LACMA - Samurai Warrior Exhibition

Urban Light

Outside LACMA sits the Urban Light installation which consists of 202 lampposts collected from around the city of Los Angeles.  At night it is lit up and it is becoming an iconic symbol for L.A.  

Unfortunately, on the day we visited, the sculpture was taped off for painting and we couldn't walk through it.  I still got some great pics and it is absolutely beautiful at night. 

The Samurai Collection of Japanese Armor from Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.

Visit the LACMA page here.

We went to LACMA to visit a different exhibit, but stumbled upon this one and I was so impressed and intrigued by it.  

This collection of Japanese Samurai Warrior Armor is a private collection on loan and will only be here until Feb. 1, 2015.  Go see it is you can and be sure to take the tour by the docent.  The tour adds so much more in the way of facts, thus making the the exhibit more interesting.  The tour is free, but the exhibit is an extra fee.    These horses were amazing, they looked so real!  They are covered in the same material that is used for the flocking in wallpaper!

The detail in the masks, saddles, stir-ups, and armor is exquisite.  

 

This exhibit is worth the drive into L.A. 

In the same building was a weird exhibit that featured this beautiful dog.  She has a handler and is free to leave her exhibit at any time and wander around the museum.  We met up with her in the lobby of the three exhibits.  She is incredibly beautiful.

Once we finished the exhibits and exited the museum, we were excited to see this line of gourmet food trucks lined up outside the museum.  It was a super cold day, so a warm lunch was a must, but we would have to eat it outside.  We heard some people talking about how good the vietnamese food truck was, so we headed over to it.  We split the spicy chicken sandwich and it was out of this world tasty. I wish I had one of my own.  We then shared a brisket sandwich from the BBQ truck and it was just average - good, but nothing special. 

As you can see, there were about 20 trucks selling everything you could think off: Vietnamese, Thai, BBQ, Hot Dogs, Mac and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Burgers, and so much more.

Los Angeles Zoo Lights

 This post is a little late, but I wanted to share with you Our adventure to the L.A. Zoo Lights that we went to in Dec.  First I will give you some really good tips:

1. Buy your tickets online

They sell out quickly and are not always available at the door. 

2. Go to the 6pm opening time.

This one is really important because it becomes a madhouse by 6:30.  We arrived at 6:30 and got one of the last parking spaces at the zoo.  As we walked to the entrance, we saw that people were already lined up for the 7-8, 8-9, and 9-10 opening times (CRAZY).  Fortunately,  we got to go right in and did not have to wait in any line.  Going early is also good because you get to experience the park with less people.  As the various opening times are let in, it gets more and more crowded.  We were done about 7:15 and we could feel the difference in the crowd as we were leaving.  Also, as we were leaving, people were lined up in the parking lot rows waiting for people to leave so they could get a parking space. 

3. Alcoholic Beverages are sold

4. No animals are out

You will be disappointed if you expect to see them.

5. Children will love it, one time deal for adults. 

 Tunnel of lights

 They had various sections like the tunnel of lights, and the snowflake area and a miniature light city of L.A. area.  It was cool, but I wouldn't do it every year.  It is worth doing once or if you have little kids.

Since I was recapping Christmas, I thought I would throw these beauties in.  

 He hardly ever smiles for pictures!

Aslan always smiles.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Blessing for a Happy New Year.