Los Angeles Art and other Activities

The Getty Center-J. Paul Getty Museum

Attraction | "A Grand Hillside Garden and Museum"

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It is impossible not to be impressed by The Getty Museum. The expansive centre attracts over a million visitors each year but still manages to exude calm, tranquility and beauty. It is one of the few very large galleries that is a work of art on the outside as well as in. Entry to the museum is by way of a steep and winding cable car. Cars leave regularly from the car park level, depositing visitors into the 24-acre campus in the Santa Monica Mountains. The one unfortunate aspect is the immediate view of Interstate 405 but otherwise, the centre manages to focus most of the visitor attention on the complexes many fine features, such as a cactus garden, towering fountains of bougainvillea an...Read More

It is impossible not to be impressed by The Getty Museum. The expansive centre attracts over a million visitors each year but still manages to exude calm, tranquility and beauty. It is one of the few very large galleries that is a work of art on the outside as well as in.

Entry to the museum is by way of a steep and winding cable car. Cars leave regularly from the car park level, depositing visitors into the 24-acre campus in the Santa Monica Mountains. The one unfortunate aspect is the immediate view of Interstate 405 but otherwise, the centre manages to focus most of the visitor attention on the complexes many fine features, such as a cactus garden, towering fountains of bougainvillea and terraces shaded from the Californian sun by pillars and arches reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture.

We arrived at the museum around lunchtime and like many visitors must do, headed straight for the lunch queue. The food at the main cafeteria was surprisingly good and varied, with freshly cooked burgers, giant salads and a choice of sandwiches and Mexican fare. The dishes aren’t especially cheap but the portions are large. Plus we were able to eat outside and the surroundings are quite pleasant.

After lunch we made our way through the entrance hall to the central garden. The entrance hall has a corridor of arced fountains that create a delicate tunnel of watery fingers. A sloping staircase winds down to the garden below. At the end of each ramp it is possible to admire the view down across Los Angeles although the smog often obscures much of what is in the distance.

The garden was created by Robert Irwin and is 134,000 square feet of artwork itself. Walkways cross a stream that washes over a stone waterfall, flowing down to a floating maze of azaleas. Grassy banks provide areas for families to stop and enjoy the sun or to take a break from viewing the galleries. Irwin included around 500 different plant varieties in the garden and the landscaping is immaculate and inspiring, so much so, that I found myself a little reluctant to go inside to the galleries.

Having only half a day to spend at the centre, we focused on the West Pavillion but stopped into the Exhibitions Pavillion as well to check out the 2011-2012 exhibition on post-World War Two Los Angeles art.

The West Pavillion featured a fascinating exhibition of work by German / American painter and photographer Lyonel Feininger. It showed his movement from painting to photography and how he played with light and shadow in night photographs and with reflections and double exposures.

In the Exhibitions Pavillion we moved quite quickly through the ‘Pacific Standard Time’ exhibition of Southern Californian contemporary art as we were less impressed by the artwork on display. It probably didn’t help that we had just viewed Van Gogh’s "Irises" in the West Pavillion but the contemporary sculptures and paintings in the Pacific Standard Time exhibition just didn’t seem very exciting or creative.

We returned to the entrance hall area to admire the travertine walls and well ordered gardens one last time before making our way back down the hill in the cable car. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

The Getty Center-J. Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Brentwood, Los Angeles 90049
(310) 440-7300

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Watts Towers

Attraction | "A Hidden Monument to Sabato Rodia"

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Driving to the Watts neighbourhood in south LA is an interesting experience in itself. The area is depressed and in parts bleak. Dusty roads are bordered by windowless shops and bars, and silent railroad tracks and run down shopping malls create unwelcome interruptions between rows of housing.Without a car, I’m not too sure how you could get to the Watts Towers. They lie in the heart of the Watts, far from any local transport system (that I could see) and obscured by trees and the roofs of the homes. But as we neared the triangular plot where the towers are located, the conical tops came into view. Initially they looked like some sort of space age telegraph masts but as we pulled up beside...Read More

Driving to the Watts neighbourhood in south LA is an interesting experience in itself. The area is depressed and in parts bleak. Dusty roads are bordered by windowless shops and bars, and silent railroad tracks and run down shopping malls create unwelcome interruptions between rows of housing.

Without a car, I’m not too sure how you could get to the Watts Towers. They lie in the heart of the Watts, far from any local transport system (that I could see) and obscured by trees and the roofs of the homes. But as we neared the triangular plot where the towers are located, the conical tops came into view. Initially they looked like some sort of space age telegraph masts but as we pulled up beside them, the glint of coloured glass, tiles and pebbles became evident.

