Day #1 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: The iconic Chinese Theatre. TCL Chinese Theatres is a Hollywood landmark dating back to 1922. Visitors from all around the world flock to this internationally known destination to not only view the beautiful architecture of the Chinese pagoda, but the nearly 200 cement squares laid out in the its courtyard. These concrete blocks contain the autographs, hand and foot prints of numerous Hollywood luminaries, current celebrities, and past silver screen legends. An amazing amount of Hollywood history has taken place here and it’s an eerie sight to see it completely vacant.

Day #2 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: The world-famous Staples Center. Opened in 1999 and located Downtown, this arena is home to the Los Angeles sports teams of the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers, LA Kings, and Los Angeles Sparks. Over 250 events are hosted here annually with over 4 million guests in attendance. This venue can seat approximately 20,000 people and has hosted such events as the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs, the funerals of Michael Jackson and Kobe Bryant, and will be one the venues to host the 2028 Olympics that will take place in Los Angeles.

Day #3 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: The Venice Canals. These man-made canals built in 1905, which were built to re-create the look and feel of Venice, Italy, are a historical landmark in Los Angeles. There are four east-west canals and two north-south canals. Cars can cross these house-lined canals by arched bridges. They are a beautiful sight to see and are accessed by residents with small boats and dinghies. A little taste of Europe in our own backyard.

Day #4 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: The Santa Monica Pier. This iconic structure was built in 1909 and its original purpose was to assist in the disposal of Santa Monica City’s sewage beyond the breakwater. Eventually city officials realized this structure could be useful in more ways than funneling poop, so the historical Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome was built, which is still there today, and houses a beautiful merry-go-round with 44 hand-carved horses. Over the years additional attractions were added including a ballroom, an auto showroom, a roller skating rink, and a wooden roller coaster. After numerous transitions, attractions were replaced and the now famous ferris wheel and Pacific Park rides were added. There are a number of wonderful restaurants on the Pier, concerts, an aquarium, city-sponsored events, and even fishing. Numerous movies, tv shows, and music videos have been filmed at this famous location. Fun fact: Route 66 does not actually end at the Pier. This sign is placed here for “picture-taking” purposes. The end of the route is a few blocks away but if you stood at the actual site you might get hit by a car as it is at the intersection of 7th & Broadway, a few blocks away from the Pier. One important event to take note of was the devastating storm of 1982 where the Pier experienced significant damage and over 1/3 of the structure was destroyed. Today, over 8 million people visit this destination annually. It is closed during the COVID shutdown, but please return once it is safe to do so. It is always open, no entrance fees, and guaranteed fun for all ages.

Day #5 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: MacArthur Park. This 35 acre serene park located in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles was named after General Douglas MacArthur. At the center of the park is a massive lake fed by natural springs and dates back to the 1880s. Originally named Westlake Park, the surrounding area at the time was known as the Champs Élysées of Los Angeles. This neighborhood was a vacation destination surrounded by luxury hotels. In 1934, the lake was split into two sections to extend Wilshire Boulevard to Downtown, Los Angeles. MacArthur Park continued to be an area of beauty and luxury with electric boats and swans dotting the lake. But in the late 1960s, the area became rundown and when the lake was drained twice in the 70s, hundreds of handguns and firearms were found at the bottom of the lake. For the next few decades, the area was known for prostitution, drugs and murder. In the early 2000s, a major revamp was begun bringing in a recreation center, paddle boats, a beautiful fountain in the middle of the lake, community festivals and concerts, and more. Numerous movies and television shows have been filmed there as well. Presently, the paddleboats no longer remain but the lake is still is a beautiful sight to see.

Day #6 in my series of quarantine photography of L.A.: Chinatown, Los Angeles. Located right outside of DTLA Los Angeles, this neighborhood was established in 1938 and is home to approximately 20,000 residents. Interesting fact that this was not the first location of Chinatown. The original site was established in the late 19th century at the current location of Union Station (Los Angeles). When thousands of Chinese men were hired to construct a portion of the first transcontinental railroad, many of them settled in Los Angeles and therefore Chinatown was born. From 1860 to 1910, there was a Chinese opera theater, numerous temples and a bustling city within this part of town, but then Chinatown began to decline. After neglect and decay, the community was demolished. Years later, a prominent leader within the Chinese community, Peter Soon Hoo Sr., designed and established the new Chinatown and envisioned it as a tourist attraction. He enlisted the help of Hollywood set designers to give it a more authentic and exotic feel. You will find here numerous stores selling Chinese-themed products, restaurants specializing in Cantonese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, art galleries, herb and ginseng sellers,as well as other various stores and venues. One of the highlights in this community is the Chinese New Year Parade. It’s a Los Angeles event that can’t be missed as it is an amazing sight to see in person.