Since I have a couple of LA books lined up for my holiday, I figured this would be the perfect time to crack this open. I knew it would be a depressing read and I wasn't disappointed. So many beautiful buildings have been razed in favor of parking lots or developers' whimsies. I know that everything can't stay the way it is, but to destroy the side of a city that has more personality because you measure value with dollar signs... Ugh. Not to mention some of these places were destroyed/repurposed at the expense of immigrants.

If you're interested in finding out about the real heart and soul of LA, check out Alison Martino's Vintage Los Angeles.

Just a small sampling of interesting things that caught my eye:

1) Streetcars! I had no idea LA used to have them. There was also a scenic Mount Lowe Railway and a bigger canal area.

2) Original Angel's Flight: A funicular that was out of use for a couple of years, but it's now open for public at a different location. You can see the original in action in a lot of old movies.

3) Pink Palace: I hate pink, but Jayne Mansfield's home was pretty neat in all its gaudiness. Not appreciated by the final owner who bulldozed it.

4) Brown Derby: A restaurant shaped like a hat! It was part of a movement where businesses wanted to attract the attention of driving customers by conveying information about their products in the form of novelty architecture (a cute owl ice cream kiosk with glowing eyes, a tamale joint shaped like a tamale etc.). One of the Brown Derby buildings exists brimless in a slightly different place.

5) Garden of Allah: A legendary hotel that was established by the silent film star Alla Nazimova and helped define the bohemian Hollywood with its legendary parties.