There are seventeen major sculptures at the site and all are the work of one rather humble but extraordinary man. It is possible to take a guided tower of the tower but if, like us, you just turn up unannounced, information boards line the perimeter of the site and you have good views of the towers from the outside.

Sabato Rodia (later known as Simon and Sam Rodia) was born in Italy in 1879. His older brother emigrated to the USA in 1895 and Simon followed him to Pennsylvania a few years after, working as a coal miner. Sabato later married, had a family and moved to the west coast. He found work in quarries, logging and as a construction worker in Seattle and eventually California, developing skills that would later enable him to construct the vast work of art in Los Angeles. Rodia started on the towers some time around 1921 and continued to work on them for the next thirty years. It wasn’t until he was almost 75 years of age that he decided to stop, deeding the plot and the towers to a neighbour and moving to Martinez to be near family. He died some ten years later, apparently without ever seeing the towers again.

Walking around the towers and reading about Rodia’s life, you get the impression of a man who was incredibly driven but perhaps quite lonely. Early in his life he had a wife and children but the marriage disintegrated, with no evidence that he kept in touch with his offspring. However when you look at photos or videos of Rodia, his toothy grin suggests that perhaps he was quite happy with his lot, and proud of his achievement in the Watts neighbourhood. His mission was to build something new, something that the world didn’t already have and his thirty year project has given this part of LA a touch of much needed colour, wonder and excitement. The towers are built using structural steel covered with mortar and then embossed with coloured shards of glass, shell, rock and ceramics. The Gaudi-esque result is something that would look right at home in a fairytale book so in spite of its location, Rodia has ensured that people will be drawn to gaze in wonder at his towers for years to come. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Watts Towers
1765 East 107th Street
Los Angeles, California 90002
(213) 485-1795

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Stroll along Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier

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Venice Beach Photo - Los Angeles, California

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Our bike ride from Manhattan Beach had taken us around Marina del Rey and deposited us into the midst of the action on Venice Beach. Possibly LA’s best known beach area, I had expected to see all types of bizarre characters but in fact things seemed fairly tame. Perhaps the most striking sight was that of the medical marijuana shops. Bright green eye catching stalls with a couple of girls out front dressed not unlike cheerleaders. The famed muscle beach body builders must have been taking a day off, as we didn’t see them. The skateboard park was busy though and had attracted a decent number of spectators. We took our bikes off the bike paths and walked along the boardwalk, admi...Read More

Our bike ride from Manhattan Beach had taken us around Marina del Rey and deposited us into the midst of the action on Venice Beach. Possibly LA’s best known beach area, I had expected to see all types of bizarre characters but in fact things seemed fairly tame. Perhaps the most striking sight was that of the medical marijuana shops. Bright green eye catching stalls with a couple of girls out front dressed not unlike cheerleaders.

The famed muscle beach body builders must have been taking a day off, as we didn’t see them. The skateboard park was busy though and had attracted a decent number of spectators.

We took our bikes off the bike paths and walked along the boardwalk, admiring the colourful mix of shops, fortune-tellers, souvenirs and artwork. To me, most was pretty bad. Even the majority of the clothing shops were pretty tacky, but the walkway certainly didn’t lack character. We took our bikes off the boardwalk and wheeled them into a long narrow courtyard with a cafe at the end. We stopped for a frozen yogurt and enjoyed being away from the crowds for a short while.

We then continued on towards Santa Monica. The Santa Monica pier was no less busy than Venice Beach. We were able to push our bikes onto the rough wooden boards of the pier and walk around the perimeter. The pier seems to have it all: restaurants, entertainers, a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, a trapeze school and an aquarium. It is even part of Route 66. We walked to the far end, where a row of anglers went about the serious business of casting lines out into the quiet swells of the Pacific. Their pursuit was a far cry from the noisy leisure pursuits of most people who visit the pier.

Back along the pier we observed an entertainer in puzzlement. He wore a shabby tracksuit with a gorilla mask and danced, not very well, to a string of old pop songs. He made us laugh if nothing else.

We passed the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant, apparently owned by the production company responsible for making ‘Forest Gump’ and continued towards the pier entrance. After over 100 years of operation, the pier shows no sign of losing its appeal.

