The Last Bookstore

Dustin and I love to read. We find it increasingly more difficult to find the time now that our family has grown. One of our favorite things to do pre-kids was stroll around bookstores. One in particular had peaked my interest as it is in an old bank in downtown Los Angeles.

The Last Bookstore is California's largest new and used book store. The ironic title alone was enough to get us in the door, but then I was fascinated with the architecture, design, and creative layout of this massive building.

A banker at heart. 

The original layout of the bank is still present and provides sectioning for various book categories. The original vaults, yep plural, still showcase the beautiful locking mechanisms and bolt operation. The above was commissioned in 1912.

The entire second floor is a labyrinth of books. The children took us through, finding dead ends and secret passageways.

My little reader

If you are looking for a book, new or old, or just a place to wander around for a few hours, go here. It's a beautiful building filled with amazing adventures.

CoCo's Stateside!

So if you're a long time follower our adventures, you will recognize this staple of our diet from our time in Japan.

YEP! COCO'S! Oh, I've only written about this place.... EIGHT times. We ate it weekly, sometimes more. Our bank account wishes that was exaggeration. :)

For Dustin's birthday I promised him CoCo's. There are actually four locations in the greater Los Angeles area and we are going to eat at them all today.

A Day Out with Thomas

When you have a little boy who loves trains and Thomas... you end up doing lots of train and Thomas activities. One of those being our annual pilgrimage to A Day Out with Thomas. We've visited Thomas now three times when he's visiting from the Island of Sodor. We were lucky and got to meet Percy too!

It's a fun day to spend with the kids and with characters they love. There are many areas including train play area, coloring tables, tattoos, petting zoos, reading and video area, model train displays, and more. 

The highlight every year is watching James and Elizabeth's little faces when they hear that iconic train whistle and see Thomas pull into the station.

Part of the day included a short train ride with Thomas complete with conductor stamping our tickets.

Day Out with Thomas tours the United States annually and is fun, cheap way to spend a day.