Coming Into Los Angeles

[FlaSoxxJim]

Anybody ever been to the Tiki-Ti? Of course this is a top priority for the visit.

 

Also will be on the lookout for any package liquor stores that sell the nearly impossible to find Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum, in case any of you have spied it in your wanderings.

[Disco72]

Catalina was so-so. Town was nice, and the scuba diving was ok. Diving in the kelp was the really cool part. It's in the "I'm glad I went but no reason to go back" category.

 

Another interesting place is the Nethercutt Collection / Museum if you like old cars.

[knightni]

Petersen Automotive Museum

 

Philippe's (first french dip sandwich ever)

 

Of course,

 

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/los-angeles/index.htm

[southsider2k5]

Too bad you aren't going to SF. As a bootlegger you should check out Alcatraz.

[FlaSoxxJim]

Petersen Automotive Museum

 

Philippe's (first french dip sandwich ever)

 

Of course,

 

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/los-angeles/index.htm

 

The French dip origin is still up in the air. Cole's claims to have 8 years on Philippe's. May have to try both.

 

Ans several of those bars are on the hit list. Not the she-she poser bars, but the serious cocktail destinations.

[FlaSoxxJim]

Too bad you aren't going to SF. As a bootlegger you should check out Alcatraz.

 

Another trip perhaps, since it's another place I want to play around in.

[Cali]

Whoa, whoa, I f***ing hate LA.

 

And I hate you....

 

To be fair though, I hate "downtown" LA. It's the worst downtown in the history of downtowns.

 

Hollywood is really not that interesting I don't think, but some folks find it interesting, all in all Hollywood is pretty dirty, is the best word I could use to describe it. At the very least just take a drive up the sunset strip if you're into rock n roll history and see some of the clubs (Whisky, Roxy, House of Blues/The Riot House)

 

Universal Studios blows, Disneyland, while expensive is waaaaay worth it and Anaheim isn't that far, and if you get on the 5 at like 10am on a weekday it only takes about 45 mins to get there from the Valley. San Diego is NOT a hour away from Los Angeles. Santa Monica is really nice, the pier and promenade are musts. West LA in general is a pretty cool area. Burbank has a lot of studios if that interests you (Warner Bros, Disney, NBC and technically Universal Studios is in Universal City but it's literally right across the street from Warner Bros.)

 

Don't go on the 405. (I have to every morning...it blows)

Edited May 13, 2010 by Cali

[knightni]

The French dip origin is still up in the air. Cole's claims to have 8 years on Philippe's. May have to try both.

 

Ans several of those bars are on the hit list. Not the she-she poser bars, but the serious cocktail destinations.

When I saw "lounge lizard" in one of the descriptions I thought of you.

 

[FlaSoxxJim]

And I hate you....

 

To be fair though, I hate "downtown" LA. It's the worst downtown in the history of downtowns.

 

Hollywood is really not that interesting I don't think, but some folks find it interesting, all in all Hollywood is pretty dirty, is the best word I could use to describe it. At the very least just take a drive up the sunset strip if you're into rock n roll history and see some of the clubs (Whisky, Roxy, House of Blues/The Riot House)

 

Universal Studios blows, Disneyland, while expensive is waaaaay worth it and Anaheim isn't that far, and if you get on the 5 at like 10am on a weekday it only takes about 45 mins to get there from the Valley. San Diego is NOT a hour away from Los Angeles. Santa Monica is really nice, the pier and promenade are musts. West LA in general is a pretty cool area. Burbank has a lot of studios if that interests you (Warner Bros, Disney, NBC and technically Universal Studios is in Universal City but it's literally right across the street from Warner Bros.)

 

Don't go on the 405. (I have to every morning...it blows)

 

The Whisky would be a great rock pilgrimage. I made sure to do CBGB the first time I spent time in NYC, but I was also able to catch a good show there (NRBQ) so it was a no-brainer.

 

Really, I agree about Hollywood being pretty rundown and dirty on the whole. My wife hasn't been so I know we'll have to do that stuff and I'm concerned she's going to be fairly underwhelmed. That's why I'm hitting you all up for some good suggestions.

