Tell me about Los Angeles (1 Viewer)

[Evilgrin 72]

Contemplating taking a trip to L.A. this year for a few reasons. One, I've spent quite a bit of time in San Fran and San Diego, but have only poked around L.A. for a few hours here and there on layovers to Hawaii. Second, I think the wife and I are going to skip the cruise/tropical getaway this year and do a land-based vacation and we typically center these around theme parks and baseball stadiums. We both like seeing new parks and going to games in stadiums we've never been to, and between Knotts Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, and the Dodgers and Angels, L.A. offers a lot of places we've not been to.So, then the question is : if we're there for 6-7 days and are planning to spend 3 days at the parks and maybe 2 nights at ball games, what other activities might the FFA suggest? I'm a heavy drinker, but the wife is a teetotaler, so we'll spend SOME time in bars and such, but not a ton. I know there's Madame Toussaud's (sp?) and the Walk of Fame and the tours of star's homes, but I imagine that only goes so far - what else is there to do? The other option is take a road trip around the northeast, and that offers D.C. and NYC for a day each, which seems like it would provide much more to df course, if I can find a really cheap flight to Europe, both of these go out the window, but I'm weighing the pros & cons right now, so any locals input is helpful. TIA.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

The Getty Museum is beautiful. The Santa Monica pier and beach is pretty nice.Drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy.Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is cool if you like aquariums.

 

[SteevieG]

I'd skip Knott's. Magic Mountin is a pretty good distance from LA proper, but it's fun with all the roller coasters.Maybe Knott's has gotten better since I lived there?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I'd skip Knott's. Magic Mountin is a pretty good distance from LA proper, but it's fun with all the roller coasters.Maybe Knott's has gotten better since I lived there?

I don't know, we're coaster fans, and they supposedly have 8 pretty good ones. Is the place a dump or something?

 

[ThaPenguin]

I'd skip Knott's. Magic Mountin is a pretty good distance from LA proper, but it's fun with all the roller coasters.Maybe Knott's has gotten better since I lived there?

I don't know, we're coaster fans, and they supposedly have 8 pretty good ones. Is the place a dump or something?

Magic Mountain is definitely the place to go in the area for coasters. FastPass recommended, of course.Don't forget Universal Studios if you can make it. New Transformers ride is pretty phenomenal.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The Getty Museum is beautiful. The Santa Monica pier and beach is pretty nice.Drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy.Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is cool if you like aquariums.

Good stuff, thanks. We live on the beach, so beach/surfing/waterview seafood restaurants and activities like that aren't really on the agenda, we can (and do) do that stuff everyday.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I'd skip Knott's. Magic Mountin is a pretty good distance from LA proper, but it's fun with all the roller coasters.Maybe Knott's has gotten better since I lived there?

I don't know, we're coaster fans, and they supposedly have 8 pretty good ones. Is the place a dump or something?

Magic Mountain is definitely the place to go in the area for coasters. FastPass recommended, of course.Don't forget Universal Studios if you can make it. New Transformers ride is pretty phenomenal.

Magic Mountain is the corner stone of our visit if we go. We'll likely go there twice. Universal isn't really on the radar because we have passes to Universal/Islands of Adventure here and they aren't valid at the CA location. A lot of the rides/attractions are the same in both parks, so I doubt it's worth the $150 or so it would cost to buy 2 tickets.

 

[Apple Jack]

So, if you're going during baseball season, it'll be warm in DC/NYC? If so, definitely do that over LA. And hit Busch Gardens in Williamsburg on the way up. It's not Magic Mountain, but it's a freaking gorgeous park with a few strong rides. Then Great Adventure in Jersey. A warm weather DC/NYC trip is so far superior to an LA trip that it's a slam dunk decision, imo. Even more so if you already live at the beach.

 

[EYLive]

The Getty Museum is beautiful. The Santa Monica pier and beach is pretty nice.Drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy.Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is cool if you like aquariums.

Solid list here. Should keep you busy if you do one each day.In addition to the Santa Monica Pier, be sure to wander around 3rd Street Promenade and the new Plaza mall. It's good for touristy .If you like to people watch and see some freaks, Venice Beach is full weird stuff.Depending on where you're staying, you can also take the rail lines to downtown/financial district/Disney concert hall/music center/Grand Central Market for lunch.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Coasters at MMountain are LEGIT. I had not been to an amusement park in a long time, and MMountain rocked my world. Almost lost my cookies after a couple rides. Angels are my AL team and I hate the ####### Dodgers, but the experience at Dodger stadium is just so much better IMO. Catching a night game there should be priority #1 EG, especially if like me west coast baseball in that stadium and Kirk Gibson were big baseball memories for you growing up.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

So, if you're going during baseball season, it'll be warm in DC/NYC? If so, definitely do that over LA. And hit Busch Gardens in Williamsburg on the way up. It's not Magic Mountain, but it's a freaking gorgeous park with a few strong rides. Then Great Adventure in Jersey. A warm weather DC/NYC trip is so far superior to an LA trip that it's a slam dunk decision, imo. Even more so if you already live at the beach.

It would be early June. I grew up 10 minutes from Great Adventure but haven't been there in roughly 20 years. Williamsburg would be a definite stop, as would a day in D.C. and probably a day in NYC. Would also likely visit King's Dominion (I've never been) as well as Hershey Park (haven't been there in about 25-30 years.) So, I think that would be a more action-packed trip, but I've also been to every place on the itinerary except King's Dominion, and my wife has already been to Williamsburg and NYC. L.A. would be 100% new to both of us, so that's the lure there.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The Getty Museum is beautiful. The Santa Monica pier and beach is pretty nice.Drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy.Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is cool if you like aquariums.

Solid list here. Should keep you busy if you do one each day.In addition to the Santa Monica Pier, be sure to wander around 3rd Street Promenade and the new Plaza mall. It's good for touristy .If you like to people watch and see some freaks, Venice Beach is full weird stuff.Depending on where you're staying, you can also take the rail lines to downtown/financial district/Disney concert hall/music center/Grand Central Market for lunch.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Coasters at MMountain are LEGIT. I had not been to an amusement park in a long time, and MMountain rocked my world. Almost lost my cookies after a couple rides. Angels are my AL team and I hate the ####### Dodgers, but the experience at Dodger stadium is just so much better IMO. Catching a night game there should be priority #1 EG, especially if like me west coast baseball in that stadium and Kirk Gibson were big baseball memories for you growing up.

Thanks, man. I went to Cedar Point about 3 years ago and LOVED it. From what I hear, Magic Mountain is really their only rival in terms of sheer volume and intensity of thrill rides, so I kind of feel like I need to go there at some point. Night game at Dodgers Stadium was my main priority on that front - is the traffic/parking a real nightmare? You hear so much about L.A. traffic, but I've never experienced it.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Does that town have any restaurants?Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.TIA

 

[Apple Jack]

So, if you're going during baseball season, it'll be warm in DC/NYC? If so, definitely do that over LA. And hit Busch Gardens in Williamsburg on the way up. It's not Magic Mountain, but it's a freaking gorgeous park with a few strong rides. Then Great Adventure in Jersey. A warm weather DC/NYC trip is so far superior to an LA trip that it's a slam dunk decision, imo. Even more so if you already live at the beach.

It would be early June. I grew up 10 minutes from Great Adventure but haven't been there in roughly 20 years. Williamsburg would be a definite stop, as would a day in D.C. and probably a day in NYC. Would also likely visit King's Dominion (I've never been) as well as Hershey Park (haven't been there in about 25-30 years.) So, I think that would be a more action-packed trip, but I've also been to every place on the itinerary except King's Dominion, and my wife has already been to Williamsburg and NYC. L.A. would be 100% new to both of us, so that's the lure there.

Cool. I grew up going to Kings Dominion a couple times a year, but it would probably be unrecognizable to me now. I know Great Adventure has that crazy 400 ft or whatever Kingda Ka ride. And obviously, you have the Nats/Os/Yanks/Mets, all in cool parks. Then if you've never taken the subway out to ride the Cyclone at Coney Island, that's a must. The Cyclone is a perfect ride. Getting to Shoot the Freak just down the boardwalk is just a bonus. But I definitely get wanting to go someplace you've never been and MM is a serious coaster destination.

