Andrew Delaplaine - Los Angeles / Downtown: The Delaplaine 2014 Long Weekend Guide

Los Angeles / Downtown

The Delaplaine

2014

Long Weekend

Guide

Koreatown Chinatown Wilshire LittleTokyo La Brea

No business listed in this guide has provided anything free to the author.

Andrew Delaplaine

Senior Editors

Renee & Sophie Delaplaine

Senior Writer

James Cubby

Copyright 2014 by Gramercy Park Press - Allrights reserved.

Certain content licensed by Creative Commonsper this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founders%27_Copyright

Please submit corrections, additions orcomments to

Published on Smashwords

Formattedby

* * *

All rights reserved. Without limiting therights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without theprior written permission of both the copyright owner and the abovepublisher of this book.

Smashwords Edition LicenseNotes

This eBook is licensed for your personalenjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away toother people. If you would like to share this book with anotherperson, please purchase an additional copy for each person youshare it with. Thank you for respecting the author'swork.

* * *

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAPS

* * *

L.A. is a diverse city full of manycultures, and nowhere is this more vividly illustrated than inDowntown.

This once-derelict no mans land hasrejuvenated itself as the area attracted artists looking for cheaprents and big spaces where they could practice their crafts andhone their skills. Be sure to check out Gallery Row along Springand Main streets and West Fifth for a wide array of excitinggallery offerings. Theres even a cinema that features Koreanmovies.

After the artists and galleries beganopening, the restaurants and quirky retail spaces, cafes andbarsall followed, along with the excitement of a newbeginning.

Here youll find a mixture of old andnew.

Youll see Loft for Lease signs that areattracting people who are sick of the hideous commute from thesuburbs. They are moving here in droves. They work in offices inthe Bunker Hill area, which used to be where the moneyed elitelived in mansion in the early 20th Century. Its now a performingarts center and a financial hub. There are plazas and fountains andopen pedestrian friendly areas that give onto the Disney ConcertHall.

Part of this area is called LowerDowntown, and its connected to Bunker Hill by a 1-minute ridecosting 25-cents aboard Angels Flight, the black and orange railwaybuilt in 1901 to transport residents and visitors to shops andrestaurants only 2 blocks away.

This area is beginning to look more likeSeattles burgeoning downtown, or Portlands, percolating with anenergy the area hasnt seen in decades.

Some of the great places to see besides theDisney Concert Hall are Grammy Museum, Chinatown, Olvera Street,Little Tokyo, Japanese-American Museum, Koreatown, La Brea,Chinatown, the Music Center, Grand Central Market, Museum ofContemporary Art and Pershing Square.

Did you know that Little Tokyo is the firstethnically Japanese neighborhood in the U.S.? (There are twoothers, one in San Francisco and the other in San Jose.)

You can find anything and everything inDowntown.

* * *

FROM AIRPORT

The FlyAway bus connects LAX to UnionStation. It just a few bucks. www.lawa.org - no reservationsnecessary and they run 7 days a week. Or take a taxi.

In Greater L.A., a car is definitelyessential. Downtown, not so much. The public transport system isvery efficient and accessible. In Downtown, if thats where yourelooking to stay, you probably wont need a car. While L.A. itselfis considered huge, Downtown isnt very big. This is the only partof L.A. that doesnt require a car.

All freeways point to Downtown.

The Metro bus goes everywhere and is $1.50 aride. www.metro.net

There is also the Dash shuttle. 50-cents aride. www.ladottransit.com

The commuter rail is known as the Metrolinkand 6 of the 7 lines end at Union Station in Downtown LA's ElPueblo district. www.metro.net

Subway and rail service is also an option toget to Downtown L.A. Five of the six subway and rail lines in theMetro Rail end in Downtown L.A., either at Union Station or7th/Metro Center. Its $1.50 a ride. www.metro.net

Full information from:

Los Angeles County Metropolitan TransitAuthority

www.metro.net

* * *

AIRBNB.COM

www.airbnb.com

Definitely look into the scourge ofhoteliers everywhere in the world, this site that alerts frugaltravelers to bargain lodgings in peoples homes almost anywhere inthe world. You might find a flat a block from Champs lyses thatsa third of the price of a small room at the Georges V and with alot more charm.

Voil!

You will need to do your research, but thegood thing is that you pay Airbnb.com directly, not the personhosting you.

They get protections from you (if youre acrazy person and trash the hosts apartment, you will pay dearly)and you get protection from them (in case they offer something notavailable in the rental).

All in all, a wonderful meeting of the mindsfor savvy travelers looking for bargains and people in cities wheretravelers want to go who want to maximize the revenue potential ofthat spare room.

I have several friends of mine who do thisin Miami, on South Beach where I live, and they are all happy withthe entire experience.

AMERICAS BEST VALUE INN LOS ANGELES

1123 W. 7th St., Los Angeles:213-624-8474

www.americasbestvalueinn.com

This hotel features a swimming pool, 200square feet of meeting space and business center, a/c, cable TV,coffee maker, business center, free breakfast, restaurant, interiorroom entrance. Non-smoking rooms. Self-parking. Wi-Fi in publicareas.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

120 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles:213-629-1200

www.doubletree.hilton.com