Showing posts with label Koreatown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Koreatown. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Koreatown Love. (part 2)

Hotel Normandie, Korea Town
Per my last post, Korea Town is a fantastic destination for exploration in Los Angeles.  But in order to enjoy the neighborhood's vast wonders, you've gotta be willing to get out of your car and walk around.  If you do, you will be rewarded by discovering an infinite number of exotic dining options, delightful tea/coffee houses, affordable spas, intriguing skincare boutiques, and even the odd indoor driving range. But today's post is all about the magnificent historic architecture that generously peppers the area. It would take several week's time to cover the entire 3-square-mile area on foot, but here's a taste of what I glimpsed while walking the perimeter of only 6 blocks earlier this week:

Located At 6th Street and Kenmore, The Chapman Market was the country's first drive-through market when it opened in 1929.  Today, magnificent Spanish revival structure is home to a handful of local businesses.

Named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire, one of the most prominent real estate moguls of his time (and namesake of Wilshire Boulevard), The Gaylord Apartments is an iconic  landmark from the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond.  Built in 1924 as a hotel, the iconic building was strategically located across from the famed Ambassador Hotel and is said to have hosted John Barrymore, Richard Nixon and numerous stars of stage and screen. While the building has undoubtedly seen better days, the storied history maintains its cache for modern day residents.

Koreatown Love.

beautiful historic architecture @ the corner 6th and Alexandria in Koreatown
There will forever be a special place in my heart for Korea Town; it's the first neighborhood I lived in upon arriving to L.A. ten years ago. What can appear to be an incongruous expanse of urban sprawl to anyone simply driving through the area on their way downtown, is in actuality a culturally rich wonderland that is best explored on foot.
436 Gramercy Place; my first home in L.A. (the window on the upper left-hand side was my bedroom - oh the memories)
Earlier this week I took a long overdue field trip to my erstwhile hood to rediscover some of the things I once knew and still love; along the way I happened upon an infinite number of new sights and discoveries and was reminded once again why Korea Town is, and always will be, my kind of town.

I used to love frequenting the Korean shopping malls near Olympic and Western, so I decided to begin my journey at a location I'd often passed by (in my car) but had yet to visit; City Center on 6th.
Enjoy the rest of my photo journal below the jump!