Apr 21, 2014 | Urban Explorer
I have lots of reasons for liking Mexico and Spanish - a grandmother who was born in Mexico, an excellent Spanish teacher in high school (gracias, Senora Burr!), a year at the University of Madrid, a talented daughter living in Mexico City, and many trips south...
Mar 25, 2014 | Urban Explorer
As a tour guide, I've become increasingly aware of the many ethnic enclaves in the Southland. As a kid, I remember visiting Chinatown for its toys or Olvera Street for its mexican jumping beans. Now I go for different reasons, and I think these communities...
Mar 24, 2014 | Urban Explorer
Los Angeles is much more than freeways, movie star mansions and beaches. In fact, it's home to 29 locally-designated historic districts! Yes, you heard me - LA, "LaLa Land", the City of the Future - takes its past seriously. Starting in 1962 when it...
Feb 24, 2014 | Urban Explorer
SAN DIEGO CRAFT BEER TOUR III SATURDAY MARCH 22 – 10 AM to 5 PM. Join Hoffy Tours on this brewfest classic! We will visit the best of northern San Diego county’s craft breweries: The Lost Abbey, Stone Brew Company, Ballast Point, and the Green Flash. A...
Feb 20, 2014 | Urban Explorer
Double-decker bus tour at ModernismWeek is a good overview.Palm Springs is on a roll! Whereas a decade ago, its main drag - Palm Canyon Drive - was full of underperforming store fronts, now it is brimming with pedestrians and pride. A key factor in this...
Dec 19, 2013 | Urban Explorer
Aesthetics aren't everything, but 2nd Streetand its Promenade are gorgeous.On a recent visit to Santa Ana's Saturday night Artwalk, I realized that this is one of the few truly urban places in Orange County and an excellent case study of downtown revitalization and...
