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Hey guys. I'm a New Yorker and I need a break to go out and experience some west cost life later this month. I've been to California a bunch of times but the last time I was there was five years ago back when I was 14. My friends and I decided to drop a little cash since we're about to finish our sophomore year of college. I will be in the LA area for four days and three nights and I wanted to know if you have any advice.

I'll be staying at a place in West Hollywood right on the Sunset Strip. Right now, the only plans we have are to go to the Price is Right a couple of times and we also want to spend a night at Universal Studios / City Walk. Since my hotel is only a couple of blocks away from the Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater, we'll probably check those out too. We are also probably going to go to a Dodgers game the day we arrive but other than that, any ideas? I am 19 (even though my ID might say otherwise ) so it will probably tough to get into most bars/clubs but getting trashed without spending too much money would be nice.

Unfortunately, the Lakers/Celtics series will definitely be over by the time I get there. Anyway, I'd appreciate any help or advice you guys are willing to give.

Good luck to your Lakers in the finals. I hope my team can be there one day.

Theres a little burger stand called In-N-Out. It is a must to get one of their burgers when visiting California. And you should check out Santa Monica and Venice beach.

Ghost Snack wrote:Theres a little burger stand called In-N-Out. It is a must to get one of their burgers when visiting California. And you should check out Santa Monica and Venice beach.

I have actually been to In-N-Out because I heard the rave reviews last time I was there. I actually thought their burger was overrated . I know, I'm crazy. I will definitely try to check out the beaches but I will probably only have time for one. How far do you think they are from West Hollywood? I'll be taking taxis everywhere btw.

KnicksManiac wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I have actually been to In-N-Out because I heard the rave reviews last time I was there. I actually thought their burger was overrated . I know, I'm crazy. I will definitely try to check out the beaches but I will probably only have time for one. How far do you think they are from West Hollywood? I'll be taking taxis everywhere btw.

Try it again. Santa Monica and Venice are not too far from Hollywood. You should be able to knock them down in a good amout of time. If you had to pick one though pick Santa Monica.

KnicksManiac beat me to it. I'll be staying in Manhattan Beach in a week and I was wondering what restaurants around there I should go check out along with other attractions. Thanks guys and best of luck against Boston.

If you like comedy, go to the Improv here in Hollywood. That place always has great shows.

If you want a burger that is extremely delicious and also probably unhealthy for you, go to Tommy's. You can find one on Rampart and Beverly, that being the first one.

Here are a couple of spots to hit up:

Pinks
Roscoes chicken & waffles

And if you want to see some straight up weird freaks you and your boys should check out the very same street your staying on just go more to the east in Hollywood.

You'll be able to tell some stories for months. Oh yeah and if you can make your way to the valley, maybe you'll be invited to a PORN set. lololo !

go to Titos tacos on sepulveda and Washington in west LA. NY mexican food sucks big time so Titos is a good place to start. just ask your taxi driver to stop there on your way to your hotel from the airport.

wow taxi everywhere! thats gonna be pricey might as well just rent a car.

KnicksManiac wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I have actually been to In-N-Out because I heard the rave reviews last time I was there. I actually thought their burger was overrated . I know, I'm crazy. I will definitely try to check out the beaches but I will probably only have time for one. How far do you think they are from West Hollywood? I'll be taking taxis everywhere btw.

lol in n out overrated, yea don't listen to hype I went to ny and tried those damn white castle burgers tooo much hype on that one. If you go clubbing haha don't go anywhere in the westhollywood area. Try clubs on hollywood blvd. If you can find one of those ladies with her own hot dog cart try some bacon wrapped hotdogs. You can find one probably on hollywood and highland.

I cant believe you just directed him towards the "danger dogs," lol. Well, he is from NYC though so I'm sure he's used to the street vendor food eating, risky lifestyle.

theFRANCHISE wrote:wow taxi everywhere! thats gonna be pricey might as well just rent a car.

I'm pretty sure you have to be 25 to rent a car plus it's $15 parking every day at the hotel and it would be $15 more to park at Dodger Stadium.

Also, the city is ridiculously large so you guys don't have an easy subway system.



And what's with "danger dogs?"

If In-N-Out was a disappointment, L.A. will be a disappointment. Life will be a disappointment.

Anyways, yeah Pinks and Roscoe's.

-Not so frequently mentioned is Phillipe's, which is famous for its French Dip Sandwiches. Jack Nicholson sometimes eats there after Laker games - that's what the waitress told me last time. You buy food at the counter and find a seat on a bench, even if it's crowded, I believe there's also seating upstairs.

-If you want an old school historic diner, the ones you see in NYC, you can hit up the Pantry which is also in downtown, food isn't special but you get a lot and it's open 24 hrs. Keep in mind the 24 hour places if you're going to go clubbing.

-L.A. is big enough so that there is always really good food everywhere, you just have to ask the foodies and the people who really know L.A. and they'll hook it up.

There's also good ethnic food that you can only get in LA, if you're into that.

Snaq is right about mexican food, it's hard to find really good authentic mexican food in L.A. The best I've had has ironically been in NYC, in the back of Mexican grocery/delis. Lots of Tex-Mex or otherwise Americanized Mexican food in L.A., which isn't a bad thing, but it's kind of ho-hum.

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I'm sure you know about Third Street and The Grove. Good for people watching, but obviously touristy. I had a friend who hooked up with somebody he met at the Farmer's market, so you never know.

If you want to go out, based on your age, I recommend going to Westwood/UCLA area and hitting up college bars. If you're extroverted enough, you might be able to get invited to other stuff going on (read: lots of college girls).

Hollywood might be tough. I only went there a few times back in the day, kinda felt out of my league, people were older. My friends back home still go bar hopping in Hollywood though.

One thing about L.A., a lot of the places tend to be homogeneous in terms of ethnic or race. Just as a heads up if that makes you uncomfortable. Again, if you don't get a lot of good ideas here, try to find what's going on by asking/rolling with people who do. People in LA can be real nice, not like NYC, where most people are douchebags except on the lower east side. Lolz.

You want to club cheap? Don't buy drinks there. Pre-drink, take a cab. You don't want to empty your wallet trying to get buzzed on watered-down expensive drinks.

And don't buy girls drinks, that won't get you anywhere.

Damn I miss L.A.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the help so far!

there is a subway system not that great

haha danger dogs I walked through the streets of ny and they had nothing like it. I was thinking of opening my own cart and selling the bacon wrapped hot dogs myself

Santa Monica Pier
Venice Beach
did I mention MELROSE Ave?

actually not every rent a car in LA is 25 heres a link:
http://www.carrentalexpress.com/city_li ... page_id=77

In NJ, we've got danger dogs but crazier:



Jersey Breakfast Dog. Eggs and cheese, plus a myraid of toppings. It's like the fatburger of hotdogs.

There are a ton of crazy hot dog places in Jersey, and it shows on the people who live here.

NYC has a few places that have bacon-wrapped dogs, but no street vendors that I can recall. It sure wouldn't be kosher.

danger dog? its called a dirty dog.

as far as in n out...there's a new a rival in town...5 guys burger. their first location in the area is in carson. gotta try it.

http://www.fiveguys.com/press.html

go to tommy's!

yes, all my NYC friends like Tommy Burgers better than inn-n-out.

goto http://www.chowhound.com/boards/2 for food recs.

and do a search for "best ___" whatever you like to eat, like hamburgers etc... also do a search for New york and you'll get other new yorkers asking where to go. etc...

my friends from NYC seem to like "the grove" it's an outdoor shopping mall
they like going to runyon canyon for a hike and for the view. Also go to the beach. They like to see things they can't really see or do at home.