Going to LA- things to see and do

[Clara]

I'm going to a conference next week in LA, my first trip there. We're staying in Century City, and there won't be a whole lot of free time. I just wondered if there were things close by that I wouldn't want to miss. I'd especially love to hear of any good celebrity watching spots since this is my first trip to CA!!

[colleency]

Gosh, there's a ton to do. Will you have a car? You said not much free time. How much is not much?

The best I can think of for celebrity-watching is probably the Beverly Center (http://www.beverlycenter.com/). I haven't been there very often, but I seem to recall having seen Bette Midler and a few other stars there.

Since you'll be in Century City, you should be pretty close to the Century City mall (http://www.westfield.com/centurycity/homepage.html). I don't know if I've seen any stars there, but it is a nice mall, and it's in an area where celebrities work, so you might catch someone there. And it has a movie theater.

A little farther out is the new mall by the Farmer's Market (http://www.farmersmarketla.com/). It's very upscale.

I guess in my experience, you go to the mall to see celebs!

[claire797]

We didn't have lots of free time during our trip to L.A. either, but we did make it out to the Santa Monica Pier and absolutely loved it. The drive down Sunset and through the Palisades is something to behold. The pier itself has a midway and carousel, but across the way you'll find the Third Street Promenade and a big shopping mall.

Don't know if you'll have time to try any restaurants, but we had dinner at a place called Campanile which was very good.

[pilgrim719]

I'll second the plugs for the Farmer's Market, the Santa Monica Pier, and the Third Street Promenade. Also if you have time you MUST go to Sweet Lady Jane's for dessert! Her cakes are TO DIE FOR!! (Granted I only tried 2 of them, but they were heavenly, and I'm quite sure the others are as well!)

I went to the Beverly Center and didn't see any celebs, but that would have been exciting! It's a nice mall at least. :)

Kari

[Clara]

Great suggestions so far! We'll be going by taxi. We're staying right across the street from the Century City mall though. If the weather's nice we'll make a must of the pier (and the dessert place of course ;) )

[luckylori]

Try eating at The Ivy. I've seen celebs there every time. Or go to Beverly Hills and walk around where SkyBar is. If you go EARLY to Skybar you can actually get in. After a certain time you have to be a celeb.

[stacy7272]

If you go to the Beverly Center you won't be too far from Sunset Blvd. There is a trendy restaurant along there in West Hollywood called Chin Chin. One time when I ate there I saw Halle Berry.

[stacy7272]

Just thought of something else. There is a trendy restaurant right at the Beverly Center called P.F. Changs. If you're at the Beverly Center and don't want to pay for another taxi to dinner, this would be a great choice.

Another idea is shopping and eating on Melrose!

[Delanl]

Like Luckylori said--go to the Ivy!!! I saw Joley Fisher there and met/took pictures with Minnie Driver!! Plus the food is out of this world!!

Also, I agree with Kari on the Beverly Center. I saw a few celebs there too!

[Gail]

As one who was born and bred in LA, I can tell you that celebrities are like earthquakes: when you expect them, they're no-shows; when you aren't thinking about them they have a way of popping up.

[Clara]

Don't say the E word!! This is my first time to California, so my entire family is positive there will be a quake!

[Gail]

Your family is probably right. But wait. Don't get excited. We have so many teeny tiny little earthquakes, you don't even notice them. Many geologists look at them as Mother Nature's way of letting off steam, possibly her way of averting a bigger one.

This reminds me of a question one of our customers asked back when I was working for a travel company. We had a Rose Parade package and one of our out-of-state customers actually phoned to ask if we'd be having an earthquake that day! (as if we planned them...) :rolleyes:

But back to your question. Did you happen to see any of the old threads on the subject?

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=57926&highlight=Angeles
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=46596&highlight=Angeles
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=42343&highlight=Angeles
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=40116&highlight=Angeles
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=14374&highlight=Angeles
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?threadid=2923&highlight=Angeles