EMERGING FAMILY CULTURE - DOWNTOWN L.A.

Our memory of downtown LA is of a place where skid row was the main attraction, empty buildings were common place and the environment was dreary and, frankly, dirty. The only things that ever lead us downtown were the lure of a great deal on jewelry or fashions. One of the best things to come out of the last ten years for Los Angeles is an emerging downtown neighborhood. Downtown has emerged as a place where families looking for more urban life can feel comfortable living. While the economic boom of this decade left us with turmoil in the real estate market and other aspects of the economy, it seems that a lasting downtown culture is emerging. Mostly conducive to single living or young couples, a family culture is emerging. In a post by David Kennedy entitled Life Downtown with Three Kids (blogdowntown.com) he describes a much different LA family lifestyle than one usually would expect from a typical LA family. We are so used to suburban living whether in a single family home, apartment or condo; most of our neighborhoods are not considered “walkable” by the standards of other big American cities. Where urban life provides all the comforts, conveniences and necessities we need without having to get into the car, most of the things we need are only be retrievable by getting in the car.That being said, I enjoy our suburban life and the Valley community we live in. There are no plans to move. But a trip to downtown Los Angeles once in a while is fun for experiencing the transformation that is taking place. We recently ventured downtown on a Saturday afternoon and had lunch at Philippe, one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Los Angeles. It is said that the Philippe is the home of the original French Dip sandwich. Here are some links to other downtown discoveries. Urth Cafe The Pantry Library Bar