Since that's clearly not going to happen, unless there has recently been a breakthrough in the space-time continuum--has there been? if there has and someone failed to tell me, I am going to be mightily put out--I think I will instead take a trip with the historian to L.A.
L.A.! City of my youth that I barely discovered, and name of my new project: the L.A. Project! This project entails:
- seeing places I've never seen except in movies (Griffith Park),
- seeing places I should have seen by now (Olvera Street, Union Station),
- seeing places I have only read about/seen in movies (Mulholland Drive),
- seeing places Joni Mitchell used to live (Laurel Canyon),
- seeing places lots of other famous 60s and 70s types lived (Topanga Canyon),
- hanging out at the places where my more free-spirited friends had fun in the 70s (Hermosa Beach).
- going to the beach both early and late in the day,
and also going to the Getty. And probably eating a lot of Mexican food.
We are going over fall break. The L.A. Project will probably have multiple chapters, since there are whole San Fernando Valley (not technically part of L.A., but by extension) aspects to cover, as well as desert stuff, and so on and so forth. If you have suggestions for me, I highly recommend that you fax them right over. Or put them in the comments section of this blog posting. I will give you credit as an advisor for the Project. You know you want credit!
L. A.: there will be video essays. I hope.
You might also consider Wilshire Boulevard, the site of the mansion from Sunset Boulevard, also the site of the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove. The first has been razed; the second has been bought by LA Unified and is off limits. Still, historic stuff. The first department store in the US, Bullock's, is there, too, in all of its Art Deco splendor with a circular drive in back. Elegant, yes? I believe the Wilshire district used to be considered the New York City of the West in the 20s.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget to eat at Musso & Frank! Old school Hollywood. Sit at the bar and get a martini (or a Coke) from Manny, who has been there since the 70s. Their creamed spinach and macaroni and cheese will make you dream dreams.
~Oh boy. Good luck cramming it all in!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have an excellent time.t
And I'm looking forward to video essays!
ReplyDeleteYes, video essays! Have many great times in LA.
ReplyDeleteI love Joni Mitchell. And by definition, the house she lived in.
ReplyDelete