LA -- what a great place

August 8, 2005 3:07 AM

Things to do in L.A. when you're there from August 14-20. (Including: anyone have vegan restaurants to recommend?)

My wife and I are taking our first vacation together. We're neither of us strangers to LA, and have seen the major sights, and know about the major museums. Anyone have anything off the beaten track to recommend? Or do any Los Angeleno Mefites have specific plays, concerts, comics, or events to recommend that'll be going on then? The Museum of Jurassic Technology is already on the list.

And I've only been there briefly since going vegan -- besides Real Food Daily, where's a vegan to eat?

posted by Zed_Lopez to travel & transportation around Los Angeles, CA (22 answers total)

I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Inn of the Seventh Ray for vegan eats. It's a bit out of the way, but it's really a one of a kind place.
posted by drpynchon at 6:08 AM on August 8, 2005

I highly, HIGHLY recommend that you head to the LA County Museum of Art specifically to take in the Tim Hawkinson retrospective, which is on display until the end of August. A truly stunning exhibit. And, btw, LACMA is free after 5pm! (open most days until 8pm)
posted by donovan at 8:19 AM on August 8, 2005

If you like art, go to Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, a large gallery complex (off the 10 at Cloverfield). Lots of very good galleries (as well as lots of crap). Also has the Santa Monica Museum.
If you like quirky shopping (and great people watching), try Melrose Ave from about Fairfax east for about 10 blks. Still few chain stores, lots and lots of ultra funky shoes, etc. Also nice, more upscale but still mostly local stores is Main St. in Santa Monica, going south starting about four blocks below Pico.
Gallery listings for LA are available here.
Rent rollerblades or bikes - both at one of three Perry's in Santa Monica. You can get all the way from Sunset Blvd down past Venice along the beach path. Just make sure you head into the wind first or you'll never get back. Fantastic people watching on the weekends.
Enjoy!
posted by johngumbo at 10:03 AM on August 8, 2005

I second the Tim Hawkinson recommendation, it's awesome!
posted by puppy kuddles at 10:06 AM on August 8, 2005

Synchronicity! If I could ask, I'd love to hear more LA suggestions, including kid-friendly sights and tips.
posted by sudama at 10:21 AM on August 8, 2005

Third on the Tim Hawkinson at the LACMA, it's awesome. The rest of the collections is pretty sweet too, though the buildings can't match the glamour of the Getty.
posted by swordfishtrombones at 10:42 AM on August 8, 2005

There was just a kid-friendly version of this question, sudama.
(I, personally, welcome kid-hostile suggestions, too.)

Thanks for the tips so far, folks, and keep 'em coming! I was thinking of hitting Venice, but I hadn't thought about bringing my rollerblades. And the Hawkinson exhibit sounds great -- that was just the sort of ephemeral event I was hoping to find out about.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 10:45 AM on August 8, 2005

Fourth the Hawkinson exhibit as well. I also loved Michael C. McMillen's "Central Meridian" which is just upstairs from the Hawkinson exhibit. And don't forget, the La Brea Tar Pits are around the corner too.

For a view of the city, I recommend a nighttime drive along Mulholland Drive. See a movie at the grand old movie palaces in Westwood like the Mann Bruin or the Mann Village, right next to UCLA. Heading up to Topanga State Park or driving up to the various state parks and beaches along the Pacific Coast Highway around Malibu for a hike is good (and a great view).
posted by Mercaptan at 10:49 AM on August 8, 2005

There is a charming little diner in the echo park area, called "The Brite Spot". My vegetarian friends go there alot. Great food.
http://www.epinions.com/content_2281021572
posted by Radio7 at 11:39 AM on August 8, 2005

Also, if you enjoy karaoke (of a very casual and alternative type) I've gone to this place a few times and had fun:
http://www.darxxide.com/gc/#
posted by Radio7 at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2005

Museum of Jurrasic Technology in Culver City - great visit
posted by mark7570 at 11:54 AM on August 8, 2005

If you do end up roller-blading in Venice, stop by Mao's kitchen. Great fried rice, and most items can be prepared vegan. Yum!
posted by Space Kitty at 12:01 PM on August 8, 2005

If you don't mind driving further out there is a new museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, which has good exhibits.

sudama, your kids might enjoy seeing a movie at the El Capitan, which is a vintage theater renovated and run by Disney. Disney even opened a soda fountain next door. The Huntington Library in Pasadena recently opened a children's garden which everyone likes. There are several other gardens there too, so they can blow off energy in the outdoors. There are also a tea room and a cafe so it's easy to get them fed.

