Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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also, does anyone who lives here know of any good mellow hiking trails where you can take dogs off leash?
i'm not looking for any strenous hikes, just something nice and mellow where my dog can run around and explore.

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If you go up lake in altadena to the foothills there are a bunch of chill hiking trails around. From what I remember people let their dogs off of the lease all the time. Eaton canyon is one in particular that would fit your needs and is east of lake ave.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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Suzzer, you kind of allude to this - but I think it's not a fair comparison as SF is tiny and LA is sprawling and enormous with way more selection / variety. Bay Area vs. LA is probably fairer - even then I think LA probably has better food (especially in the cheaper range) but it's really close.

-Al

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Yeah, I just think it's kind of ironic though because in general SF looks at LA as a giant, plastic, phony, coke-fueled, cultural wasteland (they're right of course, but still). One area I guarantee they think they're vastly culturally superior in is food. But I don't think SF is superior at all.

The whole SF/LA rivalry is pretty funny. SF hates LA. LA is like "huh?". It seriously took me about 4 months of living in LA to realize the people were generally cool and weren't going to all of a sudden turn evil on me.

I decided then that all city-stereotypes are stupid. Every place has about the same ratio of cool people, idiots, flakes, people you can count on, etc. Although you can make some stereotypes about mostly transient cities like NY/SF/LA vs. cities like Kansas City, where almost everyone if from there and never left, or left and came back.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

LA people, the last time I was home I went to bar in Silverlake that was in an old firehouse, had both a front and back patio, but can't for the life of me remember exactly where it was or the name of it. Any ideas?

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Went to LA last weekend.

LA is a shithole. I would never want to live there.

Things to do: meet rappers and one awful singer, very fun, they like to party.

Places to go: Dodger stadium, watch the Giants win 11-2, heckle fans, talk [censored], get the whole section to hate you. Great time.

Things not to do: live there

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I'd rather people not post in this thread if they hate LA. Start an "I Hate LA" thread in BBV or something.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Oh yeah I forgot. SD hates LA too. And NYC. And Santa Barbara. And Seattle. And Portland.

But Vegas likes us I think. Not sure what Phoenix thinks.

My aunt in KC thinks LA is fun to visit but she wouldn't want to live there. Take that FWIW.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Ja - out of curiosity, how much time have you spent in LA? I'm assuming you must be pretty familiar with the city to hate it so much.

Suzz - yeah LA is not for everyone. It actually took me a couple years to really like it - the main issue was having to drive everywhere (always lived in walking cities before LA), took some adjusting.

-Al

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

The whole key to LA is to not have your work too far from where you live. Seriously, that's the big one.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Suzz - so true - I have a 15 minute door-to-door commute (Los Feliz to Burbank) and that is huge.

If I was driving 1.5 hours each way in rush hour traffic I'd def want to shoot myself.

-Al

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

cf. that thread where we took "Pictures Of [Our] Commute" and mine was a photographic walking tour of West Hollywood. Ship it?

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

<--- owned

-Al

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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The whole key to LA is to not have your work too far from where you live. Seriously, that's the big one.

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This is a brilliant point that cannot be overstated.

LA is a rough city to adjust to. The physical size is overwhelming, and newcomers to the city tend to stick to nearby neighborhoods...and likely miss out on most of what the city has to offer. The trick is to find your scene, whatever that scene may be, get within range, and then enjoy. Los Angeles truly has EVERYTHING to offer, but it absolutely is not going to find you. You need to make the effort, for better or for worse.

