Lifestyle
L.A. Times Concierge: ‘I’m interested in photography. What great L.A. historic sites should I capture?’
I live in Santa Barbara and I’m interested in photography. Where are some historical places to take pictures in Los Angeles? I’m interested in old movie palaces, movie and TV show locations, historic homes and buildings, World War II–related sites and airplane museums. — William Lemons
Looking for things to do in L.A.? Ask us your questions and our expert guides will share highly specific recommendations.
Here’s what we suggest:
It’s cool to hear that you’re interested in capturing the beauty and history of Los Angeles through your camera lens, William. Given that you’ll be traveling from out of town, I am recommending spots that you can visit in a single day, if you’d like. They’re mostly in and around Downtown L.A.
First off, if you don’t feel like driving and paying for parking all over town, I’d suggest taking Amtrak from Santa Barbara to L.A. You can take take photos of the gorgeous view along the way and once you step off the train, you’ll already be at the first historic site on the list: the true stunner that is Union Station.
Open since 1939, it’s one of the country’s last great train stations and considered to be the largest railroad passenger terminal on the West Coast. Designed by father-and-son architect team John and Donald Parkinson, it blends Art Deco, Spanish Colonial and Streamline Moderne styles. Travel writer Christopher Reynolds, a.k.a. the person in the newsroom that everyone goes to for trip advice, tells me, “With its clock tower, big arches and high ceilings, Union Station feels like a secular church.” He notes that security guards will often shoo you off if you use a tripod without advance approval, so it’s best to bring a handheld camera instead.
Next, walk across the road to Olvera Street, one of the oldest streets in L.A. It’s part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument that’s been fighting to stay open since the pandemic. As you stroll through the area and take pictures, check out the Mexican marketplace, capturing the pottery, clothing and art along the way, and grab some authentic cuisine. Times food editor Daniel Hernandez swears by Cielito Lindo, a taquería that’s been around since the 1934, and still makes the most “perfectly rolled taquitos.” (The family-owned restaurant is currently raising funds to stay open due to economic hardship.)
Next, hop on an e-scooter or take a quick bus ride to the Historic Broadway Theater District, which has 12 stunning movie theaters — all of which were built between 1910 and 1931. The Los Angeles Conservancy even hosts walking tours of the famous district. You can register online for the next ones on June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
You’ll probably be hungry after the tour, so you might as well visit Grand Central Market, the city’s largest and oldest public market. Open since 1917, the market has more than 40 food stalls including China Cafe (open since 1959), Villa’s Tacos, Egg Slut and more. Afterward, take a brisk walk to L.A.’s most beautiful library, the L.A. Central Library, which turns 100 this year. Grab your camera and marvel at the exterior of the Art Deco-style building, which draws inspiration from Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture. Then head inside on the second floor rotunda to see the marvelous California history mural and the breathtaking globe chandelier.
Now for some rapid-fire suggestions across L.A.: There’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1920s-era Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood. (If you go here, I suggest stopping by nearby Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice for a delicious sweet treat.) Or check out any one of L.A.’s most iconic TV houses including “The Brady Bunch” home in Studio City, “The Golden Girls” residence in Brentwood and the “Seinfield” Koreatown apartment building. (These are private residencies, so you won’t be able to go inside but you can snap a photo of the exterior.) If it’s architecture you’re into, peruse this guide to L.A.’s iconic homes that you can tour IRL, including the Adamson House in Malibu, the Eames House in Pacific Palisades and the Lummis Home (El Alisal) near Mount Washington. Finally, if you’re open to joining a group of fellow photographers, I suggest following Instagram pages for collectives like L.A. Photo Club and the 85 Mil Photo Walk Series, which host meetups and walking tours regularly.
L.A. is filled with so many beautiful historical sites, so I hope that these suggestions help get you started, and most importantly, that you continue taking awesome pictures. Have a great time!
Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) in Toy Story.
