Angel’s Flight / Water Court Walk
I can’t believe I haven’t checked this out before, but I guess I was afraid the Water Court would be too busy with business folks drinking coffee, smoking, and eating on weekdays. But today Isis and I climbed up the stairs next to the “Angel’s Flight” inclice railway- which starts on Hill St. between 3rd and 4th, and goes up to Bunker Hill park and the Water Court. It’s a good climb, and I’ll work these stairs into my cardio on the weekends when the business folks aren’t around- Isis loves it too.
The railway opened in 1901 and ran until 2001; it was closed to move it over some for redevelopment projects, but it poised to open soon.
The Water Court is a multilevel outdoor patio and ampitheater/stage, surrounded with ponds and beautiful waterfalls and fountains. It is enclosed by the 2 enormous California Plaza skyscrapers, and the Omni Hotel. In the summer they have a concert series called “Grand Performances” as you can see there are lights set up for tonite’s show.
Here’s the pics- with links better explaining the railway/court at bottom of page (one picture I missed was when Isis immediately stepped in the ground-level fountain, thinking it was a swimming pool- it was great to see she is still not afraid of water):
I dig you Blog very cool stuff
I live in downtown also
I am looking for a spot on / near skidrow
I make music and would like a place I can be loud in.
If you have time to chat I would like to see how life is
a little east of me.
Later
October 7th, 2007 at 3:59 pmN
Hey Nate- thanks for the kind words.
As for being loud in a loft- that is not going to happen. Maybe you mean a warehouse?
I used to have a rather large house with basement and could “rock out” in basement area but upstairs if I was loud, neighbors would complain.
Now in lofts where some people are paying $500k - $1 million to have an adjoining wall with you, you best be on good behavior. That is what is hard for me- keeping my dog from barking, keeping my home theater down, etc.
Maybe I misunderstood your question- feel free to email me at hb_isis@yahoo.com if you’d like.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:05 pmJust want to point out that the information on Angel’s Flight is not fully accurate. You make it sound like it’s been moved to it’s current location and has yet to open when actually it had been in operation at it’s present site until there was an accident a few years ago and a rider (visiting from New Jersey, I think)was crushed to death. The first time in it’s 101 year history that an accident had happened. Safety concerns and bureaucratic delays have kept it closed well beyond a reasonable time period. The angle/slope of the track was also altered and is less steep than it used to be originally…(yes, I rode it it as a kid).
There are a couple of movies (film noir)that used Bunker Hill as a location during the 40’s (before my time) and 50’s where Angel’s Flight is featured, a great one being the Fred Zinneman 1948 movie, Act of Violence with Van Heflin, a very young Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan and a great performance by Mary Astor as a middle-aged prostitute who lives in an apartment/room overlooking Angels’ Flight. Check it out.
It’s interesting to us native Angelenos who grew up Downtown to talk to new folks exporing Downtown for the first (or second) time and relalizing how much of Downtown’s history, stories and narrative have been lost or are slipping away.
Keep up the good work.
Joey
December 1st, 2007 at 6:29 amJoey- Thanks for setting me straight. It is good to have the viewpoint from a native downtown angelino. Keep watching for me to slip-up again, as I am bound to.
skidrowdude
December 1st, 2007 at 8:29 am