la la land

Johnnie's Pastrami on Sepulveda in culver city, complete with the outdoor fire pits and 50's style.

Soot Bull Jeep on 8th street in Koreatown does excelllent Korean BBQ with real wood charcoal fires (not briquettes) at your table.

In N Out makes one of the better fast food burgers and they're all over L.A.

Zankou Chicken is a small, local chain that does great chicken and tasty middle eastern food for cheap.

Bar 107 downtown is a great dive bar with lots of old, original crap inside. Sometimes has live music on the weekend, when it tends to be crowded.

There's also the SGLA favorite Mission Cantina, with dollar tacos on tuesdays last time I checked.

...and, of course, Jumbo's Clown Room, (bar and go-go girls) which has gotten less skeezy in the last few years.

The Arclight is a great place to see a movie, and the L.A. Conservancy runs a superb walking tour of all the old golden-era movie palaces (working or not) downtown.

as a one-time tourist to Los Angeles...there were two places in particular that I am glad I went to.

1.) Pink's Hot Dogs. EVERYBODY said "You HAVE to go to Pinks!". I kept thinking "Jeez....they're fucking hot dogs....how good can they be?". If you eat meat......make the goddam trip to Pinks. If you don't "get it" once you eat there....I don't know what to tell you.

2.) Amoeba Music. THE single best music store I've ever been in. They have....EVERYTHING. They have things you didn't even know existed.....from your favorite bands even...... I had $200 worth of CDs in my hands before I came to my senses and had to put stuff back. It's THAT good!

My husband works up in LA and there are 2 places he loves to eat... as mentioned, Pink's, but also a place called Phillipe's, which does some amazing french dips.

I recommend Tito's Tacos. It's right around the corner from Johnnie's Pastrami on Washington PL. If you like Cuban food, check out Versailles Restaurant on Venice blvd in Culver City. Los Burritos on Hollywood blvd is also good and cheap. The Grand Central Market on 317 S. Broadway in downtown L.A. is worth going to. Many different food vendors there.

Versailles is nice. There is also one on PCH in Manhattan Beach.

Well, rather than risk lil_tuffy's ire I'll 'jack this thread - hope you don't mind, Shanti...



My erstwhile chum Causy and I are attending my friend's wedding in Port Hueneme on the 4th of July, so if anyone has any suggestions for cool things to do / see on the holiday weekend, either on the coast or in LA, we'd love to hear them - thanks in advance !!