And BTW, when it comes to food, NYC, LA, and SF are the only (American) cities that matter. You can make an argument for any particular permutation, but in my experience, nowhere else comes close.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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LA people, the last time I was home I went to bar in Silverlake that was in an old firehouse, had both a front and back patio, but can't for the life of me remember exactly where it was or the name of it. Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Edendale Grill. It's on Rowena near Silverlake Blvd. Good bar, good but overpriced food. Was a nightmare when it first opened, but they got their [censored] together. If I was feeling hearty I could walk there.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I don't want to derail, but it’s the overall LA food culture that has a bad rep compared with SF or NY, at least among the foodies and chefs I knew. And it’s well deserved. Sure, some of the top restaurants here can compete with great ones in the other cities (Ortolan and Providence come to mind), but that’s not the point. I’ll try to explain…

When I lived in the mission in SF and went to culinary school, I was a short walk to 3 fish markets, 4 or 5 butchers, and at least a dozen groceries or produce stands that sold really high quality produce (often organic and always seasonal). I was also a short walk from an unbelievable cheese store that carried illegal but amazing imported cheese; several excellent and independent wine stores; two bakeries, each of which made breads and desserts better than pretty much anything you could get anywhere in the entire LA basin; and an Italian import store with homemade pastas and imported cured meats and cheeses. Even the local Ralph’s carried really high quality bread like ACME and excellent produce.

Every neighborhood in SF seemed to have the same concentration of retail food choices. Every one of these local joints had stuff at a far quality than even food stores in LA you have to spend all day in a car to get to.

In addition, the big, destination food meccas in the Bay Area have no equivalent in LA. None. Places like Berkeley Bowl or the Ferry Plaza just don’t exist here.

Even the chain grocery stores were stocked with better quality stuff than here in LA. I mentioned Ralph’s. Whole Foods was the same story.

It’s kind of a critical mass issue. There are a few places in LA that by themselves would be similar to what you could get in SF or NY. But they are few, and very, very far between. If I am cooking for friends in LA, it is pretty much an all day ordeal to shop for the right ingredients. And at the end of the day, I’m still annoyed because there was something I couldn’t get. In SF, you could find top quality stuff all around you. For example, the only places in all of LA that I have found so far that have a decent fishmonger are Fish King in Glendale and Santa Monica Seafood. You can also get good quality, but prepackaged, fish at some of the Japanese markets. That’s it. That’s the list. In SF, you could find super-fresh fish in dozens of places….you were never more than a 5 minute drive from it. The same is true for pretty much any category of food.

I think it has to do with the fact that people here aren’t knowledgeable about food. In SF, it’s a big part of the culture. There seemed to be far more people interested in cooking and dinner parties in SF than here. People in LA just don’t care or know much about food, IMO. They wouldn’t know that a menu at a restaurant should change every month to keep up with the seasons. They even like the coffee at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for crying out loud.

There are even a small number of areas where LA food is superior to SF’s. Sushi is the big one for me; I would assume Korean food is another. But overall, it’s really no contest. And that’s not because I’m a hater. I grew up on the East Coast and have lived in SF and LA for the same number of years. There’s no bias. I just don’t think anyone can objectively say LA isn’t inferior when it comes to food.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I guess it might have a "bad reputation" for food among SF foodies, but that seems to be about it... Aside from everyone from New York of course

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Yeah, way to ignore everything I said.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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Yeah, way to ignore everything I said.

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I read everything you had to say, and it was, for the most part, a detailed explanation of how hard it is to find ingredients in Los Angeles, the overarching theme of which was that food in Los Angeles is objectively inferior to that in San Francisco. That's not reputation. Just because a city has lesser quality food than San Francisco or a reputation lesser than San Francisco doesn't mean it has a "bad reputation" for food, which is what you said in the first place. San Francisco is an incredible city for food, and a city with lesser cuisine can certainly still have a good reputation for food. Unless, of course, the people judging are San Francisco chefs and snobs.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Whoa, I just remembered one of the best things to do in LA and nobody has mentioned it yet. Get a group together and go see Bill Maher's show live. I've done it twice and it was a lot of fun both times. The tickets are FREE.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Jesus H. Has anyone other than LFS been east of Fairfax? The fact that no one's mentioned Zankou Chicken yet is a disgrace. The Brite Spot for breakfast. Also, I'd recommend The Gold Room, The Little Joy and Footsie's for East LA drinking. Also, also Jumbo's Clown Room for possibly transexual titties.

