visiting LA--any ideas?

[erinl]

It looks like I'll be in LA next week for work. I was told to stay at the New Otani. Anybody know where that is? Are there any good places to eat within walking distance? Where should I explore?

TIA,
Erin

[Gail]

Have you looked at New Otani's web site? If not, here it is:
http://www.newotani.com/

I'm not quite sure why that was designated the place to stay, but see, I'm a native and don't know zip about hotels here. Probably, it's lovely.

My reservation, however, is with staying in downtown LA. I'm guessing this is in the area they've been building up, not far from The Music Center, covered malls and so forth.

Jeepers... where do out of towners like to go around here? Olvera Street downtown is the historical begining of the city-- and is now little more than a bunch of cheesy Mexican souvenir stands. La Luz del Dia used to be a pretty authentic Mexican restaurant with no atmosphere whatsoever and there was/is? an adjacent market. Problem is that Olvera Street really isn't a great part of LA these days, so I dunno... Some people like Citywalk, a super-charged, highly commercialized shopping/eating/strolling area adjacent to Universal Studios. Of course there's the studio thing, too... Disneyland and the new adjacent California Adventure? Grauman's Chinese Theatre? Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills? Bel-air and Holmby Hills? UCLA? Malibu? Venice Beach? Marina del Rey? Give us a hint... what're you looking for?

We don't want to waste your time sending you for a classical concert at the Hollywood Bowl (assuming you'll be here before closing in mid-September) if you'd really rather check out the action on the Venice Pier or just stroll the Third Steet Mall in Santa Monica. What kind of stuff do you like to do and see?

If you run a little search, you'll come up with at least one thread I recall answering about where to eat in LA. Now, keep in mind that many of the things mentioned are "where the locals go," not so much where are the really great restaurants, which you can just as well find in a guidebook. Offhand, I'm thinking Melina, Curleytop and some of the ladies down in Orange County might come up with some options for you as well as those who've traveled here and found things of particular interest.

PS I'm just thinking that somewhere I may still have a little booklet listing restaurants not far from the Music Center. Let me scrounge around...

[Gail]

I found my booklet and see it's much like the listing on their web site found here: http://www.musiccenter.org/restaurant.html

For what it's worth, there's also a California Pizza Kitchen on Hope Street between 3rd and 4th in the Wells Fargo Center; and a McCormick and Schmick's Seafood on Fifth Street, on the 4th level of the library tower.

Pacific Dining Car is an LA institution for steaks and Water Grill has been getting a lot of good reviews for excellent seafood. I don't eat downtown (don't actually GO downtown unless to the Music Center) so I can't be of much help as to personal favorites, but there are a couple of links on the music center page I gave you here.

Hope it helps!

[kwormann]

Even though Ive never been to LA, we have a California Pizza Kitchen here and it is very good, especially for a chain (Im very picky about chain food....)

[KimberlyE]

I'm from Orange County but when I make it to LA, I like to go to the Engine Co. to eat...I think it's between 6th and 7th and Figueroa.

You should also try to go to the Getty Museum if you have time and can get there on the shuttle/bus. 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica is also fun to see and stroll...I'm not sure where your hotel is but these are just some ideas off the top of my head.

[erinl]

Thanks for the input. I'm staying at New Otani because it's really close to the federal courthouse. I'm an "expert" in an upcoming trial. I'm not really sure how much free time I'll have, or how many evenings I'll be around for that matter.

I want to get in the cheesy, touristy stuff (e.g. the Chinese Theater), but I'm also open to wandering cool neighborhoods. However, I can really only go where my feet and public transportation take me. I'll be by myself, if that makes a difference.

I'd rather wander an art gallery or used-book store than a mall. I like jazz and classical music, so a concert might be a good way to kill an evening. I'd rather eat at places that the locals frequent, preferably some place unique to the city.

Thanks again!
Erin

[Gail]

First off, I'm assuming you haven't been to LA before, yes?
It's huge. And as a result, everything is spread way, way, out, like all your Chicago suburbs. Given that fact, getting around LA without a car is something of a challenge. We have a bus system, MTA http://www.mta.net/ . And if you're going to GO anywhere without a car, this'll probably be the way you do it.

