Shopping is one of the top vacation activities, and that’s part of the reason why I’m always on the lookout for great shopping places to write about.  Of course, the other reason is that I love a good shopping spot myself!

A great LA shopping experience, from both the shopping and the experience point of view, is the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  This is not some lightweight flea market, no sirree!  This is a monster event, with over 2,500 vendors attracting 15-20,000 buyers.  Operating the second Sunday of every month, you’ll find vintage jewelry, clothing, handmade crafts, antiques, plants, collectibles, and just about everything under the sun.  The flea market has been in operation for over 40 years, so you know it’s offering some good stuff.

The market features one-time vendors, setting up shop as an estate sale.  Others are brick and mortar businesses, who head to the market hoping to get their wares in front of a different customer base.  For others, it’s a small business allowing them to sell their handicraft, art, or some other hobby item.  A lot of the vendors are regulars, and you’ll see them week after week, year after year.

Just as there are lots of different kinds of sellers, the buyers are equally diverse.

Some people come to the market to root out great buys and hidden gems.  Others to look for vintage designer clothing and jewelry that would be otherwise unaffordable.  Others are looking for specific goods.  Friends swear that it’s the best place to find a deal on a great outfit that no one else will have.  And lots of people come for the experience, to see who else is there shopping, and secretly hoping for a celebrity sighting.  There have been lots of them, and many celebs make frequent visits to the flea market.

If you go once, you’ll want to go back again (and probably again).  It’s too much to absorb on just one visit.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market is located 1001 Rose Bowl Drive in Pasadena, California.  The flea market opens at 9 am, and it is not unusual to see a crowd lined up to be the first to find the good stuff.  Admission is $8/person, and children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.  And, since LA is all about being “special,” there are options for an early admission ($15 gets you admitted between 7-8 am), and a special VIP admission ($20 gets you in between 5-7 am).  The market closes at 4:30 pm.

You’ll find lots of FREE parking, but if you want to feel like a special VIP, preferred parking (close to the entrance) is available for $10.

Photo credit:  Courtesy of R.G. Canning Attractions

Today’s Matchbook Monday comes from Matt at The Chicago Traveler.

It’s from The Rooftop Bar at the Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles (550 South Flower at Sixth Street).

In addition to its sweeping views of the city, the Rooftop has a heated swimming pool, a dance floor, outdoor fireplace, vibrating waterbed pods, and a grassy knoll with sculptured topiary.  DJ’s play music nightly, and there are lots of special events.  Sounds like a great place a drink with friends.

Lunch, dinner, and a bar menu are offered noon – midnight, and bar service extends to 1:30 am.

Matt claims that this is one of the most chic bars that he’s been to, and after checking it out, I can see why.  And the hotel doesn’t look too shabby either!

Image credit:  Matt Bartosik

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Olvera Street (845 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles), also known as El Pueblo Historic Monument, is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles.  The block-long street, one of the oldest in the city, features historic buildings lining a traditional Mexican style plaza, and is home to one of the most colorful marketplaces that you’ll ever see.

The street was originally a short lane, called Wine Street.  The lane was eventually extended, and the name changed to honor Agustin Olvera, the first county judge of Los Angeles.  Although it became a dirty, unused alley for a period of time, the area was eventually re-habbed, closed off to vehicles, trees were planted, and a large wooden cross was put up at the south end of the street. 

Olvera Street officially opened on Easter Sunday, 1930, and provided a place for Mexican American vendors to sell their goods, as well as to way to preserved their customs and culture.  The first restaurant in the city to sell authentic Mexican food opened here in 1930.  That restaurant, La Golondrina, is still there today.

In 1953 Olvera Street was designated as a California State Historic Landmark, and today it has become a center of Mexican commerce, culture and tourism.  It attracts over two million visitors a year.

Continue reading to find out what Olvera Street is like today!

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When you think of the day after Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? 

Relaxing around the house and eating leftovers?  Watching football?  Listening to holiday music and putting up the holiday decorations?  Or are you one of the many, many people who will be heading out to the stores for the kick off of the holiday shopping season?

No matter how we may rebel, there’s no getting around the fact that the upcoming holiday season means shopping.  I hope to make that process a little easier for you, by showcasing a variety of products and services that would make great gifts for travelers and travel lovers.

Today’s suggestion is a city map.  While you may need a map for a variety of reasons (planning a route, figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B quickly, trying to decide which way is north), many times what you really need is a map to tell you where things are.  That’s why I’m a big fan of the Red Maps series.

For example, if you are looking at the New York City - Midtown Red Map, you would know that if you come out of the front door of Sak’s Fifth Avenue (Fifth Avenue between 49th & 50th) and turn right you will find:  St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Armani AX, H Stern, Gant, Gianni Versace, and Cartier.  If you had turned left, you would find American Girl, Benetton’s, and Sephora.  And across the street from Sak’s you will find Kenneth Cole, Cole-Haan, and the promenade to Rockefeller Center.  This is the stuff that you really need to know when you’re in a city environment.

Red Maps aren’t just about shopping either.  It lists the streets, parks, major attractions, of course, and also museums, stores, libraries, hospitals, neighborhoods, galleries, hotels, gardens, and lots more.  These maps won’t be the only ones that you need, but they are a wonderful resource for getting around the city core.  I have several.

