Tell me about Los Angeles (1 Viewer)

[gump]

Several other cool ideas:Huntington Library in Pasadena. More for the wife with the botanical gardens but still a very fun walking tour. Short drive from Downtown LA (not sure where you are staying). I would suggest having lunch or dinner in old town Pasadena at any of the hundreds of restaurants (I can get you a list of favorites if you are interested).

I loved Pasadena. Didn't stay there (Sunset strip) but spent all day there prior to a night game at the Rose Bowl. And if you go there, you have to see the Rose Bowl.

 

[T Bell]

Several other cool ideas:Huntington Library in Pasadena. More for the wife with the botanical gardens but still a very fun walking tour. Short drive from Downtown LA (not sure where you are staying). I would suggest having lunch or dinner in old town Pasadena at any of the hundreds of restaurants (I can get you a list of favorites if you are interested).

I loved Pasadena. Didn't stay there (Sunset strip) but spent all day there prior to a night game at the Rose Bowl. And if you go there, you have to see the Rose Bowl.

Crap, Huntington Library is great. Didn't even think of that. Also, Santa Anita racetrack is right nearby to that, if you're into horses (don't know if that's in season though).

 

[mad sweeney]

Well, for one, I'm not buying the whole LA has horrible Mexican food thing. There are 20 billion Mexicans in LA. I think 1 or 2 might be making good, authentic Mexican food up in there.

That is correct. I have a buddy that's lived in LA his whole life, and recently moved to SD for law school. He says the Mexican food in San Diego sucks compared to L.A.

Sounds like your buddy sucks!

Why are you so defensive? Do you also think Phil's BBQ is the best in SoCal? Answer honestly.

I was just joking there. And I don't know Phil's BBQ.

 

[mad sweeney]

You better like traffic jams if you go the LA. Brutal.Timing is everything there and leaving for a destination at the wrong could quadruple your travel time.GL!

Try to get surface street tips from locals. I do everything I can to avoid the freeways in heavy traffic areas.

You can really save a ton of time taking surface streets. On the way back from my daughter's school the 405 is backed up for miles but I cut through the Sherman Oaks/Bel Air hills to go from North Hollywood to Westwood in a little over a half hour. PITA driving but it gets the jobs done.

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

 

[Sarnoff]

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

I knew a route that got me from the Lantana in Santa Monica to my apt. in North Hollywood in under 40 minutes in evening rush hour. Insanity. Sawtelle/Sepulveda/405 for a nanosecond, just getting on and then almost immediately getting off, Valley Vista Blvd... people thought I was making it up. Zig zagged all over the place.

 

[T Bell]

Pico, Olympic and Venice from West Side to Downtown or back = money play. La Cienega = nice shortcut from airport area to West Side.

 

[No. 16]

I can tell you where the PT works and you can whack him for me.

 

[cstu]

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

I knew a route that got me from the Lantana in Santa Monica to my apt. in North Hollywood in under 40 minutes in evening rush hour. Insanity. Sawtelle/Sepulveda/405 for a nanosecond, just getting on and then almost immediately getting off, Valley Vista Blvd... people thought I was making it up. Zig zagged all over the place.

The only bit that might have been faster is to go over to Mulholland and come down Woodcliff. Still, 40 minutes is impressive. Crazy what you have to do in LA.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Some great museums many already mentioned by other. Getty Center, Cal Science Center (Space Shuttle), Reagan Library (retired Air Force 1 plane you can go through), Griffith Observatory & LA County Museum of Art are some I would recommend.

What? No Norton-Simon?The finest artists are there: Rembrandt, Monet, Rafael, Cezanne, Zuburan, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Goya, Picasso. Hundreds of others.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

I knew a route that got me from the Lantana in Santa Monica to my apt. in North Hollywood in under 40 minutes in evening rush hour. Insanity. Sawtelle/Sepulveda/405 for a nanosecond, just getting on and then almost immediately getting off, Valley Vista Blvd... people thought I was making it up. Zig zagged all over the place.

I'll tell you what to do:You take the San Diego Freeway to the Ventura Freeway. You drive to the Slauson Cutoff, get out of your car, cut off your Slauson, get back in your car, then you drive six miles till you see the Giant Neon Vice-Squad Cop.

