Hollywood and Back

LAST WEEKEND I was doing my best to fulfill any clichéd adventures I could think of in Los Angeles.  I began by seeing a movie at the Disney El Capitan Theatre.  The film was Chimpanzee, and it featured a live animal show prior to starting.  The drive to the theatre featured a twenty-minute commute down Santa Monica Boulevard, which featured a very different L.A. than the one I am used to.  The scenic Beverly Hills neighborhoods immediately brought me back to the idea that West L.A. is a state of mind.  When we finally got to the El Capitan half of the boulevard was under construction and it instantly reminded me that we were still in L.A. 

The next day I made my way toward Beverly Hills via my intuition.  The progression of scenery from Washington Boulevard and Centinela Avenue to Beverly Glen was captivating.  When I finally made it to Frida’s Mexican Restaurant it was clear that I was in Beverly Hills.  Luckily, the menu’s prices were not as Beverly Hills as I thought they might be.  During my meal a stray dog walked up to me, and was a lot cleaner than my family’s dogs.  After lunch, I ventured toward Rodeo Drive to check out the tourist attractions and shops.  Unlike lunch, the prices at these stores were very Beverly Hills.  I only went in one store, and the prices of men’s ties were the reason--$230 plus. 

Lastly, I followed my intuition toward the Hollywood Hills.  The roads were windy and treacherous.  I would drive miles without any stop signs or streetlights, and the speed of cars behind me were dangerously fast.  I ventured through East Mulholland Drive and stopped along all of the scenic viewpoints.  Tour vans, with convertible tops, would frequent the street, and I wonder what details the drivers knew that I did not.  My stop before heading home was above the Hollywood Bowl.  I have never attended a concert there, but the view of the Bowl and of the city, despite the smog, was still amazing.  While my roundabout tour of West L.A. was long-winded and carried many identities, it was well worth it.      

Photo: Art Flores

--Art Flores

Expect the Unexpected

RECENTLY WHILE planning an outdoor concert for Loyola Marymount University’s student body I realized just how many hoops we have to jump through in L.A. to make people happy.  The first hoop was finding an artist after our first opener cancelled “due to family obligations that they had thought they could get out of” the Wednesday afternoon before the Sunday show.  This disappointment reflected just how meaningless RSVPs have become nowadays.  Even better, once people learned that the artist had cancelled on us there were countless phone calls and text messages from students making their case for artists.  It was awesome to see this reaction, and it definitely helped us replace the artist.  However, there were instances where some were so passionate about artists that they “knew,” that once we informed them that we were not choosing their artist, they chose to take out personal frustration on us and blame us for hurting relationships. 

The next day, Thursday, we were informed that it was now going to rain.  Collegefest had never been held indoors and the idea of going inside would inevitably hurt us.  However, we chose to move it indoors since we only had hours to choose before the move would become impossible.  Again, the solution turned sour when we found that our new location was not as suitable for our stage had been told.  After hours in the gym putting in time rigging the stage with the crew the night before the show, it was finally all set. 

While artists still kept me waiting in the rain for hours for their arrival, the show went on.  Students flooded the gym, and the artists put on great shows.  I would never recommend doing it again, but jumping through those hoops was an L.A. experience that we all must experience every now and again.  

Genius Loci: Views of Downtown Near and Far

Baldwin Hills

Hollywood Bowl - Hollywood Hills

Vladimir Lenin - La Brea and 4th 

Perishing Square 

Skid Row

Calling L.A. Home

FOR THE last 15 years LMU students have been visiting Midnight Mission looking to serve their guests any way they can. Through serving meals or sharing company, Midnight Mission has been a bridge between two very different worlds. This year LMU hosted a day of service as part of its Centennial Celebration, and Midnight Mission was one of the service sites that members of the LMU community could serve. I was fortunate to be invited to welcome the crowd at Midnight Mission last weekend. I arrived early, about 7:30am, last Saturday morning and began to help set-up for the event. Countless of balloons and chairs later, skid row started to look more alive. If you did not look closely you might have looked past the countless guests that sat, slept, and lived outside the caution tape that surrounded the event. They are commonly called “guests,” but to these people we are the guests. While Midnight Mission does its best to help rehabilitate the lives of our city’s homeless population, it is not good enough. L.A. has a serious problem. L.A.’s economy may be in good shape, based on our Mayor’s words, but it is home to more than just small business owners, its streets are literally home to past business owners, teachers, military veterans, retired professional athletes, children, and many more. The walk from L.A. Live to Midnight Mission was the distance I used to walk to school when I was in high school. In this distance, L.A. changes drastically from five-star restaurants and entertainment to five-dollar living wages. My heart goes out to organizations like Midnight Mission that have positioned themselves at the forefront of our city’s war with poverty. I had the privilege of meeting one of the staff members at Midnight Mission who was previously homeless. He has once played for the Greenbay Packers football team; however, years later he found himself living in downtown L.A., literally. Angelenos like this one remind me just how swiftly our lives can be changes in this city. A lot of us call L.A. home, none more so than our homeless.

