The Alpha and Omega of Downtown

As I've mentioned before on the blog, I grew up in the Bronx in a pretty gritty neighborhood (actually, the same neighborhood as Jennifer Lopez...but try not to hold that against me) and I also went to an Ivy League college. So I've spent most of my life straddling the line between two wildly different worlds. I've had dinners at some of the most expensive restaurants in Beverly Hills and I also shop in Boyle Heights. And I love that my life is that way, that I'm not confined to any one social sphere. That's why I really enjoyed the way Kidlo and I spent our time last Saturday.

In the morning, we went to the LA Athletic Club for a swimming playdate with a mom and daughter who live in South Park. The mom is very cool (she's an active member of the Downtown LA Kids Group) and I had the added bonus of experiencing the luxury of the LAAC. Two swimming pools, a full-sized basketball court, squash courts, two bars, three restaurants, a spa...I could get used to living like this. MB and I are going check out the club on a day pass and see if we can swing a membership (probably not, but I can dream...)

In the afternoon, we got back to reality and shopped at Fallas Paredes on Broadway and 5th. They're basically an overstock store with zero ambiance and incredibly cheap prices. Not the most pleasant place to shop, but a great place to buy kid's clothing. This trip I found a Carter's pajama set and Osh Kosh jeans for $6 each. I hear a lot of complaints about the Broadway shopping district and I understand why--it's not exactly like shopping at Target. But if you're a bargain hunter and patient, you really can find deals.

The LA Athletic Club and Fallas Paredes are a half mile away from each other. I can walk to both from my loft.

That's what I love about Downtown LA. It's really a reflection of how I live my life, all of these subcultures bumping up against each other. There's no other neighborhood in LA like it.