 

[Sarnoff]

If you're a stadium guy, Dodgers is a temple. Beautiful place. The stadium tour itself is excellent if you can't fit in a game.

 

[17seconds]

Definitely go there with a plan to hit the best spots. Just "hanging around LA" sucks. 90% of it is horrible.The thing with traffic is just she sheer volume of vehicles + fearless drivers. 7 lanes in each direction, people weaving in and out of lanes at 80mph. At any given moment you'll have somebody with a deathwish zipping through traffic.No first hand knowledge but everyone I know says Knott's and Magic Mountain are overrun by gangs.(I know, thanks posty)

 

[Aerial Assault]

Since Santa Monica and Venice already got mentions, Hollywood Boulevard and the museums around USC. Night ball at Dodger Stadium is unbeatable. Nah, parking really isn't too bad considering the geography, but if at all possible, take the bus shuttle from downtown or a couple of other locations; it will be easier. MM is money.

 

[Aerial Assault]

No first hand knowledge but everyone I know says Knott's and Magic Mountain are overrun by gangs.

They're wrong. Been to each many times and never had an issue. Traffic here is about like traffic in NYC, Boston or Washington for those unfamiliar. It's no worse than that.

 

[Eephus]

Does that town have any restaurants?Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

 

[-fish-]

If you want to really experience LA, rent a car and drive 80 mph in bumper to bumper traffic. Best drivers in the country.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

So, if you're going during baseball season, it'll be warm in DC/NYC? If so, definitely do that over LA. And hit Busch Gardens in Williamsburg on the way up. It's not Magic Mountain, but it's a freaking gorgeous park with a few strong rides. Then Great Adventure in Jersey. A warm weather DC/NYC trip is so far superior to an LA trip that it's a slam dunk decision, imo. Even more so if you already live at the beach.

It would be early June. I grew up 10 minutes from Great Adventure but haven't been there in roughly 20 years. Williamsburg would be a definite stop, as would a day in D.C. and probably a day in NYC. Would also likely visit King's Dominion (I've never been) as well as Hershey Park (haven't been there in about 25-30 years.) So, I think that would be a more action-packed trip, but I've also been to every place on the itinerary except King's Dominion, and my wife has already been to Williamsburg and NYC. L.A. would be 100% new to both of us, so that's the lure there.

Cool. I grew up going to Kings Dominion a couple times a year, but it would probably be unrecognizable to me now. I know Great Adventure has that crazy 400 ft or whatever Kingda Ka ride. And obviously, you have the Nats/Os/Yanks/Mets, all in cool parks. Then if you've never taken the subway out to ride the Cyclone at Coney Island, that's a must. The Cyclone is a perfect ride. Getting to Shoot the Freak just down the boardwalk is just a bonus. But I definitely get wanting to go someplace you've never been and MM is a serious coaster destination.

Never been to the Nats' stadium, but I have seen the others many times each. Although, I haven't seen the new Yankee Stadium nor Citi Field - been to the old Yankee Stadium and Shea probably 20 times each. Also haven't been to the new stadium in Philly - was in Veterans' Stadium probably 15-20 times. I've also been out to Coney Island many times, but the wife never has. There'd be a lot more "new stuff" on that itinerary for her, less so for me.

 

[-fish-]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

No first hand knowledge but everyone I know says Knott's and Magic Mountain are overrun by gangs.

They're wrong. Been to each many times and never had an issue. Traffic here is about like traffic in NYC, Boston or Washington for those unfamiliar. It's no worse than that.

I drove from Central Jersey to the WTC every day for 5 years via the Holland Tunnel, so I'm familiar with that kind of traffic. Basically, if you've ever watched the Sopranos, take the opening credits, stretch that out to 90 minutes and replace "Woke up this morning...." with Howard Stern and Metallica and that was every morning from 1995-2000. It's the 80 MPH 7-lanes with people darting in and out that makes me a touch nervous. I'm a much more relaxed type of driver, not very aggressive despite that commute every day.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

I would love to do that. Wonder if anyone good is playing there in June. BRB.

 

[17seconds]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Can you unwrap that a bit?I'd say LA mexican food is good, OC sucks, SD is good.

