WhiteMoon is officially calling Downtown LA home these days and we couldn’t be happier.  We are  now just a hop, skip and a jump from Pershing Square, the Downtown Central Library and just about any food you could even imagine (We’re looking at you Doner Kebab!).

With all the awesomeness in tow, there are is a whole new education that one learns while becoming a part of the LA metropolis. Included below are some highlights of what we have learned:

• Who Needs Restrooms? There are all kinds of people downtown and that what makes LA great. What does not make LA great sometimes are the numerous amount of people that use the sides of buildings as their own private toilet. Lesson learned? If you see someone “in position” just keep walking, staring only embarrasses you both.

• Public Transportation-Good for the Earth, BUT With a Warning: We love public transportation here at WhiteMoon! In fact, more than half of us take the train or the bus to work everyday as the train stop and bus stop are right in front of the building. This makes for great convenience and also benefits the Earth which is something we care about deeply here at WhiteMoon. However, the smells you can encounter are sometimes so bad you didn’t know any place could small like that. Also, you see stuff stuck on seats that you don’t know if things like that existed in nature. Lesson learned? if you’re going to take the bus or train, do so with the highest of caution and the strongest of stomachs.

• Purell is Your Best Friend: The weirdest thing when you move somewhere like Downtown LA is that your hands end up on everything. You touch streetlight posts, railings, public counters, questionable surfaces-EVERYTHING! Then you wonder why you develop a cold 2 days later. Lesson learned? Purell your hands like they are going into combat because the germs down here are vicious.

• Make New Friends, but Don’t Let Them Follow You Home: So funny anecdote (well it is now, that I am not dead). The other day while coming back from lunch, I was waiting to cross the street to head back to the office. To my left? A man with a suitcase. I nodded and said “Hello”. What does this mean to this man? Apparently it meant it was an invitation for him to follow me all the way back to the office while trying his hardest to get me to talk to him and “go hang on Broadway”. Now, my lingo is pretty good, but for all I know when someone wants to take you to “hang on Broadway” that could be code for “let me take you back and cut you up in pieces for my people collection”. Yeah, no thanks. Lesson learned? While it is good to be friendly to your fellow man or woman, be cautious of how friendly you actually are. You could end up as inspiration for an episode of Criminal Minds.

• Food is EVERYWHERE-Even in That Shady Looking Place! Literally, there is food everywhere! Just when you thought you had tried everything there is you find another little hole-in-the wall that serves up the best tacos to ever grace your stomach. The best part is the most tasty places can also be the shadiest looking from the outside. What looks like a front for something unsavory can end up being one of the best sandwiches with the best service you have ever received. Had you not gone in there, you might have paid triple the amount for a place where the food sucks and is being served to you by a bitter wannabe actor named Dave. Lesson Learned? Don’t be afraid to try new things and places-you might be surprised.

• No You Are NOT Interested! Seriously, I know times are rough for a lot of people. It’s a tough world right now and honest people are trying to be enterprising. But if I had a dollar for every person who offered me a flyer for “making money quick-with a small investment”, pyramid scheme or “deal of a lifetime”, I would end up broke. You have people out here with some serious tricks up their sleeve who are wasting a lot of paper. Lesson Learned? As nice as you might want to be, learn the calm way of saying you’re not interested. In the end you’re saving some paper and yourself from a manure salesman position with the latest multi-level marketing scheme.

Downtown is definitely a place of adventure. Even with all the sidewalk ranters and strange smells, it is one hell of a place to call home. With these lessons in your pocket and some trusty hand sanitizer, you are on your way to becoming a true Downtown LA explorer. Cheers and see you next time!