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Travel

Dates in Downtown LA

by Sarah Seran Bae April 8, 2019

Over the past few years I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I realized that there are so many things to do in Downtown LA other than barhopping. I started to make a list of places to go with my family and friends who would visit from overseas or out of state and now that list is three pages long!

Here are a few ideas for the next time you want to be a tourist in your own city.

Walk from Grand Central to The Broad

Grab a quick bite at the historical Grand Central Market. There are so many food vendors that you could choose from, including diverse options reflecting Los Angeles’ rich cultural variety like German, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, and so much more. I recommend DTLA Cheese or Eggslut. When you’re done eating, you can take the famous Angel’s Flight trolley on South Hill Street to start heading towards The Broad Museum.

Angel Flight is a railway that is 117 years old and costs $1.00 to get to the top in less than a minute. In the past, it connected the tenement communities of the city, and after being closed for awhile, it’s a can’t miss spot! Alternatively, you could take the never-ending stairs if you’re feeling like doing a mini workout.

When you get to the top, it will be a short walk to get to The Broad museum.

Make sure to reserve tickets online (it’s free) ahead of time to avoid a line! The Broad has some of the most influential modern art from artists like Ragnar Kjartansson (beautiful music installation), Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and of course the instagram-worthy Robert Therrien & Yayoi Kusama.

Insider tip: If you take the glass elevator down to leave, go back up the stairs to get a sneak peek of where the museum stores their art! This place is called “the vault” and it’s pretty cool to look at.

Arts District and Little Tokyo

On the eastern edge of Downtown LA is the Arts District and Little Tokyo. These two locations are for those who truly love galleries and boutique stores. I love visiting this part of the city because there’s always something inspirational that you wouldn’t expect to find. The last time I visited, I went to Hauser & Wirth and was deeply moved by the works of Alexander Calder.

Nearby, there is also a cute store owned by a married couple called Poketo. This place is one of my favorite stores near Little Tokyo. They have cute stationery, accessories, and home items that are sensible and aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re feeling hungry, I recommend Wurstküche for German sausages and dessert at The Pie Hole in the Arts District. If you’re willing to wait in line, the ramen at Daikokuya is phenomenal and so is the matcha ice cream at Tea Master in Little Tokyo.

And for those of you over 21 and do want to go barhopping…

Here’s a list of a few favorites:

EightyTwo (drink and play classic retro games)
Perch (french restaurant & rooftop bar)
Birds & Bees (romantic speakeasy)
Prank (walk-up cocktail bar)
Breweries: Angel City Brewery, Arts District Brewing Company, and Mikkeller DTLA

April 8, 2019 0 comment

Travel

Hong Kong could be your next destination

by Bao Yi Tan March 21, 2019

written by Bao Yi Tan

During spring break, you might have some time off. If you are thinking of traveling somewhere internationally, it could be nice to travel someone east or as Nick Young would ask, “What about us taking an adventure east?” in Crazy Rich Asians.

Reconnecting with your roots

If you are Chinese-American and you have not been to Asia in your life, it would be a great time to go to a Chinese country to experience it for yourself, such as modern Hong Kong. The weather is a little chilly and not too hot at this time of the year. There is the convenience, safety, culture, and food. Of course, it would be ideal if you can speak Cantonese and Mandarin, as those two languages are mainly spoken (but locals prefer to speak in Cantonese than Mandarin). People do speak English here and you can get an English menu if needed in some places. Hong Kong preserves its old buildings, but there are many new buildings as well. Walking through the streets will be charming itself, but having the opportunity to interact with the people will be cherry on top of the trip.

You can never get enough of food

In America, everything is far apart and there is a need for a car. Food is everywhere, but portions are huge and there is a need for doggy bags and that would probably be dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. In this sense, there are lesser opportunities to try different food in a period of time. However, this isn’t the case for Hong Kong. The portions are smaller and there is a huge food culture here. Instead of going to the movies at Westwood or Santa Monica for a beach day, people plan to go out for food. One day it could be Dim Sum (a style of Chinese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets) for lunch, then a famous Hong Kong style cafe like Mrs Tang Cafe for dinner. Then there is also the option for snacks like fried chicken and other small eats due to walking around a lot – starting at Goldfish Market to Sneaker Street and eventually, Lady’s Market could last for hours. The probability of getting hungry will be very high and when that happens, there are many food shops around to get yummy snacks from.

