I dug up some photos from an old trip that reminds me LA is a big, beautiful, diverse and complicated region.

There are a lot of headlines coming out of downtown LA this week.

It’s got me reflecting on the last time I got to spend some significant time in downtown LA which was in March 2019 where I participated in a large recruitment conference and professional association meeting. I have some cherished memories, particularly of the staff I befriended at the Verve Coffee in the garment district. I also recall on my early morning walks to get my coffee seeing the rows of tents along some streets. L.A. is not a hellscape. Its a big, beautiful, diverse, and complicated region.

A smiling man and woman are standing in front of a colorful abstract mural with red, blue, and yellow brush strokes.A monochrome photo shows the logo and name of Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle Annex against a textured wall.A cappuccino topped with frothy milk and cocoa powder sits on a wooden table in a cozy café setting.A cozy indoor café with hanging plants, wooden tables, and a green wall.A vibrant neon sign featuring various designs and the text Bulleit Frontier Whiskey illuminates a dimly lit room with people seated at tables.A decorative metal gazebo adorned with red lanterns stands in a plaza with historical buildings in the background and a partly cloudy sky above.
Nic Babarskis @thebigbabooski