restaurant review: mccrady's (charleston, south carolina)

The McCrady's facade.

When I put it out there on social media that I was planning to go to Charleston, South Carolina, the interwebs said I ought to try McCrady's Restaurant, a fine dining restaurant in the historic old town.  It prides itself in sourcing ingredients from local farmers, and lists those sources on the menu.  That sounded like the food could be fabulous so, I made my reservations and off I went with hubby in tow.


The scene

I loved the building!  Because it was built in the late 1700s, I wasn't surprised that there was so much history inside.  It used to be a tavern and I bet one of the USA's founding fathers used to imbibe there.  Also, when the USA's first president, George Washington, visited the area, Charlestonians hosted a dinner for him at McCrady's. How awesome, was that?

Shrimp in tomato water.

primer on filipino food when visiting the philippines (or that pinoy restaurant near you)

Pinoy (as inhabitants of the Philippine islands are lovingly called) food is an unsurprising mish mash of versions of Spanish, Chinese, Malay and whatever-the-natives-ate food. After all, the islands were colonized or visited by imperialists and traders for centuries. The dishes range from vegetarian to meat centric, and from light to heavy. So, if you go to the Philippines, or to a Filipino restaurant (also sometimes called "Filipino Chinese" or "Filipino Hawaiian" or whatever else Filipino it is named) in a town near you, check out the following savory dishes.

Oh yeah, I'm skipping dessert because there are too many to mention. I'm also skipping pansit (noodles) and lumpia (eggroll) because there are many types of each dish and those are worthy of their own individual posts. Finally, I'm skipping all the simply grilled or fried seafood, meat or vegetables (e.g., grilled fish, squid, shrimp, eggplant, chicken etc.) that Pinoys also love to eat because they're pretty much self explanatory.

Aligue from Abe.

Aligue (ah-lee-GEH) - you know when you open the shell of a crab, there's a gooey reddish pink stuff in the shell? That's aligue (or the cholesterol). The stuff is sweet and rich -- maybe too rich, so just have a small portion. Although it can be served by itself, you can also find it mixed in fried rice.

guide to eating noodles in koreatown(la)

There are three representative noodle meals (in my opinion) that anyone who wants familiarity with Korean cuisine or Koreatown food scene needs to be aware of: jajangmyeon, black bean noodles; kalgooksoo, knife-cut noodles; and mul naengmyeon, cold soup noodles.

Jajangmyeon
Technically, jajangmyeon is not a Korean dish. It's Chinese in that it's typically sold in Chinese restaurants run by ethnic Chinese who cater to Korean clientele but it cannot be found in other Chinese restaurants. The prevalence and popularity of jajangmyeon in Korea is undisputed. Having jajangmyeon for lunch in Korea is equivalent to having a burger for lunch in America. The sauce is unique in its black color and is made from dark soybean paste. The sauce is stir-fried with onions, ground meat (pork or beef typically) and smattering of other vegetables and sometimes topped with julienned cucumbers. The noodle is thick tubular shape like a fatter spaghetti and made from white wheat flour. Traditionally pulled by hand in a theatrically repetitive stretching and twisting motion, today restaurants primarily rely on machines to pull this ever popular noodle. Sidenote: In Korea, April 14th is called Black Day and singles gather to commiserate their singledom by donning black color clothing and eating black foods e.g., jajangmyeon.

what i packed in my travel makeup bags for 3 weeks in italy

I normally don't like to pack too much when I travel since I despise checking in luggage, but this was my honeymoon so I made an exception because I wanted to look pretty in my travel pictures for once.  In preparing to pack and edit my makeup for the trip, I considered a few key factors:

• longlasting - I wanted to bring longlasting, mattifying makeup since i was traveling during the summer and I didn't want to have my makeup melt off me or make me look greasy.
• versatility - I wanted to be able to create many looks with fewer products.
• size - I considered the size and packaging of the products since I didn't want to bring too many bulky items.  I usually hoard mini and deluxe samples just for travel.  Also, you can always go to Sephora and ask them to give you a few samples of your normal products for travel purposes.  In my experience they've always been very nice about that.

So, what did I end up with?

honeymoon in italy - 23-day itinerary

I plan to do a series of more detailed posts about my trip to Italy, but below is a preview of my 23-day itinerary.  I usually try to organize my trips by area and/or around specific reservations for particular sights and restaurants.  Yet at the same time, I try not to over-plan everything, because it's always enjoyable to discover new things or places through local recommendations or kismet.  