There is a lot of things to do

As I implied before, there is a lot of walking to do as everything is close to each other. The MTR (short for Mass Transit Railway) is very convenient for both locals and tourists. People barely drive in Hong Kong, even when they do have driver’s licenses. It is too expensive and unpractical to own a car in Hong Kong. So it isn’t a shocker when there are many things to do in Hong Kong. For instance, there is a lot of shopping to do. There are sneakers, imitated branded bags, goldfishes, and clothes to get from. There are a ton of varieties and when one is tired, there are plenty of beauty parlors to choose from as well. There is just an abundance of everything here. I would definitely recommend getting a massage when you are tired of walking and shopping. There is also the option to play darts for HKD 5 (about USD$0.64 at Joe’s Billards & Bar) at night or taking the ferry to see an amazing city view – filled with lights everywhere.

The Final Closer

The air ticket to Hong Kong ranges from USD$400-$700 during spring break and it is a round-trip ticket. It is not too expensive if you are planning to go on an international trip. The food and transportation will be affordable and living at hostels would be a great way to save some more money too! It’s an option, but I would definitely recommend a trip to Hong Kong and one week will be plenty of time to explore this beautiful island.

March 21, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle Travel Uncategorized

Keeping it PG at Vegas

by Ally Chou March 9, 2019

written by Ally Chou

Still not 21 yet but you and your friends want to make plans to go to Las Vegas for spring break? Sounds like a pretty familiar scenario to all college students in the Southern California area. After all, Vegas is just a 4-5 hour drive, or a 50 minute plane ride! But what can you do when you are still underage in this City of Sins? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! Here are a list of some PG things that you could totally do that can still pack your schedule up for a few days.

1. The Neon Museum

This place is super worthy of going at night-time, because the outdoor museum showcases beautiful vintage neon signs that are from all over California. There is a tour, and the tour guide informs you of the stories behind all the special neon lights — some not working, but some still flashing in bright lights. Nevada was the state where neon lights became popular in the Google architectural movement, and this museum is a super enlightening way to learn about the state’s culture. The museum is located just 20 minutes or so from the Las Vegas Strip.

2. 7 Magic Mountains

This impressive landmark by land artist Udo Rondinone, is not technically in Las Vegas, but it is on the way back or to Los Angeles if you are taking a road trip. This is a must see because the “7 Magic Mountains” are so beautiful under the sunlight. An awesome place to make your Instagram feed more colorful.

3. The Venetian

Many of you may already know the wonderful Venetian that is like an indoors Venice with actual canals and gondolas you can ride on (though the rides are pretty pricey!!). There’s an abundance of shopping you can do there so you will never get bored!

4. Shopping at Aria and Caesar’s Palace

More shopping at other hotels! The shopping mall at Caesar’s Palace has very nice interior architecture that emulates the Ancient Romanesque culture. Aria is one of the newer hotels located in the Strip, and it comes with a newly renovated shopping center that contains many luxury brands, in case you are feeling like you need a lavish makeover.

5. Adventurous options like ziplining and the ferris wheel!

At the outdoors shopping area in the Strip, there is a ferris wheel ride (High Roller) which takes you above ground, giving you a view that overlooks the entire Strip (which is actually quite small) and beyond! Not for those who are scared of heights though. If you are feeling extra adventurous, there is also a zipline (FlyLinq) that takes you through the Strip. TIP: If you show your student ID, you get a big discount!

Whether you are at a legal age or not, Vegas can be a super enjoyable experience if you know how to make the trip worth it! Hope you have fun in the City of Sins!

March 9, 2019 0 comment

Lifestyle Travel

Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas

by Zainab Malik March 7, 2019

written by Zainab Malik

Midterms (for most of us, at least) are over. It’s week 8 and spring break is so close, you can almost taste it. Why not go somewhere new? Oh, wait. We’re broke college kids. Not to fear, here are some cheap spring break travel ideas for students on a budget.

Belize

Belize is beautiful and surprisingly affordable. The US dollar is extremely strong in the country, and having several inexpensive yet luxurious hotels cements its place on this list.

Vancouver

Cheap flights, gorgeous sights… What else can I say? If you look hard enough, you can find extremely affordable round trip tickets to Vancouver from LAX. I highly recommend trying Nando’s, a popular chicken restaurant in the city, as well as walking along the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Talk about a bucket list item being crossed off!

Cabo San Lucas

Be a total college kid cliché and go to Cabo. There are amazing beaches and natural beauty galore. Do it for the ‘gram!

New Orleans

Being a huge “Princess and the Frog” fan, going to New Orleans at least once is on my bucket list. While it might be too late for Mardi Gras, New Orleans has a rich and colorful history and many amazing places to check out and explore!

