Union Station - Chinatown - Olvera Street

Union Station in Los Angeles is located off Alameda Street and East Cesar Chavez. It is a busy location with lots of things to do and many cultures within blocks. There is the Olvera Street Plaza directly across the street from Union Station. Here you can taste the Mexican culture with some delicious taquitos. There are also lots of Mexican made items for sale in the plaza. If you decided that you want authentic Chinese food or culture then walk a few more blocks to find Chinatown. The first thing you will see when you enter is the dragon symbols next to the senior citizen apartment building. This is on the corner of Sunset Blvd aka E.Cesar Chavez Blvd. and Broadway. Once inside Chinatown you should go to the plaza located at the end of Chinatown. It is a great place to see Chinese inspired architecture with a lucky fountain. You will be able to see and hear amazing things in a short period of time. I hope that you take an adventure and visit these hidden treasures that have been in Los Angeles for decades.  Olvera Street has been opened since 1911 and Union Station has been running since 1939.   Rich history is captured in a few short blocks of Los Angeles.  You may also want to know that Sunset and Alameda is where the famous Hollywood street “Sunset” begins or ends. It depends how you see it. Either way you won’t be disappointed if you take a field trip to Sunset and Alameda or E.Cesar Chavez and Alameda (it is the same corner).

The dragons are facing Broadway and Sunset Blvd. and right next to the dragons is a Senior Citizen building that marks the entrance of Chinatown. Walk down on Broadway and you will see the heart of Chinatown. To get to the pond you will have to walk a distance, but if you take the bus it be lots easier. They have short distance buses that have short routes. I will be riding one today, so I will get back to you on the name. But always ask the bus drivers of the quickest and easier way to get around any town. When in doubt ask the bus driver.

This the entrance to DSR Design who is the designer to the building below. It is located inside the plaza with the lucky fountain. DSR design, inc. 951 North BroadwayLos Angeles, CA 90012

The DSR Design, Inc door is located inside the lucky fountain plaza. There you will see how beautiful and incredible the art and architecture is so much party of the culture.

Look to inside the Olvera Plaza and you will find a hidden museum.

The tacquito stand is located on the corner of Sunset and Alameda.

You will be eating standing up, because there seating is limited. But standing up makes all so L.A.

Thrifty's Ice Cream

A long time ago when I was little, in a very far-away place I call Los Angeles, I enjoyed Thrifty's Ice Cream. I still remember being small and reaching up for the Vanilla Ice Cream Cone at the Thrifty’s counter. Often when my parents could not pick me up from school, they would send my uncle to rescue me. We would jump on the bus going into Downtown Los Angeles to get lost in the city, or as my uncle would say, to pay bills and run errands.  I would be his translator and he would pay me in Thrifty’s Ice Cream.  I would get one scoop of Vanilla and my uncle would get one scoop of Strawberry.   We would then walk outside with our ice cream in one hand and a napkin in another.

Outside of the drugstore there were thousands of people walking fast going from one place to another.  Who knows where they were going? But we didn't care because we had our ice cream and for us we would wait for the bus to return home. Standing on the sidewalk at the bus stop, we would talk about what had happen during the day.  I don’t remember our exact conversations; I just remember secretly hoping that the next week he would bring me back again, and sometimes he did.  Those are some of the fun memories I have of my childhood that I still cherish forever.  These memories have helped guide me as a parent.  My uncle made me feel loved and valued as a child through simple and small acts of kindness.  Those are the memories that have helped me to become an understanding parent.  My uncle is older now living far away with his family, but I still remember what he taught me.  Most importantly, he taught me to be kind, to be gentle, to be understanding and to have ice cream during the week to help bond the family.  The most important lesson is to talk to my kids over ice cream and to do it often.

Today, we went for a few scoops of ice cream and catch-up on what is happening in school. I am continuing the tradition that my uncle started so many years ago although some of the flavors have changed and the name of the drugstore has as well.  My kids love Birthday Cake and Black Cherry Ice Cream not my childhood favorite, Vanilla.   The drugstores' name has changed from Thrifty’s to Rite Aid.  Today, you can get a discount card which tracks how many purchases you make allowing you to receive discounts.  Things have changed as time moves on, however I am thankful that Thrifty’s ice cream is still around.  Every time I eat it, it brings me back to amazing and happy memories.  Going today, I can make new memories with Thrifty’s Ice Cream and my children.  Hopefully my children will have Thrifty’s Ice Cream around to make memories with their children too.

