Journeys With Stephen

Tag: Los Angeles

  • How to see The Broad art museum in L.A.

    How to see The Broad art museum in L.A.

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    The line formed more than a half-hour before the 11:00am opening and eventually stretched for a block. It was mostly young people, even on a weekday, chatting, checking their phones. And it was a patient crowd, those of us who arrived without a timed reservation, still counting on a timely entry. The weather was pleasant, as it almost always is in Los Angeles, as we waited outside.

    We would not be disappointed, as we entered The Broad museum of contemporary art a mere 15-30 minutes after opening. We were now free to roam the collections for as long as we wished. The admission price? Also free. Audio tours? Just use an app on your phone. It’s high-tech upscale on a budget.

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    Who is the man behind it all?

    Eli Broad (pronounced Brode) is one of those self-made men, coming from humble beginnings in Detroit. He attended my alma mater, Michigan State University, and went on to great success in the real estate world, first in Detroit and later in Los Angeles. Later in life he and his wife, Edythe, turned to art collecting and then to philanthropy. The first Broad museum, in its entire splendor, opened in 2012 at Michigan State. Now, Los Angeles is the recipient of another amazing gift.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles closeup” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Broad-Art-Museum-Los-Angeles-closeup.jpg” alt=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles closeup” title_text=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles closeup” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    How do you get in?

    With free admission, controlling the flow of attendance can be a tricky proposition. After some trial and error, they seem to have developed a workable system. You can reserve a timed admittance in advance by going online to TheBroad.org. Tickets are available beginning the first day of the previous month. For example, on June 1 they open the calendar for July. August opens on July 1.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles exterior” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Broad-Art-Museum-Los-Angeles-exterior.jpg” alt=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles exterior” title_text=”The Broad Art Museum Los Angeles exterior” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    But what if you aren’t that organized to plan many weeks in advance? No problem. There is a standby line every day. Waits can be as little as 30 minutes, but range upwards of 2 hours on a busy weekend or holiday. I waited a total of about 45 minutes on a weekday. Of course, the best way to work the system is to come before opening, as I did, or arrive fairly late in the day. If you are a theme park veteran, you know this drill.

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    In keeping with the high-tech nature of the operation, you can check their Twitter account, @TheBroadStandby, for current wait times in the standby line.

    There is also a third way to visit. Special exhibitions have their own admission schedule, also reserved online. I made reservations for the Cindy Sherman exhibition just a few weeks ahead of time. How that works is you arrive at your time, go first into the exhibit, then have free reign of the rest of the museum afterward. Note there is a charge for special exhibitions.

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    What is a contemporary art collection?

    I had three semesters of art history at MSU, and I still had to refresh my memory as to the difference between modern art and contemporary art. The short answer is, modern art is a period, largely ranging from the Impressionists of the late 1800s up through about 1970. Contemporary is not a period, per se, but refers to art being made today. The Broad’s collection is definitely contemporary.

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    What are the highlights?

    Nearly 2,000 works by more than 200 artists in the Broad collection are stored in the building. The third floor gallery consists of about 35,000 square feet, illuminated by 318 skylights. It could be the most perfect environment I have seen. Highlights are pictured throughout this post.

    Several works by Jeff Koons are featured, including Tulips, Rabbit, and Balloon Dog (Blue), as well as the porcelain Michael Jackson and Bubbles. Fans of Roy Lichtenstein will be delighted by I…I’m Sorry, Femme D’Alger, and the three-dimensional Goldfish Bowl. Robert Therrien’s room-size piece, Under the Table, is a favorite. His untitled stack of dishes sits in the lobby.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Takashi Murakami mural” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Takashi-Murakami-mural.jpg” alt=”Takashi Murakami mural” title_text=”Takashi Murakami mural” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    The gallery also features an 82-foot (25 meter) mural by Takashi Murakami. Glenn Ligon’s Double America 2 is a neon highlight. Of course, many of these and other works may transfer in and out of the viewing space to keep the museum fresh.

    One piece that hopefully will be a permanent fixture is Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. Located on the first floor, it is described as “a mirror-lined chamber housing a dazzling and seemingly endless LED light display.” The installation can accommodate one visitor at a time for about 45 seconds. It requires a separate free timed ticket. Go to a kiosk iPad when you first enter the building and sign up for your time. This is not to be missed!

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    What else should you know?

    Bring your camera! Photos are welcome for personal use, as is drawing with pencil. The museum is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings; closed Mondays. I found the Visitor Services Associates to be both friendly and helpful. For example, my time to view the Infinity Mirrored Room was to be more than 2 hours. I asked a VSA about it. She said that is a worse-case scenario, as some people are no-shows and sometimes a couple will go into the chamber together. Sure enough, I got a text message to go see the exhibit about an hour earlier than expected. Nice.

    Have you been to The Broad? What was your impression? Who were your favorite artists and works? Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post.

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    What’s upscale?

    The Broad is truly a world-class operation, both in facility and art collection.

    Audio tours are via an app for your phone. Everything is high-tech.

     

    What’s budget?

    Admission is free to the main exhibits and a reasonable charge for special exhibitions.

