The Huntington: World-Famous Roses, Cacti, and Rare Books

Spanning 120 acres in San Marino (next to Pasadena), The Huntington comprises a library, art collections, and themed botanical gardens.



Henry Huntington, a railroad magnate, founded the collection in 1919. Help came from his uncle Collis Huntington, who died in 1900, leaving Henry an inheritance and, as fate would have it, his widow Arabella (a great art collector who went on to marry Henry in 1913.)

A stroll through the gardens calms the soul. The gardens are all exceptional, but the Desert Garden - almost like a display of modern art - is not to be missed.

Picturing tumbleweed and parched earth, I was pleasantly surprised by the Desert Garden's variety.



Who knew cacti come in so many different shapes and sizes? Small, large, furry, barrel-shaped… Some even had red fruit growing on them. I learned the hard way to admire the fruit from a distance after getting sharply pricked.

I thought my knowledge of the desert was pretty limited until I heard one woman ask earnestly, “What do they do if it rains?” I was tempted to tell her they throw a massive tarp over the whole 1.5 acres of desert plants.



Next stop was the Japanese Gardens. The scene is zen-inducing, complete with a wooden bridge, perfectly-pruned bonsai, and a pond filled with brightly-colored Koi.



Stop and smell the roses in The Rose Garden, which houses row after row of these vibrantly colored, fragrant flowers. It’s also fun to check out the names of the different species on display like Christian Dior, Prima Ballerina, and Bewitched.



Let your inner botanist loose at the nearby Conservatory, which houses displays of tropical and bog plants and also has a room with interactive displays. Have fun measuring which flowers have enough sugar to attract bees. See the difference between moss and liverwort under a microscope. And last but not least, there’s a plant petting zoo where you can touch and smell a variety of flora.

Ready for a change of pace? Meander through the world-renowned library collection. The original books on display put history into context in a way that textbooks can’t. Friendly docents explain how the Gutenberg Bible - one of the earliest printed books from the 15th century – is only one of 47 left. Huntington bought it in 1911 for $50,000 – the highest price ever paid for a book at the time. Amongst the one-of-a-kind items on display are an original handwritten essay by Locke, a Shakespeare play, a Henry David Thoreau manuscript, and the last photo of Lincoln before his assassination.



In celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, there’s an exhibit on the colony’s history on now through mid-January 2008. Since playing Pocahontas in a 6th grade school play, I’ve been a bit obsessed with Jamestown. You might be familiar with the colony via Disney’s Pocahontas flick. This exhibit gives some non-fiction insight into the relationship between the colony’s founder Captain John Smith and the nearby Powhatan Indians.

Last but not least, don’t miss tea-time at the Rose Garden Tea Room, which overlooks three acres of roses. Limitless refills of tea and scones are served so come on an empty stomach. Reservations are required.

At $15 a pop for a ticket, entry to the Huntington seems steep, but when you consider that it includes admission to the gardens, library, and special exhibits, it becomes more justifiable.

Admission is free the first Thursday of every month, but you need to secure a reservation in advance. Click here for more info.

The Huntington
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

Tues - Fri: Noon - 4:30 p.m.
Sat - Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Los Feliz: Happy Times in the “SoHo of LA”

This hip LA neighborhood’s Spanish name translates to “The Happy Ones,” and I’m always one of them after a jaunt here.



While much less dense than NY’s SoHo, Los Feliz’ walkability and its hodgepodge of independent shops and restaurants make urbanites, East and West Coasters alike, feel at home. The southern end can even be accessed by the Red Line subway (yes, LA has one!). Just get off at the Vermont/Sunset stop and walk north.

The hills of Griffith Park provide a pleasant backdrop to the area, although they’re now more bare than usual due to a recent fire.



Over the last 10 years or so, a gentrification wave has transformed Los Feliz from a working class ‘hood into a hipster haven. And while you may have mixed feelings about gentrification, Los Feliz still has plenty of character with its mix of artsy boutiques and well-designed 1930s era apartment buildings. Dubbed the “SoHo of LA” by Vogue magazine, Los Feliz’ renovation has not gone unnoticed.



A known bastion of writers, the neighborhood hums with activity even on weekdays. Taking advantage of LA’s sunny weather, al fresco dining is the norm here, so much so that some restaurants, such as Alcove Café & Bakery and There’s No Place Like Home on Hillhurst, have most of their seating outside.



