Los Angeles itinerary for August trip

Old Jul 28th, 2014, 02:22 PM
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Los Angeles itinerary for August trip

Hi -- I am traveling to Los Angeles with my husband and daughter to celebrate her 13th birthday. Although we live in New York, she thinks she is an "LA girl". We are arriving Mid-August and staying 5 nights (Tues-Sun). We want to visit Universal Hollywood, shopping,beaches....

We are staying at the Hyatt Century City because we got an ok deal with breakfast & valet parking, both of which can really add up.

We're planning to visit Universal on Wednesday and go to a Dodgers game Friday night. Other than that, can you provide some suggestions on places to see and restaurants (lunch or dinner), fun things for a 13 year old. We want to visit Farmer's Market, The Grove and maybe Santa Monica beach?

Thank you so much!
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 04:12 PM
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I think the studio tour will be fun. My 15 year old niece enjoyed the tour of Paramount Studios, particularly as she was able to go on the set of one of the teen-oriented shows she watched at the time, and saw one of the stars in the coffee shop. We still point out different locations in TV shows and movies that we recognize from the tour. I recently stayed at the Hyatt Century City with my 10 year old goddaughter. It will work fine for touring around LA, and has a pool she might enjoy. If you have any interest in music, the Grammy museum at LA Live might be a good stop. Spending a little time visiting Olvera Street might also be fun.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 04:15 PM
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The Santa Monica Pier is fun and of course the beach is there too.
If you're going to the Farmer's Market you might consider watch a TV taping at CBS next door or visiting the nearby La Brea Tar Pits.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 04:53 PM
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Thank you. Paramount sounds good.
Logandog--do you know what shows are taped by farmers market?
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 05:58 PM
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There's a minimum age for most TV tapings. Some are OK for under 14, but most are 18+ only. The Price is Right is taped at CBS, but you might have to stand in line, perhaps for hours, which IMO is not worth it.

The Ellen Show (at Warner Bros. in Burbank) has a minimum age of 14, but it's on hiatus anyway.

If you're interested in sitcom tapings (which are all over L.A.), you need to pursue tickets ASAP. Note minimum age for most tapings is 18. Here's one ticket service:

http://www.tvtickets.com/overview.htm

What sort of shopping interests your daughter? One-of-a-kind and unusual or just shopping and lots of it? The shops on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice are unique/bohemian, somewhat expensive and perhaps too sophisticated for a 13 y.o. who actually wants to buy something. The shopping on Colorado Blvd. (Rose Parade route) and nearby streets in Old Pasadena is much more mainstream with many familiar chains in the mix and lots of dining options. It's somewhat similar to the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Of course, there's also the Century City Mall close to your hotel.
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Old Jul 28th, 2014, 08:03 PM
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The "Price is Right " is taping then.
We saw " The Late, Late Show " back in May but they are dark in August.
"Price" is showing tickets from the 17th.
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 03:54 AM
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Thanks for the info. Can anyone recommend some good local restaurants? Maybe some great Mexican? We don't want any fancy restaurants.
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 07:51 AM
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The Mexican you'll get here ranges from really high-falutin' riffs on Mexican food to untranslated, pure «comida mexicana como la hacía Abuelita» (Mexican like Grandma used to make). This is a region where food fanatics practically get into Twitter wars over taco trucks. There are upmarket places, there are holes in the wall. You can get Sonoran comfort food, you can get Mission-style burritos (stuffed to the gills with everything in the kitchen), you can get Baja-style fish tacos, you can get San Diego-style California burritos (fries inside!).

I can't think of anything right in Century City (I work in Santa Monica but live outside of LA). However, I am familiar with Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's Border Grill in Santa Monica:

http://www.bordergrill.com/bg_sm/bg_smwel.htm

The place is VERY "LA", very loud, but fun. The food is a slightly filtered version of Mexican cuisine (Mary Sue and Susan are total fans of Mexican food, but aren't Mexican themselves), and it's still good. Susan is often there at lunchtime on weekdays (otherwise she's at her Hollywood place, Mud Hen Tavern); Mary Sue spends time at the Border Grill in downtown LA.

Very nearby is Mercado; the buzz is really high for this place, but I admit I haven't been yet.

People rave about Lula on Main Street in SM:

http://www.lulacocinamexicana.com/

Definitely worth a look.

