First trip to L.A., leaving tomorrow!

[over-man]

Wow! You guys are great! I just rolled in to my friend's place (Palms area, west L.A.) and found all of your replies. I knew a few people would reply, but damn, there are a lot of you out in L.A.! My friend hasn't lived out here that long either, so we're compiling a list of things to do right now while reading the thread.

James, I really appreciate the number, I'll be giving you a call sometime tomorrow when I get a chance.

Thanks again guys, I need to grab some dinner, but I'll be back here later.

[SK1]

LA is awesome if you ask me. ( moved here in 92 )

So much to do.

If your in Santa Monica, El Cholo is great for Mexican food. $$$

Also, we like Gladstones for seafood while watching the sunset right on the ocean.$$$

The stuffed pablono chiles at Toppers in santa monica are a great choice for a nice sunset meal too. $$$

Many, many GREAT restaurants.

If it's late go get some heartburn at Pinks hot dogs in Hollywood. $

Toi tai food is open till 4 am in Hollywood ( also known as rock n roll tai ) $$

Truetone music is a cool guitar shop in Santa Monica as well.

I love the diversity here.

Don't listen to the haters, just be smart.

[severe]

Originally Posted by lordmiguel

its the protozoa who had it bad...

HA!

[over-man]

My budget definitely leans toward the indie side, although I wouldn't mind spending a bit more coin for the right event. (I'm not really into fancy food, but Roscoe's and a few other places sound great )

As far as my musical tastes, they are pretty varied. I love jazz (big band, nicholas payton, roy hargrove, sonny rollins, return to forever, mahavishnu, etc.) , hip-hop (Madlib, MF DOOM, Roots, etc.) , and rock (stuff like Mars Volta, Muse, RX bandits, classic rock stuff, etc.). I try to keep a very open mind and always enjoy hearing good new music.

We might head out to The Baked Potato to see "Hazey Jane" tonight.

[Steve Young]

Originally Posted by big country

maybe some of you guys should re-read some history. and stop going by
what the guy down the street tells you .

find a real history book that says California was part of Mexico. you cant.

the Spaniards took it from Indians a while back. that did not make it part of Mexico .

sorry for the high jack . I cant stand it when people tell me California
was part of Mexico. It was originally Indian land. no one can argue with
that .

Yeah , everybody took it from the Indians , thats for sure .
And then someone took it from the land grant holders granted from Spain ,,,all I know is they ran somebody off their land and out of their haciendas .
Anyway , all this has inspired me to find someone small and weak and - without weapons - so I can beat them up and take whatever they got . I mean , its just the natural thing to do I reckon .

[soultrane]

Originally Posted by over-man

My budget definitely leans toward the indie side, although I wouldn't mind spending a bit more coin for the right event. (I'm not really into fancy food, but Roscoe's and a few other places sound great )

As far as my musical tastes, they are pretty varied. I love jazz (big band, nicholas payton, roy hargrove, sonny rollins, return to forever, mahavishnu, etc.) , hip-hop (Madlib, MF DOOM, Roots, etc.) , and rock (stuff like Mars Volta, Muse, RX bandits, classic rock stuff, etc.). I try to keep a very open mind and always enjoy hearing good new music.

We might head out to The Baked Potato to see "Hazey Jane" tonight.

go to the temple bar in santa monica...

one of the only clubs in l.a. with a booking policy.

great vibe and usually very good music...

The Temple Bar - Santa Monica - California

[big country]

Originally Posted by Steve Young

Yeah , everybody took it from the Indians , thats for sure .
And then someone took it from the land grant holders granted from Spain ,,,all I know is they ran somebody off their land and out of their haciendas .
Anyway , all this has inspired me to find someone small and weak and - without weapons - so I can beat them up and take whatever they got . I mean , its just the natural thing to do I reckon .

good luck with that

[big country]

pinks is cool ,

if you go to the miracle mile they have two 99 cent stores next to each other. a 20 will get you a fat basket. haha

[J.D.]

