Love in the City of Angels
June 23, 2010 12:07 PM Subscribe
Nifty keen anniversary ideas while visiting L.A.? Bonus points for cheap, tasty, and/or geeky, especially if it's on the east side, in the San Gabriel Valley area.
My boyfriend (Hi, honey!) and I are about to hit our fifth anniversary in a few weeks, and we're going to be in L.A. visiting my family. I grew up in L.A., so I feel like I should be the one making suggestions, but years away have left me blank on fun and/or romantic stuff to do around there, especially on a Tuesday.
We're in our mid to late 20's, fairly low-key, and don't have a ton of cash to burn, but we'd like to do something nice to commemorate the occasion. It doesn't have to be over-the-top romantic, just out of the ordinary enough to feel special, so please tell us, L.A. Mefites, what kind of schmoopy, midweek fun can a couple of out-of-towners get into?
My boyfriend (Hi, honey!) and I are about to hit our fifth anniversary in a few weeks, and we're going to be in L.A. visiting my family. I grew up in L.A., so I feel like I should be the one making suggestions, but years away have left me blank on fun and/or romantic stuff to do around there, especially on a Tuesday.
We're in our mid to late 20's, fairly low-key, and don't have a ton of cash to burn, but we'd like to do something nice to commemorate the occasion. It doesn't have to be over-the-top romantic, just out of the ordinary enough to feel special, so please tell us, L.A. Mefites, what kind of schmoopy, midweek fun can a couple of out-of-towners get into?
Response by poster: My parents actually have a membership to the Huntington Library, so we've been there a number of times. You're right about it being beautiful, but I suspect it's too closely tied with family time.
posted by Diagonalize at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010
posted by Diagonalize at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010
How about a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, followed by a ride down the Angels' Flight funicular railway (which was out of commission for a while, but which according to that link is open again) and then lunch at the Grand Central Market? I don't know from romantic, but an afternoon walk around downtown could be fun.
posted by lex mercatoria at 12:25 PM on June 23, 2010
posted by lex mercatoria at 12:25 PM on June 23, 2010
The LA area has two great presidential libraries. Reagan and Nixon.
Whatever you think about those Presidents, both libraries are definitely worth a visit.
Especially the Reagan Library - it is an interesting place.
posted by Flood at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2010
Whatever you think about those Presidents, both libraries are definitely worth a visit.
Especially the Reagan Library - it is an interesting place.
posted by Flood at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2010
Kinokuniya bookstore in Little Tokyo. Eat and chill out there. See the Challenger space shuttle statue while drinking a Ramune from any of the Japanese markets! Somber, geeky, and sugary. You could also check out Central Library. Really cool architecture, and nice grounds. Have a hot dog. As you look at the Arco building across the street you can think that in a really severe earthquake the top half of floors is designed to just pop right off and fall on you (that's what my boss told me once). To the north of the library see the intersection where the shootout in Heat was filmed.
As the day wears on and you get closer to dusk get yourself up to Griffith Observatory. It's pretty romantic at sunset. Geeky points = science museum! Tesla exhibits! (I think that's still there since the renovation). Big ass pendulum, anyway.
Other downtown (and so, close to Eastside) possibilities: LA Flower Market. I really like The Pantry or Philippes -- economical choices. The Pantry is open 24 hours a day.
posted by artlung at 1:17 PM on June 23, 2010
As the day wears on and you get closer to dusk get yourself up to Griffith Observatory. It's pretty romantic at sunset. Geeky points = science museum! Tesla exhibits! (I think that's still there since the renovation). Big ass pendulum, anyway.
Other downtown (and so, close to Eastside) possibilities: LA Flower Market. I really like The Pantry or Philippes -- economical choices. The Pantry is open 24 hours a day.
posted by artlung at 1:17 PM on June 23, 2010
And this website looks useful: http://www.experiencela.com/Destinations/
posted by artlung at 1:18 PM on June 23, 2010
posted by artlung at 1:18 PM on June 23, 2010
If you're here on a Friday and like wine, check out the Barnsdall park wine tasting. It's a bit pricey($20/person), but the view is amazing and you can bring your own picnic.
For another nice spot with food/beverages and a view, there is the Yamashiro farmer's market on Thursday evenings in Hollywood.
If only I could thing of something that was actually mid-week!
There is a nice restaurant I discovered the other week in Pasadena that has an amazing patio, which would be nice for a summer evening dinner or drink or dessert. It's called Noir. The staff was super nice and accommodating to our huge group that wandered over from the theater next door. It could be pricey depending on what you ordered, but it doesn't have to be.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 1:32 PM on June 23, 2010
For another nice spot with food/beverages and a view, there is the Yamashiro farmer's market on Thursday evenings in Hollywood.
If only I could thing of something that was actually mid-week!