And 39 Shatto Lanes for bowling. Man, this is actually making me miss LA a little.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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LA people, the last time I was home I went to bar in Silverlake that was in an old firehouse, had both a front and back patio, but can't for the life of me remember exactly where it was or the name of it. Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Edendale Grill. It's on Rowena near Silverlake Blvd. Good bar, good but overpriced food. Was a nightmare when it first opened, but they got their [censored] together. If I was feeling hearty I could walk there.

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I always thought that place kinda sucked. The Red Lion is fun, though. Oh, and Blair's. Go to Blair's--best food in LA, I think.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

samsonite,

Edendale DID suck, for quite awhile. Then, suddenly, it got better. Maybe they changed managers or something. Blair's is very good, my wife and I went through a period where we went there every other weekend. A nice restaurant with an excellent beer list is a restaurant I like.

Red Lion is great, had my 30th birthday party there.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I heard Zankou Chicken change from the fresh minced garlic sauce to some prepackaged creamy [censored] like everyone else has. Say it aint so!

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

[ QUOTE ]
Whoa, I just remembered one of the best things to do in LA and nobody has mentioned it yet. Get a group together and go see Bill Maher's show live. I've done it twice and it was a lot of fun both times. The tickets are FREE.

[/ QUOTE ]

i recently moved to LA and i love bill maher. can you tell me the best way to go about getting tickets? thanks.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Whoa, I just remembered one of the best things to do in LA and nobody has mentioned it yet. Get a group together and go see Bill Maher's show live. I've done it twice and it was a lot of fun both times. The tickets are FREE.

[/ QUOTE ]

i recently moved to LA and i love bill maher. can you tell me the best way to go about getting tickets? thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

call 323-575-4321 (or toll free at 888-515-4321 for callers outside the Los Angeles area)

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Chimp, re: LA vs SF food. I don't grocery shop much. I just know what tastes good. And I think I'd make a pretty good talent scout when it comes to food. Overall I've been more impressed by LA food than SF's. Or at least it's very close, which is counter to what you're trained to believe living in SF.

My roommate in SF moved out from Kansas City, and all he could talk about was how much better the food was in KC. I don't know if I'd go that far, but he had a point a lot of the time. I told him he should write a column in SF Weekly and call it The Bitchy Gourmet. Food could range from horrible to edible, the highest rating possible being "Good enough for KC". Would have been pretty funny anyway.

Also it's kind of funny you mention dinner parties. I'm 38, and I really thought by this point my weekends would just be dinner party after dinner party after dinner party. But I guess I'm just not dinner party material, because I never get invited to any. And none of my friends ever have them, at least that they tell me about. So you might be right about LA not being a dinner party town.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I have no idea about edendale other than I went there for drinks on a Thursday night 6 months ago and it was pretty fun. I can't really compare it to many other places in the area though as I haven't lived in LA, just visited periodically, since I turned 21.

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Ja - out of curiosity, how much time have you spent in LA? I'm assuming you must be pretty familiar with the city to hate it so much.


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Heh, I've spent very little time in LA, and tons of time in LAX. All I know from my experience is that its way too big, way too loud, way too heavily trafficked, way too dirty, and so on. You know, typical complaints. It really probably boils down to me not being a big city type of person, but if I were to choose between SF and LA, it'd be SF in a heartbeat and I can't imagine otherwise. LA does have tons and tons of hot chicks though [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

I don't know what you're talking about. LAX is beautiful this time of year. If you can't love spending lots of time in and around LAX, then yeah LA definitely isn't for you.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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Ja - out of curiosity, how much time have you spent in LA? I'm assuming you must be pretty familiar with the city to hate it so much.


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Heh, I've spent very little time in LA, and tons of time in LAX. All I know from my experience is that its way too big, way too loud, way too heavily trafficked, way too dirty, and so on. You know, typical complaints. It really probably boils down to me not being a big city type of person, but if I were to choose between SF and LA, it'd be SF in a heartbeat and I can't imagine otherwise. LA does have tons and tons of hot chicks though [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].