 

[timschochet]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Some great museums many already mentioned by other. Getty Center, Cal Science Center (Space Shuttle), Reagan Library (retired Air Force 1 plane you can go through), Griffith Observatory & LA County Museum of Art are some I would recommend.

What? No Norton-Simon?The finest artists are there: Rembrandt, Monet, Rafael, Cezanne, Zuburan, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Goya, Picasso. Hundreds of others.

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

I knew a route that got me from the Lantana in Santa Monica to my apt. in North Hollywood in under 40 minutes in evening rush hour. Insanity. Sawtelle/Sepulveda/405 for a nanosecond, just getting on and then almost immediately getting off, Valley Vista Blvd... people thought I was making it up. Zig zagged all over the place.

I'll tell you what to do:You take the San Diego Freeway to the Ventura Freeway. You drive to the Slauson Cutoff, get out of your car, cut off your Slauson, get back in your car, then you drive six miles till you see the Giant Neon Vice-Squad Cop.

I am going to be pissed if nobody gets the references.

 

[Sarnoff]

Some great museums many already mentioned by other. Getty Center, Cal Science Center (Space Shuttle), Reagan Library (retired Air Force 1 plane you can go through), Griffith Observatory & LA County Museum of Art are some I would recommend.

What? No Norton-Simon?The finest artists are there: Rembrandt, Monet, Rafael, Cezanne, Zuburan, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Goya, Picasso. Hundreds of others.

You should see the route I take from Silver Lake to Fox Studios. I criss-cross all over the place and finish up winding through the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. Sometimes the shortcuts can actually take longer than if you take the freeways, but I'll take that over being stuck in traffic on the freeways if the "shortcut" is always moving. My trip above, I probably never get over 25 mph, but it's infinitely better than languishing on the 10.

I knew a route that got me from the Lantana in Santa Monica to my apt. in North Hollywood in under 40 minutes in evening rush hour. Insanity. Sawtelle/Sepulveda/405 for a nanosecond, just getting on and then almost immediately getting off, Valley Vista Blvd... people thought I was making it up. Zig zagged all over the place.

I'll tell you what to do:You take the San Diego Freeway to the Ventura Freeway. You drive to the Slauson Cutoff, get out of your car, cut off your Slauson, get back in your car, then you drive six miles till you see the Giant Neon Vice-Squad Cop.

I am going to be pissed if nobody gets the references.

Relax, Carnac

 

[EYLive]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

I can't think of a more overrated unimpressive food than a Phillipe's sandwich. People should go there just so the myth of this place is busted. Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good.

 

[Judge Smails]

A few pieces of advice re Magic Mountain since I live about 1 hour from there.If you're going in June expect it to be hot. I mean upper 90s type heat. You may luck out and have nice weather but be prepared for the heat.Expect less than stellar customer service. The last few times we went to MM it seemed like everybody that worked there wanted to be somewhere else. Obviously food and drinks inside the park are going to be expensive. It's not as bad as Disneyland but it's no joke. Of course if you're going without kids it won't be as big of a deal.Whatever you do when you leave the park do NOT head north on I-5. You might end up in Bakersfield.

I'm going to disagree on the heat. It's typically only moderately warm in June, and often can be overcast, i.e. "June gloom", but we didn't get much of that last year. Usually July through mid-Sept is the hottest time. Still, summer dress is appropriate but bring extra layers, e.g. a sweater, light jacket, sweatshirt, etc. to throw on, especially if you're within 5-10 miles of the ocean. The fog can roll in and the temp can rapidly drop 10-20 degrees.

