Los Angeles Respite: Part 1

My daughter Dance recently relocated to L.A. She got a great job at the Japanese American National Museum which is in Little Tokyo. She found an apartment nearby and is planning on living her new life there without a car. Life has been super stressful with my mom hospitalized for an illness and then having to get used to Dance moving (and my brother had also moved to Arizona recently). My sister from Northern California came for a visit and to help out with mom. She encouraged me to take a break; Dance had also suggested I come to L.A. as well. So I took them on the offer. So glad I did.

Two of my mom's sisters moved to L.A. when they were young, so my cousins grew up there. I got to know them when I was in college there at Occidental, and Dance also got to know them when she went to USC. They are fantastic people and I am so glad that we are connected to them. On the first day, my cousin had us over for lunch
​. 

The next day, Sunday, we walked around her neighborhood, which is near the Disney Center and Grand Park, among other things. We had lunch at the Grand Central Market, which reminded me of Mexico (a little). I think it used to be like the public markets in Mexico, but now it's pretty much a really good food court. 

Morning walk - Disney Center just down the street.

City Hall at the end of Grand Park

Grand Central Market

Pupusas!

After lunch, we took the Angel's Flight Funicular to the street above, where the Broad Contemporary Art Museum is located. It just recently opened and we got tickets. Sorry, it's a blur, if it wasn't for these photos, I would've forgotten we went there. Need to pay more attention.

This was supposed to make you feel like the little kid at the table.

Jeff Koons, Tulips

I had made arrangements to have dinner with an old college friend, Carla. Took her to a place just a block away from Dance's place, Au Loc, an Asian-ish, vegan-ish restaurant. I caught her just before she went on a 3-week trip to France, where she has a house. 

Disney Center in the background.

The next day, Monday. had a book-related theme. A friend, Kelly, works at the Central Library, which is also close to where Dance lives. We had lunch at Lemonades, a salad and lemonade place that Dance had taken me to years ago. Then I went to The Last Bookstore, a very cool bookstore  in walking distance of the Library, where they have artwork made of old books throughout the store.. 

Tuesday was my Little Tokyo day. It was the first day the the Japanese-American National Museum was open after the shutdown, so I made a reservation and went. This is where Dance's new jobs is, so I actually made it to her workplace before she did because she was STILL working remotely. Let me tell you up front. I love Little Tokyo. I went there almost every day for some reason or another.

Cafe Dulce recommended by my niece. Matcha donut.

The Japanese Garden was not open but you could see it from above.

WWII monument to Japanese-American soldiers. I looked for my uncles' names, but did not find them.

The exhibit here was incredible. I loved how they combined the artifacts with haiku and personal accounts.

Afternoon treat, this time with a bacon donut!

In the evening, another college friend Val, picked Kelly and I up at the Library, and we went out to dinner at Hippo, in Highland Park, which is a neighborhood close to where we went to College. It's described as New American cuisine. We had a great time with the food, spirits, and company. 

Just a sampling of what we had. We did sharesies, which is a sign of good eating partners. 

Honey bread

Dessert!