My Favorite Street to Drive in L.A.

Vermont Boulevard south of Gage.

Yeah, I like driving San Vicente between LaBrea and LaCienega, and not just because it leads into South Carthay. I enjoy the almost teleportational pace, the wide median, and the sprinkling of corner stores.

Silver Lake Boulevard is a favorite for some, the Lautner-lined reservoir, with cyclists, joggers and walkers filling out the park-like scene. It's too brief for me.

The canyon passes don't make my list, there's too much driving to be done, too little good architecture, and the single lane is a lollygag limiter.

The gumball rally pace of PCH North towards the Palisades and Malibu is a turn off. The Palos Verdes/Portuguese Bend pass-through is pleasant, but in part because San Pedro and Long Beach lie beyond.

Sunset Boulvard West out of downtown is a treat. Brick store fronts, grimy billboards, and splashes of color, interspersed between towering embankments of green. An uncertain course of rolling hills through pockets of density with distinct services.

Ah, but Vermont Boulevard South of Gage.





Sure part of it's getting there, fighting through close quarters in Vermont Square, through the Slauson hub-bub, into the eight-lane clear. An enormous median (a former rail right-of-way) is planted with (mostly) husky pine trees. Slip roads (short roads to separate through-traffic from commercial cruisers) are employed as well, creating a wonderful auto intensive commercial corridor.



Run down to Imperial Highway, stop off at Jim Dandy chicken (get the five piece special), pull off into the well-kept Magnolia Square neighborhood, or Athens on the Hill, mostly check out the Streamline moderne architecture. Probably the greatest landmark is the former Hattem's Shopping Center at 8021 - 8035 (1931, Walter Hagedohm architect). There's some likeable infill next door of the neo deco variety. At 87th, the Nation of Islam regional headquarters are in a towering cinema with beaux arts detailing.




The only thing better than driving South bound, is driving North bound.