I want to wish you a Happy Thursday and may all your dreams come true.  Have you had your Thrifty's Ice Cream today?

To find pictures of vintage California you can go to:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/g_cliser/sets/72157622440391749/

To find a Rite Aid near you:
http://www5.riteaid.com/savenow/locator/

Places to go with Kids...

Finding fun places to go with kids is sometimes a challenge. I am posting a short resource guide that will help you find places for your next field trip or family adventure. The information and more fun places can be found in the book titled "Fun Places to go with Kids" written by Susan Peterson. Susan has done all the work for you and wrote a book that will help you find fun places for field trips. I know from my personal experience I have used this book for several years to help find unique ideas for family field trips. Living in Southern California with great weather makes for field tripping a 365 day possibility. Make your plans now for your next family field trip.

 If you are a visitor to Southern California, Welcome. Maybe we will see each other at one of these great places.

To find more places in your area go to:  http://www.funplaces.com/linksla.htm

Los Angeles MUSEUMS

• ADAMSON HOUSE AND MALIBU LAGOON MUSEUM  
• ADOBE DE PALOMARES
• AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTER MUSEUM
• AIR AND SPACE GALLERY
• AMERICAN HERITAGE PARK AND MILITARY MUSEUM
• ANGELS ATTIC
• ANTELOPE VALLEY INDIAN MUSEUM
• BANNING RESIDENCE MUSEUM AND PARK
• BORAX VISITOR CENTER
• CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
• CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM
• CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
• CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES
• COLUMBIA MEMORIAL SPACE CENTER
• THE DOCTORS’ HOUSE MUSEUM
• DOMINGUEZ RANCHO ADOBE MUSEUM
• THE DRUM BARRACKS CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
• EL MONTE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
• FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN & MERCHANDISING MUSEUM & GALLERIES
• FLIGHT PATH LEARNING CENTER
• FOLK MUSIC CENTER AND MUSEUM
• FORT MACARTHUR MUSEUM
• THE GAMBLE HOUSE
• GEORGE C. PAGE MUSEUM / LA BREA TAR PITS
• THE GETTY CENTER
• THE GETTY VILLA
• GORDON R. HOWARD MUSEUM and MENTZER HOUSE
• GRAMMY MUSEUM  
• GRIER MUSSER MUSEUM
• GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM
• GUINNESS WORLD OF RECORDS MUSEUM
• HACIENDA HEIGHTS YOUTH SCIENCE CENTER
• HERITAGE JUNCTION HISTORIC PARK
• HERITAGE PARK (Santa Fe Springs)
• HERITAGE SQUARE MUSEUM
• HOLLYWOOD BOWL MUSEUM
• THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM
• HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM
• THE HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
• HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
• INTERNATIONAL PRINTING MUSEUM
• JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
• JOE DAVIES HERITAGE AIRPARK AT PALMDALE PLANT 42 and BLACKBIRD AIRPARK
• JUSTICE BROTHERS RACING CAR MUSEUM
• KIDSPACE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
• LANCASTER MUSEUM and ART GALLERY
• THE LEONIS ADOBE
• LOMITA RAILROAD MUSEUM
• LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM
• LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART
• LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART / L.A.C.M.A. WEST / BROAD CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
• LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM  
• LOS ANGELES MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST MARTYRS MEMORIAL
• LOS ANGELES POLICE MUSEUM - BEHIND THE BADGE: THE LAPD EXPERIENCE MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER
• LOS ENCINOS STATE HISTORIC PARK
• MISSION SAN GABRIEL ARCHANGEL
• MONTEREY PARK HISTORICAL MUSEUM and GARVEY RANCH PARK  
• MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART and GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY and PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER
• MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
• MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST
• MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE, A SIMON WEISENTHAL CENTER MUSEUM
• NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
• NETHERCUTT COLLECTION and NETHERCUTT MUSEUM
• NORTON SIMON MUSEUM
• THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
• PASADENA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
• PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
• PETTERSON MUSEUM
• PIO PICO STATE HISTORIC PARK
• POINT FERMIN PARK and LIGHTHOUSE 
• POINT VICENTE INTERPRETIVE CENTER, PARK and LIGHTHOUSE 
• QUEEN MARY
• RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS
• RANCHO LOS CERRITOS
• RAYMOND M. ALF MUSEUM
• RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! MUSEUM (Hollywood)
• RUTH AND CHARLES GILB ARCADIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM
• SAXON AEROSPACE MUSEUM
• SCORPION  
• SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER
• SOUTHWEST MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
• SPORTS MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES
• S. S. LANE VICTORY
• TOURNAMENT HOUSE and THE WRIGLEY GARDENS
• TRAVEL TOWN 
• TWENTY MULE TEAM MUSEUM
• UCLA HAMMER MUSEUM
• VISTA DEL LAGO VISITORS CENTER
• WALLY PARKS NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM
• WELLS FARGO HISTORY MUSEUM
• THE WESTERN HOTEL and MUSEUM
• WESTERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
• THE WHITTIER MUSEUM
• WILLIAM S. HART MUSEUM AND PARK
• WILL ROGERS STATE HISTORIC PARK 
• ZIMMER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM  ~ Family Favorite

