A Closer Look at Downtown Los Angeles            I chose downtown Los Angeles to serve as my context of study. Since I had worked in the city several years ago, I thought it would be a great opportunity to take a closer look at and gain a better understanding of a place I became so accustomed to over the years. I decided to drive to LA so I left from my home in Long Beach mid-morning on a weekday. I was able to the experience the all too familiar tribulations of the commute fulfilled with thousands of stopped cars and many aggressive drivers.  I have to admit that I realized how much I did not miss this experience.            As I became closer to downtown, I noticed a few vendors selling oranges and water along the side of the road which I always found odd since I rarely saw anyone purchasing their goods. The areas in which they set up their stands did not seem to have a high traffic of consumers. The vendors reminded me of Jose Villa’s discussion of the artwork that showed vendors in LA with the backdrop of the corporate city. I realized the vendors’ role may not only be for financial gain but also a way to stay true to their roots. Once I arrived downtown I was able to meet up with a friend I used to work with so I was lucky to park in his building and avoid any major fees or challenges in having to find a parking spot. I decided to walk around the streets of downtown LA, mainly staying on 7^th Street, Grand Avenue, and Figueroa Street. I noticed that many of the small owned businesses I used to frequent no longer existed but more corporate restaurants had replaced them, such as Quiznos and California Pizza Kitchen. I stopped in a café and decided to ask a businessman some questions. He informed me that he had worked in LA for eleven years and that he commutes from Costa Mesa everyday, about and an hour and half drive. I asked why he didn’t live there and he said, “because it’s downtown LA.” HE seemed confused as to why I asked this question that had such an obvious answer. This emphasized how uncommon it is for people to live and work in LA.On my next stop I went to a liquor store on Wilshire Avenue that seemed to be in the heart of LA’s corporate world. I spoke to a man named Mo who explained to me that he owned the store with his two other brothers. He also let me know that they were from Iran and that he was a school counselor at Glendale College. He said that they would have to move their business since the rent was too high. This made it clearer as to why the small shops were slowly disappearing.I also stopped by a little deli and spoke to the owner. She seemed to know all of the people that came to her deli and to have a good relationship with her patrons. Her name was Lynne and she was from Taiwan. She also informed me that she lost her least and was planning on looking for another place to rent close by. This seemed odd to me since the deli appeared to be a success among the many downtown LA employees. I continued to walk around and went through the library, saw the Standard Hotel, Macy’s and the many other buildings that signify downtown LA. The vibe on the streets seemed to be fast paced, everyone was on the go and did not want to stop and talk. I saw a few homeless people but they didn’t seem to be bothering anyone and I did not get a sense that there was a problem with homeless people in LA. I had lunch at Patina with my friend, a restaurant next to the Disney Hall. Since we walked I was able to the MOCA museum and the Superior Court of LA. I noticed as I walked away for the main city that it seemed to become quieter and had a more refreshing and newer feel.             Overall, my trip to downtown LA was a good experience. I was able to look at the city from a different perspective, more of an observer and not as an employee who had to go there everyday. It did not seem like it changed a lot, I only noticed minor changes. I know that in ten years there will definitely be more drastic changes and a push to become a more corporate owned city with minimal small business owners. I hope that downtown LA becomes a more appealing place to others and that public transportation will become more accessible so that others can embrace all the wonderful things and life downtown LA has to offer.