downtown...& other places

when i set off today i had a general idea of where i was going. downtown. now most people living in l.a. have yet to experience this, let alone those who visit the city. i, on the other hand, make certain i get down there each time i'm in l.a. because there is stuff to be seen. all kinds of stuff. well, the kind of stuff that i like at any rate. and again i will warn you there are a lot of buildings ahead.

this first pic is on the road to downtown. :)


then it was a walk along broadway, l.a. has one too and it has a fabulous history. it's a great thing that downtown is slowly coming to life again with renovations and lofts being opened up for city living. yah!



this building is known as the million dollar theatre, the obvious reason is because that's what it cost when it was built in 1918. wouldn't get you much these days.



then the glorious bradbury building that played host to films such as blade runner, double indemnity, lethal weapon and most recently (500) days of summer. it was completed in 1893 and it really has a beautiful interior. remember that, it's not all about the flashy outside... look within. ;)







continuing along broadway is a plethora of other old theatres in various states of disrepute (but like i said, they are being brought back to life).



don't ask!!
























a few blocks over is the biltmore hotel, it opened in 1923.









i left downtown giving myself plenty of time to get to westwood, but was given the wrong directions. so instead of west, i was headed south. fun times. had to get off at a strange exit, then using a small printed map worked out where i was before heading back west (sort of) on surface roads, until i found my way back to the 10. i was about 25 minutes late meeting julie and ang for lunch at the californian chicken cafe but i did make it. to an AWESOME salad. that i can make myself at home but i first had it here so i always have to return to make sure it hasn't changed. it hasn't. yah....




yes, i realise i really shouldn't be taking photos whilst driving (but this probably won't be the last time). had to show you the width of the 405. i'm heading south back to hawthorne. this is a no traffic moment. so very rare.


i don't know what this is. ;)


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a little later that night, julie and flynn. love these two.