I recently went on an outing to downtown Los Angeles, specifically to visit the Grand Central Market for lunch. What started off as a plan to have a relaxing bite and glass of wine turned into an epic adventure that makes me want to repeat the experience in other parts of the city that I’ve known about for years, but have not taken the time to explore.
For those who have not been to Grand Central Market, it’s a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and smells. Although at first glance it’s slightly intimidating because of the tightly packed stalls of restaurants, produce vendors, and retail merchants, a once-around the perimeter helps establish your bearings and arouses the senses to the abundance of mouth-watering offerings. The original plan was to visit Eggslut, the Jeff Vales, and Alvin Cailan-owned outpost for foodies who like a twist on the classic American breakfast staple.
Unfortunately, hundreds of other Angelenos had the same idea, and a 40-plus minute wait prompted a change of lunch plans. Don’t worry Eggslut—I’ll be back! We ended up munching on delicious grass-fed burgers, flash-fried broccolini, and bone marrow broth at the Belcampo counter but had a hard time deciding between enticing Japanese, German, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and American cuisine options that all looked and smelled incredible.
To work off some calories after lunch, my friend and I decided to explore the area surrounding the market, starting with a simple walk across the street to the iconic Bradbury Building. Part of the LA Conservancy project, this historic landmark built in 1893 has a somewhat modest exterior but houses a magical and airy Victorian court that rises nearly 50 feet from ground level and includes ornate iron railings, marble staircases, and open cage elevators. As one of downtown LA’s most photographed landmarks, the Bradbury Building is the oldest commercial building remaining in the central city.
Just a few short blocks away, our next stop was MOCA Grand Avenue. This architectural tour de force by Arata Isozaki features nearly 5,000 works of art, including masterpieces by classic contemporary artists, plus new and emerging works from mid-career artists from Southern California and around the world. We were fortunate enough to view the Sturtevant exhibit, Double Trouble, running through July 27th. Whether spending an hour or all afternoon, MOCA Grand is a must-see!
After MOCA and a quick tour of the stunning Frank Gehry Disney Concert Hall, we returned to the Grand Central Market for late afternoon oysters and a glass of champagne. Our final project was to stroll the produce stalls, purchasing farm-fresh, inexpensive, and hard-to-find fruits and vegetables, including kiwi, mangoes, star fruit, spaghetti squash, avocados, blackberries, and much more. The blueberries were offered in vats and priced at only $1 per package.
My downtown adventure reminds me that treasure truly can be found in your own backyard. Looking forward to my next trip, I’m starting a list of other LA neighborhoods that are ripe for exploration and just a short distance from home.