A Must Visit in LA: The Original Farmers Market

Before there was the Grove shopping center, there was only the Original Los Angeles Farmers Market on the corner of Third and Fairfax.

It's been around since 1934 and parts of the market area are designated as an official Los Angeles Cultural & Historical Landmark.

And did you know that...

"On an average day, visitors to the Market toss about $35 into the Wishing Well (near the entrance to Mr. Marcel’s Gourmet Grocery) – over the years, the spare change and bills have generated close to $1,000,000 in donations to charity..."

"Scott Bennett, of Bennett’s Ice Cream is one of a handful of experts in the nation who makes his own ice cream from scratch – he can be seen practicing his trade through the window of his shop’s kitchen at Gate 15. Bennett's Ice Cream once filled an order for 500 vanilla ice cream busts of USC's Tommy Trojan. They were served at a wedding reception..."

"The Farmers Market Lottery Booth, located at Sheltam’s Newsstand, is consistently one of the highest selling lottery outlets in California..." and

"When Walt Disney was preparing his early designs for a place called Disneyland, he did some of his work while dining on one of the Farmers Market patios. Elements of the Market’s unique design - it is said - are incorporated into his original drawings."

I learned about these and many other fun facts of the Farmers Market on its website. But what's most important to me are the family memories that I associate with the Farmers Market.

As a little girl, we would visit the Market to buy our fresh fruits and vegetables almost every weekend. I'd love looking at all the bright red tomatoes, sunshine colored yellow bellpeppers and lush green heads of lettuce. We'd buy freshly squeezed orange juice in the spring and summer, along with hot roasted chestnuts during the cold winters.

These days, I still visit the fruit stands and the vendors who have helped my family for years - including one of my favorite restaurant stalls I can't get enough of!

"Manny & Angie Chang and their family have been serving tasty Chinese dishes at this shop for decades. Regulars come back again and again for wonderful chicken and pork dishes and some swear there’s something special about the rice, too.
Stall #744"

The Pork Fried Rice has a kick of spice and is absolutely addicting. Be sure to have the Changs stirfry the fried rice while you wait. I'd have to agree with the vendor description on the Farmers Market website and swear that there is most definitely something special about the rice. After one bite, you won't stop!

Original Los Angeles Farmers Market
street: 6333 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(corner of Third & Fairfax)
web: www.farmersmarketla.com

Girls' Night Out at Crown Bar, LA

Over the years, I have grown to appreciate staying at home with loved ones rather than hitting up the clubs, bars and nightlife of Los Angeles.

So when I was asked where to go for a bachelorette party in LA this past summer, I was completely and utterly clueless.

To the rescue were long-time friends who know much more about the scene than I do, and with their network of connections - a group of 12 young ladies were able to sashay into the Crown Bar without a hitch and were led to a couple of reserved tables.

Now I'm not the party expert at all, but there was much merriment that night and the Crown Bar met all our expectations and then some.

A mixed crowd of mostly young adults dressed to the nines could be seen, and the DJ made the small dance floor by the front of the bar come to life. The venue, itself, seemed to be intimate with its dark wood and rich leather seating - adding to the overall experience.

It's not a place I'd frequent, but the Crown Bar was perfect for our girls' night out on the town.

Crown Bar in LA
street: 7321 Santa Monica Blvd | West Hollywood, CA 90046
tel: 1.323.882.6774
web: www.crownbarla.com