Originally Posted by SK1

LA is awesome if you ask me. ( moved here in 92 )

So much to do.

If your in Santa Monica, El Cholo is great for Mexican food. $$$

Also, we like Gladstones for seafood while watching the sunset right on the ocean.$$$

The stuffed pablono chiles at Toppers in santa monica are a great choice for a nice sunset meal too. $$$

Many, many GREAT restaurants.

If it's late go get some heartburn at Pinks hot dogs in Hollywood. $

Toi tai food is open till 4 am in Hollywood ( also known as rock n roll tai ) $$

Truetone music is a cool guitar shop in Santa Monica as well.

I love the diversity here.

Don't listen to the haters, just be smart.

as we all have opinions on restaurants, i say screw el cholo and head down lincoln to La Cabana at lincoln and rose. open late, dark and a patio where you can smoke cigareets. or in hollywood, i've lost many an afternoon at El Coyote drinking margaritas, back before they raised the prices...what are they now, $4? for great margaritas and goooood mexican food, lucy's el adobe in hollywood is the spot. have a DD or a cab on call tho.

gladstones is good, but the reel inn is much more cool. or head up to the county line to the biker fish joint, that i can't remember the name of...damn it's good.

roscoes is a perfect stop. just don't try to go there late at night unless you don't feel like sleeping for a few hours...and just do it. chicken AND waffles. use hot sauce on your chicken. it's almost every rapper/r&b artist's first request when they hit a hollywood studio. before the henney even...and even better after....

for another spot, go to playa del rey and go the shack and have a shack burger. the one in santa monica is fine if you don't want to go the extra bit to playa, but doesn't have the same vibe. (and the burgers aren't quite as good as the original)

you won't get past the receptionist at most bigger studios. sorry. maybe if you have a story and call ahead and have time early-ish in the morning.

palms is boring, but it's in between the beach and hollywood and close enough to downtown. there's never any reason to go the valley so don't worry about that place.

have fun! there's dive bars everywhere so hit those up rather than the snooty joints. screw velvet ropes

dj

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by lordmiguel

not exactly what i was thinking, but you know i'm from ny. we're food snobs, nothin personal
isnt ocean ave seaood better?
why didnt anyone recommend the getty?

I've eaten at Ocean Avenue a lot, as well as Sushi Rokku next door, but for seafood I currently prefer i Cugini, one block away. They were bought by Ocean Ave and have great fish on their menu. Get a whole branzino baked in a crust of rock salt. we entertained some Chinese clients there last week and they did a custom menu for us that rivaled any "fruits de mer" dish i've ever had in Paris.

And speaking of Santa Monica, let's not forget Father's Office on Montana for an office burger and choice of 30 plus craft beers.

(Also nothing personal, but I don't think New York any longer holds the franchise on food snobs--or great restaurants)

Yeah, the Getty is a great idea. Not for food, or for the art for that matter, but the view and garden are fantastic.

-R

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by soultrane

go to the temple bar in santa monica...

+1 on Temple Bar, good vibe but very eclectic music (not always great). Also, for Mexican food forget El Cholo and go to La Cabana in Venice, like someone else said. Topper's, at the top of the huntley hotel, is gone and has been replaced by some trendoid scene. might be cool. There's even a bar down on Santa monica pier called Rusty's that has live music. Sometimes good, sometimes not, but great to go down to the pier at night for some brews, maybe shoot some pool and soak in the essence of southern Cal. From there it's a short hop up to Harvelle's on 4th street for reliably good blues. Zip over to Venice and splurge a little on sushi at Hana Sushi at the circle. A few blocks away is Abbot Kinney Blvd, with good bars and restaurants, no music. The Other Room is a decent almost New York style bar. Hal's is a restaurant/bar that features the Venice artist/designers/boho upper class. Avoid the beach itself at night.