I hope this is helpful to some of you when you plan your trips!

twilight concerts at santa monica pier - starting July 10th!

One of our favorite summer things to do is to bring a picnic to the Twilight Concerts at Santa Monica Pier.  This year the free Thursday night concerts will start on July 10th until September 11th, from 7-10 pm.

The lineup this year includes:

what martinikitty liked and disliked about buenos aires

One of thousands of angel statues at Recoleta Cemetery.

(Buenos Aires, Argentina).  We traveled to Buenos Aires (BA) after a week in Rio and I have to admit I felt a little bit of relief to get to a place with, in my opinion, better food, wine and art.  The BA airport was very contemporary and large, and was what I had imagined that the airport in a major city would be like (very unlike the airport in Rio which had two little kiosks selling bad coffee and stale sandwiches).  It also helped that we stayed in the Palermo Soho area which was a cozy and hip neighborhood - similar to Greenwich Village.and our boutique hotel - Mira Vida Soho Hotel - was basically like our own wine bar and daily sanctuary.  (Note: I would definitely recommend this hotel, but if you are a light sleeper, try to get the rooms facing the courtyard.  We had the room facing the street which had a great balcony, but I could definitely hear street noise late at night and early in the morning.  The wine bar at the hotel has repeatedly been named the best wine bar in Buenos Aires, but I think you have to book wine tastings to enter the premises if you are not a hotel guest.  We did partake in the wine tasting offered at the hotel and it was lovely.  Let's just say the owner loves to drink wine - probably more than we do!)

travel zen on tuesday - the great barrier reef

things to do in dubrovnik, croatia

The walled city of Dubrovnik

I think Croatia is an absolutely beautiful country.

Given that Croatia is participating in this year's World Cup, I think it appropriate to pay homage. For this post, I'm focusing on the walled city of Dubrovnik, also known as the Red Keep in King's Landing, as known by all you Game of Thrones fans.  There are many things you can do there but these are my top suggestions:

1. Check out the sights and learn about her history. 

The walled city from Mt. Srd

          Fort Imperial atop Mt. Srd. Until recent memory, Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia, and under the influence of the Soviet Bloc. Then, there was that bloody war involving the Serbs, the Bosnians and the Croats. All that history is still fresh, and, when you visit, you may be able to hear first-hand stories from locals you meet about life in those days. Or, you can check out the walled fortress high above the old town where they have a museum. You will not only have great views of the walled city below, but will also learn about Croatia's history. You can hike up, take a cable car, or drive up. We hired a car and our driver, Cvijeto, was a well of information. Either way you choose to get around, it is worth exploring.

toob travelbrush review

Are you constantly buying those mini travel tubes of toothpaste and then losing them or worrying that there isn't enough toothpaste left in the tiny tube to last you for the entire weekend?  I find myself buying them all the time and after a while, I realized that it was getting rather expensive since each tiny tube usually ranged from $0.99 to $1.29, while a full sized tube of toothpaste was usually less than $4.

On a recent trip to Adventure 16 in West Los Angeles, I saw this toob travelbrush which is a travel toothbrush with a plastic case (more hygienic) and a refillable mini toothpaste holder that fits in the toothbrush handle.  Apparently you can use part of the plastic case as a makeshift "cup" when you are camping or something but I doubt I would ever need that.  Generally, it seemed like a good concept to be able to refill your own toothpaste so I decided to get it.  It was $5.95 so I figured I'd have to use it on at least 6 short trips to make it worthwhile.  It wold also be nice to use my own toothpaste which I often can't find in the travel-sized version.  (Note: I found the same thing on amazon.com for $7.16 so it was actually cheaper at Adventure 16.)

eating and drinking in koreatown- old school version

Big feature of Korean and Koreatown (Los Angeles neighborhood with general borders created by Olympic Blvd. to south, Vermont Ave. to east, 3rd St. to north and Crenshaw Blvd. to west) culture is drinking. Recently, the travelbits&bites crew gathered at one old school establishment, Dan Sung San, for a little eating and drinking.

Location- Northwest corner of 6th and S. Berendo St. (3317 W 6th St, Los Angeles) inside a strip-mall. There is no English signage but you may locate it by its address and the outside billboard of two men (Kim Dae Jung, former S. Korean President, and Kim Jong Il, dead dictator of N. Korea) facing each other with Korea flag in the middle. Cheap valet parking is available onsite.

