There is one day out of every month that a large group of Angelenos will come out of their caves and cars and actually take a walk for blocks and blocks around downtown LA. That day is every 2nd Thursday of the month, every month. That day is the Downtown Artwalk.

There are a few stops that I definitely have to make whenever I’m at the Artwalk. One, is the Crewest Gallery.(crewest.com). Their artwork screams urban graffiti to me. They’re located on Winston and Main. The gallery has one doorway and it can be a hassle to get into if there are a lot of people hanging out. They often have a live DJ or two and that can bring in a crowd to the tiny door. But make your way in. It’s worth it.

The 2nd stop is The Last Bookstore (thelastbookstorela.com), a literary consignment store. I ran into this place by accident on my 2nd or 3rd Artwalk visit, on my way to the Crewest Gallery. The Last Bookstore carries a wide variety of books priced no higher than $5. The books are good as new and can come in hardcover or paperback. They also sell some paperbacks for $1. I’ve found some old favorites and new books I wanted to read here. Reduce, reuse, recycle, people.

The 3rd stop I have to make is the Lost Souls CafÈ (lostsouls.com). Located in a dark alleyway lit by Christmas lights on 4th St between Spring and Main, (Harlem Place Alley), it’s a place you’ll find either by word of mouth or by accident. My favorite order is a Sunrise (pan de sal) Sandwich with an Ube Shake. You can find their menu on their website,. The place is definitely a recommendation. Chill atmosphere, completely welcoming with sofas, lounge seats, or plain table and chair – anything for any mood. They also provide you with some board games, which can be found all the way in the back of the cafÈ.

There’s a lot of places to see and do in the Artwalk. I’ve never been able to do it all in one night. There are flea markets that sell anything from homemade religious icons to vintage clothing. You can also spend a good chunk of the night just chasing after food trucks and tasting every delicious thing they have to offer. And if there’s someone you haven’t seen in a long while, you’ll probably find him or her at the Artwalk. I found my junior high best friend standing in the front door of the Annex on my 2nd Artwalk. You definitely will come across some treasures in this once a month event.