Key West

A short drive from Miami is the charming town of Key West. It’s not crowded and fairly cheap with gorgeous beaches and many cultural sights. I personally would love to go and see the Hemingway House or Robert the haunted doll!

Jamaica

Photo: lucky-photographer (Shutterstock)

Having gone to Jamaica myself and loving it, I might be a little biased, but it is an absolutely gorgeous place to vacation with amazing food, beaches, and experiences, while still being budget-friendly. I highly recommend going to Dunn’s River Falls or horseback riding in the Caribbean. I didn’t get to do either and still regret it!

March 7, 2019 0 comment

Travel

Spring Break is just a month away – perhaps London?

by Bao Yi Tan February 20, 2019

written by Bao Yi Tan

Midterms are probably over and it’s time to start planning for spring quarter, but you got to remember to take a break and start planning something for spring break! A road trip in the country could be nice, but you may have done it multiple times with your family. What about a trip outside the country? If that’s the case, why not London? The city of bars, beers, and famous fish ‘n’ chips. Here are the reasons why it will be an amazing adventure out in Europe.

It is truly a city, just like New York City or San Fransisco. Probably Chicago too. The beauty of a real city is that it is small enough to walk everywhere and explore the streets and get lost in crowds and feel like somebody else. It is pretty safe as well (enough to walk the streets at night). To truly connect with the city, it means it has to have great public transportation and the main mode of transportation in that city usually be walking. You can walk in London or take the underground, also known as the tube. It is very convenient and affordable. For a day ticket (the card itself is call an oyster), you can get it for £13.10 at any station (but that’s only for central London, but that’s probably enough anyway). There are other modes of transportation too. Buses, overgrounds, and some boat transportation. The most efficient one would be the underground. You can explore most of London via this convenient way in a short period of time.

There are many things to do in London. From the museums, theater, cathedrals, shopping districts to the nightlife – there will always be something to do in London. For instance, instead of watching a movie, definitely take advantage of the movies of English people – plays. Plays in London are simply magnificent and there will never be one play there is exactly the same as the previous night, as it is staged live and there will be some spontaneity. There are theaters everywhere and you have to get tickets early morning, in order to get good seats (depending on the demand of the plays). There are also many phenomenal musicals, if that interest you. Also, there’s a student price! There is the Tate Modern, a contemporary art museum, and you can get stuck there all day long. After enjoying the arts, there are cathedrals for the history nerds. But if you want something more raw, there is the Camden market at Camden town. There will be live music and street foods. After all the cultural fun, go to Convent Garden for some food and shopping. Then there will be nightlife waiting for you everywhere, because London is hopping.

London is an old city, so it is no surprise that there will be a lot of old bars (or taverns) around. It is amazing to walk around to be able to get a drink (as the legal age is 18) in the middle of the day and no one will judge you. The beers are great and if you want to try more types of beers, Belgium is a short flight away. There are also the Netherlands (or people call it Holland), France, and Ireland. All the great cities and countries just a short flight away, or take the eurostar train, which I would definitely recommend (even though the prices of the flight and train ride are about the same, you never really experience old Europe until you travel around Europe via trains and enjoy the scenic sights). For example, a train ride from London to Paris takes about 3-4 hours and you go through an underwater tunnel to get there. It is pretty cool.

Plan your trip ahead and you will have a lot of fun. Also, if you can, get an Airbnb and experience local people and their culture. One tip: stay in the city. It might be a little expensive, but do your research and your trip will be a smooth one.

Signing off, Chloe

February 20, 2019 0 comment

Travel

Upcoming Events in Los Angeles

by Ela Koksal January 25, 2019

written by Ela Koksal

1. Dapper Day at LACMA

“Urban Light” by Chris Burden has been a bright spot on Wilshire for LACMA since 2008. (2010 Museum Associates, LACMA)

How does attending a Swinging Soirée at one of the most prestigious locations at Los Angeles
sound? If your answer is pretty good, you should attend the Dapper Day party at LACMA on the
26th of January. Get ready to dance all night while enjoying top quality European Artwork!

2. Chinese New Year Festival

Credit: O.C. Lee

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with LA’s Chinese Community and many more enthusiasts who are
attending this annual event. Taking place in various locations throughout Los Angeles on the 26th
and 27th of January, attending these festivals are a great way to celebrate your culture, or get to
know a new tradition!

3. LA Art Show

https://dola.com/events/2019/1/23/l-a-art-show

The Los Angeles Art Show is one of the longest running art installations in the country. Containing
a lot of different art forms such as modern art, historic art, and traditional art; this place is a must-
see for every art lover. Be sure to add this event to your calendar between the 23rd and the 27th of
January!

