Los Angeles Courtyards

Los Angeles, CA - Joe - Monday, September 9th, 2002 : goo

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There is something inviting about a courtyard. Whether it is enclosed by a building or partly open to a larger space, whether it is a quiet refuge or bustling and noisy, a courtyard can create a pleasing sense of place. The best of them are able to slow the steps of the hurried passerby, encourage lingering, and make you take notice of your surroundings.

The first of these courtyards is tucked into the northeast corner of Union Station in Los Angeles. This quiet, grassy space is difficult to spot from inside the building, even though it is only a few steps from the busy waiting room. I unknowingly passed it by many times before at last discovering it.

The second courtyard is in an old Mediterranean style commercial building on the northeas corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Oxford Street. (There was once a matching buillding on the northeast corner, but it was demolished long ago to make way for an office tower.) In the days when I frequented this neighborhood, this courtyard served as the outdoor dining room of a small coffee shop tucked into one of its corners. The owner of the shop kept a couple of cats, who had the run of the place (in delightful violation of the city's health code) and two parrots, who spent their days cadging handouts from the patrons. I would spend hours in this place, writing, and listening to the bubbling fountain and the squawking parrots. I did some of my best work there.

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