Downtown L.A. Road Trip

Just a FYI to let FF-ers know that today's the day for the first LAFF Road Trip to downtown Los Angeles and the convention center area. As soon as we get back my little intrepid band will put our notes and pictures together, and begin the process of giving you all the information about L.A. and Southern California that you'd ever want to see. You'll know it as well as we do, before we're done .

Wish us luck -- it's going to be hot out there today. We may have to find a cantina to drop into .

 

Awesome! Thanks so much, may the Force be with you!

 

Great! Thanks so much! Have fun! We are all looking forward to your report!

 

Don't forget the bag of bricks!!

 

Have fun with that and I'm looking forward to the report!!

 

That will be a huge help, thanks in advance ValedaKor (and anyone else who can make it)! I can't wait to see what you post - and don't forget to include you cantina stop if you make one

 

Ya know, the enthusiasm level was very low when I mentioned this... LOL. However, I will do my best to have them see the error of their ways, and I'm very sure we'll see a "trip with bricks" very soon. Or not.

 

Thanks guys for doing this. It's great to see the LA FF coming together in the way the Indy Knights did as far as researching and giving those of us who've never been to LA before information about the city and the con center. A list of hotels and distance from the con center would be very much appreciated. I will probably be trying to arrive either sometime sunday or monday before the con and plan on spending one day in Hollywood at Universal and visiting other places. One day will be devoted to Disneyland from open til close. And one day will be spent either in San Diego at the zoo or Sea World and then hitting up a beach for a sunset over the ocean, something I've never seen before. Of course, I'll have the girlfriend along for the ride so I also am interested in some of the clubs/bars in the area as well as a list of concerts/events happening at the staples center or other places that week. Then of course on Thurs the con begins and we'll be pretty much sticking to local bars/restuarants in the area in the evenings and doing con stuff. Keep us informed of what all there is to do so we can make the most of our trip!

 

I'll be up in the neighborhood for Superman Returns at the Chinese Theater at the end of the month. I'll try and spot any other small things that you guys don't catch/notice (not that there should be much; I mean, you guys only LIVE there. )

 

thanks guys for doing this

 

Well, our trip was quite a success despite the heat (90 degrees F)! For this trip, our goal was to explore the area immediately around the Los Angeles Convention Center. We got a look inside the LACC, scoped out places to park, and visited two nearby hotels. VK is going to do a nice little write-up of all this stuff but since I was the designated photographer, I'll post the pictures for those who expressed interest. Any questions, just ask...

Los Angeles Convention Center Photos

Hotel Figueroa Photos

Holiday Inn City Center Photos

Blue Line (nearest rail station) Photos

GoogleEarth Map (with parking and hotels):
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/theatrejedi/Star%20Wars%20Celebration%204/C4%20Prep/Maps/LACCGoogleEarth.jpg]

Mapquest Map:
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/theatrejedi/Star%20Wars%20Celebration%204/C4%20Prep/Maps/LACCMap.jpg]

 

Thanks for posting the pictures
LA live they are building a hilton on there along with other things right???

 

Talk about uping my excitement. These pictures are awesome, and Hotel Figueroa is so close (though not as close as Holiday inn.) You guys did a big favor taking pictures and scoping the place. Thank you so much. I can't wait to recieve more info!!

 

Yep, at least that's what the signs say!

Thanks to NP for posting the pictures. It was an inspiring day, to say the least. I for one didn't realize how much parking there actually is around the convention center ('course, with the way they are building downtown, hopefully it will all be there by this time next year). And we walked ALL the way around -- and I swear, it was 100 degrees down there on the street LOL.

One thing that's immmediately noticeable -- even though there was an event going on at the South Hall (L.A. Home Show) there was no traffic; none. Just not a lot going on in that part of town on weekends. Now, no, this doesn't mean that the streets won't get busy, just that regular city traffic disappears on the weekends.

Anyway, when I get my thoughts together, I'll post the information we gleaned. I'm resting now at home .

 

Ditto to that buggy, those pics really got me excited about it too! Thanks for running around out there and grabbing those for us!!

 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

You all ROCK!

Much appreciated, and it looks really pretty there too! did you see that blue sky??? so cool!

 

Yes, the skies are clear and blue here in LA. I took some pictures of the Convention Center last Monday, which would be the same time as the C4 was last year (does that make sense?). I'll post the pictures later. The weather here is totally opposite of what it was like at Indy at C3. Now I just jinxed it so there will be a torrential downpour next year . We at the LAFF are happy to help the Fan Force out in answering questions about our beloved City. Feel free to drop by our forum too!

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to check out the area and take photos, we really appreciate it!

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to help us out of towners out this way.

 

Thank you!

 

Hooray for NaboosPrincess!!!

Wow, you worked FAST!

I have video, I just have to get to a Mac so I can edit it and put the results up on YouTube.

 

Just an FYI -- and to show you how first I can let you guys know things LOL. I had posted a response to this stating yes, it was a Hilton going up; today, in the Los Angeles Business Journal the word is out that Marriott International is taking over the contract. There's going to be a Marriott Marquis and a Ritz-Carlton in the space.

The article goes on to state that "the 1,100 room convention center hotel is the crown jewel of the L.A. Live project, which also includes a 7,100-seat theater, shops, restaurants, a nightclub, movie theaters and ESPN's new West Coast broadcast center." Unfortunately it doesn't talk about a completion date for all this; and based on the hole in the ground that's there, they'd have to work 24 hours a day to have all of this done by May of next year. I believe I read somewhere that it's scheduled for completion in 2008.

 

At least it will be ready for 2009 and Celebration V.

Too bad it won't for Celebration IV.

 

Just imagine if it was completed before CIV, there will be a lot more rooms for the travelers, not to mention outside-the-convention activities (theater, shops, restaurants). You wouldn't have to walk around downtown LA to find a place to eat.