A magical, special place with wonderful people and amazing events/screenings. The panorama exhibit is one of my favorite places to visit in LA. If you can, be sure to see The Man in the Tuskhut exhibit? Event? Encounter? Not sure what to call it but I loved it. And after your movie screening, Man in Tuskhut encounter, panorama viewing, etc., be sure to check out the lovely gardens and saloon out back! read more

Loved the little hour I spent at Velaslavasay Panorama! Perfect little quiet spot to think and chill for a bit. Arrived before our 3pm reservation and were the only ones here. I loved the solitude and being able to experience this place. Of course my favorite was the giant panorama, the shenging panorama. So beautiful and intricate. I loved watching how the lights interacted with the paintings and really brought it to life. The garden was lovely as well. Spending a few moments out there was wonderful. Cute little trip to this Panorama! I've never explored one before and it was great going doing so. read more

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I love discovering hidden gems around Los Angeles, and this one is not to be missed. Tucked inside the historic Union Theater in the West Adams district, this spot had been sitting on my bookmarks from social media for a while. To the left of the main entrance is "the only Arctic Trading Post in the Lower 48" exhibit, which already sets the tone for how quirky and unexpected this place is. From there, you continue down the right side of the building and up a winding staircase, and you're transported to a Shengjing Panorama. This is a massive 360 painting and diorama of Shenyang city from 1910-1930. The lights and sound effects bring the cityscape to life, making the whole experience immersive. Interestingly, this panorama section used to be an old circular Chinese takeout restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. Once you're doen make your way back down, you'll see the main theater that has a number of quirky displays and chachkies. We were there early enough before their movie screening of the evening, so we got to walk around a bit. Then past the past doors, you'll stumble upon a lovely hidden garden filled with unique details and decor. Now, the technical details. They don't have a parking lot, so only street parking. Entrance fee is $7 ($5 for Seniors or Students). You book your appointment online, but everything is self-guided. Stay as little or as long as you'd like. You can get through the exhibit fairly quick, but we made sure to take our time and soak in the quirky and uniqueness of this place! read more

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10/10 - A Hidden Gem You Have to Experience The Velaslavasay Panorama is one of the most unique and quietly magical places in Los Angeles. I love everything about it--from the mesmerizing theater exhibits to the serene back garden, and even the name Velaslavasay itself, which feels like a lost word from another time. The panorama experience lasts about 40 minutes and moves gently, meditatively. It's quiet, immersive, and intentionally slow, like stepping into a dream or forgotten world--my advice: be patient. Let yourself slow down, breathe, and take it all in. Time honestly flies when you're fully present. After the show, I wandered into the back garden, which is charming and peaceful--a perfect place to sip the complimentary tea or read a book under the trees. Finding such a calm, reflective space in the city is rare. Let's talk about the value: admission is only $7. Honestly, they could charge double and it would still be worth it. Parking is free and easy, which makes the whole experience even more stress-free. The Velaslavasay Panorama is a true hidden treasure and a beautiful example of a nearly lost art form. See it while you still can--you won't regret it. And great custom service. Enjoy Peace/Love Be A Proud American read more

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Quirky, funky, messy, needs a good cleaning, historical, and a just plain fun. Entertainment for the masses in the past. Amazing attention to detail phenomenal. You definitely get a feel for the village. Garden needs help, but very calm and serene. read more

This is truly a hidden gem here in Los Angeles. This tiny little theater has an enormous imagination, and so much to offer. Don't sleep on this unique space of vintage ephemera. The panorama is utterly amazing and everything else here has enough character to satisfy one's appetite for local uniqueness. read more