THIS. Biggest misconception about So Cal is people think of June as a hot month, and more times than not the June gloom will keep even inland areas like Valencia where Magic Mountain is cool/comfortable. Just know that visiting the beaches in June will often mean bringing a sweater. Again, it's luck of the draw, but it really is the rule rather than the exception. July-October are a lot more predictably sunny. January for that matter.Lots of good suggestions here. I'd just group days. You could do the Getty Museum, 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, and the drive up PCH in Malibu. Stop at a joint like The Reel Inn to get some local flavor. Fresh fish, good beer, overlooking the beach, what's not to like? Go for Magic Mountain if you like coasters. No other park in So Cal comes close. Don't worry, it's safe. If you're into that music I'd recommend doing the Whiskey, Roxy, etc. Lots of history there. Personally, I avoid Hollywood Blvd but there are some very cool shops and restaurants on Melrose. Good comedy at the Improv. Combining the Echo Park scene with a Dodger game is very cool. Definitely do the Hollywood Bowl if you get a chance. Go somewhere and have them make you a great basket lunch, bring some wine, and hang out at the benches in the grassy areas before the entrance. The Greek Theatre has great acoustics as well. So much to do - just know your destination and plan your drive time. 10X better to drive down to Echo Park at 3 or so to hang out before a Dodger game then drive the madness at 5pm.LA Live/Nokia/Staples Center is cool too. LA Theatre is not bad at venues like the Pantages, etc.Have fun!

 

[timschochet]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

I can't think of a more overrated unimpressive food than a Phillipe's sandwich. People should go there just so the myth of this place is busted. Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good.

Oh this is so wrong.

 

[Toad_1234]

What a great thread this is.

 

[EYLive]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

I can't think of a more overrated unimpressive food than a Phillipe's sandwich. People should go there just so the myth of this place is busted. Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good.

Oh this is so wrong.

You strike me as the type of person that buys all the hype and perpetuates the lie that they make even an above average sandwich. I encourage everyone to try it just so they can laugh at all the sheep.

 

[timschochet]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

I can't think of a more overrated unimpressive food than a Phillipe's sandwich. People should go there just so the myth of this place is busted. Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good.

Oh this is so wrong.

You strike me as the type of person that buys all the hype and perpetuates the lie that they make even an above average sandwich. I encourage everyone to try it just so they can laugh at all the sheep.

I hope they do try it. And put the mustard on it. Delicious.

 

[cstu]

A few pieces of advice re Magic Mountain since I live about 1 hour from there.If you're going in June expect it to be hot. I mean upper 90s type heat. You may luck out and have nice weather but be prepared for the heat.Expect less than stellar customer service. The last few times we went to MM it seemed like everybody that worked there wanted to be somewhere else. Obviously food and drinks inside the park are going to be expensive. It's not as bad as Disneyland but it's no joke. Of course if you're going without kids it won't be as big of a deal.Whatever you do when you leave the park do NOT head north on I-5. You might end up in Bakersfield.

I'm going to disagree on the heat. It's typically only moderately warm in June, and often can be overcast, i.e. "June gloom", but we didn't get much of that last year. Usually July through mid-Sept is the hottest time. Still, summer dress is appropriate but bring extra layers, e.g. a sweater, light jacket, sweatshirt, etc. to throw on, especially if you're within 5-10 miles of the ocean. The fog can roll in and the temp can rapidly drop 10-20 degrees.

THIS. Biggest misconception about So Cal is people think of June as a hot month, and more times than not the June gloom will keep even inland areas like Valencia where Magic Mountain is cool/comfortable. Just know that visiting the beaches in June will often mean bringing a sweater. Again, it's luck of the draw, but it really is the rule rather than the exception. July-October are a lot more predictably sunny. January for that matter.Lots of good suggestions here. I'd just group days. You could do the Getty Museum, 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, and the drive up PCH in Malibu. Stop at a joint like The Reel Inn to get some local flavor. Fresh fish, good beer, overlooking the beach, what's not to like? Go for Magic Mountain if you like coasters. No other park in So Cal comes close. Don't worry, it's safe. If you're into that music I'd recommend doing the Whiskey, Roxy, etc. Lots of history there. Personally, I avoid Hollywood Blvd but there are some very cool shops and restaurants on Melrose. Good comedy at the Improv. Combining the Echo Park scene with a Dodger game is very cool. Definitely do the Hollywood Bowl if you get a chance. Go somewhere and have them make you a great basket lunch, bring some wine, and hang out at the benches in the grassy areas before the entrance. The Greek Theatre has great acoustics as well. So much to do - just know your destination and plan your drive time. 10X better to drive down to Echo Park at 3 or so to hang out before a Dodger game then drive the madness at 5pm.LA Live/Nokia/Staples Center is cool too. LA Theatre is not bad at venues like the Pantages, etc.Have fun!

