#257: Peace Awareness Labrynth and Gardens

If the X-Men lived in L.A., I'd imagine the Peace Awareness Labrynth and Gardens in Mid-City is where they'd live. The place is an old mansion, complete with a front gate where you're buzzed in, twin lion statues guarding the entrance, beautiful gardens and fountains, and... oh yes... that labrynth.  

Rawr! 

Searching online for past issues of Los Angeles Magazine, I found a Hidden Labrynths page. Labrynths are already mysterious, so add the word "hidden" to them, and it's doubly awesome. We immediately called up two of our favorite atheists and headed out to the gardens.  

I mention the fact that my companions are not spiritual because it just so happens that this is a pretty spiritual touchy-feely place. Thank goodness the only complaint from the peanut gallery was "oh, I thought it was gonna be one of those labrynths with the high garden walls." Our guide didn't pressure us at all to change our beliefs, and although they do ask for your email address when you sign in, you can easily leave it off. So I guess what I'm getting at is, atheists, don't be afraid! 

The Peace Awareness Labrynth website describes the place as "a day retreat where people can relax in nature without leaving the city of Los Angeles".  Entry is free, and on Sundays they offer free garden tours. They also serve lunch and dinner here, for pretty cheap ($6 or $7 I think? Call for details). 

Our tour started inside, where our guide talked about the history of the mansion. The house was built in 1910 in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style and declared Historic Cultural Landmark No. 478 in 1990. Back in the early 1900's, this was where all the rich people lived; the Italian actor Rudolph Valentino even lived next door.  

you rang?

We then headed outside where our guide gave us some quick directions on how to walk the labrynth. Brad decided to try it while carrying our little girl, but stopped and turned around after about a minute because he was feeling dizzy and was afraid of dropping our baby. Who knew labrynths could be so perilous?

By the way, I found it amusing that there's a basketball hoop right next to the labrynth. After you walk your way to inner peace, you can enjoy a game of one on one!

We really enjoyed our time at the gardens, and I'd love to return and check out their lunch or dinner.

Have you been to the Peace Awareness Gardens and Labrynth? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below! 

Peace Awareness Labrynth and Garden

#256: L.A. City Hall Observation Deck

Downtown's City Hall is not just a place to sue someone. The Observation Deck on the 27th floor is the perfect place to take in a 360 degree view of the city and some cool architecture too. Best part: it's free!

I brought my family here on their recent trip out to LA. After having lunch in Little Tokyo, we drove over to City Hall looking for parking. Note to Self: Next time just park in Little Tokyo and walk over because street parking around City Hall is hard to find! 

The ceiling

On the observation deck

When you first enter the building (the entrance on Main Street is the only one open to the public), there's an X Ray machine that you have to put your bags through. Then you sign in (one person in your group shows their ID) and get visitor stickers. The guard gives you directions to take two sets of elevators to the 27th floor. Along the way, you get to walk around and admire the building's architecture and art. 

The view from the top on a clear day is outstanding. See if you can spot familiar Downtown landmarks in these pictures:

I spy the Disney Concert Hall!

I spy Union Station!

The brand new Grand Park is right across the street from City Hall

A bell on the observation deck

The Observation Deck is open on weekdays during regular business hours. 

Have you been to City Hall's Observation Deck? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!

Los Angeles City Hall

#255: Little Tokyo

Did anyone else check out Los Angeles Magazine's February "Hidden L.A." issue? Love it! The O'Neill house, Encino Velodrome and Serra Retreat are just some of the places I've bookmarked from the article.

I was excited to see so many places I have already been to on the list: Vanalden Cave, Corral Canyon, Bronson Caves, L.A. Police Academy Rock Garden, The Nethercutt Collection, Forest Lawn Memorial, Malibu Hindu Temple, Self Realization Fellowship, Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, and Gardens of the World. 

Among the magazine's recommended hidden L.A. eateries is Fugetsu-do Sweetshop in Little Tokyo. The glossy picture of the delicately arranged Japanese confectionaries made my mouth water and inspired me to pay Little Tokyo my first visit in what has probably been a couple years.  

Fugetsu-do has been selling mochi and manju for 109 years. As the plaque says in front of the shop, Seiichi Kito opened the original Fugetsu-do candy store on Weller in 1903 and in 1930, Fugetsu-do moved to its current location.

From left to right: ogura, manju, ohagi

During our visit they had special mochis made for Valentine's Day and Girl's Day. I got a simple ohagi dessert, which is mashed sweetened azuki beans covering a rice center. Brad got a manju (cake surrounding sweet azuki beans) and a special ogura Valentine's dessert (sweet azuki beans around a sticky mochi rice center). We agreed that the ohagi was the best of the three. 

