(500) Days of Summer TOUR

(500) Days of Summer is a story of boy meets girl. You should know up front: it isn't a love story.

I love this movie. My brother loves it too. Since he has a fancy DSLR, we finally went on a mission to visit the locations in the movie.

The movie depicts Los Angeles as beautiful in a different way. It's not just glitz and glamour. There are some very architecturally beautiful buildings with great history.

Here are some photos from our walking tour. I wanted to recreate frames from the movie.

Day (35) - Tom's Apartment

Canadian Building, 432 S Main St

Day (35) - Tom's Apartment

Day (87) - Video/Record Store

(Bookstore in real life)

Day (290) - Video/Record Store

Old Bank DVD, San Fernando Building, 400 S Main St

Day (191) - Movie Theatre

Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S Broadway

Day (95) - Angels Knoll

W 4th St & Olive St

Day (260) - Angels Knoll

Day (408) - Summer's Apartment

Barclay, 706 S Normandie

Day (408) - Summer's Apartment

(This is in Koreatown, not Downtown L.A.)

Day (408) - Summer's Street

 (The movie added the buildings in the background)

Day (488) - Angels Knoll

(Escalator from Metro)

Day (488) - Angels Knoll

Day (488) - Angels Knoll

Day (488) - Tom's Bench

 

Day (500) - First day of Autumn

Bradbury Building, 304 S Broadway
(Touring isn't allowed upstairs.)

I had to wear blue for this occasion. (It's Summer's signature color. She's the only one that wears blue, with the exception of the dance scene.) My outfit was inspired by the "Bank Dance" music video on the (500) Days of Summer iTunes podcast.

This was the first time I really looked at the buildings downtown. We all had a really good time. Stuff always look prettier in movies. I was surprised to learn that (500) Days of Summer did not over exaggerate these locations. They really are beautiful.

Download the walking tour here. Check out www.laconservancy.org for more. 

Also, here's a link to additional film locations: http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/f/500DaysOfSummer.html

We exited Broadway off the 101, and parked in a lot on 4th Street and Spring. It's $5 flat rate on weekends. It's pretty much equidistant to Tom's apartment, the movie theatre and Bradbury Building, and Angel's Knoll.

It was overcast when we went. This was fortunate because if the sun had been out, we would have been really hot and tired from the walk.

If you go, I suggest going early. We started at 10am. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a friend. Take pictures. Enjoy!

(Cinq Cents) Jours D'Été

Here are a few more sights from my tour. I don't have matching screen shots from the movie, but enjoy!

Angel's Flight
- It's an alternative to the stairs, but it takes you above the park.
- 25 cents one way, 5 trips for $1
- If you buy a round-trip ticket for 50 cents, you get a souvenir ticket.

California Plaza

Angels Knoll

The Bradbury Building

- My favorite building! It's so pretty!!

- There's a Subway next door, so it smells like sandwiches inside.

- Touring isn't allowed upstairs.

- There's a statue of Charlie Chaplin on a bench.

Grand Central Market

- It costs 25 cents to use the bathroom.

Million Dollar Theatre

- It was closed for a private party. There were fashion events in L.A. this weekend.

Tunnel

- This isn't the tunnel Tom and Summer drove through. That's on 2nd Street. This is 3rd Street.

Barclay Hotel

- The lobby was used as the hangout spot for Tom and his buddies.

- Loitering isn't allowed in the lobby.

The San Fernando Building

- I had to feature this because I am a valley girl.

Summer's Neighborhood

- The whole street had beautiful exteriors.

- There was some sort of block party going on. Just activities and booths, no food.

Learn more here and here!

I hope this blog post inspires you to explore Downtown Los Angeles and watch (500) Days of Summer.