Summer is here.  It doesn't begin officially until June 21, but with June glooms burning away to long sunny days, and the kids out of school, summer has already started.  The question now is what to do with your summer.  One answer:  Explore your city.

Los Angeles is an ever-changing puzzle box of delights--many of them free.  Plan summer city excursions with your kids and family.  The possibilities are endlessly varied.  A simple walk down Broadway or Hill Street, for example, carries you past historic landmarks and architectural treasures.

A city excursion doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.  It can be as light and effervescent as sun on water, as well as a fun learning experience for you and your kids.  Break your adventures over multiple weekends.  Map your general route or destination in advance.  Don't forget the sunblock, hat, comfortable walking shoes/sneakers--and your curiosity.

Some suggestions to kick-start your adventures:

LA's Central Library - FREE - A historic landmark that offers art exhibits, architectural tours, story time and free lunches for kids--and, oh, yeah:  books.

LA's City Hall - FREE - A portrait gallery of LA's past mayors, and an observation deck offering 360 degrees of stunning views of your city.

LA Times - FREE Tours - LA's venerable flagship newspaper offers free tours--check the website for details.

The Last Bookstore - FREE to browse - Bargain books and vinyl records, concerts, book signings, art exhibits, poetry readings and oh-so-much-more.  One of the hipster cultural hearts of renaissance LA.

Grand Central Market - FREE to browse - Classic produce stands and mom-n-pop stalls interspersed with hip new restaurants.  A long-time LA landmark not-to-be-missed.

Grand Park - FREE - Throw a frisbee, catch a concert or late-night outdoor movie, grab a bite at a food truck, meditate, read a book, or take a stroll.  One of LA's newest green spaces, where your tots are allowed to run through the fountain.

Bradbury Building - FREE ground level - One of LA's most iconic and dreamlike structures, used frequently in films and TV shows.  Check the Bradbury Building website for information about free tours on the ground-floor level.

Million Dollar Theatre - $10 - One of LA's first theatres, the beautiful and partially refurbished space has begun showing classic films in partnership with "Vintage LA".

St. Vincent's Court - FREE to browse - This Jewelry District gem is tucked away--you have to make an effort to find it.  Nosh deli treats while soaking in the old-world European atmosphere.

Olvera Street - FREE to browse - Wander one of LA's oldest thoroughfares, perusing the imported fabrics, toys and bags, eating delicious Mexican food, exploring one of LA's oldest adobe residences, and visiting the Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels.

Chinatown - FREE to browse - Everything from bargain T shirts and sunglasses to live poultry, delicious Chinese cuisine, and lovely Chinese architecture and history.  Take the time to chat with the shop owners, some of whom have been in Chinatown for many decades.

Little Tokyo - FREE to browse - Japanese food and imports, a large Japanese supermarket, the Japanese American Cultural Center--and a ukelele store!

Summer is here--where will it lead you?

Leslie is the author of Downtown Los Angeles in Photographs 2013 and Downtown Los Angeles in Photographs 2014--Broadway, available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
  

This isn't a typical blog post--It's a highlight reel of survival tips & information for Disneyland's 24-hour "Rock Your Disney Side" event coming up May 23-24th.  If you're going to Disneyland/DCA for the event, give these tips a gander.  Have fun--and I might see you there!

Survival Guide for Disneyland 24-hour "Rock Your Disney Side": Going to the parks for the summer kick-off this weekend?  Some tips/info that will help you make the most of your time:

 * DL/DCA open May 23-24, 6am - 6am

 * Premium, Deluxe & SoCal Passes Valid (SoCal Select Pass BLOCKED)

 * "Know Before you Go":  Check the Website for announcements, ride closures, rules, prices, etc.  Be prepared. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/#/default/2014/05/23...

 * Grown-ups can dress like their fave Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars/etc. characters for this event, but check the rules & restrictions in advance.

* Arrive early!!  Thinking of arriving at midnight or 1 am on the 24th?  If the parks are mad-crowded, you might be in line for a long, long time before you get into the parks, even though, intuitively, you'd expect lines to be shorter at that time.

* Prepare to enjoy a lot of excellent music, all different styles, from rock to pop to swing dancing.  Disneyland goes all-out on the entertainment, even during the wee hours.  The Castle and Tomorrowland Terrace and Big Thunder Jamboree (Disneyland), and Hollywood Land and Paradise Pier (DCA), are good bets if you're looking for great bands.

* Extra performances of shows like "Fantasmic!" (Disneyland) and World of Color (DCA) are usually added during 24-hour events.

 * Don't forget to ride "Ariel's Undersea Adventure" in DCA and check out the excellent changes.

 * If you plan to stay all 24 hours:

 - Stay hydrated and remember to eat.

 - Take regular rest periods.

 - Book a hotel room in case u can't stay awake the whole 24 hrs.  #1, you don't want to drive home sleep-deprived.  #2, you can't fall asleep at the parks; to (mis)quote Principal Vernon, "This isn't a rest home".

 - Bring money, sunscreen, and a hat.  Check weather report in advance.

 - Don't nickel-and-dime yourself with pricey snacks.  Bring snacks & water; save your money for actual meals, and maybe a souvenir.  The parks will probably sell special event pins, shirts, and hats.  A free souvenir?  Your park map/guide for the event.

 - Expect heavy crowds.  Prepare to be patient.  Yes, there might be 40 minute waits for "Haunted Mansion" at 3 am, e.g., or 90 minute waits for "Space Mountain".

 - Expect that while most attractions, shows, shops and restaurants will be open, some will be closed during the night shift.  Major venues (e.g.the Matterhorn; California Screamin'; the Village Haus; the Emporium; Elias & Co.) ar more likely to be operational than minor ones. Also, some attractions (like "Finding Nemo") are down for refurbishment.

 -  Get ready to meet a ton of interesting fellow Guests and have a lot of fun!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY FROM "THE DISNEYLAND BOOK OF SECRETS"!

:)
 
 


 
 

Walking a city is always more raw, and authentic, and authentically raw, than driving through it.

Skimming through a city in a climate-controlled bubble with heated seats and cupholders and  favorite-song playlists programmed into the onboard computer, one is too insulated to engage with the city in any meaningful way.

To experience a city, walk it.  Suck in lungfulls of smoky-smoggy air.  Feel the texture of it under your feet and at the end of your fingertips.  Sweat.  Pulse with its music, and its sirens.  There will be some level of discomfort.  There will be some level of surprise.  Rather the point.

You might stumble across an art show, a street fair, a long-lost friend, a person in need, a new flavor, a new song, a roiling protest march.  Drink it, breathe it, pure and unfiltered.  This is your city.  These are its people.  You have never been closer to your city than here, at the center of its adrenalized heart.