all above cool places. I wonder if it is safe to come and play as a tourist or is it best to make a big circle around it as you do with street hustlers?
Santana Row is private property with private security. I always feel totally safe there. Never any hustling to my knowledge. Some other public venues, like the chess park on the beach in Santa Monica are a bit threatening to me. I think the chess in MacArthur Park on Wilshire in LA was shut down. The neighborhood got just too dangerous.
I played in Santa Monica last year. It didn't feel unsafe to me, tho it was not nearly as nice as Santana Row. (Probably wouldn't want to be there at night.) The good part is there are good players. I played a guy named Eddie, who beat me in a nicely played game. I was with a family group, so I didn't have time for a rematch.
ice and warm
I have played on an oversized set in Sydney's entertainment quarter a few times. Will have to play in Hyde Park next time I am there
Thank you Qixel for showing the location of Santana Row's chess