--Art Flores

Photo: Art Flores

Calling L.A. Home

FOR THE  past fifteen years LMU students have been visiting Midnight Mission looking to serve their guests any way they can. Through serving meals or sharing company, Midnight Mission has been a bridge between two very different worlds. This year LMU hosted a day of service as part of its Centennial Celebration, and Midnight Mission was one of the service sites that members of the LMU community could serve. I was fortunate to be invited to welcome the crowd at Midnight Mission last weekend. I arrived early, about 7:30am, last Saturday morning and began to help set-up for the event. Countless of balloons and chairs later, skid row started to look more alive. If you did not look closely you might have looked past the countless guests that sat, slept, and lived outside the caution tape that surrounded the event. They are commonly called “guests,” but to these people we are the guests. While Midnight Mission does its best to help rehabilitate the lives of our city’s homeless population, it is not good enough. L.A. has a serious problem. L.A.’s economy may be in good shape, based on our Mayor’s words, but it is home to more than just small business owners, its streets are literally home to past business owners, teachers, military veterans, retired professional athletes, children, and many more. The walk from L.A. Live to Midnight Mission was the distance I used to walk to school when I was in high school. In this distance, L.A. changes drastically from five-star restaurants and entertainment to five-dollar living wages. My heart goes out to organizations like Midnight Mission that have positioned themselves at the forefront of our city’s war with poverty. I had the privilege of meeting one of the staff members at Midnight Mission who was previously homeless. He has once played for the Greenbay Packers football team; however, years later he found himself living in downtown L.A., literally. Angelenos like this one remind me just how swiftly our lives can be changes in this city. A lot of us call L.A. home, none more so than our homeless.

--Art Flores

Photo: Art Flores

Magic Moment

LAST WEEK, I had the privilege to attend the Los Angeles Urban Economic Forum, co-hosted by The White House and Mayor’s Office of Los Angeles. This event, held at LMU, was organized to bring together business leaders in the area and inspire them to continue investing in our city’s economy. Throughout the day there was an emphasis on small businesses. Mayor Villaraigosa opened the day’s event by acknowledging the lure of Los Angeles’s economy. He reflected on the big businesses that have since moved out of L.A., but also reaffirmed us that this city still remains the best location for small businesses. A restaurant like Tak’s on Crenshaw is a great example of a small business that has thrived as Tak’s has become a part of the community it serves over the years. Similarly, L.A.’s legendary Lakers basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s businesses have thrived in L.A. in the same way Mary’s coffee shop Tak’s has—they have found ways to cater their businesses to their communities. Johnson was one of the early speakers of the event, and highlighted a few of the business decisions that have made him successful. He mentioned how his movie theatres have catered their food to their communities by offering spicier sausages and condiments. While these stories were at times humorous, they were real, raw stories of success. L.A. will chew your theatres food and spit it out, but Johnson has managed to bring various businesses into neighborhoods that have proven a need for them. Johnson has not ignored these communities, and advocated to bigger business leaders that these communities want to spend just as much as communities with higher discretionary spending. Speaking of spending, this week it was announced that Johnson’s group of bidders won the bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2 billion, in cash. Once again, Johnson is setting an example for fellow Angelenos to follow as he is risking his reputation for the sake of our city’s.

--Art Flores

Photo: Art Flores

Getting Lost In Lennox

AS I  drove east down Century Blvd and away from LAX I noticed a drastic change in scenery.

Many of us are familiar with the loop that takes us from Sepulveda Blvd onto Century, and as I took that loop past all of the clichéd hotels and hyperbolic palm trees I noticed the consistent decline in scenery the further I drove down Century. The hotels slowly began to disappear and even the palm trees became shorter. Eventually, there were no palm trees and the large building that had before overshadowed the street were replaced with one-story building structures as I drove under the 405 Freeway. I had entered Lennox.

I have driven this drive since my sophomore year. I often visit Lennox Middle School (LMS) as a member of LMU’s El Espejo mentoring program. I have been fortunate to do so since the commute is just minutes from LMU’s campus. However, the short drive covers a lot of distance in scenery as I find myself almost landlocked in Lennox. From the field at LMS you can see the 405 South as it merges almost directly above the field with the 105 East Freeway. Airplanes frequently fly over the field as they descend toward LAX’s runways. No bluff hills or mountain tops can be seen. The freeways and the planes are the only indications of anything different than two-story structures across this flat section of Los Angeles. It seems barren and for the longest time I had trouble finding out what was hidden just east of the airport.

