Suggestions for my time in LA?
April 16, 2024 11:31 AM Subscribe
I'm going to be dog sitting in Los Angeles for two and a half weeks. I'll be in Eagle Rock, and will be working and looking after said dog (who's old and has needs), so this isn't exactly a vacation, but I will have some time to go do stuff. I have a short list right now, mostly museums. Do you have suggestions for anything particular I should see or do -- or eat? I lived there briefly in the early 90s and haven't been there since.
From the description we aren't considering good places to take a dog walking, is that right?
posted by kensington314 at 11:54 AM on April 16
posted by kensington314 at 11:54 AM on April 16
Drinks and standup or karaoke at The Fable with pizza either before or after at Casa Bianca. There used to be an excellent taco place just east of there also, but I think they might have moved.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:55 AM on April 16
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:55 AM on April 16
Ope no CaCao Mexicatessen is still there!
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:57 AM on April 16 [1 favorite]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:57 AM on April 16 [1 favorite]
Catch a movie at Vidiots on Eagle Rock Blvd and Colorado.
Check out a rock show in nearby Highland Park -- I have been really into the shows I've seen at the Lodge Room which doesn't suck as much as a lot of the venues in "everything-is-owned-by-investors-or-private-equity"-era gentrification Los Angeles.
It's a far drive (30-45 min) but if you come to LA and you haven't been to a tour of Watts Towers you haven't done right by yourself.
posted by kensington314 at 11:58 AM on April 16 [1 favorite]
Check out a rock show in nearby Highland Park -- I have been really into the shows I've seen at the Lodge Room which doesn't suck as much as a lot of the venues in "everything-is-owned-by-investors-or-private-equity"-era gentrification Los Angeles.
It's a far drive (30-45 min) but if you come to LA and you haven't been to a tour of Watts Towers you haven't done right by yourself.
posted by kensington314 at 11:58 AM on April 16 [1 favorite]
Oh! I think checking out the restored Siquieros mural at Olvera Street is more than worthwhile. In Eagle Rock you're also just three stones' throws from the Eastside and so maybe Google "East LA Mural tour" and peruse the various recommendations from blogs and local rags.
posted by kensington314 at 12:13 PM on April 16
posted by kensington314 at 12:13 PM on April 16
Response by poster: These are all great so far. I love to eat, but for this trip definitely not looking for pricey dining places, but good tacos was on my must-have list. Also, recommendations in Eagle Rock are great, but I'll have a car, so I plan to do some venturing forth. In other words, suggestions in all neighborhoods are welcome.
posted by swheatie at 12:20 PM on April 16
posted by swheatie at 12:20 PM on April 16
Two more (dog-friendly) places to visit on Eagle Rock Boulevard:
Walt’s Bar — a killer classic pinball selection, beer, wine, hot dogs, and great Bavarian pretzels too!
Revenge Of — modern pinball, comics, collectibles, snacks, and one hell of an ambiance :)
posted by retronic at 1:50 PM on April 16
Walt’s Bar — a killer classic pinball selection, beer, wine, hot dogs, and great Bavarian pretzels too!
Revenge Of — modern pinball, comics, collectibles, snacks, and one hell of an ambiance :)
posted by retronic at 1:50 PM on April 16
Kristin Schall curates a weekly comedy show in LA where you can see Hollywood level comedy talent for cheeeeeap -- $8 in advance and $12 doors.
https://www.cleftclips.com/hottub
I was at that show in 2019ish and it was the most lethal comedy show I've ever seen. Cameron Esposito nearly killed me.
posted by Sauce Trough at 2:41 PM on April 16 [1 favorite]
https://www.cleftclips.com/hottub
I was at that show in 2019ish and it was the most lethal comedy show I've ever seen. Cameron Esposito nearly killed me.
posted by Sauce Trough at 2:41 PM on April 16 [1 favorite]
(correction: the linked show is a variety show, not a pure comedy show. but given my experience I am willing to trust that Kristin Schall knows how to curate an entertaining night)
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:03 PM on April 16
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:03 PM on April 16
https://www.lastbookstorela.com/
Be sure to visit the book labyrinth on the 2nd floor
posted by boomdelala at 4:43 PM on April 16
Be sure to visit the book labyrinth on the 2nd floor
posted by boomdelala at 4:43 PM on April 16
Cindy's in Eagle Rock is a very cool diner with a Southern comfort food twist.
posted by gigimakka at 5:15 PM on April 16
posted by gigimakka at 5:15 PM on April 16
Zankou Chicken is the first thing I do after I arrive at the airport.
