TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Temecula, California

I totally loved my Temecula activities, even though they were not what Temecula is commonly known for!  Temecula is known for its winery’s!  But so sorry…..no reviews on those!  I’d also like to take a hot air balloon from Temecula, maybe another day!  Since I didn’t visit the wineries let me tell you what we did do!

We visited charming Old Town Temecula!  I’d say that there were about 5 blocks of quaint shops.  I enjoyed walking the wooden sidewalks visiting a mixture of stores.  Everything from antique stores to specialty stores and cute clothing stores.  While shopping they had Western re-enactments out in a lot amongst the stores.  My favorite stops were the specialty stores;  a lavender store, hot sauce store and a store that we enjoyed tasting different flavored cooking oils.

I enjoyed our curvy canyon ride to Temecula, however once we arrived (in June), it is kinda of hot because you are inland.  Sooooo, make sure to dress comfortable.

 

Temecula Berry Co, 39700 Cantrell Rd, Temecula, CA

Our activities were just as fun as winery’s to me!  We visited The Temecula Berry Company’s blueberry fields!  I had never picked blueberries and it was fun!  U-Pick blueberries while in season from 8am to 6pm / 7 days a week!  They have different size buckets.  We went with 2 pints that = $10.  (No entry fee just the price of blueberry's that you picked).  They have a little area where they sell delicious blueberry jelly and blueberry coffee cake….both are delish!  As your finding your way to The Temecula Berry Company, heads up on the steep hill that drops you down on the field!  I felt like I was on the streets of San Francisco!

 

Temecula Lavender Co, 28561 Front St., Temecula, CA

Our next stop was a lavender field.  If you are expecting rows and rows of lavender fields you will not see that.  This field is family owned and easily walk able.  The family does the tour and they are very informative.  They will take you around their field, and also give you a lesson on how to shuck and distill the lavender into a liquid.  They have a little shop on site and they also own the lavender shop in Old Town Temecula.

 

Each of our activities was free!  Walking Old Town, picking blueberries, and walking the quaint lavender field.  So I say thumbs up on spending a day in Temecula!

Antique Stores of Orange, CA

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Orange, California

Wanna step back in time?  Visit the sweet town of Orange, California.  This is a charming little town that is loaded with stylish antique stores and trendy restaurants.  The downtown actually has a roundabout right in the middle of town that sports a fountain with a small shady park area.  The streets of Orange are spokes that go out from this roundabout.

This is town has been used in several movie’s and TV shows.  You will recognize store fronts in Tom Hanks movie “That Thing You Do”.  “Big Mama’s House”, “Accepted”, and “Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" are some other movies that have used this quaint little town.

With this town, I believe a picture can say more than words so please enjoy!

Museum of Tolerance - Los Angeles

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Museum of Tolerance – 9786 W Pico Blvd

Since my daughter was starting to learn about WWI and the Nazi’s, I had heard that this would be a great museum to take her to.  Admission was $15.50 per adult & $11.50 per student with free parking available under the Museum complex.

I had been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC  and I found the Museum of Tolerance different from what I was expecting.  As you enter the museum you learn about the intolerance that is still happening today and intolerance that has happened throughout time in all area’s of the world.  The portion of the tour that is about the Nazi’s is very well done.  It’s a timed walking tour.  They let a few people in at a time where you go from station to station learning about the rise of Hitler until you end a room that resembles a gas chamber.  Each stations has historic video of the Nazi movement. 

There were not as many actual items from Holocaust survivors as compared to the Holocaust Museum. (Rooms of shoes, hair, etc were VERY moving to me).  We were not disappointed because The Museum of Tolerance was VERY informative.  Your heart breaks when you reach the end and hear the horror stories spoken in narrative from Jewish survivors.

We were not allowed to take photos in the museum.  Even though this was a tour that weighs heavy on your heart, I did have a great time spending the day with my daughter.

The Original Marty’s, Home of the Combo- 10558 W Pico, Los Angeles, CA

So I asked one of the guides at the Museum of Tolerance where to eat and he suggested Marty’s!  Just a small hamburger stand with some tables set up outside.  It was a GREAT burger!  There wasn’t that much going on around the place and yet I was surprised how many folks came walking up at 3pm to pick up their combo!  So if you find yourself on Pico and want a tasty burger made right in front of you…..I suggest Marty's!

 

Historic Downtown - Fashion Museum - Center Theatre Group

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Historic Downtown LA Walking Tour

Once again I would like to brag about the Los Angeles Conservancy that I am a member of.  Besides restoring and protecting BEAUTIFUL LA buildings they offer awesome walking tours.  I have written about their tours before.  So we went on a 2 hour walking tour for only $10!  $5 if you’re a member!  Parking in LA can be high, but because we parked in the lot they advised us too, we were able to get that validated.  So wanna hear about our fun packed day?!

