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Olvera Street
A bustling Mexican open-air market on the edge of Downtown Los Angeles, Olvera Street is often noted as the spot marking Los Angeles' earliest beginnings.  Today it's a short, compact strip of nearly one hundred vendors and restaurants. The vendors sell everything from oversized sombreros, belt-buckles and boots to purses, candy, and toys, sunglasses and black velvet paintings of Pio Pico - Spanish California's last governor. The restaurants are good and this is the place to go if you not only want to eat authentic Mexican food, but it's possibly the best place to eat and actually feel as though you might be in Mexico. The buildings themselves are noteworthy. Included is the Adobe Avila, originally built in 1818, it is considered the oldest standing building in Los Angeles. However, it may also be noted that it was rebuilt in concrete after an early 1970s earthquake. It may be appropriate for Los Angeles' "oldest" structure to have undergone a little redevelopment of its own! Also interesting are the Italian Hall Building, Old Plaza Church and the Pico House.
On the weekend, the place fills quickly with an interesting assortment of people from all over Los Angeles.  Live mariachi music adds to spirit. The place gets very busy on the weekends near two special holidays: Cinco de Mayo - May 5 - and Mexican Independence Day - September 16. Another interesting annual event is the Blessing of the Animals. This takes place the Saturday before Easter. Here people will bring their pets - from dogs and cats to fish, snakes and pigs - to be blessed by a priest. But anytime of the year Olvera Street will make a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon and a fun and historic evening.
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Writer: Lee Z.
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[Must Visit]
Nearby Spots: Old Town Pasadena · Universal Citywalk · Griffith Observatory ···
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Rough Guide California 5th Ed.
by Rough Guides Editors
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