Red Maps are available for U.S. cities:  Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City (Chelsea, Downtown, Midtown, SoHo), Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.  International cities available:  Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Florence, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Venice.  They retail for around $6, and are also available in multi-packs for large cities that require more than one map.

You can purchase Red Maps at Amazon (aff), and at many bookstores.  You can check here for a list of stores in your area.

If you have travel lovers on your shopping list, you’ll want to be a regular reader of Fly Away Café.  You can subscribe by email in the subscription box in the left side bar, add the RSS feed to your reader in the right side bar, or simply come back to this site every single day.

Happy shopping!

Here’s a quick Halloween stop off!

For 54 years, ConocoPhillips (yes, the Petrochemical company) has turned out the World’s Largest Jack-O-Lantern:  a 3-million gallon storage tank, located at the ConocoPhillips Los Angeles refinery, all dressed up like a pumpkin.

To get the pumpkin ready for public viewing takes more than 100 gallons of paint.  And refinery engineers estimate a real pumpkin of this size would be make 26,800,000 pies.

The refinery is located at 1660 West Anaheim Street, Wilmington, California.

The Jack-O-Lantern is open to the public on October 30th-31st, from 6-9 pm.

Via Neatorama

Claiming it’s the largest Halloween street party in the world, West Hollywood, California is preparing for its 19th Annual Halloween Costume Carnaval.

Join in the festivities as close to half a million people take to the street ““ Santa Monica Boulevard in this case ““ in crazy, eccentric costumes.  While some might argue that some West Hollywood residents always look like they are in costume, Carnaval is the perfect excuse for people of all ages and diversity to come out and par-tee!

The highlights of the event are, of course, the Halloween Costume Contest and the crowning of the Honorary “Queen of the Carnaval.”  Last year’s  “Queen” was Ryan Seacrest.

Also on tap:  live entertainment, food vendors, and special events and contests.  This Carnival is for families, and child activities are scheduled as well. 

I personally want to see the “drag” races.  Use your imagination, folks, this is West Hollywood after all.

Carnaval is held on Halloween Night (October 31st), 6 pm-midnight.

For more information, contact the city’s Special Events Division at (323) 848-6503.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

I haven’t been to Santa Barbara for quite awhile, despite some urging from friends who have recently moved there.  They keep telling me how much the area has grown and changed, yet the city hasn’t turned its back on its origins as a quirky art community.

Located a couple hours north of Los Angeles, between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is an easy day trip from the area.  Home to a thriving art community and the artists who support it, the galleries, studios, museums and art events feature both world-renowned and emerging artists. 

Santa Barbara is an easy weekend trip from Seattle, and with a little help from information provided by the Santa Barbara Visual Arts, I’ll be able to time my visit to coincide with some events that interest me.  Nice weather, cool art, a little shopping, and a hip community.  Perfect for a weekend trip.

If you’re planning a visit to the area, or are fortunate to live in the area, check out the events listing and take advantage of what the area has to offer.

Photo credit:  flickr

You can’t miss seeing it when you fly into (or out of) LAX.  Although it looks like something out of The Jetson’s, the Theme Building, home to the Encounter restaurant, is an oddly comforting sight.

The Theme Building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Los Angeles.  It looks like a giant insect hovering over a building, and with its ever-changing lighting scheme, an alien insect at that.  Those parabolic arches are over 130 feet tall!

The building was originally completed in 1961, and housed a coffee shop where travelers could grab a quick meal.

A few years back, Walt Disney Imagineering was hired to give the place a new look.  The interior was gutted and the coffee shop was converted into a space-age restaurant and bar named the Encounter, offering a spectacular 360-degree view of the airport and surrounding area.  The outdoor Observation deck has, unfortunately, been closed for security reasons.

The interior of the restaurant now matches the theme of the exterior with its sci-fi décor.  There is a crater-shaped bar, and the bartenders use bar guns that emit laser lights and futuristic sounds.  The bar stools appear to float in the air, and lava lamps through the place give off an odd retro-futuristic feel.

The Encounter appeals to tourists who have significant ground time at LAX, and are looking for something to eat that’s a little more nourishing that what’s found at the airport food courts.  It is not within the screened security area, however, so if you have a continuing flight you will need to allow for time to get back through security.  If you have luggage with you, it can be kept at your table or seat.

Restaurant management has also worked hard to attract local residents, by offering CHEAP valet parking.  Hollywood has responded, and the Encounter has been the location for a number of movie previews and wrap parties.  Austin’s Apple Martini (Absolut Vodka with apple Pucker) was created for the “Austin Powers” movie wrap.  Other Hollywood events held at the Encounter include: John Travolta’s 43rd birthday party, “Air Force One” wrap party, and a Shaquille O’Neal’ video shoot.

So what about the food?  Lots of time and money have gone into theming the restaurant, but in my opinion, some additional focus could be used on the food and presentation.  Much of it seems like typical airport bar food.  Don’t get me wrong ““ it’s not all bad ““ just that it’s a little unimaginative, with uneven results.  My service there has always been quick, however, and I’ve never worried about missing a flight.

Restaurant hours are Sunday-Tuesday, 11 am-9 pm, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 am-9:30 pm.  Happy Hour (Sunday-Thursday, 4-7 pm) features special drink pricing, and a discounted bar menu.  Reservations are not required, but are helpful.

Photo credit:  flickr