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View Full Version : Suggestions for inexpensive but fun non-Disney excursions when staying in Downtown LA



EPCOT84
11-24-2007, 11:00 PM
Okay, my turn to contribute something to the DLR boards.

For those planning trips to stay in downtown Los Angeles and then day trip or move to DLR later, some suggestions for exploration and entertainment options in Downtown or a short train trip away:

Events
- If you are in town Thanksgiving week 2008: The LA Auto Show - showcases all the premieres of new cars and concept cars are more. Admission is $10. It used to be in January, it moved to Thanksgiving week this year and it will be next year. Friday the day after Thanksgiving alone 10,000 people visited according to the news.

- Concerts and Sports Events - Staples Center (home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings Hockey team) and the brand new Nokia Theater (just opened) with concerts. It already has a *bright* Vegas/Times Square entry area. Give it a few more years and the entire LA Live complex will be abuzz with dining, shopping, and new hotels. It is under construction right now and the concept art looks great. (Under construction and In the future look for an ESPN broadcast facility with Times Square style displays, an ESPN restaurant and pub, Regal cinemas a JW Marriott, and a Ritz Carlton)

Day Trips from DLA (Downtown LA)

- The MTA Redline subway will get you to Hollywood Boulevard (Grauman's Chinese Theater, Kodak Theater, and the El Capitan - Disney's movie theatre. If you're lucky, you can see a new Disney movie and take in the experience of the additional shows and exhibits they have for each new movie. I know I'cot folks will love that ! Don't forget Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store adjacent to El Capitan. Even if you don't see a movie, this is a great stop for things Disney.
-The Redline also gets you to Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk and its hotels. Just like DL is the original, Universal Studios here is the original.

In Town
- Try to get to the Disney Concert Hall. Named after Walt's widow Lillian who donated to the building of the hall, designed by architect Frank Gehry, they have guided daytime walking tours of the outside of the building for free. Have the camera handy because photo buffs will love all the great angles and shots you can get. A DASH bus will get you there.

- In town the DASH buses (25 cents per trip) will get you to the touristy but always fun ethnic streets of Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, and Chinatown. Good food :tasty:and culturally specific souvenir shopping.:shop:

-The new spurt of downtown condos and lofts means more options for nighttime and weekend dining than in years past. More shops open on weekends now.

Finally, in a separate thread (Downtown LA to DLR) there is a discussion of ways to get to DLR without a car.

MegaDisney
11-26-2007, 07:10 PM
These are some great suggestions!!

Thanks for posting them!

EPCOT84
12-14-2008, 04:33 PM
-Downtown Los Angeles is abuzz with the newly opened LA Live in Downtown LA. From now and until Spring, new restaurants and venues will be opening up.

Right now the Nokia Plaza has a holiday light show every evening on the hour starting at 7:00 adding to the glitzy lights and huge light displays. The multilevel ESPN Zone is now open. The restaurant has multiple screens all over. There are two separate bar areas. The game room is larger than the one at WDW's boardwalk. There is a very small souvenir store (selections much more limited than the one at WDW). The Conga Room (sponsored by several celebrities) is now open. It has a restaurant, pub, and an intimate performance stage, adding to the Staples and Nokia venues for performances. The Grammy Museum also just opened to a celebrity redcarpet show which included the recently broadcast 1st time ever Grammy Nomination Show from the Nokia Theater. Down the line in 2010, the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Towers and the JW Marriott will open. The tower had a topping out recently.:party2:


-There is a doubledecker bus run by Starline Tours that loops the Downtown LA area, started recently.

-Right now during the holidays, the DASH runs longer hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NotaGeek
12-15-2008, 08:31 PM
Thanks for posting! :thumbsup: