Walking Around LA
 

I recently (minutes ago) posted this message under a different thread. I hope no one minds. Is this bad posting etiquette?<BR><BR>I have been thinking about visiting within the next month of so. I was wondering if anyone who lives in or knows LA very well could answer some questions for me. By the way, I've been to LA twice before, so I know the layout fairly well. And I will have a car to get around, but I do like finding areas where I can park and walk a bit.<BR><BR>1. I have heard that the area around Echo Park/Silver Lake/Los Felix neighborhoods are quite nice and being revived as cool areas to live. Is this true? Also, what areas of these neighborhoods would be interesting to visit, in terms of pedestrian amenities (retail strips, interesting walks). <BR><BR>2. I have also heard that West Adams is a neighborhood that is coming back and very diverse. What does anyone know of this area and what might be interesting to check out (streets, areas, etc). Also, is a trip to USC and Exposition Park worth it?<BR><BR>3. What are the main retail areas of Westwood and is the UCLA campus interesting to walk around?<BR><BR>Thanks all. Once again, if you see this a second time under a different thread, don't kill me....

USC isn't an area most people would enjoy walking around. Pretty ugly and low income for my taste.<BR><BR>Westwood used to be a hip and happening neighborhood, but those days ended atleast a decade or more ago. The action moved to Old Town Pasadena and 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.<BR><BR>Silver Lake and Los Felix are both on the upswing.

Thanks for the reply<BR><BR>In Silver Lake and Los Feliz, what areas are worth walking around? Like, what are the main pedstrian/ratil areas? Or is it mainly a residential area and people drive elsewhere for coffee, convenience stores, etc. ?

Montana Avenue in Santa Monica is a nice area to stroll around. There is a retail area from about 7th until about 16th and the houses north of Montana are in a nice neighborhood to walk around in.

James,<BR>I live in Los Feliz. Vermont Avenue is a good place to stroll, lots of small funky boutiques, several restaurants from upscale Vermont to homey Capriccio.<BR>Hillhurst avenue ( one block east of Vermont) also has good coffee shops (Cafe Los Feliz, Belle Epoque) and small shops. Over in Silver Lake both Rowena Avenue and Sunset Blvd around Maltman have plenty of vintage clothing and furniture shops, good restaurants from Millie's diner ( everything is made right there, bicuits, bread, all is fresh), Stella's French bistro, El Conquistador Mexican, Eatwell coffee shop, etc. There was an article fairly recently in the LA TIMES about art galleries in Echo Park. <BR><BR>If the West Adams home owners association is having any tours when you're there, it's worth going. Beautiful grand homes that have been recently restored. They have a website, I'm sure.<BR><BR>I like the UCLA campus , the sculpture garden and the Fowler museum, and just the campus itself. I don't care for Westwood; although it's trying hard to make a come-back. <BR><BR>Hope that helps,<BR>M.

Hi James...I was in LA in August and I had a chance to walk around the main street in the Los Feliz area...there's cafes, restaurants, clubs, and a theater...I can't remember the name of the street, but I remember driving on Hollywood Blvd. and making a left at Starbucks...it was very busy on weekend nights...the apartment buildings in the area were nice...older, but nice...stop by House of Pies in Los Feliz...a word of warning about Westwood Village...make sure you go to the bathroom before you go if you're just going to walk around because the shopkeepers have made it impossible for anyone to use their restrooms unless you make a substantial purchase...there's lots of shops and restautants there...hey who cares, but Westwood is one of my least favorite areas of LA...UCLA campus is worth a walk.

James,<BR>The street Merilee refers to is Vermont Avenue. Also, at the junction of Sunset and Hyperion in Silver Lake is the Vista movie theatre. (Great neon sign for it).It's an old theatre that's been restored. They took out every other row so there's plenty of leg room. Popular movies tend to alternate with art house shows. Across the street is Uncle Jer's; eclectic place selling cards, clothes, soaps, toys, and ceramics. His other shops are in Fez and Kyoto.

