Exploring the people, places & culture of greater LA
In early January I took a tour of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and wrote about my experience. At the end of that post, I encouraged others to visit the Lab because the tour provides an excellent overview of a fascinating facility that plays a central role in our space program as the leading US center for the robotic exploration of our solar system. Now you have a great opportunity to delve even deeper into the Lab’s work by attending its annual Open House, which takes place in just a few days.
Tour companies that take you to conventional, well known LA area destinations such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, 3rd Street Promenade and Universal City, just to name a few, are a dime a dozen. While there is nothing wrong with any of those attractions and I enjoy visiting them myself, there is so much more to greater Los Angeles than those popular sites. You just have to know where to look and who to spend some time with to gain a more nuanced appreciation for the city and its environs.
Recently some friends recommended the Old Pasadena Food Tasting Tour run by Melting Pot Tours. Since I love eating and neighborhood exploration, I decided to purchase two tickets for the Sunday, March 20, tour so my wife and I could become better acquainted with an area that we’ve enjoyed visiting over the years but didn’t really know very well.
Looking for a weekend activity that will get you outdoors and teach you things you never knew about a local landmark? Then this tour of the LA River is for you.
If you feel like you’ve been celebrating Valentine’s Day the same way every year, perhaps it’s time to try something different. Here are several events that promise to make this year’s celebration one that you and your loved one will remember.
I’ve always been fascinated by space exploration, which over the years has led me to regularly tune into space shuttle launches, follow the latest Mars rover news and read science fiction, just to name a few such activities. So when I learned that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) offers free public tours, I immediately signed up for one on the first Monday of the new year. What better way to start off 2011 than to visit a place that is doing such exciting work and helping us explore the Earth, the solar system and the universe beyond.
I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to spend time with other people who love LA as much as I do. One of the best ways to find these kindred spirits is to take a tour with them, and that’s exactly what I did several weeks ago. On Saturday afternoon, December 11th, I participated in a bus tour called East Side Babylon, run by Esotouric, a local tour company. The excursion introduced me to a facet of local history that I was largely unfamiliar with; namely, local crime tales from communities east of the Los Angeles river, including East LA and the cities of Montebello and Commerce.
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