What to do in L.A.? [Archive]

Chris Parker

10-01-2007, 08:03 PM

Michael Schrengohst

10-01-2007, 08:15 PM

Check this place out.
Right on the beach near
the Santa Monica pier.

Back on the Beach
445 Pacific Coast Hwy
Santa Monica, CA 90402
(310) 393 8282

Chris Parker

10-01-2007, 08:18 PM

Check this place out.
Right on the beach near
the Santa Monica pier.

Back on the Beach
445 Pacific Coast Hwy
Santa Monica, CA 90402
(310) 393 8282

What do they do?

donatello b

10-01-2007, 11:11 PM

if you like contempory art ..
bergamont station in santa monica ( many gallery's) ..
the LA museum of modern art ( at the tar pits- whishire blvd ) - it is either on thursday or friday after 5pm they have free live music outdoors ( & museum entrance free) ..
your wife might enjoy a little shopping on Montana St in santa monica & you could eat breakfast or lunch at BaBaLu ( 10th & montana) ...

many good resturants in Santa Monica area ...

also there's the Third Street promenade in santa monica in the evenings- lots of live music - some good, some not but always something going on ...

there's the Casa Del Mar hotel ( santa monica where Pico hits the ocean) - lobby-bar area - that on fri & sat eve - never know who you'll see ( stars , directors, producers ) and lots of wanna be's ...

Albert Cheng

10-01-2007, 11:42 PM

This place is pretty awesome. It's in downtown and you can't beat the ambiance and view.

http://www.takamisushi.com/

Chris Parker

10-02-2007, 08:44 AM

Thanks for all the tips. Will check out these places for sure. Keep 'em coming please......

Gary Ploj

10-02-2007, 09:03 AM

Go to Chez jay's...they're steaks are great. Small...bit loud but good loud. Great service and food. Always a great place. Looks like a shack outside, but nice and very welcoming. Say "Hello" to Jay, the owner, an old man very nice speaks to his customers. Love it there. Just make a reservation if you decide to go...very busy place.

http://www.chezjays.com/

Sushi Roku is great also at the corner of Santa Monica & Ocean. Great Sushi. Bit expensive...but very cool place.

http://www.sushiroku.com/sushiroku/index.htm

Lots of restaurants...enjoy!!!

Michael Schrengohst

10-02-2007, 12:17 PM

What do they do?

Great little lunch place. I have friends in Santa Monica
and they always take us there when we come into town.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g33052-d348833/Santa-Monica:California:Back.On.The.Beach.html

Lucas Wilson

10-02-2007, 12:38 PM

Hi,
I am coming to L.A. this week for a RED meeting on the weekend. I am from Canada, and have not been there in a long time. Can anyone recommend any good restaurants/things to do, as I am going to stay for a week, and come with my wife. Specifically, we are looking for:

- a good sushi restaurant (we are staying in Marina Del Ray)
- a good mexican restaurant
- a good beach to spend a day at
- anything else you can think of

Thanks to anyone who responds and helps me out. Cheers.

If you're staying in the Marina, then...

Sushi:

Hama Sushi on Windward in Venice. Loud, but fun.
Kaya Sushi on Washington just East of Lincoln.

...and if you want to spend some money, but get what you pay for...

The Hump at the Santa Monica Airport. Order the Omakase and just let the chef do his thing.
Nobu Malibu in downtown Malibu. Ditto with the Omakase.

Mexican:

In LA? You're joking, right? : ) Stop at pretty much any roadside stand and order some fish tacos and they are better than the Mexican food you'll get pretty much anywhere else in the US. But for the real deal, my personal favorites are: Gallegos Bros. on Venice and Centinela for Tamales, King Taco on East Cesar Chavez in East LA (cash only) for Tacos and Tortas, and La Parilla on Sunset in Echo Park. La Parilla's Molcajete is one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. Go on a weekend - the Mariachi and Jarochos are awesome.

Beach:

Depends on whether you want surf, sun, kid stuff, etc. If you're staying in the Marina, just go to the Alphabet streets just south of Washington and Pacific, park your car and head to the water. It's all good.

Anything else I can think of:

This is an awesome time of the year in LA. The weather never actually sucks here, but this is a great time. If you're an outdoors person, go for a hike in the Santa Monica Wilderness. Check out...

http://www.lamountains.com/searchresults.asp?regionid=3

...and take your pick. My personal favorite is the Circle X Ranch hike. Takes you to the highest point in the Mountains.

Kenneth Hahn State Park also has some incredible trails that are really easy and offer amazing views from the ocean to downtown

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=612

Have fun!!

Lucas
------
ASSIMILATE, Inc.
LA, CA, USA

Bruce Allen

10-02-2007, 01:00 PM

Great suggestions above! Sushi Roku is good and looks like I need to try Takami sometime. LA Reduser sushi party, anyone?

EDIT - saw Luki's post and second him on the Hump too...

Personally, my fave sushi place is Kiriko, on Sawtelle, near Olympic. It's small and next to a video game shop. Similar price to Sushi Roku for dinner though lunch specials used to be cheap. I haven't been there since they raised prices (been out of the country) but you used to be able to get an amazing lunchtime meal for $20. If you are into omakase, theirs is highly recommended. Very hard core but very friendly. If you go there, tell them you are a friend of Bruce Allen and if you get lost and can't find them, call me on 213.675.1155.