After grabbing lunch at Suehiro Cafe, we took a walking tour of Little Tokyo. First we made a stop at Weller Court where the Friendship Knot and the Challenger Memorial honoring Colonel Ellison Shoji Onizuka are on display. Onizuka was the first Japanese American astronaut selected to participate in America's Space Program. The Challenger flight was his second mission into space.

Challenger Memorial

Friendship Knot

Then we headed to the Japanese Village Plaza. On the outskirts is a neat gift shop called Bun-ka Do:

Near the Plaza's red tower is Foot Land, home of these awesome Spam shoes: 

And across from Foot Land is the macaron shop 'Lette. I couldn't resist getting a salted caramel from here:

On the corner of Central Avenue and 1st Street is the colorful "Home is Little Tokyo" mural:

Across the street from the Plaza is the Japanese American National Museum  (#57) and MOCA (#200):

Walk a little past MOCA to see the Go For Broke Memorial honoring the Japanese American soldiers who fought in WWII.

There's no place quite like L.A.'s Little Tokyo. It is a mix of old and new, built on a foundation of Japanese spirit and strength. As the Los Angeles Magazine article says, "As time collapses, you'll ask yourself what took you so long to come here."

Planning on taking a walking tour of Little Tokyo? I used this site to plan our own walking tour.

365LA adidas

You know you're a blogger geek when you've got your blog on your shoes!

Brad gave me the gift of mi adidas customizeable shoes this past Christmas, and I got to design my own adidas, including the materials, colors and what to embroider. Neon pink high tops? Sneakers covered in silver sequins? After hemming and hawing, I finally chose a combination of black denim with black suede trim and gold stripes.

#254: The Gagosian Gallery

Coloring Book, Jeff Koons

Remember the basketballs floating in an aquarium at the Broad Art Museum (#4)? The artist behind those basketballs, giant balloon dogs, and an awesome gold statue of Michael Jackson and his monkey is Jeff Koons. 

Koons' piece titled Coloring Book is currently showing at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. I'm so glad I paid it a visit because it's even more impressive in person!

Frank Gehry's Fish Lamps 

Admission to the Gagosian Gallery is free to the public. The current exhibit is on the lower level, and also features Frank Gehry's beautiful Fish Lamps.  

Frank Gehry is best known as the architect behind the Walt Disney Concert Hall  (#102). For more Gehry, see his house (#235) and Binocular Building (#142). 

Gehry's sketches of Fish Lamps

During our visit, the upper level was closed off and contained pieces for private viewing. Undeterred, Brad's dad asked for a private viewing and they showed us the upstairs as well! Worth a shot :)

The docents at the Gagosian Gallery were very nice, and they assured us that photography was ok. 

Since it doesn't take very long to see everything in the gallery, I would combine this outing with something else in the area; the Sprinkles ATM and Beverly Gardens Park (#238) are just a block away.

The Koons and Gehry pieces are on display until February 14th, so be sure to stop by--the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Have you been to the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!

The Gagosian Gallery

 Subscribe to 365 LA

 Follow 365 LA on Facebook

#253: WWA Gallery

The Bone Shaker, Kelly Hutchison

Sometimes the coolest places are right in front of you. How many times have I stood in line at Tender Greens in Culver City without even a glance at its neighbor next door, the WWA Gallery? A couple of weeks ago while Yelp surfing, I saw that they were having a CreepyCute exhibit. We invited our favorite creepy/cute goth friends to join us, and I took some pictures for you guys to enjoy.

WWA stands for the Wonderful World of Animation. Admission is free and we spent a good half hour admiring the art here. The CreepyCute exhibit runs until February 9th and is followed by an exhibit titled "I Believe in Unicorns, Too!" which runs from February 16th to March 23rd. Check it out!

Buttercup Farm, Dee Chavez

Nightwatchmen, Dee Chavez

Skull Anomaly 5, Jonathan Bergeron

Goodbye Kitty, Chase Tafoya

Saint Gus and Pilot, Larkin

 Feed Me Lover, Larkin

Albino Peace, Desiree Fessler

Girl With Round Glasses, Tansy Myer

Time Machine, Vincent Cacciotti

In This Land, Jeremiah Ketner

Lil Nubby Jr, 64 Colors

Have you been to the WWA Gallery? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below! 

WWA Gallery

 Subscribe to 365 LA

 Follow 365 LA on Facebook