There is a nice restaurant I discovered the other week in Pasadena that has an amazing patio, which would be nice for a summer evening dinner or drink or dessert. It's called Noir. The staff was super nice and accommodating to our huge group that wandered over from the theater next door. It could be pricey depending on what you ordered, but it doesn't have to be.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 1:32 PM on June 23, 2010
Oh, on the wine front, you could go to the San Antonio Winery downtown. Really weird location, but my mom went a couple of months back and said it was a good time.
posted by something something at 4:26 PM on June 23, 2010
posted by something something at 4:26 PM on June 23, 2010
If you're in the San Gabriel Valley and enjoy pampering your feet, you've got to get a Chinese foot massage. In the last 5 years an insane number of these places have opened, and a price war has pushed the prices down to maybe $15 or something like that. You get to soak your feet in nice-smelling water, then someone pummels your feet for an hour. Typically painful in a good way, but you can ask them to take it easy. They're so ubiquitous you can just drive to any strip mall and find one, but Yelp has reviews too.
The Norton Simon in Old Town Pasadena is really sweet and smaller that most museums. Then you can walk to 21 Choices for dessert.
As for food, well, the San Gabriel Valley has some of the best and cheapest food in the world, so you could go on a mini world food tour. You could go to the Golden Deli for Vietnamese, then down the street for some Taiwanese breakfast-style soymilk and fried goodness, then hit all the delicious Mexican, Chinese Filipino, etc, etc, etc. Again, Yelp is your friend.
posted by acidic at 5:40 PM on June 23, 2010
The Norton Simon in Old Town Pasadena is really sweet and smaller that most museums. Then you can walk to 21 Choices for dessert.
As for food, well, the San Gabriel Valley has some of the best and cheapest food in the world, so you could go on a mini world food tour. You could go to the Golden Deli for Vietnamese, then down the street for some Taiwanese breakfast-style soymilk and fried goodness, then hit all the delicious Mexican, Chinese Filipino, etc, etc, etc. Again, Yelp is your friend.
posted by acidic at 5:40 PM on June 23, 2010
Response by poster: I'm actually a non-drinker, so wine tastings are probably out, but I really do appreciate all the suggestions. Being Japanese-American, Little Tokyo was a big part of my childhood, along with all ethnic food in the San Gabriel Valley. I've probably eaten at Golden Deli more times than I can count, although the suggestion makes me think I should just take the fella on a grand gustatory tour of all the food I grew up with and love. I'll show my guy this thread and we'll probably chew it over a bit, so thank you all for your input!
posted by Diagonalize at 7:23 PM on June 23, 2010
posted by Diagonalize at 7:23 PM on June 23, 2010
If you want to explore some tasty restaurants you don't already know, the LA Magazine's Cheap Eats list is a great place to start.
A few other ideas:
If the Huntington is too familial but you like gardens, the Descanso Gardens in La Canada is very nice -- stop for a refreshment at the tea house in the Japanese Garden. The LA Arboretum in Arcadia is also close by, though I haven't visited since I was a kid.
If you want a cheesy LA experience, you could head to Hollywood to catch a film at the Cinerama Dome or Grauman's Chinese. Eat dinner at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles or Musso & Frank. For the classier approach, catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl -- you can bring your own food, or they have on-site cafes and deli fare. The nosebleed seats are usually pretty cheap.
If you want romance by the sea, pick up sandwiches to go at Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica (order online before you leave to beat the lunch rush) and have a picnic and go tidepooling at Little Dume Beach. Alternately, visit the lovely Getty Villa in Malibu. Stop for a sunset ride on the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel on your way home.
Or bet on a horse race at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Or rent a paddle boat at MacArthur Park and sample some of the great Mexican and Latin American food in the area. Or, if you feel active, hike up to the Hollywood sign.
posted by unsub at 8:19 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
A few other ideas:
If the Huntington is too familial but you like gardens, the Descanso Gardens in La Canada is very nice -- stop for a refreshment at the tea house in the Japanese Garden. The LA Arboretum in Arcadia is also close by, though I haven't visited since I was a kid.
If you want a cheesy LA experience, you could head to Hollywood to catch a film at the Cinerama Dome or Grauman's Chinese. Eat dinner at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles or Musso & Frank. For the classier approach, catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl -- you can bring your own food, or they have on-site cafes and deli fare. The nosebleed seats are usually pretty cheap.
If you want romance by the sea, pick up sandwiches to go at Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica (order online before you leave to beat the lunch rush) and have a picnic and go tidepooling at Little Dume Beach. Alternately, visit the lovely Getty Villa in Malibu. Stop for a sunset ride on the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel on your way home.
Or bet on a horse race at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Or rent a paddle boat at MacArthur Park and sample some of the great Mexican and Latin American food in the area. Or, if you feel active, hike up to the Hollywood sign.
posted by unsub at 8:19 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Another nice place to walk around is Echo Park, especially if you like water lilies. Also, if you no longer live near the ocean, nothing beats a long walk on the beach at sunset...
posted by acidic at 6:59 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by acidic at 6:59 AM on June 24, 2010
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posted by something something at 12:14 PM on June 23, 2010