What’s up in downtown LA?
May 15, 2004 | 12:00am
Ooh la la LA! There’s a whole lot happening in Los Angeles, the second largest city of the US, and gracious host to this year’s TIA’s International Pow Wow. Members of the Philippine delegation, led by man of the world Ray Nishihira, general manager of Northwest Airlines-Philippines, could only gape at the sights of a reimaged and revitalized downtown LA and let out a collective "Wow!"
It’s a sunshiny day in LA – and a great day for walking, or moseying down the road. "Who says you need a car to get around LA?" says the blurb from LA’s revved-up tourism campaign that’s increased the number of downtown visitors from three million to 11 million yearly over the last decade.
So, shall we walk down downtown LA? It’s a perfect day in LA, it seems the Filipinos brought with them their famous sunshine. Perfect, except for one detail: The shoes we’re wearing are not made for walking. Oh, well, better sore (feet) than sorry!
If Paris has its Champs-Elysees, LA has its Grand Avenue. Indeed, Grand Avenue is in the midst of a grand transformation that would showcase LA as the city for the new millennium. The once, now and future LA is here at Grand Avenue.
Over $2 billion in new projects are currently underway to make the downtown area an even more pulsating and diverse center. An authentic urban center where people can live, work, play and, yes, pray. For one, on Bunker Hill, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. For another, those with an eye for architecture (and yes, even jaded tourists) will simply adore the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry, its awesome curves of stainless steel sweeping the LA skyline. A bit of trivia on Gehry: He’s fond of sailing, which probably accounts for the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s exterior panels looking like wing-on-wing sails, its interior ceiling suggesting billowing clouds and its lobby resembling the belly of a whale.
Add to these twin attractions a new Federal Courthouse, a new headquarters building for the California Department of Transportation, a renovated Hall of Justice and a new performing arts high school on Fort Moore Hill. Then, too, there’s the renovated (to the tune of $300 million) City Hall. All told, all these projects represent an investment of some $1.7 billion to breathe new life to LA downtown.
Throughout downtown, one can feel the winds of change blowing. Over on the northern side, the county has added a Cultural and Performing Arts Center to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Park, already a popular tourist spot visited by over two million people every year. Here you’ll find the remnants of an early city, historic buildings that bear witness to the city’s ethnic roots.
The Grand Avenue project also includes the creation of a 16-acre park, stretching from City Hall to the top of Bunker Hill.
Certainly not culturally challenged (despite its glitz-and-glam tag as the showbiz capital of America), LA boasts more museums per capita than any city in the world.
At the southern end of downtown, the LA Sports, Convention and Entertainment District, including Staples Center (home stadium to Shaq O’Neal’s LA Lakers) is even more vibrant than ever. The new district includes hotels, theaters, an outdoor plaza, an expanded Convention Center, nightclubs and restaurants. Truly, in LA, there’s something to nourish the body, soul and spirit.
Arriving in LA at lunchtime, our initial concern was to feed the tummy. But more on that a wee bit later. The only item on our itinerary upon our arrival is, yes, a shopping treat at Glendale Galleria, that’s got 250 stores and eateries under one stylish roof, like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Robinsons May and JCPenney.
Checking in at Holiday Inn City Center, we find out to our utter delight that our hotel (and home for the next five days) is surrounded by restaurants that cater to all tastes and budgets. For instance, perched on the 32nd floor of Transamerica Center is Windows, which commands a breathtaking view of the Los Angeles cityscape. Ambience is certainly on the menu of this award-winning (Best Romantic Restaurant in 2002) fine-dining restaurant, bar, banquet and special events facility, that serves some of the most succulent prime New York steaks as well as grilled Maine lobsters, tarragon and mustard-infused jumbo scallops, among other bestsellers. But because we’re on a perpetual diet, my gracious host Hannah Esperida, a Filipina who’s with the State Bar of California, and I settle for some fresh greens and a filling bowl of mushroom soup.
Around the corner, on Figueroa St. is a cozy little jazz joint called Ciudad where happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and where the tapas (and tamales y empanadas) are simply tops.
Then there’s Tesoro Trattoria, voted Best Italian Restaurant for its antipasti, panini, pasta and risotto, insalate and pizza offerings.
Food lovers can’t imagine LA without El Cholo Mexican restaurant, which since 1923 has been wowing visitors to LA with its enchiladas, comidas especiales, fajitas, tortillas and quesadillas.
To venture a bit farther, there’s Wolfgang Puck’s latest fine-dining place on Hollywood & Highland: Vert, a brasserie that mixes French and Italian influences.
But if all this is much too rich for you, there’s the low-carb dining just launched by Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. A most extensive line of low-carb offerings, Lo-Carb Lifestyle by Sheraton covers breakfast to dinner and in between (think no-buns burger, portobello chicken burger and seared Norwegian salmon).
These are but a few of the countless restos in LA and there’s really nothing like walking to burn all those calories from all those gastronomic indulgences. So, shall we walk some more?
Mindy Rosen and Hall Balstian, vice president and director of economic development of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District provide with more info as they give us a VIP tour of downtown lofts. We learn that vacant commercial buildings are being converted into residential space. It’s a fact repeated by our longtime good friend Mario Baluyot, now an LA resident, as he gives us a night tour of his LA.
Downtown LA’s development guidelines spell out, among others, the following goals:
• Create an inspiring cultural and civic district to serve as a central location for cultural and civic events for all of Southern California.
• Increase the downtown employment base and the number of downtown visitors, especially those drawn by the area’s cultural amenities.
• Improve access and parking in the cultural district for residents and visitors alike.
• Create a pedestrian-friendly, safe environment that draws downtown workers, residents and visitors to street-level retail stores and restaurants.
• Complement the area’s existing cultural amenities – the Music Center of Los Angeles County, The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Colburn School of Performing Arts and the Walt Disney Concert Hall – with a variety of entertainment venues and dining establishments that will bring a vibrant nightlife to the civic center area.
A beehive of building activity is going on in downtown LA, with over 9,000 residential units either under construction or in design. A mixed-use neighborhood is certainly on the rise in downtown LA.
And this neighborhood promises to be safer and more pedestrian-friendly, too. For instance, the Grand Avenue offers a great place where office people can unwind after a hard day’s work, families can stroll and enjoy an outdoor concert, coffee hounds can have their caffeine lift in sidewalk cafes or people can simply relax under the shade of trees.
Sidewalks are being widened to become gracious promenades and make way for outdoor cafes and other street-related activities. Trees and more greenery are being planted.
The guidelines envision the creation of a unique and attractive mix of retail and entertainment uses at the street level, bringing together both young and old.
And speaking of the latter, the Metro and LA County Commission are going the extra mile to mobilize (literally and figuratively) the senior citizens. Metro’s "Seniors on the Move" program has introduced LA County senior citizens to the Metro Bus and Metro Rail in their local communities.
Yes, when in LA, simply think Metro – for indeed, life is too short for long names. Metro is improving pedestrian environments throughout LA county and pushing walking as a safe and healthy alternative to driving.
Ah LA! Could there be a better place to live, work and, yes, walk?
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