Thanks everyone. I need to make my reservation. Yes surfer girl, I plan to be in LA on Oct.16th --19th and then down to Anahiem for a day or so starting that Sunday.

Have fun and tell us where you stay; what you do; what works, what doesn't.

Continue my post here. Still finalizing my trip. If I were to spend one night in Santa Monica, near what streets or area would be near bars/restaurants within walkable distant.

I would go with the Sunset Plaza Hotel in Weho, or Maison 140 in Beverly Hills (they have a $239 special on their smaller rooms, or $215 if you don't mind trying to find street parking).
(I'd probably park in Hollywood then take the metro to Staples rather than deal with the traffic.)

Subway, if Santa Monica, I'd say Third Street.

Stay in Pasadena at the Courtyard Marriott. I'm a Pasadenean of 45 years. You can pull up my GTG report if you go to the Asia forum and type in either my screen name (Guenmai) or Pasadena. I held my weekend long fodors GTG there and folks flew in from all over the U.S. (from Hawaii to Boston) and absolutely loved Pasadena. I had them all stay at the Courtyard Marriott in the heart of Old Town. We have over 500 restaurants along with a well-known culinary school with a restaurant. So, food is not a problem. I have written a whole write up about it on my Asia forum thread. Happy Travels!