This is the fourth in a series of travel tips for making the most of your Rose Bowl vacation. We cover a few highlights of Points South of Pasadena in this article – focusing on downtown LA, where you’ll find Chinatown and Little Tokyo and architectural landmarks like Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall or historic building like the Los Angeles Public Library. Los Angeles has gone through a huge collaborative revitalization movement and downtown is enjoying a revival to its many venues for cultural events, music, dining and shopping. There are so many things to see and do, it’ll be hard to choose!

What to Do Driving South?
Chinatown
Just south from Pasadena on the 110 Freeway is Chinatown, a Los Angeles urban adventure with streets that have both English and Chinese names. Shoppers compete with racks and boxes of all kinds of imported gifts, antiques and other things to buy for sidewalk space. Restaurants serve authentic cuisine from various Chinese regions and the best dim sum; you’ll find authentic Peking duck and bao; and oodles of herb and tea shops. In following an urban mix of cultures, tucked in between Chinese shops, flavorful Vietnamese phở (beef and noodle soup) simmers as well. Chinatown is also home to hipster avant-garde art galleries and projects on Chung King Road. Chung King Road is a perfect location as it is an eclectic collection of souvenir, antique, clothing and furniture shops.

Chinatown in Los Angeles, borders on Yale Street (west), Ord Street (south), North Spring Street (east) and Bernard Street (north). A good midpoint is Chinatown Central Plaza, 943 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 680-0243.

Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is one of three official Japantowns in the US and is the cultural center for Southern California Japanese Americans. The annual Nisei Festival in August includes a parade through the district, arts and cultural exhibits, a street fair, taiko drum festival which lasts an entire week. The historic district covers about four city blocks and makes for a fun afternoon or early evening, browsing shops, and stopping in of the many restaurants for authentic fresh ramen or udon (noodle soups), sushi, shabu-shabu or wagashi (Japanese sweets and pastries).

The Japanese American National Museum is home to a moving image archive with over 100,000 feet of home movies of Japanese American from the 1920s to the 1950s. The Museum charts over 130 years of cultural history from the first generation, the Issei. It offers family activities and workshops and walking tours with docents. The Chado Tea Room, located in the Terasaki Garden Cafe, is a tea lover’s paradise offering tea tastings and educational events.

Budget Travel Deal: Free general admission every Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm; and all day every third Thursday of the month.

369 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 625-0414. $9 adults, $5 seniors (62 and older), students with ID and youth (6-17) $5, children under 5 are free. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, check website for hours).

Take in the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Japanese American National Museum located just next door. Frank Gehry converted a former police car warehouse to house The Geffen. With 40,000 square feet, the museum often houses large-scale sculptures, conceptual, video and multi-media installations. Established and emerging artists often share the same space. The MOCA Grand Avenue, just a few blocks west exhibits contemporary artists like Ed Ruscha; currently showing is Collection: MOCA’s First 30 Years.

Budget Travel Deal: Tickets are valid for both MOCA locations if you visit both on the same day.

152 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013, (213) 626-6222. $10 general admission, $8 students, $5 seniors (65 and older), children under 12 are free. (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, check website for hours).

Olvera Street
El Pueblo de Los Angeles is the birthplace of Los Angeles and the historic area is informally called “Olvera Street.” A quaint, colorful and festive village of 27 buildings with a traditional Mexican plaza is the heart of Olvera Street. Avila Adobe, the city’s oldest structure built in 1818 survives here. You’ll find all sorts of Mexican snacks and goodies, leather goods, and other decorative novelties and handcrafts in the marketplace. Locals flock to Olvera Street for any number of authentic restaurants for taquitos, enchiladas, mole and other traditional dishes.

Parking can be difficult at Olvera Street, but public lots on Cesar Chavez Avenue, North Spring, Arcadia and Alameda Streets are available. 26 Olvera Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 687-4391. (Daily 10 am to 7 pm, some stores may have different hours).

