A mayfly in LA
April 7, 2010 7:15 AM Subscribe
I have an extra day on a business trip to LA -- never been there, how do I make most of it?
I'll be traveling to LA next Tue, busy until Fri noon, flying back on Sun morning. I'm looking for recommendations to spend the rest of Friday and Saturday on. Hollywood/Disneyland/big$$ amusment stuff = not for me. I love the desert, or big trees, so I'd go for renting a car and driving to Joshua Tree, which would be great... But, been there before. Same for Sequoia Nat'l Forest.
Suppose I were to stay in the city? Things I like about cities are indie/garage/punk rock clubs, independent cinemas, small art galleries, quirky cafes with homebrew beers, you get the scene. Think obscure, underground, weird stuff. I checked this post -- that's a good start but some things appear to have moved on. Anything new?
Show me what's great about LA!
I'll be traveling to LA next Tue, busy until Fri noon, flying back on Sun morning. I'm looking for recommendations to spend the rest of Friday and Saturday on. Hollywood/Disneyland/big$$ amusment stuff = not for me. I love the desert, or big trees, so I'd go for renting a car and driving to Joshua Tree, which would be great... But, been there before. Same for Sequoia Nat'l Forest.
Suppose I were to stay in the city? Things I like about cities are indie/garage/punk rock clubs, independent cinemas, small art galleries, quirky cafes with homebrew beers, you get the scene. Think obscure, underground, weird stuff. I checked this post -- that's a good start but some things appear to have moved on. Anything new?
Show me what's great about LA!
The amazing Machine Project has a net making workshop on the 17th. $45, bring a knife.
posted by beerbajay at 7:31 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by beerbajay at 7:31 AM on April 7, 2010
One thing I've enjoyed doing when I've been in your situation is spending the the weekend in the Ojai valley. Great hiking, food, artsy stuff usually happening, lots of "small art galleries, quirky cafes". To catch an early Sunday AM flight, there's hardly any traffic and doesn't take much time at all to drive to the airport.
Alternatively, there's a chance to get outdoors in Malibu (imagine the terrain of "MASH"), you can rent a surf board, LACMA is great, the hills in Santa Monica are close and interesting...
Jon
posted by Jon44 at 7:52 AM on April 7, 2010
Alternatively, there's a chance to get outdoors in Malibu (imagine the terrain of "MASH"), you can rent a surf board, LACMA is great, the hills in Santa Monica are close and interesting...
Jon
posted by Jon44 at 7:52 AM on April 7, 2010
The last time I had an extra day and a rental car in LA, I went to the La Brea Tar Pits museum, and then drove down to check out Watts Towers. Both were pretty cool.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:00 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:00 AM on April 7, 2010
There's also a show at The Smell and a screening at the Hammer Museum .
posted by beerbajay at 8:11 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by beerbajay at 8:11 AM on April 7, 2010
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is gorgeous and very photographable.
The Getty is very nice, as is the Getty Villa, which is in Malibu. If you go to the villa, drive back to LA through Topanga, which is a nice drive and is also peppered with hippie-ish shops and places to eat.
Seconding Santa Monica, and just down the beach from there, Venice, which is kind of fun in a slightly skeevy way.
posted by xingcat at 8:21 AM on April 7, 2010
The Getty is very nice, as is the Getty Villa, which is in Malibu. If you go to the villa, drive back to LA through Topanga, which is a nice drive and is also peppered with hippie-ish shops and places to eat.
Seconding Santa Monica, and just down the beach from there, Venice, which is kind of fun in a slightly skeevy way.
posted by xingcat at 8:21 AM on April 7, 2010
Museum of Jurassic Technology on the west side.
posted by kensington314 at 8:24 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by kensington314 at 8:24 AM on April 7, 2010
I third the Getty - even if you're not interested in the museum, the building and the grounds are absolutely worth seeing. It's free, but parking is $15 - I think it's worth it.
Venice beach is worth going to once - the bodybuilders and all the craziness. It's not obscure in the least, but it's unique to LA, and if it's a nice day you could spend a little time on the beach or go for a swim, too.
posted by insectosaurus at 9:33 AM on April 7, 2010
Venice beach is worth going to once - the bodybuilders and all the craziness. It's not obscure in the least, but it's unique to LA, and if it's a nice day you could spend a little time on the beach or go for a swim, too.
posted by insectosaurus at 9:33 AM on April 7, 2010
You could do Museum of Jurassic Technology + Venice Beach for the Urban weird experience.
For more of a unique nature thing, try getting out on the ocean-- I can recommend Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari for sheer amazingness -- there must have been THOUSANDS of dolphins leaping around the boat, you could have reached out and touched them. It's grey whale season too I think. That plus a hike around the Laguna Hills, maybe. I think there's whale watching out of Long Beach as well, which is closer to the airport. Or you could head out from Long Beach to Catalina Island, it's about an hour out. Might as well take advantage of the ocean!