     

     

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  • How to save on business class flights

    How to save on business class flights

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    I didn’t want to spend US$18,000 for two Swiss business class tickets, L.A. to Zurich roundtrip. Later, the airline let me bid on those same lie-flat bed seats. Voila! … There is an airline flying business from the U.S. to Asia – wonderful Korean service for half the price of some other airlines, but with the same amenities. … From ANA to Air Canada, there are lots of exciting options out there. I will help get you started on flying international upscale on a budget.

    Frequent flyers know by now there is a cat and mouse game being played. Premium class seats provide lucrative revenue; it’s a key reason why airlines expand business class sections on the larger aircraft and provide more amenities to those passengers. If they can charge, say US$9,000 for a seat, when the smaller one a few rows behind costs only US$1,500, it’s a pretty good deal for the airline. But what happens when that seat goes unsold? Airlines used to offer last minute upgrades to their most loyal customers – a nice perk, but not a win for the airline.

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    Bid for business class

    As a creative move in the game, many airlines now offer economy passengers an opportunity to bid on those unsold seats. I paid about US$2,500 for two economy seats from LAX to Zurich. I just couldn’t justify spending US$18,000 for business. I want upscale, but on a budget. Think what I could do with all the money I was saving – luxury hotels, grand Airbnb apartments, personal tours and more. That’s the way I think.

    Then, Swiss International Airlines sent me an email. How would I like to bid on business class seats? There were rules, of course, such as a minimum bid, timeline to back out, a commitment if I won, etc. But it was fun, too. I was able to see how many seats were still unsold and place a bid. They even offered a little real-time gauge that told me their opinion of my bid – weak to strong. In short, I bid what I thought was a fair amount, but a fraction of the original business price, and I won! Specifically, I bid twice, once on the outbound flight and later on the inbound, winning each time.

    Guess what? The airline won too. They received money for two previously empty seats and may have also resold my economy seats. It’s a win-win. At least that’s what I told myself after a fine Swiss dinner, as I lay down for a good night’s sleep on the 11-hour flight. And don’t we owe ourselves a great start to an international trip?

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    Maybe the only non-winner was the guy across the aisle, who might have paid full price. But variable pricing has always been part of the airline’s game. And he was assured his seat. I had to bid for ours. I could have lost. Or it could have been a full flight, without even an offer to bid. That’s all part of the game.

    Many airlines are using a third-party company to manage this complex auction for them. If you are interested in more details about the game, here’s a Guide to Bidding from The Points Guy. Note: I would rather send you to a site that tracks these kinds of programs, as rules can change often.

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    Asiana Airlines

    One of my favorite airlines in the world is Asiana – the “other” Korean airline. They offer award-winning service from always friendly and courteous flight attendants and ground staff. They are one of only 7 Skytrax World 5-star Airlines. But the best news for upscale travelers on a budget is their discounted business class. I have rarely paid much more than US$4,000 to fly from Los Angeles or San Francisco to numerous destinations in Asia – Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, etc. I have been flying them regularly since 2006.

    What’s the catch? Well, nearly every route includes a plane change in Seoul (Incheon), South Korea. Not that it’s a bad thing. The Incheon airport is consistently rated the second-best airport in the world (behind only Singapore). There are loads of things to do. And the Asiana business and first class lounges there are excellent. Think massage chairs, showers, Korean food and drink, all in spacious surroundings. The stopover also breaks up the long trip a little.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Asiana Incheon first class lounge” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Asiana-Incheon-first-class-lounge.jpg” alt=”Asiana Incheon first class lounge” title_text=”Asiana Incheon first class lounge” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Asiana’s “Quantum seating,” with lie-flat beds and large monitors, matches any business class in the sky today, but in some cases at half the price. I almost hate to tell everybody, as they only offer two flights a day out of LAX. On top of that, I use a Korean travel agency in Los Angeles, who often discount the price even further. If you are interested in this option, email me at [email protected] and I will send you more information.

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    ANA (All Nippon Airways)

    Speaking of favorite airlines, I have to mention ANA for those same Asia routes, except their stopovers are in Tokyo. Another World 5-star Airline, they also sometimes offer great business class pricing. One trip this year, I extended my layover in Japan from 5 hours to 5 days, which allowed me to visit Kyoto, for only a slight additional charge. Now that’s upscale on a budget!

    ANA has some of the newer aircraft flying trans-Pacific. My most recent journey was on a plane where pull-down window shades were replaced by push-button dimmers, as seen in the photo. Pretty cool.

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    For travelers in the Western U.S. and Canada, Air Canada is another interesting alternative worth investigating. Their flights to Asia are direct from Vancouver. The prices for business class look very good, although I have not used them yet. Why? There are significant change fees, and it seems I am often changing my travel dates.

    There are so many ways you can fly business class on a budget. I am only touching on a few in this post. Some major methods involve mileage upgrades and sharing miles within a network, which I will post about later.

    Sites like Expert Flyer offer lots of information, including seat alerts. Of course, you should always check Seat Guru, to see if those business class seats you are reserving really do turn into lie-flat beds. Traveling Well For Less explains how to best turn your credit cards into miles.

    What do you think? Do you have any advice for flying business class on a budget? What sites do you use? Please comment below!

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