 

Their tours always start at Pershing Square that has quite a history in itself.  I’d like to show you some of the beautiful buildings we got to enjoy on our Spring morning walk.  Los Angeles Central Library with LA’s tallest building looming behind it, the US Bank Tower.  The Los Angeles Library is located at 630 W 5^th St.  it was built in 1872 and it’s beautiful mosaic pyramid towers high on top of the building.  Inside you will find beautiful murals that illustrate the history of California.  The US Bank Tower looms over the library, but it doesn’t take away from it beauty, it adds to it.  The US Bank Tower, formerly the Library Tower is the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  Right now it is a business building but with new ownership  there is talk of making a portion of it a hotel and adding a lookout tower at the top.

Another one of my favorite buildings would have to be the Bradbury building.  It is located at 304 Broadway and was built in 1893.  I love the mix of the black ironwork, brick and sandstone and terra cotta detailing.  You will notice right away the arched windows that brighten the lobby of the building.  This building has been used in several movies you may recognize:  “The Artist”, “500 Days of Summer”, “Lethal Weapon 4”, “Pay it Forward” and “Blade Runner” just to name a few.

Three others historic buildings that deserve honorable mention…Pacmutual Center that was built by Pacific Mutual Life Insurance in 1908 located at 523 w 6^th street is beautiful with it’s marble lobby an ceilings that are especially lighted to highlight their beauty.  Subway Terminal Building that has been made into downtown luxury apartments was built in 1925.  It is located at 417 S Hill St.   I found the elevator doors beautiful in the Subway building!  Don’t you wonder what they do with all of those underground subway tunnels that are no longer used? Finely, I’ve featured One Bunker Hill before.  It was originally the Southern California Edison Building.  The interior of this building is beautiful!  They mentioned that people that were struggling back in the day, had a hard time coming in and paying their bills….kinda wondering if it went towards their beautiful building!!

Our tour came to an end as we walked through Grand Central Market Place which has been around since 1917.  It is located at 317 S Broadway and everyone should experience it!  Our guide mention that for a long time it was a market that Latino’s have always frequented but with all of the young people moving in to the luxury downtown apartments, you are seeing a very cool mixture of people bringing together the cuisine & cultures of Los Angeles.  It reminds me a lot of Farmers Market near the Grove in LA.  It’s a gathering place of food vendors, and markets.  I can’t believe we didn’t eat there!  But the guide just had us do a walk through.

Just outside the Grand Central Market Place you find the Angel Flight Railway!  The shortest railroad in the world!  It all began back in 1901 when Bunker Hill was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  The Angel’s Flight ferried it’s prominent citizens up and down the steep slope between Hill and Olive Street. It was dismantled in 1969 for Urban renewal and moved ½ block South.  It connects 351 S Hill Street with 350 S Grand Avenue.

Nickel Diner – 524 S Main St, Los Angeles

So I told you we didn’t eat at Grand Central Market….but we did eat at the Nickel Diner!  It was delish!  However, it was loud....yes, I’m getting old!  Seriously, the atmosphere was fun and the burgers were great!  However, I did have a hard time seeing wine be serviced at a diner!  Again, think classy young LA vibe mixed with 50’s cool!  I say if Guy Fieri. endorses a restaurant, it's gotta be good!

 

 

 

 

 

FIDM Museum – 919 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA

 

 

The fun was not over!  We walked to FIDM Museum, (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising).  There we enjoyed the 22^nd Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design and Bliss: 19^th Century Wedding Gowns.  Guess how much we paid for the exhibits?!  $0!  However, I will tell you it will only take you about 1 hour to go through the exhibits, but don’t get me wrong, it was very cool.  We were able to see several of the costumes used in movies that were Oscar contenders.  This particular display has a lot of variety.  We saw costumes from “The Great Gatsby”, “The Butler” and “American Hustle” to name a few.  The wedding gowns were displayed in an even smaller room, but again they were so beautiful.  We enjoyed shopping in one of the stores owned by the Museum.  They had great deals on jewelry, everyday clothes, gowns and wedding dresses!  The gallery displays will change so double check the exhibits.  Just FYI, they will not let you take photos inside.

Center Theatre Group – Ahmanson Theatre / Kirk Douglas Theatre / Disney Concert Hall / Dorothy Chandler – all located at Grand & 1^st

What a way to end an evening!  My husband took me to see “Harmony” at the Ahmanson Theatre!  I loved it!  It was a true story about a group of men that sang during WWII.  They were as big as the Beatles but their story has twists in it since 3 of them were Jews.  Great music (music by Barry Manilow) and great story! 
 

