Food, Art, and Consuming in L.A.

JWise Food, Photo of the Day, Travels

The Original Pantry Cafe Bakery and Sandwich shop on its last day of business, the original corner cafe remains open

This is simply dumb luck. Today is the last day The Original Pantry Cafe Bakery and Sandwich Shop will be open. After many a year of operation, it is closing to be reopened as Riordan’s Grill. The original corner part of the Cafe will remain open, as it has since 1924. My father first introduced me to the Pantry Cafe when I was still a teenager; I have since brought lots of friends back with me to experience the history, great breakfast, and perfect ambiance this old-fashioned cafe has to offer. Sometimes, I really don’t like change, though I should be happy that the corner cafe will remain after so much other land has been cleared for high rises and condos.

Inside the Getty Museum and for some stupid reason or other that I can’t understand at this time, I didn’t take a single photo of the collection.

There are so many interesting places to take a walk in Los Angeles, from Little Tokyo to Chinatown, from Little Armenia and Thai Town to Little Saigon, yet here we are not in Korea Town but over on Sawtelle Boulevard, home to more than a few Japanese stores. We came over to Sawtelle to eat ramen noodles at Ramenya. Ramenya is a little shop that serves up a couple of dozen varieties of ramen noodles. Recently, they have announced a new addition to the culinary offerings of the area – their new shop, Soy Boy Tofu & Things – Asian-Ya.

Also nearby is Giant Robot, which by itself would be worthy of a visit to Los Angeles.

Walking in L.A.

Persian ice cream makes for a great way to end the day.

God, Gardens, and Cuisine in L.A.

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Downtown Los Angeles, California

Woke up in Los Angeles, ready for breakfast at the Original Pantry Cafe before heading east to our next stop.

Mission San Gabriel in Southern California

We were going to Mission San Gabriel to share with Jutta an older part of California’s culture from back when the Spanish were exploring the state.

Mission San Gabriel in Southern California

Candles aglow from parishioners asking Jesus to hear their prayers.

Huntington Botanical Garden in Los Angeles, California

Our next stop on this quick weekend adventure for the three of us was at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

Huntington Botanical Garden in Los Angeles, California

Bamboo garden at the Huntington.

Oki Dog menu in Los Angeles, California

And because this post is titled God, Gardens, and Cuisine, here’s the cuisine element found at Oki Dog on Fairfax Boulevard…truly, food of the gods.

Eye of the Beholder

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Santa Monica Pier in Southern California

Attention: The original post only included one photo from the day. Here in November 2022, I’m updating things with an extra 14 images of the day that better represent just what we did.

We brought no clock or watch and slept in without a wake-up call. It is daylight but seemingly early as we leave the key in our room for a quick checkout. So close to the ocean, we must have a glimpse of the morning sky over the Pacific from the Santa Monica Pier.

Note: notice that cell phones weren’t yet performing these duties.

The Original Pantry Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles, California

From there, we head south to Venice Beach before turning East on city streets towards downtown Los Angeles for breakfast at the historic Original Pantry Cafe.

On a movie set in Downtown Los Angeles, California

Afterward, we spot a movie crew a few blocks away. They are setting up a location shoot for what appears to be a sci-fi or war film, so we stop to check out the action. There is no action yet, only the pestering staff who insists we don’t take photos of the set. Lights are blazing, the fake steam is pouring from the piled-up rubble, and a tank sits around the corner, ready to roar into duty. We get bored soon and leave.

Note from 2022: We came to understand it was for the Transformers movie.

Classic bridge into Los Angeles, California

Keeping with our avoidance of the freeways, our trek takes us through the old arts district of Los Angeles, where some nutty developers are trying to transform the rundown ruins of a derelict industrial area into overpriced lofts.

Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles, California

Right, buy a $1.3 million loft today, and in 15 years, the streets might be safe, the bums gone, and broken trash-strewn sidewalks repaired. The location is cool, though, and if it does work out, it actually would be sweet to have one of these places; check out these Biscuit Company Lofts.

The mountains above Los Angeles, California

Over hill and dale and up the road to the Angeles Crest Mountains, we pass a staging area where 40 or 50 Ferraris and Lamborghinis are getting ready for the drive up the same mountain pass we and our lowly Hyundai are about to climb. Thirty million dollars of Italian sportscars jam up behind us on this narrow mountain road; at the first pull-out, we take a moment to let these guys open the throttle, and engines scream as yellow and red blurs streak by.

Descanso Garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California

Back down on earth, we visited the Descanso Gardens for a couple of hours.

Descanso Garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California

I think they are called Naked Ladies, but at least we know they are lilies.

Descanso Garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California

Dahlias, but don’t go getting the idea I know my flowers very well. Here in 2022, Microsoft’s Visual Search has been dropping knowledge in my lap to make me look smart.

Praying Mantis at Descanso Garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California

This fine specimen of praying mantis just finished a nice little snack, thanks to her mate; I’ll wager you know what I’m getting at.

Descanso Garden in La Cañada Flintridge, California

In those mountains in the background, we just had our Italian sportscar and Testosterone encounter.

San Gabriel Nursery in California

The next stop was another Asian area of Los Angeles, near San Gabriel and Valley Boulevard. This is the San Gabriel Nursery – a Caroline favorite.