If you want to see a movie, Grauman's (er, TCL's) Chinese Theatre is my favorite place to see a movie. Really a different feel than anywhere else and amazing sound, but it tends not to show the best movies. If not that then the Arclight Cinerama Dome is a great experience.

 

[BRONG]

What a great thread this is.

This thread sux. First two pages were about traffic, bad Mexican food, Magic Mountain and a lot of hopheading. Dealing with traffic in a big city, OMG, call Jeff Gordon. And come on, there are great Mexican joints in the city of Angelinos...for crying out loud...that was two San Diego guys getting excited because little brother is closer to the border.Took two pages to get to the good stuff, imo.

 

[Dinkle Heimer]

I go down there quite a bit for work; when I'm in the West Hollywood area, I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

 

[Toad_1234]

Traffic tips! I'm always in the market for shortcuts that will cut my drive time!

 

[EZD222]

Here's what I would make priority things to see (many of which have been named):

DRIVING/SCENIC

Palos Verdes Peninsula

Malibu Canyon coast and areas

Angeles Crest Highway

Mulholland Drive

Rodeo Drive and celeb's mansions in Beverly Hills

Catalina Island (you take a ferry out of Long Beach - it's a day trip)

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Universal Studios

Disneyland

Knotts Berry Farm

Magic Mountain

LA SPORTS VENUES

Coliseum

Rose Bowl

Dodger Stadium

Angels Stadium

Staples Center

Santa Anita and Hollywood Park racetracks (horses)

SHOWS/MUSIC VENUES

The Hollywood Bowl - seriously, do this if you can, doesn't matter who's playing. It's a quintessential LA experience

Magic Castle

Otherwise, too many to count - just see who/what's in town on Ticketmaster; however you might like:

The Whiskey

House of Blues

BEACHES

Santa Monica

Hermosa Beach

Manhattan Beach

Redondo Beach (you can rent bikes and go up and down the coast on bike paths, from Redondo to Santa Monica)

Huntington Beach

THE SITES

Sunset Strip in Hollywood

Paramount Studios lot tour

Getty Museum (this is a must-do too, especially if you love classical history)

Norton Simon Museum

Peterson Automotive Museum (adjoining the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica)

Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

RANDOM

Cinespia - outdoor movies in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

HIKING

Runyan Canyon

eh, running out of steam here, but I'm sure I'll come up with more.

Oh, and key tip- schedule/plan your stuff in geographic clusters to minimize driving. For example, Cinespia is just down the street from the Paramount Studios lot. If you don't, you'll waste huge amounts of time in the car.

Cinespia is awesome esp when they show something like the exorcist or the shining.They're playing Romeo and Juliet next month in the Los Angeles which is a rarity

http://www.cinespia.org/calendar

Also LA has some killer burgers...Umami, fathers office, the counter, etc.

And you can't leave without getting a double double animal style animal style fries extra crisp chopped jalapenos.

 

[timschochet]

I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

These are good, but the best Jewish deli in the LA area is Brent's, but you've got to go into the Valley.

 

[cstu]

I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

These are good, but the best Jewish deli in the LA area is Brent's, but you've got to go into the Valley.

I've always wanted to go there but it's pretty far out of the way. I gotta try it sometime though. What do you recommend there?

 

[Shrugs]

If you want to see a movie, Grauman's (er, TCL's) Chinese Theatre is my favorite place to see a movie. Really a different feel than anywhere else and amazing sound, but it tends not to show the best movies. If not that then the Arclight Cinerama Dome is a great experience.

I think the Vista Theatre in East Hollywood (http://cinemasightlines.com/cinemas_cinemaviews8.php) is a cooler movie experience than Grauman's and the Cinerama Dome. It's not as touristy as Grauman's, which I realize isn't really a positive when you are a tourist. For us residents, it's less of a hassle not to go into the high-traffic area and deal with all the morons blocking the walkways in order to get pictures with dirty people dressed as super heroes. For the OP, certainly you're going to want to go to Grauman's at some point anyway to see the hand/foot prints and the stars on the walk of fame. The Vista is similarly grand inside like Grauman's but with an Egyptian theme. It actually opened in 1923, four years before Grauman's. The tickets are only $9.50 each (I believe Grauman's is now $13.75 and the Dome is $15 if you're an Arclight member). And the best part is the seating. At one point they removed every other row so you can literally stretch out your legs fully and still have room for people to walk by.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The space shuttle Endeavor is parked at Exposition Park near USC. They built a whole exhibit around it. Cool experience for your side.

