Getting to the Hollywood Bowl from Downtown LA

If you're staying with us in the Downtown LA area and will be attending an event at the Hollywood Bowl, well lucky you!  The Hollywood Bowl is one of our favorite music venues, so you're in for a treat if it's your first time there.

Fortunately, getting there from the Downtown LA area is simple.

Rose Parade: Getting to Pasadena on New Year's Day

Every year, we have guests stay with us who will be attending the Rose Parade in Pasadena. For those international guests unfamiliar with the Rose Parade, it is a popular parade that has been running annually on January 1st for more than 125 years. It travels a 5 1/2 mile stretch of spectators, showcasing floats made out of - you guessed it - ROSES, as well as marching bands, cultural dance performances and more.

Options For Watching the Parade in Person:

1) Purchase official grandstand seats at Sharp Seating.

2) Watch curbside for free. Just note this will require waking up very, very early if you want secure a good viewing location.  Keep in mind some locals even camp out the previous night!

Getting There

1) Drive and park at one of the public lots.  Just get there very early because they will fill up.

2) Drive and purchase parking in advance at Sharp Seating.

3) Take public transportation by following these steps from our hotel:

• Catch Bus #16/316 right across the street from our location at 3rd St and Lucas Ave. 

• Get off at 6th St. and Hill St., which leaves you right in front of the Pershing Square Metro Station.

• From Pershing Square, catch the Metro Red or Purple line train toward Union Station.

• Get off at Union Station.

• From Union Station, catch the Metro Gold Line train toward Sierra Madre Villa Station.

• Get off at the Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake or Allen stops.  

Trains begin running at 5am on January 1st, with extra trains on the Gold Line toward Pasadena. This is an excellent option if you want to avoid driving and being stuck in traffic in the Pasadena area.

Enjoy the parade!

Getting to the Fashion District By Bus

The Los Angeles Fashion District is great for business travelers (buyers, designers, wholesalers), as well as leisure shoppers. Most transactions are wholesale but there are plenty of retail opportunities for every shopper.

There is an abundance of affordable clothing, shoes, perfume, knock off designer purses, toys, trinkets and more.  Looking for Gucci?  You won't find it here but you may find "Guchi."

The famed Santee Alley is reminiscent of weekend markets in Paris and South East Asian night markets. Need textiles, hair accessories or evening gowns?  No problem.  You can check out this website to see a detailed map of the Fashion District.  There's even an app you can download and use as a guide.

GO CARD Los Angeles: Is It Worth Buying?

Several of our guests invest in the GO CARD Los Angeles in order to save on sightseeing. It works great as long as you do some pre-planning and determine exactly what you want to see and do.  Just make sure you don't try to do too much in one day.  Since Los Angeles is huge and spread out, cramming too many activities into one day can rush you too much and ruin the experience.

These are the two most popular types of GO CARD's:

An Evening at the Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown LA was designed by the great architect Frank Gehry and is home to the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.  The venue feels small and intimate, and the acoustics are hailed as one of the best in the world.

The iconic building is both great to just see, tour, or attend a musical event.  Events include classical, jazz, world music and other chamber music.  You can have an evening with Beethoven and Mozart, or chamber music with strings only, or perhaps watch a classic Halloween movie like Nosferatu with a live organ!  All of the different types of events provide a very unique LA experience.

Free Guided Walking Tours of Downtown Los Angeles

Free LA Tour provides free walking tours of Downtown Los Angeles.  They currently provide 2 different tours (Historic Core and Union Station to Pershing Square).  Each tour provides a great introduction to the downtown areas history, cool architecture and public art displays.

Each tour requires about 2 miles of walking and lasts approximately 2 hours.  Both tours are available every day of the week, except some holidays (check their website).  Tours start at 10:00am and 3:30pm.  If you do both tours you will get a really great feel for Downtown LA.

