Union Station. It's not as grand as Grand Central Station, but it's much more glamourous, if you ask me. Even the pigeons and sparrows think so, as they wander over the shiney tiled floors. Union Station is in the heart of downtown LA, literally where it all began, being close to what is called the Pueblo, back in the day when it was just a small Mexican town.
Wood paneled ceilings, painted in the sort of Santa Fe/Craftsman style. Huge bronze chandaliers. Comfy leather seats. I remember it best in black and white in such noir films as Double Indemnity that were a perfect fit for LA. And so it is a fitting place for me to begin my second Medieval Noir tour.
Yes, this is my pre-Bouchercon book tour. It started twenty-four hours earlier on Wednesday at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, a shop with a great combo of mystery, sci fi, and horror. Then the next day, a two hour drive escaping the Inland Empire to Thousand Oaks to Mysteries to Die for, a shoebox-sized mystery bookstore, the perfect kind of cozy place to read about death. After a successful stint there, I drove another two hours in early afternoon LA traffic to Union Station to retrieve hubby, who wouldn't be arriving from the IE for another one and a half hours.
Since this is LA, they were doing a shoot. Not a drive by, the Hollywood type. Nothing to see except some signs that said, "To Set" and some rent-a-cops standing around some Klieg lights with the Paramount logo on them.
This might be curious to those in other cities where trains abound, but we in southern California have gone a generation without trollies, trains, and subways. It's only just begun again, but I am not a train rider (inconvenient when you have to drive so far just to catch a train). So I was a tourist and just had to wander up to the platforms to watch the trains come and go, both Amtrak and Metrolink.
Tourist.
Observed: People in wheelchairs pushing themselves backwards on purpose; the usual LA crazies talking to themselves--though BlueTooth technology has made crazy fashionable; people with pillows and lots of luggage (I wonder where they're going?); students; wide-eyed kids; Red Caps (can't help but think of Cary Grant in North By Northwest).
When he arrived, hubby drove me to Westwood to the Mystery Bookstore, another fav location on the indie book tour. Last year, Veil of Lies was their December pick and I hope Serpent does as well. We always have a good time goofing around with my helm and weapons (oh yes, they travel with me). And then, the real reason for dragging my hubby with me: a drive to LAX. I've headed early to Indianapolis to hit a few Hoosier bookstores.
Pouring rain and Magel, my GPS, is having an annuerism until she figures out that I'm not in Westwood anymore. It was a red eye flight so I could get to That Book Place in Madison, Indiana, at my scheduled time Friday afternoon. I just have time to get to my hotel, spruce up a bit, and then back in the car for the next two hour drive. And it has to be the prettiest two hour drive ever. Indiana is covered in picturesque woodlands--just beginning their fall colors. And what isn't covered in woods is covered with cornfields (or so it seems). Lots of farmhouses and everyone seems to have an old barn. Gorgeous drive, even if I was a bit tired.
The gents at That Book Place were a hoot. They are mostly a used bookshop with the occasional new book special ordered. Like mine. We talked about gaming and all sorts of other things. Then their regulars started coming in. I was suddenly reminded of the movie Clerks. But their pals bought (and I bought some old pulp from them) and everyone was happy. Two hours back, shopped at Krogers for a few meals, and then I crashed.
It's Saturday and I'm up for a bit of sight-seeing before I hit Mudsock Books and Curiosity Shoppe in Fisher, only about twenty minutes away. And it's sunny today! I'll have pics of Indiana tomorrow.
Glad to read you made it. I didn't realize the duration of the Indiana trip until yesterday when I read your schedule with an eye to the calendar. Good hunting (as submariners would put it).
Posted by: Marie | October 10, 2009 at 04:01 PM