I work for a design engineering company in the financial district of DTLA, on the 20th floor overlooking the city skyline. Working for a company like this has always been an end goal for me, and working in DTLA has also been a dream in its own. Maybe due in part of watching film of seeing business workers walking around in their suits just had that attraction of being a legit Angelino. What I didn’t realize was that a majority of these “suits” were transplants and not LA natives.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have this opportunity, but then I realized, literally anyone can have that chance. I’m no engineer, I work in administration for my company, and I see the different positions from other companies around me that don’t necessarily require for any degree. A quick search in Indeed or LinkedIn can tell you. Not all buildings here in DTLA are owned by one corporation, there are suites where many businesses lease. You too can work in the hustle and bustle by putting the time and effort in applying.
Employment in the middle of the city can be aweing, especially when you get that sticker shock when it’s time for lunch. Food trucks are everywhere here, you can walk 2 blocks and there are 3-4 trucks that charge an insatiable amount for a freaking burrito de lengua! Even charging a stupid amount of $10 for an order of fries! There are so many options in this area though, from Korean, Sushi, Tacos, and Greek. You will never get tired of eating if you have the funds for it. Some of you will ask; “what about the storefront restaurants?”, I can assure you that you will spend an arm and a leg for just a salad.
One place I usually recommend for those that are looking for a cheap eat would be the basement floor of the 505 Flower St building. There is a food court nestled below with plenty of empty storefronts in relation to the COVID shutdown I presume. But the one’s that survived or came after are the heart of cheap eats in the area. I’m not going to name all of it but I will highlight one in particular. Mr. Moustache.
Mr. Moustache is the simplest, hole in the wall café where the line to order stretches about 50 feet EVERYDAY. They boast a short menu of 4 sandwiches which they pre-make where each one is served on a scratch made ciabatta bun. My mouth is watering thinking about it…Not a sandwich eater? No worries, they also offer 3 types of salads and 2 types of soups. That. Is. All. It’s kind of like how my brothers always explained to never give children too many options, because they will overthink it and take long to decide. You get food, pay and off you go. Mind you, because they are in an office building, they’re only open Monday – Friday from 10:30AM-3:00PM. Whenever you are in town, please visit them; I assure you will not regret it.
Now onto the undesirables, eek, this will be a tough subject to explain so I’ll try my best to keep it short and sweet. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is encountering a surge of homelessness and it’s not looking any better, so obviously you just need to keep your eyes peeled and aware of your surroundings. From my experience, most of these individuals tend to surround themselves on 7th & Flower due to the Metro rail station there. Please do not let this deter you in visiting Los Angeles! Walk with confidence, look straight ahead, get off your phone, and be aware of your surroundings. Maybe look a little crazy yourself, that’s usually worked for me.
These individuals from my perspective are in dire need of mental health care and resources. While there are plenty of resources to help, it also takes budget from the city for that mental healthcare. Recently, there was scandal where millions of dollars to help combat homelessness went missing and no one knew how it happened (or so they say). Los Angeles citizens & natives were infuriated with this outcome as the streets don’t look any better. Hopefully, one day, the issue is resolved. The Olympics are coming in 2028, and time is ticking.
This was just a small taste of what the city of Los Angeles has to offer as there are an exceptional number of adventures to come.