What is your perfect Los Angeles day?
Here's a question for all LAVA community members to ponder: if you were going to plan an absolutely ideal day in Los Angeles, what would you do and where would you go? I'll go first.
Waking up early, I'd go downtown to the fish markets to watch sushi chefs haggle over the best albacore and hamachi, then swing by the flower market for some cut-price stems. Take the elevator to the roof of the L.A. Athletic Club to watch the sunrise (yes, you must be a member, but why aren't you?), followed by a schvitz in the sauna. Explore an old building I've never been in before, ideally in the company of a congenial staff person with a big ring of keys. Catch a matinee at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, then brunch with a pal at Musso and Frank (flannel cakes, sourdough bread, crab louie and a gimlet). Walk around Hollywood Boulevard spying on the costumed characters' interactions with one another, half-hoping a fight breaks out. Picnic at Hollywood Forever over by the Johnny Ramone statue (who I once interviewed, he was really nice); feed breadcrumbs to the tiny fish in the lake, who roil the water like wee piranha. Watch something noir at the Cinematheque, then up the hill to the Magic Castle, where I hope one of my favorite magicians like Aye Jaye, Rob Zabrecky or John Carney is performing. In between sets, explore the incredible artifacts that the Castle's co-founder Milt Larsen salvaged from the mansions of old Bunker Hill and try to get the ghostly pianist Irma to play "Sugar Sugar." That's pretty much my perfect day in LA... how about you?
My perfect day in L.A. is waking up really early in Venice. Going down to the boardwalk. Smelling the beautiful misty air while watching the waves and jogging down the bike path. Jog and walk for at least 2 hours. Stop to eat at the Sidewalk Cafe ordering breakfast. Then cruise back to my place, (that doesnt exist anymore). Go gallery hopping. Stopping first at the Santa Monica Salvation Army to thrift shop. Then off to the galleries at Bergamot or Colorado. Scoring on one or two shows maybe. Then off to the Laemmle Theatre on 2nd in Santa Monica to see a French or Polish Film. Catching the happy hour at Chaya then crash at home for a while. Going downtown to some awesome party that Golden Buddha put together where everyone is dressed like a vegetable or a fruit or animal or something. Dancing dancing Dancing and Crashing early in the A.M.
Hollywood Farmers Market in the morning...listen to Don Pepe play mexican guitar with enough emotion to bring Chavela Vargas to her knees, sample a couple dozen fruits as I make my way to the south end of the Market where the Petrojvic Blasting Company usually sets up shop to play amazing gypsy music a la Goran Bregovic. Then meander over to Amoeba a few steps away and maybe buy a Chavela Vargas or Goran Bregovic album. Make a quick stop at the Getty Center to check out the latest exhibit on my way to hike to Escondido Falls in Malibu with a picnic lunch. Swing by Venice Beach and marvel at mankinds limitless eccentricities and perhaps be inspired to adopt some new ones myself. For an evening activity...hmmm, tough choice, would be between a Philaharmonic show at the Hollywood Bowl, a Cinespia film screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, or a night with Classical Underground. And after all that some ice cream from Mashti Malones...mmmmm!
Jordan M. Jones
Proprietor, Musso & Frank Grill
My day would begin with a drive to Mt. Baldy as the sun rises, all the way to the ski lifts. Pop on the ski boots and spend the morning skiing the runs, and then have a burger and beer at the Top of the Notch restaurant while looking at the incredible view of the LA basin all the way to Catalina Island. After a few early afternoon runs, drive to Long Beach and rent a Segway. Ride the bike path along the beach, then stop at the Rock Bottom Brewery on Ocean Blvd. for a sidewalk snack. Then drive to Lakewood to catch the bus to the Hollywood Bowl, grab a picnic there and spend the evening under the stars with a glass of wine in hand, listening to great music.
Early lunch at my favorite taco place at the Grand Central market, a ride up and down Angel's Flight, a show at Bob Bakers marionette theatre followed by dinner at Cliftons and finally a concert at the Levitt Pavilion at either MacArthur Park or Pasadena.
It's not often I go to church. I was raised Catholic and I'm still a believer in my own quixotic way. But it's not often I go to church. I'm too busy kayaking or running or shopping or enjoying those Sunday afternoon openings or other events at which Los Angeles excels. But sometimes when I time it right I'll make it to mass. And there are two very different churches I enjoy. One is Saint Teresa d'Avila off Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park. I like to go to the noon mass there in Spanish. The priest is always happy to see me. He thinks he's won me over in some way I can't quite understand, especially since I showed up to enjoy a fantastic moment or two last fall when the Virgin of Guadelupe icon was in residence. The big glass picture was adorned in flowers and rimmed by Aztec dancers from a local school as I walked in. It was a truly head-spinning moment as I made my way up the aisle and into a pew. I love how close this very different world sits so close to the Neutra studios and homes just around the corner. On other spiritually-successful Sundays, when I 'm feeling more old world, I'll head downtown and up Broadway to Saint Peter's for the Italian-language mass. My dad's Italian-American and I studied Italian in college, so it's a special cultural thrill to see St. Peter's still chugging along just north of Chinatown. As you might expect, the crowd at St. Peter's is well-heeled. I'm not sure where they come from, since the Italian community moved out of downtown long ago. Sometimes a visiting priest from Italy will say mass. An Italian cultural hall is next door, where events still go on too. I love knowing that along with the winery and the Italian Hall on Olvera Street this vestige Italian-American culture is alive in the center of downtown.
Anthea Raymond
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthea-raymond
Anthea Raymond
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthea-raymond
Any time spent at Olvera Street is a good day for me!