LA Conservancy Historic Walking Tours

Explore and experience downtown LA outside of your car – LA is an amazing city when you see it up close taking one of the LA Conservancy’s historic walking tours. Docents are knowledgeable about the city, the architecture and the buildings on the tours. The Conservancy offers walk-in tours (no reservations, group tours, self-guided tours and docent tours. Downtown tours include ArtDeco, Biltmore Hotel, Broadway Historic Theatre District, Evolving Skyline, Historic Core, Downtown Renaissance and Union Station.

Check the website for the latest information of each tour. Los Angeles Conservancy, (213) 623-2489 or hotline 213-430-4219, call or check website for tour dates and times.

Good Food!

CBS Seafood Restaurant
Dim sum is a cultural dining experience…the minute you sit down, waiters bring tea and carts with little plates of dumplings (steamed and baked) and other treats roll by. Unless you know what you want, pointing and asking about the little bamboo or metal steaming containers and plates may seem rude, but it’s a good way to understand what you’re getting in the dumpling. The service and fast and friendly – it’s hustle and bustle dining, but always a fun treat. Order the char sui bao (BBQ pork buns) and the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves for a break from shrimp and seafood.

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 617-2323 (call for hours of operation; $$, casual, kids/groups ok, reservations recommended, no alcohol; Dim sum is served traditionally between 10 am and 3 pm…but get wherever you eat dim sum, get there early or you’ll have a wait).

Philippe The Original Restaurant
Philippe’s Double Dipped Beef French Dip is the Holy Grail of beef French dips along with a nice portion of the famous Hot Mustard – go easy if you’re a spice wimp because hot is “hot”! A side of potato and macaroni salad, top it off with apple pie a la mode and you have the makings of a great carb nap afterward. Philippe’s is a Los Angeles food landmark, get there before rush time, lines are long and the sights and smells of sumptuous sandwiches will make you crazy.

1001 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 628-3781. (Daily 6 am to 10 pm; $, casual, kids/groups ok, beer and wine; cash only).

Cielito Lindo
Serving world famous taquitos with addicting guacamole sauce, Cielito Lindo has been at Olvera Street since 1934. A local fave, Angelenos line up for Aurora Guerrero’s home-made style taquitos using fresh tortillas and other ingredients. The taquitos are cooked fresh to order and served with a special guacamole sauce. Cielito Lindo also serves burritos, chile relleno and tamales – but you can’t leave Olvera Street without eating at least one taquito!

E-23 Olvera Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 687-4391. (Opens daily at 9 am; $, casual, kids/groups ok).

Sushi Gen
Sushi can’t get any fresher than at Sushi Gen. Sit at the bar and watch the magic happen (however, it’s only for sushi eaters; if you want a combination meal, you’ll need to sit at a table). If you’re not too picky go with the Omakase (chef’s choice) and you’ll never be disappointed. The fish will melt in your mouth. Friendly service and superb food outweigh possible long waits and a slightly pricey check. Validated parking in a plus in LA!

Honda Plaza, 422 E. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 617-0522 (closed Sunday, Monday through Friday, 11 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday 5 pm to 9:30 pm; $$$, casual, not great for kids or groups, beer and wine; reservations recommended).

Cuidad

A popular post-work hub with a great happy hour menu and drink specials; the potato taco and the shishito pepper taco are the ones to go for, but the carnitas and chorizo are just as addicting. Cuidad has an outdoor patio and inside dining among colorful modern Miro-esque murals. Live music on the weekends liven up an already lively restaurant. Known for its tapas made with fresh organic produce, anything on the menu is a treat. If you want a full meal, the paella à la Valenciana is hard to pass up. Delicious Latin fusion cuisine, good portions, super friendly waiters, lip-smacking mojitos and sangria.

Budget Travel Deal: Cuidad offers a free shuttle service when you dine  before a show at one of the adjacent theaters; let the host or hostess know and they are always very accommodating. Check website for weekly specials like Tapas Sunday and Paella Tuesdays.

445 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213) 486-5171 (open daily, check website for hours; $$$, casual, groupd ok, not great for kids, full bar; reservations recommended).
____________________________________________________________________
Walt Disney Concert Hall Image: lightmatter
Chinatown Dim Sum Image: ubray02