All of these theatres are right near each other.  We walked around looking for a place to eat and all we should have done was walkup to the plaza area because that is where we found 2 different places to pick up dinner.  (We ended up at some fast food place – boo!)  Los Angeles is a beautiful city.  Enjoy the photos we took from Grand Park of the famous Los Angeles Court House.  Big Day – Big City!

 

 

Magic Castle, Hollywood, CA

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Ave, Hollywood, CA

FINELY!!!  I got to enter one of the exclusive clubs that has been on my list of things to do!  The Magic Castle is a beautiful Victorian building that is just a block away from the bustling Hollywood & Highland scene.  The only way you can get into the Magic Castle is to be invited by a magician!  It just so happened that our friends met a magician that offered us an invitation!

The Magic Castle is quite an experience.  It’s an adult only place (Except during their brunch on Saturday & Sundays).  I love that we are only allowed entry if the men are in suits and ties and the women in cocktail dresses (or nice business attire).  We went with a party of 8 and it was so great to experience this beautiful place with friends.  Just FYI…..you can NOT take photos on the inside!

Let me tell you a little about the castle.  The Magic Castle is the home of the Academy of Magical Arts.  Only magicians are members and it is meant to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic.  The Magic Castle celebrates the magicians with the Academy of Magical Arts.  It offers magic classes, and promotes magic to young people through their Junior Society.

With full honesty disclosure…..magic is not a huge deal to me…sorry!  It was the beautiful building that I couldn’t wait to see!  I looked into the history of the building and here is what I learned.  The castle was a private home built in 1909 by a Rollin B Lane a real estate magnate.  A drought ended his dreams of growing orange fields and the family moved in the 1940’s.  At that time the mansion was divided into a multi-family home and then a home for the elderly.  Finally it was transformed into a maze of small apartments.  Thomas O Glover is the owner of the house but it was upon meeting Milt Larsen, a writer for an NBC show at the time, that changed the fate of the building to this day.  In 1963 Milt had magically transformed this Victorian into the Magic Castle.  As of today Neil Patrick Harris, from “How I met Your Mother & Doogie Howser”, is the President of the Magic Castle.

Ok, back to my experience.  You will have to have reservations AND be sure to bring a paper copy of your invite!  We had dinner reservations but we were sure to arrive in plenty of time before the dinner so that we could explore all of the magic rooms and hallways before we ate. As you pull in you’ll start to feel the “mystery” of the house.  Valet parking is the only parking available at $10 per vehicle.  Once in the lobby you will find the gift store and the reception.  At the reception you pay the entrance fee of $35 per person and at that time you are allowed entrance through the secret passage through a bookshelf!  Right away you’re trying to take it all in!  We were instructed to get in line right away for the “Close up” magic in the room to the left.  That took us to a mall room where we could watch a magician up close.  Behind the bar was Invisible Irma’s Room, where you learn about a piano player that has passed on but will still take requests if you put a dollar in the birdcage that sits on the piano.  What’s funny is even if you don’t request a song, you ask a question she answers with a song!!  Very fun.  From there we worked our way to the cellar where another magician was working coin tricks in an intimate setting.  Still in the cellar the winding hallway lead us to another cellar room where a magician had a small crowd around him while he performed tricks.  In the cellar you can escape to the Hat & Hare Pub, which resembles and English pub.  I also noticed that there is a bar menu filled with reasonable appetizers that include a Magic Burger, Pulled BQ Chicken sliders and Magic Castle’s Famous chili just to name a few items but not certain if that is available in all of the bars?  (There are 4 bars throughout the building.)

Time for dinner!  We worked our way up to the 2^nd floor.  Because we had such a large party we had the secluded Houdini room!  It was a round room filled with several of his magic prop’s that made him famous.  It is a round room that they also hold sequences in.  We also learned that the Board of Directors of the Magic Castle hold their meetings in this room.  Expect to spend at least $30 per person.  (That does not include drinks).  My petite steak was wonderful!  Still thinking about how tender it was!

After dinner we stayed on the 2^nd floor and worked our way through the dining area only to find a theater and more winding hallways!  We had tickets for the “big show” that was in the Palace of Mystery.  There we saw 4 acts that were great!  When we exited I noticed another smaller theater that we didn’t make it to.  We did wind down some stairs only to find another bar area filled with magician and awesome displays honoring dummies and Marinette.  Apparently puppets and magicians have worked hand in hand for a long time! 

We were at the Magic Castle for 6 hours and I know that we still didn’t see everything!  We just gotta go back!  If you can get your hands on an invite it is worth the experience but do expect to spend some money for this adventure!