10 Things in L.A. - Third Street Promenade

After last weekend's partial attempt, on Friday I did Third Street Promenade for real.

There's actually not much to it, if you're not really looking to go shopping.  It's set up in a way that reminds me of Disneyland's Main Street USA.  Really, any closed-off fake street reminds me of that, though.

There's some cool intersections with a real street, where, on the crosswalk light, everyone mobs the intersection and walks right across the street (and not just the crosswalk).

But basically, it's a lot of shops in a row.  The real appeal I think is in the convenience and the "closed off" factor.  Otherwise, it's just an outdoor strip mall with your average Banana Republic, Chipotle, Old Navy, Forever 21, McDonalds, and other stores and restaurants.

But I did really like walking in the middle of the "street."

Mini staycation

My father is in town for business, and that means food and fun for me. Last week Sunday we got lunch, dinner on Tuesday night, and Friday kicked off my mini nonvacation-staycation.

I went down to stay at dad's hotel, just south of LAX. We've done this before when he's been here on other trips, but it's been maybe a year since the last. I had to work on Friday morning, and dad was working until evening, so I finally met him down there around 7:00pm...

This adventure begins with two thumbs up.

...and I was greeted by the Wienermobile in the parking lot.

Best part? It wasn't even the first time.  On another one of my hotel visits (last year?), it was parked out front then, too! Dad always stays in the same hotel for work trips, and I guess the Wienermobile also likes to crash there.  So it wasn't, "OH HEY, it's the Wienermobile!" — more like, "OH HEY, it's the Wienermobile again!"

I dropped my stuff upstairs and we went to Chipotle for an easy dinner, then stopped at BevMo for a case of beer.  Believe it or not, it was my first time inside a BevMo.  Now I understand Alexa's statement of, "It's beverages and things that go with beverages." ("Doesn't everything go with beverages?") Pretty cool.  I'll have to check out my local store for festive glassware and interesting drinks/snacks.

The next morning, dad had to work early (yes, on a Saturday), and I got to sleep in. That is a big deal! I've been getting up too early for work, so sleeping in all the way until 9:30am was awesome.  The plan: Beach Day!

I felt like a rockstar as I sat up in bed wearing my bikini, checking my email, and eating cold leftover supreme pizza.  Oh, no big deal, just chilling in a hotel in my bikini while the Wienermobile hangs outside. (Okay, now that sounds lame. But it felt cool!)

I arrived at Manhattan Beach before 11:00am and it was perfect.  First I walked down the little pier, then found a little patch of sand to claim.

First time in the Fashion District

I never go "downtown."  I tend to stay within a 5-mile radius of my apartment (except for work), because everything I need is nearby—super convenient neighborhood.  I do like going to Hollywood sometimes to "play tourist" and explore the Kodak Theater, Grauman's Theater, Walk of Fame, etc...because sometimes it still blows my mind that I actually live so close to that stuff.  But I don't go downtown.

Today...I went downtown.

Okay, so I had been in the area a few times before to go to events at the Staples Center, but that's different—you drive in, park in a lot, and walk to the arena.  I've never gone shopping or exploring or anything outside the immediate space around Staples.

It was interesting.  I tend to picture downtown anywhere to be the business center where everything happens.  Washington, DC and Chicago may have set that precedent for me.  New York City's financial and theatre districts also follow my theory.  Downtown Los Angeles is a little more seedy (at least the area where I was).  I guess my version of "downtown" is more like Museum Row and that area on Wilshire.  Even touristy Hollywood Boulevard is more like my image.

And parking?  Ugh.  I knew I'd be dealing with street parking and meters, but I circled the block (a few blocks) several times (like 5) before finally finding a spot on a side street.  I am so thankful for my GPS.

I went to the shop pictured above (on the recommendation of my dance teacher) to pick up super cheap stockings and professional fishnets.  They also have costumes, accessories, and fun little pieces like hats, gloves, corsets, fluffy tutu skirts...and the owner even told me they could order something if I needed it and they didn't have it.  Overall, definitely worth the excursion and parking woes.