Dinner And a Movie - Broadway Theater District, LA

Saturday night we went to dinner and a movie. LA is the birthplace of the movies, as you know, so it only makes sense we have movie-going experiences to rival all others. I've always wanted to see the 1974 Roman Polanski flick Chinatown - a neo-noir film set in 1937 Los Angeles based on the "water wars" headed by William Mulholland (see how Mr. Mul inspired me to frolic in a water fountain in this post). It is a twisted story with incredible acting and gorgeous costumes. Our night began with dinner at - you guessed it - Bottega Louie...

Pizza Love 

 A floral heart is hung above the wood-burning pizza oven at BL

I spy with my little eye... someone who is FABULOUS!

It's my favorite game to play while dining... I shamelessly chased after this couple as they stepped out!

My posse walking the mean streets of LA, en route to the theater

My Aunt Anita is visiting from Canada and I thought a movie about how LA came to be would be the perfect way to welcome her to town. I purchased the tickets through the Los Angeles Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats program which was created to draw attention to the few remaining movie palaces remaining in downtown LA. 

One of the more outrageous shops in the district

The Broadway Theater District used to be home to dozens of theaters. It has the largest collection of pre-WWII movie palaces in the US. If you explore Broadway, which in her heyday was the hub of LA's entertainment scene, you'll find twelve surviving theaters built between 1910-1931. Most of the theaters have been converted into churches and retail spaces in what has become a predominantly Latino shopping district.

The Orpheum - built in 1926 

An ornate French Renaissance lobby makes quite a first impression

Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh, it was originally home to the vaudeville circuit where Judy Garland performed as Francis Gumm. I couldn't help but imagine the varied performances those heavy velvet curtains revealed to captive audiences over the decades. From burlesque to rock and roll - the only thing that hasn't changed is our desire to be entertained...

The Mighty Wurlitzer - the last remaining theater organ on Broadway

Back in to the neon night...

Guns N' Roses "November Rain" features the Orpheum

Tell me about your weekend, my friends. Did you enjoy a spectacular meal? Discover something new? Lay around Italian style - "dolce far niente"?