kim-musings...: sunday funday: dtla adventure day ... the day before labor day edition

So my good friend Diana, who moved home to Long Island two years ago, is back this week for a whirlwind tour of friends and fun. Sunday, we decided to reinstate an old tradition and took the metro to Pershing Square, got off and wandered. The only plan was lunch at Clifton's... everything else was just spotted as we wandered looking for stuff Diana had never seen before.

The Broad

We didn't have a reservation and didn't go in, but I took this pretty awesome shot of the outside. One day I'll go in and take some awesome shots in the Infinity Room.

Disney Concert Hall

There wasn't anything going on the middle of the day except tours, but we had our own personal tour guide, James, who took us to the public park above the back of the hall and up onto the roof, and through the maze of Frank Gehry architecture to see the spot where the original shiny metal (that blinded commuters when the sun hit it after the building was completed) met the new "buffed" less-blinding metal.

This beautiful water sculpture is a rose of broken blue tiles titled "A Rose for Lilly ... Frank Gehry's tribute to Lillian Disney, a gift of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

"A Rose for Lilly" is in the park above and behind the hall. Look for the stairs on the side of the building closest to The Broad, go up and to the right.

Here's where the original shiny metal meets the buffed out metal... It's on the same level as the park, heading towards The Music Center side of the building.

Shiny metal turned warped selfie mirror

Angel's Flight

Sadly, Angel's Flight has been shut down and is in gross dis-repair. Stupid kids have tagged the windows of the trains and there is trash left by the homeless all over the side of the hill and the stairs that parallel the tracks up the hill. But from here it looks cool.

The Bradbury Building

After walking by the Broad and Disney Concert Hall, Diana said, where is "that other cool building?" It's two blocks down the street. My friend Cwennen used to work here so I've been inside the private offices. But the attrium is by far the coolest part anyway. "Blade Runner" memories anyone??

Clifton's Cafeteria

Going to the recently remodeled Clifton's was the only "must-do" on the "to-do" list for the day. I haven't been here in years and wanted to see it in all it's refurbished glory. It was really cool in that retro way, and most of the food was pretty good too.

The restored exterior

- Carb-fest-o-rama -
Thanksgiving dinner for Day-Before-Labor-Day lunch, with mac-n-cheese instead of mashed potatoes from the Cafeteria.

Clifton's Meets Targaryen

The 3rd Floor Gothic Bar

After we ate, James said to quietly follow him and took us being a secret door (note: there are a lot of secret doors at Clifton's.) It led to a stairway up to the fourth floor, which is still being renovated. The open area at the top houses another bar surrounding the top of the "tree."

Then there was another door leading to a secret "Closed Area" housing an amazing Tiki retro room and bar, still being remodeled. It was like a cross between Indiana Jones and a retro carnival arcade. According to the website, this is the "Pacific Seas" bar. I would book a private party here in a second!

The top of the tree, as seen from the closed 4th Floor bar

The "Sorry this area is closed" sign that James "must not have seen" ;) I sure hope this giant Tiki idol isn't one of those "Don't trespass here" cursed idols like from "The Brady Bunch"

Los Angeles Central Library

From Clifton's we went to The Last Bookstore and then to the LA Central Library, which in addition to housing millions of books, has really cool architecture, a mini-museum and a beautiful art-deco rotunda.

The Rotunda's ceiling

The elevators are wallpapered in old card catalog cards.

Old magazine covers from the Hollywood art exhibit in the mini-museum

Foreign movie posters from the mini-museum

Sadness. Someone ripped the side of it too.
This was in the music, film and art library room on the 2nd floor.

Cool Trends Spotted on our DTLA Adventure Day

Owls

When James, Diana, Daryl and I are together, we spot owls, who are trendy now because we decided they should be four years ago on a trip to Ojai. These were spotted at Clifton's in the Cabinet of Curiosities (aka the gift shop) and one of the artist spaces at The Last Bookstore.

Signs

Some are informational. Some are philosophical. All are interesting.

(Note: That's the line for EggSlut wrapping outside, into the Grand Central Market and all the way around its stall. One day I'll be able to eat there... at like 3pm on a Monday.. when it's raining. Le sigh.)