Category: Review

The Market, It’s Grand

One Saturday a month my sisters and I would be packed into my parent’s mini-van and trek from East Los Angeles to the Grand Central Market to pick up bread, tomatoes, Little Debbie snack cake, bananas, lentejas, fish, mangos and a myriad other groceries. The day was a test in patience and endurance as my mother touched and smelled her way through the market seeking out the best eats at good prices. In those days, the market was hot, overtly busy and a mix of people.
Things have changed dramatically in 20 years.
Today I took my children to experience the market and I wasn’t prepared for the experience. Though the building and stands not changed dramatically, the market had a sense of calm, a unique variety of eating options and the prices were still a bargain. I found myself marveling at the business professionals and youthful 20 somethings that strolled up and down the wide aisles seeking a gourmet bagel, a fresh smoothie or a decadent taco. It was wall there in an un-chaotic atmosphere that blended the experience of gourmet food-trucks with the hustle of a thousand transactions a minute.
My kids loved looking through the fresh produce stands and choosing treats for the day. Their allowances got actually allowed them to buy a good selection of joy that they enjoyed with glee as they strolled along with me.
This is a MUST have experience for today’s Angelenos. It’s lost the bustle that I semi-enjoyed as a kid but it’s gained a welcoming approach that lets all walks of life to congregate and add their favor to the cacophony.

We’ll certainly be back for more…


People Moving
Must Have

Mmm Chipotle

Baby Kake Salad? Yes Please

huh!?



My Review: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

The Library accomplishes it’s objective. It tells the story of the life and times of President Reagan in an interesting and engaging way.

He was a man who lived a full life and his time in front of the camera helps tell his story in entertaining visuals. There is so much to see at the library and I like the way that the lay out helps a visitor follow a tight narrative.

Like all Presidential libraries, it is not conducive to children under the age of 10 who do not understand the history of a man who served in the white house over 30 years ago. This is certainly a place for adults who will take the time to read and reminisce.

One of the darkest part of the Reagan story is the assassination attempt and this is presented in a jarring and dramatic fashion. The little ones were truly affected at this part and it does remind the visitor that the attack put his life in real jeopardy and that others risked and lost so much in their duty to protect the Commander in Chief.

In contrast, visiting and walking through Air Force one is an inspiring highlight by all means of the imagination and the plane does not disappoint. It is showcased in the most fantastic of ways and brought goosebumps to my arm when I first laid my eyes on it.

My one concern with the library is that it paints to rosy of a picture of the policy results of the Reagan years. Little to no mention is made of the scandals that plagued the presidency and the interactive monopoly style games towards the end of the tour are too simple in their treatment of Reaganomics. I would encourage curators to take more risk in this regard for I don’t feel that it would tarnish the reputation of a well beloved head of state.

Altogether, I am a fan of the library and will return to it again when the kids are older.

Replica of Ronald Reagan’s Oval Office