4. Elton John ConcertIt won’t be an exaggeration to say that everyone loves Elton John. Don’t miss your last chance to
see one of the most influential and ground-breaking artists in history on his farewell tour. He is
performing for six nights from January 22 to February 2nd, so go buy your tickets before it’s too
late!

https://www.visitpasadena.com/events/rare-books-la/

5. Rare Books L.A.
The Rare Books L.A. is taking place in the Pasadena Convention Center on the 1st and 2nd of
February. This fair is the perfect place to see the original editions of your favorite books, find more
books from your favorite author or discover new genres that you will love! Book lovers, this is the
perfect way to spend a weekend dedicated to your passion!

January 25, 2019 0 comment

Travel

Bruin Travels — San Francisco’s Insta Worthy Spots

by Ally Chou December 11, 2018

written by Ally Chou

I spent my Thanksgiving in San Francisco! Despite the heavy rain and the bad traffic during the holidays, there is still so much to do in the city known for its hippies, steep hills, cable cars, and beautiful landmarks. Here are a few of the must-see things in San Francisco and the best places to get your Instagram shot!

1. The Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge by Brian Chou

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of the west coast! Overlooking the bay and creating a beautiful contrast with the sea and its brick-red color, the bridge is perfect for a scenic photo. If you are driving, there are two viewpoints across the bridge where you can park your car to take a photo up close with the bridge. To the left of the bridge, the view-point extends up the mountains so you can take photos from a higher angle. If you take the Uber, you could also hike upwards to find the perfect spot. Take note that the traffic gets pretty congested near the parking areas during busy hours when everyone is finding an empty spot to park.

2. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Alexander Calder Sculpture at SF MoMA by Ally Chou

For all the artsy people out there, the SF MoMA holds a lot of amazing contemporary and modern art, with works by Alexander Calder, Henri Matisse, Dan Flavin, Mark Rothko, and many more familiar names you might have heard in your art history classes. The MoMA has a beautiful architecture and interior design as well, with large windows that reveal San Francisco’s scenic views through alleys, which serves as a great Insta pic!

3. Lombard Street

Lombard Street by Ally Chou

Visit Lombard Street for a beautiful view of San Francisco from a high vantage point, or take a scenic photo of the quirky Lombard Street itself that is adorned with fresh, vibrant flowers! It is recommended that if you are walking, go from the top of Lombard street downwards, because it’s not only steep, but super curvy!

4. Palace of Fine Arts

Palace of Fine Arts by Ally Chou

Only a few minutes from Lombard Street is the Palace of Fine Arts Theater where you see a dome-shaped architecture mirroring Roman and ancient Greek buildings. It is situated at a beautiful park with a small lake in front — such a photogenic spot! Add some classiness to your photos with this one!

5. California Street

Downtown San Francisco by Ally Chou

Ever see those professional shots of cable cars at the peak of a hill in the midst of downtown SF, and wonder which street it was taken on exactly? It’s California Street! Here, you will be able to take amazing photos of the downwards hill that is flanked by tall industrial buildings. You can also see the Bay Bridge at the vanishing point if you use a good camera. If you’re lucky, you might also be able to catch a shot of the trolley in your photo.

December 11, 2018 0 comment

Lifestyle Travel

Oh the places in LA you can go- November Edition

by Sylvie Oang November 9, 2018

written by Sylvie Oang

Downtown L.A. | Photo courtesy of Brian Hawkins, Flickr

The seasons are a changing so bring out your thickest sweaters, fuzziest socks warmest coats, and I ensure that you will be sweating in five minutes. Los Angeles in the fall averages low 80’s and high 70’s holding true to the sunny southern California stigmatism. Though fear not Bruins, there is still plenty of fall activities to do in November.

Price legend because we are all broke:

$- College kid budget friendly

$$- If you’re feeling a little generous

$$$- Treat yourself

1.The Tofurkey Trot- $$

It’s only in LA where we have a vegan, thanksgiving themed family friendly 5k. Vegan or vegan-not, anyone can partake in the run and attend the vegan food festival activities after. While I’m a fan of the turkey, I’d gobble up all the food anyways.You might have to fight someone for an avocado but best believe you’re helping the environment by paying six dollars for organic, 100% cruelty free, locally grown coconut water; All of the run’s registration proceeded go to the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition’s educational program.