Maybe you are more into Baja style (fish tacos, etc) which is more prevalent in SD?

 

[mad sweeney]

Don't forget to stop by the Hipster HQs of the World in Silverlake and Echo Park! The Cha Cha Lounge will give you views of humanity you'd never wish you saw.I've been here 13 years and most of the touristy things to do around here I've avoided like the plague but have ended up going there anyways for work. Bring this thread up before or during your trip and I should be able to direct you to some productions filming throughout the city to get a look at how much we disrupt everything to get TV done. Warner Bros might be a decent trip to make with a studio tour, depending on price. It's a lot different than Universal since there isn't a theme park attached. However at that time of year, most of the TV shows will be in hiatus so there may not be much to see. The good point though is that it takes a lot less time than Uni.For bars, the Red Lion in Silverlake is, although overrun by hipsters, a great place. Good old fashioned German food and a beer garden out back. If you like whiskey, downtown at 7th and Grand is Seven Grand, a very popular whiskey bar. Everyone has their niche sushi places, but the one I go to is damn good and still maintains a "small sushi place" feel to it despite being packed after 6 or so on the big nights. It's in Sherman Oaks, pretty close to Universal. Traffic is and isn't as bad as people are saying. It helps if you practice Zen and just let anger leave you.

 

[-fish-]

if you don't have kids and you're going to LA, go see a band at an iconic club. Whisky a Go Go, Roxy, Key Club (used to be Gezarri's, for old-timers), Viper Room, Rainbow, Troubador...

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Really? I always thought L.A. was lousy with great Mexican - that was part of the lure (wife is a Mexican food fanatic.)

 

[Apple Jack]

Don't forget to stop by the Hipster HQs of the World in Silverlake and Echo Park! The Cha Cha Lounge will give you views of humanity you'd never wish you saw.I've been here 13 years and most of the touristy things to do around here I've avoided like the plague but have ended up going there anyways for work. Bring this thread up before or during your trip and I should be able to direct you to some productions filming throughout the city to get a look at how much we disrupt everything to get TV done. Warner Bros might be a decent trip to make with a studio tour, depending on price. It's a lot different than Universal since there isn't a theme park attached. However at that time of year, most of the TV shows will be in hiatus so there may not be much to see. The good point though is that it takes a lot less time than Uni.For bars, the Red Lion in Silverlake is, although overrun by hipsters, a great place. Good old fashioned German food and a beer garden out back. If you like whiskey, downtown at 7th and Grand is Seven Grand, a very popular whiskey bar. Everyone has their niche sushi places, but the one I go to is damn good and still maintains a "small sushi place" feel to it despite being packed after 6 or so on the big nights. It's in Sherman Oaks, pretty close to Universal. Traffic is and isn't as bad as people are saying. It helps if you practice Zen and just let anger leave you.

You are awfully consumed with hipsters. And you think a guy who worked in NYC where and when the current hipster culture was born has never seen a hipster? Hipster, hipster, hipster!

 

[17seconds]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

I would love to do that. Wonder if anyone good is playing there in June. BRB.

Greek Theater ain't bad either. I see Barry Manilow is doing 3 nights in June, that seems like your style.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Don't forget to stop by the Hipster HQs of the World in Silverlake and Echo Park! The Cha Cha Lounge will give you views of humanity you'd never wish you saw.I've been here 13 years and most of the touristy things to do around here I've avoided like the plague but have ended up going there anyways for work. Bring this thread up before or during your trip and I should be able to direct you to some productions filming throughout the city to get a look at how much we disrupt everything to get TV done. Warner Bros might be a decent trip to make with a studio tour, depending on price. It's a lot different than Universal since there isn't a theme park attached. However at that time of year, most of the TV shows will be in hiatus so there may not be much to see. The good point though is that it takes a lot less time than Uni.For bars, the Red Lion in Silverlake is, although overrun by hipsters, a great place. Good old fashioned German food and a beer garden out back. If you like whiskey, downtown at 7th and Grand is Seven Grand, a very popular whiskey bar. Everyone has their niche sushi places, but the one I go to is damn good and still maintains a "small sushi place" feel to it despite being packed after 6 or so on the big nights. It's in Sherman Oaks, pretty close to Universal. Traffic is and isn't as bad as people are saying. It helps if you practice Zen and just let anger leave you.

