Posted on 07/18/2011 8:15:32 PM PDT by doug from upland
Downtown Los Angeles boasts some big-city perks like spacious lofts and trendy restaurants, but living there is a different kind of beast.
By Mike Armstrong
July 17, 2011 "Look, Daddy, that man's going to the bathroom!"
No, not the words any daddy wants to hear from his 10-year-old daughter, especially during a stroll through their brand-new neighborhood.
Moving my wife and kids into a downtown Los Angeles loft may not win me "Dumbest Dad of the Year" honors, but it should at least get me into the quarterfinals. The loft itself was great. More like a movie set than an apartment. High ceilings, new appliances, breathtaking views and a deck with a Jacuzzi that was used at least once every six months during our year there. It wasn't what was inside the building that broke the deal; it was what was out there on the mean and strange streets of downtown Los Angeles.
Why we moved there is academic. More space for less money, a new environment, cool restaurants and various other meaningless enticements. I got sucked in; I was wrong, and I admit it. I've apologized to everybody involved, and I will continue to do so until I am either dead or forgiven. In the meantime, let me tell you about my downtown L.A.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Blade Runner.
The old guy waiters were there for years, and I don't remember them ever writing down our order. I remember the omelets were way too big for the plates.
Darn, I'm getting hungry.
BTW - Do you recall Coopers Donuts? I remember them being all over downtown. I used to work graveyard and the guys would always go to Coopers for a donut and a 10 cent cup of coffee. In fact, Philippes used to charge a nickel a cup.
Of course, when I worked days, we had one of guys pickup some Hollenbeck Burritos at Manuels El Tepeyac in East L.A. The grease would soak through the cardboard box by the time they got back with the food...
I used to work in downtown LA. Some things were good— a lot of good lunch places (both dives and upscale), noon mass at the old St. Vibiana’s cathedral, the Grand Central Market, the Angels Flight. You could get around on the Dash bus for a quarter, I think.
But not ok for a family. There’s no decent place to play outside. Also, like the author’s kid said, I saw more men urinating in public there than anywhere I’ve ever been. And my acquaintance who lived in downtown said she drove to Pasadena to do her grocery shopping. To make living in downtown feasible again, there would need to be a critical mass of decent families to re-settle the area, determined to kick the bad guys out of Dodge. I don’t see the city encouraging that any time soon. Ironically, t was the city that originally tore out the fine, old homes in and near downtown, for some reason I can’t remember. The homeowning families won’t be coming back.
>>Blade Runner.<<
Even today that holds up as the BEST! IN fact I watch it every month or so. Sometimes with the director’s comments, sometimes without — ALWAYS the director’s cut (I fly 20,000 miles a month and can’t always get Internet in flight so I need a solid cycle of movies).
If you haven’t heard the commentary, I won’t give anything away... but there are things to be given away.
But neither the commentary nor the movie tell us... well, you know the tertiary question (IMDB is no help either).
I hope you’re including Jorge Arbusto in that thank you list.
>>Ex L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan bought The Pantry years ago to save it from closing down.<<
I worked downtown for about a year within walking distance of The Pantry and agree with your assessment. You would think them omelets were made from Ostrich eggs! And Chicken Fried Steak (available all day) from freaking Angus cattle in the pool in the Freemont(?) hotel next door.
A great story: When LA County started their “A” “B” “C” thing, there was a small, technical (and unimportant when it all came out) problem that made the County shut down The Pantry until it could be fixed.
The Pantry had never been closed and didn’t have locks on the doors. They had to get in someone to screw hasps and locks — for all of 6 hours.
I was there at the time — strange history.
It was the inspiration for Blade Runner.
My daughter just took me on detour to pick one up about a month ago. Did you ever eat at Ciro's right down the street, the restaurant in the tiny little bungalow? It's unreal how much food they pile on.
And then there's King Taco...
But to freaking move there? And bring my family??
Oh, I don't think so.
I think it might be time for a drive to L.A. The Pantry for Breakfast, Philippe's for Lunch, Manuel's for Dinner and the Emergency Room for a Bypass.
>>The Pantry for Breakfast, Philippe’s for Lunch, Manuel’s for Dinner and the Emergency Room for a Bypass.<<
I had some great meals in Engine Company 28 to get us from Manuel’s to The ER!
Downtown L.A. is actually better than people realize. From 11:00 AM to 5:45 PM...
He isn’t saying anything negative about Christianity. He is trying to separate the screaming crazies that lurk downtown from your average bible reader.
I saw beautiful views, very few homeless, good number of decent restaurants/bars open at night. It's funny how the low-scale places like McDonald's and El Pollo Loco close immediately at 5 or 6, but the high end Bistros and Cafes stay open till two.
I ended up moving out because I couldn't get anyone to come visit. Everyone I know lives in a suburb where you don't have to park to visit a friend. That's not the case in downtown L.A.
The only shots I heard fired were for an episode of Boston Legal.
Are people really that naive about urban "living"?
Ronald Reagan defeated the Soviet Union without firing a shot — we are forever grateful — but when was governor of California, he closed the state mental hospitals.
There’s help for alcoholics and drug addicts if they ask. But schizophrenics wandering the streets, homeless and injured, can’t ask for help. And even if they could, there’s no help for them.
It’s not a conservative vs. liberal issue — it’s the shame of downtown. It’s the shame of California.
Just wait until they purge the prison system, then things will get really exciting.
Oh, jeez! You gotta be kidding! The music in the 70s sucked donkey. Only thing good was Aerosmith.
So what's this dummy do after being mugged and living in other big cities? He moves into the heart of another big city..
What an idiot...
BTW doug, all big cities suck...Those that live in them, are just stupid.
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