[DBAHO]

Nothing in the city centre really so I wouldn't recommend that.

 

Best bet is to stay at the different beaches for a couple of days each.

 

I stayed at Santa Monica last year for a few days and thoroughly enjoyed that.

 

If you're in LA though, make sure you rent a car. I didn't because I was being a cheap bum trying to save $$$, but the public transport system isn't very good to say the least.

[shipps]

Whoa, whoa, I f***ing hate LA.

 

You are so gulable.

[Chisoxfn]

The French dip origin is still up in the air. Cole's claims to have 8 years on Philippe's. May have to try both.

 

Ans several of those bars are on the hit list. Not the she-she poser bars, but the serious cocktail destinations.

I've been to Phillipes. Haven't been in like 10 years but when I was a kid I remember that place being amazing.

[Chisoxfn]

And I hate you....

 

To be fair though, I hate "downtown" LA. It's the worst downtown in the history of downtowns.

 

Hollywood is really not that interesting I don't think, but some folks find it interesting, all in all Hollywood is pretty dirty, is the best word I could use to describe it. At the very least just take a drive up the sunset strip if you're into rock n roll history and see some of the clubs (Whisky, Roxy, House of Blues/The Riot House)

 

Universal Studios blows, Disneyland, while expensive is waaaaay worth it and Anaheim isn't that far, and if you get on the 5 at like 10am on a weekday it only takes about 45 mins to get there from the Valley. San Diego is NOT a hour away from Los Angeles. Santa Monica is really nice, the pier and promenade are musts. West LA in general is a pretty cool area. Burbank has a lot of studios if that interests you (Warner Bros, Disney, NBC and technically Universal Studios is in Universal City but it's literally right across the street from Warner Bros.)

 

Don't go on the 405. (I have to every morning...it blows)

I agree with your assessment. The studios would be cool and you can even opt for a tour of those studios and Sunset is a must see for music history. Doors being the house ban at the Whiskey, etc.

 

Ooh, LA does have a ton of very cool bars though.

 

And San Diego without traffic is about a 2.5 to 3hr drive from LA.

[longshot7]

I still recommend the museums - LACMA, Getty, Museum of Tolerance, Griffith Observatory, Huntington Gardens, etc.

 

Santa Monica is nice, but Venice and its boardwalk are better. Even Hollywood is nice if you like tourist-type stuff. The Chinese Theatre is amazing, and the best place to actually see a movie in LA.

 

I imagine In-n-Out Burgers is on your list, right?

[Controlled Chaos]

I still recommend the museums - LACMA, Getty, Museum of Tolerance, Griffith Observatory, Huntington Gardens, etc.

 

Santa Monica is nice, but Venice and its boardwalk are better. Even Hollywood is nice if you like tourist-type stuff. The Chinese Theatre is amazing, and the best place to actually see a movie in LA.

 

I imagine In-n-Out Burgers is on your list, right?

Went to Santa Monica for my 1 year Anniversary. The promenade was nice..cool place to go stroll around with the wife. Santa Monica Pier was kind of a dump, but we went there to check it out. We took a cab to Venice Beach and then walked back to Santa Monica...it was a long walk, but pretty interesting. Venice beach is your chance to see every type of person ever created on this Earth. The one thing that caught me off guard about Santa Monica was the homeless people. They were everywhere. Most were harmless, but quite a few we're pretty aggressive. This was Sept 05...not sure if things have changed. I wouldn't let it deter you...just a heads up.

[knightni]

Pink's and Randy's Donuts, Flaxx.

[Balta1701]

They were everywhere. Most were harmless, but quite a few we're pretty aggressive. This was Sept 05...not sure if things have changed.

If you're going to be living on the street, you may as well do it in a place where you're not going to freeze to death.

 

Frankly, after the last 2 years, I'd imagine its even worse now.

[flippedoutpunk]

Yelp is your friend Jim, especially when visiting a new city, I always find it as a good way to get a jist on what is what around town.