We wanted to explore further but it was time to turn back. We cycled back along the winding Venice Beach path, competing with pedestrians and roller-bladers for space. The skate park and the boardwalk were still busy. It isn’t until you reach the edge of Marine del Rey that the crowds disappear and the quieter side of LA beach life returns. Read Less

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Cycling from Manhattan Beach to Santa Monica and Redondo Beach

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Cycle Path Photo - Manhattan Beach, California

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Although we were fortunate enough to have bicycles available to use at our accommodation we rather foolishly didn’t spot a) the bicycle pump or b) the two really nice beach cruisers at the second rental place until a couple of days after we had decided to rent bikes for our first foray out to Venice Beach. So my first suggestion (if you’re renting an apartment or house in the area) would be to do a thorough search in the garage for bikes and a device to blow up the tyres before you resort to renting from Fun Bunns. The name might be amusing, but the state of some their bikes is not. We walked into Fun Bunns (1116 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tel: 310 372 8500) and picked up two...Read More

Although we were fortunate enough to have bicycles available to use at our accommodation we rather foolishly didn’t spot a) the bicycle pump or b) the two really nice beach cruisers at the second rental place until a couple of days after we had decided to rent bikes for our first foray out to Venice Beach. So my first suggestion (if you’re renting an apartment or house in the area) would be to do a thorough search in the garage for bikes and a device to blow up the tyres before you resort to renting from Fun Bunns. The name might be amusing, but the state of some their bikes is not.

We walked into Fun Bunns (1116 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tel: 310 372 8500) and picked up two beach cruisers fairly easily, although not after discounting one specimen with a well rusted chain. They rent by the hour, or by the day the cost is $20 per person.

The Strand is a paved path that stretches from Redondo Beach in the south to Santa Monica pier and beyond. For the most part, there is one path that runs alongside the beachfront homes for pedestrians and a second, lower path dedicated to cyclists that winds through the flat sands. With the exception of a short stretch of road riding near Marina Del Rey (just before Venice Beach), the ride is completely off road, very safe and affords almost uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean waves and horizon.

Starting at Manhattan Beach, it is about 12 miles (one way) to Santa Monica pier. However, it is a very flat and each journey. The only effort required of any rider is around Marina del Rey. The path splits from its ocean side route and heads inland and around the marina. The paths are well sign posted so reaching Venice Beach on the other side was very easy. In fact the trip was almost too easy. I was convinced that at some point I was going to plough headfirst into the sand or miss a key turning. I was enjoying myself so much, basking in the still warm rays of the December sun and exerting such minimal effort that I had to remind myself more than once to keep my eyes on the path that unfurled in front of me without end.

The other joy about this bike ride is that the path is peppered with toilets and water fountains, so it doesn’t even matter if you forget a water bottle or get caught short. About the only think you do have to be mindful of is where the trail crosses a road or pedestrian path.

We took our time and arrived in Venice Beach after a couple of hours. It’s worth dismounting and walking through the colourful strip of shops, cafes and curiousities. It is quite crowded here so you have to be a bit more mindful of fellow cyclists and other wheeled folk.

We stopped in Venice Beach for an iced yogurt (coconut is a good option) and to check out the crowded bars and variety of dogs being walked. This is a good area to stop and eat if you need to. We had already filled up on a Noah bagel in Manhattan Beach and the heat kept our hunger at bay.

We continued up the path a little further until we reach Santa Monica pier. We dismounted again and wheeled the bikes to the end of the wooden pier, passing a few fairground rides, shops, cafes, bizarre street entertainers (one was a guy wearing a gorilla head and doing some weak dance moves to some old techno tunes). I’m not sure if I would recommend stopping here to eat, unless you’re particularly into fairground style food.

If you have the time, Santa Monica has an attractive, pedestrianised shopping area. We didn’t venture into it on this trip but did on a later day but without the bikes. Instead we turned back and pedaled back to Marina del Rey. The stretch between Marina del Rey and Manhattan Beach is quite quiet and passes under the flight path of jets taking off from Los Angeles International Airport. Asides from the plane noise, this part of the trail was the quietest we experienced. There are fewer riders and it is a much more relaxing path to ride. The row of big (and mostly bad taste) homes stretch out at the top of the beach as the waves of the Pacific crash away on the deserted sand plateau below.

On another day we ventured south to Redondo Beach. Just over three miles from Manhattan, the ride to Hermosa and Redondo Beaches is perhaps less relaxing than that to Venice Beach. The path is a lot busier and much of it is shared with pedestrians. However it is a much shorter and easier trail and perhaps a good one to start out on if you only have an hour or two to spare (to Venice Beach and back you will want to allow at least 4-5 hours).

