We started off the tour by hopping on the Metro Red Line. LAist loves the Red Line; we embrace its shortcomings, we sometimes laugh at its futility, but we use it when we can. We definitely use it when we go downtown. So we joined the folks carrying their LA Marathon banners and took the train down to Pershing Square. First stop on the tour was the Grand Central Market. We'd never heard of this place until recently, and we were curious to see how it might stack up to the famous Pike Place Market that we'd recently roamed. Even though it was early Sunday morning, the sawdust-covered floors were packed with folks eager for a taste of some of the savory food being served up at the stalls. We weren't ready to eat, though the aroma of Chinese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Italian dishes were enticing, and the aisles of bulk spices, gleaming produce, and sugary treats looked beautiful, we settled on a modest cafe cubano near the front entrance. more ›