Deck the halls of DTLA

Los Angeles City Hall at right mirrored with Christmas tree

Thanks to my friend SB for walking around Downtown Los Angeles (otherwise known as DTLA) with me today. It’s no secret I love downtown and I especially love it at Christmas… otherwise know as “The Holidays.” As anybody who knows me is aware, I embrace all religions and follow none. But I was brought up with Christmas, so that’s the way it is!

The above photo advertises El Dia de Los Muertos which is celebrated at Grand Park with installations honoring the dead, a Mexican tradition. The N.Y.E.L.A. poster is for the New Years Eve party hosted at Grand Park. At right is the reflection of the fountain.

A reflection in a window of the fountain with Christmas decoration on the left half. I always love Christmas with palm trees! After being too hot, today the temperature was around 70F (21C), my perfect temperature!

We walked over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This was the window of the gift shop. We assumed the colorful tubes represent the pipes of the organ in the hall. And you can see the reflection of City Hall peeking up behind the pipes.

Decorations in the window of the gift shop with reflections of clouds and palm trees. How Southern California is this?

The exterior of the Broad Museum mirroring a reflection of the building next to it.

We walked over to California Plaza to look at the decorations. The Angels Flight train was coming up the track.

City Hall in the background.

Christmas trees reflected in the pool at California Plaza.

Christmas tree and wreath inside the building with reflections from outside.

Another tree inside lobby of a building with reflections from outside. Obviously I’m obsessed with reflections!

Decorations inside the lobby, yes, with more reflections!

Looking upwards from California Plaza

Next we moved on to Grand Central Market. Loved this neon ad for Frontier Whiskey!

Grand Central Market Christmas Tree

One Bunker Hill didn’t disappoint with their decorations. But the coffee bar was closed for the weekend.

One Bunker Hill is one of my favorite buildings any time of the year.

A very decent tree at the US Bank Building, the “real” tallest building in LA.

We then transported ourselves over to the Biltmore Hotel. We had lunch there at Smeraldi’s. We each ordered the mushroom bisque.

Absolute heaven. And we split the prawn sandwich. Equally as good. Just enough food. Would do that again for sure!

I adore the Biltmore. I could live there!

Now this is what I call a Christmas tree. The photo really doesn’t do it justice. Sorry.

They do a really great “tea” in the afternoons.

Christmas in LA cannot be complete without a visit to the skating rink at Pershing Square. The little kids have “penguins” to hold on to. It’s great to see them fall and get up again and still enjoy themselves. A lesson there for all of us!

Looking up from Pershing Square.

Pacific Mutual always has some good decorations. I love all the 1920s buildings in downtown but this one is special to me as when I did my LA Conservancy training this was the building I had to present in order to become a docent. It’s hard for me to believe now but I was so nervous I almost decided to quit the program before I had to give my talk. Glad I didn’t!

After this we visited the brand new Wilshire Grand Hotel. We took the elevator up to the lobby on the 70th floor. I had a bad vertigo attack looking out of the windows as there are no railings to hold on to. Why not??? In any case it was horribly hazy from all the fires so I could not have taken any photos anyway. But it would certainly be an impressive view on a clear day. Some other time, for sure!

Christmas at the Grove

It’s been a while since I posted anything to my blog or caught up with my blogging friends. It’s been one thing after another… mostly good but some not so great… the way life goes.

I’ve missed everybody.

So we reboot.

Last Saturday I enjoyed the Christmas lights and entertainment at The Grove with some friends. We ate dinner at Canter’s Deli on Fairfax. Canter’s has been serving food since 1931. Been decades since I was there last. I was surprised at how reasonable the prices are. My friends were all ordering the senior meal so I had to go along. I had half a small tuna sandwich, small cup of soup, small potato salad. I was stuffed. But the senior meal? I am a senior?

The Grove is an upscale shopping center behind the Original Farmers Market, a tourist destination for lunch when you are on the Los Angeles City Tour. The Farmers Market is very low key, down home. The Grove is the opposite.

But this night we were here to enjoy the Christmas spirit, lights and fellow Angelenos. I subscribe to no particular organized religion but I still enjoy Christmas and prefer to call it that rather than “the holidays.”

Farmers Market stalls lit up for Christmas

I had been to The Grove a few days earlier with a friend visiting from England but at night all lit up it was spectacular.

The Farmers Market originated in the mid 1930s during the depression. A dozen farmers showed up with produce in the back of their pickup trucks to sell to people. I think this display between the Market and The Grove is an homage to that event.

Okay, so now we are walking into The Grove which opened in 2002.

And I am feeling the Christmas spirit. I love it!

 

I HATE crowds but although it was crowded it was not at all uncomfortable. I was enjoying being with my friends and other people out to enjoy the evening.

And Santa Claus was ready to receive visitors.

And all was right with the world. I need to take my inner child to places like this to escape reality. It’s important. Having fun is a necessary part of a balanced life.

I am grateful for my friends and being able to take part in events like this. These moments are precious.

Please enjoy the rest of my photos. Click on an image to start the slide show.