Ambiance- This place is a pojangmacha, a divy Korean drink/food establishment.  Dimly lit inside, the walls and furniture are well worn and covered in graffiti. They play old school Korean pop and have no flat screen TV's. What significance the billboard of Kim Dae Jung with Kim Jong Il promoting Korean reunification and the name Dan Sung San, which means "porno" in Korean, have with the food or drink served is beyond me. But these features do add to the distinct character of the establishment. Although there are no smoking signs, I have sat next to smokers indoors.

things to do in salvador de bahia, brazil

As an homage to Salvador de Bahia, a 2014 World Cup host city, I am sharing a few highlights of my trip that I thought you might also enjoy.  Salvador, like Rio de Janeiro, is right by the water.  But, in addition to the beaches, it has a lot of other things going for it. These are some of them:

The Atlantic side.

The beaches - Of course, I have to start with the obligatory beach scene.  Salvador has access to both the Atlantic Ocean, where the surf is pretty strong, and the All Saints Bay (Bahia de Todos os Santos), where the waters are calmer.  The beaches are a great place to not only enjoy the sun but also to people watch.  If baking on the beach for hours on end is not your thing, you can also visit a nautical museum, a lighthouse (faro de barra), and a park -- all along the beach.

cooking with mom #2: taiwanese green scallion pancakes

For the second installment of the cooking with mom series, my mom is showing me how she makes her green scallion pancakes.  This is a simpler (and healthier) version to make at home.  Traditionally these are done with LOTS of oil and in lots of layers, but for obvious reasons, we don't do that at home.  But no worries - they are still delicious!

The ingredients for about 5 to 6 large pancakes:

what martinikitty liked and disliked about rio

Lapa Steps (Selaron's Staircase) in Rio.

(Rio, Brazil).  I traveled to Rio in 2013 to visit friends who moved there from San Diego and to celebrate my birthday.  They had an amazing apartment in Ipanema, right across from the lake which was surrounded by jogging and bike trails and coconut vendors.   We were able to take lovely walks around the lake, but it was way too hot and humid to try to jog.

While in Rio, I couldn't help but feel as if I was in a country that was growing much too quickly at a pace that was overwhelming their local economy and infrastructure.  For example, the prices were surprisingly high (similar to New York or London), but the local economy and standard of living was nowhere near that level so it was difficult not to see and feel that discrepancy and tension everywhere.  It was also difficult not to notice the constant gridlock in traffic, the incomplete construction everywhere, the socioeconomic tensions, the labor protests, the lack of sufficient hotels and visitor services, and the prevalent crime.  While I normally don't expect locals to speak or understand english, I did sort of expect the staff at the high-end hotels, restaurants and bars to understand a little bit of english but it was a challenge everywhere - even the airport.  I kept finding myself thinking "how are they going to get ready for the upcoming Olympics and World Cup"?  But let's hope for the best!

travel zen on tuesday: more beach from rio

sazy rock's rio de janeiro: highlights and lowlights

In honor of the World Cup, I am recapping a three week solo trip to Brasil. First up is Rio because, well, it's Rio. So without further ado, these are my highlights and lowlights that you might want to consider on your next trip to Cidade Maravilhosa or Marvelous City.

Highlights
1. The Cariocas - I met some Cariocas (residents of Rio) through Couchsurfing.com and it was my pleasure to share meals and drinks with them and take part in their Rio. They were friendly and up for anything - whether it's chatting or clubbing or whatever else. Indeed, to this day, I am pleased to still call them friends. As with any online service (including Couchsurfing and Airbnb), please be vigilant and make sure people you decide to meet in person are properly vetted.

2.  Soccer/Football - This is a no-brainer. Brazilians in general, and Cariocas, in particular, are big football (a.k.a. soccer) fans. If you are in town, try to watch a game at Maracana Stadium, one of the most legendary venues for the sport. It is a lot of fun but it gets wild. And it does get crazy. The locals really get into the game. You can go on  your own or go with a tour like Viator (where you can get a discount if you have the AAA card). Either way, just be aware of your surroundings. Because there are a lot more guys than gals that go to the games, the women's restroom will likely have no lines, or, at least, shorter lines. (No line is a definite highlight!) Even if you miss the World Cup, you should still try to watch a game between the many teams from Rio. I think I rooted for Flamengo.