Orange County - Museums
To find more places in your area go to: http://www.funplaces.com/linksla.htm

• ARDEN - THE HELENA MODJESKA HISTORIC HOUSE AND GARDENS
• BOWERS KIDSEUM
• CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AT LA HABRA
• DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER
• FULLERTON MUSEUM CENTER
• GEORGE KEY RANCH HISTORIC SITE
• HERITAGE HILL HISTORICAL PARK
• HERITAGE MUSEUM OF ORANGE COUNTY
• HUNTINGTON BEACH INTERNATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM
• LAGUNA HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER AND SPORTS COMPLEX
• MARCONI AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
• MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
• MUZEO
• NEWLAND HOUSE MUSEUM
• NEWPORT HARBOR NAUTICAL MUSEUM
• NEWPORT SPORTS MUSEUM
• OCEAN INSTITUTE
• OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM
• OLINDA OIL MUSEUM AND TRAIL
• ORANGE COUNTY DENTAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
• RICHARD NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND BIRTHPLACE
• RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! MUSEUM (Buena Park)

Riverside County- MUSEUMS

To find more places in your area go to: http://www.funplaces.com/linksla.htm

• CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY
• FENDER MUSEUM OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS
• FINGERPRINTS YOUTH MUSEUM
• GILMAN HISTORIC RANCH AND WAGON MUSEUM
• HERITAGE HOUSE
• IMAGINATION WORKSHOP - TEMECULA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
• JENSEN-ALVARADO RANCH HISTORIC PARK
• JURUPA MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTER / EARTH SCIENCE MUSEUM
• MARCH FIELD AIR MUSEUM
• MISSION INN and MISSION INN MUSEUM
• MISSION INN and MISSION INN MUSEUM
• ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM
• PERRIS VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
• RIVERSIDE ART MUSEUM
• RIVERSIDE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
• TEMECULA VALLEY MUSEUM / TEMECULA - OLD TOWN
• WESTERN CENTER FOR ARCHAEOLOGY & PALEONTOLOGY
• WORLD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

@Book is avaliable for purchase through "Field Trip Mom" and "Fun Place"@

 Just email  fieldtripmom@gmail.com

To find more places in your area go to: http://www.funplaces.com/linksla.htm

Unexpected Trip To The ER......