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins unless otherwise noted. No commercial usage without express permission. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

Feline Friday – #37 – Christmas cactus

I have two Christmas cactus plants on my front balcony. One is dark pink as in the photo and the other a pale pink.

The first plant to bloom was the dark pink. The end of last year it was the most prolific in all the years I have had it. So I decided to take a few photos before it faded.

A few seconds later, guess who showed up. Yes, Freddie, of course who has to be the star every time I take out my camera!

Needless to say, I didn’t get too many shots of the cactus.

The beginning of this year the light pink cactus came into bloom and was also the most gorgeous I have ever seen it. Unfortunately I did not have a chance to photograph it but above are the buds showing their promise.

That’s okay… we all know Freddie is far more beautiful than any old plant!

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins unless otherwise noted. No commercial usage without express permission. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

 

December on the Venice Canals – part two

The second half of my walk through the Venice Canals. Most tourists coming to Venice never see the canals. And truthfully, they are more interested in seeing Venice Beach that they have heard so much about.

The two areas could not be more different although they were once both part of Abbot Kinney’s idea to emulate Venice, Italy on the shores of Los Angeles in the early 1900s. I’ll write more about the history in another post.

Whereas the canals are very serene and peaceful, the Venice Beach boardwalk is like a circus. I’ll have photos of that area in another post.

For walking I really prefer the quietude of the canals.

And stopping to look at the details.

Oh, those reflections!

And ducks.

I’ll be sorry when the holiday decorations come down.

But even without the decorations the canals are never less than picturesque.

This cat was very curious about my shoe. Perhaps he could smell some other felines I know.

Although there are many cats strolling around the canals, ducks rule!

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins unless otherwise noted. No commercial usage without express permission. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

December on the Venice Canals – part one

In December I made several trips to the Venice Canals and Venice Beach for a walking tour I was working on.

I was happy to see some people had their Christmas decorations up.

And unlike my visit in June when it was dark and dismal and the canal was in the process of being dredged (see post here), the sun was out and everything was looking cheery.

This ladybug was having a good day too!

Even Yoda and Darth Veda were in the holiday spirit!

But I wasn’t too sure about these two snowy egrets!

However, this fella seemed to be enjoying the sunshine.

One of the things I appreciate about the canals as a photographer is all the reflections… and the juxtaposition of the boats.

And the variety of architecture is always fun to photograph.

Giant candy canes growing right out of the bushes.

Too bad we can’t have holiday decorations all year round.

But we do have snowy egrets posing for the camera in every season.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the poinsettias.

Don’t mess with the ducks… the residents of the canals are especially protective of them.

This palm tree could use a trim. They need to be manicured on a regular basis or the fronds will drop in the wind.

I wrote the names of my cats on a scrap of paper and left it on this pet tree.

I’ll be posting more random photos from my December visit from time to time.

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins unless otherwise noted. No commercial usage without express permission. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

Joy to the Hills of Beverly

Last week I ended up in Beverly Hills so I decided I might as well take some photos of the holiday decorations on Rodeo Drive. This is one place in LA that tourists stand a chance of actually sighting a celebrity. Unfortunately, I am hopeless at recognizing them on the street. So while Angelina and Brad or Kim and Kanye could well have been shopping for gifts, I was too intent on taking pictures of the decorations to notice. Sorry folks…

At this point I was walking along Wilshire at Camden, just one block from Rodeo.

Closer, closer…

Almost there…

Ta da… at the corner of Wilshire and Rodeo in the heart of Beverly Hills. Note two jewelry stores waiting to greet you: Tiffany‘s and Stephen Webster. I could have picked up a bauble or two but I was on the hunt for other treasure.

Like this colorful tree with a handsome toy soldier.  This is on Two Rodeo, a cobble stone shopping block with no cars allowed.

The architect did a nice job on Rodeo Two which is designed in an Italianate style.

Just a good place to sit and watch the tourists.

Now we are on Rodeo Drive proper. A new Louis Vuitton emporium is being constructed behind this façade, opening next year. Needless to say, I can’t wait. (Uh, I don’t think so…)

At the corner of Rodeo Drive and Two Rodeo. This is where every self-respecting tourist wants to have their photo taken. Hey, why not…

At left you see people boarding the sight-seeing trolley that takes you around Beverly Hills, including the residential areas and the Beverly Hills Hotel (The Pink Palace).

Now, this is kind of a cute idea that went a little wrong. I think it’s fun to see crystal chandeliers hanging on Rodeo Drive. And I realize they wanted to protect them from the elements. But these clunky glass cases really spoiled the effect. Surely, Beverly Hills could come up with a better way… some kind of a seamless bubble maybe… okay, you have a whole year to think about it… I’ll be back next year to check it out.

Nice red and white plant choices. Poinsettias, snapdragons and cyclamens.

You’ll just have to imagine how great this all looks lit up at night.

 
And for our finale, the House of Bijan with red bows and pine boughs entwined in the red geraniums. I recommend clicking on the House of Bijan link for a peak inside the showroom which is a blast of yellow.

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!