PLEASE note that although the tours are free, you should ALWAYS donate a minimum tip/contribution of $10 per person.  This allows these great folks to continue to provide such a great service.  Trust us, even with this small tip, these tours are an amazing bargain.

Downtown Eats: Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market in Downtown LA is a historic open air market that originally opened in 1917.  During the last two years, the market has been reinvigorated and new trendy gourmet stalls have opened and operate alongside the traditional produce, spice and taco spots.

Be sure to visit the iconic market with it's cool neon signs and great food spots.  Prices are very reasonable and the choices are great.

Grand Central Market is located at 317 South Broadway, just 1 mile from Jerry's Motel (20 minute walk).  1 hour of free parking is available with a purchase of $10 or more.  Make sure you save your receipt!

Market is open from 8am-6pm Sunday-Wednesday, and 8am-9pm Thursday-Saturday.

Highlights of popular eateries include:

Modern Art in Downtown LA

If you are a modern art buff, you will have two great museum choices in Downtown Los Angeles thanks to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

MOCA Grand Avenue

First, there is MOCA Grand Avenue.  MOCA is the only museum in the city that features only contemporary art.  The collection includes Minimalist, Abstract Impressionist, Post-Modernist and Pop Art.

Make sure you plan ahead, since the museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Thursdays are FREE from 5pm-8pm.


MOCA Geffen Contemporary

The Geffen Contemporary in the Little Tokyo district of downtown is home to a collection of more unwieldy and playful collections and exhibits.  Like the Grand Avenue museum, Geffen is also closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and free admission is available on Thursdays from 5pm-8pm.

Click here to see current pricing and hours of operation for MOCA.

In other exciting news, The Broad Museum will be opening soon in 2015 and will house post-war and contemporary art collections.  Best of all, admission will be free.

Dodger Game Time: Getting There

Jerry's Motel is conveniently located approximately 2 miles from Dodger Stadium.  Although pretty close distance-wise, we do not recommend you walk to Dodger Stadium.  Unlike stadiums and arenas in other cities that are located in the thick of the city, Dodger Stadium is awkwardly tucked away within a park on a hill.  Trust us, once you make your way there, you will understand what we mean.

Be sure to experience a game if you are in town during baseball season.  Several game nights include free giveaways and souvenirs like bobble heads, beach towels, backpacks and more!  Additionally, not only are Dodger games a great LA experience, but Dodger Stadium is one of the best looking stadiums in the country with its classic mid-century modern design.

Griffith Park Observatory DASH Weekend Shuttle

The Griffith Park Observatory and its surrounding grounds are great for views of the city and the Hollywood sign.  One of the best times to visit is before sunset, so you get a day time plus a nice evening view of the lights of LA.

The Griffith Park Observatory building is open Tuesday-Friday (12 noon-10pm) and Saturday-Sunday (10am-10pm).  The Observatory is closed on Mondays, but the surrounding grounds to enjoy the views are still open until 10pm.

Entrance to the observatory building and the grounds is free, but there is a small fee to watch the show in the Planetarium.

Best Place to See the Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood sign is a must see for most first-time LA visitors.  Although you cannot walk right up to the sign, you can get great views and pictures from a distance.  Here are some ideas on some of the best and easy to get to spots.

1)  Hollywood & Highland Center - This shopping mall is located on Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Avenue in the heart of Hollywood.  There is a patio on the top northeast corner of the shopping complex that provides a perfect view of the Hollywood sign.  Best of all, if you will be driving, they offer affordable $2 parking for 2 hours of parking (with validation from participating shops, restaurants and night clubs).

2)  Griffith Park Observatory - The observatory provides sweeping views of the entire city, as well as the Hollywood sign.  Several guests enjoy visiting around dusk to get a day and evening view of the city.

Happy picture taking!