posted by matildaben at 10:00 PM on April 16 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 10:00 PM on April 16 [1 favorite]
It's worth taking a stroll through the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on a Wednesday or Saturday morning! Once you've seen and eaten your fill of delicious fresh fruit and vegetables and such, you can continue to stroll on down to the pier, which is yes, touristy, but a fairly iconic landmark all the same, or just take a nice walk along the beach.
posted by yasaman at 11:15 PM on April 16
posted by yasaman at 11:15 PM on April 16
Check out the events at Hollywood Forever. I once saw Explosions in the Sky there, which was awesome. Bizarre to see a concert in a cemetery but can be a great venue.
posted by dobbs at 2:42 AM on April 17
posted by dobbs at 2:42 AM on April 17
This is not the most satisfying recommendation but it's how I discovered new stuff in LA all the time in the decade I lived there: wherever you are at any moment, check Yelp reviews sorted by distance. I think most superlatives like "best taco in town" are kinda meaningless, but if you're in a specific neighborhood find out what those people who eat in their neighborhood all the time are reviewing as best - you want to know the hyperlocals' go-to Taco Tuesday Taco, you know? Get that burger that half the reviewers swear is better than In-n-Out. And even LA's most mediocre Thai food is better than most cities' second-ranked spot, don't sleep on the Thai as well as the Lao and/or Issan menus calling themselves Thai because that's what white people search for.
If you're going soon it may still be a little chilly for Outdoor Movie Season to be in full swing, but Time Out maintains a calendar. Los Angeles is just so sweet at night, you may need a blanket but I don't know, there's just something magical about the night air. (Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas and for a third of the year it's miserably hot and humid until 3am, and a third of the year it's cold and dank all night, and in the shoulder seasons it's either raining or you are covered head to toe in mosquitoes if you go outside.)
Definitely check event calendars for your specific visit window. So many comedians doing warmup/workout shows, podcast recordings, plays, art shows, open lectures from any of the guilds.
I am at best a Beach Goth, so I will tell you my secret "go to the beach...ish" recipe: (map of long version) go north up the 101 (this is best done on a weekend, or a weekday between 10:30a-1:30p because rush hour ends at the former and school pickups start around the latter) to Oxnard to cross the ridge to the Pacific Coast Highway and come back down. There are dozens of pullouts along Hwy 1 where you can just pull over and watch the ocean from your open car windows and eat your lunch listening to music or an audiobook, and there are also beach parking lots dotted all the way along your route back down (I suggest looking at the map in advance and knowing which ones are free vs pay, and which ones are right ON the beach and which are a "park on the bluff and trudge down stairs and a long way to the picnic tables") where you can have lunch, maybe in your car if the wind is doing its usual thing. You don't HAVE to go all the way up to Oxnard or Ventura (if you want to check it out), there's closer beaches, but going up that way brings you across through Cal State Channel Islands' agricultural stations - farming classrooms basically - and really the southernmost tip of California's ag industry. This route will take you through something like 6 distinct landscapes, I think the only ones you really don't get are the Alpine elevations and polka-dot hills you'll find further inland in the Angeles National Forest. Anyway, I rarely ever went out onto the sand but loved a long lunch watching the ocean.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:43 AM on April 17
If you're going soon it may still be a little chilly for Outdoor Movie Season to be in full swing, but Time Out maintains a calendar. Los Angeles is just so sweet at night, you may need a blanket but I don't know, there's just something magical about the night air. (Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas and for a third of the year it's miserably hot and humid until 3am, and a third of the year it's cold and dank all night, and in the shoulder seasons it's either raining or you are covered head to toe in mosquitoes if you go outside.)
Definitely check event calendars for your specific visit window. So many comedians doing warmup/workout shows, podcast recordings, plays, art shows, open lectures from any of the guilds.
I am at best a Beach Goth, so I will tell you my secret "go to the beach...ish" recipe: (map of long version) go north up the 101 (this is best done on a weekend, or a weekday between 10:30a-1:30p because rush hour ends at the former and school pickups start around the latter) to Oxnard to cross the ridge to the Pacific Coast Highway and come back down. There are dozens of pullouts along Hwy 1 where you can just pull over and watch the ocean from your open car windows and eat your lunch listening to music or an audiobook, and there are also beach parking lots dotted all the way along your route back down (I suggest looking at the map in advance and knowing which ones are free vs pay, and which ones are right ON the beach and which are a "park on the bluff and trudge down stairs and a long way to the picnic tables") where you can have lunch, maybe in your car if the wind is doing its usual thing. You don't HAVE to go all the way up to Oxnard or Ventura (if you want to check it out), there's closer beaches, but going up that way brings you across through Cal State Channel Islands' agricultural stations - farming classrooms basically - and really the southernmost tip of California's ag industry. This route will take you through something like 6 distinct landscapes, I think the only ones you really don't get are the Alpine elevations and polka-dot hills you'll find further inland in the Angeles National Forest. Anyway, I rarely ever went out onto the sand but loved a long lunch watching the ocean.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:43 AM on April 17
Okay actually if you are a total dork like me here is what I think would make a great day in an historic part of Downtown Los Angeles (everything within a square mile or so) and you would learn so much about the important early 20th century history of this wild and brutal city.
