LSPoorEeyorick
06-10-2009, 02:06 PM
We are… a many-faceted swanky group of people of varying means in a weird economic time.
We love… to explore and adventure, to gather and socialize, and to look at shiny stuff.
We have… a city of diverse options practically at our fingertips.
We should… take advantage of it.
Inspired by our anniversary celebration yesterday (during which we stayed for a surprisingly reasonable rate at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and breakfasted at the retro kitschfest which is Clifton's Cafeteria) I thought it would be fun to enjoy an extended version of that with the kindred spirits here.
So, as I alluded to on Twitter earlier, I'm thinking of planning a series of events spanning a weekend this fall. It's helping me to plan things to look forward to, I think.
Anyway, the events would vary in price, so that people could pick and choose which ones they wanted to participate in. Maybe some people would even want to participate in all of them. Maybe some people would even want to participate while wearing retro-swank threads in honor of the retro digs and festivities. Who knows? But I'm going to blue-sky plan right now and see who'd be interested, and I'll solidify a plan later that I'll invite you all to join me, for part or whole. Maybe you'll have some cool ideas, too.
For instance, here's a sample blue-sky schedule for Retro LA Swanking Staycation '09:
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Group gathers at meeting place for a walking tour guided by the Los Angeles Conservancy docent. ($10/person)
This could be either the Art Deco tour (https://secure2.convio.net/lac/site/Ecommerce?store_id=1841&VIEW_HOMEPAGE=true&FOLDER=0&TYPE=&NAME=&JServSessionIdr011=508qdyrch1.app6a), which covers the highlights of art and design, or the Broadway Historic Theatre District tour (https://secure2.convio.net/lac/site/Ecommerce?store_id=1883&VIEW_HOMEPAGE=true&FOLDER=0&TYPE=&NAME=), which visits the exterior and interiors of the gorgeous theaters downtown.
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Group ventures to historic 1935 Clifton's Cafeteria (http://www.cliftonscafeteria.com/pages/brookdale_home.html) for a taste of a theme restaurant that had mountains and animatronics before Disneyland was a twinkle in Walt's eye. ($5-$10/person)
Saturday, 2 PM
Group moves to Biltmore Hotel (http://www.millenniumhotels.com/Millenniumlosangeles/index.html) for a stroll through the gorgeous architecture and design. Those who choose to stay overnight can check in. Those who do not choose to stay overnight can join me as my guest for a dip in the swimming pool (http://static.roomex.com/photos/57933/millenium_biltmore_hotel_swimming_pool.big.575187. jpg).
Saturday, 8 PM
Option A – After strolling through the marvel of Union Station, group heads to the elegant station restaurant, Traxx (http://www.traxxrestaurant.com/), or one of the tasty Mexican restaurants on Olivera Street (http://www.olvera-street.com/) across from the station.
Option B – Group heads to Cicada (http://www.cicadarestaurant.com/index.php) restaurant, housed in the Oviatt, an art deco marvel.
Saturday, late evening
Cocktails at The Edison (http://www.edisondowntown.com/main.htm)?
Sunday, noon
Artistic "salon" in a Biltmore lounge
Sunday, 2 PM
Group heads to high tea in the Biltmore Rendezvous Court (http://www.millenniumhotels.com/Millenniumlosangeles/restaurant/rendezvousCourt.html) ($25/person)
Sunday, 3 PM
Self-guided walking tour of downtown, with podcast guide (http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/tours_selfguided.php4) optional. (Free.)
Or possible museum outing. (MOCA?)
Sunday, 5PM
Cocktail kiss-off at The Standard (http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/rooftop-bar/)?
Keep in mind... this is only a blue-sky listing of some ideas/options. Does anybody think they'd want to join in any of these activities, perhaps sometime later this year? Does anybody have other suggestions?
We love… to explore and adventure, to gather and socialize, and to look at shiny stuff.
We have… a city of diverse options practically at our fingertips.
We should… take advantage of it.
Inspired by our anniversary celebration yesterday (during which we stayed for a surprisingly reasonable rate at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and breakfasted at the retro kitschfest which is Clifton's Cafeteria) I thought it would be fun to enjoy an extended version of that with the kindred spirits here.
So, as I alluded to on Twitter earlier, I'm thinking of planning a series of events spanning a weekend this fall. It's helping me to plan things to look forward to, I think.
Anyway, the events would vary in price, so that people could pick and choose which ones they wanted to participate in. Maybe some people would even want to participate in all of them. Maybe some people would even want to participate while wearing retro-swank threads in honor of the retro digs and festivities. Who knows? But I'm going to blue-sky plan right now and see who'd be interested, and I'll solidify a plan later that I'll invite you all to join me, for part or whole. Maybe you'll have some cool ideas, too.
For instance, here's a sample blue-sky schedule for Retro LA Swanking Staycation '09:
Saturday, 10:00 AM
Group gathers at meeting place for a walking tour guided by the Los Angeles Conservancy docent. ($10/person)
This could be either the Art Deco tour (https://secure2.convio.net/lac/site/Ecommerce?store_id=1841&VIEW_HOMEPAGE=true&FOLDER=0&TYPE=&NAME=&JServSessionIdr011=508qdyrch1.app6a), which covers the highlights of art and design, or the Broadway Historic Theatre District tour (https://secure2.convio.net/lac/site/Ecommerce?store_id=1883&VIEW_HOMEPAGE=true&FOLDER=0&TYPE=&NAME=), which visits the exterior and interiors of the gorgeous theaters downtown.
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Group ventures to historic 1935 Clifton's Cafeteria (http://www.cliftonscafeteria.com/pages/brookdale_home.html) for a taste of a theme restaurant that had mountains and animatronics before Disneyland was a twinkle in Walt's eye. ($5-$10/person)
Saturday, 2 PM
Group moves to Biltmore Hotel (http://www.millenniumhotels.com/Millenniumlosangeles/index.html) for a stroll through the gorgeous architecture and design. Those who choose to stay overnight can check in. Those who do not choose to stay overnight can join me as my guest for a dip in the swimming pool (http://static.roomex.com/photos/57933/millenium_biltmore_hotel_swimming_pool.big.575187. jpg).
Saturday, 8 PM
Option A – After strolling through the marvel of Union Station, group heads to the elegant station restaurant, Traxx (http://www.traxxrestaurant.com/), or one of the tasty Mexican restaurants on Olivera Street (http://www.olvera-street.com/) across from the station.
Option B – Group heads to Cicada (http://www.cicadarestaurant.com/index.php) restaurant, housed in the Oviatt, an art deco marvel.
Saturday, late evening
Cocktails at The Edison (http://www.edisondowntown.com/main.htm)?
Sunday, noon
Artistic "salon" in a Biltmore lounge
Sunday, 2 PM
Group heads to high tea in the Biltmore Rendezvous Court (http://www.millenniumhotels.com/Millenniumlosangeles/restaurant/rendezvousCourt.html) ($25/person)
Sunday, 3 PM
Self-guided walking tour of downtown, with podcast guide (http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/tours_selfguided.php4) optional. (Free.)
Or possible museum outing. (MOCA?)
Sunday, 5PM
Cocktail kiss-off at The Standard (http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/rooftop-bar/)?
Keep in mind... this is only a blue-sky listing of some ideas/options. Does anybody think they'd want to join in any of these activities, perhaps sometime later this year? Does anybody have other suggestions?