To back up a minute, being downtown will put you in proximity to some interesting sites: besides the aforementioned Olvera Street (if you go, watch people around you. Like I said, it isn't THE best area, nor is it the worst. Chinatown is similiarly a place where you've got to be careful) there is the Music Center with its three theatres, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (occasionally used for Academy Awards, although more recently they've favored the Shrine Auditorium, also downtown somewhere), the Mark Taper Forum, and Ahmanson. You might actually decide to take in a show while visiting, if you can get a ticket. ("Contact" is at the Ahmanson right now.) Also in close proximity are the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the flower and produce markets (if you fancy getting up at 5 a.m.)

Now you could take a bus up Wilshire Blvd headed west, which runs from downtown to its terminus at the beach in Santa Monica. About 30 minutes into the ride (ask the driver to tell you when) you'll hit the La Brea Tar Pits and its museum, Page Museum; as well as the LA Art Museum and several other museums. Or you could continue farther on that route will take you into the heart of Beverly Hills, if you happen to have a need to explore Rodeo Road just for the heck of it (just a bunch of chichi shops). Still further would take you into Westwood Village, adjacent to UCLA. Might you find used book stores in the Village? Dunno... Or you can continue almost to the end of Wilshire and stroll the Third Street Mall (open air) in Santa Monica, where there are fun places to eat and shops to explore-- I know there's a Borders, insofar as used is concerned, again I don't know. Within walking distance is also the Santa Monica Pier with its turn-of-the-century carousel, newish amusement parks and all the hot-dogs-on-sticks and soft serves you could ever want. (Trivia: there's a chain called Hot Dog on a Stick, where all they serve are dogs, cheese on a stick and lemonade. THAT'S the one to hit.) South of Santa Monica Pier will eventually take you to Venice Beach-- about as classically LA as it gets-- but I honestly can't remember if that's walking distance or not. (I haven't been down there in YEARS.) If you think you might want to check out any of these, please contact MTA, 'cause my bus routing skills date back to the 1960's and things have since changed. Drastically.

I'd suggest you speak to the concierge at the hotel as to how to find some of the popular tourist spots. I mean, I can tell you how to find the Hollywood Bowl by car without problem (and you could enjoy a lovely outdoor concert on a bench seat) but routing you from downtown via buslines might be problematic (if you're seriously interested, check the Bowl's web site. They provide shuttle service from an assortment of areas. "Jazz At The Bowl," by the way, is their Wednesday night series, if you're interested. Cheap seats are always available and you can hear fine from anywhere.) Similar problem with Grauman's Chinese or the Sunset Strip. Ditto with most anything. I know where they are, just not how to route you by bus... But this is the kind of thing the concierge should be able to do for you.

I'm going to leave you with yet a few other web sites to check out: two are referrals from the Music Center and have all kinds of stuff specifically pertinent to Downtown LA and its environs: http://www.downtownla.com/ and http://www.downtownnews.com/

I have also alluded to a former thread here in which I mentioned a few of LA's institutions: Tommy's, Phillippe's, and Luz del Dia (all of which are not even remotely what you'd consider fine dining) would be more or less within your realm. http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=2923&highlight=Gail+AND+Expert

Ask if you have more questions before you go. Can't promise I'll have usable answers, but I'll try...

[KValley]

Another vote for Santa Monica. I stayed there last year- just a few blocks from Venice Beach. Wandering through the canals was such a treat- I did a lot of rude, touristy staring into people's gardens and windows- the homes were amazing. There is also some great streches of sidewalk and sand amidst the condos for a safe run.

Venice Beach (the boardwalk) was a bit much, but great for people watching. Also a terrific bookstore tucked in between the tee-shirt and ice cream stands. For the life of me I cannot remember the name, but it has been there for ages. It's mentioned in the novel "White Oleander" if that's any help (picture me reading the book, exclaiming, "Hey, I've been there!!")

I walked along the beach between the Venice and Santa Monica piers, so I can attest that it is a walkable distance. It was also a welcome, relaxing, beautiful break from the insanity of traffic, people, noise- the sensory overload of L.A. (coming from someone who lives in a town of 14, 500).

If you have access to a car and any free time for a drive, hook into Highway 1 at Santa Monica and head north. Gorgeous.

[erinl]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!