1. START the morning with the new California Migration Museum's audio tour of the Olvera Street raid that was a central moment in the deportation of almost two million Mexican-Americans (yes, you read this correctly, as in citizens) during the 1930s.
3. WALK down the street to the Chinese American Museum and check out their permanent exhibit about the history of the Chinese American community here. This is located on the outskirts of the city's original Chinatown, which was destroyed and turned into adjacent Union Station, which is also worth a go-inside-and-gander for 20 minutes.
3. WALK back up to the America Tropical Interpretive Center and check out the restored Siquieros mural I mentioned previously.
4. LUNCH at the Eastside Italian Deli on Alpine in the city's second Chinatown is a very short and direct ride on the #2 bus (Cesar Chavez Ave) away, or a 25 minute walk.
5. WALK if it's nice outside (30 min) or take the 60 bus down Grand Ave to LA Central Library and check out the Sanborn FIre Insurance Map Collection until the library closes. If you're interested at all in the history of a place, Sanborn maps are an immersive and fun way to pass some time.
6. Nearby Grand Central Market isn't quite what it used to be but I think it's basically still a fun place to order food and, these days, beer, and people watch.
posted by kensington314 at 12:38 PM on April 17
1. START the morning with the new California Migration Museum's audio tour of the Olvera Street raid that was a central moment in the deportation of almost two million Mexican-Americans (yes, you read this correctly, as in citizens) during the 1930s.
The immersive experience, titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá” — meaning neither from here, nor from there — is narrated by Karla Estrada, an activist and advocate for immigrant justice. The founder and director of the museum, Katy Long, contributes to the story’s narration as well. The tour, which is also available as an interactive, 360-degree YouTube video, is part of the museum’s “Migrant Footsteps” series, which offers similar free audio walks in the San Francisco area.2. WHILE YOU'RE THERE, check out El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument for a few minutes, maybe grab a snack from a fruit vendor or something. (I would say it's not worth going to the soon-to-be-renamed Father Serra Park unless you want to see the place where the statue of Fr. Junipero Serra was toppled a couple years ago.)
. . . .
The tour’s narration details how the public became more hostile toward immigrants during the beginning of the Great Depression. In L.A., officials made plans to expel immigrants to create job openings for U.S. citizens, and the La Placita raid was one of the first steps of that effort.
3. WALK down the street to the Chinese American Museum and check out their permanent exhibit about the history of the Chinese American community here. This is located on the outskirts of the city's original Chinatown, which was destroyed and turned into adjacent Union Station, which is also worth a go-inside-and-gander for 20 minutes.
3. WALK back up to the America Tropical Interpretive Center and check out the restored Siquieros mural I mentioned previously.
4. LUNCH at the Eastside Italian Deli on Alpine in the city's second Chinatown is a very short and direct ride on the #2 bus (Cesar Chavez Ave) away, or a 25 minute walk.
5. WALK if it's nice outside (30 min) or take the 60 bus down Grand Ave to LA Central Library and check out the Sanborn FIre Insurance Map Collection until the library closes. If you're interested at all in the history of a place, Sanborn maps are an immersive and fun way to pass some time.
6. Nearby Grand Central Market isn't quite what it used to be but I think it's basically still a fun place to order food and, these days, beer, and people watch.
posted by kensington314 at 12:38 PM on April 17
(The library may actually have the original big old (like 2' x 3') Sanborn books, it's possible they are available but they just don't want to advertise it online. Talk to a research librarian about that question, the tactile experience of going through these maps is unbeatable, but don't touch your eyes afterwards until you've washed your hands. I know for a fact that UCLA's library has them, because I've used them, but that's an hour across town on the bus.)
posted by kensington314 at 12:41 PM on April 17
posted by kensington314 at 12:41 PM on April 17
Central Library has a very serious map collection on the lower fourth floor, and yes you can call up specific Sanborn books to view. But the absolute highlight at LAPL right now is the galleries at each end of the Children's Section, displaying Leo Politi's Bunker Hill paintings for the first time since they were purchased in the 1960s.
posted by Scram at 11:27 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
posted by Scram at 11:27 PM on April 21 [1 favorite]
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If you're a foodie, these are restaurants I recommend, though I have not been since pre-pandemic so don't know what's still around.
posted by dobbs at 11:45 AM on April 16 [2 favorites]