I will come to the defense of LA Mexican food. My favorite taco/burrito spots are tucks and stands.

If you hit up downtown LA, Grand Central Market offers "Ana Maria's" and "Tacos Tumbras a Tomas". Asada and/or Al pastor burritos the size of a newborn baby for $5.50 (bring cash), both stands are excellent.

I live 5 minutes from Cape Canaveral, so this isn't as big a deal as it should be. I actually saw it "fly" by about 300 feet up from my balcony strapped to a 757 the day it shipped out to California.

 

[17seconds]

I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

These are good, but the best Jewish deli in the LA area is Brent's, but you've got to go into the Valley.

Do these touch the best ones in NYC?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

A few pieces of advice re Magic Mountain since I live about 1 hour from there.

If you're going in June expect it to be hot. I mean upper 90s type heat. You may luck out and have nice weather but be prepared for the heat.

Expect less than stellar customer service. The last few times we went to MM it seemed like everybody that worked there wanted to be somewhere else.

Obviously food and drinks inside the park are going to be expensive. It's not as bad as Disneyland but it's no joke. Of course if you're going without kids it won't be as big of a deal.

Whatever you do when you leave the park do NOT head north on I-5. You might end up in Bakersfield.

Pretty used to that, but still - a deterrent. Thanks for the info. I could possibly get there in May if the park is open on weekdays year round, would that make a significant difference?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

If you're looking for a "Hollywood" type tour I've heard some awesome things about http://www.dearlydepartedtours.com/ It's a bit morbid but since you're a heavy metal guy I'm just going to assume you like other weird stuff.

I'm a bit fascinated by the macabre, so this actually might work for me.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I can tell you where the PT works and you can whack him for me.

Oh man, would I love to have a chat with that dude.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Awesome info here, thanks so much to everyone, but particularly the ones that wrote long posts with lots of detail (T Bell, that-guy, a few others.) I didn't respond to each individually, but I will print them all out and research the crap out of everything if we decide to go this route.

 

[timschochet]

I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

These are good, but the best Jewish deli in the LA area is Brent's, but you've got to go into the Valley.

I've always wanted to go there but it's pretty far out of the way. I gotta try it sometime though. What do you recommend there?

Pastrami is great. My favorite, for dinner, is the Roumanian steak.As to whether or not it's on par with NY, not sure. I've been to NY only twice in my life, and didn't eat in any famous delis.

 

[17seconds]

I always go for eats at one of the Jewish delis like Canter's or Langer's.

These are good, but the best Jewish deli in the LA area is Brent's, but you've got to go into the Valley.

I've always wanted to go there but it's pretty far out of the way. I gotta try it sometime though. What do you recommend there?

Pastrami is great. My favorite, for dinner, is the Roumanian steak.As to whether or not it's on par with NY, not sure. I've been to NY only twice in my life, and didn't eat in any famous delis.

A deli like Katz's is on a whole different level than any other deli I've been to. If they have something on par with that in SoCal I'd be all over it but I've never looked.

 

[sbonomo]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

Langer or the Hat are much better options...PHillipe's=tourist trap....

 

[Evilgrin 72]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

Langer or the Hat are much better options...PHillipe's=tourist trap....

I'm sure it is, but if I'm in the area, I'm going to it regardless. I'm a big fan of getting a food item from the place that originated it, whether or not it is (or ever was) the BEST practitioner of the art. People in Philly will tell you Pat's and Geno's are overrated and to go to Jim's or Tony Luke's instead, but I defy anyone to eat a Pat's or Geno's cheesesteak and say it isn't delicious. The exception that proves the rule : Sloppy Joe's in Key West. I have made better sloppy joes from a can.

 

[timschochet]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

Langer or the Hat are much better options...PHillipe's=tourist trap....

Another hater. Also make sure not to miss the Farmers Market on Fairfax. Lots of great stands. My favorite is the Brazilian BBQ.

 

[Sarnoff]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

Langer or the Hat are much better options...PHillipe's=tourist trap....

