Invisible L.A.

Many Angeleno’s consider Olvera Street as a center for Hispanic/Mexican history. Olvera Street boarders between downtown Los Angeles and the Los Angeles river(East Los). And South of the street is the historic Union Station, a major mass transit station for Los Angeles. North of Olver Street is Fort Moore. LA holds an annual July 4th celebration. Which includes antique cannons. To the North East is the historic Chinatown. And further North East is the famous Dodger Stadium. So you may see that it is centrally located amidst much LA activity and is not to hard to find.

Olvera Street dates back as early as 1877. The street is named after Augustin Olvera. The first LA County Judge. He also owned a house at the end of the street as well. Within the street is the Avila Adobe House(built 1818) which still stands. Francisco Avila was one of LA’s first mayors. You may visit the Avila Adobe, roughly between the hours of 10AM – 4PM. Admission is free. Olvera Street also housed many Olympians during the 1932 which was hosted in Los Angeles. Many famous and important people would visit or frequent the street. Such as: Ronald Reagan, Charlie Chaplin, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Selma Hayak, Penelope Cruz, Ceasar Chavez, Oscar de La Hoya as well as many others.

In between touring the street and the Avila Adobe you can find some restaurants and sidewalk cafes to eat at. Many of the plates range between $4.00 – $15.00. You may be so lucky to hear live Mexican Folk to Mariachi music. Each group has anywhere between one to five singing and playing accordias and acoustical guitars.

At the end of Olvera Street is the plaza. One may be entertained by Aztec dancers and Peruvian music. During Cinco de Mayo(May 5th) there is always a festival that last 3 days. With pinatas, food, Mariachi music and more. The Plaza also has another festival Mid September in remembrace of Mexicos Independance from Spain, You may also find one of many other Olvera Street festivals. Anything from the Blessing of the Animals, Dia de Los Muetros(day of the dead is around Halloween), to the Annual celebration of the founding of Los Angeles(In 2008 it will be 226 years old). And the mural of the Blessing of the Animals was done by an Angeleno by the name of Leo Politi. The mural can be found on the Biscailuz Building in El Pueblo which is at the end of Olvera Street, across the street from the plaza. Politi was an artist as well as an author.

As of January 22, 2008 the nominations for the Oscars were annouced. The Oscars have been home to the Kodak Theater which is located at Highland and Vine in Hollywood. Not only are the Oscars broadcasted there, so is the Ameican Idol finals.

The Kodak is a 3,600 seat theater. The Kodak also is centrally located within a shopping mall and movie thearter. It also sits comfortably Continue reading

“every year” (and I put that in quotes on purpose, because…well, you’ll see), we head downtown to Pershing Square where the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks creates a veritable winter wonderland in between the tall buildings in L.A.

The ice skating rink has been our destination for the last few years over the holidays. Usually, we’ve gone at night and during the week, so it hasn’t Continue reading

Michael Jackson has signed a year lease on a $38 million mansion in an exclusive area of Bel Air. The rent is $100,000 a month. The home gated, French chateau-style home has 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a private screening room. The property also includes with a guest house, swimming pool and gardens.

Michael Jackson Continue reading

CBS studios at Beverly and Fairfax has a great history as well. The studios was built in 1952 on the famous Gilmore stadium where the professional “Hollywood Stars” baseball team would play. Such great baseball stars that played were like, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Billy Martin. The team was owned by such big stars such as George Burns, Greacie Allen, Gary Cooper, William Powell, Bing Crosby and Cecille B Continue reading

LA KINGS DOWNTOWN ON ICE OUTDOOR SKATING RINK AT PERSHING SQUARE

LA KINGS DOWNTOWN ON ICE, celebrating its 11th
spectacular season at Pershing Square, (532 South Olive, LA), open everyday November 20, 2008 through January 19, 2009.

The 11th installment of the Pershing Square Ice Skating Rink continues through Monday, January 19, 2009. There is plenty of time remaining to skate and take advantage of the activities at Continue reading

Indeed things are heating up in the current United States 2008 Presidential elections. The Republican and Democratic Debates have come to Southern California. The Republican Debate will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. And the Democratic debate will be held Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California. Both debates will be aired roughly around 6 PM (PST) Continue reading

Virgin’s Richard Branson put on a Wonder Woman custom and mooned reporters with the American flag stuck in his pantyhose to make a point. Virgin is offering tickets as low as $119 from New York to Los Angeles. Fares do not include all government fees & taxes and are per person in U.S. whole dollar amounts. With prices this low, you can’t afford not to take a vacation.

You Continue reading

Today, Tuesday, February 12, 2008, California Govenor, Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the Los Angeles City College Campus located at Vermont and Melrose. Govenor Schwarzeneggar unvieled the grant proposal “Veteransworks” which is under the statewide program Hollywood Work Source and the California Employment Development Department(EDD) The “Veternsworks” program will assist more than 300 veterans in job training activities.

Govenor Schwarsneggar unvieled the program at 9:45 AM. Where only Continue reading

24, it is a television program that is based on the real time terminology in which the incidents are depicted in the same way they had occurred. 24 is broadcasted in America. It is a wonderful show to watch as it links us with the real happenings. It is a television series which portrays the life of a special agent named Jack Bauer played by the actor Kiefer Sutherland. This… Continue reading