We had an emergency this week.  We had to rush my husband to Hoag Hospital's ER. As I watched my husband lay there helpless and sick, I realized how much I really needed to know everything was going to be alright. The nurses were very kind and friendly. They took his illness very seriously and had him hooked-up to medical machines and tubes in seconds. I could not even begin to tell you all the things they did in under a minute. I was relieved that we lived so close to the hospital and that we got him there on time. I can not remember everything they said to us. I just know they mentioned blood pressure, heart, lungs and good thing he came in when he did. It felt like I was living some else's life.  I did not want my husband to be here sick. My husband is my rock and someone who never gets sick. In that instant everything else took a backseat. I did not care about emails, phone calls, fundraisers, school or even being polite. All that mattered is that my husband got better soon. As the minutes turned into hours and I was asked to go home. I realized he was staying there in the ER. I was not bring him home. It was crushing to know that I had to pick-up the kids from my friend's house without my hubby. As I drove to my friends house to pick-up the kids, I remember thinking I did not want to see my kids. How would I tell them dad was in the hospital. I thought they won't understand, they will ask questions, they will be wondering why he had to stay behind? The kids were in great hands with my friend who got them thinking of the following day's celebration, Valentine's Day. So when we got in the car they wanted to know if dad would be home for the big celebration. I said, "Yes", I was bring dad home the next day. (I did not know what was happening. I just prayed for things to turn around.)
The next day came and everyone else was excited about the big day, Valentine's Day.  My kids were in school and pre-school handing out cards and making crafts and did not notice, how worried and upset I was. I am glad they were excited about Valentine's Day. I made it to the hospital with a positive attitude that I was taking my husband home today. Armed with prayers and hope I entered the hospital. As I sat down my husband informed me that he felt much better and tests were showing he responded to medication he was given. So the doctor explained that he was okay to go home and rest. If other tests came up with anything negative we would have to return immediately to the hospital. So, home he came to rest and get better. I know I have never seen God, nor spoken to him, yet I am certain that he exists and that there are angels around to help in crisis. To all my friends and family who have always been there through it all, I want to say thank you for your prayers. It really worked, Tim is home and he is feeling better. Keep believing in prayer and positive thinking it really works. I know I do!!!


Big Thanks to the Nurses and Doctors at:

ER Hoag Hospital Irvine

16200 Sand Canyon Avenue
Irvine, CA, 92618
949/764-HOAG (4624)



May your life be wonderful today and everyday!  Alma

OC School needs your help....

I am fundraising for my son's school.  I ask and I ask but no one has committed to help.  I am not sure why.  I am starting to feel a little disappointed in my city.  No one wants to admit that the our education system is under-budget.  By now everyone should  know that our education system is hurting financially. Today, the President of the United States was fundraising (9) miles away from my school and neighborhood.  How can I compete with the President of the United States?  I support the White House and have complete respect for our government.  Just need a few of the White House contacts to make a difference in my city.

All I have is this blog and friends so I am asking; Will you help?  Will you tell your friends and family that I am fundraising?  I am simply wanting to have 800 kids know that we adults care about their futures.  I would like to raise enough money to save the technology program, keep the nurse clerk as well as other science programs.   My hope is to have a fun event for the kids, while raising enough money for the remaining year and next year's activities.

What we need is a donation of $250.00 or more and special recogination as advertising will be given to those sponsors. Of course, no denomination is too small.   For some of these kids this will be their first Jog-A-Thon.  They will talk about the event and tell others about this fun event. Help change a child's life, be part of this awesome life-changing event.

Please email me to help us fieldtrip@gmail.com.

~~Wordless Wednesday~~

Time is moving too fast for me....

The thing about time is that it does not wait. It does not wait for you to decide to forgive someone or to show them you love them. Time does not care about whom you are or where you are in your life. Time just marches on. Time does not take consideration that you are not rich or not healthy. Time does not care if you are old or young, it just continues on and on. As I sit here and see pictures of the loves of my life. I remember how little they were and how fast time is marching on to make them into grown-ups.  I see how young my husband and I look in the pictures and all the love we have for our family. Time is captured in our family pictures. The time we spent on the San Diego beaches when the kids still had diapers or the day my son had to patch his eye. Time does heal wounds. Like the time the little man opened his head on the stairs. Or the time he opened his lip open. Time healed those wounds.  But time is going too fast for me. My kids are growing so fast that I can barely carry them. I can sit and give them hugs, but not pick them up very much. They are too tall and too heavy for me to carry like a baby. The older little boy is now almost as tall as I am. I think I am shrinking?  I can tell time is moving fast, because their clothes don’t fit them anymore. The kids are growing too fast for me.  I can see it in the photos that time won’t wait for me to be the perfect mom. I have to be the perfect mom now!

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson