Cultural Activities Meetup Group

Art Deco Mid-Wilshire Tour: An Architectural Walking Tour
Open to LA singles to meet friends in a relaxed atmosphere

Date: Sunday, December 28th
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Meeting Point: The Coffee Bean on 5115 Wilshire
Parking: Street parking is available throughout the area. Sundays offer free parking in most zones, but always double-check signage to ensure you're in a no-fee area before walking away from your car.
Cost: $10 per person Zelle to (213) 326-4167 ***this is a non-refundable donation.
Capacity: Limited to 55 participants for an intimate experience. Walk-ins welcome.
What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, sunscreen, your friendly smile.
Bathrooms: There are several coffee shops along the way: The Coffee Bean, Starbucks, etc.; you might have to buy coffee to use them, so plan accordingly. There is also a Ralphs on the route, if you go inside, you need to get a restroom code. The restrooms are all the way in the back, on the Northeast corner of the store.

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Tour Description
Step into the glamour of the 1920s and 30s as we explore Mid-Wilshire's stunning Art Deco masterpieces—where bold geometry meets Hollywood elegance.

• We'll start at the Coffee Bean on 5115 Wilshire and stroll west, pausing to uncover the stories behind several iconic Art Deco gems
• This leisurely 1.5-hour walking tour is aproximately 1 mile. It showcases some of Los Angeles's most photographable buildings
• The tour concludes at Wilshire and Curson—approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of easy, flat walking
• Stick around after: Descanso, a beloved Mexican restaurant at the corner of Whilshire and Curson (5773 Whilsire), is the perfect spot to grab brunch and continue the conversation with your new friends

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The Art Deco Story of Los Angeles
Los Angeles emerged as one of America's premier Art Deco cities during the 1920s and 1930s, a period when the city was transforming from a sleepy pueblo into a modern metropolis fueled by the oil boom, Hollywood's golden age, and unprecedented population growth. The style arrived just as LA was building its urban identity, and architects embraced Art Deco's optimistic vision of progress, adorning everything from neighborhood theaters to office buildings with geometric sunbursts, zigzag patterns, and streamlined forms that symbolized speed and modernity. Unlike the vertical towers of New York, LA's Art Deco took on a distinctly horizontal, sun-drenched character—featuring pastel colors, tropical motifs, and Streamline Moderne curves that reflected Southern California's outdoor lifestyle and automobile culture. Today, Mid-Wilshire preserves fine examples of this era, gems that stand as time capsules of an age when Los Angeles believed anything was possible.

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Step Into Wellness: 7 Magical Things That Happen When You Walk
🌟 Your Heart Will Thank You (Literally) – Every step is like a little love letter to your cardiovascular system, lowering blood pressure and making your ticker stronger than a rom-com soundtrack crescendo
🧠 Brain Boost Magic – Walking floods your mind with fresh oxygen and happy chemicals, turning you into a creative genius who'll suddenly remember where you left your keys three days ago
☀️ Vitamin D Without the Pharmacy – Sunshine on a morning walk gives you that glow-from-within radiance no filter can replicate (plus stronger bones as a bonus prize)
😌 Nature's Anxiety Eraser – Each step melts stress like ice cream on a hot sidewalk—cortisol drops, serotonin rises, and suddenly that thing you were worried about seems much smaller
🦴 Joint Juice Production – Walking actually lubricates your joints (yes, really!) keeping you flexible and spry like a well-oiled vintage door hinge on an Art Deco masterpiece
💪 The Sneaky Workout – Burn calories, tone muscles, and improve balance without feeling like you're exercising—it's fitness in disguise, like vegetables hidden in a smoothie
😴 Sleep Like a Baby (A Well-Walked Baby) – Regular walking resets your circadian rhythm and tires you out just enough that you'll fall asleep faster than you can say "1930s zigzag motifs"

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