Fred 62 - a trendy, open-all-night diner with vegan options on Vermont Ave., is another great al fresco choice.



There are too many restaurants to name so I will highlight just one more food establishment – Yuca, my personal favorite. The addictively delectable tacos served at this humble-looking, cash-only shack on Hillhurst are reason enough to make a Loz Feliz trek.

The carne asada taco never disappoints (not me, at least). Imagine warm, tender steak folded into a fresh corn tortilla with a sprinkling of onions and tomatoes that bring out the steak’s flavor (I’m drooling from just describing it). If you’re looking for a more unusual treat, try the Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan style pork) taco.

Awarded a James Beard culinary excellence award in 2005, Yuca has definitely been discovered. Lines are a fact of life here, but the tacos are worth the wait. And thankfully, prices haven’t shot up obscenely with its growing fame. At a mere $2 a piece, Yuca tacos are still a great bargain.



In my very subjective opinion, a neighborhood only gets high marks if it has the requisite ice cream/gelato shop, and Los Feliz comes out with flying colors on this score thanks to the Hollywood Gelato Company. The imaginative flavors include Ginger Cucumber, Strawberry, Balasamic, Dark Chocolate Orange, and Sour Cream Vanilla. You know the flavors are unusual when hazelnut and coconut are among the more mundane. Note to those with less adventurous palettes, they keep chocolate and vanilla in stock in the back. Just ask for it.



As for non-food activities, swing by the older Los Feliz Cinema 3 theater on Vermont Ave. While its Art Deco façade is worth a look and the tix are pretty cheap, the tiny screens and poor design might make it a less-than-ideal venue to catch a flick you’ve been dying to see. Alternatively, head next-door to browse at Skylight Books, one of LA’s last remaining independent bookstores.



Don't forget to check out Los Feliz' trendy boutiques, peddling everything from gifts to clothes. Rumor has it that the Beastie Boys own a shop around here.



While not an obvious stop, the well-tended Los Feliz library at Hillhurst and Franklin provides pleasant reading space. Thanks to Leonardo di Caprio, the library - one of Leo's old haunts before he became a Hollywood headliner - also boasts a computer room. In homage to Leo’s generosity, posters from his various movies plaster the small room’s walls.

Locating Los Feliz:

• Sandwiched between the Hollywood and Silverlake neighborhoods, Los Feliz is located on LA’s eastside

• The neighborhood’s core is defined by Los Feliz Blvd. to the north, Sunset Blvd. to the south, Vermont Ave. to the west, and Hillhurst Ave. to the east.

• The neighborhood can be accessed via the 5 or 101 Freeways.

Santa Monica Main Library...and it has books too!

Santa Monica’s Main Library, at the corner of 5th and Santa Monica Blvd, is one of my top destinations. I love reading, but I come more for the atmosphere than the books.



The outside of the building is nothing to write home about. It’s mostly a plain-beige color with occasional bursts of decorative color, but the inside is a pleasant surprise. The plentiful windows, spacious layout, and general cleanliness (the library was completed in Jan 2006) contrast with the dark, musty libraries I remember from my youth.



Bask in the SoCal sun with your favorite book by taking advantage of the open courtyard in the center of the library. In addition to the pleasant landscaping, the courtyard houses a deli so you can grab lunch or satisfy your caffeine fix without ever leaving the building.

Maybe you’re in work-mode? The free wifi, expansive seating, and relative quiet make it a fab place to sift through email. If you don’t have a laptop, there’s a big computer area on the 2nd floor where you can get online free for an hour each day.



Also a draw are the library’s occasional exhibits and speakers series. From famed journalists hawking their latest book to film screenings to puppet shows, there’s always something going on. Now through March 18, the library is hosting a Nordic Latitudes exhibit, showcasing Nordic furniture and lighting design. While interesting, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was staring at an Ikea furniture display.

The library pulls in an amazing cross-section of people, from families to old folks, giving it a real community feel. To those used to sterilized suburb libraries, however, be forewarned. This is the People’s Republic of Santa Monica, and there are quite a few homeless patrons that frequent this library. Most quietly mind their own business, but occasionally, you might find yourself next to a loud, smelly patron. My advice is to simply move. It’s a multi-level library with tons of seating so you’re sure to find a more tranquil spot.

As for parking, no worries. There’s a three-level, 530 space subterranean parking garage that costs $1/hour.

Santa Monica Main Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-8600