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Visiting the Velaslavasay Panorama in Los Angeles is like stepping into a beautiful, slightly worn dream. It's a place of immense promise and rare uniqueness, and it also bears the patina of age, neglect, and the kind of scrappy survival that both charms and frustrates. What makes it remarkable * The Panorama revives a historic art form: panoramic paintings--those vast 360-degree vistas popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The art form was patented by Englishman Robert Barker in 1787 and flourished before cinema. * At this venue, you're immersed in a sweeping panorama of the city of Shengjing (modern Shenyang, China) from the early 20th century, created by Chinese panorama masters over five years. * The building itself--originally the historic Union Theatre (opened 1910) in the West Adams/University Park area of L.A.--is a physical marker of change: silent movie house, tile union headquarters, drama school and now a panorama hall. * There's a delightful garden space behind the theatre which offers a quiet contrast to the city, a real hidden gem. In short: if you're a lover of history, immersive art, oddities and hidden L.A. treasures, this is absolutely worth the visit. Where the rough edges show And here's where I must say: the Velaslavasay Panorama has so much potential that it seems held back by everyday realities of maintenance, infrastructure, and visibility. * No parking / accessibility issues. If you drive, getting in and out is clunky. That limits who can easily experience it. * Building wear and tear. Tiles missing, parts of the structure showing signs of sinking foundation, curling paint--being inside the building you feel its fragility. * Garden & grounds need tending. That behind-the-scenes garden could be extraordinary with some clean-up, organization, and horticultural planning; right now it has the bohemian charm of "creative urban jungle" but also the appearance of "needs a weekend of hard work." * Undercapitalized feel. The institution feels more like a grassroots passion project than a polished museum. Which I love in spirit--but it also means things like signage, ease of visit, marketing, fundraising infrastructure, visitor experience, suffer. * Ageing in place rather than growing. The story here is of legacy, history, uniqueness--but there's a tension: Should this place be frozen as a quirky relic, or rejuvenated and allowed to thrive? Right now the leaning is toward the former: amazing and stable, but constrained. My personal takeaway I left feeling inspired and grateful: inspired by the artistry of the panorama, grateful that such a wild, strange, lovely place still exists in L.A. I also left feeling a bit wistful: what if this place could have the budget and infrastructure to flourish? What if the parking was sorted, the garden curated, the building preserved properly, the marketing turned up, the management changed... so more people came? It would become not just a hidden gem--but a major cultural destination. Final recommendation Yes--go. Bring a trusted friend, allow an hour or more, wander the theatre, soak in the panorama, then stroll the garden. But bring the mindset of seeing something lovely in its imperfect state. If you're expecting a pristine, spotless museum, you might feel disappointed. If you're open to beauty in rugged form, you'll feel joyful. And of course: if you love it, consider making a donation or volunteering--places like this depend on supporters who see the vision and are willing to help dust, polish, fundraise, repair and restore. read more

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What an adorable, eccentric little gem! Nestled in this classic and often overlooked area of Los Angeles is this fascinating place where they hold performances and workshops of all kinds! Highly recommended. read more

Definitely quirky but the uniqueness alone is reason enough to visit. Another reviewer compared it to Jurassic Museum but I disagree, it has the same reverse world Wes Anderson type of feeling but I could stay 2 hours in Jurassic whereas the Panorama is limited to an hour plus after about 45mins I was ready to head out. It was formally located on Hollywood Blvd but was relocated to the current site. Their first panorama was the history of LA over the last 400 years. Next they did an Arctic scene at night and currently it's China from 1910-1930 as their main exhibit. Basically a panorama was what people did instead of going out to stage theater prior to movie theaters being invented. They used to be very popular but now the only ones that remain in the US are in Gettysburg Virginia, Atlanta, and this one in Los Angeles. To enter you walk up spiral stairs and come to another floor. There you'll see the panorama which is basically a 360° painting on the wall. You're allowed to walk around it to see the piece. In between you and the painting are a lot of figurines and small sculptures to add to the 3D feeling of the scene. They also keep the lights very low and play scene sounds (traffic in this case) and wind to enhance the experience. I would've stayed longer but there was a group in there with me commenting on it. The 2nd exhibit is an Arctic trading post. Very trippy to see as I was not even aware it was there prior to going but possibly my favorite part of the self guided tour. You're allowed to enter and walk around the cabin. After this you can walk past a stage theater to get to the garden outside. It's small but nice to walk around (brief walk) and see the plants. They have seats all over and a gazebo for you to sit and relax. I was the only one back there so I spent the majority of my time out there albeit a warmer day. I'm giving it 4/5 due to the limited exhibits but the uniqueness alone is worth a visit. I've been to all the bigger and even medium museums so if you're looking for a unique experience or want to check out another fork in the road of wknd planning this is worth a visit. Very polite and pleasant staff too. $7 for an hour. read more

