Friday, September 27, 2013

hollywood shenanigans

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood forever Cemetery
1(323)469-1181
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038


Hollywood Forever Cemetery 

hours of operation: 
Mon – Sun 8am – 5pm
* The hours of the cemetery grounds, mausoleums and 
offices may vary due to construction, special events or otherwise.
 Please check with our receptionist for specifics on a given date.


Hollywood Cemetery 
"Hollywood Forever is a cemetery unlike any other in the world. One of the world’s most fascinating landmarks, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth. Founded in 1899, the cemetery was an integral part of the growth of early Hollywood. Paramount Studios was built on the back half of the original Hollywood Cemetery, where the studio is still in operation today. The cemetery of choice for most of the founders of Hollywood’s great studios, as well as writers, directors, and, performers, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Visitors come from all over the world to pay respects to Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and hundreds more of Hollywood’s greatest stars."

Hollywood Cemetery 
Many people don't enjoy walking through cemeteries, however I enjoy walking through and seeing the history of the cemetery. It's a great place to go for a stroll, they have beautiful gardens. 

Chateau Marmont Hotel
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046 


Chateau Marmont Hotel
"In 1926 Fred Horowitz, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, chose the site at Marmont Lane and Sunset Boulevard to construct an apartment building. Horowitz had recently traveled to Europe for inspiration and returned to California with photos of a Gothic Chateau along the Loire River. In 1927 Horowitz commissioned his brother-in-law, European-trained architect Arnold A. Weitzman, to design the seven-story, L-shaped building based on his French photos. When deciding upon a name for the building, Chateau Sunset and Chateau Hollywood were rejected in favor of Chateau Marmont, a name conceived by the small street running across the front of the property."

If you are in the Hollywood area, and you are looking for a relaxing, ambient restaurant to just kick back and lounge around, The Restaurant, at Chateau Marmont is the place for you. The prices are a bit up there, but this place is gives you European elegance, with old Hollywood glamour. We sipped on Long Island Ice Teas, to cool down from heat of walking the cemetery. 


drinks at The Restaurant, Chateau Marmont  


(just across the street from Chateau Marmont)


Pinches Tacos, Hollywood  
Pinches Tacos
8200 W Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, Ca 90046

"We pride ourselves in making every location unique but giving every location the same feel. Not cookie cutters like big chain restaurants. We blend into our neighborhood and create a place you want to call your second home!!. Our doors are always open to our neighbors from their culinary needs to request for donations."


Pinches Tacos, Hollywood 
"Our mission is simple, to provide you the best taco experience by using high quality meats and seafood, fresh garden vegetables, hand made tortillas and high quality artisan breads. Our father Miguel hand picks those ingredients every morning. We could have made it complicated but choose not to, because we have found through experience, that keeping things simple is a good recipe for success and happiness. It's also a good recipe for a pretty tasty Pinche Taco. We hope you agree"
-The Anaya Family

Pinches Tacos


Pinches Tacos, Hollywood 
The tacos here are amazing! There are jam packed with flavors, quality, and a decent price. Parking in this area of Hollywood is an absolute mess. Took us about 45 mins to find parking, not trying to spend an arm and a leg in order to pay for parking. One thing that I had never seen and found extremely unique was there usage of Lotteria playing cards as their order numbers. This place is unique, and a very good value if you are in the mood for some LA tacos. 



Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles 
Roscoe's House Chicken and Waffles
1514 N. Gower Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90028
1.323.466.7453

"Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles is a Long Beach, California-based soul food restaurant chain founded by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native in 1975. It's best known, as the name states, for serving chicken and waffles, both together and separately, although they do offer more traditional menu items as well..."



Chicken and Waffles 
"The Los Angeles Times refers to Roscoe's as 'such an L.A. institution that people don't question the strange combo anymore.' The New York Times refers to it as a 'beloved soul food chain'. The original location in Hollywood remains popular with celebrities."
Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles

Check Out the Menu:


The Hollywood location is centrally located to many different attraction around the Los Angeles area and is a great place to work into your day if you are near by. It's also a great destination after a late night at the club, and need some good soul food.