Sushi Roku is a ton of fun though - great location by the 3rd street promenade and nice LA people-watching also. Definitely recommended too! Also agreed that downtown LA is a great thing to see - Takami sounds great for that. If you are sushi-ed out, try going to the roof bar at The Standard downtown.

Another nice view is at Yamashiro (sitting perched on the Hollywood hills) but the sushi there's nowhere near as good as the places everyone's mentioned... or maybe I just had bad luck?

Movie-wise, you'd probably enjoy the Egyptian Theatre - they're showing Dreyer's Passion of Joan Of Arc on Oct 4...
http://www.americancinematheque.com/archive1999/2007/specialeventOCT_2007.htm#THE%20PASSION%20OF%20JOAN %20OF%20ARC

My favorite guilty pleasure (the one the out-of-towners love and which I'm supposed to hate and be bored with but actually enjoy each time I go) is the Universal Studios studio tour.

Often there's a lot of good live music playing here - check the LA Weekly (free paper) to see if there's anyone you like playing next week.

Oh and since you're on the Westside on the weekend, definitely try a brunch there (Viceroy is something like $45 including unlimited mimosas, otherwise I like Shutters on the Beach and the old pink Beverly Hills hotel too but those are more expensive).

There's lots more. Agree with the above posts about LACMA. The Getty Center has a great view and architecture but art isn't quite as good. Try the Getty Villa up the coast if you're into antiquities (requires a booking). I like Griffith Park myself but that's just because it's close to where I live. The Griffith Observatory is a nice place to visit at sunset but again you need to book.

Tell us what else you're interested in...

EDIT: Oh and you might want to look into seeing Blade Runner... (see the post about it in Off Topic). It's supposed to show at a new set of movie theatres called The Landmark, inside the Westside Pavilion.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

Rick Darge

10-02-2007, 01:16 PM

Titos Tacos, on Washington Blvd. off Sepulveda.

$2 Tacos.

What else can you do?

Clayton Harper

10-02-2007, 02:29 PM

I go here almost every day I am in LA :tongue: :

Jumbo's Clown Room @ 5153 Hollywood Blvd.
http://www.jumbos.com/gallery/

Only for those who like dive bars and their exotic dancers either brand new or way past their prime. No nudity so it's pretty safe to bring your lady crew members.

Bruce Allen

10-02-2007, 02:35 PM

R Fogg

10-02-2007, 02:48 PM

Yes, Jumbos is fantastic or try the Sams Hofbrau, a german themed strip club and biergarten...!?

R Fogg

10-02-2007, 02:58 PM

However, don't be fooled by the hype - there are no stripping clowns at jumbo's and no dancers in lederhosen at the hofbrau. Very disappointing...

Florian Stadler

10-02-2007, 04:22 PM

Sushi in the area:

Locally:
Hama on Windward Circle for Atmoshpere
The Hump at Santa Monica Airport for good Fish

If you're willing to drive a bit, best 3 in town:
Nozawa, Sasabune, Echigo

Mexican:
Sit-down: Casablanca on Lincoln and Rose
Best street-style: Mariscos on Lincoln North of Rose (you'll see the line for the perma truck)

If you like BBQ don't miss Baby Blues BBQ on Lincoln...

Beaches:
-Hermosa is a good mix of people watching and relax.
-Venice Beach is crazy people watching, no relax but have a beer at one of the only Swiss bars at the beach, Waterfront
-County Line/Hole in the Fence (walk down the cliff north of Leo Carillo by the hole in the fence) is the most serene/undisturbed, but almost an hour drive...

Bars:
Walking distance from MDR is Beechwood on Washington/Abbot Kinney
The Other Room on Abbot Kinney is fun
For the Fake Titty Girl with Old Rich Man scene (it's worth sight-seeing) go to the bar at the Viceroy in Santa Monica

Shopping/Walk Street:
3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica

Have fun, avoid the 405

Florian Stadler, D.P., L.A.

Michael "Dorkman" Scott

10-02-2007, 06:11 PM

Titos Tacos, on Washington Blvd. off Sepulveda.

$2 Tacos.

What else can you do?
Oh man, if I didn't have a dinner scheduled tonight I'd SO go to Tito's.

Best tacos in the city.

I will also humbly suggest, if you're in the beach cities, look for Rosa's in Hermosa Beach, right on Pacific Coast Highway, just south of...eighth street, I believe. It's a little hole in the wall but it's the best all-around Mexican I've found in L.A.

Chris Parker

10-02-2007, 08:24 PM

What an incredible response. You all have got us so excited about our trip (not that my RED adventure down there won't be excitement enough). I can't thank you enough. We are gonna have a blast enjoying some of these recommendations. I'll try to remember to make another post in here in 10 days when I get back with my reviews ;)

Lucas Wilson

10-02-2007, 09:18 PM

Oh man, if I didn't have a dinner scheduled tonight I'd SO go to Tito's.

Best tacos in the city.

I will also humbly suggest, if you're in the beach cities, look for Rosa's in Hermosa Beach, right on Pacific Coast Highway, just south of...eighth street, I believe. It's a little hole in the wall but it's the best all-around Mexican I've found in L.A.

Tito's has nothing... and I mean nothing... on King Taco's Carnitas tacos with Salsa Verde. All others will bow and whimper before it.

Lucas