Writing this week's round up from Los Angeles, I am reflecting on a whirlwind of art activity that took me from one end of the city to the other. No doubt this is an urban locale focused around car travel, and for people who prefer to walk and stroll the city without much worry about parking and commuting times, I highly recommend staying in Downtown LA. As the CAA Conference was located at the Los Angeles Convention Centre, the decision to stick closer to the event made sense, but what I was not expecting was the vibrancy and livability of this part of the city, especially how accessible parts of downtown are by foot. In year's past, this was a part of LA that I seldom visited, choosing to stick closer to the UCLA or Getty area, or within reach of West Hollywood and/or Santa Monica. This time, however, I knew that I wanted to visit The Broad and MOCA, attend the conference, and tour the LA Arts District, and other parts of the city in a short 3-4 day period of time. As an urban place in transition, change in Downtown LA has come about (as in other cities like Brooklyn, or even my hometown Vancouver) from a mix of artist communities, new development, and the pressures of gentrification. This of course comes with many pros and cons for artists and residents alike, but the creative energy was palpable, and it was wonderful to discover new art spaces, restaurants, bars, and unique stores. I will be blogging in the weeks to come of my visit with some more reflections, but I have added a few links in the round-up signalling how the local LA art scene is being transformed. Signing off from sunny and breezy LA-- enjoy the links!