Pixar/Disney/Maximum Film/Alamy
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Pixar/Disney/Maximum Film/Alamy
Toy Story 5 just hit theaters, so it seemed like a good time to revisit our episode from last summer where we discussed YOUR picks for the greatest Pixar films of all time. Thousands of you voted, and we’ve got the results.
If you want to hear about other Pixar films we loved, listen to our episodes about:
Nature needs a little help in the inventive Pixar movie ‘Hoppers’
‘Turning Red’ paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors
‘Inside Out 2’ is a Pixar sequel worth celebrating
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Lifestyle
Exclusive | Penthouse to outhouse: ‘Poor’ Ilhan Omar now claims erstwhile-millionaire hubby made as little as $200 last year
Scandal-scarred Rep. Ilhan Omar and her hubby have gone from the penthouse to the poorhouse.
The husband of the Minnesota “Squad” firebrand — who once valued his venture capital and wine empire at up to $30 million — now claims to be pocketing as little as $200 a year.
The embattled socialist claimed hubby Tim Mynett made no income last year from his main business, Rose Lake Capital, according to her newly released 2025 financial disclosure report.
The only money Mynett — who has nearly two decades of experience in DC — earned last year is a meager $200 to $1,000 from his defunct California-based wine business eStCru, which sold bottles such as “The Devil’s Lie” before going belly up in April.
Omar claimed the total value of the couple’s assets was between $20,000 and $125,000 for 2025, and their credit card and student-loan debt hovered between $30,000 and $100,000 — putting their net worth at negative-$80,000-$95,000, according to the report.
The head-scratching financial disclosure comes after the couple in 2024 reported sudden ballooning wealth — from close to nothing to between $5 million and $30 million — sparking intense public scrutiny.
That spurred a Congressional investigation into Omar’s finances, just as a massive social services fraud scheme involving the Somali community in her district was blowing up.
In response, Somalia-born Omar filed an amended 2024 financial disclosure in March, listing the value of Mynett’s ownership stakes in both businesses at zero. She chalked up the “discrepancy” on an accounting error.
Despite the businesses reportedly being worth nothing, Rose Lake Capital still generated income between $100,000 and $1 million and the wine business between $2,500 and $5,000 that year, according to the amended disclosure.
“Voters see right through the corrupt lies of Ilhan Omar,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told The Post. “Omar has spent her entire career covering up Democrat-enabled fraud that cost taxpayers billions, so it’s no surprise that she would do the same for her husband.”
Mynett, 44, launched Rose Lake Capital in 2022 with his longtime business partner, Will Hailer, another Democratic operative.
The pair met working for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in 2012 when he was running for re-election to Congress.
Ellison, who was caught on tape being bribed by Somali fraudsters — a claim he rejected, saying he took the meeting in good faith — gave up that House seat in 2018 to make way for Omar, a move Hailer has taken credit for orchestrating.
Omar’s office did not return The Post’s request for comment.
Sunday Puzzle
NPR
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NPR
On-air challenge
I’m going to give you two words starting with the letter B. You give me another word starting with B that can follow my first one and precede my second one, in each case to complete a compound word for a familiar two-word phrase.
Ex. Boot Box –> BLACK (bootblack, black box)
1. Beer Button
2. Blue Binder
3. Bounce Burner
4. Billiard Bearing
5. Busy Builder
6. Bar Bottoms
7. Baby Brothers
8. Bird Buster
9. Brick Boy
Last week’s challenge
Last week’s challenge came from listener Michael Pickard. Name something in 10 letters that’s found in a kitchen. Drop its sixth letter to name something on a keyboard. Then drop the new word’s fifth letter to name something no one wants to get. What words are these?
Answer: Backsplash –> backslash –> backlash
Winner
John Blakelock of Yellow Springs, Ohio
This week’s challenge
This week’s challenge comes from Evan Kalish, of Bayside, N.Y. Take the name of a nocturnal creature, in two words. The first word is a spooky sound. Move the last letter of the first word to the start of the second word and you’ll get another spooky, nocturnal sound. What is the creature and what are the sounds?
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it here by Thursday, June 25 at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: include a phone number where we can reach you.
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