Tuesday December 15, 2009
I've been getting tweets this morning from travel expert Don Nadeau (@donnadeau) on his family's historic roots in Los Angeles. It turns out that Don's ancestor, a French Canadian by the name of Remi Nadeau, was an early developer in Downtown Los Angeles. He built the first 4-story building with an elevator in our fair city in 1886 at 1st and Spring. The site has been home to the Art Deco Los Angeles Times Building since 1935.
While the hotel Nadeau is long since gone, it wasn't that long ago that you could tour the Los Angeles Times Building. After the tours ceased, the public still had access to the famed Globe Lobby, which is adorned with murals by Hugo Ballin (who also painted the murals at the Griffith Observatory). The LA Times building was put up for sale by the Tribune Company in summer 2008 and the Globe Lobby doors were closed for good in December 2008, when the building was restricted to staff and official visitors only. Sadly, the story of the Times and the Times Building has even been removed from the LA Times website.
Back to Remi Nadeau, the Nadeau family home was located on the property where the Millennium Biltmore Hotel now stands. I don't know if they'll mention Nadeau, but you can still tour the Biltmore with the Los Angeles Conservancy on Sunday afternoons. History buffs can also take a variety of other LA Conservancy Tours of Downtown LA on Saturdays. Some of Esotouric's bus tours also delve pretty deeply into Downtown history.
If you have a piece of your own LA history to share, feel free to leave it in the comments below, and/or Tweet me @LATravelWriter.
You can also check out these resources on Remi Nadeau and LA History:
More:
Hotel Nadeau illustration from CSULB archives, Biltmore hotel photo © 2006 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
Sunday December 13, 2009
I had a chance to ride in the world's largest Zeppelin, Eureka, when Airship Ventures came to the LA area a couple months ago and it was an awesome experience. The San Francisco-based company will be back in Long Beach in January and February with more public air tours on Eureka, so if taking a ride in a Zeppelin is on your "bucket list," you can start making plans now. Or slip a gift certificate for a future ride into someone's Christmas stocking.
While we often see dirigibles cruising our coastline and hovering over events, the So Cal-based blimps don't offer rides to the paying public. The Eureka will be offering one and two-hour "flightseeing tours" departing from the Long Beach Airport. Some will fly over celebrity homes and Hollywood studios, others will focus on the Southern California coastline. There's also an opportunity to join the 8 hour flight from and back to San Francisco. Through December 31, 2009, Airship Ventures is offering 1/2 off the second ticket with the purchase of any full-price one or two-hour tour. They've also added a 30 minute Taste of Zeppelin Tour for just $199 (not eligible for the 50% off deal).
Read my Review of Airship Ventures Zeppelin Tour
When: January 7-18, 2010, transit flights southbound on Jan 6 and northbound on Jan 19; returning again February 5-15.
Where: flights depart from the AirFlite Aviation Services Facility, 3250 AirFlite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807 at the back of Long Beach Airport
Cost: Half-hour flights $199, One hour flights are $495 +tx, two hour flights are $990 +tx, flight from/to San Francisco $1500 one way
Anniversary Special: Buy one ticket or gift certificate, get the 2nd for half price if booked by Dec 31, 2009.
Info: www.airshipventures.com
More:
© 2009 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
Friday December 11, 2009
I thought 8 was a lot of skating rinks to have in Los Angeles, but now we're up to 9 with another one opening today as part of the Reindeer Romp holiday celebration at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo (despite the rain forecast). This one is not technically ice; it's an eco-friendly synthetic hybrid like the one at the W Hotel in Westwood. But they say it skates like ice. If you've tried it out, leave a comment below and tell us if that's true.
When: Skating Dec 11, 2009 - Jan 10, 2010, 10 am - 5 pm (Reindeer Romp ends Dec 3)
Where: LA Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (in Griffith Park)
Cost: $5 per skating session plus $13 adult zoo admission, $8 child
Info: www.lazoo.org
More Outdoor Ice Skating in Los Angeles.
Thursday December 10, 2009
Just in time for the holidays, some of the best discount programs on LA dining and attractions are offering even more reduced rates. They make great gifts for people traveling to LA as well as LA/OC residents, or even for yourself if you'll be in town.
Through Dec 13, 2009, get the 2010 Entertainment Book for just $19.99, and free shipping. The Entertainment Book includes a discount card and 2 for 1 discount coupons for restaurants, museums, movies and attractions in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Read my Review of the Entertainment Book, or click the link above to get the discount now. This is a great gift for visitors, and even better for locals. You'll save over $20 on just one dinner and movie for 2.
Through Dec 14, 2009, gift certificates at www.restaurant.com are 80% off, so a $25 certificate, which usually sells for $10 is just $2. Use the coupon code SHARE at checkout to get the discount. Gift certificates are redeemable at 13,000 restaurants nationwide. Each restaurant sets its own conditions for use (i.e. $25 can only be applied to a purchase of $35 or more). Restaurant.com is also offering 80% off their Dinner of the Month Club with the same code. Discounts are applied at checkout.
Through Dec 17, 2009, get 10% off the 3, 5 and 7-day Go Los Angeles Card, which offers entry into a variety of Southern California attractions including every LA theme park except Disneyland and dozens of museums for one price. Even if you're local, a Go Los Angeles card can motivate you to get out and do the touristy things you've been meaning to do in town.
Read my Go Los Angeles Card Review to see if the Go Card is a good deal for you.
Cozmo Card will give you 10% off on the Cozmo Card and/or Cozmo Deck with the coupon code "gola". The Cozmo Card and Cozmo Deck offer discounts on dining at some of the trendiest restaurants in LA. Cozmo Card members also receive invitations to special events at bars and restaurants around LA. Read the Review of the Cozmo Card and Deck.
Give gift certificates for Goldstar.com and the recipient will get twice as much entertainment for their money with half price tickets to live entertainment including theatre, comedy, concerts, sporting events, and even spa services in Los Angeles. Free tickets are available to some shows and events, although there is still a service charge. Free registration is required to buy tickets from Goldstar.
Most of these programs operate in multiple cities around the US, so they make great gifts for people elsewhere as well.
For more ideas of fun LA adventures you can give for the holidays from surf lessons to helicopter tours, check out my LA Experiential Gift Guide.