I'm sure it is, but if I'm in the area, I'm going to it regardless. I'm a big fan of getting a food item from the place that originated it, whether or not it is (or ever was) the BEST practitioner of the art. People in Philly will tell you Pat's and Geno's are overrated and to go to Jim's or Tony Luke's instead, but I defy anyone to eat a Pat's or Geno's cheesesteak and say it isn't delicious. The exception that proves the rule : Sloppy Joe's in Key West. I have made better sloppy joes from a can.

Then you'll also have to visit Cole's, the other restaurant that originated the french dip sandwich.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

When you're in downtown make sure you eat at Phillipe's- home of the original french dip sandwich. Delicious and very cheap. (They only take cash, though.)

Langer or the Hat are much better options...PHillipe's=tourist trap....

I'm sure it is, but if I'm in the area, I'm going to it regardless. I'm a big fan of getting a food item from the place that originated it, whether or not it is (or ever was) the BEST practitioner of the art. People in Philly will tell you Pat's and Geno's are overrated and to go to Jim's or Tony Luke's instead, but I defy anyone to eat a Pat's or Geno's cheesesteak and say it isn't delicious. The exception that proves the rule : Sloppy Joe's in Key West. I have made better sloppy joes from a can.

Then you'll also have to visit Cole's, the other restaurant that originated the french dip sandwich.

There always seems to be 2.....

 

[mad sweeney]

If you want to see a movie, Grauman's (er, TCL's) Chinese Theatre is my favorite place to see a movie. Really a different feel than anywhere else and amazing sound, but it tends not to show the best movies. If not that then the Arclight Cinerama Dome is a great experience.

I think the Vista Theatre in East Hollywood (http://cinemasightlines.com/cinemas_cinemaviews8.php) is a cooler movie experience than Grauman's and the Cinerama Dome. It's not as touristy as Grauman's, which I realize isn't really a positive when you are a tourist. For us residents, it's less of a hassle not to go into the high-traffic area and deal with all the morons blocking the walkways in order to get pictures with dirty people dressed as super heroes. For the OP, certainly you're going to want to go to Grauman's at some point anyway to see the hand/foot prints and the stars on the walk of fame. The Vista is similarly grand inside like Grauman's but with an Egyptian theme. It actually opened in 1923, four years before Grauman's. The tickets are only $9.50 each (I believe Grauman's is now $13.75 and the Dome is $15 if you're an Arclight member). And the best part is the seating. At one point they removed every other row so you can literally stretch out your legs fully and still have room for people to walk by.

I believe they originally removed every other row so there was room for a semi-anonymous companion to have room to be face first in your lap. That's probably just urban legend. I agree that going to the Vista is a good idea, followed by a hop over to the Tiki Ti for island drinks (betcha can't pound a blood and sand!). But the viewing experience is sub-par to the Dome. I've actually never been to the big Chinese Theater, but the newer screens in that complex are good. I just don't like the color in the Vista's projection. It's a little too washed out for my tastes, and the popcorn sucks. The price, legroom and grandiosity of the interior is great, like I said I recommend it, but IMO isn't superior to the big historic theaters. Plus the Vista is in my neighborhood so I used to go there quite a bit.

 

[mad sweeney]

What a great thread this is.

This thread sux. First two pages were about traffic, bad Mexican food, Magic Mountain and a lot of hopheading. Dealing with traffic in a big city, OMG, call Jeff Gordon. And come on, there are great Mexican joints in the city of Angelinos...for crying out loud...that was two San Diego guys getting excited because little brother is closer to the border.Took two pages to get to the good stuff, imo.

Really not sure how you came to this conclusion, however I just wanted to thank you for pointing out all the deficiencies of the thread, especially in light of your on-point and uber-helpful contributions.

 

[mad sweeney]

The people watching around the Chinese Theater is great though. I used to do some evening concert work on Kimmel and we'd get an hour and a half lunch around 4 or 5. I'd just sit at the taco place across the street and just watch. Local weirdos, the afroementioned dirty super heroes, rappers with self published CDs trying to give them out, pale Euro tourists, the filthiest bums around, giant tour busses with open tops. I had free parking at the Kodak for work, so parking could be a #####, but it was damn entertaining. I'm not sure where to look, but if there's a premiere at Grauman's then the whole street is blocked off and you can see the cluster of paparazzi and foolish fans wet themselves to watch millionaires parade around.