The ride to Hermosa Beach takes very little time. If you’re looking for a livelier and younger crowd, Hermosa is the place to come. The bars were packed along the main strip and while most people were seated inside the bars, their voices carried in noise clouds up and down Pier Avenue.

After lunch at La Playita, we continued on to Redondo Beach. We probably could have rejoined the beach point somewhere but instead we stopped at the marina before heading back. Here we were rewarded with a sighting of dolphins arcing in between the waves. We watched them for a while before heading back to Manhattan Beach to watch the sun set with a cold beer. Read Less

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Tony P's Dockside Grill

Attraction | "Family Style Dining in Marina Del Rey"

Quote:

For a more ‘real’ American dining experience, Tony P’s is a good place to try. They cater to big groups with big appetites and while this may imply that the quality of the food is lacking, it’s actually not bad. The ‘real’ element is that the service and surroundings are down to earth. It’s a no-frills environment serving dishes at reasonable prices. We were a group of about twelve or more and even though we showed up somewhat early for lunch (it was before midday) there were already a fair few tables occupied. Our table was in the ‘waterfront deck’ part. I’m not sure if they uncover the room in the summer but it had the feel of a canopy addition rather than a part of the restaurant prope...Read More

For a more ‘real’ American dining experience, Tony P’s is a good place to try. They cater to big groups with big appetites and while this may imply that the quality of the food is lacking, it’s actually not bad. The ‘real’ element is that the service and surroundings are down to earth. It’s a no-frills environment serving dishes at reasonable prices.

We were a group of about twelve or more and even though we showed up somewhat early for lunch (it was before midday) there were already a fair few tables occupied. Our table was in the ‘waterfront deck’ part. I’m not sure if they uncover the room in the summer but it had the feel of a canopy addition rather than a part of the restaurant proper. The plastic chairs also added to the ‘outdoors’ indoors feel.

The menu was long and it seemed like they catered to all tastes. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, fish and gluten free menus are all available. Even though it seemed like a strange option, I decided to try the fresh salmon BLT. I was sceptical about having fish with bacon in the same sandwich but fortunately I was in for a pleasant surprise.

In spite of our large group the food came out in pretty good time. The sandwiches were huge and served with an addictive, creamy coleslaw and a choice of French fried, rice, salad or fruit. The salmon fillet was grilled and served in a sesame bun with tomatoes, lettuce and applewood smoked bacon. Somehow, the bacon and fish combination really was pretty good. It may have had something to do with the smoky / grilled aspect of both the salmon and the meat but neither overpowered the other. However I only managed to eat half of the sandwich but took the rest home with the intention of eating it later At $11.95, it was a very fair price for something that really qualified as a full meal.

Tony P’s could never be accused of being a classy place but for a decent, filling meal at a good price, I can definitely recommend it. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Tony P's Dockside Grill
4445 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, California 90292
(310) 823-4534

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True Food Kitchen

Restaurant | "Truly Fresh and Refreshing"

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I’m not a fan of shopping malls. I have an innate fear of places that are home to rows and rows of identical retailers and eateries. That said, every once in a while you come across a place, within a mall, that breathes a new life into an old concept. The True Food Kitchen in Santa Monica Place not only serves delicious, fresh food but it does so in a very attractive setting. With a bank of lush planted grass, floor to ceiling windows and sunshine yellow walls, True Food exudes good health and fresh eating even before a plate is set on the table. Our group of eight was seated at a large wooden table near the centre of the restaurant. We were under a time constraint so put in ou...Read More

I’m not a fan of shopping malls. I have an innate fear of places that are home to rows and rows of identical retailers and eateries. That said, every once in a while you come across a place, within a mall, that breathes a new life into an old concept.

The True Food Kitchen in Santa Monica Place not only serves delicious, fresh food but it does so in a very attractive setting. With a bank of lush planted grass, floor to ceiling windows and sunshine yellow walls, True Food exudes good health and fresh eating even before a plate is set on the table.

Our group of eight was seated at a large wooden table near the centre of the restaurant. We were under a time constraint so put in our orders almost immediately and our server said that he would do his best to get our food dispatched as quickly as possible. While the staff were friendly, the speed of service wasn’t as exceptional as it tends to be in most US restaurants and two of our party waited a particularly long time for their drinks to come out.

