What's to love about LA?

October 28, 2007 12:11 AM

Can the hive direct me to websites and blogs that give insider/local knowledge of how great Los Angeles is?

I've been to LA once, and I hated it. I stayed in Downtown LA. I was lost and uninspired. I understand it's much better when you have an "in" with a local, and I know there is greatness to be found and loved, in the way of music, culture, art and especially community, but I don't know anyone there at the moment.

Are there any websites and blogs by LA locals and lovers that strip away the surface crapness of the city?

Can you help?

posted by mooza to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

LAist maybe? I'm not from LA and I don't look at that site, but I read Torontoist a lot and I check out the sister sites when I visit cities. You may find the "links" (bottom left sidebar) from that page interesting too.
posted by bread-eater at 12:43 AM on October 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

Gridskipper does "best of" lists and provides google maps to help you find them...
posted by sharkfu at 9:00 AM on October 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

2nding LAist
LaWeekly
ArtbloggingLA

LaOkay

BloggingLA

LaObserved

LaCityNerd was good: but it's invite only.

Daily phonecall to 310-CUT-FOOT.
posted by lalochezia at 11:48 AM on October 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

nth LAist.
LA Underground is a good place to find art/music/culture.

It would make it easier to recommend something if you had something specific in mind? What are your interests? LA is large enough that there's a community/culture that caters to nearly every interest.

The thing I love about LA the most is the food. Not sure what kind of food you like, but there's great Persian food, Thai, Korean, Mexican, Cuban, and LA food, among other stuff. Tons of LA foodblogs out there if you're interested.
posted by s01110011 at 12:25 PM on October 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

Usually whenever I'm in a different city for a reasonable period of time, I look online for the "best of" issue of whichever local newsweekly, such as this:
La Weekly Best of 2007

I usually find some interesting stuff! It's found me the CineFile (not a typo) video store on Santa Monica (fantastic, by the way), and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC before Amy Poehler wound up on SNL.
posted by stleric at 12:40 PM on October 28, 2007

Check Yelp reviews for restaurants and bars.
posted by Scram at 5:02 PM on October 28, 2007

Thrillist just started their LA branch. I've found them to be pretty awesome for NYC.
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:45 AM on October 29, 2007

Losanjealous is good for info about music, events and culture.
posted by dhammond at 5:22 PM on November 11, 2007