Have fun,

R

[picksail]

**I dug-up this previous response from last year. Hope it helps.**

In terms of sushi, I'm pretty partial to Sushi Roku on 3rd.

There's also, a cool place on Beverly a block before La Cienega heading West. It's in that Beverly Connection strip mall area, Hirozen. Though, I still don't get the point of having valet service there. Love this place though!!!!

Kubuki isn't bad. Half price rolls!!!!

Sushi Dan on Sunset blows.

AOC on 3rd is cool. Killer tasting menu!!!!

Fogo de Chão for Jamaican BBQ.

The Little Door on 3rd is a great French restaurant, which is a great little place to impress the wife. (She'll think that you're really romantic)

Sonoroa on LaBrea/2nd has good Southwestern cuisine.

Le Petite Four on Sunset is cool. Next door is Caflouti's, which I much prefer.

The Newsroom across from The Ivy on S Robertson is really great, albeit the service is probably some of the worst. They aren't rude, just really apathetic and inattentive.

There's a cool place on Beverly that just opened called BLD. Great cheese list. The butter lettuce salad kick ass too.

Murel's in The Grove is cool. Though the 'Italian' restaurant across from them is absolute crap.

Taste on Melrose is excellent.

For sandwiches, Toast or Doughboy's on 3rd.

The 101 still kicks ass as does Mel's Diner for afterhours grub. Mel's has the best milkshakes!!! The jury's still out on who makes the better tuna melt.

Basix and La Conversation Cafe on Santa Monica Blvd in W. Hollywood have great breakfast. (Yes, of course, I blended in well with the crowd)

Cafe Med on Sunset has really great authentic Italian food. There's also that place in the Valley, near Coldwater Cnyn., where James Lugo and B-magical brought me. Nice Italian!!!

El Coyote is still king of Mexican food.

There's that restaurant up on Franklin, in the Hills, that's OK. The one that overlooks LA. Can't remember the name. Great view though.

There's a vegetarian joint on Fairfax and Drexel called Manny's that has great turkey nachos.

There's this really great Mediterranean restaurant inside the Farmer's Market at The Grove. Also, a cool Jamaican BBQ joint!!

And of course, the Starbucks on Ventura/Vineland (behind Ralph's) is great for meetings. Although, I still get to the one on Fairfax/San Vicente at least twice a day. They have my coffee ready before I even make it to the counter. They rock!!!!

I guess I don't venture off to far for food!!! My wife and I have such opposite schedules that, when we do get a chance to go-out, we have to think fast. This usually translates to hopping in the car and driving up 3rd St. until we find a place that can seat us.

[over-man]

We had a great time at the Baked Potato, very chill atmosphere and music, a nice start to my trip. I'm beat after a long day though ( didn't sleep much for a couple of days before I left, finishing up work...), off to bed.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by CorkyTart

Yup, everything Jim said. HOWEVER.... Jim, you forgot to mention that the Angeles Forest has become a meeting ground for gang members.

No worries if it's not deer season. Fortunately the high prices for gas (highest in the nation) help to keep the rif-raf out of the woods. I was up there a couple of weeks ago and had the whole place to myself.

Jim Williams
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[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by Steve Young

Well, thats because it was Mexico before a US land grab war .

Mexico got it's independence from Spain in 1822. All Spanish land in Mexico and the nothern frontier were ceeded to Mexico including the areas of Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Utah and parts or Oregon. The Mexican/American war was fought over these lands and other facets. Mexico lost, and the Estados Unitos paid Mexico 15 million dollars for the lands that Mexico could not administer due to all those interior indians like the Apaches. Mexico had no presence in the interior, only along the coastal and regions.

Mexico had juristiction of the southwest US for about 23 years. This of course is enough for some in the "reconquista" crowd to lay claim on the southwest for Mexico although Spain really did the development work (the little that was done) as Mexico was concerned with the mainland of Mexico, not the frontier.

