The 16th Annual Great Los Angeles Walk Celebrates Our City's 240th Birthday By Walking the Pobladores' Route

In September 1781, the original settlers of Los Angeles — the 44 mostly Mexican-Indigenous and Black indivdiuals known as Los Pobladores ("the settlers"), set out from the San Gabriel Mission. El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula was then founded, 240 years ago.

Every year, hundreds of Angelenos walk the historic route, from the San Gabriel Mission to El Pueblo Historical Monument, considered the birthplace of Los Angeles, to celebrate our city's birthday. This year, the Great Los Angeles Walk will do the same.

But the Porbladores route is only nine miles — which is a little more than half our usual downtown-to-ocean journey. So once we get to El Pueblo, we'll also walk through downtown Los Angeles' Spring St., Broadway and Grand Ave., in order to spend a bit more time exploring our fine city.

All told, this year's route will still be the shortest ever in the Great Los Angeles Walk's 16-year history: Just 14 miles. But that's because we think this year everyone will really want to stop and explore both the Pueblo (including Olvera Street) and downtown. Stop inside the Last Bookstore. See how many of the historic movie palaces you can walk in and look at on Broadway. And of course, end our journey by taking Angel's Flight railway down to Grand Central Market for a celebratory meal and drink.

The walk to El Pueblo approximately three hours to complete, which is the perfect time for a lunch break at either Olvera Street or nearby in Chinatown (or, of course, Philippe The Original!)

After that, take another few hours to walk down Spring St. to Olympic, back up Broadway to Grand Park, then up to Disney Hall and Grand Ave., followed by Angel's Flight back down to Grand Central Market.

What a perfect way to explore the original history of Los Angeles. Bring your masks, make sure you're vaccinated, practice social distance and good hygiene, and join us on Saturday, November 20 — the Saturday before Thanksgiving, as always — at 9 am; we'll be in the Plaza Park in front of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, 428 S Mission Dr, San Gabriel, CA.

Here's the first part of the Walk, the official Pobladores route as illustrated by the city of San Gabriel (click to make bigger; we'll have our own maps ready for you before the walk):

The Redwood Bar & Grill Is This Year's After-Walk Gathering Spot: Eat, Drink and Celebrate!

After meeting at the end of the walk and taking some pictures in front of City Hall, we'll be heading to The Redwood Bar & Grill (316 W. 2nd St. in downtown) to celebrate! (I wish I had the money to pay for all of us, but alas, you're on your own with covering your food/drink.) They've set aside a place in the restaurant for Great LA Walkers to relax, order some food and beverage, and recap the day! The Redwood boasts a pirate/nautical theme and is open to all ages to eat. They're expecting our group there between 5 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 23 and will have a space for us.

Here's how the Redwood describes itself:

If the legendary explorer Amerigo Vespucci opened a bar on one his early trips to America it would have been just like the Redwood. Warm, intimate and inviting, the Redwood welcomes you into the galley with an Ahoy! Sit at one of the Captain's tables and sample the culinary delights from around the world, or pull up a stool and listen to the finest musicalacts the City of Angels has to offer. The Redwood is here for you.

And even more detail from Yelp, which notes that the Redwood was first established in 1942:

Located near the L.A. Times building, the Redwood has hosted lawyers, bail bondsmen, politicians like Bobby Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and, not surprisingly, hundreds of journalists. So many L.A. Times reporters frequented the bar that, for several years, the Times paid for a direct phone line to the Redwood. And that bright red phone still hangs on the wall by the door at the Redwood. "It was installed by the L.A. Times so they could call across to here to get a hold of a reporter or photographer — because they were in here so often. Up until a couple of years ago, it was still live," Bartlett says, "It even has an extension number on it.

You've also seen the Redwood in several films, such as "Bridesmaids" and "(500) Days of Summer."

Traffic Alert: Downtown Street Closures This Saturday

Guess what? Apparently there's another walk event in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday. The 11th United Way Homewalk (hey, we beat them by a year!) takes place this Saturday in Grand Park.

I know. Right by our meeting area. The Homewalk — which is for a good cause — is centered specifically in downtown, while we head west and leave downtown rather quickly. So it shouldn't be much of an issue -- except for perhaps making it to the Japanese American National Museum in the first place. Be warned, several streets will be closed on Saturday:

Here are the street closures:

Spring, Temple to First 7:00PM on 11/17 to 6:00PM on 11/18
Broadway, Temple to First 8:00PM on 11/17 to 6:00PM on 11/18
First, Spring to Hill 8:00AM to 10:00AM on 11/18
Hill, First to Sixth 8:00AM to 10:00AM on 11/18
Hill, Sixth to Eighth 8:00AM to 10:30AM on 11/18
Eighth, Hill to Maple 8:00AM to 10:30AM on 11/18
Maple, Eighth to Sixth 8:00AM to 11:00AM on 11/18
Sixth, Maple to Main 8:00AM to 11:00AM on 11/18
Main, Sixth to Fifth 8:00AM to 11:00AM on 11/18
Fifth, Main to Los Angeles 8:00AM to 11:00AM on 11/18
Los Angeles, Fifth to Second 8:00AM to 12:00PM on 11/18
Second, Los Angeles to San Pedro 8:00AM to 12:00PM on 11/18
San Pedro, Second to First 8:00AM to 12:00PM on 11/18
First, San Pedro to Spring 8:00AM to 12:00PM on 11/18

I recommend approaching Little Tokyo from the east, to avoid all of this. Public transportation, of course, helps as well. Also, because of the traffic jam, we may add a few extra minutes before we leave, in order to accommodate as many late-comers as possible.

Good luck, and see you on Saturday!

We've Got a Meeting Spot: Clifton's Cafeteria!

We have a starting point for this year's Great Los Angeles Walk! And just like past walks, we're meeting at an iconic downtown spot:

Clifton's Cafeteria!

Owner Andrew Meieran, who was behind the recent evolution and makeover of the iconic downtown eatery, will open Clifton's early on Nov. 21 to welcome our group! Be there by 9 a.m., and you'll not only get a look at Clifton's, but we've got other special guests as well.

More to come! And don't forget to buy a T-shirt!