Arts & Culture Scene
On The Upswing
By José Martinez
A thriving metropolis by day, downtown Los Angeles is the city’s hub for business, international trade, culture, media, and fashion, while also serving as the epicenter for nightlife and sports when the sun goes down.
Downtown Los Angeles, like the rest of the City of Angels, is broken up into numerous sections with personalities all their own, each possessing its own unique function to the city, such as the Financial District, the Fashion District, and the Wholesale District, all adjacent to populous and vibrant neighborhoods like Chinatown, Koreatown, and Little Tokyo.
Los Angeles, known as the “Creative Capital of the World” (according to a USC Stevens Institute for Innovation study), gets its reputation from the fact that “there are more artists, writers, filmmakers, actors, dancers, and musicians living and working in Los Angeles than any other city at any time in the history of civilization.” Therefore, it should come as no surprise that all the creative folk in town love to come out and play, and several of their destinations of choice include the forward-thinking art on display at MOCA (which recently displayed a wonderful photo retrospective of Dennis Hopper), to fine ethnic fare at Grand Central Market, to concerts at the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall (1) –home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Even with all the long-standing cultural landmarks, it used to be that Angelinos only worked in downtown and immediately vacated the area once “off the clock,” as Downtown L.A. wasn’t anywhere you wanted to be when the sun went down. However, all of that changed a decade ago with the creation of Staples Center, home to the Lakers, Kings, Clippers, and Sparks, as well as numerous high-profile concerts (along the lines of mega acts like U2, Lady Gaga, and Mexican rockers Maná, who hold the record for most consecutive sold out concerts at the arena tied with Neil Diamond!), as well as popular events taking place throughout the year.
The Downtown landscape and culture quickly transformed, giving way to hipster bars and foodie fave spots, to the booming L.A. LIVE, which contains several cutting-edge restaurants, concert venues, The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles, JW Marriott Properties, and the GRAMMY Museum, with its rotating and ever-fascinating exhibits. The GRAMMY Museum also boasts stellar public programs including intimate performances by the likes of Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, Ozomatli, Oscar-winner Ryan Bingham, and Annie Lennox, to name a few.
Architecture buffs should also not miss a visit to the Bradbury Building, with its impressive ironworks and skylight. This structure was on prominent, iconic display in the 1982 cult favorite Blade Runner, not to mention film noir classics Double Indemnity and D.O.A. as well as Jack Nicholson films Chinatown and Wolf; to the Million Dollar Theater, one of the first movie palaces built in the United States, conveniently located across the street from the Bradbury.
Other popular cultural landmarks, perfect for self-guided tours, include the Central Library, originally constructed in 1926 with influences of ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture and Angels Flight, an incline railway and engineering marvel connecting Hill Street and California Plaza that finally re-opened after a fatal accident in 2001, now, once again, offering 25-cent one-way rides.
No matter what your inclination might be, from discount clothing or jewelry, museums to highfalutin pubs and restaurants, to grand architecture and first-rate performance venues, Downtown is front and center, perfectly situated for any and all of your cultural cravings.
GRAMMY Museum {4}
800 West Olympic Blvd at L.A. LIVE
Explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the GRAMMY Awards. The museum offers four floors of cutting edge exhibits, interactive experiences, and films creating a one-of-a-kind visitor experience.
MOCA: The Museum of Contemporary Art {2}
250 South Grand Avenue
The only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art. MOCA engages artists and audiences through an ambitious program of exhibitions, collection, education, and publication.
Orpheum Theater
842 South Broadway
One of the city’s most venerable landmarks, The Orpheum Theater has been home to a young Judy Garland’s 1933 vaudeville performance to a recent filming of “American Idol.” This renowned venue has hosted an array of concerts, film festivals, variety shows, awards shows, and a slew of shoots.
Union Station {3}
810 North Alameda Street
Built in 1939 and considered the last great railroad station in the country, you’ll recognize this place from numerous movies. The station’s impressive architecture and the convenient Metrolink located below make this a good excuse to ride the trains to the station as you embark about town.
Olvera Street
845 North Alameda Street
This is the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles and is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. The space was converted to a colorful Mexican marketplace in 1930 where you can enjoy addictive Mexican sweets, margaritas and fine spicy fare.
José Martinez is an L.A. native who has covered the local scene and beyond for 15 years. A published author, José is currently penning rapper Bizzy Bone’s memoirs.
