From the 7th Street Metro station proceed to street level and walk south on Hope Street to 9th Street. At 9th Street and Grand Avenue you will see Grand Hope Park.

One of the earliest beautification projects in the South Park community of Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Hope Park (9th Street and Grand Avenue) features a clock tower, decorative fountain, playground, and neighbor to the Museum of Neon Art and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) (919 S. Grand Ave.; 213/624-1200) is a private college campus in Downtown Los Angeles, offering advanced degrees in fashion and design. As an added bonus, FIDM’s Museum Foundation presents exhibitions regularly in their galleries. Every year the museum presents “The Art of Motion Picture Design,?featuring the best costume designs from the year previous in films.

For something electric, just next store to FIDM, the Museum of Neon Art (501 W. Olympic Blvd.; 213/489-9918) exhibits, documents and preserves works of neon, electric and kinetic art as the only permanent institution of its kind in the world.

9th/Los Angeles bus stop (E DASH)

Board DASH E at 7th and South Spring streets at the southwest corner or (7th Street and Grand Avenue). Depart at 9th and Los Angeles streets. Walk west on 9th Street to the California Mart.

Venture over to LA's famous Fashion District (between Broadway, Wall Street, 7th Street and Pico Boulevard). One can find any and everything all within a couple of blocks. California Mart (9th between Los Angeles and Main streets), though only open to the public once a month, is composed of 4 buildings containing 2,000 showrooms. Directly across the street on 9th Street, check out the New Mart (127 9th St.) where one may "window shop", and find out when the next sample sale will be.

From 9th and Los Angeles streets, walk east on 9th Street to Santee Street and turn right. Walk south on Santee Street one block to Olympic Boulevard and turn left. Walk a half a block to Santee Alley, located on the south side of the street.

Maybe one of the most famous alleys anywhere, Santee Alley (east of Santee Street between Olympic and 12th Street) is filled with tiny shops in an open-air market with items ranging from hard to tell "knock off" designer sunglasses to evening wear. Small retail shops between Los Angeles and Wall streets between 9th and Pico Boulevard carries discount clothes, fabrics, costume jewelry and other accessories. Be ready to bargain and haggle for hours!

From Olympic Boulevard and Maple Avenue, proceed north on Maple Street to 8th Street. Walk one block east on 8th Street to Wall Street and turn left.

If you're one of those dreadfully early risers, or still in a time-zone warp, hit the Southern California Flower Mart (742 Maple Ave.; 213/627-2482). Buy armfuls of flowers at rock-bottom prices. Call ahead for hours of operation and public hours.