 

[Chaos Commish]

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.)

Little busy, way behind on this thread, but your wife will be in heaven. More thoughts when I remember or please PM me before coming. I'd be happy to treat EG and wife to some wickedly great mex in a dangerous part of East LA. I think that's more up your alley than 3rd St. Promenade.

 

[Chaos Commish]

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.

I agree a *bertos carne asada burrito is like a good fix, but just understand all *bertos are grilling canned meat from Argentina, using frozen extremely low budget plasticheeses and even freeze guac from season to season. It's fast food, not street food. Yummy though. I lived 11 years in San Diego and still own 20 acres of avos in North County. Your biz is entertainment industry stuff. I've been stocking SoCal restaurants with my own produce for over 20 years. 5 years in Century City/Redondo and now 6 years just outside LA, commute in a few times a week. Siete Mares is an account of ours, great shrimp burrito with a little ceviche side. No *bertos touches that.

 

[Chaos Commish]

A few other suggestions for Mexican food:

Guisados

Chichen Itza

Guelaguetza

Cacao

Now we're talkin'. Chichen Itza's next to USC, EG. Since my niece graduated a couple years ago, I haven't been there, but price and quality are outstanding. They're famous for tomales, which aren't my thing but they have a mesquite grilled pork called Poc Chuc that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Guisados fresh handmade tortillas are some of the best you'll ever eat. From fresh grain to plate in a matter of minutes. How anyone can compare ANY San Diego beef or pork tacos to these is mysterious. I hope the new location downtown stays open late, because unfortunately, that's when I'm downtown.

Guelaguetza was the first restaurant I thought of recommending before reading the bizarre criticism of LA Mex. I was going to pimp it, but I noticed in the link John Gold called it the best Oaxacan restaurant in the country.

Fwiw, Gold is the only food critic to ever win a Pulitzer. He covered NYC for Gourmet years ago, and is currently convinced LA is the world's best food town. He is also convincing and credible, despite how many like to bag on LA. The good news is it isn't about super high priced fine dining. LA cannot keep up with Tokyo, Paris, London, or NYC in that category. SF, Chicago, maybe even Vegas all may have better or equal $100 plates. None of them can keep up with LA for cultural diversity and regionally ethnic, completely authentic, super high quality, reasonably priced food. Name a food you want to try from any region anywhere with the possible exception of bbq, and it is here, it is world class, and it is affordable. /Gold

 

[Toad_1234]

And of course you can go to Pink's and grab a hot dog.

 

[EYLive]

The good news is it isn't about super high priced fine dining. LA cannot keep up with Tokyo, Paris, London, or NYC in that category. SF, Chicago, maybe even Vegas all may have better or equal $100 plates. None of them can keep up with LA for cultural diversity and regionally ethnic, completely authentic, super high quality, reasonably priced food. Name a food you want to try from any region anywhere with the possible exception of bbq, and it is here, it is world class, and it is affordable. /Gold

100% true. Angelenos that want good food go to small specialized joints, not big fancy restaurants.

 

[cstu]

The good news is it isn't about super high priced fine dining. LA cannot keep up with Tokyo, Paris, London, or NYC in that category. SF, Chicago, maybe even Vegas all may have better or equal $100 plates. None of them can keep up with LA for cultural diversity and regionally ethnic, completely authentic, super high quality, reasonably priced food. Name a food you want to try from any region anywhere with the possible exception of bbq, and it is here, it is world class, and it is affordable. /Gold

100% true. Angelenos that want good food go to small specialized joints, not big fancy restaurants.

BTW, there is great BBQ here...but you have to go to Compton to get it - Bludsos. The brisket there is worth the drive.

 

[cstu]

If you're looking for more of an upscale Mexican restaurant experience, I highly recommend Casa Sanchez in Culver City. I wouldn't call it the greatest Mexican food I've ever had but it's very good. They have a Mariachi band and I recommend making a reservation for an inside booth (it's busy on weekends so make it far in advance).

They also own Sanchez Meat Market, which is where I get my carne asada - the best I've ever had. I believe you can order it cooked and eat it there but I always buy it by the pound to go, throw it on the grill and it's done in 5 minutes.