I am staying in Los Angeles for four days and I have never been. I am overwhelmed by my choices-- Which restaurants are worth trying? Which bars are fun to have a drink at?

What should I absolutely do and what should I not worry about missing?
I am a TV/film buff and love shopping!! HELP!

Love to help. Tell us where you are staying. LA is too big to describe and much will depend on where you will be and if you have a car.

You MUST go to Universal, you'll love it there! It's not just a theme park, it tells you so much about movie industry! Start with a tram tour on the lower level and go to the show (lower level, forgot the name) where they tell you about sound effects.

Go to the Getty Center, the Motion Picture and TV museum in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall (site of the new Academy Awards theatre), and the new mall near the Farmers Market on Fairfax.

Dining recommendations will depend on your budget and where you are staying.

We are staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt and we will have a car. Don't want to get TOO extravagant with the restaurants, but I wouldn't mind trying a pricier one for one or two evenings. I'm pretty flexible as far as that is concerned.
Good suggestions so far!! This is very helpful!!

On the basis of a recommendation of another poster, I tried Vert over the weekend. It's right there in Hollywood and is very good.

If you are a tv buff, then you should tour Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank. They do a tour with about 10 people and it is terrific. It is the best studio tour around. Depending on when you are going you might even get to sit in on a rehearsal for one of their shows. Other studio tours like Paramount are good, but not on the same level. Sony has a tour as well.

Universal is fun, and you should enjoy it. However, other than the backlot tour and the special effects show, you won't even feel like you are at a studio. Paramount, Sony and Warner Brothers give you a much better appreciation of the business. And, they don't have rides etc.

If you are out in LA during the TV taping season try and go to a tv taping. Check out Audiences Unlimited on the web for information. Just remember that a ticket doesn't guarantee admittance.

Spend some time wandering around Beverly Hills particularly Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Center also has some good shopping. Montana St. in Santa Monica is great for shopping and celebrity sightings. Also go to Melrose Street and hit the stores.

Definately go to Farmers Market to eat and shop.

LA has so many great things to do and see. You'll have a good time.

Don't know much about the bars, but would think the Polo Lounge might be worth a trip. I believe it's at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Have a fabulous trip.

Hollywood Roosevelt is good choice for movie fan.

The Polo Lounge for a drink is right down Sunset, in BH at the BH Hotel. Also for a drink try Musso and Frank's on H'wood Blvd or Yamashiro up the hill. You can see it from the hotel.

E-mail me and tell me what type of food you like, and I will try and come up with some restaurant suggestions.

Also, I always like to suggest the Huntington for garden and museum in Pasadena (about 30 minutes from H'wood, but a nice change.)

Take a day and take the boat to Catalina. I felt it was the highlight of my last trip to LA. If you go out of Long Beach, the Queen Mary is docked right next to where you catch the boats. I found it to be very interesting also. Venice Beach is also fun to stroll along.

Agree with Musso & Franks very old Hollywood. Try the Museum of Television & Radio on Beverly Dr. in Bev. Hills,eat right across the street at Nate"n" Al's. We always see stars in there, very good deli food,awesome breakfast and very inexspensive too.The Roosevelt is a great place to stay,ask for a pool side room or a renovated room.

I third Musso and Frank's. How about tickets to the Hollywood Bowl - look online. It would be a perfect LA evening. You could bring a picnic.

I strongly second the Getty Museum. Time your trip to be there at sunset... WOW. I also agree with the Farmers Market and Catalina Island.

My favorite way to spend a day is to head over to Venice during a weekend day. Rent some rollerblades there and head up the path to Santa Monica. On the way back, instead of blading along the path, I very slowly and tactfully blade back on the actual boardwalk back to the shack. (I know a bunch of Angelinos on this forum are going to yell at me for that). Don't eat at the restaurants there, they gouge you... and come sunset, clear out of the neighborhood lest you are fond of catching lead.

Try the Melrose Avenue area (I believe east of Fairfax, approx.) if you are into clothes shopping and the dyed hair and tattoo scene, great people-watching there. I like Caffe Luna there, nice patio area.

Most club and bar action either centers around Santa Monica, or in the West LA/West Hollywood strip that runs along Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards.

Santa Monica is most accessible, I believe. You want to park at one of the municipal lots close to 3rd street, which is a walking promenade lined with overpriced restaurants and good bars... and some good shopping as well. Lots of clubs with live music in the area both on and off the 3rd street promenade, most all within easy walking distance.

Sunset/Santa Monica Blvd area: Take a slow cruise up and down either of these streets, great restaurants, I'm sure you will find a dinner cuisine to your liking, and there get some good advice as to where to grab a nightcap.

Hollywood is a bit more flashy, a bit more techno, but in my opinion is a bit young for me.

As you say you enjoy shopping, the mother of all shopping areas is Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Sure it is pricey, but fun to look at least.

Enjoy!