tom bihn aeronaut carry-on luggage and eaglecreek packing cubes review

This is my Goldilocks story with luggage, not beds. In my twenties (I blame naivety and vigor of youth), I never left for an international trip without an 28 in. check-in bag, an 22 in. wheeled carry-on bag and a backpack. I once went on an 35 day, 13 city Contiki European tour with that much luggage. That meant I had to hull all that bulk and weight around every other day as we moved on to the next destination. Then I had an “ah-ha” moment and tried three weeks in China with only one 22 in. wheeled carry-on bag and a backpack. Despite wild temperature swings from freezing in Snow Jade Mountain to sticky humidity in Hong Kong, I survived on what I carried. Over the years, I’ve experimented with Tumi Alpha wheeled carry-on bag, framed backpack with wheels, wheeled dufflebag and finally found the carry-on that just fits me right: Tom Bihn Aeronaut.

Aeronaut is the best for the type of travelling I’m interested in: 2-3 week multi-city international trips. It’s 22 inches long and is extremely durable yet light weight at only 2 lb 7 oz. I don’t need to tell you that most American airlines charge for checked luggage (international trips typically exempt). Also many European budget airlines like Ryanair and easyjet charge extra 25E-50E for one checked bag. And if you are afraid of losing your luggage you will not want to check luggage anyway. Carry-on size restriction is typically 22 inches in height. To add to complications, many international airlines- Singapore, Virgin Atlantic to name a few- limit in-cabin luggage weight to 8kg (18 lb),10 kg (22 lbs) respectively! Although I had proper size carry-on, I was once forced to check luggage by Virgin Atlantic under this unreasonable weight rule on the start of a safari trip. I almost missed my connection to Botswana via Johannesburg (there’s only one flight a day) when delays in air and customs left me with little time to recollect my luggage for the next leg. I had a panic attack and contemplated traveling for next 10 days with just the clothes on my back. After that terrible experience, I vowed never again to be forced to check luggage at the start of my travel (return home is ok). Now 22 in. size bag under 18 lb is the goal for start of each trip. Aeronaut has well padded shoulder straps and side handles and no wheels nor re-enforced frame which typically add significant weight and bulk. I rather carry extra clothes than waste precious weight allowance on the luggage itself. And without any hard frame or wheels it’s squishable, if needed, as I found on a recent easyjet flight to Morocco. Others who couldn't cram their bags into the crowded overhead compartment due to the wheels were forced to gate-check their bags. And did I mention it is super durable and water-resistant? And on a superficial note, it comes in awesome color combinations.

restaurant review: aoc wine bar and restaurant (how did i forget about you?)

(Los Angeles, CA).  I haven't been back to AOC Wine Bar and Restaurant for years.  I'm not sure what caused the prolonged break.  I had always loved the food, ever since Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne (who also brought us Lucques, the Tavern, etc.) opened it in 2002, as a pioneer of the wine bar/small plates in Los Angeles.  I guess life and other new restaurants just got in the way.  Then recently, I was reminded of aoc while reading Los Angeles Magazine.  In their list of best LA restaurants, aoc retook the number 1 spot!  I immediately made a reservation, and even though, it is in a newer and larger location, it was still like visiting an old friend.

Charcuterie Plate.

We arrived on a Saturday night at 7:30pm and the place was already bustling.  We were fortunate enough to sit outside in the gorgeous spanish style patio with a fireplace surrounded by trees and flowers and the chatter of content diners.  But like any good LA restaurant, the moment there was a hint of the night's chill, the heat lamps were on.  Overall, the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and lovely.

insider's rio by guest blogger caipi

Hundreds of thousands of tourists are expected to descend upon Brazil in June and July for the highly-anticipated World Cup.  As many of the tourists will have a home base in Rio de Janeiro, or at least pass through to watch a game or two, we thought it would be a good idea to offer some tips and tricks.

Christo Redentor

Although Brazil is in South America, your high school Spanish is not going to cut it here.  Brazilians speak Portuguese, and although it may look like Spanish, most Brazilians do not speak Spanish or English, especially in the service industry.  Even if you can find an English menu at a restaurant, chances are the server will not understand you when you order a "beer" or a "chicken sandwich."  Brazilians are very appreciative when people try to speak their language, so learning a few key phrases before you go can pay off in spades.

