I had a studio in this neighborhood for 3 years. Just take your camera and spend a couple hours walking around admiring the colors and people and odd shops. 

One of my favorite things to do on weekends is to head to Grand Central Market for brunch, grab a few glasses of wine at the Oyster bar and then roam around downtown collecting pigeons. Over the past few years the market has been modernized and has become a really trendy spot, but it still retains aspects of what it was like decades ago. Some of my favorite stands are The Oyster Gourmet, Sarita's Pupuseria and the Belcampo Meat Co.

Best vegan food

You've heard of Disneyland, but you must see the Abraham Lincoln animatronic at the end of Main Street near the entrance. He gives a super life-like impassioned speech about America that is very timely. 

This place is really popular, and for good reason. Their cuts of meat are on point, and who doesn't love troughs of cheesy corn and steamed eggs? Definitely order a lunch box, and if you want to avoid the long wait, go either super early around or really late. They're open from 11:30a to 1:30a.