One night in LA. (Actually, this night). Suggestions?

[ElSapo]

I'm in LA for one night. Work trip. Here's my situation:

I've got: random bland business casual clothes, one pair of jeans, one striped blue shirt, one decent t-shirt. I also have: limited budget, a cell phone, a waning sense of enthusiasm.

I don't have: a car.

I'm also slightly intimidated because all I see out the window of this hotel is gridlock, and everyone I know who has lived here complains it's massive and difficult to get around.

I'll be hungry later, but sobriety may be a more pressing problem. The hotel bar is annoying, and the Universal City "city walk" looks like an awful version of DisneyLand (which I also find awful).

Any suggestions? How much would a cab to Commerce cost? Any actually-decent food nearby (Universal City)? Any decent bars near here?

Thanks for any tips...