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Please read this if you're a POC visiting this place: I'm writing this after I have left and had a full blown panic attack after being looked at and treated like I was some sort of alien. I went to see a Japanese film with my white boyfriend. We were the first to be lined up and first to walk inside. I went inside with my tickets ready in my hand (on my phone), nobody told us where to show our tickets nobody asked to see our tickets. I made it to the seating section and left my boyfriend there so I could use the restroom. On my way back a random ticket lady asked me for my ticket (in a microagressy way) which I thought how embarrassing I forgot to show my ticket. I told her my name and she said oh okay here you are. My boyfriend went to the bathroom and they didn't ask him for his ticket. Guess why? Because another white person would NEVER walk into a theater without a ticket right ... Anyway I tried to muster strength/patience to get through this but another incident with another lady attending at the restrooms left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm half Japanese and half Bolivian. Of course they see the color of my skin and think oh she's someone to watch out for. I'm not going to make this longer but if you're a POC, you KNOW and you FEEL the intentions behind certain comments white people make. The way my ticket was asked for wasn't just matter of fact it was very off. At the end of the day it is not MY job to find the ticket person. There were no signs, there was nobody indicating where to show tickets. Bottom line, they didn't ask my white boyfriend for his ticket as he went in and out of the seating area multiple times. Never going back to this place and I hope it gets shut down as it's in a very POC neighborhood and it's presence now seems very daunting to me. read more

This place is crazy! I didn't know what to think when I got there and it was kinda weird cause no one told me what to do. There was a weird fog thing in the garden and then all the chairs were in the back for the movie. I'm not big on subtitles or foreign films. But it was fun! There were cartoons and funny songs. It makes me want to see more Chinese films. I would love to go to Shanghai in the old days. How pretty. read more

I found out about this place while viewing old Huell Howser episodes. Apparently the Velaslavasay Panorama used to be in Hollywood but moved and now holds residence at the old Union Theater in the West Adams district. The current panorama display is 'Effulgence of the North'. Basically, the panorama is a 360-art display in a circular room that tries to capture the essence of being in the arctic by painting, sculpture, and sound with audio of wind and glaciers cracking. It's dark, quiet and calm. The place is kinda random, it reminded me a little of the Museum of Jurassic Technology. In addition to the panorama upstairs it has old photos adjourning the hall, a little theater in back, a replica of an early century log cabin, and a garden outside. I think that people who would enjoy the panorama would be ones that are into and have an appreciation of different types of art, USC students on a budget that want to do something close to home but not spend a lot of money maybe on a date or bringing out of town guests, or people that have seen it done it all in LA and are looking for something new to explore. read more

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A pretty cool, offbeat place to visit if you are looking for something different and unique around Los Angeles. When you visit take the time to look closely around the garden before moving upstairs to view the panorama. Keep in mind you are in another place from another time... read more

Velaslavasay Panorama - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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If you ever have the opportunity to visit, jump on it! It's a beautiful property inside and out. An amazing and lush garden sprawls our from the concrete in the back. The interior theater is magical and timeless. I look forward to an event at the theater! There is a lobby space which is used as a display and the panorama room is incredible. Stay tuned by signing up for their mailing list to know of the panorama schedules. Truly a hidden gem of Los Angeles!! read more

Velaslavasay Panorama - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I went on a weekday and pretty much sat alone in the peaceful panorama display - an arctic scene at the time - for half an hour or more. I could have stayed longer, as the slowly moving lights and sounds were serene and meditative. But I wanted to have time in the garden, which was also serene, with more sun. Oh, and I fell asleep in a chair inside a hut. If you like to go on dates with yourself, I highly recommend this unique spot. Based on my self-date here, I'd go out with me again. read more

