Huntington Gardens 2: Heading Indoors

So I've already heard about some friends who have been so inspired by my last Huntington Gardens posting that they've planned dates to go (if you aren't one of those people, you should really become one).  I must say it's amazing for me to know that 1) people are actually reading my blog other than my family (who I'm not sure has read this since the first post) and my boyfriend (who is obligated) and 2) it's actually somewhat effective in inspiring people to find things in LA that they've never known about.

But enough with the self-aggrandizing.  Let's take this story inside...

Where were we?

The main house was grand, but unfortunately didn’t offer anything to touch (and I like to touch).

Next stop was the Library, where the books were really old.  But apparently not so old that they didn’t have comic books.

And of course, if we’re talking really old, check out this bible that was 500 years old.  It’s kind of a big deal. 

But still... everything was behind rope and glass and I wanted to use some senses other than my crappy sight that requires my nerdy (but Chanel chic) glasses. So, our next stop was the green house, which had the smelliest plant I had ever smelled.  It was so smelly, that after I took a whiff, I had to run to another better smelling plant and dig my nose into it just to get the previous smell out.

The moral being, be careful what you wish for.

And to satisfy my inner child, our last stop was at the children’s gardens.  Where I FINALLY was able to touch and play.

While we were busy playing, apparently the guards were busy closing up the gardens and somehow missed us.  In order to get out, we had to hop the gates, but luckily they were kids size and only took a little extra climbing.

TIP: The park is hundreds of acres and the park closes at 4:30, so to really take advantage of all the gardens and library has to offer, show up early in the day.

TIP:  For a little side trip, drive by the Gamble House.  It’s an architectural gem.  Even if you don’t get there in time to go inside, you can still walk around the grounds.

LACMA (or how I found the Craft & Folk Art Museum)

 On Wednesday, I had lunch scheduled with a friend who had recently left her job to prepare to start her MBA and decided that lunch would be much better served over art than at Jerry's Deli.  I proposed the idea of hitting up LACMA, which she quickly agreed to.

I checked my Lonely Planet guide to see if it recommended anything at LACMA, since I haven't been there since the early months of the Broad Contemporary Arts wing a couple years ago.  It was pretty much a basic description of the museum until I got to this interesting tidbit of information that really enlightened me:

"Opening in early 2008, it includes a new entry pavilion and the Broad Contemporary Art Museum...."

What?! 2008?!?!?!?!  Is this a guidebook from the 90s?  I shut the book and make my way to LACMA to see what is new on my own.

I find my friend and we search high and low for admissions, but find nothing resembling a ticket booth.  Finally we make our way into the Broad wing and find an information table. The only odd thing is that other than some security, we don't see any patrons.  I know that LA is not exactly the cultural epicenter of the world, but NOBODY is at the biggest museum in the city on a Wednesday afternoon?  Once we ask the information booth how to buy tickets we realize why.  The museum is closed on Wednesdays (what museum is closed on Wednesdays? Isn't Monday the industry standard for closures?) and it is only open for a private event that is currently lunching downstairs.

We make our way out and decide to consult our LP guide to see what would have been cool to check out in 2007.  But first, I check to see if it lists days and hours for LACMA.  Turns out had I consulted the book (and trusted it) I would have found out about the museum's strange mid-week shut down.  Anyhow, we find that we have a choice of the Peterson Automotive Museum, the Architecture & Design Museum, the Page Museum at the Tar Pits and the Craft & Folk Art Museum.  A&D it is!

Nope.  It's closed.  Not just on Wednesdays, but indefinitely for renovations.  I guess it's rare that it would ever be open, considering the penchant these artists have for remodeling.

We both like arts and crafts so to the Craft and Folk Museum we went!  It actually ended up being very cool.  Since my friend is starting school soon and we looked poor and pathetic, we maneuvered student admission prices of a whopping $3.  I paid for both of us, because I'm so generous. The museum was 3 small floors, one or two rooms each, of modern art made from suitcases, wine corks, bowling pins and wire.  It was actually very inspiring to see that you can make art really from anything you were planning on throwing out with your trash.

Our adventure ended up being more exciting than planned. While we missed LACMA, we found a museum we would never have considered going to before and became inspired by all the different ways art can be created. Lonely Los Angeles trip #1 was a failure and a huge success.

TIP:  If you are heading to Museum Row, forgo lunch at Marie Callenders or at one of the museums and instead, hit up one of the gourmet food trucks that line the streets.  Everything from Hot Dogs to Organic and Vegetarian fair are available.  You can find them starting one block east of the LACMA entrance continuing about 3 blocks east.