Major I'll definitely need some bar/restaurant recos if we go, and we're both into places like you mention. Small joints that the locals revere that don't necessarily draw tourists are my favorite spots - give me a great dive bar with character any day. I DO, however, feel like I almost need to go to Philippe's, as the french dip is among the foods that if I ever have to go without them, I might kill myself.

 

[-fish-]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Can you unwrap that a bit?I'd say LA mexican food is good, OC sucks, SD is good.

Maybe you are more into Baja style (fish tacos, etc) which is more prevalent in SD?

I lived in SoCal for 35 years. LA's mexican food is greasier and doesn't taste as good, across the board. I have no idea why. Not just the taco shops, which are inferior, but the restaurants too.

 

[mad sweeney]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Can you unwrap that a bit?I'd say LA mexican food is good, OC sucks, SD is good.

Maybe you are more into Baja style (fish tacos, etc) which is more prevalent in SD?

I'll expand on that and say, LA Mexican food sucks! I haven't had a decent carne asada burrito since I moved up here. There are some cool places that have decent food and a specialty like Lucy's, Mexico City (mole) or Casita del Campo, El Conq, Sieti Mares (ceviche) or Alegria. But none of them, nor any place I've found, have come close to even the worst carne asada burrito and any taco stand ending in *-bertos in SD.El Cid may be a place to go. It's Spanish, not Mexican, but their Flamenco dinner show is outstanding.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

if you don't have kids and you're going to LA, go see a band at an iconic club. Whisky a Go Go, Roxy, Key Club (used to be Gezarri's, for old-timers), Viper Room, Rainbow, Troubador...

This is definitely on my must-do list. I want to go to all of these places, I've read/heard about them all so much (as a metalhead) that I feel deprived to never have seen them in the flesh.

 

[-fish-]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Really? I always thought L.A. was lousy with great Mexican - that was part of the lure (wife is a Mexican food fanatic.)

All relative. Compared to Washington, it's awesome. Compared to San Diego, it sucks.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Don't forget to stop by the Hipster HQs of the World in Silverlake and Echo Park! The Cha Cha Lounge will give you views of humanity you'd never wish you saw.I've been here 13 years and most of the touristy things to do around here I've avoided like the plague but have ended up going there anyways for work. Bring this thread up before or during your trip and I should be able to direct you to some productions filming throughout the city to get a look at how much we disrupt everything to get TV done. Warner Bros might be a decent trip to make with a studio tour, depending on price. It's a lot different than Universal since there isn't a theme park attached. However at that time of year, most of the TV shows will be in hiatus so there may not be much to see. The good point though is that it takes a lot less time than Uni.For bars, the Red Lion in Silverlake is, although overrun by hipsters, a great place. Good old fashioned German food and a beer garden out back. If you like whiskey, downtown at 7th and Grand is Seven Grand, a very popular whiskey bar. Everyone has their niche sushi places, but the one I go to is damn good and still maintains a "small sushi place" feel to it despite being packed after 6 or so on the big nights. It's in Sherman Oaks, pretty close to Universal. Traffic is and isn't as bad as people are saying. It helps if you practice Zen and just let anger leave you.

You are awfully consumed with hipsters. And you think a guy who worked in NYC where and when the current hipster culture was born has never seen a hipster? Hipster, hipster, hipster!

Orlando has tons of hipster neighborhoods/hang-outs. And like you mentioned, NYC in the 90s? Forget it.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

I would love to do that. Wonder if anyone good is playing there in June. BRB.

Greek Theater ain't bad either. I see Barry Manilow is doing 3 nights in June, that seems like your style.

Hell yeah ! Motherf###er writes the songs that make the whole world sing. Andrea Bocelli is performing at the Hollywood Bowl on 6/8 too - gimme some of THAT !

 

[-fish-]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Can you unwrap that a bit?I'd say LA mexican food is good, OC sucks, SD is good.

Maybe you are more into Baja style (fish tacos, etc) which is more prevalent in SD?