Velaslavasay Panorama - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a fantastic experience! The panorama painting with the landscape terrain is so detailed and illusionistic that it draws you to spend some time experiencing it. The environment, with the changing light and the auditory experience, is both peaceful and fascinating. I was gobsmacked by the whole thing! read more

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Like other reviewers, I came here sort of thinking it would be like the Museum of Jurassic Technology. It's a small place and it has its charms, but it mostly seems overrated. The building exterior is pretty cool and has a nice-looking sign, and when you pay admission and go in, there's an intriguingly dark and shabby old theater in the back, which leads out to a somewhat overgrown garden with different gazebo and water-feature areas. There are some lovely flowering plants out there and we all agreed that it would be a great space for a (very) small outdoor wedding, but a few minutes strolling around the garden is plenty. I wasn't really clear on what the panorama itself was going to be like, but I assumed it was going to have lots of intricate painted detail and maybe some 3-D elements like a diorama. The current theme (which seems to have been ongoing for a couple of years now) is the Arctic one, which is a background painting of water and ice and some sculpted "icebergs" floating in a "river." As you sit quietly in the somewhat stuffy little round room, you can hear a soundtrack playing in the background. We poked around for a while mainly because it just seemed like there HAD to be more to it... but there really wasn't. Again, five minutes tops and you've seen what there is to see. There's a gift shop area when you first come in, but if you're hoping for an eclectic selection of books and jewelry like the Museum of Jurassic Technology, you'll be disappointed - it's mainly just a couple of books on old-fashioned painted panoramas and some postcards. I wanted this to be an amazing hidden gem, but was underwhelmed. They do seem to have a regular rotation of live presentations and screenings, so maybe those are more interesting, but overall I wouldn't bother putting this on your to-do list if you're visiting. read more

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One of several places my boyfriend and I visited on my birthday last week. To speak first of the panorama: you walk up a spiral staircase, emerging into the center of a small, circular room, a 360-degree diorama. The walls were painted with scenes of ice and ocean - the exhibit of which was "Effulgence of the North: An Arctic Panorama" - with three-dimensional "glaciers" at the bottom, behind a barrier. The lighting brightens and dims as the sounds of sloshing water, drips, wailing winds, and cracking ice fill the chamber. When we came in, there were two other people sitting on the bench, staring at one section of wall, occasionally whispering back and forth. They remained there, still staring at the same piece of wall a couple feet in front of them, when we left after 20 minutes (which, by the way, felt like more than enough time in there to get the experience). Being in there and watching these two hipsters reminded me of my experiences at the Museum of Jurassic Technology. I mean, it's neat, but you kind of wonder what other people are taking from the experience. We proceeded into the theater where nothing was going on, and then moved into the gardens. I felt this was where we derived the most pleasure. To be frank, the grounds are enchanting. As we stepped through the arch leading toward the miniature gazebo, a sweet, little kitten emerged from the underbrush eager for our attention. He jumped up and rubbed against our legs, maneuvering his head into our outstretched hands. Then we noticed he was polydactyl with extra toes on his front paws, making them look like mittens. Cutest, little freak kitty ever. They also had an exhibit of pieces in this darkened gallery, kind of eerie for some reason, where you looked into these little boxes and saw various scenes - dioramas toying with your perception of size and light. A couple of pieces were insects, mounted inside light bulbs which lit when you gently blew on them. The exhibit was called "A Series of Views from the Interstitial Observatory." The place is run on donations, and whether or not you fully understand the exhibits, it's worth as much as you can give. read more

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I don't totally get its draw beyond the hipster factor, but I can respect its historical value. read more

Velaslavasay Panorama - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I heard about this place through "Visiting with Huell Howser" and immediately had to visit! I mentioned it to a group of friends I had lunch with and it was difficult to describe, but they all have an appreciation for art, fine architecture, and oddities. It wasn't busy on a Sunday afternoon. They are donation-based, but you should donate generously to keep this place open! The ticket lady was nice and full of information. Their current exhibit is an artic panorama upstairs. Take a seat and absorb in the sounds and light. We took photos of the theater and the gardens outside. Our visit was short, but I want to come back for an evening event some time soon! read more