Hey lagirl, Merile, and Michele:<BR><BR>Thanks for all your input. I've visited LA a couple of times and the first time, I expected to hate it, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm actually pretty psyched about visiting again. People like you make it so much easier to find all the interesting stuff in a city like LA. <BR><BR>Just a couple more questions for anyone that wishes to respond:<BR>1) Are there any cool retail districts located in the Mid-City area? I've hear that 3rd Street between Fairfax and La Cienga is incredibly interesting. I haven;t checked it out yet. Any thoughts? Any other interesting areas around there?<BR><BR>2) I've also heard good things about Pasadena (xxx's post, among others). What are the main areas to check out there? And are there any "cool" stops that I shouldn't miss? <BR><BR>3) What is the Hancock Park area like? Just a nice residential area? Or also some good reatil strips? <BR><BR>Thanks again to all of you for helping me out.

James,<BR>I take it you're a shopper-a guy after my own heart.<BR><BR>Yes, Third street between Fairfax and La Cienega is great. All small shops from Zipper ( 50s household items) to<BR>Polka Dots and Moonbeams ( both modern and vintage clothes) to Ethel -new shop features LA designers. There was an article about Third Street in the NY TIMES Sophisticated Traveler section a few weeks back by Moon Unit Zappa. If you're hungry, there's the Farmers' Market , now under assault, I mean construction, Joan's on Third, fine gourmet deli and lunch spot, Cynthia's , a more formal place, and more.<BR><BR>Hancock Park is a beautiful stately residential area. Larchmont BOulevard has an old fashioned feel to it and still has some privately owned shops, but has fallen prey to the chain store<BR>virus. Still, it's a pleasant place to stroll.<BR><BR>Pasadena has some of the grandest residential homes around--old arts and crafts mansions, plus charming California bungalows (there's an area called Bungalow Heaven).If that appeals to you, take a tour of the Gamble House. In terms of shopping, Old Town is easy to walk, but it's mostly (not all) chain stores.(Banana Republic, Gap, Pottery Barn, a lovely small Saks Fifth). There are lots of restaurants in that area from Barney's for burgers to Il Fornaio and Farfalla ( they have other branches around town)to several sushi places.<BR><BR>Hope that helps,<BR>M.<BR><BR>

You might also want to venture down to Long Beach and wander around Belmont Shores one afternoon. <BR><BR>

James,<BR>Here's three other LA locations to wander (not far from Third and Fairfax-so you can combine them).<BR><BR>Beverly Blvd. west of La Brea and East of Fairfax. A combination of stylish shops,restaurants, and Orthodox temples. The LA TIMES dubbed it "where the hip meet the holy". There's a new spa there, Ona, a really old massage and steam place ( excellent too, in case you're aching) Brooks Baths, at least two antique furniture stores, clothes and gift shops (Sage is a new one , upstairs) and several restaurants.<BR><BR>Area two: Melrose west of Fairfax. Lots of new shops (Miu Miu, Fred Segal,Emma Gold), furniture stores , decorating places. Also, Melrose Place, a small street off Melrose and Sweetzer. Elegant antique shops. I believe they're open to the public.<BR><BR>Area three: La Brea Ave.north of Sixth to about Melrose ( this is near Beverly Blvd). Liz's Antique hardware,stationery shops, boutiques, Rita Flora restaurant and florist, American Rag (vintage), lots to do on foot.<BR><BR>M.

Michelle, thanks for the Brooks and the Ona info... I am going to Spa Mystique this weekend in Century City and shall give full reports.. but always on the lookout for new spas!

I think USC is a nice stop - the campus is beautiful, and Exposition Park is lovely - don't miss the rose garden. I wouldn't suggest Old Town Pasadena - I think it's all chain retail stores, 2nd rate dining for way too much money (totally opposite of Berkeley), and scantily-clad 15 year olds. <BR> <BR>Also, drive by Angeleno Heights - Sunset Blvd, east of Hollywood and Echo Park, just before you get to Chinatown - for some lovely old homes that are featured in many movies.

As a native Angeleno I'm glad to see so many people recommending fun places to explore. A few more: Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice, Main Street in the Ocean Park section of Santa Monica, Washington Street at the ocean (and near Marina del Rey), Riveria Village in Redondo Beach--good shops and walk along the palisades above the beach; <BR>ditto the recommendation for Long Beach and Belmont Shore. Also Naples in Long Beach and a gondola ride there. Enjoy!

