OFF THE BEATEN PATH

TopTen

1. Museum of Latin American Art

prac_info 628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach • 562-437-1689 • Open 11am–5pm Wed–Sun • Adm (free for under 12s) • www.molaa.org

Google Map

Part of Long Beach’s emerging East Village Arts District, this lively museum is the only one in the western United States dedicated to showcasing the modern and contemporary works of Latin American artists. A permanent collection of 1,500 works, traveling exhibitions, and a sculpture garden instruct and inspire.

2. Velveteria

prac_info 711 New High St, Chinatown • 503-309-9299 • Open 11am–6pm Wed–Mon • www.velveteria.com

Google Map

Quirky and fun, this museum has on display hundreds of velvet paintings curated from a collection of nearly 4,000 pieces. While never accepted in the art world as legitimate art, there are serious works here, such as the Polynesian art of Edgar Leetag. Less serious is the Hall of Elvis.

TopTen

Paintings at Velveteria

3. The Last Bookstore

prac_info 453 Spring St • 213-488-0599 • Open 10am–10pm Sun–Thu, 10am–11pm Fri–Sat, 10am–9pm Sun • www.lastbookstorela.com

Google Map

An abandoned bank has transformed into a world devoted to the love of reading and books as art. It’s not just another bookstore, but a Downtown destination where devotees come to explore 250,000 titles, pass through a book tunnel, or wander the adjacent art galleries.

TopTen

Book tunnel at The Last Bookstore

4. Watts Towers

prac_info 1765 E 107th St, Watts • 213-847-4646 • www.wattstowers.org

Google Map

This folk-art masterpiece is a whimsical trio of spires, adorned with rainbow-colored pieces of tile, glass, pottery, shells, and other scavenged materials. The sculpture, completed in 1954, represents the life’s work of Italian immigrant Simon Rodia. The high-crime neighborhood is best avoided after dark.

5. Metro Art

Stations throughout the Metro Rail system exhibit delightful murals, sculpture, artwork, and photography reflective of the local neighborhood around the stop. These award-winning installations represent the work of 100 different artists. Be sure to download, or request in advance, the Art Guide: A Tour of Metro’s Artwork before setting out.

6. Los Angeles Maritime Museum

prac_info Berth 84, at the foot of 6th St, San Pedro • 310-548-7618 • Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun • www.lamaritimemuseum.org

Google Map

This museum celebrates LA’s seafaring tradition through displays of nautical models and memorabilia. A highlight is the exhibit about the USS Los Angeles, a navy cruiser that fought in China and the Korean War. Adjacent is the battleship USS Iowa, which transported Roosevelt across the Atlantic to meet Winston Churchill during World War II.

7. Museum of Jurassic Technology

prac_info 9341 Venice Blvd, Culver City • 310-836-6131 • Open 2–8pm Thu, noon–6pm Fri–Sun • Adm (free for under 12s) • www.mjt.org

Google Map

The doors of this bizarre yet fun museum open up a parallel universe, where the seemingly mundane becomes extraordinary. A throwback to the natural science museums of the 19th century, exhibits include Cameroonian stink ants and a display of stereo floral radiography.

8. Paramount Ranch

prac_info 2903 Cornell Rd, Agora Hills • 805-370-2301 • nps.gov

Google Map

The mountains surrounding LA have provided a natural backdrop for Westerns since the 1920s, and the old buildings of Paramount Ranch have featured in many of the productions. Aside from an occasional film shoot, the ranch is open to explore, as are the adjacent hiking trails of the scenic Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

9. Sierra Madre

Google Map

Just east of Pasadena, Sierra Madre is the type of old-fashioned town you can’t imagine existing in the LA urban landscape. It is home to many of LA’s creative artists, and a delightful mix of boutiques and cafés line the town center. Residential streets hold a number of original Craftsman houses. Come in March for the annual Wisteria Festival.

10. Vasquez Rocks

prac_info 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce • 661-268-0840 • www.parks.lacounty.gov

Google Map

On the National Register of Historic places for its significance in Native American prehistory, this 1.5-sq-mile (3.8-sq-km) natural desert park with its distinctive rock formations has found fame as a film location site for over 100 movie, TV, and music video productions from Star Trek to The Flintstones. Wear hiking boots and bring along a picnic.

TopTen

The majestic Vasquez Rocks

..................Content has been hidden....................

You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.
Reset
35.170.54.171