Velaslavasay Panorama - Neat printed ticket - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Made an appointment thru their website today and visited. They have a great painting of China with some sounds and light. I guess panoramas were famous back in the day but they're not anymore. I looked it up and this is the only panorama in California and that's pretty cool. I'd like to go back for an event some time. read more

First of all, it's fun to say. Velaslavaysay. Velaslavasay. I wasn't sure how to pronounce it until I made my first reservation, a couple of years ago, when the recording told me how. Velaslavasay. It contrives to be soothing and exotic, all at once. As does the space itself, a tiny old re-purposed movie theater near USC. I've seen several shows here, including last year's puppet "Frankenstein" and a Halloween vaudeville with ghosty puppets flying over the audience. It's all very low-tech and high imagination, which I find truly theatrical. If you like your performances fantastic and phantasmagorical, then say it again with me now: Velaslavasay. Ooh. read more

Wow, what an enchanting & whimsical place! I almost thought about not writing the review, just so I could keep this gem my little secret. Parking was easy peasy on the street, & it was easy to find. The employees were friendly, & explained the suggested donation, as well as where to find what. The theatre was great, my boyfriend & I enjoyed looking at all of the old posters. Of course, the Panorama was fantastic! I had no knowledge of this art form, & now I want to see more.8 I was so happy to be able to just sit & observe for a while. Quite a cool experience. The garden was magical as well, & I especially enjoyed the fountain inside the stone room. Overall, I adored this panorama exhibit & definitely will return! read more

Well this place was unique to me. As I have no sense of reference to compare this to I gave it 3 stars. Apparently this was a form of art work many years ago. Basically you're surrounded by artwork so you can imagine yourself in a far off place. There is a small garden in the back of the building. The one staff member was as helpful as she could be. I actually found the old building to be more interesting than the artwork. Parking is non-existent. You have to find somewhere along the street to park. Thanks for taking the time to keep the memory of this art form alive. I for one am happy technology has evolved smile emoticon read more

One of my friends delights in finding random cultural activities around LA, and so one Saturday evening we found ourselves at the Panorama for a storytelling experience: three musicians and a man reading stories. The auditorium we were seated in was small; maybe 70 people could sit there? The auditorium is falling apart: huge unpainted chunks, stains, and the seats we were in felt like they'd been in a high school auditorium since the 1960s, plus were held together with duct tape. Still, it was charming, there was a puppet stage off to the side, and the room had old-fashioned moldings. The actual panorama, as others have described it, is up a spiral staircase. I believe the scenery in there changes; at the time of our visit, it was an arctic view of ocean, glaciers, and clouds at night, highlighted by a recording of glaciers cracking (my friend said it was nothing like being in Alaska). We couldn't figure out why the theme was chosen, how often the scenery changes, if somehow we didn't Get It and it was more than an art project. Would I have been more impressed if I was a visitor 60 years ago, maybe I'm just jaded due to modernity? There was a small art gallery in the very front of the building with photography I found boring. There were posters for upcoming events, some of which looked pretty interesting. The garden, though, is where it's at, and it seems other reviewers agree. I wasn't sure we'd be able to see it at nighttime, but strings of lights illuminated this very beautiful, private place. Vines, wonderful-smelling flowers, a gazebo with room for two, a completely-round gate, little pathways and a patio (crackers, lemonade, and sangria were being served): this may as well have been another world. I would LOVE to see it in the daytime, and also find out where they're hiding the carnivorous plant collection that's supposedly there. Carnivorous plants aside, the garden would be a MARVELOUS setting for a small wedding. read more

Sara Velas is one of Los Angeles' true visionaries. Housed in the old Union Theatre (I believe built in 1910), the panorama has just that: a panorama. Which is impressive just by itself. But that's not all follks! The Panorama hosts an eclectic calendar of art shows/lectures/films. After taking in some culture, venture into the gardens. Sara is also very knowledgeable about the indigenous flowers of souther california and keeps the garden looking and smelling impeccable. The garden is a little wonderland stuck right in the middle of the urban landscape. I love it. Thank you, Sara! read more