Date: November 25th

2. Holiday Ice Rink Silent Skate Party- $

Los Angeles feeds the desire of Hallmark movie lovers by creating an enormous ice rink in the middle of Pershing Square.The silent skate party consist of good times and chill vibes where you can listen to whatever music your heart desires without being judged by pop culture and mainstream media. Yes- I am talking to the LA country music lovers. However, on non-silent skate party days, you can es-skate some of the Los Angeles heat by renting a pair and living out your winter olympic dreams.

3. The Enchanted Forest of Light- $$

Everyone talks about the LA Zoo lights, but the Enchanted Forest of Light is a gem hidden just outside of Down Town LA. Be one with nature while watching light shows and immerse yourself in this fairytale experience. This is a cute cheap date idea, though you could also bring your friend, your aunt, your sister, the guy on the fourth floor you met yesterday, it’s some wholesome fun with cool lights. Though if you’re looking for a cute date idea, 10/10 recommend this place. It’d be lit.

Date: November 19th- January 6th

4. Snow day LA- $

Ice Ice baby. You thought that global warming is affecting the weather patterns of the world and have made cold places hot or hot places cold. Congrats, you are right! However, that does not mean LA natives are foreign to some snow. Echo Park host a snow day with tubing, night glow sledding and all the hot chocolate you want. Don’t be snow though, the tickets are going fast! Fun fact: ice’d hot chocolate is just chocolate milk.

Date: November-December 30th

5. Volunteer – FREE 99

The month of November is for pumpkin spice, warm tone filters, and chunky sweaters. However, it’s also a month dedicated to giving. We have places to go, things we need to do, and sometimes we forget to realize what we have. Try and put the “thanks” and “give” in thanksgiving throughout all of November. Should you find yourself free on thanksgiving morning, some food banks and homeless shelters are providing thanksgiving breakfast and enthusiastically take volunteer to help in any way possible. Home for the holidays? Here is where you can find a local food bank near you. Busy on thanksgiving morning? If you’re able to, donate to shelters or find a can food drive nearby throughout the entire month of November. UCLA’s food closet is also always taking donations.

Date: All of November

Not fall-ing for the holiday’s yet but still want to enjoy LA in November? For all the turkey day haters and winter grinches, there are still some pretty fun things a’happening.

BEAT ‘SC- $

That’s right Bruins. It’s that time of the year for the one football game we all go to. Clear your calendar, register for the rooter bus, buy your ticket and get ready to 8 clap your little blue and yellow heart out. We stand 2-8, have no stadium of our own, and have -1 chance of being conference champions but you best believe that Bruin pride is an everlasting fire that burns through any statistical analysis that projects us to receive a defeat from the snobby- red and gold wearing-legacy kids on the other side of LA. Can I get a GO BRUINS?

Date: November 17

2. Smorgasbord LA- $-$$$

Smorgasbord has come to LA. Get your wallets, walking shoes and looses pants out because this food festival did not come to play. Smorgasbord consist of food vendors, shopping opportunities and the occasional pop up entertainment. Make sure your phone’s charged because all the food at the venue is insta-snap-twitter friendly without the need of VSCO or Huji. Check out their very aesthetic instagram

https://www.instagram.com/smorgasburgla/

Photo by: Alan Tang

Photo by: Alan Tang

Date: Every Sunday

3. Rooftop Cinema Club- $$

Why see a movie in theaters, when you can see it on an LA rooftop with the smog infused LA sky line in the background? Something about a rooftop just makes everything better. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and beverages of your choice. Rumor has it, bottomless popcorn is an option and the seats recline. Watch some classics like Clueless, enjoy Ryan Gosling on the big screen in La La land or start getting into the holiday spirit with Home Alone.

Date: November- December

4. Coffee festival LA- $

She is beauty, she is grace, she is a grande ice cold brew. It’s every college student’s dream. A day dedicated to the magic liquid that get’s us through midterms, finals, the morning after thirsty Thursday. The LA coffee festival will consist of caffeine connoisseurs and lovers. Latte art classes will be taught, various strains will be sampled, and your heart will beat excessively with admiration as you get overly caffeinated. Kerckhoff coffee will never taste the same again.

Date: November 9th-11th

5. Wicked- The Musical- $$$

Calling musical lovers of all ages. Break your piggy banks, call in those IOU’s, ask for your paycheck in advance, because after four years, Wicked- The Musical, is showing at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. This musical ages like fine wine and is here just in time for the holiday season. Put on your fancy pants and call an Uber black for a fancy night out or go to just enjoy the beauty that is Wicked. But get your tickets ASAP!

Photo by: Wicked, The Musical

November 28th- January 27th

November 9, 2018 0 comment