things to do in LA
 

Hi,
My friend and I ( two women in our thirties) will be going to LA for four days in October. We will be staying at the Los Angeles Four Seasons ( great deal on a corporate rate). Does anyone have any clever ideas on what to do? We have both lived in California before ( late 80's), so we are looking for the unusual, or the "must-sees" that are worth repeating. We will be renting a luxury car and are interested in some scenery. Also intersted in outdoors activites that are not strenous ( don't laugh...) Also, any advice on some good, but unusual restaurants. I greatly appreciate any information. Thank You!
Kirsten

This isn't an unusual recommendation but since the Getty opened after you lived in CA in the 80's, you may not have been there yet and I think it is a must-see.

Plug "Los Angeles" or "Hollywood" into the text search above and tons of information will come up.

Pick up the June issue of Conde Nast Traveler, there is a GREAT article called, "Elemental L.A." that is perfect for you - it focuses on unique things to do by neighborhood, including Bel Air/Brentwood/Westwood, Hollywood, Burbank/Studio City, Chinatown/Downtown, Santa Monica/Venice (my fave), East L.A. (if you love Mexican food you HAVE to go to Chavez Bl.), Malibu, and South L.A. If you can't find it at the store, try a library, or go online. If all else fails, email me at [email protected] and I'll scan it and email it to you.

Stachi,
I just "secured" that copy. Thanks so much for the hint.

Kirsten, in addition to all the good ideas you've gotten already, might I suggest a couple of points on your developing itinerary?

-- Pasadena. Gamble House, Old Town, Norton Simon Museum. Love this city!

-- Driving Pacific Coast Highway south from Long Beach to Dana Point, stopping in Newport Beach/Balboa Island and Laguna Beach. The drive has some breathtaking sights along the way, I think.

-- You know you want to hit Rodeo Drive, so give in. I don't know if Via Rodeo was around when you lived here, but it's worth going to say you've been. Lunch at Barney's Greengrass (in Barney's NY).

Offbeat restaurants, huh? So many to choose from. There is a new French place called Bastide that has locals over the moon. Only open on weekdays, very limited seatings (6 and 9 PM, I think), only the best. Might be worth a visit. The Lobster is a new seafood joint at the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier. I've heard good things about it, but never been. Up the street, I *can* recommend Ocean Avenue Seafood. The best seafood on the Westside.

A bit off the beaten path, I love Sir Winston's on the Queen Mary, in Long Beach. Continental cuisine, very well-done, on a Deco-era oceanliner (that's the unusual part). In my neighborhood, you can eat California cuisine in a restored California bungalow at Lasher's (Broadway and Newport, Long Beach); or, you can have high-end Italian in a storefront eatery called Christy's (run by Sonny Bono's oldest daughter), just down the street (Broadway and Termino, Long Beach). Not so much unusual as damn good.

I'm sure I'll think of more-- but I have to run. Have a great time!!

Hi rjw_lgb_ca,
Thanks for your great input. You seem to be an insider...Do you have any ideas on where to eat or have fun in Venice Beach??? In the early eighties I was an exchange student there ( I am originally from Germany). The family I stayed with has long moved on, but I would like to recapture some of the spirit. Thanks for your help!!!
Kirsten

Hi kirsten--

The Boardwalk!! The epicenter of everything to see and do in Venice Beach. Park somewhere around Pacific and Windward and head towards the ocean, then start a-walkin'. Since I don't live on the Westside-- I work in Santa Monica-- I'm not that hooked into the Venice scene, but....

Sidewalk Café is on the Boardwalk, right near Ocean Front Walk and Windward. It's a pub more than anything, but for drinks and hanging out, it's pretty cool. There's a joint called On the Waterfront Café which also could be fun.

Joe's Restaurant on Abbot Kinney is THE hot spot for California cuisine in this area.

Chaya Venice (on Navy) is Asian fusion, well-known for its sushi/sashimi-style items (ahi carpaccio, stuff like that).

Hal's Bar & Grill, also on Abbot Kinney, is known for its clientèle of industry types. Might be worth a visit.

Another thought: To get some exercise in, but nothing too crazy, how about roller-blading or biking on the Strand down in Hermosa Beach? You could start in Hermosa and head south to Redondo Beach-- riding down as far as Torrance Beach, for example. The Redondo Beach Pier is a nice rest point-- fast-food joints for a cool drink, little eateries, plenty of places to buy some cheap sunglasses! On a nice sunny day, it's gorgeous (people-watching!!), and it's a flat ride, so there are no strenuous hills.

Many things have changed since the late 1980s.

The Disney Concert Hall adjacent to the Music Center opens in October. Same architect, similar architecure to the Bilbao Museum in Spain.

The new cathedral in downtown L.A.

The Staples Center downtown, home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and venue for many large-scale concerts.

The Getty Center, of course, but also expansions to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The redevelopment of Hollywood Boulevard and the new Kodak Theater. Hollywood hasn't looked this good in a very long time.

The redevelopment of Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Fifteen years ago it looked very scruffy and down-at-the-heels. Now, it's very hip and very busy on weekends.

The subway. There are lines connecting Hollywood and downtown L.A., downtown and Pasadena, downtown to the airport and Manhattan Beach, and downtown and Long Beach.

CityWalk at Universal City is extremely popular on weekends.

The Santa Monica Pier area is much improved.

Some things haven't changed.

The drive along Mulholland Drive from the Hollywood Freeway to the ocean is still incredible.

If you come again in the summer, the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theater are still wonderful evening experiences.

I'm confused about Mulholland Drive from Hollywood Freeway to the sea. Unless I made some big goof, I found Mulholland Drive to end (actually turn to a dirt path) just past (west of) the 405. It appears on maps, but the road just isn't there. It seems to become pavement again past Topanga Canyon. Did I make a wrong turn somewhere, or is Mulholland not a complete road from the Hollywood Freeway all the way to the sea?

Keith

Mulholland is navigable (sp?) from Hollywood to the sea but indeed is a rutted dirt path for several miles of unbelievably beautiful scenery. It took us about 3 hours from end to end with a few stops along the way. I wouldn't recommend unless you have lots of time or are a native or resident looking for something unusual to do. BTW we were in a regular Plymouth minivan, nothing fancy.

Great suggestions so far..the Los Angeles Conservancy conducts excellent walks of various sections of downtown;;Art Deco, Movie Palaces, the Biltmore Hotel, Little Tokyo, etc. Also, Olvera Street and Union Station.
If you like gardens, there are tours twice a weeek ( reservations only-limited number) of the Robinson Gardens behind the Beverly Hills Hotel. Lovely estate and the guides are informative.