Five Star Laser in San Gabriel, California

My choice for shopping was Five Star Laser, where I picked up the DVD of Takeshi Kitano’s latest film, Blood and Bones.

Pizza from Shakey's in West Covina, California

Finally, we grabbed a quick lunch at Shakey’s Pizza over in West Covina.

The Donut Hole in La Puente, California

And then some donuts at the landmark Donut Hole in La Puente, California, before driving back to lackluster Phoenix, Arizona.

Little Bubbles Over L.A.

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Mother's Market & Kitchen in Huntington Beach, California

Attention: The original post only included one photo from the day. Here in November 2022, I’m updating things with an extra 16 images of the day that better represent just what we did.

We started our day in southern California with breakfast at Mother’s Market & Kitchen in Huntington Beach, California.

Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, California

Little Saigon, as it’s known, is home to the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster. We are here to check out some of the 300 or so Asian stores nestled between 100s of other shops surrounding the mall, all with signs in various Asian languages. Protest signs critical of Vietnam’s government and voting signs for Asian candidates abound.

Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, California

But inside the mall, it was time for shopping and eating.

Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, California

Statues of Chinese figures and Thai elephants, menus without a word of English – it is easy to get lost amongst the noise of Little Saigon and wonder for a moment if you are still in the Los Angeles area.

The Lab Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa, California

Next door in Costa Mesa, we visit The Lab, which claims to be an Anti-Mall. The Lab is a small collection of eclectic shops offering new and used clothing, a small newsstand, shoes, hats, and sunglasses in a setting wrapped with art, a few small restaurants, a cafe, and not one major chain store.

Afterward, we meander along city streets, making our way to Watts, where we hoped to stop at the Watts Towers to take in a Drumming Festival that is taking place today, but the neighborhood is rougher than we anticipated. Prostitutes and burned-out cars dot the landscape; nearly every house has iron-barred windows and doors. Parking is at your own risk within those neighborhoods; with an out-of-state license plate on our car, we opt to keep on moving and hope for a visit in the future – using the metro.

Historic Coca-Cola Building in Los Angeles, California

Continuing via city streets towards central LA, we come upon the Coca-Cola building modeled after an ocean liner – amazing.

Caroline Wise at the Historic Coca-Cola Building in Los Angeles, California

Caroline will likely never hug a bigger bottle of Coke.

Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood, California

We end up in North Hollywood at the Wat Thai Temple, where on weekends, small food stands offering an assortment of various Thai dishes are set up, quite affordably, as a matter of fact.

Caroline Wise at the Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood, California

We had a terrific papaya salad, the best Thai Iced Tea we have ever had, some great coconut ice cream, and I tried durian for the first time. Durian is considered by some “the king of fruits,” but when overripe, it has the tendency to smell like soiled baby diapers. I have attempted to taste durian before but could not get past the smell. Today’s sampling of durian, however, was served on a bed of sticky rice with a lightly sweet coconut dipping sauce and, while pungent, luckily tasted quite ok.

Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood, California

After stuffing our bellies, we wind our way over Beverly Glen Boulevard through Beverly Hills before joining Sunset Boulevard for the drive through Brentwood into Santa Monica.

California Coast

Beachside hotels were a little too pricey for us that day.

Wilshire Motel in Los Angeles, California

But we found refuge at a small cottage motel called the Wilshire Motel just a few miles from the beach for a reasonable price of $80, including tax.

Note from 2022: I’m glad I wrote this in the original post, or our first-ever visit would have been lost forever. 

3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California

Strolling up 3rd Street Promenade for some entertainment, window shopping, and some actual clothes shopping for Caroline at one of our favorite shops, Shiva Imports.

Sunset over Santa Monica, California

Sunset was spent on Santa Monica Beach and the pier

Caroline Wise and John Wise on Santa Monica Beach, California

What a great way to spend a day.

Soap bubble float in the late afternoon sky at Santa Monica Beach in California

Made even better with little rainbow bubbles, maybe we’re at a love rave?

Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California

How can Sunday possibly compare? Just watch.

Hitchhikers

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise, Ann Burns, and John Wise in Goleta, California

Everything is now right in the world. Tata (Aunt Ann) got her hair done, and now it was time for breakfast at Cajun Kitchen. We’ll hang out until just after noon, reminiscing about all the stuff we’ve probably reminisced about before, but no matter as it’s always great to see their enthusiasm for sharing the highlights of their lives.

Downtown Los Angeles, California

It’s already mid-afternoon when we pull off the freeway for some quick sightseeing in downtown Los Angeles. While there’s plenty of blight to focus on in this part of the city, that’s what I was doing back when I was growing up before I had access to a car. Today, I’m looking for striking images.

John Wise in Downtown Los Angeles, California

However, I’m also persuaded to take distorted self-portraits.

Downtown Los Angeles, California

And more high rises.

Los Angeles, California

Not to forget the beautiful older and much shorter side of Los Angeles. Enough sightseeing, time to go home.

State Prison Next Exit - Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers

Passing the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison outside of Blythe, California, on the way back to Arizona, you are warned not to stop for hitchhikers as they just might be escaped convicts.