24 Hours in Hollywood

May 1, 2006 3:12 PM

What to see in Hollywood?

Will have one day to explore old Hollywood and want to see as much as possible. It's been years since I've been down there and my 20 yr old dtr has never been.

Can you recommend some 'must see' areas and places that provide good photo opp's? Also, where to go for a great dinner on a Sunday night? Thanks!

posted by SoftSummerBreeze to travel & transportation (15 comments total)

there are lots of great Thai and sushi spots in the North Hollywood arts district. What kind of food do you like? There are so many great places in Hollywood, Los Feliz, Studio City, etc. Also Los Feliz, which is quite close, is walking distance from a large Armenian neighborhood and Thai Town. Lots of good food around here (Carousel - my favorite Armenian place in town - plus Vermont, which is terrific).
posted by luriete at 3:15 PM on May 1, 2006

Griffith Park has great views of the Hollywood sign for the classic "standing in front of the sign" shots.
posted by Gucky at 3:22 PM on May 1, 2006

Well, for the classic stretch along Hollywood Blvd., I must admit to finding most of it pretty awful, though I do hold a certain fondness for Grauman's Chinese Theatre (and it's really a wonderful place to catch a movie, since it looks like a jewel box inside). I also love Musso & Frank's, which is a classic "Old Hollywood" type place to grab dinner (bonus: I've almost never been there without having an interesting celeb sighting, too). Also, if your daughter likes music, Amoeba is one of the greatest stores on the planet. Unfortunately the Griffith Observatory hasn't yet reopened, otherwise I'd suggest that, though a drive through Griffith Park is always nice.

Also, how strictly are you defining "Hollywood"? Because there are lots various sights to see that aren't technically in Hollywood, but are on that side of L.A. in general. (Farmer's Market and the La Brea Tar Pits, for example.)
posted by scody at 3:28 PM on May 1, 2006

And if you do get out of Hollywood, please check out the Getty - it's free! - and LACMA is one of the most underrated art museums in the state.
posted by luriete at 3:59 PM on May 1, 2006

Hollywood Forever cemetery is an incredibly beautiful place I like to take out of town guest to (it's not depressing at all). Many famous Hollywood stars are buried there, you can buy a map to their graves at the gift/flower shop. I consider it one of Hollywood's most treasured landmarks... it's a very peaceful oasis right smack dab in the middle of the city.
posted by RoseovSharon at 4:08 PM on May 1, 2006

I would suggest that you actually stay away from the Mann's Chinese Theater and that whole Hollywood + Highland area. It's really touristy and you get accosted by costumed characters.

I second Griffith Park, and you should check out Barnsdall Park as well if you're in the area. There's also MOCA and LACMA if you venture out of hollywood.

For dinner, I also second the Los Feliz and Silverlake areas. Great restaurants everywhere. Maybe if you let us know what kind of food you were interested in, we could narrow it down a bit further.

"Old Hollywood" is kind of hard to define. You'll probably find some of that south of hollywood blvd, say between Sunset Blvd and Melrose, and bounded on the east and west between Highland and Fairfax. Movie studio lots, photo shoots going on in non-descript lofts, old bungalow style houses, and restaurants where more of 'the industry crowd' tend to eat. I'd recommend just driving around here to get a feel for the real hollywood.
posted by unlicensedarchitect at 4:11 PM on May 1, 2006

Oh and in June, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery starts showing projected movies at night in the park. That's a really enjoyable evening.
posted by unlicensedarchitect at 4:12 PM on May 1, 2006

Another classic place to view the Hollywood sign is on Beachwood Cyn. Everybody stops halfway up and poses for pics in the middle of the road. Also a view from Hollywood & Highland complex, although it's a bit touristy there. Check the Hollywood Bowl website and see if there's a good show that night. You can usually get affordable tickets even on the day of the show. Good Thai food at Palm Thai Restaurant (5273 Hollywood Blvd.), where you can dine to the live music of the Thai Elvis. Also fun, take the Red Line subway (from Hollywood & Highland) down to Union Station which is just opposite Olvera Street, which has good Mexican food and outdoor shopping. I second the motion for Farmer's Market and The Grove next door. Drinks at Yamashiro's (on the hill behind the Chinese Theater) is also nice, and a great view after dark!
posted by gallois at 4:17 PM on May 1, 2006

I have never been quite clear on why the Walk of Fame is considering something anyone would want to see- it is, after all, stars with names on them embedded in a dirty sidewalk.

I would recommend walking down Melrose Ave. on a weekend afternoon. You get some good "local color" as well as a lot of cool stores.

There are great restaurants all over the place.

As for the Hollywood sign, you can actually hike up there (legal), hop a little fence and walk right up and touch it (somewhat less than legal, but I've done it)
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:13 PM on May 1, 2006

As unlicensedarchitect mentioned, if you're there on a Saturday evening, check out the cemetary screening.
posted by nakedsushi at 5:19 PM on May 1, 2006

A couple of shopping recommendations:

Necromance on Melrose is the coolest, oddest store I've ever seen. You can buy things like the bones of a human hand, all-black Victorian mourning jewelry (which for some reason creeped the hell out of me) and huge, beautifully mounted beetles and moths. Very atmospheric.

It's a Wrap is a used-clothing store with a twist - all the clothes are from the wardrobe departments of various movies and TV shows. I've gotten some pretty good stuff there for cheap, and it's cool to think that my shirt came from the set of "Law & Order: SVU," for example. Locations in Burbank and the Beverly Hills area.
posted by diddlegnome at 10:24 PM on May 1, 2006

Avoid Hollywood Blvd., it's a really seedy (and at night, hooker-y) tourist trap. Except for Amoeba--that's a good place. As recommended above, check out Melrose. It's also a seedy tourist trap, but a much cooler one.

And, also as mentioned above, go to the Farmer's Market/Grove for dinner. You will not be disappointed.
posted by LimePi at 11:49 PM on May 1, 2006

LimePi: Amoeba isn't on Hollywood. It's on Sunset and Vine. That said, it's an amazing place to go.

I'd recommend Ripley's Believe It Or Not on Hollywood and Highland (it's a little cheesy, but there's a funny surprise near the end and lots of cool things to see). Mel's Diner is also great (just around the corner from Ripley's on Highland) and is the quintessential diner. The view from the top floor of Hollywood and Highland is pretty good.

Try to get up Mulholland if you can too.
posted by wackybrit at 4:23 AM on May 2, 2006

I enjoyed the Dearly Departed Tour.
posted by hilker at 11:19 AM on May 2, 2006

For late, late food, I vote for Canters on Fairfax. Not only do you have a decent chance of seeing a few famous people, but the pickles are amazing. A very L.A. experience.
posted by my homunculus is drowning at 1:32 AM on May 3, 2006