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LA Self Guided Extra Credit Field Trip. CRN: 30125

On Saturday, February 11, 2012 I went on a self-guided extra credit field trip around virtually all of Los Angeles for my Sociology class. I followed the directions my professor, David Medina gave me, and I got to see the nicest parts of LA, and I got to see the poorest parts, and I began to see common patterns and differences of each of the areas. My good friends Nikki Morris, Fatma Hassan, and Joon Yoo accompanied me on this trip and Fatma and Nikki was in charge of all of the navigating and photography. We had to take about 24 photos minimum, and at the end of the day we ended up taking about 500+ photos, and I cut it down to about 50, so there will be many parts that will be left out.

From Mt. SAC, go north on Grand Ave. to the 10 (San Bernardino) Freeway. Go left (west) on the 10 Freeway towards Los Angeles.

Take the Garfield offramp and go left ( south ) on Garfield.

(This area has a heavy Chinese concentration. Note the Chinese signs. In Taiwan, this area is promoted as the “Beverly Hills” for Chinese in America.)

Go to Garvey and turn right.(As you proceed on Garvey, note on the right the Mandarin Noodle House, a good place to eat.) Turn left on Atlantic.

(Note on your left the Yeelow Deli, Chinese take out restaurant.)

Stay on Atlantic Blvd. through Monterey Park to Riggin St. Turn right on Riggin which turns into Cesar Chavez Blvd. (El Gallo Mexican Bakery [very good] on the left. 

Walkabout # 1:

El Mercado:

This enclosed market features Mexican-style products and eating places. You can browse and see tortillas being manufactured

and perhaps hear a mariachi band. From El Mercado return to Lorena and turn right on Olympic. (Note Estrada Courts on right.)

Side Trip Option B:

Estrada Courts:

Turn right on Olympic, right on Grande Vista, right on Glenn, left on Concord, left on 8th the right on Soto.

When you get to Soto St., turn right (north), the go to 4th and turn left (west).

(Note Hollenbeck Park on left off 4th.) Turn right (north) on Gless. (Notice some more Government projects: Aliso village.)

Turn left on 1st St., across the Los Angeles River ( usually dry ) into downtown L.A.

(At 1st and Central there is a Japanese Buddhist Temple, the Los Angeles Homph Temple. And there are high-rise senior citizen’s residences in the vicinity.)

(Also note on the left the Atomic Cafe and on the right the Japanese American National Museum and the Far East Cafe [a good place to eat].

This area is called Little Tokyo.

Walkabout # 2:

Little Tokyo:

Japanese cultural area. There may be a parking problem. 

Continue on 1st St. to Los Angeles St. and turn left. (Note the Midnight Mission on left.)

Turn left on 4th, then right on Towne. (Note the Fred Jordan Mission.)

Turn right on 5th, then right on Main, then left on 3rd, then left on Broadway. (Note the Million dollar Theater and the Grand Central Market on your right. Note on the left the Club Las Palmas —- “hostess dancing”.) 

Turn right on Pico. (Note as you cross flower, the Metro Rail tracks.)

(If you are looking for an interesting place to eat, go right on Figueroa to The Pantry.)

Go left (south) on Figueroa past Exposition Park. (Exposition Park with L.A. County Museums, The Coliseum, and the Sports Arena.)

Go to Martin Luther King Blvd. and turn left, then right (south) onto the 110 Freeway. Take the Manchester exit, (Note as you turn onto Manchester the proliferation of fried chicken places —-there used to be 4 on one corner!)

Go to Central and turn right, then left on 103rd. (Note the housing project on right and fence around the shopping center on the left.

Turn right on Graham. (There is a sign that says Watts Towers.)

Walkabout # 3:

Watts Towers:

Includes Watts Towers Art Center. Towers built by Simon Rodia and now being restored.

At one time the government wanted to pull the Towers down. Note in the area the small houses on small lots built for railroad workers about 1900.

Turn left on 107th, then left onto Graham, then right on 108th, then left on Compton (Note the housing project, Nickerson Gardens.)

Turn right (west) on Imperial and go to Sepulveda (near LAX).Turn right (north) on Sepulveda and under runway and continue until you come to Lincoln which veers off to the left.

Take Lincoln to Fiji and turn left, then turn right on Admiralty, right on Via Marina, left on Washington St, to Pacific.

Walkabout # 4:

Marina Del Rey Yacht Harbor:

Check the number and variety of yachts and the new high-rise condos, etc.

Turn right (north) on Pacific which becomes Neilson.

Walkabout # 5:

Venice Beach:

Venice was originally built to look like the Venice in Italy with canals, bridges, etc. Note the changes in the style, age, and quality of the houses as you move along. Check out the beach with its skateboards, bikes, etc. Many older and retired people reside in the area.

Ethnic mix : high crime : several churches.

Turn right (east) on Pico, then left (north) on Lincoln, then right (east) on Wilshire, then left (north) on Westwood.

Walkabout # 6:

Westwood, UCLA:

If you have time take a look at the UCLA campus and get a feeling for the people and facilities on a large university campus.

Also in the area are many different eating places. For an unusual taste treat try the Filafel place. Take Westwood back to Wilshire and turn left and go through Beverly Hills.

You will come to a sign that says “To Rodeo Drive” —- turn left here and go to Rodeo Drive.

Walkabout # 7:

Rodeo Drive:

Exclusive shopping area. You might check the products and prices at one or two stores and look for the “live” window displays.

Go up Rodeo Drive past the shops into the residential area, turn right on Elevado St., then right on Crescent Dr., then left on Santa Monica.

(Note as you pass Robertson, the “design capital” of the world, the Design Center, the big blue building on your right.) (As you proceed down Santa Monica, you will pass through West Hollywood, which has a lot of gay bars and night spots, such as:

Rage, a gay bar on the left; French Market Place, on the left; Peanuts, etc..

Turn right on Fairfax. (This is where you will enter the Jewish part of town.)

(Note the Eat-a-Pita restaurant on the right, and on the left is Famous Bakery, they have very good bagels. On the right you will see Canter’s, a very famous Jewish restaurant and, on the left and on the corner of 3rd St. is Farmer’s Market. )

Side Trip Option C:

Fairfax Ave. and Farmer’s Market:

This is the old Jewish section. Note Yiddish signs,

Kosher food stores and restaurants, and specialty shops.

Farmer’s Market is an interesting collection of specialty shop.

Proceed south on Fairfax to San Vicinte then to Olympic and turn left and go through the area known as “Korea Town”.

Then turn left on Alvarado, then left on 7th (you may not be able to turn left on certain days, so proceed on until you can turn around), then right on Parkview, then right on Wilshire.

Walkabout # 8:

Mac Arthur Park:

Note age and ethnic diversity in and around this public park. 

Proceed on Wilshire to Figueroa and turn left, then go south on the 110 Freeway.

Then go east on the 10 (San Bernardino) Freeway back to Mt. SAC or home.

The homie Derek met us up and we had Korean BBQ at San Ya in Koreatown instead. VICTORY DINNER!