I'll expand on that and say, LA Mexican food sucks! I haven't had a decent carne asada burrito since I moved up here. There are some cool places that have decent food and a specialty like Lucy's, Mexico City (mole) or Casita del Campo, El Conq, Sieti Mares (ceviche) or Alegria. But none of them, nor any place I've found, have come close to even the worst carne asada burrito and any taco stand ending in *-bertos in SD.

El Cid may be a place to go. It's Spanish, not Mexican, but their Flamenco dinner show is outstanding.

This. Nothing in LA can touch anybertos, or any random place in SD with yellow and orange or red and white stripes.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

 

[-fish-]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Traffic can be bad, but people know how to drive. In Washington, you'll have cars driving right next to each other three lanes across, all driving just under the speed limit for no apparent reason. Come up on someone in the fast lane? Not a chance they'll move over. Merging? It's like they've all suddenly become brain damaged.People in Southern California are trying to get places when they drive, and they understand the unwritten rules of driving...leave space for people to get by, don't drive slow in the fast lane (except, for some reason, minivans), merge like zipping up a zipper, drive with intention. Sure, you can get in the right lane and drive 65, but that's no fun.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Understood. My SO grew up on the other side of the land, has been here just a few years, is no maniac, and gets around the whole metro area for work very, very well. You may want to bump this closer to your trip so we can tell you alternates and shortcuts based on specific routes, though. There will be lotsa construction this summer.

 

[17seconds]

Does that town have any restaurants?

Would be nice to get some recommendations from FBGs.

TIA

Lots of great Thai in Thai Town. Korean BBQ in K-Town. No personal experience with Mexican places.We went to Susan Feniger's global street food restaurant last year. The concept was better than the execution IMO but the patio had a very cool LA vibe.

Highly recommend seeing a show at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the truly iconic concert venues and you can bring in your own wine.

Oddly, LA Mexican food sucks. Need to get south of Camp Pendleton for good Mexican.

Can you unwrap that a bit?I'd say LA mexican food is good, OC sucks, SD is good.

Maybe you are more into Baja style (fish tacos, etc) which is more prevalent in SD?

I'll expand on that and say, LA Mexican food sucks! I haven't had a decent carne asada burrito since I moved up here. There are some cool places that have decent food and a specialty like Lucy's, Mexico City (mole) or Casita del Campo, El Conq, Sieti Mares (ceviche) or Alegria. But none of them, nor any place I've found, have come close to even the worst carne asada burrito and any taco stand ending in *-bertos in SD.

El Cid may be a place to go. It's Spanish, not Mexican, but their Flamenco dinner show is outstanding.

This. Nothing in LA can touch anybertos, or any random place in SD with yellow and orange or red and white stripes.

*betos is all over CA and AZ and they are all basically the same

 

[Sarnoff]

"people in Los Angeles drove the way people walk through casinos: oblivious to the fact that somebody else might be on the road and need to get somewhere"

 

[mad sweeney]

Don't forget to stop by the Hipster HQs of the World in Silverlake and Echo Park! The Cha Cha Lounge will give you views of humanity you'd never wish you saw.I've been here 13 years and most of the touristy things to do around here I've avoided like the plague but have ended up going there anyways for work. Bring this thread up before or during your trip and I should be able to direct you to some productions filming throughout the city to get a look at how much we disrupt everything to get TV done. Warner Bros might be a decent trip to make with a studio tour, depending on price. It's a lot different than Universal since there isn't a theme park attached. However at that time of year, most of the TV shows will be in hiatus so there may not be much to see. The good point though is that it takes a lot less time than Uni.For bars, the Red Lion in Silverlake is, although overrun by hipsters, a great place. Good old fashioned German food and a beer garden out back. If you like whiskey, downtown at 7th and Grand is Seven Grand, a very popular whiskey bar. Everyone has their niche sushi places, but the one I go to is damn good and still maintains a "small sushi place" feel to it despite being packed after 6 or so on the big nights. It's in Sherman Oaks, pretty close to Universal. Traffic is and isn't as bad as people are saying. It helps if you practice Zen and just let anger leave you.

