License Plate of the Day: LAX Edition

“RTM2LAX.” Any guesses?

Rotterdam Airport perhaps? Makes sense, if we’re going with the airport abbreviation route… could be someone who’s made the move to L.A. from the Netherlands.

The Approach to LAX

One of my favorite things about flying back to Los Angeles: Playing the geography guessing game. Which freeway is that? Is that the Ontario Airport? What race track is that? It’s also a great way to get a lay of the land, observing just how much is separated by mountain ranges, etc. A few pics I managed to take in the haze (sorry!) on Sunday:

You get a whole new feel for Southern California geography when you look at it from above. Being able to see Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead up above in the mountains, with the Inland Empire below and the Antelope Valley behind it is pretty fascinating.

Spotted in the mountains: An “R.” Anyone know what this signifies? Redlands?

To the rest of the world, a ditch. To us Angelenos, a river.

The Forum and Hollywood Park, as seen by thousands of fliers daily.

The Approach to LAX

One of my favorite things about flying back to Los Angeles: Playing the geography guessing game. Which freeway is that? Is that the Ontario Airport? What race track is that? It’s also a great way to get a lay of the land, observing just how much is separated by mountain ranges, etc. A few pics I managed to take in the haze (sorry!) on Sunday:

You get a whole new feel for Southern California geography when you look at it from above. Being able to see Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead up above in the mountains, with the Inland Empire below and the Antelope Valley behind it is pretty fascinating.

Spotted in the mountains: An “R.” Anyone know what this signifies? Redlands?

To the rest of the world, a ditch. To us Angelenos, a river.

The Forum and Hollywood Park, as seen by thousands of fliers daily.

Correction of the Day

From Saturday’s Los Angeles Times:

Restaurant menu changes: In an article in Section A on Thursday about menu changes at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants, the location of David Myers’ restaurant Sona was given as West Los Angeles. Sona is in Los Angeles.

Isn’t that like saying, “The location of X was given as Manhattan. X is in New York City.” See, West Los Angeles is Los Angeles. If they really wanted to correct it, shouldn’t they have given a more specific locale? (Purists — the ones who use the Los Angeles River as the west/east divider — would argue that Sona, on La Cienega, IS on the west side!)

UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Joe in LA for reminding me that, indeed, Sona is in West Hollywood! Of course, that makes this correction even more strange, since not only is the whole “West Los Angeles/Los Angeles” thing bizarre, but the correction still gets it wrong anyway. Coming tomorrow: A correction of the correction?

Give This Map an "F" in Los Angeles Geography

(Map credit: Stephannie Barba at CoutureMaps.com.)

The LA City Nerd points to a feature at Bride.com on wedding invites that include stylish maps to the ceremony and reception.

The site showcases the map above (actually found on another site, couturemaps.com). Looks nicely done, right?

But take a closer look. Did the person who created this map (a template offered up for use by engaged couples) actually set foot in Los Angeles? The geography is a jumbled mess. Santa Monica is placed south of LAX, while Malibu is south of the Getty. The Farmer’s Market is found here east of downtown — and Hollywood and the Grauman’s Chinese is directly north of it here! Also, according to this there’s no Mid-City — Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills bump up to downtown. Sheesh!

Give This Map an "F" in Los Angeles Geography

(Map credit: Stephannie Barba at CoutureMaps.com.)

The LA City Nerd points to a feature at Bride.com on wedding invites that include stylish maps to the ceremony and reception.

The site showcases the map above (actually found on another site, couturemaps.com). Looks nicely done, right?

But take a closer look. Did the person who created this map (a template offered up for use by engaged couples) actually set foot in Los Angeles? The geography is a jumbled mess. Santa Monica is placed south of LAX, while Malibu is south of the Getty. The Farmer’s Market is found here east of downtown — and Hollywood and the Grauman’s Chinese is directly north of it here! Also, according to this there’s no Mid-City — Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills bump up to downtown. Sheesh!