Dtown Los Angeles To-Do's
Downtown Los Angeles To-Do's
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, as well as a diverse residential neighborhood of some 30,000 people. The Colburn School is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles just across Grand Avenue from The Walt Disney Concert Hall. Near Colburn one will find many famous restuarants, historic buildings, and cultural events. The following websites and PDF are resources to use in the exploration of downtown.
Los Angeles Websites, Blogs, and Newspapers
Downtown Los Angeles Events/Districts*
Arts District
This formerly industrial area was transformed into an artist community in the mid-70's. Today, the Arts District thrives with galleries, photography studios, graphic artists, small advertising firms, video and media companies, and the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC).
Gallery Row
Located along Main and Spring between 2nd and 9th Streets, Gallery Row is lined with cutting-edge galleries and hosts the Downtown Art Walk on the second Thursday of each month.
Chinatown
Wind your way through a myriad of bustling courtyards, alleyways, and plaza stalls to discover the charm of LA's Chinatown. Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more to find unique treasures, good food, and great bargains.
Fashion District
The LA Fashion District is the hub of the apparel industry on the West Coast, where shoppers, designers, stylists, students, retailers, wholesale buyers, and residents all converge. You'll find apparel and accessories for the entire family, textiles, flowers, and more.
Grand Park
A city’s urban heart is an expression of its people, its diversity, its interests, and its passions. The new Grand Park, with its majestic views extending from the Music Center to City Hall, provides Angelenos of all walks of life a place where they can come together to celebrate, reflect, and shape the future, in one central gathering place. Home to film screenings and concerts.
Figueroa Corridor
Best known for the University of Southern California, LA Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and the Shrine Auditorium, the Figueroa Corridor is home to many architectural landmarks and world-class museums. Visit the Natural History Museum, the California African American Museum, and the California Science Center & IMAX Theater.
Flower District
Take home every kind of flower imaginable at wholesale prices. The Flower District is LA's premiere flower market, famous among designers, event planners, retail florists, growers, shippers, and suppliers.
Historic Downtown
Formerly the city center before World War II, Historic Downtown is rich with architectural treasures - including the largest concentration of historic theatres in the world and beloved pre-1930s buildings in Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and Spanish Baroque styles. Visit the renovated theaters on Broadway, or the famous cage elevators and detailed ironwork at the Bradbury Building.
Jewelry District
The second largest Jewelry District in the world, this district bustles daily with nearly 5,000 retail and wholesale jewelry shops. Enjoy savings of 40% to 70% on fine jewelry, diamonds, engagement rings, loose stones, gems, and watches.
Pershing Square
Winter Events Include: Ice Skating Rink
Summer Events include: Lunchtime Concerts (Wednesdays), Tribute Band Thursdays, Friday Night Flicks, and Salsa Sundays
Little Tokyo
Small restaurants and retail shops intermingle with modern office buildings, hotels, shopping plazas, cultural facilities, theaters, and religious shrines. Discover the Japanese American National Museum, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, East West Players, and the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
Olvera Street at Historic El Pueblo
Olvera Street, the birthplace of LA, is home to charming cafes, marketplaces, and many cultural celebrations. El Pueblo Historic Monument features a traditional Mexican-style plaza and a cluster of landmark buildings dating from 1818. Across the street is Union Station, converging point for Amtrak, Metrolink, the Gold and Red Lines, and the city's bus services.
South Park
South Park is a 50-block area anchored by entertainment and convention venues, including STAPLES Center, LA LIVE & the Nokia Theatre, and the LA Convention Center. South Park is also home to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), Grand Hope Park, and an emerging residential community.
Toy District
The Toy District is a wholesale/retail area with much more than toys. Shoppers find silk flowers, electronics, DVD's and videos, incense/oils and luggage, as well as the traditional toys such as dolls, die-cast cars, action figures, character figures and video games. The District is a 14-block area on the eastside of Downtown Los Angeles.
Wholesale District
The Wholesale District in the Industrial District is a manufacturing and wholesale center for fish and produce. Buy some fresh fish to take home while having lunch at Fisherman's Outlet, or take advantage of discounts from vendors along Central Avenue and Olympic Boulevard.
*info taken from www.downtownla.com
Downtown Nightlife - for the over 21
If there's one thing that LA knows how to do really well, it's throw a good party. There is a little of everything in the city whether you want comedy clubs, top mixologists, a night of bar hopping, or the LA club scene. Google and Yelp away, and you will find a ton of options. Want to bar hop in downtown? Check-out these (some with dress codes/covers, some without): Perch, Far Bar, Noe, Redwood, The Standard, Pattern Bar, Seven Grand, The Varnish, Rivera, Library Bar, Wurstküche, and Angel City Brewing Company. Make sure to ask about Happy Hours! Check out www.ihsla2015.com/eating for additional info.