(check out the other various locations in southern California) 


want to see more pics? go visit my photo journal website...

www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com


Friday, September 20, 2013

dad's birthday: perch & syrup

Perch
488 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, 90013


Today's outing is quite special, it's my dad's birthday! My dad, my brother, my brother's girlfriend, and myself, went to Perch in Downtown LA. It was our first time there and it was a super nice experience. When you first arrive to the building, you scratch your head thinking to yourself, "is this the right place?". However, once you take a couple elevators up to the 15th floor, you realize that this is an oasis in a sea of cars and buildings. Perch has an amazing happy hour 4-6p and dinner starting at 6p. The views of the city are quiet amazing, great place to relax and enjoy a drink or two. The food is well portioned, drinks are well served, the dessert menu did not look so appetizing, so we decided to skip on that.  

Perch
Perch
Venue
Perch LA is an elevated resting place. A French inspired rooftop bistro that offers unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles that makes it feel as though you are floating at the skyline. PERCH offers two outdoor fireplaces, various fire pits, lounge and table seating both indoors and out.

Pershing Square from the 15th floor
Ambiance
The ambiance at PERCH LOS ANGELES is incredibly unique at every turn. As you arrive to the 15th floor restaurant you are greeted by beautiful antique inspired furniture, plush lounge couches and incredibly detailed woodwork, which will transport you to French inspired restaurants of old. You can choose to enjoy the fresh, intimate indoor bohemian ambiance or be seated at one of the outside patios with ornate fireplaces, lush landscaping, breathtaking views of the Downtown L.A. skyline and a direct view to the stars above. If you are in search of a more intimate lounge experience, simply move on up to the 16th floor rooftop lounge with ornate furniture and cozy fire pits to enjoy delicious cocktails, great music and an unparalleled 360 degree view of Downtown L.A. PERCH is indeed the premier dining and nightlife destination in Los Angeles where you can indulge in a most comfortable, unpretentious and upscale atmosphere that features live jazz inspired music, while enjoying a sumptuous French cuisine dinner, followed by DJ’s that will keep you swaying throughout the evening.

Scallops, Perch
Cuisine
PERCH Executive Chef Justin Albertson has created a playful menu inspired by French culinary classics utilizing the freshest of seasonal ingredients. The menu consists of items that are meant to be shared as well as meals that stand boldly alone.

Perch
Bar
Whether you want to be inside the main bar under the 30 foot ceilings surrounded by vintage artwork and sweeping archways of windows with a wrap around balcony or on the rooftop with unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles, you will be able to experience a selection of specialty drinks that focus on simple, fresh Parisian inspired cocktails, a wine program that boasts over 25 wines by the glass, a crafted beer selection or even rare selection of Cognacs, Armagnac’s and French Cordials.
(Note to my readers: they don't serve Adios and they don't have Patron...)

After an enjoyable dinner, we took a 15 minute walk through downtown to a dessert place called Syrup. 


Syrup 
611 S Spring St
Los AngelesCA 90014
1(213)488-5136

Mixed Berries Cheesecake, Syrup
This place is amazing, super affordable, huge portion, great atmosphere, and tastes delicious. I had the mixed berries cheesecake, and it left me craving for more. Everything in the display window looked like a slice of heaven. For any of my readers that have a sweet tooth addiction, I would not miss the spot. 

View from the 16th floor at Perch

For more pictures check out my photo gallery: 

Friday, September 13, 2013

exxopolis and downtown los angeles

photo credit: @grandpark_LA

WELCOME TO EXXOPOLIS
Exxopolis is a sculpture people enter to be immersed in radiant light and colour. Since 1992 Architects of Air's luminaria have enchanted over 2 million visitors in 38 counties around the world.


