What's up SoCal?!

I'm going to be in LA with my lady the week of July 11 and I need some ideas of stuff to do.

I've been down there many times and done the usual, i.e. Universal, Disneyland, Promenade, malls, beaches, etc.

I don't mind doing those again, but anyone got any unique suggestions? Like restaurants (I will be going to Versaille on Venice for sure), cool shops (I'm a sneaker freak), hukkah bars, whatever... As long as its different and we're entertained or our stomachs are full.

Any events/concerts going on?

Thanks in advance for your suggetsions!

 

Lawry's Prime Rib Steak House...Oh my gosh my mouth is just drooling thinking about it. It's pricey but it's sooooo good. Plus the valet parking lot always has cool cars (Bentley's, Ferrari's, Aston Martins, Etc.) Located in Beverly Hills on La Cienaga. Or you can go to a nice seafood restaurant with an awesome view in Laguna Niguel called Las Brisas. Very nice place to take the lady.

 

If you're looking for a cool bar you can try either Lola's (martini's) on Fairfax Ave. or Jones (young professionals/yuppy type crowd), off of Santa Monica Blvd.

 

I always forget the name of the place but in Little Tokyo there's a shop that always stocks obscure vintage sneakers (adidas, Pro Keds, Nike, Vans, Puma, etc.). They're a bit pricey cuz I think their products are JDM but they're the genuine article and all brand new. I wanna say it's off 2nd Street.

There's also some cool Japanese style tapas pubs around there that are open late...

Good luck.

 

If you're a sneaker freak, check out Niketown in Beverly Hills. It's a cool shop. It's on Wilshire Blvd near Rodeo Dr., hard to miss (ask anyone if you can't find it).

The Hollywood Improv on Melrose, a few blocks east of La Cienega, is a pretty nice comedy club, and you never know what comics might show up. Be warned though, if you go to see a show with Drew Carey, most likely he won't be there but his crew will be. Check out their schedule at http://www.improv2.com/hollywood.html
I like it a lot better than the Laugh Factory, which is really cramped inside and there are no tables.

If it were me, I think it's a waste of time to buy a "star map" and try to find the stars' homes. Most of them are covered in a good amount of shrubbery and you can't see crap.

You can always check out the Hollywood Bowl, they can have some nice concerts there. Bring your own food (takeout from a nice restaurant) and bring or buy a bottle of wine. Don't spend a lot of money on the really expensive seats unless you MUST see the performers up close. If the event isn't very full, you can just buy the cheapest like $5 seats and move down into the $30-35 section.

You can check out Gypsy Cafe (or Habibi Cafe which is across the street) in Westwood Village for hookahs and persian food.

There are two movie theatres at the intersection of Weyburn and Broxton, which is the closest intersection to Gypsy cafe. The one called the Fox is one of the coolest movie theaters in LA, up there with the Graumman's Chinese theater.

You can check out "The Grove" shopping center, which has some cool shops, and another really cool movie theater with stadium seating!! It's in West LA near Fairfax and 3rd street (not the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica).

That leads me to my next attraction, which is 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It's a cool place to hang out, Yankee Doodles is a cool bar, Barney's Beanery is a cool restaurant/bar, there are some nice shops and lots of interesting street performers.

Well that's my "best of" list...enjoy.

 

Spearmint Rhino

 

Rick,

He is coming with the lady.


Tony

 

Nice!

 

My favorite sandwich place of all times is "Johny Pastramis" down the street from Versailles....the best Pastrami sandwiches ever....great drunk food....it's on Sepulveda and Venice.....Titos tacos is damn good too...both of these restaurants are holes in the wall restaurants but excellent junk food!!! Venice beach is always fun place to people watch!!! Promenade excellent hangout spot.... Westwood is fun as well....but it's summer time so not as many crazy college students around...go to Maloneys...great sports bar...Thursday was college night when I went there!! Not sure how old you are or what your into....of course sunset blvd at night is always a good time....Miyagis (Sushi bar/club on sunset).

 

Dude, Maloney's sucks!! WTF!?! Their drinks are crap, it's sticky and crowded in there, and too many loose women!

Try Q's on Wilshire Blvd near Barrington. It's a much cooler bar than Maloney's with pool tables, a mini-shuffleboard table (pretty fun), trivia games, sports games up on the TV's, a little more quiet room upstairs, basically "the" bar for anyone.

UCLAzzz IMO the only reason people go to Maloney's is because it is so close to the UCLA apartments that they can walk their drunk as5es back up to their apartments after last call.

 

OOOOOOOOH yeah, if you like playing Texas Hold'em, Omaha, or 7 card stud, go up to Hollywood Park on Century Blvd in Inglewood. There's lots of fish there... just play 3-6 hold'em and play TIGHT... when you have a winning hand, keep raising, people will always call you and you will win big bucks!

It's not a real casino, just a card room. But it's really fun!

 

I didn't know there was a SR down there! I've only hit up the one in Vegas!

 

I'm definitely gonna look for this...

 

Thanks for all the suggestions... I knew I could count on my fellow Z owners!

Any more?!?

Thanks again to all the post!

 

pink's on la brea and jim's superburger (get the DUI) on olympic.. good stuff

 

If you guys are into art, try the Getty Museum.

 

Pinks is great (especially after throwing back some cold ones) but it aint like the old days when you could just stroll on in-get ready for a 45 minute wait.

 

Yep, went there last Friday and had about an hour wait.