The new Soco West Parking Structure next to downtown Fullerton’s Transportation Center opened this week. According to the city’s website, the grand opening was Wednesday, June 20 but it was open to the public Tuesday, June 19.
The architecture is modern and impressive (it reminds me of Cal State Fullerton’s new Eastside Parking Structure) and the 814 new parking spots are a welcome addition to make downtown one of Orange County’s happenin’ spots.
It is great that Fullerton now has even more free public parking- now spending an afternoon or late night in downtown is a viable option. The structure is at Harbor Blvd and Santa Fe Ave. (The city is also trying to cater to commuters, as the Fullerton train station is a quick link to Los Angeles).
The new parking structure also holds one of the best inventions ever: A book vending machine.
It is the Fullerton Public Library’s first book vending machine, called the FPL Station. A patron inputs his or her library card and picks a book among the best-sellers stocked in the machine. It’s like buying chips but better. At first I was disappointed that the books are random (just whatever is next in the queue), but it is growing on me because now readers are forced to take whatever they see, potentially expanding their reading habits.
It is believed to be the first book vending machine of its kind in Orange County, the OC Register reports.
And now, my Downtown Fullerton adventures!
My friend Josh and I strolled around downtown last night, looking for a new restaurant to try. We decided on Les Amis, a Lebanese restaurant with a Mediterranean feel- and we picked a winner! I got lamb schwerma ($8.95 for large)- yes, I got the idea from Tony Stark in The Avengers– which is similar to a gyro sandwich. The pita wrap had lamb, tomatoes, lettuce and a great sauce (bitter but in a good way- it probably has a name but I have no idea). Josh got the special, a stew with beef, peas, rice and a salad.
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