Call it bold-AF of on of bwa-bwaio bold as the tundra, but some people like it simple when it comes to making casual acquaintances.
Such is the early morning rush-hour atmosphere at 5th at Maple, where locals and visitors alike congregate for a daily hosting to suit the most dire production and development schedules. These guys (and ladies) don't joke around much, and for the price of a Starbucks Frappucino, you can dump your year-end charitable contributions on a sponsorship of a young person, out on the streets, trying to make ends meet.
Although it may seem strange, I feel that this is the place where so many of us, struggling (holiday season or not) to find our place in life, are destined to end up - finding comradeship and brotherhood through helping out the less fortunate.
Some tips for the locale -
- Make it a suitable DTLA outing, and do as the locals do - get out on foot and make your way through the various locales, (if desired), of the area - the Toy District has great deals on Winston (just one street over) of mobile device cables. You can find cheap device protectors, new lightning-USB cables, iPhone cases, iPad glass covers, and more, for a fraction of the price you'd get from retail store shopping at places such as Target. The Flower District is also a great morning go-to of DTLA. I recommend curly willow cuttings in water pots with smooth river stones, underneath a well-lit office-desk space environment - for an easy greenery setting in-home or at your workplace.
- If it seems a bit hectic at this intersection - don't worry. There are 5 porte-potties at San Julian Park, (just up at the heading of the photo), as well as a civic installation proper toilet at 5th at Los Angeles. It's good civic disposition to greet the street-dwellers, here. Many of them are regulars, and sometimes they put on small acts for the other patrons of the area, and for pedestrians. The park is also a nice cultural civic installation to check out. A lot of the times, they'll be passing out food and playing music.
- (Try not to) use the restroom on the streets. People have to live here.
- Bring some PB+J sandwiches for the pigeons! I don't get out here every day, but when I do, I always make sure to have some bread and fixings for the birds.