Seconding Topanga/Malibu for a good balance of urban quirk and laid back nature.
posted by Erasmouse at 9:42 AM on April 7, 2010
For more of a unique nature thing, try getting out on the ocean-- I can recommend Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari for sheer amazingness -- there must have been THOUSANDS of dolphins leaping around the boat, you could have reached out and touched them. It's grey whale season too I think. That plus a hike around the Laguna Hills, maybe. I think there's whale watching out of Long Beach as well, which is closer to the airport. Or you could head out from Long Beach to Catalina Island, it's about an hour out. Might as well take advantage of the ocean!
Seconding Topanga/Malibu for a good balance of urban quirk and laid back nature.
posted by Erasmouse at 9:42 AM on April 7, 2010
Rim of the World Highway is a great drive, if you've never done it. We were vacationing in LA last week and it was definitely the high point of the trip for me. (Getty was also great--with a day and a half, you could easily do both). There was still plenty of snow and a little bit of skiing/tubing still going on on Saturday.
posted by drlith at 9:54 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by drlith at 9:54 AM on April 7, 2010
Nthing the MoJT.
To clarify: The Getty Villa is separate from the Getty Center museum, and is viewed by appointment only. They're both free (except parking, ~$12) but you have to acquire a ticket beforehand to see the Villa.
Downtown can be a really fun daytrip. Start by taking pictures of the WD Concert Hall and work your way southeast through the Jewelry District (via Angel's Flight), out towards the Fashion District. Eat at the big Farmer's Market on Hill (good food) or at Clifton's Cafeteria on Broadway (good kitsch). Meander down the insanity chute that is Santee Alley (knock-off designer heaven), then either go back or—if you're a glutton for punishment—head over to LA Live for a fancy dinner and movie at the new huge theaters there.
I'm trying to think of cool nature things to do in LA and coming up short. The Los Angeles River Center is lovely though, and close to downtown.
posted by carsonb at 11:27 AM on April 7, 2010
To clarify: The Getty Villa is separate from the Getty Center museum, and is viewed by appointment only. They're both free (except parking, ~$12) but you have to acquire a ticket beforehand to see the Villa.
Downtown can be a really fun daytrip. Start by taking pictures of the WD Concert Hall and work your way southeast through the Jewelry District (via Angel's Flight), out towards the Fashion District. Eat at the big Farmer's Market on Hill (good food) or at Clifton's Cafeteria on Broadway (good kitsch). Meander down the insanity chute that is Santee Alley (knock-off designer heaven), then either go back or—if you're a glutton for punishment—head over to LA Live for a fancy dinner and movie at the new huge theaters there.
I'm trying to think of cool nature things to do in LA and coming up short. The Los Angeles River Center is lovely though, and close to downtown.
posted by carsonb at 11:27 AM on April 7, 2010
While its not obscure or underground, the newly redesigned Griffith Observatory would be a fun place to visit. You can get a nice view of the city from the top and also have the option of hiking to the top of Mount Hollywood to get to the observatory. The planetarium show is also a lot of fun.
posted by JuliaKM at 12:42 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by JuliaKM at 12:42 PM on April 7, 2010
I would plan your trip around downtown L.A. Stay at the Standard Hotel or the Figueroa Hotel.
For the best independent cinemas, you will need to drive to The Silent Movie Theater or The New Beverly. However, you could take the Red Line subway to The American Cinemateque on Hollywood Blvd.
The art gallery sections of Chinatown and downtown L.A. should satisfy your gallery-hopping needs.
Downtown is a mecca for new and interesting bars and restaurants. Let Chowhound be your guide.
Not sure where to find that perfect quirky cafe, but artisinal beers can be found at the Eagle Rock brewery.
posted by conrad53 at 10:12 PM on April 7, 2010
For the best independent cinemas, you will need to drive to The Silent Movie Theater or The New Beverly. However, you could take the Red Line subway to The American Cinemateque on Hollywood Blvd.
The art gallery sections of Chinatown and downtown L.A. should satisfy your gallery-hopping needs.
Downtown is a mecca for new and interesting bars and restaurants. Let Chowhound be your guide.
Not sure where to find that perfect quirky cafe, but artisinal beers can be found at the Eagle Rock brewery.
posted by conrad53 at 10:12 PM on April 7, 2010
Response by poster: hey, thanks all (thought I posted this before, but it's not showing -- so here's better late than never)
you're making this a hard choice for me -- best answers, all! -- but I'm sure it will be fun.
gijs
posted by gijsvs at 11:55 AM on April 10, 2010
you're making this a hard choice for me -- best answers, all! -- but I'm sure it will be fun.
gijs
posted by gijsvs at 11:55 AM on April 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by burhan at 7:31 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]