I don't know how typical my experience at Velaslavasay Panorama was given that I only saw one of their installations. I came to the Panorama to see the "Moving Mirror of California" exhibition they have going on from July 23 through August 21, 2010 (see their website for more information). To be honest, I wanted to like everything about that night more than I did, but I'm giving this place 3-stars because they are doing something truly unique with this space and they allow really interesting artists a place to show their work in this city. I do want to stress, however, that this place is definitely not for most kids-- they will die of boredom. Trust me, this is a place that only mature teens and adults can appreciate for the most part. I am open to the idea of returning for future exhibits and hopefully my rating will improve. read more

The place is amazing but at the same time sketchy as hell. This is in the middle of no where and there's no parking, except street parking. Pricing is based on your donations so any amount was good enough. Took some amazing photo too. read more

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What an amazing place. The puppet miniatures performance of "Frankenstein (Mortal Toys)" was one of the most brilliant and original performances I've ever seen. Support this great theater. Their website: http://www.panoramaonview.org/ read more

The Museum of Animals and Society sponsered the Be Kind to Animals event here in July of 2013. Housed in the historic, hundred year old Union Theatre, the Velaslavasay Panorama has revived this once prominent mainstay of the theatre circuit of 1930's Los Angeles. Located in the once eminently respectable Union Square, near West Adams, the area seems to have reversed decades of decline. The Velaslavsay has an arctic diorama upstairs, complete with sound effects and a chilled breeze. Innovative and popular in the 19th century, it is still remarkable effective. The theatre still has seating for over a hundred people, and has a charming outdoor garden area complete with a gazebo. An oasis of tranquility in a neighborhood quite different from the 1920's. read more

I went to the Panorama for a charity function benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I saw the inspirational documentary about the Senior Olympic Games. It was a really good film. The Panorama Is a place with a unique charm. The garden was nice and in need of more care but was in better shape that some people's front yards. The backyard was where the food was after the screening. It was small but intimate for the small crowd that came. read more

My job makes me kind of a geek for 19th-century phenomena, and as I approached my five-year mark in California, I decided this was one of the things I had to do before I hit my anniversary. I picked up a great street parking space and gave what little money I had as my donation for admission (note: they are cash only). And then I ran up the stairs to hang out in Antarctica for a bit. The verdict: this place is really cool and really special, but definitely better to combine with other things in the area. Spend some time with it, though, or you'll be missing out. read more

There is nothing like taking your eyes off digital and seeing the light. read more

This place is a GEM!! Arcane, old-timey and charming, with an enchanted garden out back. Amazing programming and exhibits offer a rare bit of time-travel in the midst of LA. Also, during performances their neighbor sells $1 tacos out of the front yard if you get hungry. read more

We went to this place the day after visiting the Museum of Jurassic Technology. We had high hopes. They were dashed. I really wanted to like this place, and gave the full suggested admission price in support of small projects/venues such as this, but WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!! The Arctic panorama scene was just a straight-up head scratch. We stood there for some time in the hopes the lighting might shift or an animated polar bear might emerge, but no, it was just a poorly illustrated arctic scene. bizarre and boring. So then we thought we'd hit up the "magical grounds" in the back. As another reviewer said, basically an overgrown garden, and not a very good one at that. So don't waste your time and money here. (we're on a short holiday in LA). But I would NOT MISS the Museum of J.T.. It succeeds where this Panorama fails. read more

A lavish garden, historic theater, and rotating exhibits make this a hidden gem worth discovering. At the center of it all is a 19th century-style panorama, an immersive 360° painting reached via spiral staircase. read more

