Parking Challenges Grow in NoHo

It’s about 7 o’clock on a Wednesday night and we've already circled the block three times. We're heading east on Magnolia Boulevard; I'm in the passenger seat and keeping my eyes peeled for a vacant parking space along the street.  

“If we rode our bikes, we’d be here by now,” I tell my husband in my least nagging tone possible as he turns right on Vineland Avenue. Though his bike is still , I'd gotten a new bike a few months ago, thus freeing up my old one as a loaner until he gets a replacement.  

He decides his preferred method of transportation is my black compact hatchback over my old champagne women's bike this evening. Instead of a breezy 10-minute bike ride along Chandler Boulevard to – he's craving chicken pot pie and my sweet tooth is calling for the berry cobbler – where there's plenty of spots to lock up two bicycles, we find ourselves in the Weeknight Dinner Rush Hour Street Parking Challenge. 

Parking: it's a topic unsurprisingly touched upon in any L.A. version of the hot-for-a-minute S*** People Say video series. College newspapers regurgitate this subject at the start of every semester. Much like traffic on the 405 and gas prices higher than the national average, it's something all us Angelenos are accustomed to in our culture of cars.  

My husband and I begin to realize how spoiled we'd been when we lived in the heart of the Arts District. Up until we moved to Valley Village last fall, we enjoyed a prime spot within walking distance to many of our favorite places, and so parking was never an issue. Our move was a tad bit untimely — we left just before a slew of new restaurants and bars opened along Magnolia.

We drive over to the parking structure on Weddington Street behind the theatres, but we're out of cash and prefer to stick with the meters. Figuring our familiarity of our old street should be an advantage, we head to Hesby Street. Right, there's no place to squeeze into this street either, not even for my little compact car. We've somehow conveniently forgotten the scarcity of parking past 6 p.m. after the west side of Vineland became a red zone, most likely after complaints of several RV owners claiming it as home.

So it's north on Lankershim Boulevard we go, and back onto Magnolia. We turn left on Blakeslee Avenue and miraculously spot a father and his young son getting into a black sports car at the corner. Now's our chance to scoop up their spot, so like any typical Los Angeles driver, we do what's necessary while trying to avoid violating any city traffic codes.

We order our food and settle into a table outside. As we enjoy the beautiful purple and orange sunset and a few splashes of raindrops, we watch car after car pull up to the valet station in front of the new  tapas restaurant and bar, which celebrated its grand opening a few weeks ago. Just a few doors down is , another newly-opened eatery which features a hookah bar after 6 p.m.

The increase in traffic — both pedestrian and vehicle — is something the area has long awaited after the closure of many businesses several years ago when the economy tanked. For many residents, it's exciting that the Arts District is increasingly becoming a go-to place for entertainment, and local businesses are finding success as theatre patrons look to fill their grumbling, post-movie stomachs. Next time we head to the area, however, I'll be pushing for the bicycle option instead.