I found myself getting lost in Lennox on my way to finding a taco truck that some of my friends often eat at. We traveled the same route I often travel to go to Lennox, but instead turned down Inglewood Blvd. The streets were very dark as we drove down Inglewood Blvd, but eventually a well-light truck, accompanied by an empty parking lot, welcomed us as we entered. We had found the truck, and we had found something more than just tacos. The truck was a social hub for many of the residents in the area as they found affordable tacos, drinks, and churros. In addition, there was vendors that sold discounted movies and video games, and even knock-off cash for gold table. All in all this taco truck draws quite the crowd that I had been hoping to interact with in Lennox. Prior to this I had only known young students in the area, but this helped paint a cultural picture of the area.

Lennox begins as L.A.’s stereotypical facade ends. As you cross into Lennox you enter into an area that may not be as attractive as the areas just west of it. The stores are less commercialized, and the buildings are very worn and torn. However, for the people of Lennox this is exactly what they love about L.A. Their culture can thrive around just a taco truck. It doesn’t need imitation living and palm tree covered streets. Lennox is a genuine diamond among all the superficiality in Los Angeles. From the outside looking in it is easy to dream up ways to improve the area, but from that taco truck everything seemed to be just fine.

-- Art Flores

-- Photo credit: Art Flores

Farewell, Clipper Darrell

CLIPPER DARRELL, also known as Darrell Bailey, is a resident of Lawndale, CA and for the past 15 years he has been arguably the most decorated sports fan for one of the most undecorated sports franchises--the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite the lack of success, support, and overall spirit of Clipper Nation, Darrell has remained loyal to our city's NBA step-child for over a decade and over 400 home games. From his attire, usually a wacky combination of red and blue, to his house, same description, he carries his Clipper faith him him everywhere. He has been more loyal to LA's notorious losing team than most of us, myself included, are to our best teams, like the Los Angeles Lakers. However LA has a tendency to remind us how valuable loyalty can be, and cannot be overnight. Clipper Darrell has recently been told by Clippers management that he must retire his Clipper affiliated name. Why? The Clippers feel that he has been using their name to market himself. Whether there is much of a case to make around this or not is up for debate, but it is a reminder for all of us Angelenos that at the end of the day we do not always get in return what we give to our sports franchises.

--Art Flores

Photo: Clipper Darrell's home

Credit: Darrell Bailey

My LA: Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH reflects L.A.’s coastal attraction without telling you all about it. With that said, I am going to tell you a little about it. Originally owned by George Peck, this area was called “Shores Acres.” In 1901, John Merrill bought the south portion and hoped to name it after his old home in New York City—Manhattan. However, Peck was not in favor of Merrill’s suggestion, so the two maturely decided to flip a coin to decide on the name.

Whether heads or tails determined Manhattan Beach is up for debate, but my first tale from Manhattan Beach came by means of surfing. Local surfer Ryan Miller, who grew up surfing in San Diego, described surfing the beach’s El Porto break by saying, “the water is barely blue anymore because of the pollution and urban runoff, and the waves are nothing special.” Despite the water’s pollution, it continues to attract local surfers that are experienced enough to tackle big waves elsewhere, but settle for its close proximity. It also attracts inexperienced surfers that are looking for a place to get started. I viewed myself in this latter category the first time I got in the water. I was nervous and terrified. All I could see were waves crashing and surfers nearly crashing into one another. It seemed like driving through traffic without brakes. With all this in mind, I chose the most undesirable surf break, and left the best spots for those willing to rub surf wax with one another. After only days of surfing I soon learned that El Porto provided me with an opportunity to be comfortable in my own wetsuit and enjoy the waist to shoulder high, and occasionally overhead, waves it had to offer.

Since learning to surf I have had many more opportunities to enjoy what Manhattan Beach has to offer. For instance, while parking blocks inland from the beach to avoid overly priced quarter-per-ten minute parking I stumbled upon its residential neighborhoods. Even blocks from the sand many homes reflected the city’s beach theme. Three-story, light blue and white homes were piled among one another. One home had a large wooden sign in its front yard with arrows indicating the directions of the beach and work. In these areas, despite the lack of any view of the beach you can still smell a healthy dose of salt water, and the homes are tightly packed amongst one another as they would appear on the Stand. Speaking of the Stand, these homes sit with their feet buried in the sand reflecting various architecture and age, but all have one common denominator; the homes found here rival Bel-Air in terms of half-acre real estate by $15 million. Clearly, Manhattan Beach can be home to many walks of life. From professional athletes like Blake Griffin to everyday beach goers it offers a taste of L.A. without compromising its beachfront property.