The Getty Museum has garden concerts for kids this month, and other family activities. Also, there are the Museum of Natural History, the California Science Center, and the La Brea Tar Pits, which are all big with families.
posted by halonine at 2:10 PM on August 8, 2005

Well if you like art and empheral things and take Radio7's advice to visit Echo Park (which is a cool litte neighborhood) then you should visit Maximilian's Schell,
an enchanting site-specific installation on Silverlake Blvd that was just put up in June and will be disappearing in November. Best would be to visit during "the golden hour."
posted by donovan at 2:17 PM on August 8, 2005

if you go to LACMA, the la brea tar pit museum is next door, and if you wander in during the last half hour they're open, they might let you in for free. (they let me in, but i don't know if it's a standard policy or if they were just being nice.)
posted by clarahamster at 2:49 PM on August 8, 2005

Native Foods is vegan as well. One in Westwood, one in Costa Mesa of all places, and a couple out East in the desert. Joshua Tree is rad, btw.

I believe that the Newsroom Cafe (Google it) in Beverly Hills (not pricey) can be vegan as well (check, though).

If you somehow find yourself in the San Fernando Valley (shudder), try Follow Your Heart. It's a nice little market and restaurant.

If you can live with yourself, I recommend letting go of your vegan-ness during your stay and eating some goddamn tacos. Come on. While you're at it, go to In-N-Out Burger as well ... you can skirt the beef issue by having a grilled cheese burger there. COME ON!!!

If you do go to Echo Park (like others have recommended) visit the Short Stop on Sunset for a drink. Look it up online, there's no sign. It's so damn cozy in there.

If you're in Hollywood, try "Three Clubs" or "Three of Clubs" on Vine. Also with no proper sign. It's nice looking in there.

Enjoy your stay. I really wish you luck. If you get discouraged, please remember that Los Angeles is a far better place to live in than to visit. There's soooooo much to explore. I hope you have some friends here that can show you some good stuff.
posted by redteam at 2:55 PM on August 8, 2005

If you have time for it on the 14th, the 10th annual LA Tofu Festival is happening. I haven't been yet, but after hearing about some of the food options (tofu tostadas!) I'd like to. Also, Ozomatli is playing. Follow Your Heart, in the Valley, has very nice vegan food. I second The Brite Spot as a cute place to stop, but didn't notice many more veggie/vegan options than most typical diner fare (this is no reason not to go). If you end up visiting Venice on the 17th, the Dudley Cinema (a community film/video series shown in a gallery) is showing a film about the Watts Towers that night. I seem to recall Venice's centennial being mentioned in an earlier thread. On preview: Make that a second for FYH too.
posted by PY at 2:57 PM on August 8, 2005

Check the calendars at Independent Shakespeare (Hollywood) and Grand Performances (downtown) for events happening during your stay that may be of interest to you.
posted by PY at 3:04 PM on August 8, 2005

the tofu festival is great if you're a fan. i've been before and it's a lot of vendors showing off what they can do with tofu... tostadas, grilled, salads, and tofu ice cream. :)
posted by mileena at 4:15 PM on August 8, 2005

California Vegan on Sunset is the best Thai food in town! And I eat meat... it's THAT good!
posted by RoseovSharon at 12:11 AM on August 9, 2005

Here is a list of Vegetarian and Vegan places in LA. My wife's sister is Vegetarian and we're always trying to find places to eat together.

However, I can't really recommend any places on this list since I am a carnivore.
posted by inviolable at 12:16 AM on August 9, 2005

Thanks, everyone!
posted by Zed_Lopez at 10:01 AM on August 9, 2005