Whatever you do: Avoid any branch of El Cholo at all costs. As far as I'm concerned it's on a level with the late, unlamented Chi-Chis restaurant chain.

LA Metro is also known for killer Asia-Pacific restaurants, most notably Japanese, Korean and Thai; the Chinese restaurant scene is HUGE in the San Gabriel Valley, but that's an area most tourists don't frequent (unless they're total food geeks). If your kid likes sushi or good Thai or Korean BBQ, we can recommend some places. Another place to look would be the Chowhound LA board; it's extremely active.
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 08:37 AM
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restaurants (lunch or dinner)

Some of our favorites from recent trips

http://eatchego.com/
http://parksbbq.com/
http://animalrestaurant.com/
http://www.dintaifungusa.com/locations_us.html
http://superbasnackbar.com/
http://mvink.com/
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaura...ne-dining/3635
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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If your plans include the Farmer's Market you could do Loteria Grill there for Mexican (the original location). They also have a few other locations now, including Hollywood and Santa Monica.

My favorite old school hole in the wall in Santa Monica is Gilbert's El Indio. But it is a neighborhood place, probably not what you are looking for. Cash only.

http://gilbertselindio.com/menu.html

BTW RJW we are now big fans of Patricia's on Atlantic (I know you are not north LGB). Super hole in the wall!
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 10:55 AM
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mlgb: I've heard great things about Patricia's! We don't get to that part of town enough, but one of these days...!

We finally got to the Belmont Shore Taco Surf. Great shrimp tacos-- the rest was not bad, not superior. Next on our plate is to hit the Sunset Beach location. I'm also curious as to what will go in the old Hof's Hut/Lucille's space, now that the Hoffmans moved Lucille's to Marina Pacifica.... Maybe a Hof's Hut! Or (wouldn't it knock us all dead) maybe someone could revive Hamburger Henry! Tee-hee.
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 12:08 PM
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I used to like La Talpa a lot when I lived in that area. It's just a Mexican restaurant run by real Mexicans, has been there since the mid-1960s on W Pico (just east of S Bundy Dr, before the freeway). It's not fancy or a name restaurant at all.

http://thetalpa.com/
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Old Jul 29th, 2014, 12:27 PM
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Thank you for all of your responses.
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Old Jul 30th, 2014, 04:58 PM
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Are there any reasonable priced restaurants in the Beverly Hills area or other areas around Century City?
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Old Jul 30th, 2014, 05:08 PM
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If you go inside the Century City mall there is a food court.
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Old Jul 30th, 2014, 05:36 PM
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Our nieces and nephews all like Carney's (was Elvis' favorite hotdog place) - http://www.carneytrain.com/

It's on Sunset
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Old Jul 30th, 2014, 06:11 PM
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I like Da Pasquale in Beverly Hills. There is metered parking behind the restaurant. From your hotel, drive north on Avenue of the Stars, turn right on Santa Monica Boulevard and at Century Park East stay to the right onto South Santa Monica Boulevard (which locals call Little Santa Monica Boulevard), cross Wilshire, turn left on Roxbury and then immediately left into the parking structure.

http://dapasqualecaffe.com/about-us

Very near Century City, I like Clementine. From your hotel, drive north on Avenue of the Stars, turn left on Santa Monica Boulevard and, at the first opportunity, make a slight right turn onto the parallel road (also signed Santa Monica Boulevard). Immediately look for street parking. If you park anywhere that is unmetered or not covered by a pay station, read the parking signs very carefully. Clementine has a small parking lot, too.

http://clementineonline.com/

For a great breakfast, try John O'Groats. From your hotel, drive south on Avenue of the Stars, turn right on Pico Boulevard. Right after you pass the golf course (on the left side), look for the blue window awnings of the restaurant.

http://www.ogroatsrestaurant.com/

There are many mid-range restaurants (some chains) in Beverly Hills on Beverly Drive between Wilshire and Olympic Boulevards.
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Old Jul 30th, 2014, 07:12 PM
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Gyu-Kaku is not terribly expensive, but still fun.

http://gyu-kaku.com/ca/beverlyhills.htm
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Old Aug 2nd, 2014, 05:47 AM
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Thanks. These look like great restaurants and I'm sure we'll try a couple.
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