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yeah if youve spent very little time in la, seems like your opinion isnt very valuable.

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Ja is a total idiot, dont take his word for [censored]

LA is a great place if you have some street sense and like culture. let that hippy stay in san diego. we don't want your hemp neckalces here anywaytz

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

There is a Dali exhibit opening at LACMA in a few days.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

My 24th bday is comin up. My twin brother too, of course. I wanna go somewhere different and fun that serves drinks, but also allows 18yos in because I want my little cousins to come. Any suggestions? We have about a month.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

any ideas for what to do if you just want to get out of LA for a couple of days? i moved here a couple of months ago, went tijuana (MISTAKE!), san diego, and drove up the coast to wine country, dont want to go to vegas. any other ideas?

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Take the ferry to Catalina, stay at in Big Bear, camp in Joshua Tree, stay in Mammoth, Yosemite, Sequioa, Palm Springs (nice this time of year), Death Valley, Santa Barbara, Anza-Borrego, stay at the Mission Inn in Riverside, take the train to San Juan Capistrano.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

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My 24th bday is comin up. My twin brother too, of course. I wanna go somewhere different and fun that serves drinks, but also allows 18yos in because I want my little cousins to come. Any suggestions? We have about a month.

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ThaHero,

If you like big, bombastic, wacked out dance clubs, go to The Ruby in Hollywood (on Hollywood Blvd., between La Brea and Sycamore -- 7070 is the address). On Friday nights, they have Clockwork Orange, which is like a new wave and dance pop night. On Saturday nights it's Bang!, which is indie rock and alternative and Britpop, and on Sunday nights it's Beat It! which is '80s.

All three nights are 18 and over, and 21+ gets a wristband to buy drinks at the bar. There are 3 rooms in the club, so if you don't like one song there are 2 more to choose from. It's packed with girls, too, so for kids between like 18-24, it's pretty fun and everyone hooks up.

I'm just a bit too old for places like that now, but back in the day man...

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Actually, your post reminded me of a place some coworkers took me. We made a right off La Brea going North I think but I'm not sure if it was Hollywood Blvd. It was a Friday I think and the main room played 80's and another room did mostly hip-hop and pop, billboard type radio music, and I think there was one more room. It could be the same place but it was a pretty cool spot. I'll have to ask them. There will be a few people in their 30s there so I wanna make sure they enjoy themselves too. Thanks for jogging my memory!

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Yeah that sounds like the spot. The back room at Clockwork on Fridays does play hip-hop and top 40 stuff.

It's not that if you're 30 you won't have a good time; it just caters a bit more to the younger crowd because it's 18+. I've seen dudes there that look 40 and are still dancing like nutjobs.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

The Top 40 and hip-hop is mainly for my younger cousins. I don't know how open-minded they would be dancing to some other types of music. I dance to everything so I don't care. I was also thinking about Level 3 at Hollywood and Highlands but it gets so crowded there and plus I've been there plenty and wanna do something different.

I have been wanting to bowl lately and thought about Lucky Strike, but I'm pretty sure it's 21+ after a certain time and I don't want them to get kicked out or whatever. I definately don't wanna end up at some generic place like the Grand Lux or Cheesecake Factory or something like that though. Miyagi's might be doable but it's a little too trendy for my tastes I think.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Coolish thing to do that you might want to check out if you're into it. Every Sunday night on the sand in Venice beach a bunch of people meet up for a bonfire and drum circle. You could find better things to do but this was interesting.

Re: Los Angeles: Things To Do And Places To Go
 

Also:

Go see a dodger game

Go see an angels game

Go to disneyland / magic mountain / knotts berry farm

Go to Catalina Island

Go golfing

Go to the beach

Take the 405 down to the home depot center and watch David Beckham play and lose for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Go to Fleming's steakhouse.

Go to Manhattan Beach in general, they have everything thats good. (I'm from the southbay ldo)