7.26.2007

Above Standard Rooftop Bar Downtown

The rooftop bar at the Standard Hotel in Downtown LA is above standard, both literally and figuratively. This is the place to wow out-of-town visitors – the place to bring New Yorkers who claim LA’s not a real city and the place to bring friends from small towns craving an urban experience.



Surrounded by glittering skyscrapers, the amazing 360 degree views of downtown LA from the rooftop make you feel like you’re in a real metropolis – not a spot of suburban sprawl in sight.



Equally enjoyable are the multi-colored sunsets (yes, the smog is good for something).



A variety of suits, hipsters, and tourists mingle here. The décor is kitschy with Astroturf-like flooring and brightly-colored plastic furniture, but the infinity pool and modernistic red pods, enclosing water beds, lend a degree of sophistication.



The red pod-encased water beds are what keep me coming back. Lying in these quirky pods brings back fond memories of those bouncy houses at carnivals. I generally fight the urge to jump around and satisfy myself with lying down to enjoy a fabulous, upside-down view of the downtown skyline.

While passable, the food and drinks are not what make this place special. The wine and mixed drinks are generally so-so, but the $11 mojito was money well-spent. Basically, you’re paying for the view here.

Feeling a snack attack coming on? The $5 thinly-cut fries should do the trick. There’s also a kebab plate (good, but not very filling) and pita & hummus, amongst other sundry eats.



According to one bouncer, some patrons have tried to mount the decorative plant sculptures, trimmed into the shape of animals, that adorn the bar area. Apparently it’s a common occurrence, although I’m disappointed to report that no such fun happened during my visits.

Warm evenings are the best time to come. Don’t forget to bring a sweater in case it’s chillier up top.

Digg this

7.16.2007

Angelino Heights: Time-Warp Back to the Victorian Era

While historic preservation is not one of LA’s strong suits, this town does boast a few beautifully preserved neighborhoods. A prime example of LA circa 1900 is the off-the-beaten path Angelino Heights 'hood, northeast of downtown LA. Filled with stately Victorian homes, a walk down Carroll Ave. will make you feel like you've time-warped back a century.



As a native San Franciscan, I was skeptical that LA’s Victorians could hold a candle to those in the City by the Bay. No doubt my hometown has way more Victorians, but Angelino Heights still left me impressed.



Most of the district’s homes are designed in the Eastlake and Queen Anne styles of the late 19th Century. The exquisite Victorian architecture you’ll see here includes heavy adornments like sunbursts, gables, and colored glass, making the homes look like elaborate gingerbread houses.



Besides the architecture, the other pleasant thing about Angelino Heights is its tight community feel. A few days before our walking tour, a fire had sadly gutted one of the homes on East Edgeware Rd. and damaged several nearby. The inspiring thing about this tragic event was the way neighbors pulled together, helping each other repair the fire damage.



If you’re short on time, the 1300 block of Carroll Ave. is the can’t-be-missed, postcard-perfect heart of the neighborhood with the best preserved Victorians. But if you have a few extra minutes, check out the 800 block of E. Edgeware (around the corner from Carroll).



Better yet, sign up for the LA Conservancy’s 2-hour walking tour of the area and have a knowledgeable docent fill you in on historical details for only $10pp. The nice thing about the tour is that the area’s unofficial mayor – ‘Murray’ – who lives at 1320 Carroll Ave. kindly opens his home to tour participants, giving you a glimpse of life on the inside of one of these Victorian splendors.

For those who say Angelenos have no sense of history (like I used to), a visit to Angelino Heights might change your mind.

Digg this

7.09.2007

Star-Struck at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Night

Besides seeing stars (both in person and on screen) at Saturday’s showing of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, I was also in the midst of stars (dead ones) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

On Saturdays throughout the summer, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts movie nights, from old horrors to 80s classics. Don't worry, this isn’t some goth clique that gets off on hanging amongst the dearly departed. Thousands turn out for this only-in-LA event. You can be among them…check out the website to see this summer’s calendar.



Reminiscent of a giant slumber party, people splay out across the lawn on blankets and pillows. The main lawn is tombstone-free, but with a turn of my head, I spotted Hitchcock’s grave in the area behind us.

The regulars, who know how to do it right, bring low chairs and tables and even candles. Most come with a picnic dinner and some sort of imbibement, generally wine or beer. And the freshly-cut stuff below you won’t be the only grass you smell.



For a mere $10, you will be treated to the movie and some pretty decent DJ mixes before and after the screening. Adding to the awesomeness is the entry stroll that winds among tombstones – some decorated with headshots (this is Tinseltown after all!). Dispel any desecration guilt pangs from your head – the movie proceeds go towards the upkeep of this Tinseltown resting place.

The key thing to remember is to get there early. Gates don’t open until 7:30p, but people start lining up around 6p or so, especially if they want a decent viewing spot on the lawn. Traffic can get gnarly so show up early to claim a parking spot.

If you’re into star sightings, this seems to be a top spot for it. I’m generally pretty oblivious, but Hillary Duff, her sis, and the weasly Talan Torriero of Laguna Beach fame were all in line together right behind us. As if this weren’t enough, Drew Barrymore - who claims this is one of her regular haunts (pun intended) - introduced the movie.

I can’t wait to come back!

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd at Gower

Digg this