You are awfully consumed with hipsters. And you think a guy who worked in NYC where and when the current hipster culture was born has never seen a hipster? Hipster, hipster, hipster!

You're awfully consumed with making everyone think you know everything about everything cultural. I didn't even say anything about whether or not anyone's seen them or been around them before. We all know that none of us can match your knowledge and experience at living around cultural meccas of the country, so don't get all that upset. I was referring to the recent magazine (GQ?) article that named Silver Lake as the Hipsterest place to live. Oh yeah, and I live in Silverlake so it's funny to me. It's what I see every day. But please, I don't want to stop you from informing us all what is or isn't correct or good about every movement in the country, so please feel free to share your unique insight into the American mythos and tell EG where it is that he should go to get the TRUE experience as only AppleJack, whose experiences are unreachable by anyone else, can guide.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Traffic can be bad, but people know how to drive. In Washington, you'll have cars driving right next to each other three lanes across, all driving just under the speed limit for no apparent reason. Come up on someone in the fast lane? Not a chance they'll move over. Merging? It's like they've all suddenly become brain damaged.People in Southern California are trying to get places when they drive, and they understand the unwritten rules of driving...leave space for people to get by, don't drive slow in the fast lane (except, for some reason, minivans), merge like zipping up a zipper, drive with intention. Sure, you can get in the right lane and drive 65, but that's no fun.

65, no. I drive 60 miles each way on a freeway these days and pretty much lock in at 80-85 the whole way, but there's very little traffic, so I'm used to kind of zoning out and just cruising, if I had idiots darting in and out in front of me all day every day, I'd probably lose my mind. Doesn't really sound too bad, though. I'll just have to make sure I list her as an additional driver on the rental so if she trades paint with someone, I'm covered.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Understood. My SO grew up on the other side of the land, has been here just a few years, is no maniac, and gets around the whole metro area for work very, very well. You may want to bump this closer to your trip so we can tell you alternates and shortcuts based on specific routes, though. There will be lotsa construction this summer.

Will do, thanks.

 

[mad sweeney]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Traffic can be bad, but people know how to drive. In Washington, you'll have cars driving right next to each other three lanes across, all driving just under the speed limit for no apparent reason. Come up on someone in the fast lane? Not a chance they'll move over. Merging? It's like they've all suddenly become brain damaged.People in Southern California are trying to get places when they drive, and they understand the unwritten rules of driving...leave space for people to get by, don't drive slow in the fast lane (except, for some reason, minivans), merge like zipping up a zipper, drive with intention. Sure, you can get in the right lane and drive 65, but that's no fun.

65, no. I drive 60 miles each way on a freeway these days and pretty much lock in at 80-85 the whole way, but there's very little traffic, so I'm used to kind of zoning out and just cruising, if I had idiots darting in and out in front of me all day every day, I'd probably lose my mind. Doesn't really sound too bad, though. I'll just have to make sure I list her as an additional driver on the rental so if she trades paint with someone, I'm covered.

It's not that bad. Just practice defensive driving techniques, stay with the flow and don't expect turn signals to be of much use. When the traffic is heavy you won't be going fast anyway.

 

[17seconds]

Nice call on Seven Grand, mad sweeney. I'll put in a plug for South in SaMo if EG is into sports bars. EG, the "7 lanes with people darting in and out at 80" is just silly hyperbole. If there's no traffic and people can go 80, just hang in the right-side lanes at 65-70. Anyone with your driving cred from Jersey/NYC (which was very well-written and took me back; thanks) will be just fine.

OK, cool. I've just been doing some reading (outside this thread even) that make it sound like it's a frigging go-kart race. I'm not into that and I KNOW my wife won't drive through that, which is far worse than it sounds. Since she's sober and I'm almost always drunk when we're on vacation, she does 95% of the driving.

Understood. My SO grew up on the other side of the land, has been here just a few years, is no maniac, and gets around the whole metro area for work very, very well. You may want to bump this closer to your trip so we can tell you alternates and shortcuts based on specific routes, though. There will be lotsa construction this summer.

If he's driven in major cities it's not a big deal. But for anyone who has only driven in medium cities - driving on LA freeways for the first time can be a harrowing experience.