L.A., so I thought this would be a good place to ask.

Mrs. Sarc is traveling to L.A. Sunday for a week of business. Are there any attractions of interest to an Architect (historical buildings/cafes/shops, etc) within walking/subway distance to the Millenium Biltmore?

In addition to that, how would you rate this part of town from a safety standpoint? Is this area still populated and vibrant after working hours? Is the subway a worthwhile form of transport or would it be better (i.e. safer) to travel around via taxi.

Looks like a great place, the Biltmore. I just want to make sure she'll be safe and sound (I know, odd a fellow from Detroit is worried about safety)

Thanks in advance guys!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That'll put you pretty close to the Disney Concert Hall (F. Gehry) and the Museum of Contemporary Art - both pretty cool to check out.

Downtown L.A. is a lot like most urban downtowns, after 5PM it tends to empty out except for occasional transients, n'eer-do-wells, tourists and such. It's not a bad place per se, but I'd warn her to be on her guard at all times. Common sense "street smarts".

[craigster59]

If she's cool with the Metro, riding the train around won't be a problem. Union Station is a neat place to see along with the Gamble House in Pasadena. www.gamblehouse.org

Here's a link to some other stuff: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=architecture&find_loc=Los+Angeles+CA

[scottmandue]

Not sure I would have her walk around at night by herself... 99% of the time she will just get approached by some wild eyed street person with some story why he needs a few bucks... but I don't think I would want my significant other wandering the streets alone at night... and I live here!

Union Station (train station) has some great architecture and is right next to China town and Alvera street.

I'll put on my thinking cap and see what else I can come up with.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Geez Scott, there's always the Wayfarer's Chapel, pretty much right in your back yard!

She'd need to rent a car to get to that one though.

[scottmandue]

Is she into baseball? Dodger stadium is a short cab ride.

I like Tokyo village if she is into Japanese food and trinkets.

Jeff, yeah the Wayfarer's Chapel, and a nice drive too... but I thought we were looking for stuff to do downtown.

Oh and the city library is right across the street! She should definitely go in there and look around.

[KaptKaos]

Taxis are impractical in LA. Not like other cities where you can hail a cab, in LA cabs are used mostly for airport runs. I would not have her running around on the streets at night. Daytime should be fine.

MOCA is downtown. Also the new Our Lady of Angels Cathedral. She must get to Westwood to the Getty too. Amazing place.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yea, Getty is cool 'specially if she's a Richard Meyer fan. It is interesting, but then again with a budget of $1.2 BILLION (with a "B") I suppose I could have designed something pretty cool on that site too. . .

the Lady of the Angels Cathedral is cool and located very close to the Disney Concert Hall. If you see one, you should easily be able to see them both.

+1 on the cabs. They're a rip-off in this city usually only good for to/from the airport. A few years ago it was $50 from downtown L.A. to LAX. You can just about rent a car for that if you shop around. For the day.

[techweenie]

Downtown, about 3 blocks from the Biltmore is the Bradbury building -- an architectural gem known mostly for its inclusion in Blade Runner. To the East (not a walk) is J-town and the Contemporary. Again East and North is the Union Station. Another architectural treasure also in Blade Runner. Continuing East and a bit North on Main, you'll come to the Brewery Art Complex, just before hitting the 5 freeway. There are about 300 artists there and one of the most remarkable private residences in the U.S. PM for more info.

[Hugh R]

Cab to Union Station and back is a good one. The Getty is great. She can take the subway to Universal Studios and go on the tour which is interesting, gotta do it during the daytime though.

[96740]

The Badbury is a must visit. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Bradbury_Building.html

Also check out the best burger on the west coast. "Cassell's" nothin like a PRIME burger.

[Hugh R]

96

Don't know if you ever read Lee Iacocca's book but in it when he was President of Ford, he said the Henry Ford III always ate a hamburger in the executive dining room and said that they made the best burgers. He, Iacocca was having Ford III and others over for a BBQ so he went to the executive chef and said that Ford III says he make the best burgers what's your secret? The chef took a piece of filet mignon out of the fridge, dropped it in the grinder, made it into a burger slapped it on the grill and said "any questions"/

[96740]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

96

Don't know if you ever read Lee Iacocca's book but in it when he was President of Ford, he said the Henry Ford III always ate a hamburger in the executive dining room and said that they made the best burgers. He, Iacocca was having Ford III and others over for a BBQ so he went to the executive chef and said that Ford III says he make the best burgers what's your secret? The chef took a piece of filet mignon out of the fridge, dropped it in the grinder, made it into a burger slapped it on the grill and said "any questions"/

Never heard that. Very cool.

[speeder]

The Biltmore itself is a very cool hotel with a nice bar, one of my first thrills in L.A. back in about '82 was working as a valet for the Grammys downtown and the after-party @ The Biltmore. There is so much cool stuff to see in this town that it's hard to know where to start, but just in and around DT my suggestion would be to walk (daytime) down by the Civic Center/Pershing Square, which is footsteps from the Biltmore, see city hall and the Disney concert hall, maybe the LA Times building which is very cool, (Times Mirror Square), Union Station and Chinatown are must-sees. Unless she is a vegititarian, she should have lunch @ Phillipe's Original which is the place that invented the French Dip and is very old LA and cheap. Lots of great pics on walls and always cops and people going to the Dodgers game in there, real local flavor. Right across the street from Union Station, just have her jump on the redline (subway) across the street from Hotel and get off at Union Station. Walk one block up hill after eating and you're in Chinatown, walk-off lunch touring that and Olivera St. (Oldest street in LA).

Great weather here lately, perfect for walking around.

[96740]

Almost forgot the jewelry district. One of only 3 or 4 places on the planet to get jewelry as cheap as this.

[Sarc]

Thanks, everyone, for all the replies--I've forwarded them along to her and she plans on taking it all in provided she gets out of the office.

[sammyg2]

I only go to LA if I absolutely have to but alot of that has to do with crowds. I hate crowds. And traffic.
I hate crowds and traffic.
And rude people. I hate crowds, traffic, and rude people.
And bums.