OT: Cool things to do / places to go in LA

[EastBayFJ]

Hey guys

I'm heading to LA in Feb and wanted a heads up as to what's good

1. Bars
2. Restraunts
3.Clubs etc
4. Hotels etc

Any sugggestions - gratefully received

[iamworthy]

-Go to LA Live on a Friday or Sat night
-Sunset Blvd has alot of clubs/Bars

[laduane1]

Do not look like a tourist.

[LA Forever]

LA Live has nice bars/restaurants, and you could also go inside STAPLES Center and check out the Team LA store. If you want to go clubbing, Hollywood Blvd. has tons of them. Stay at the J.W. Marriot across STAPLES Center. Also, are you flying in? Be sure to get a rental car if you are. Taking public transportation to get around will take you forever.

As far as restaurants/food places, you need to hit up Pinks Hot Dogs and you need to try an LA Street Dog (hot dogs wrapped in bacon w/ grilled onions).

Head to the Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica/Venice Beach, and the Getty Museum.

You're going in February right... what dates? All-Star weekend is in February at STAPLES Center, so you might want to plan for that.

[Gek]

Staples Center.

[chefy]

kogi's a must!

[doozyj]

1. Bars
Vertigos in downtown L.A, usually book a bands on one side, and a dance night club on the other, cool place to go if you want to avoid standard Hollywood type clubs.
http://www.vertigos.com/
World famouse "Viper Room" check out a rock show.
http://www.viperroom.com/
Three Clubs for a real dive Hollywood bar on Vine, Swingers made this place popular but still has a cool vibe to it. It is extremely dark inside, extremely.
http://www.threeclubs.com/threeclubs/three_clubs.html
Brixton in Redondo Beach Pier, they book some of the best cover bands, plus gives you a chance to check out Los Angeles beaches.
http://www.brixtonsouthbay.com/
2. Restraunts
Avoid Pinks, totally overrated hot dog, OK scratch that don't avoid it. Go to one then you too will say it is overrated. They have 1 in Las Vegas in PlanetHollywood, same **** hotdog but nobody waits in a long ass line there for one.
http://www.pinkshollywood.com/
For Restaurants, you won't have a problem finding a good restaurant.
Whisper Lounge at the Grove, try the Kobe Sliders
http://www.whisperloungela.com/
Yamashiro - Japanese restaurant in Hollywood hills. This place has amazing views and you will get the chance to drive up ridiculously steep and windy hills to get to the top.
http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/
Mar sel in Palos Verdes, beautiful views, amazing cuisine. Upper price range.
http://www.terranea.com/california-fine ... marsel.php
Old Tony's on the Pier - Just order King Crab Legs.
http://www.oldtonys.com/

Now for cheaper eats
Shinsengumi, Hakata Ramen in Gardena, the tastiest Kyushuu style Ramen. Being to Japan often, even there it is hard to find a better bowl of Ramen than here, this place IS NOT commercial American-ized Ramen shop being trendy etc.
http://www.shinsengumigroup.com/hakata-ramen-gardena
In n Out
King Taco - Several locations, best Mexican mini tacos. They are cheap with their sauce so conserve.
http://www.kingtaco.com/

3.Clubs etc
Highlands in Hollywood for mainstream clubbing, most popular club.
http://www.thehighlandshollywood.com/

4. Hotels etc
Standard in Downtown, this way you can get into their club/lounge which if you don't have reservations, it is hard to get in.
http://www.standardhotels.com/
Since L.A. is so spread out, you can stay anywhere really.

and Lastly just pick up a FREE L.A. Weekly magazine at almost any 7-Eleven, Guitar Center etc. and be L.A. and randomly try a restaurant, club, bar etc. Have a good time in L.A.

http://www.laweekly.com/

[DonKilluminati]

Do not look like a tourist.

LA and Hollywood are filled with tourists and the weirdest sorts of people.

I've seen everything from bums with signs saying "Need weed for fuel for my jet plane" to live porn sets where they're just too damn nonchalant with the blinds. Being a tourist is like...normal compared to the regular set of sights if you ask me.

[H00PDREAMS]

HAHAH L.A. is full of tourist! No actually it isn't Tourist mostly congregate around South Hollywood and West LA. However you may find a few stragglers bumping around O.C. as Disneyland is down there. I mean I used to live in the heart of Hollywood. Some of my neighbors at the time were vince vaugn, di caprio, jon favreau, Neve Campbell, and various peeps from rock bands. I mean i would see them at the grocery store so I doubt that these folks would feel safe in L.A. if tourist filled the streets.

Check out.
http://www.laweekly.com/ - A must read if you're visiting L.A. All the hot clubs and "cool" bars are listed in the calendar section. This stuff is less touristy more native.

http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles - Good info. A native type out look for tourist.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/los-angeles - Great info. But mostly touristy.

http://www.viatourista.com/blog - Great info from "boots on the ground" bloggers.

http://entourageonhbo.wetpaint.com/page ... os+Angeles - See LA like Vince and the boys...

http://entourageonhbo.wetpaint.com/page ... ide+to+L.A. - Places Ari Gold digs.

http://entouragelocations.com/ - See Eric, Turtle, and Johnny Drama here.

Book Soup: The indie bookstore is a huge hit with locals and celebs. Vince shops here and picks up Nicole after she spots him reading about himself in the National Enquirer.

Other notable places Google them:

Fai Do Do, Spaceland, Boathouse (OC), Avaland, Troubadour, THE VANGUARD, Giant Club Hollywood, Mi Piachi, The Beverly Centre, Griffith Observatory, Colorado Bld. (Pasadena), Burbank, Roscoes Chicken and Waffles, Ed Debevics, and Canters.

[ShowtimeFan]

Gotta go see the Watts Towers...

[JustAwesome]

If you want to do the tourist thing and check out places that you can tell people about, then head to Sunset. Lots of historic bars and clubs there. However, if you're looking for real fun, find some place else. When I first moved to LA, those spots were cool to see. After a few years there, though, you find that you have more fun at local spots.

[suckfish]

I did the following:

- Hollywood Boulevard with the Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, Shopping.
- Venice Beach. Saw the freaks and played ball on the courts.
- Griffith Observatory.
- Santa Monica beach.
- Went to three NBA games.
- I think we went to Long Beach also although there wasn't much there apart from an Aquarium as far as I remember.

Probably one of the best days I had was when we drove to San Diego for the day. We went to Coronado Island and walked around Hotel del Coronado which was interesting, went to Balboa Park, did a bit of shopping, and just generally had relaxed chill out day. Although it was hectic at the same time!

I'm sure you already know, but you really need a car to see the city.

[TheProdigy24]

Santa Monica Pier.

[Viol8tor Mode]

Hehe, i live 10 mins away from Santa Monica pier. I go whenever i want some strawberry funnel cake lol.

Yamashiro - Japanese restaurant in Hollywood hills. This place has amazing views and you will get the chance to drive up ridiculously steep and windy hills to get to the top.
http://www.yamashirorestaurant.com/

Ive lived in L.A all my life, and ive never heard of this place, sounds awesome!.

[JustAwesome]

I spent 7 years there. Sure wished someone would have told me about it.