Rio is far from the safest city in the world.  As in any big city, you should be smart and exercise caution, especially at night.  Tourists in Copacabana, the neighborhood where many of the tourist hotels are located, as well as the fan fest, are targets for pick pockets and muggings.  It is always a good idea to carry only the cash you need for the day on you, leave the passport, Rolex and engagement ring at home or in the hotel safe.  If you do get into trouble, look for the tourist police.  Also, it is always a good idea to sign up for the STEP program via the State Department (link: https://step.state.gov/step/) and you will be notified of any security warnings put out by the Embassy.

our favorite places to drink in los angeles

(Los Angeles, CA).  It is obvious from our handles that martinikitty and sazy rock (sazerac, geddit?) love to drink.  dentite also imbibes but she is what we lovingly call a "lightweight" but she's always game for joining us when we wish to try out new bars and restaurants around town.   So, where do the drinkers of the group like to drink when we are in our hometown - see below and find out!



Musso & Frank Grill is an old hollywood institution - serving up drink and food in hollywood since 1919.  and since 1919 it has continuously served the best martinis in town.  The food may not be great, but if you want a taste of old hollywood, then come here and spend a leisurely evening with a martini and steak and strike up a conversation with the bartenders who've worked there for decades and they will regale you with wonderful tales from a bygone era.  I (martinikitty) normally don't drink gin, but this is the only place in town I will enjoy a classic gin martini.  it's simply the best. 

travel zen on tuesday - cat in mykonos, greece

Greece is filled with cats!  Here is a sweet one I took a picture of in Mykonos - a lovely, picturesque island with the nicest people.  It was fun just getting lost in the narrow streets and exploring.

things to do in hobart, tasmania

Many Americans I know who visit Australia tend to skip over Tasmania. It is a shame because there are plenty of wonderful things about this island south of the continent. For this post, I will focus on Hobart, which is the Tassie capital.

So, what does Hobie have to offer?

One of the many wines
you can taste at
Gasworks Cellar Door.

I enjoyed this Pinot Noir.

1.  Wines. Generally, Tasmania has a cool climate so they produce a lot of Pinot Noirs. (Don't worry, they also have Rieslings, Chardonnays, Gewurztraminers, etc.) If wine tasting is your thing, there are a lot of wine regions within Tasmania. But, if you are spending time only in the capital, you are in luck. Gasworks Cellar Door offers visitors a place to taste wines from all over the island. The tasting room also has a lot of educational information about Tasmanian terroir. 

A single malt from
Lark Distillery.

itinerary, costs and misadventures in yucatan: dentite's 24 hr roadtrip to chichen itza, valladolid and ek balam

Secrets Maroma

So with much preparation and only a 24-hour period to get into, spend in, and get out of Chichen Itza, how much sight-seeing and unexpected "adventure" can one get into? A lot.

This was the original 24-hour proposed itinerary:

5:30pm - Land at Cancun airport and pre-arranged pickup by rental service.

8:00pm - Arrive at Mayaland Hotel (210 km drive from airport) at entrance of Chichen Itza.

8:00am - Enter Chichen Itza for a guided tour.

12pm - Check-out at Mayaland Hotel and drive to nearby cenotes (fresh water sinkholes).

3pm - Drive back to Cancun airport for car drop off by 5pm.

5pm - Pickup by airport shuttle to final destination: Secrets Maroma in Playa del Carmen.

What actually happened:

5 pm - Our plane landed at Cancun airport and we deplaned with much excitement. Including going through immigration, money exchange and baggage claim, it took us only 15 minutes from the time the plane landed to exit the airport. Prior to our trip, friends warned us not to speak to or go with anyone who did not have a sign with our name (easyway car rental greeter) at the terminal because we could be waylaid with timeshares sales pitches. Sure enough, while trying to find our greeter, inside and outside the terminal, other greeters and drivers swamped us to try to gain our business and our attention. We politely refused people’s offer of assistance. After looking for our greeter at the airport exit for 30 minutes and trying hard to ignore that inevitable panic feeling, a rep for a competing company told us that someone on the other side of the terminal gate was holding a sign with our name. It turned out the easyway greeter was waiting at the terminal entrance, not the exit, and thus not visible from where we exited. We felt relieved to have been given genuine assistance and not led astray.