The small strip of land on the southern border of Arizona was purchased later from Mexico in order to lay railroad lines across the southwest from Texas to California. It was called the Gadsen Purchase.

At the time this "transfer" was done LA was a sleepy little Mexican village with around 2000 people. By 1849 the small California population of Spaniards/Mexicans were completely diplaced by thousands of treasure seekers from all over the world. The Mexican era was over.

Until now.

History lesson is now over. We return you to your regularly scheduled program on what to do and see in LA.

Jim Williams
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[4stringerfinger]

Originally Posted by GTR

Check out LAWEEKLY.COM for concert schedules.

Other than that, you need to go to the Rainbow Bar and Grille on the Sunset Strip to visit the land's most notorious rock and roll and metal hangout, guaranteed to see someone special, at least Lemmy.

You'll find Lemmy at the video game machines upstairs. First pic from 1992, second pic from 2004.

[bobx]

In-N-Out Burger!

[rob S]

in and out, oof
with my body thats a verb not a noun.
while you're at it how about an okie dog.
that is the most devastating gut bomb known to man.

good places to eat

farfalla's italian on hillhurst in los feliz

sushi roku old town pasadena or 3rd and lacienaga ish

el coyote is dog food don't go there to eat go there for the margarita's.
once you've had a few of those maybe the food is good.

el conquistador in silverlake. excellent mexican food and margarita's

lucy's eladobe on melrose in hollywood. excellent.

cliff's edge in silverlake vry good grt setting.

[sloanfiske]

i can't believe no one mentioned Jon Brion at Largo on Friday nights...

i grew up in LA...and seeing all the back and forth about how bad it is. and now after being back after 10 years in NY, LA is seemingly passive compared to what it was 15/20/25/30 years ago.

go to pinks, go see jon brion, have a beer at the rainbow, and take a drive up PCH past malibu...

i tell everyone who's going to la to do the same.

have a great time. it's still a cool city.

[rob S]

go see jon brion.
that is a fantastic idea.
i gotta say, when i first moved out here in 87 it took two years to not hate it.
now i kinda like it.
you gotta find your little pocket.
its not really a city out here.
its a badly laid out urban sprawl.

[SK1]

I'm gonna check out some of the places you guys recommended, and I live here, so thanks !

And ...... you can tell that L.A. is full of a bunch of opinionated a holes from this thread. LOL !!!!!!!

Damn metrosexuals ........ well it takes all kinds .

God bless America !!

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by CorkyTart

Here are my tips:

Don't get too comfortable. Unfortunately L.A. has largely turned into a crime and gang infested dump, so don't get your hopes up. The socialist mentality has turned the city into a pile of trash. I lived there for 10 years and watched the city go to hell. ****, I remember when the area between Ventura and Van Nuys and Ventrua and Sepulveda was actually nice. Now it's a pig pen. L.A. ain't like Frisco or Plano my friend. Sorry to paint a bleak picture, but that is what the city is like when you look at the guts of it.

You guys are hilarious.

Crime goes up or down in specific areas of any big city. Overall crime has gone down in L.A. every single year for many years now....completely opposite of your claim

L.A. crime decreases for 5th year - Los Angeles Times

Click on the graphics for actual crime figures and graphs.

Why the drop? Maybe it's all the immigrants (legal or not)......Jim? Or as you mentioned, the Socialists?

Again, this ain't no small town. But even in a Big city, there are better places to chose to live in....the part of the valley you mentioned isn't one them anymore. I'd stay out of hollywood too.

I myself wouldn't call Frisco a BIG city.

But yeah....in a sense, I agree. There's too many damn people here and with all the 'crime and gangs' outta control, too many rich yuppies have been moving here driving properties sky high (+130% in 4 years!?!?!).

Anyway, the more people who leave or stay away, the better I suppose. Not that Jim or Corky would move back...even if the Mexicans left.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by mds

Wow, some bitter LA residents on this board....I love living in LA and find it to be a immensely diverse and interesting city with endless places to explore and enjoy. There's great nature sites, tons of good rock clubs with great bands, great restaurants, great museums, and people from every place in the world who are happy to strike up a conversation about just about anything...

