An Afternoon at Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks is a natural outcropping of rocks located in Northern Los Angeles. Thanks to it's proximity Hollywood, it is arguably the most filmed rock formation in the world. 

Vasquez Rocks is a 932 acre (377 hectares) Los Angeles County park, open to the public. Admission is free. 

Last Fall I was in Northern Los Angeles County, visiting friends while my now 16 year old was at Six Flags Magic Mountain. In the afternoon, a couple of buddies wanted to visit Vasquez Rocks. I lived in Los Angeles for twenty years, had seen Vasquez Rocks in numerous movies, but had never actually been there. I jumped at the opportunity. 

Parking is free, the park is open from sunrise to sunset. 

Yours truly with my friend Kevin (in the orange), who works as a minister in Guam. 

Kevin with our mutual friend's 7 year old. Kids love exploring Vasquez Rocks. 

Another view. Not much shade or vegetation. I'd avoid hiking around in the middle of the day, especially in the hot summer months. 

Photo credit: http://home.znet.com

I can not think of another rock formation any where else in the world that's been in more movies, films, and television shows that Vasquez Rocks. Perhaps one of the most memorable was the original Star Trek series, when Captain Kirk (played by no other than William Shatner) fought the Gorn. THAT was awesome. 

http://home.znet.com 

In that same episode, Captain Kirk found some bamboo (which normally only grows in the tropics) to finish off the Gorn. Federation: 1, Gorn: 0. 

Here's a link to an incredible list of the 150+ movies, TV shows, and music videos that have been filmed at Vasquez Rocks. 

Vasquez Rocks falls within what's known as the 30 Mile Studio Zone, which is used by film industry unions to determine per diem rates and driving distances for crew members.

The center of the studio zone is located at the southeast corner of Beverly and La Cienega in Los Angeles, California. More than 90 cities and parts of three counties including Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties fall within the 30-Mile Studio Zone. 

Kids - including big kids - enjoy exploring Vasquez Rocks. Really true. Pastor Kevin having a fun time. 

My friends, Kevin & Kevin, and I - enjoying the last hour of day light before the park closed. 

Good times. I definitely recommend a visit. 

A final view heading out at sunset. Here's a link to the park's website. 

© 2016 www.experiencingla.com

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Re-Experiencing Los Angeles: Historic Downtown Core (Part VI)

A couple years back I was in downtown Los Angeles and had some time to walk around the Historic Core. Here's a link to Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V of this multiple part series of my little stroll around the area back in November of 2013.

On the corner of Main and 6th Street, the Pacific Electric Lofts. 

Ourdoor dining. According google maps, this section of Main Street is the northern most border of Los Angeles' Skid Row. The change is this area is incredible. 

Pacific Electric Lofts is located in the former headquarters of the Pacific Electric. The Pacific Electric - also known as the Red Car system - was a massive interurban and streetcar system. During the 1920's, it was the largest electric railroad system in the world. With over 1000 miles of track, it served all of metro Los Angeles - amazing when you remember that L.A's population in the 1920's was 1/10th of what it is today. The 1905 ten story building's large footprint made it the largest building west of the Mississippi until the 1950's. It was converted into loft apartments in 2005 with 314 units. 

Across the street, the backside of City Lofts, the original Mortgage Guarantee Building built in 1912 and reopened in 2004 a a live/work residence. The entrance is on Spring Street. 

Another view of the "back" of Spring Street. My guess is that this surface parking lot is in the cross hairs of development - which, honestly, is a good thing. 

The Cecil Hotel. Constructed in 1924, the hotel has apparently recently renamed and rebranded it's as "Stay on Main" - a 600 room budget hotel. Rooms go for about $125 a night. For downtown Los Angeles, that's budget. Not everyone can afford $300 a night. 

Looking north on Main Street. A security guard asked if I was a location scout (for a studio). No, just a blogger who enjoys taking photos of Los Angeles. 

Through the historic buildings on Spring Street, a view of the US Bank Tower. At 73 stories, it is the tallest building west of Chicago. It opened in 1989 and has been featured in numerous films, including "Independence Day." Current plans call for an observation deck on the top floors, to be opened in later this year (2016) and open to the general public. 

