mlgb, maybe you should reread what I said about Downtown LA: "well worth a long visit"

Fact remains that Downtown is irrelevant to most residents - if you live in the Valley for example, you do most any federal business in Van Nuys, and how big a percentage of the millions living in the Southland attend symphony concerts in Disney Hall or go to the MOCA? Aside from frequent trips to the Dorothy Chandler in the years before D.H. I never needed to go Downtown when I lived in L.A.

But sknapstein should definitely make time for Downtown - the library, Olvera St,, Music Center, Disney Hall, the upstairs bars and oublic areas of the Bonaventure etc, etc - follow yk's report, it is the greatest!

Thanks all of you for your very helpful information. I appreciate the links, too. Hopefully we'll know soon where exactly we'll be staying and be able to make a plan. :)

I like the old-timey classics of Los Angeles and would include Chinatown, Olvera Street, Santa Monica pier, Venice Beach boardwalk.

Melrose Avenue, the Grove and Farmer's Market are fun too.

And I'd definitely do the walk of Stars/Chinese Theater area briefly.

Dalai Lama, Pre-Staples or no interest in the Lakers, I gather?

I am sure there are many insular-minded people in the greater LA area who rarely if ever go downtown. It is a reflection on their own tiny worlds, rather than a lack of things to do or see.