Hop On, Hop Off Tour of Los Angeles

Hop On, Hop Off Tours (or HOHO) are a great way to visit LA's most popular tourist destinations. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of figuring out what to see and makes trip planning a little easier.  These tours are especially great for visitors who will not be renting a car.  You can purchase a 1 day ($44), 2 day ($59) or 3 day ($74) pass.*

You are provided with headphones to listen to a narrator (multiple language available) telling you all about the areas you drive through on a red double-decker bus.  Best of all, you have the freedom to get off the bus, explore, and then jump back on and continue at your own pace.  This type of tour is a great alternative to guided tours that limit the amount of time spent at each location.  Click here to see a map of all routes.*

The closest HOHO bus stop to Jerry's Motel is located just 5 blocks away at the nearby Westin Bonaventure Hotel.  This location is part of the PUPLE route that runs through Downtown LA.  Be sure to visit the Starline website to see timetables if you want to get dropped off in downtown when you return.  If you want to stay out longer, no problem!  You can easily return to Jerry's Motel from Hollywood via the Metro Red Line by getting off at the 7th St/Metro Center or Pershing Square stops.

Remember, Los Angeles is huge, so you have a lot to see and although it's typically not possible to see everything, doing some research ahead of time and deciding what you definitely want to see and what you think you can skip will help you organize your trip and thoughts ahead of time.  By doing this, you will save extra time that you can use to explore the city.

Enjoy!

*Prices and information are current as of August 2014.  Visit starlinetours.com to see updated information.

Tasty Cupcakes in LA

The cupcake revolution started in Los Angeles a few years ago, and transformed a traditional cupcake into an amazing gourmet treat.  Sprinkles Cupcakes started it all with their first cupcake bakery in Beverly Hills.  Since then, they have opened locations across the country, and one conveniently located near us at FIGat7th in downtown Los Angeles.  Make sure you stop by and try a tasty classic flavor like red velvet or limited time delicious flavors like S'mores or Raspberry.

Trust us, you'll love it.

Getting From Santa Monica to Venice Beach

Santa Monica and Venice are conveniently located close to one another.  You can either:

1)  Take a nice walk from one location to the other (2 miles, approximately 30 minutes walking).

2)  Take the short bus ride outlined below.  This bus ride will take about 15-20 minutes and is on the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.  Note that the fare is $1 (as of 6/24/14) and Metro Day Passes/Tap Cards are not accepted on this bus.

3)  Rent a bike.  The bike path is straight, flat and very easy to ride while taking in the sunny Southern California weather.

If you're starting in Santa Monica, you can rent a bike at Sea Mist Rentals.  Rates are $7 per hour or $18-20 for an all day rental of a basic bike.  Beach Cruisers and tandem bikes are available for a little extra.  Make sure you get a lock from them (it's included in the price) so you can lock your bike and explore the eclectic Venice Boardwalk shops and eateries.  A deposit is required and they only accept cash, so make sure you are prepared.  They also hold on to your ID until you return your bike, so make sure you have 2 ID's with you if you plan on visiting local bars, and preferably leave a drivers license with them instead of your passport.

If you're starting in Venice, you can rent a bike from Venice Boardwalk Bike Rentals or any other rental locations located right on the boardwalk.

4)  If you will be driving, you may just want to drive from one location to the next, and park again if you want to maximize your time. But it will all depend on your sightseeing pace and how much time you have to spare.

Downtown Los Angeles Area Parks

Our guests often ask us for recommendations on a nearby park to go have a picnic at or for a quick morning jog. Below are a few parks located in or around downtown LA that are a perfect fit:

Echo Park 

(15 minute walk or 5 minute drive from Jerry's Motel)

This park features a mile long loop around a lake with 3 large fountains. Paddle-boating and trendy restaurants on nearby Sunset Blvd. make this park a very popular destination for locals.

http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/facility/echoPkLake.htm

Vista Hermosa Park

(7 minute walk or 3 minute drive from Jerry's Motel)

The Downtown area's newest park features jogging trails, green spaces for picnics and stunning views on the downtown skyline. 