Shhh!!!

I'm patiently waiting for property prices to fall and you're not helping at all tutt

Everyone else listen to Jim and Corky....PLEASE!

[severe]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

Anyway, the more people who leave or stay away, the better I suppose...

Yea... ya hear that, Ryan?

Beat it!

[SK1]

yeah if we see you on the street we're gonna cut you fool !

Watch your step hommie !!!!



















































Yeah right !!!! LOL

I'm sure your having a good time in Los Angeles
It IS the City of Angels

[Fleaman]

....and if you come to the eastside I'm gonna sic the spaceland tamale man on you. He'll corner you with a $1 tamale and you better pay up or else. I think he's a real Mexican too...Just like what Jim warned about. Better arrive hungry or run for the hills!

[GearGeek]

Some great suggestions here. For a late night snack you have to go to Canters on Fairfax. And if you're on the west side, Diddy Reese cookies are the bomb! Stay away from Hollywood Blvd. Or maybe just drive through to take a look. It's a total turist trap.

[BassTerd]

For real good food your going to end up having to do some driving. For good mexican food stick to the east side of downtown at night and hit up the fancy roach coaches on the side of a busy street with a disco-ball spinning on the makeshit patio overhang and spot lights placed everywhere and loud ass music with bumpin I-V basslines playing at 220 bpm. For good italian, chinese, french and any other food go to the same place because most likely it will be the same cooks working their night gig. Ditto on Roscoes, thats some pretty good mexican soul food. Go to the one in the hood and experience some segregation and get seated in your "designated area."
El coyote, el cholo pretty much sucks as well as anything with "EL" in it's name and has a grade "A" posted on there front door. UNLESS its "El Tepeyac" located at 812 North Evergreen Ave Los Angeles, CA 90033 (213) 268-1960. Thats the eastsiders best kept secret. Get the big ass monstrosity of a buritto called the manual special and call it a day, or your life. Seriously one of those buritos can feed a small army and you'll still have left overs. THey have the bomb ass taquitos and guacamole. Wan't some good chinese food go down to china town and get a big meal for $5 anywere or pig out at dim sum shop. Try out some Central American salvadorian food called "Pupsas" (quesadillas on streroids laced with crack smothered with cabbage and tomato sauce.) If you wan't to pig out on animal flesh until your gut explodes go to a brazilian "Churasacria" screw bossa nova..lame. If you wan't some good italian food, go to italy.
If you want to listen to some music take your money and go to ameoba and buy some used CDs you can listen to forever. The live music scene out here sucks cow balls. I see better talent at 3rd st promonode and farmers markets.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by SK1

I'm gonna check out some of the places you guys recommended, and I live here, so thanks !

And ...... you can tell that L.A. is full of a bunch of opinionated a holes from this thread. LOL !!!!!!!

Damn metrosexuals ........ well it takes all kinds .

God bless America !!

Got that right. That's why you will see this bumper sticker in the back of my urban assault Jeep.

"Jesus Loves You"
everyone else thinks you're an asshole

Jim Williams
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[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

Why the drop? Maybe it's all the immigrants (legal or not)......Jim? Or as you mentioned, the Socialists?

First off, you can't believe what the LA Pravda says about anything, they are a dishonest outfit with an agenda driven managment.

If you've ever seen any of their discredited "polls" you would understand how dishonest this company is.

The real reason crime "reporting" has dropped is the immigrant community and their natural distrust of the police and our justice system. The other reason is the "why bother" mentality.

Can't tell you how many friends were victims of crimes that didn't bother to report them due to LA police incompetence or disinterest.

I had several run in's at my old Van Nuys shop and I must of called LAPD a dozen times. They never show up. Good friends were killed in this place and the cops do nothing about it.

It's low level anarchy.

Jim Williams
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