Exxopolis takes its inspiration from natural geometry and Islamic architecture. The principal dome - the CUPOLA - was inspire by the circular space of the Chapter House of Southwell Minister. Its windows are designed to create a 'stain glass' effect using the Penrose  tilling discovered by mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

exxopolis
The luminosity of light and colour inside exxopolis is created purely by the light shining through the coloured plastic. All the individual places have been cut and glued together by hand in our workshop in Nottingham England.

me inside exxopolis 

exxopolis 
enter and be amazed...

Exxopolis was absolutely amazing, the colors that we photographed were out of this world. Being inside was space like, something unique and completely out of this world. My mom and I really enjoyed being at this location. We didn't have reservations, but a small 15 minute wait in line guaranteed us stand by tickets.

Have to give a shout out to Grand Park LA's instagram account @grandpark_la for featuring exxopolis which inspired me to go visit this location. 



MoCa: Museum of Contemporary Art
250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
1(213)626-6222
www.moca.org 

MoCA

"Founded in 1979, MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art. It is committed to the collection, presentation, and interpretation of work produced since 1940 in all media, and to preserving that work for future generations. In a remarkably short time, MOCA has developed one of the nation's most renowned permanent collections. Now numbering over 5,000 works and steadily growing, this invaluable cultural resource provides extensive opportunities for education and enjoyment to thousands of national and international visitors. Today the museum is housed in three unique facilities: MOCA Grand Avenue, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, and MOCA Pacific Design Center." 

MoCA

ADMISSION
General Admission: $12
Students with I.D.: $7
Seniors (65+): $7
Children under 12: Free

(if you plan on visiting this location make sure you bring your student ID)

Free Thursday Evenings:
Admission to MOCA Grand Avenue is free every Thursday, 5–8pm, courtesy of Wells Fargo.

MoCA

MoCA is a really interesting museum, it's a bit on the small side, but for the experience it's a nice way to spend an hour or two. My mom and I had a fun time here, critiquing the art (she's not a big fan of modern art). Unfortunately only their permanent collection was open on the day we went. If you're expecting a big fancy museum, this might not be the spot for you. 

Tickets can be purchased for same-day admission at the box office at MOCA Grand Avenue and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. 


The Geffen Contemporary at MoCA:
152 North Central Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90012
213 - 626- 6222

Geffen Contemporary 

"A former police car warehouse in Little Tokyo renovated by the noted California architect Frank O. Gehry, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (formerly The Temporary Contemporary) opened in 1983. This location offers 40,000 square feet of exhibition space and a branch of the MOCA Store."

The Geffen Contemporary is an extension of MoCa, and I love modern art just as much as the next person but the this place was not to my liking at all. They did have a rather interesting architect exhibition, but to be quiet honest it failed to grab my attention. If you are interested in architecture, I do recommend going to the Geffen Contemporary Extension. 

Geffen Contemporary at MoCA

Our Lady of Angeles Cathedral 
555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90012
1(213)680-5200

Our Lady Of Angeles Cathedral 

"Standing in the midst of downtown Los Angeles, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels serves the total Archdiocese of over 5 million Catholics. As the heart of all 287 Parish Churches and communities, it is the place where the Archbishop celebrates the major Liturgies of the year with clergy, religious and laity. 

Our Lady of Angels Cathedral 

The Cathedral serves as a "model Church for all Parish Churches" in the style and content of its liturgical celebrations. In design, art and furnishings, the Cathedral is rich in cultural diversity in a city in which Sunday Mass is celebrated in 42 different languages. In these first nine years, the Cathedral has welcomed countless pilgrims and visitors. Thank you for being a part of the Cathedral's success story!"

This cathedral is breathtaking from top to bottom. It was quiet relaxing and tranquil being inside the cathedral with no one there at all. It was a beautiful feeling sitting there in an empty pew, listening to the organist practice for the Sunday mass. I recommend this locations for catholics and non catholics alike. 


Overall, it was a great exeperience coming out to Downtown Los Angeles again. It's been a favorite spot of mine ever since i first came out here. There's always so much to do. I've done some other adventure out here before and there is always new things to discover and explore 

Walt Disney Concert Hall 

LAPD Headquarters 
For more pictures visit my gallery:
www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com


Other Downtown LA Adventures: