Episode 3: Rediscovering Los Angeles–A Lockdown Love Letter To Our City
Kathryn and Eric on an official — read: sanctioned — visit to the iconic Hollywood Sign.
Every great travel writer should start with a mastery of her or his own backyard. During the coronavirus travel lockdowns of the past year, that’s why we were both inspired to explore hidden corners of our hometown, Los Angeles.
Jesse Holcomb shows us the way, rappelling down to the Hollywood Sign.
We took a (sanctioned and pre-arranged) hike up to the iconic Hollywood Sign to learn more about this landmark’s checkered past from Diana Wright, a spokesperson at the trust that oversees the iconic fixture. We also talked to writer and architecture expert Jessica Ritz about some of the city’s under-appreciated design gems, including ones with histories you might not know about, and others you could walk right past without realizing their significance. Finally, we raised a (virtual) glass with Amy Luftig-Viste and Jasper Dickson of Angeleno Wine Co. In addition to producing some truly stellar vintages in the heart of Downtown L.A., the two are well versed in the city’s past as a wine-producing powerhouse, vestiges of which are still evident today.
Our three conversations all uncovered fascinating facets to Los Angeles that have us viewing our adopted hometown through a whole new lens, as does the Instagram account of the city’s tourism agency @discoverla.