General Information
NFT: Maps 8 & 9
Address: 1201 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213-741-1151
Website: www.lacclink.com
Overview
Yes, it’s ugly and, yes, the parking is outrageously overpriced, but sooner or later you’ll probably find yourself wandering through the large, airy halls with a glazed look in your eyes. And you’ll probably drop a bundle on some home improvement gewgaw, car, cruise, or brand-new personality. (They sometimes rent out their meeting rooms for EST-like marathon weekends.) Recent shows have included the 50th Annual LA Boat Show, Wizard World, and Erotica LA. For years the LACC was home to the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo, but E3 has since undergone restructuring that will diffuse the rabidly popular annual trade show. Not to worry—the calendar of events never goes slack: cue Baby Celebration LA, Star Wars Celebration VII, and the Women of Destiny and Purpose Conference!
The Convention Center is impossible to miss from the street, and its glass-and-girder exterior is clearly visible from both the 10 and 110 Freeways. That doesn’t mean you can actually get to it, but it will appear comfortingly close as you pass a pleasant hour cruising through the downtown one-way street system. The building’s design allows for a maximum amount of natural light to flood the lobbies and concourses, in stark contrast to the windowless exhibit halls and meeting rooms, where it’s easy to lose track of time—especially if you keep your eyes on the floor; thanks to an art installation in the ‘90s, a map of the world flanks the floor of the main lobby, while a constellation map blankets the floor of the upstairs lobby. The Convention Center has three major exhibit halls, West Hall, South Hall, and Kentia Hall (located beneath South Hall), as well as fifty-four meeting rooms. It’s possible to book anything from a small, intimate gathering for less than twenty people to a large-scale event for over 20,000. The really big exhibitions, like the Auto Show, tend to be held in either the South or West Halls—sometimes even both.
How to Get There—Driving
Located just a stone’s throw from STAPLES Center at the intersection of the Santa Monica Freeway (10) and the Harbor Freeway (110), the Los Angeles Convention Center is (theoretically) easily accessible from any part of LA. The simplest option is to exit the 110 at Pico Boulevard and head north. But if you’re coming from the West Side or Central Los Angeles area, you may be better off skipping the freeways altogether and using either Olympic or Pico Boulevards to get downtown. The Convention Center’s cross street is Figueroa Street.
Parking
There are five parking structures available to patrons of the Convention Center that all charge $12 per day. Parking for the West Hall is located just north of Pico Boulevard. Make a right turn at the intersection of Cherry Street and 12th Street into the parking garage. To park near the South Hall, look for Convention Center Drive just off Venice Boulevard on the center’s south side.
How to Get There—Mass Transit
Mass transit. Great concept. The Metro Blue Line stops on Pico Boulevard for both the Convention Center and STAPLES Center. This is a convenient alternative from the Valley, as well as the South Bay.
Buses 30, 31, 81, 381, 439, 442, 444, 445, 446, 447, 460, LX422, LX423, LX448, and LX419 also stop near the Convention Center.
Where to Eat
Pack a lunch. If you must eat-in, the Galaxy Café located in the lobby of the West Building is probably the center’s nicest. (Bear in mind this is a relative recommendation. You don’t go to the Convention Center to eat. You go to buy cars, Jacuzzis, or all-inclusive package deals. Consider, then, that you’re actually dining at your local car dealership or travel agent.) It offers the option of outdoor seating and boasts a full bar (should you be at the Center against your will and need a power hour), though it’s only open for breakfast and lunch. Inside the South Building is the more casual Compass Café, which offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and beverages. Do not, under any circumstances, patronize the concession stands inside both the West and South exhibit halls. We’re talking airport prices and sad-looking food. If it’s all too depressing, you can always head for Gordon Biersch, a full bar famous for its microbrews.
Better to get some fresh air and take a stroll to some of the local landmarks surrounding the center. Here are some nearby eateries that are worth a visit:
•Philippe’s the Original,
1001 N Alameda St, 213-628-3781.
Fabulous deli. They supposedly invented the French Dip sandwich. Would you even think of ordering anything else?
•Original Pantry Café,
877 S Figueroa St, 213-972-9279.
American/comfort food. The restaurant never closes. It’s a LA landmark, known for heaping helpings of American classics cooked from scratch.
•Langer’s,
704 S Alvarado St, 213-483-8050.
Deli menu. Their pastrami sandwich is legendary.
•Pacific Dining Car,
1310 W Sixth St, 213-483-6000.
Steaks and chops. This meat-and-potatoes restaurant is a LA institution that leaves the engine running 24 hours.