Be sure to go see the Getty if you haven't already done so on a previous visit. It's one of my favorite places when visiting LA.

Michele:<BR><BR>I'm not exactly a shopper, in fact sometimes I can get really sick of shopping (unless we're talking about a good bookstore.. I could spend hours browsing books). It's just that in general, I find the lifeblood of communities/neighborhoods is in their retail strips. You can often tell a lot about a neighborhood by its retail areas (just check out the boring suburbs, with the same monotonous bix box plazas, with the same monotonous stores). The residential areas of a neighborhood are wonderful to explore, but the real "heart" of any community is usually found in the places people gather. It's not so much to do with shopping, but a common place that you can go and know you'll see people from the community. Anyway, enough babbling about that.<BR><BR>I'm so thankful to all of you who have mentioned some places to explore in LA. The first few times I visited, I saw some of the typical stuff, but I just knew there was more to this city. I'm not sure why, but LA seem to like to put some crummy/boring stuff out there for all to see (Universal, Hollywood, Disneyland, freeways, Beverly Hills) while hiding all the good stuff for itself (and its residents). I can't wait to visit again and explore all these great new places you've all told me about. <BR><BR>With respect to the Getty, I've visited it twice now and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone visiting LA. I mean, even after eharing so much about it, it didn't disappoint. I'm not really that big of classic art fan (I find spending hours wandering and just looking at paitings incredibly boring), but I LOVED the Getty.<BR><BR>Here's another question for LA locals: Is there anything at all worth seeing in and around Macarthur Park? The area looks like it has so much potential, and once was a wonderful place. But all I hear now is that it's full of druggies and homeless people. Is this just a typical tourist/suburban attitude? I live across the bay from San Francisco, and I hear how people talk about SF and Telegraph Ave in Berkeley and I can totally handle those places. <BR><BR>Thanks again to all. Please feel free to let me know of any more interesting/secret places in LA that most tourists don't see, but that locals like. ([email protected], if you wanna email me)<BR><BR>

James,<BR>There is a great deal of potential, most of it unrealized, in the MacArthur Park area. Did you see the movie THE GRIFTERS? some of it was filmed in the area. I think you'd be fine during the day. Langer's deli on 7th and Alvarado ( I think or close enough) has divine pastrami, the Southwestern Law School library, once Bullocks Wilshire, is an art deco masterpiece , you can look at at from the outside; the library is for the students and graduates only. I wouldn't go out of my way for the area, but if you're around there, those are two spots worth a look and a lunch. (Langer's closes at around four, used to be open later, but due to the area...)<BR><BR>Good privately owned book shop on Vermont is Skylight. Third street has both a Travel book store and a Cookbook store.<BR><BR>If you like to walk, try an LA conservacny walking tour of downtown. Check their website for tours. Lots of great old buildings and interesting areas (Little Tokyo, Union Station, etc).<BR><BR>M.

Well, this weekend is my next trip to LA. I thank all of you for your wonderful ideas and comments. I'm looking forward to a great weekend. In addition, we are flying into Burbank airport (on Southwest). I assume 101 is the best way to come into the city (we are staying in West Hollywood). Does that sound right? Or would one of the canyon roads (say, Laurel Canyon) be a more interesting drive? (interesting enough to take the extra time)<BR><BR>Anyway, thanks again everyone. We are leaving on Sat morninf. Maybe I'll let you all know how i went once I get back (only staying until Sunday night, short trip from the Bay Area)

James, this month's issue of Travel and Leisure (actually it's February 2002) has a great article about the revitalized arts culture in Los Angeles. It has great info on galleries, neighborhoods and eateries that are part of the city's cultural revival. Chung King Road in Chinatown looks really interesting.

I scanned the other posts and didn't see it, so, what about the L.A. Conservatory walking tours?? Pretty cool.<BR><BR>Also, I remember a couple pretty good threads on the offbeat and edgy side of L.A. awhile back--like getting cocktails at the Formosa, Muzzo & Franks, etc. Have fun.