http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=672

Los Angeles State Historic Park

(10 minute drive from Jerry's Motel)

Covering 32 acres of open space on the edge of downtown near Chinatown this park is the perfect for for a jog or taking photos of the downtown skyline.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22272

Elysian Park

(7 minute drive from Jerry's Motel)

This park is the second largest in Los Angeles at nearly 600 acres in size. Elysian retains much of its natural chaparral, a landscaped crisscrossed with hiking trails and a central picnic area with barbecue pits and children's play areas. 

http://www.lacity.org/businesses/CitywideServices/ServiceDetail/index.htm?laServiceId=3562&laCategory=380

TV Show Taping Tickets

A popular activity when visiting LA is to go to a TV show live taping. There are over 100 live television show taped in the LA area and some pre-planning before your trip could give you the chance to be a part of the audience.

Popular Shows:

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/tickets

Jimmy Kimmel Live

http://1iota.com/show/view/jimmy_kimmel_live

The Ellen Show

http://www.ellentv.com/tickets/

TV Taping Ticket Agencies:

1iota - http://1iota.com/Tickets

Audiences Unlimited - www.tvtickets.com

On Camera Audiences - www.on-camera-audiences.com

Los Angeles Sightseeing Tours - What Are My Options?

Our guests often ask about the various sightseeing tour companies in LA and which one is the "best". It is really important to find out what kind of tour you are looking for to determine what makes sense for you. Below is a simple breakdown and links to the most common and well known tour operators in Los Angeles. Most have pickup points in Hollywood. LA Sightseeing will pick you up directly at Jerry's Motel when scheduled in advance.

A Day In LA Tours - highest rated tour company in LA on TripAdvisor. Pickup points are various LA hotels or in Santa Monica. Guests who have used this company rave about the guides making the tour stand out.
http://www.adayinlatours.com/index.html

Star Line Tours - offers "Hop On/Hop Off" buses as well as standard tours. Hop On/Hop Off is great for those who don't have a car and want to be independent and spend time at each spot and then get back on and head to the next sightseeing destination. Pickup locations in Hollywood and Downtown (closest stop to Jerry's Motel is at the Westin Bonaventure 4 city blocks away).
http://www.starlinetours.com/

Experience Comedy In LA - The Groundlings

Want to do something different rather than going to a bar or see another tourist "hot spot"? The Groundlings is a world famous improv comedy troupe/school that has nightly public shows. The theater is located on Melrose Ave. in a trendy shopping and dining area. A ticket can run from $10-$25 (sign up on goldstar.com for cheaper prices). Many famous comedians such as Will Ferrel have performed here. The small theater provides a fun experience in which the crowd is fully engaged. 

The Groundlings: http://www.groundlings.com/

Other Famous LA Comedy Venues:
Comedy Store On Sunset: http://thecomedystore.com/index.cfm
LA Improv: http://hollywood.improv.com/
Laugh Factory: http://www.laughfactory.com/

Lakers/Clippers/Dodgers/Kings Game Tickets.....

Going to a sporting event or concert at one of the many nearby venues is always a fun way to have a unique experience during your trip. The best and number 1 option in purchasing tickets is through Ticketmaster. 

Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/

If tickets are sold out or you want more options, the secondary ticket market can be hard to navigate. We recommend using the following two options:
Barry's Tickets: http://www.barrystickets.com/
Stub Hub: http://www.stubhub.com/

Venues within 1.5 miles of our hotel include:
Staples Center: Lakers/Clippers/Kings
Dodger Stadium: Dodgers

LA Coliseum: USC College Football

Nokia Theater: Concerts

Club Nokia: Concerts

Griffith Park Observatory - Best View of Los Angeles

Griffith Park Observatory provides the best view of the "City of Angels". The great thing is that it is free. Besides the beach, it is also a great place snap some photos during sunset. Also on site is a small museum and planetarium show (entry fee). Check out the pics below.....

Observatory Info: http://www.griffithobs.org/