Entrance to "Stay on Main" - unfortunately, the reviews are not very kind. Some people loved it, some hated (really hated) it. It's really a budget hotel/hostel. Yes, you can get rooms really cheap with shared baths. If you're the backpacking through Europe type, "Stay on Main" might work out. But either way, I'd suggest reading the reviews - and the history of the building - first!

Around the corner on 6th Street, located in the Pacific Electric Lofts Building, is Cole's French Dip Sandwiches. 

Cole's claim to fame is that they invented the French Dipped Sandwiches. Which is exactly what Philippe's - located a couple miles north on the other side of Downtown Los Angeles - claims. 

You can decide for yourself. 

Back on Main Street, located in the Santa Fe Building on the corner of Main and 6th, is Pussy and Pooch, a really high end pet store.

One of the last stops before I made it back to my car was an "on location" movie shoot. This is actually very common in Los Angeles. 

Lots of big trailers. I asked the security officer what was being film, but he didn't know. Seriously, movies are often filmed using a pseudonym - a fake name - to avoid publicity (and paparazzi). 

A final look back down Main Street. The 1914 Rossyln Hotel - now the Rosslyn Lofts. As a hotel, the Rossyln, and it's annex across the street, was at one time the largest hotel on the west coast, featuring 1100 rooms.

Back at my car (the white Honda). You can see the orange Raw Materials art store sign. 

Here's a map of my "little walk" - which I accomplished in less than an hour. 

The meter was ticking - and I did not want to get a ticket. 

This part of downtown Los Angeles - the Historic Core - is amazing. My one hour (really, not even that) does not do justice to everything there is to see and experience.

Growing up in Los Angeles in the late 1960's and 1970's, and attending UCLA in the early 1980's, I avoided this part of downtown. Sure, I walked down Broadway a couple of times for the Latino vibe and feel. But never down Spring or Main. Back in the day, that was a no-go zone. 

If I did go downtown (most of my friends from the westside did not) it was to walk around the Bonaventure, or some of the shinny new buildings on Bunker Hill. 

While Bunker Hill is slowly filling in (it's only taken fifty years), I'd honestly rather spend time in the Historic Core. Much more interesting, more history, more people, more life. 

© 2016 www.experiencingla.com

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Let Justice Roll Down: MLK Day 2016

E. Colden Ave. at S. Avalon Bl, Los Angeles - photo credit Camilo Jose Vergara 

When Martin Luther King, Jr., confronted racism in the white church in the south, he did not call on Southern churches to become more secular. Read his sermons and "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." and see how he argued. He invoked God's moral law and the Scripture. He called white Christians to be more true to their own beliefs and to realize what the Bible really teaches. 

He did not say "Truth is relative and everyone is free to determine what is right and wrong for them." 

If everything is relative, there would have been no incentive for white people in the South to give up their power. 

Rather, Dr. King invoked the prophet Amos, who said, "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream" (Amos 5:24). 

The greatest champion of justice in our era knew the antidote to racism was not less Christianity, but a deeper and truer Christianity.

Tim Keller, The Reason for God (pp 64-65). 

originally posted 1/17/11

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Re-Experiencing Los Angeles: Historic Downtown Core (Part V)

What makes a great city?

Two years ago, I was back in Los Angeles and had a bit of time to explore the Historic Downtown Core. Here's a link to Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV of this multi part series. 

This week continues back along Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. 

Above, the 14 story 1927 Financial Center Building, located on the corner of Spring & 7th Streets. 

Looking north (technically, northeast) up Spring Street. 

I crossed the street at the light - to walk along the east side (sunnier sider) of the street. 

The bright green (and somewhat faded) of the bike lane on Spring. 

Apparently, the one group unhappy with is the local location scouts and studio executives. Spring Street's historic architecture often fills in for New York or other East Coast cities, both present day and historic. The bright green paint - faded or not - makes this much harder for Hollywood to make this happen. 

The 1921 Spring Tower Lofts - apparently, one of very first live/work lofts in Los Angeles. 

L.A. Cafe - featuring outdoor dining on the street. My assumption is that this was one of the very first restaurants in the historic core to include outdoor dining right on the street. 

Mural outside of Premier Towers - another residential tower. 

