The Heart of the Harbor is Beating

A walk down a familiar street....Avalon Boulevard in Wilmington, each time I walk this street I spot something I did not notice before. Enjoy the walk.

Ticket booth at old Granada Theater now a church 

C & C Liquor with an apartment on top possibly the owners place 

The signage is pretty 1960s 1970s 

Lobo taking a bath! he used to live behind Slanguage but he moved to a different bar

Fonts from the hood

Doorway one

The last pay phone on earth 

They don't even want to advertise here

Graphic Design studio been here since the 70s.....nice doorway too

A peek into Amelia's Dance Club..They even got a disco ball

Engine blocks made into sculptures 

Thank you for hanging in there more city beauty to come


Peace

DJ

Adventures around Wilmas

Wilmington Ca a port town, an industrial playground a forgotten concert flatland. The town has not changed too much over the years, it has kept much of it's raw grittiness over time. Wilmas has gotten a little safer and cleaner but it still holds much of it's historical value. Art stays up a little longer and it can sometimes make you feel like a throwback to a different era. I displayed various posts on this overlooked area portraying much of it's old style charm. The area reminds me somewhat of downtown LA 12 years ago and beyond. This was before downtown was so gentrified and the walls and alleys held glorious destruction. Wilmington might not have lofts and luxury penthouses but it has a sense of lonely realness.
This dive bar is a great place, cheap beer, open patio, no hip crowds, and cool bands playing on the weekends. It dates back to the 1940's and you can also spot old cement scribbles inside the bar dating to that time. It is nicely hidden behind rusty corrugated fences. The sign shines just like it's printed meaning " Stars in The Sky" which is named after the owner's initials "Sis" a cool gal indeed.

The fence next door is a bunch of old parts from a boat and pier all tied together to make a really awesome way to keep people out. It reeks history.
The sky lights up at night
The bands rock on
A look down Avalon St you see Guy Nelson Chiropractor and Hotel Del Mar with whoa! Color T.V that used to be exciting at one time.

Across the street is Union Electric Tattoo they got a nice vintage neon glow going there.

Left alone
" Be Not Drunk With Wine But Be Filled With The Spirit" this sign names sense there is about six other dive bars and a few liquor stores within a few blocks. So I am very sure they knew this would be a perfect spot to paint this sign. Pinches winos!
Not to far down the way art work shadows over walls.


Wilmington also displays nice features like the Banning House and well kept Victorian and Spanish style homes.
Photo from Flickr

More great photos of Wilmington and San Pedro soon. There is so much to see in this part of Los Angeles the fresh ocean air, the foggy mist and mysterious charm bring out the best in these towns.

Historic Core Walking tour

Historic Core is yet another awesome tour guided by the LA Conservancy, they told us to meet up at Pershing Square between 5th and 6th st and Olive st in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. This tour was quite interesting being I been to the area quite often but again did not bother to notice some of the historic buildings I loved the new history I learned quite a lot and got to go into some cool buildings and other sites.
Someone got a cool crew spot on this building and this area kinda hot word!

(above) is the Baltimore Hotel (1923) Beaux Arts Architecture with Renaissance Revival , this is when you notice the building is divided in 3 sections with with opening in the middle, and the Renaissance ornaments. located 515 s Olive st.

Title Guarantee and Trust Building(1926) is an example of Art Deco style architecture with the Gothic, look lots of towers as well are a must with this style. 411 W 5th St.

Pacific Finance Building again in the Italian Renaissance Revival style
510 w 6th st



I had never really been around the Central Library so it was coo to see the architecture of it
630 w 5th st


Subway Terminal Building 417 S. Hill St
This Renaissance Revival style building is pretty interesting because little do allot of us know there used to be a subway in LA back in the days. The subway ran from downtown to San Fernando Valley and the West side according to the historical society in its prime time there was about 65.000 people passing beneath it daily. It was shut down for many decades until it was finally renovated in 2005 now called Metro 417 loft style apt and you all know that's not in our budget!

La Cita

Ok this is not really a historical landmark but it is right in the middle of the walking tour, and being I been there and its pretty cool, I thought I post the info.
Nice spot to chill at aside drinks!
Thursday is suppose to be cracken good music to dance too!
they got 2 bars, outdoor patio, small but banging dance floor
Fridays is Punky Reggae featuring part time punk DJ and members of the Dub Club
the rest of the nights its a Mexican music vibe and other stuff
(beware of hipsters though)
plus you gotta love the red color and the old school Mexican Chairs nice


336 S Hill St Los Angeles, CA 90013 Phone: (213) 687-7111

Cross Street
Third Street
Hours:
Daily 10am-2am

La Cita MySpace you can add them

Grand Central Market 315 S Broadway
(below)
This land mark it has been open since 1917, it has over 50 vendors. I loved it inside lots of food and fresh produce, and since we all love swap meets around here it definitely gave me a good vibe


Million Dollar Theater
307 s Broadway
One of the first movie houses in the country

There is a few more sites to see I did not post but if you like to learn some history check out the La conservancy site for details.

Hipster 's R Us

If you are a LA Hipster you surly have to drop by for a drink at at Cha Cha's in Silver lake a perfect place to see skinny jeans, emo bangs,messy hair,scarfs and thick rimmed glasses and don't forget to bring your skinny tire banana bicycles and park them in front of the place.As for my self nothing close to being a hipster but me and my thug life graffiti bombing friends occasionally go to Cha Cha's to drink cheap beer and maybe talk shit to a hipster or two Lol jk anyhow it's a cool little lounge if you can tolerate the hipsterness!!
Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/oldwhiskeyriver



Cha Cha Lounge
2375 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Phone: (323) 660-7595