Downtown

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Downtown

CULTURE AND COOL: MUSIC CENTER, THE ARTS DISTRICT, L.A. LIVE AND DISTINCTIVE DINING

Downtown Los Angeles has undergone an eyepopping renaissance. Historic art deco structures share the streetscape with glass-clad towers, and even movie stars have snapped up lofts in century-old buildings. The arts thrive along Grand Avenue as well as in the hip Arts District. L.A. Live is sports central; Chinatown and Olvera Street are fun cultural excursions; to the southwest, Exposition Park offers a trio of major museums.

GRAND AVENUE

The heart of L.A.’s performing-arts scene and the site of its most dramatic architecture, Grand Avenue lives up to its name. Four venues on Bunker Hill make up the Music Center. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is home to L.A. Opera. The Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum host theatrical productions. Architect Frank Gehry’s spectacular Walt Disney Concert Hall is the home of the L.A. Philharmonic. After a show, 12-acre Grand Park is opposite.

BUNKER HILL

Not far from Ahmanson Theatre is the postmodern Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. A short walk south on Grand is The Broad museum, a stunning edifice built by, and housing the contemporary-art collection of, philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, and, just opposite. the Museum of Contemporary Art. Angels Flight is a vintage funicular that climbs to California Plaza from Hill Street. The Bunker Hill Steps rise five stories at the U.S. Bank Tower, site of the OUE Skyspace LA attraction (temporarily closed). Across the street is the art deco-style Central Library.

OLVERA STREET

The city’s origins date back to 1781 and El Pueblo de Los Angeles, a collection of 27 buildings along the festive pedestrian concourse Olvera Street. The city’s oldest building, Avila Adobe, is here, along with Mexican restaurants, mariachi bands and merchants offering arts and crafts. Across the street is Union Station, the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States; a few blocks away is L.A.’s oldest restaurant, Philippe the Original (1908).

CHINATOWN

Chinatown is the destination for dim sum—and dining at foodie meccas such as Howlin’ Ray’s for Nashville hot chicken— or browsing for clothing and home goods. Cultural highlights include the ornate Thien Hau Temple. Dodger Stadium is a short drive away, as is San Antonio Winery, which offers tours and tastings.

ARTS DISTRICT

To the east of emerging hipster ‘hood Little Tokyo is the Arts District, which boasts myriad murals; shops and markets;

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Beef-cheek tagine at Bavel; dancers at Olvera Street; Union Station. OPPOSITE: The Broad museum. Hauser & Wirth gallery; a bevy of breweries; and lauded restaurants such as Bavel, Bestia and Brera—not to mention new Damian from world-renowned Mexico City chef Enrique Olvera.

L.A. LIVE

The L.A. Live entertainment complex includes Microsoft Theater, night spots and a dozen restaurants such as Savoca and Patxi’s Pizza, all facing a massive plaza lined with LED screens. It adjoins Staples Center, home of the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks and Kings and host to top pop acts. The Grammy Museum honors musicians with videos, artifacts and exhibits.

EXPOSITION PARK

South of downtown is Exposition Park, site of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—home of USC Trojans football, twice host of the Summer Olympics—as well as the California African American Museum, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Science Center, which has a 3D IMAX theater and displays the NASA space shuttle Endeavour.