Went To Check Out Physique Gym and “Beck’s” Crib
I’ve been studying the web, looking at the various gyms that are available downtown. I need to start working out again ASAP as it is the one thing that makes me feel incredible in so many ways. After working out at home by myself for past 6+ years, I do not look forward to joining a gym for it’s social possibilities- I just want good equipment and some serious people (not people standing around on cell phones all the time).
The first gym I wanted to visit was very close by- blocks, but it turned out that it was only available for Federal Employees (why do they not say that in their web site? - Downtown Fitness Center).
I had found a gym called “Physique” that was a new, “botique” gym on ground floor of the Toy Factory loft building. Across the street was the Biscuit Lofts, where suppossedly David Beckham had recently purchased a 4 level, $4.9 million loft (click HERE, paragraph 8). I was intrigued, but on the map it showed as 1.5 miles away. So Saturday afternoon I decided to walk it with Isis to see if it was manageable, and just to see what the gym/buildings looked like.
I think this was the scariest walk to-date. The stretch of Alameda St. between 3rd and 6th is terrible; the sidewalks are broken up and covered with dirt / mud, homeless people are hiding behind semi-trailers to get some shade, and there are no merchants on the road save for cold storage buildings and a Texaco gas station that has a semi-truck wash and decent downtown price on “Diesel 2″ fuel ($2.95 at the time). I was the ONLY one walking, let alone white guy. I got a little unnerved when 2 gang-bangers pulled over to ask me “How to get to Main Street?”- actually they were very polite- “sir”; but they were so far from Main St. that I was suspicious of what their motive was. But what could I do? I answered them that it was about 5 blocks west, they said “thanks” and were on their way.
The 2 loft projects were on Industrial Street, about 2 blocks off of Alameda and 6th (see map). I started to walk past street as it was so small and desolate, but saw sign and turned w/o looking- 2 guys were standing in middle of sidewalk smoking crack about 1/2 way down block. It was an “OH SHIT” momemt but I figured better power through it. So they seperate, one on each side of me- and start asking me about my the logo on my shirt “STFU” and they’re saying- “I know - it’s State of Florida U, no, no it’s St. Utah something”, etc. etc. I finally say - “no, it’s Shut The F*ck Up” and the bros didn’t know what to think, but I started walking… I think they were laughing and felt sorry for me and the white dog so left us alone.
That is one nasty street- can’t see why anyone would buy a loft there- I would not pay $4.9 million for the whole Biscuit Company building (which appears to still be in conversion phase- workers all around and sign outside with “Grand Opening, April 29th” or some such. The Toy Factory loft looked a little more “completed” - I could see the gym on the ground floor but knew by now I would not be joining there- only residents of those two buildings will realistically be potential customers there.
So I turned around and started my walk home- on the other side of the street from the crack heads, and I also realized how far I had come- the skyline of downtown LA looked tiny and unimpressive. I was never so happy to reach the Little Tokyo area (about 3rd and Alameda), and then to get home and take my shoes off to relieve my blistered feet.
On the last 3 block stretch to my house, an older, sweet Asian lady at a stop light looked at how hard Isis was panting and said “oh, she needs water” and proceded to start to pour water from her bottle into the palm of her hand. The light changed to “Walk” and I told her thank you for the kindness, but we were almost home and I did not want to hold her and her friend up. It’s the little times like these that make the downtown experience so amazing and the adventures with a dog so much more enjoyable.