The lunch menu is as colourful as the surroundings. There are some familiar dishes such as pizzas and burgers but everything comes with a ‘True Food’ twist. The burger is a grass fed bison patty with umami and parmesan and the pizzas use organic as well as sun dried tomatoes with the option of a gluten free crust.

I opted for Andy’s Favorite "TLT", a tempeh, lettuce and tomato sandwich on whole grain bread. They also offer a half sandwich and soup option for the same price as a whole sandwich. To drink, I tried their honey lemonade which is a house recipe blended with a local honey. It’s deliciously refreshing and adds a sweetness that is whole lot tastier than extra sugar.

They have a lengthy list of lunch salads to choose from as well as some more substantial dishes. Recipes hail from different parts of the world. Usually it is a little unnerving to see sushi on a menu alongside turkey bolognaise, wild ahi sliders, Panang curry and pizzas but at True Food, you feel like you’re in good hands. The kitchen seems almost as large as the eating area and with cradles of succulents decorating warm wooden tables it feels like the restaurant is made from the same pure and healthy materials that the dishes are. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

True Food Kitchen
395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 172
Santa Monica, California 90401
310.593.8300

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Marine View Management

Hotel | "Self Catering in Style"

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With a bounty of great restaurants and a wide open beach, renting an apartment or house in Manhattan Beach makes perfect sense if you plan on staying for a week or more. It is probably one of the most attractive areas of Los Angeles and is located fairly close to LAX airport. We were in LA for a family event and as we were a large group, ending up renting not only a three bedroom house, but also a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan Beach for a week. While I didn’t have anything to do with the arrangements, I was fortunate enough to stay for a week in the larger house with some family over the New Year period. Manhattan Beach is an affluent area. It’s compact, walkable and embra...Read More

With a bounty of great restaurants and a wide open beach, renting an apartment or house in Manhattan Beach makes perfect sense if you plan on staying for a week or more. It is probably one of the most attractive areas of Los Angeles and is located fairly close to LAX airport.

We were in LA for a family event and as we were a large group, ending up renting not only a three bedroom house, but also a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan Beach for a week. While I didn’t have anything to do with the arrangements, I was fortunate enough to stay for a week in the larger house with some family over the New Year period.

Manhattan Beach is an affluent area. It’s compact, walkable and embraces the outdoor and beach culture. A farmers market is in town once a week and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep even the fussiest of eaters happy for a week or more.

The house we stayed in was about a ten minute walk to the centre of Manhattan Beach but only a two minute walk down a pedestrian-only path to the beach itself. In fact from the upper balcony of the house, we could not only see the waves crashing onto the beach, we could hear them.

We arrived late on a Monday night and found the house to be easy to access and practically spotlessly clean. There was a late December chill in the air but after about a five minute blast of heating, all three floors of the house were suddenly toasty warm. The welcome was made all the warmer I’m sure by the large box of See’s Candies in the kitchen, drawing our attention to a thin ringbinder full of handy hints and do’s and don’ts while staying in the house.

The house had a double garage and utility room, which housed rubbish and recycling bins and two beach cruiser bikes. On entering the house from the garage we found the novelty elevator, which serviced all three floors of the house. We actually got quite a bit of use out of the elevator, sending up loads of groceries to the kitchen on the first floor and large suitcases to the main bedroom on the very top floor.

Each bedroom had its own en suite bathroom. The top floor bedroom was the grandest, with its own balcony and a walk-in wardrobe that was almost the same size as the shower cubicle in the bathroom. Also on the top floor was a large living room with flat screen television, fireplace, large balcony and a small study / bar area complete with wine cooler. Downstairs on the first floor was another bedroom and the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen was impressively equipped with not one but two ovens and pretty much every cooking utensil you could ever need. There was also a washing machine and tumble dryer, which came in handy when someone spilt beer on me on our first night out!

The third bedroom was on the ground floor and outside the front door was a small patio area with large barbecue that plugged into the gas mains, eliminating the need to change hefty gas canisters.

The house was plainly decorated, with warm yellow walls and few ornaments or pictures. Not that it needed any as the main feature was the view downhill to the beach. At night it was possible to see the fairy-light outline of Manhattan Beach pier hovering over the black sea.

I don’t know how other similarly sized Marine View Management properties compare but the house we stayed in was impressive. It’s not cheap, but the place had everything that we needed or could ask for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The price also included cleaning so all we were obliged to do was to empty the rubbish and to put the bins outside on the collection days. And as far as locations go, I imagine that Manhattan Beach is one of the more relaxing places to stay in LA. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Marine View Management
1640 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, California
310 373 3599

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