I'm so thrilled.  After years of NIMBYism, supported by the hypocritical likes of Henry Waxman, the Metropolitan Transit Authority approved the subway to the sea.  Well, it's more rail to the sea as we are talking about a light-rail line.  Although one neighborhood, Cheviot Hills, fought tooth and nail against the project (even though the line wouldn't run through their neighborhood), it looks like expanded mass transit in LA is going to happen.

One of the most beautiful cities in the world is Washington, DC.  It feels like a national capital with all the huge buildings and monuments, and you can focus on them during your visit, because the city is not littered with billboards (LA, take note).  If you happen to be there in winter when it snows, you are in for a treat . . . monochromatic winter tones await.

 

DC has respectable public transportation thanks to Metro, but the best way to see the city is to put on your walking shoes and walk from Union Station, to the Capitol, along the National Mall, then up to the White House.  Enjoy the neighborhoods of Northwest, starting with U Street/Cardozo, weave your way through DuPont, Adams-Morgan, and the post neighborhoods of Northwest DC.  Be sure to walk up Massachusetts Avenue, then traipse through Georgetown, finally winding your way to the Lincoln Memorial.  The walking tour takes about, oh, 10.5 hours but is worth it.

Seeing DC will eventually be easier once the new streetcars are up and running . . . they are currently running on time in . . . the Czech Republic. (more...)

Unless you have been asleep the last 50 years, you probably have heard that Los Angeles has a bit of a traffic problem.  The glorification of the "car culture" has taken a toll on Angelinos and its visitors.  Road rage is even more on the rampage, parking is a constant hassle, and residents who thought they were safe often deal with speedsters who are always trying to find that perfect surface street shortcut.  Once you are out of the West Side, you really notice LA's decaying infrastructure:  potholes that look as if they should be in Chicago, parking meters that often do not work, and street lights that have not had their timing checked since, perhaps, Eisenhower was president.  So what is a stressed out commuter to do?  For a city its size, Los Angeles actually has few highways, so we will not see any new ones soon.  We hear constant talk about a subway to the sea, but most of us will not be in any physical condition to ride it by the time it opens.  One issue in LA is that you have so many constituencies and layers of government.  One organization, however, is working hard to find a holistic approach, intertwining many short-term solutions to ease the traffic that is such a deal breaker for many residents and potential employers in the Southland:  FAST. (more...)

 

Santiago is the Athens of South America.  I say that because most visitors dismiss the city as a crowded, polluted, and dull eyesore.  But like Athens, once you get past the smog and do some exploring, the city offers much for the visitor.  Old neighborhoods from centuries past laced with cobblestone streets, are now lined with trendy cafes and restaurants.  If you crave the conveniences of home, huge malls and superstores will make you blush.  Your palate will enjoy the visit as well:  Chilean food is hearty, produce is cheap and plentiful, and you will never want to buy an avocado at home again after seeing how cheap they are throughout Chile.  Just be prepared if you are a caffeine fiend:  Chilean coffee is terrible (instant is the norm), so you have to settle for Starbucks or McCafe.  Overall, experiencing all that Santiago offers is easy and just plain fun:  the city has the most modern and extensive subway system in South America. (more...)

It's Sunday afternoon, and after walking up and down Sunset Boulevard taking care of some errands, I'm sitting in our backyard with the view of Century City and the Wilshire Corridor in the far distance.  I've grown to love that stretch of Wilshire, starting with the former Bullock's department store (now Southwestern Law School), slicing through Koreatown, the Miracle Mile, LACMA (LA's art museum), and finally posh Beverly Hills . . .continuing on to Westwood and Santa Monica.  Wilshire Boulevard defines Los Angeles.  If only I didn't have to drive there, but Henry Waxman and his fellow limousine liberal constituents delayed any planning for twenty-plus years, only to see traffic in their neighborhoods . . . get worse! (more...)