hotel review: hilton charlotte center city

(Charlotte, North Carolina).  I often have to travel to Charlotte for business meetings and I have stayed at this Hilton about ten times.  It's not really because it's a great hotel, but because it's a typical business hotel that is conveniently located - literally, connected by a walkway to my office in charlotte.  I would only recommend this hotel for business travelers, because I wouldn't consider staying here on my leisure trips as it's really not that fun or nice.  However for a no-nonsense business trip, it is satisfactory.

pros:

on the walkway to my office from the hotel (the ymca is on the right)

• great location - right in the heart of downtown and across from the Charlotte Convention Center.  15 minutes to and from the airport (usually $25 flat rate + tip each way; and it seems to be the same whether you take a yellow cab or black town car).
• connected to the YMCA Heath Center - which is very well equipped and has an Olympic-sized pool and jogging track (but there is a daily fee to use the facilities which they can charge to your hotel bill).
• good service - the staff is always courteous, professional and helpful; room service is prompt.

cooking with mom #1: taiwanese pork chop dinner (with recipe)

My mom is a phenomenal cook.  I'm not just saying that because she's my mom but simply because it's true.  If my friends could come over to eat everyday, they would.  I'd like to think some of her skills have rubbed off on me, but alas, I know that is simply wishful thinking on my part.

My mom cooks by natural instinct, feel and taste.  She doesn't really follow recipes so it has been a challenge trying to learn to cook from her.  I realized long ago when she tells me to add a "pinch" of something, that it could mean anywhere from a literal pinch, or a cup or a handful....  I live in constant fear that I will never be able to replicate her delicious dishes, so I've decided to try to capture some of her best taiwanese dishes in a new series "cooking with mom".

To kick this off, my mom will be making one of my FAVORITE DISHES OF ALL TIME - Taiwanese Deep Fried Pork Chops.  My mom always tells me this is a super simple dish and she can't understand why all my friends clamor for an invitation on pork chop night. But I totally get it.  My mom's pork chops are damn good.

restaurant review: state bird provisions

Mini fried quail with cheese.

(San Francisco, CA).  For over a year my Bay Area friends have been raving about State Bird Provisions, which was awarded one michelin star and won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2013.  They all raved that the food was consistently amazing and the place was
definitely worth the hype.  While I don't necessarily buy into the michelin grading system - which has a very french and western european bias and has not yet fully embraced the amazing flavors and food cultures of the east - it did seem to further validate that this was a restaurant worth visiting.... if you were lucky enough to score a reservation or patient enough to wait in line for hours.

My husband and I had received a gift certificate for State Bird Provisions as a wedding gift.  When we managed to get a reservation on opentable, we booked our flights and hotel around the reservation. But less than a day after booking, opentable cancelled our reservation due to a systems error.  This was extremely disappointing since we had already made our travel plans so I reached out to the restaurant directly and they were absolutely lovely about trying to accommodate us.  While we couldn't keep our original reservation time, they confirmed us for an earlier dinner time.  Yay for State Bird!

travel zen on tuesday - torres del paine in patagonia, chile

I took this picture on our way out of the park. We had an early start and the sun was barely rising. That bridge was actually out of commission but I thought it was pretty -- especially withe the towers/torres in the background.

freebies around the world

Traveling could be expensive. In a series of posts, we will let you know about places that allow you entry into famous, fascinating and/or worthwhile sights or activities for free. Yes, gratis. 

For sights, we are not including public spaces (such as Central Park in New York or the medinas of Morocco) but we may include public (i.e, government run) buildings (such as the museums in London).

So, let’s start with a few freebies, shall we?

United States of America

Los Angeles, CA

1. The Getty – Enjoy a lot of paintings, photographs and a garden that changes with the season for free, but you have to pay for parking.

You can get up close and
personal with the steel curves of
the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

2.  The Getty Villa – You can see Greek, Roman and Etruscan art for free, but you will need to sign up for a (free) ticket. Also, parking isn’t free.

3. Walt Disney Concert Hall – Renowned architect Frank Gehry designed this wonderful jumble of shiny steel. You can roam the grounds – don’t miss the “Rose Garden” in the back of the Concert Hall – and enter the building for free but you have to pay to watch a show. Enjoy being up close and personal with the curved steel.

4. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – Only the permanent collection and non-ticketed exhibitions are free on the Second Tuesday each month. 

5. Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels – Renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo designed this gem.

6. Bradbury building – You may have seen this building in movies like Blade Runner and (500) Days of Summer, among other things. This beautiful, light and airy building is free to visit up to the first floor landing. Beyond that, the tenants don't want random folks roaming around their space.