Another view of Spring Street Lofts, and L.A. Cafe. 

Remember what I said about Spring Street being a popular filming location? Really true. 

"Notice of Filming" - despite major tax breaks from other cities to lure filming away from Los Angeles, L.A. remains the center of the entertainment industry, with up to 100 different commercials, movies, and TV shows being filmed on L.A. city streets on a given day. 

Premier Towers - consisting of two 1920's era buildings that are now one apartment building. Yes, looks like something straight out of Manhattan. 

Six Hundred - a women's clothing store - is located at 600 S. Spring Street. Easy enough. I love the the completely open door. This was November. Similar "open door" weather can be found in June as well. Of course, there's no doubt a time when the front doors need to be shut - winter days can be cold, late summer can be hot - but with it's Mediterranean Climate, Los Angeles (along with the rest of Southern California) has some of the best weather in the world. 

It's awesome how Six Hundred has fully taken advantage of this. Walking around downtown, it seems like it's only a matter of time until similar retail will eventually begin to take hold one block west along Broadway. 

Across the street: Market on Spring, Dry Cleaning, Syrup Expresso Bar, and City Grill. Spring Street - especially between 6th and 7th Streets - seems like ground zero for the gentrification occurring in the Historic Downtown Core. 

I came across this interesting quote from Carol Schatz, who has served as the Chair of the Los Angeles Central City Association since 1995:  

"Now [in downtown Los Angeles] we are getting shopping options. In the very beginning it was bargain shopping. Now we are seeing some higher end. That is great. What I think is going to be key is making sure that it's both eclectic retail and that it appeals to all income levels. I am not interested in created a yuppie town." 

The Los Angeles Times article (which was published a few days after I posted this) focuses on the major changes in downtown Los Angeles, citing both the Staples Center and the 1999 adaptive-reuse ordinance that made it easier to renovate old office buildings into housing as the two most important reasons for these changes. The entire article can be found here. 

Outdoor dining near the corner of Spring and 6th Streets. 

Before turning the corner, looking back down Spring Street. 

North corner of Spring and 6th - the 11 story 1910 Pacific Southwest Bank Building. Street level retail includes Springtime in New York Cafe. The upper floors are now SB Manhattan Lofts.

Looking west up 6th Street - on the left, you can just catch the EE of the Starbucks Coffee on the corner. On the right is a street level view of the Pacific Southwest Bank Building.

As a Christian, I posed this question a couple of months ago and think it's worth asking again: what makes a great city? 

What elements, what public policy, what sort of planning, zoning, and design elements provide for a great city? And create the greatest human flourishing in an urban environment? How are neighborhoods laid out? Roads, parking, public transportation? 

How does this affect the poor or economically marginalized - as well as the general populace? What can we learn from other places -- and from history? How does a Christian world-view affect this, if at all? 

Most of the building in the Historic Core were built in the 1910's and 1920's. Are there any design elements from the buildings or even the zoning that could be applied elsewhere in the city - even in such a car centric city as Los Angeles? 

I would have love to have spent more time exploring Spring Street, but I parked at a meter and was running out of time. I turned the corner and headed east on 6th Street. Here's more commercial - coming right out to the street. In that sense, it reminds me of the retail along Broadway - but catering to a very different clientele. 

Round 2 Los Angeles - got a lot of good reviews on Yelp. Once again, retail right out to the street. 

Across the street is the 12 story 1913 Lloyd's Bank Building. located on the corner of Spring and 6th Streets. Retail at street level. The building has been renamed as SB Lofts Building, with 1-3 bedroom rental units (on-line reviews aren't too positive). 

Backside of the building on the corner of Spring and 6th Streets. I was pleasantly surprised how clean this Downtown L.A. alley was. Apparently, according to google maps, this two block alleyway is called Harlem Place. 

Looking east (technically, southeast) on 6th Street. The shopping cart of belongings was the first real reminder that Los Angeles' skid row was just a three blocks away. In fact, the reason I was downtown was because I wanted to visit the Union Rescue Mission. 

A final view of the Lloyd's Bank Building. 

More next time in Part VI of our multi-part series on the Historic Downtown Core. 

© 2016 www.experiencingla.com

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