Big Bad Best List:
|
> 
<
 Aside
from being large mega cities, London and my hometown of Los
Angeles essentially have nothing in common. They do however
both have some fantastic places and things to do beyond your
common touristy stuff if you know what rock to look under. So
this section is dedicated to listing for you, my special reader,
the Big Bad Best List of what you can find in these two great
cities, that are a tad off the beaten path.
LOS ANGELES:
As things normally don't stay put too long and I haven't lived
there in a year, any number of these places could have disappeared
with any assortment of common calamities that befall Los Angelinos
such as extended stays at a rehab, being replaced by a strip
mall, or worse, no longer cool.
Know of something great that I forgot to mention? Submit
Your Own
Nightlife
The
Dresden Room - Picture cocktail bar with A & B Movie
Stars being entertained by a kitchy lounge act of Marty as Niel
Diamond after thirty years of drug use and Elayne as his coke
reformed groupie. Donning gold chains and a hairy chest, Marty
is the timeless hipster playing a multitude of instruments backing
up the renowned Elayne, a shrill nightingale with thick red
lipstick and deep eyeliner all surrounded by 70's cork decor.
And just wait til she does her version of 'These Boots Are Made
for Walkin'. I get goose bumps every time. It's a don't miss.
Where: 1760 N. Vermont Ave | 213 665-4294
 Spaceland
- around the corner is a great club owned by Beck featuring
one of the the best venues for eclectic, electronica and alternative
beats.
Where: 1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Hollywood | 213 833-2843
Trader Vic's - a hip, Industry laden, strange, tiki
room place with gigantore mixed drinks. The people watching
is half the fun with several balding poney-tailed Beverly
Hills types taking their secretaries out in attempt to get
laid.
Where: Corner of Wilshire Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd
at 9876 Wilshire
Harvelle's
- A tiny blues club across the street that normally has some
of the best jazz and blues you can find in Cali. The place
really gets going on the weekends and you normally can't go
wrong with who's playing.
Where: 1432 4th Street, Santa Monica | 310 395-1676
3
of Clubs - Even though there is no sign, you'll know when
you've found this place. On the top of the building is a big
clown with a sign that reads, "Bargain Clown Mart."
Park inside the strip mall parking lot. This has got to be
one of the darkest bars in all of LA as they can't use more
than 120 watts to light the whole interior. This is a great
place to go to either start the night or end the night. And
as an added bonus, its sometimes a good place to spot the
Hollywood crowd.
Where: 1123 Vine Street - Hollywood
 Formosa
- A famous and funky bar that has been used in many a film
and just by coincidence, is right next to Paramount Studios-
so you normally will see some 'Industry People' as we call
em. They let people hang out up on the roof during the summer.
Where: 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard | 323 850-9050
Good Eats
Les
Deux Cafe - A chic French restaurant that was a former
crack house converted into an oasis in the middle of Hollywood.
There's tables laid out in the garden where most of the vegetables
served are grown. (This place happens to be a fav of Madonna's)
Where: 1638 N Las Palmas Ave at Hollywood Blvd | 323
465-0509
La
Boheme - A chateaux in the middle of West Hollywood
(the glam gay section of LA) with a japanese-french-italian
fusion menu. Its a beautiful place and has one of the most
original set of dishes you will find anywhere. Its a bit pricey
but worth it when you need to impress your future wife (like
I did).
Where: Santa Monica Blvd | 213 848-2360
Pizzicotto
- The tastiest and most authentic Italian place I've found
nestled in the celebrity playland of Brentwood. The menu changes
every week and the pastas are made fresh that day. The variety
of raviolis and desserts are to die for. And then, as if that
wasn't enough, they have a fantastic Italian wine collection.
Where: 11758 San Vicente | 310 442-7188
Border
Grill - a California styled Mexican place that is
sensational. They add a slight twist to the South American
recipes and the chefs star in a cooking show called 'Two Hot
Tamales'.
Where: on 4th street near in Santa Monica
Good Good Bad Food
 Pinks
- The only place in the world that the chili hot dogs are so
good you can find a line of people waiting at any hour of the
day, night or morning for a juicy Cholesterol-Sicle with chili
on top.
Where: On the corner of La Brea and Melrose
The
Apple Pan - a fantastic burger joint that hasn't changed
a thing in 60 years. Including the feisty waiters who are
older than the Earth and are ruder than the French.
Where: 10801 Pico near Westwood Blvd.
In-N-Out
Burger - the original drive-thru brings you the greatest
burger in existence. You MUST OR I WILL COME AFTER YOU have
at least one 'Double Double Animal Style' while in Cali.
La Salsa -
a cheap Mexican chain that makes fantastic fresh burritos
and salsas. If you are looking for a more authentic
Mexican meal, try Lucy's Mariscos Taqueria
on 24th Street and in Santa Monica
Tito's
Tacos - Reader Sarah wrote in with this excellent
recommendation. I'd also like to add that if you can
steal some of that red hot sauce for me that they make,
I'll pay $20 an ounce for that stuff. From Sarah: There's
a reason you'll always find a line in front of this
joint. Serves authentic Mexican tacos-- the best in
L.A.! Located on Washington and Sepulveda (in Culver
City).
Buy! Buy!
 3rd
Street Promenade - shopping and restaurants on a closed
off street right near the water in Santa Monica. Try Urban Outfitters
and get a Philadelphia Cheese Melt at Taste of Philly while
you are there and don't tip the street performers or they will
think they can make it in show biz.
Farmer's
Market in Fairfax
Reader Diana has made the very good suggestion of the Farmer's
Market(and don't forget a pie from Dupar's while you are there):
Every Saturday morning around Hollywood and Vine. Fantastic
place to eat cheap and people watch!
Vinyl
Fetish - One of the best places to get the hard to
find second hand CDs and LPs. Plus the guys that work there
normally moonlight as DJs so they have fantastic recommendations
on something new.
Where: 7305 Melrose Ave, Hollywood
The Must Do's
The
Getty Center - The billion dollar mega museum on top
of the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the city with incredible
architecture, a one-of-a-kind garden, breathtaking views, a
great restaurant and ironically, a mostly ho-hum art collection.
Where: off the 405 FWY at Getty Center Drive exit
Pacific Coast Highway - Take a drive on Highway 1 during
the day along the Malibu stretch and stop somewhere on the way
and just breath in the California coast.
Mulholland Drive - If its a clear night, take a spin
and see the city's lights, there you'll see the Beach Boy's
infamous Dead Man's Curve. If you take it to Encino, there's
a turnoff that will take you along a dirt road that leads to
an abandoned WWII missile silo and gun turret that from on top
of, you can see literally the entire city in all directions.
Very cool.
Visit
the Stars - There are probably more dead stars residing
in LA's cemeteries than any other place in the world. If you
know where to find their final resting places, you'll be sure
to catch that they'll be home.
LA County
Art Museum which has some great pieces in it from great
American 50's artists like Warhol, Hockney, Mondrian and others.
Go go go.
Where to Stay and other essentials
First off, you most definitely need a car during your stay
in La La Land as LA is the birthplace of the drive-thru, freeways
and vehicular manslaughter. There are three main highways that
cross through the city making it easy enough to get anywhere
outside of rush hour.
There are a few areas I would suggest staying in that are
safe and fairly central; the Northern part of Beverly Hills
near West Hollywood, Century City, or Fairfax. If you want
to stay by the water, its cheapest in Redondo Beach and parts
of Santa Monica.
Know of something great that I forgot to mention?
Submit
Your Own
|