If you can catch this place on the night of a show you never know what you will find, I've come across magic lantern shows, Bunuel, kirlian photography, a spook show seance, there was even a kids film and craft Saturday series. But in my opinion you come for the 360 degree Panorama display, hand-painted with 3D components and sound design, which rotates out every few years. There is always something more to discover there too. A lush garden and arctic "cabin" make this a great place to take out of town guests. Once I wandered by and there was a tintype photographer set up in the garden taking photos of willing visitors. Don't worry there's also a gift shop so you can really wow your friends who know everything! read more

A magical place, somewhere to take a very special person you'd like to impress. The kind of place that keeps surprising you throughout your time there. First, you're charmed by the art deco exterior of the tiny Unity Theater, with its celadon tiles cascading Aztec-style down the curved facade. Then, you're entranced when you enter the teeny tiny lobby, notice it's filled (most likely) by hipster people you wish you could know better. Beautifully printed postcards and programs for future events are placed on little tables (someone here owns a printing press) and a friendly person behind a little window (everything is small at this point) greets you and gives you your letterpress (!!) ticket. Then, you're knocked out by the quality of the actual show being held there. The event I attended was pretty glorious and bizarre, the kind of soiree where you'd expect to spot Crispin Glover, or your ex from Boston who is now an internationally acclaimed writer (and about to be married to a lovely cult-movie indie star, grrrr). How can I even explain it...a lecture/slide show on Arctic Panoramas. Basically: in the late 19th century 3/4 or the world was obsessed, OBSESSED, with Arctic explorations and voyages. They were also obsessed with travelling panoramas, which were pretty much the IMAX theaters of the mid-to-late 19th century. They were so popular that special round theaters were built in which to display the often mile-long canvases on which were painted very life-like and dramatic scens from battles, famous historic events, and, in this case, over-wrought gothic depictions of icebergs, ships run aground in the ice, and the tombs of unfortunate and frozen explorers. So...A and I got to go see Prof. Potter (yes! his real name, could it get any cooler?) ramble charmingly and eloquently about arctic travel, the panorama craze, and even channel some heroic explorers from that era. At one point he whipped the man-scrunchie off his pony tail and shook free his shiny brown hair to better get into the Byronic spirit of the thing. Yee-hah, professor boy! Nerdy, yet ever-so-sexay! And then, after the perfectly timed talk and blessedly short Q&A period, we were all treated to a delicious meal replicating what would have been available to those hardy souls who braved the frigid northern tempoeratures in search of the North Pole. There was home made pemmican (meat and vegetarian), a delicous, smoky, subtle pea soup, various nuts and dried fruit, oatcakes, and whale blubber! I really, really loved the whale blubber. And even more I loved the hot rum drinks doled out by a cheerful Velaslavasay Panorama volunteer. Oh did I mention? The Unity Theater actually IS a panorama building, and A and I were able to explore the absoloutely magical re-creation of an Arctic Panorama at the top of a little spiral staircase. It was like a scene from a dorky movie where the shy and awkward young stragely handsome geek (let's say, jake gyllenahall) surprises the beautiful, haunted, complicated model-type he loves (let's say, Keira Knightley) and quiet indie music plays as she gazes in wonder and then turns around and kisses him. Just like that. And did I mention that I wanted to move into this place, and live here forever, making pemmican and hanging out with Crispin Glover wannabees? That I wanted to immediately leave behind my job, my rambling/shabby-gorgeous/charming/loveable apartment in FairHo and brave the wilds of West Adams? Cause that's the magic of the Velaslavasay Panorama, and I swear that you'll be enchanted too. Just go. Go. read more

i went to another event at the velaslavasay and it was awesome, a lecture/presentation by the artist zoe beloff (her exhibit "the somnambulists" is currently on display in the ancillary salon) about her work on the archive of the coney island amateur psychoanalytic society followed by a screening of several of that society's dream films. but the reason i wanted to update my review is the amazing garden out back. it's a large, wondrous space with a tiny gazebo, some winding rock paths, a flower draped trellis, an array of plants and... a small popcorn machine! it was truly a magical moment when i stepped out from the theatre, post-lecture, and into this softly-lit, lovely garden. it was the perfect way to end the evening. read more

One of those places that make you love the city you live in. Thanks for being there Velaslavasay! read more