As I have frequented Manhattan Beach for non-surf related reasons I have continued to enjoy what I have found. The Village offers commercial shopping and dining experiences with its mall and chain restaurants. While the shops restaurants between the beach and Sepulveda offer unique experiences, such as Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and The Kettle. As a college student it as has been a nice outlet at any time of day or night. With all these attractions in mind, it is no wonder that modern television utilized Manhattan Beach’s local high school and beach as a fictional representation of Orange County in Fox Television’s hit show The O.C.

--Art Flores

Caption: The Strand

Photo Credits: Mike Dunitz, beach-broker.com

Kings of Los Angeles

IN LOS ANGELES, sports teams can make or break our days sometimes. With Dodger disappointments and the Lakers aging faster than ever, some might argue that all attention is pointed towards the Clippers. I would argue that the Los Angeles Kings should get some credit in our city. I have attended three games in the past month and I have been impressed by what I have seen. Specifically, the Kings recently beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 and upon leaving the game I felt exhausted. From the opening ceremony, which matched the Canadian National Anthem against the U.S. National Anthem, I could tell it would be an entertaining night. As soon as the U.S. National Anthem began, applause filled the air with patriotism. Then the opening puck was dropped and play began. Within minutes there was a fight among players, between breaks in action there was fan engagement and contests, and by halftime the Kings commanded the lead. With a new head coach the Kings have been playing inspired, and attending their games has been something I ignorantly looked beyond when researching games at Staples Center. Don't get me wrong, the Lakers are still my favorite attraction in town, but the Kings have slowly crept to number two on my list.

-- Art Flores

Photo: Los Angeles Kings
Credit:  Art Flores

Iconic L.A: Seeing Double-Double

LAST WEEK  I found myself dining double-double.

Our student government brought In-N-Out to campus to encourage students to vote for Homecoming court, and as our President I was sure to get my hands on some free In-N-Out. However, I also found myself driving back to In-N-out for dinner. As I arrived at the In-N-Out on Sepulveda Boulevard, adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), I sympathized with anyone who might be unfamiliar with its parking. If you pull in to any of the two entrances you’ll soon learn that it’s your only option. This particular In-N-Out forces you to either get your food through their drive-thru or dine in depending on which entrance you enter. It screams, “Duh” to anyone who angrily is unaware of the parking lot’s diva division.

In addition to parking confusion this In-N-Out attracts an eclectic audience. It attracts the perennial travelers who fly into LA with In-N-Out in mind. These travelers will rent cars, and even walk through frigid fifty degree weather, to taste In-N-Out’s fresh version of fast-food. There are also the travelers from out of state that come into In-N-Out ready to test its tastes against their hometown burger joints. With the wait at In-N-Out it is always a pleasure to listen while you wait to eat. I commonly listen to the patrons around me as they discuss where they came from and where they are going. In addition, I listen to the LMU drama that unfolds within the booths as if they are somehow private spaces. I myself am guilty of this. I have ended casual relationships, consulted friends during hardship, and much more at this very In-N-Out. While the food is great, In-N-Out provides many with a casual place to celebrate and confide in others, because odds are that those around you are just one flight away from taking any secrets you have with them.

Speaking of secrets, we are all familiar with the traditional Double-Double, fries, and a milkshake combination defining In-N-Out’s success. It offers us the option of eating fast-food without fasting afterward. It’s “protein style” option allows us to substitute the bun for a large amount of lettuce to wrap your burger within. While this should really be called a “low carb style,” we never seem to question its healthiness. However, beneath their traditional menu lies a Secret Menu. A menu that allows you to order 4x4s, animal styles fries, a “Flying Dutchman”, well-done fries, cheese fries, and more. These secret items reveal that even In-N-Out is not as healthy as it has made itself out to be. However, In-N-Out now acknowledges their secret menu to a certain extend without physically advertising it. Whether it be L.A.’s obsession with simplicity or secrecy, it is evident that even In-N-Out has something to hide.

Last semester during finals week my roommate and I dashed to In-N-Out just before 1AM hoping to grab a midnight feast. Unfortunately, as we arrived at the door the clock struck 1AM and the location’s perennial security guard locked us out. Many times before this I made it right on time to be greeted by their overtly friendly and over-worked employees, but not tonight. As I stood outside I realized just how lonely the airport was without a Double-Double, fries, and a milkshake.

-- Art Flores

(photo credit: Dave77459 via flickr creative commons)