Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Los

Enough with the honking, seriously.

banannafish — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:23:16 -0800

Why are all these trucks honking in downtown Los Angeles? FOR HOURS. So I live in Little Tokyo and for the second time in almost a month, huge semi trucks are all parking around Union Station and just laying on their horns. It is impossibly annoying and I cannot find any information online, other than a story about trucks on 11/16 in Long Beach protesting the new dock regulations.

Last time, it lasted for almost two hours, and it just started again and I'm pretty sure I'm going to go crazy if this lasts another two hours. Apparently since it's during the day, it isn't classified as noise pollution. What's the story? Actual protests or just jerky truckers?

Los Angeles County Men's Jail

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:09:46 -0800

I have to go to Los Angeles County Men's Jail for 96 hours. What is the likelihood that I would have to serve the whole sentenced time? I'm a white male, early thirties. Last year I was (very regretfully) arrested for a DUI, and now I have to serve 96 hours in the LA County jail. My other option is to serve those 96 hours at a 'private' jail where I'd pay to have my own cell and can bring a book. I can break the 96 hours into two 48 hour blocks over two weekends if I wanted to.

However, I've heard that LA County jails are pretty overcrowded (especially the men's jails) and that Sheriff Lee Baca has a 10%-time served rule where most first-time, non-felony offenders are released after about 12 hours. I am thinking of turning myself in on December 23rd if its likely that I will be released soon, otherwise I'd probably wait till around the 28th. I have a year to do this in, but would like to get it over with as it is hanging over my head, and I want to start 2010 off on the right foot.

Thank you for any advice you may provide.

Am I being difficult?

silsurf — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:16:49 -0800

What exactly should my landlord know? I love in Los Angeles in a two bedroom house and am trying to figure out if what the land lord wants to know is valid?

We are great tenants and he has said that over and over, so there is no animosity regarding these issues, but I personally feel like it is really none of his business and secondly feel like there is no reason for him to know the following.

We have alarm system that we pay for the monitoring of. Our landlord wants the entry code, he says he needs it in the case of an emergency. Our stance is that it just makes one more person in the world who has the entry code and therefore less secure. He does not live in the area either. He also says that he needs it for his insurance company, but when we pressed him on this he backed off. Like I said. Put me in touch with your insurance company and if after speaking to them I understand why they need it, I will supply them with the info.

The other issue has been ongoing.
The house was originally rented to my wife before we were married. When I moved in he suggested a rent increase, we balked and have never agreed to one. Then, my son started staying over more and more often and he said he wanted to raise the rent as it is based on occupancy? So far, that has not come to pass either.

I have never hear of, nor do I understand that a single family home that is being rented is based on occupancy? Isn't it our right to have however many people living here that we want? If he wants to not rent it to us any more, he can put that in motion.

So, my questions are:

Does the owner of a rented home have the need to the security entry code?

Does the owner of a rented home have the right to charge rent based on occupancy?

Where do I go for answers to these questions in the Los Angeles are (other than the support 0f fellow MeFi'ers?)

Thanks,

Henry

Fun Asian groups in LA?

jeff1010 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:22 -0800

Any good, fun Asian groups in Los Angeles? I am part of a lot of groups in LA, but strangely know very few Asians. I'd like to start hanging out with more of them, get back in touch with my cultural side, and all that.

I'm Chinese, but any type is fine. Prefer if they have mostly young people (under 30). Also the closer to the West side the better.

Any group ideas are welcome - dance, community service, social, professional, etc.

Thanks. =)

From LAX to IND with no stops - that's possible right?

rileyray3000 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:20:34 -0800

Does any airline fly direct from anywhere in the Los Angeles area to Indianapolis? I've been looking for a little bit here now and I haven't found one airline that's direct to Indianapolis. Am I crazy? There's nothing? Not from Long Beach? Not from Burbank? Not from Ontario? How is that possible? Indianapolis is a pretty big city for the midwest isn't it?

Are there ANY direct options or am I nuts?

Need Low Cost Med Checkup

goalyeehah — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:26:39 -0800

Where does one go for a low-cost medical/physical check up in Los Angeles? Need to get a check-up, am low on funds and have no medical insurance. What options do I have?

Let's go surfin' NOW!

silsurf — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:08:51 -0800

I recently started boogie boarding in LA Two weeks ago I started boogie boarding in Los Angeles and even though it has taken me 23 years to get started, I want to make the best of it.

I have been going at low tide to Santa Monica Beach and for the most part it has been fantastic. Yesterday I was the only person out there in my area and I could ride the waves all the way in. It was funny to watch the two closest surfers that barely got a wave while I was continually getting great rides, though I know I will someday want to graduate up to a big board, but for now this is perfect.

Questions:
1.
I have heard different things about high tide and low tide and even heard that it is location specific. Like, that Santa Monica Beach is better at high tide, but Sunset and PCH is better at low tide. As I stated above I am pretty happy with what I have been doing, but if I am missing out on something fundamental here I thought I should know.

2.
I sometimes go out with my seven year old boy. In these cases the low tide approach is a must, it is hard enough battling the currents on certain days and I want to make sure he can at least get a footing when he needs to. So, the question is, are there any amazing, hidden spots that I could take him to anywhere between LA and San Diego for an amazing, endless summer-like weekend? Bonus points if we can take the train and never bother with a car.

3. Any great boogie boarding websites I should know about?

4. Any hints on making the most out of my experience? I have been a lifelong body surfer and find the boogie board a wonderful adn easy extension of that type of surfing, but as you now know, I am a complete noob on the subject.

Thanks to all!

I want a job with you, just not right now.

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:24:02 -0800

I want to have a coffee with some potential employers, but they might think it is a job interview. How I can eloquently backstep this sticky situation? I seem to have gotten myself into a rather sticky situation.

I am an advanced grad student in field X. In a week I am taking a trip to Los Angeles and staying for an entire month (for my boyfriend's job). To make the trip worth my while, I asked a close friend if there was anyone in field X in LA that I should meet while I am there.

Without my knowledge my friend then sent out about a dozen emails to people in field X in LA basically claiming that I am graduating in a month and am looking to meet with people in LA. The email implies I am looking for a job.

The thing is, while I will definitely be looking for a job in LA eventually, I am only graduating in two years.

A few people have already emailed me about meeting "for a talk", and I am worried they are considering it a preliminary job interview or something.

I would love to meet these people, and knowing them might get my foot in the door so I can get a job in two years, but I certainly don't want to start our meeting with them thinking I am looking for a job right now.

How can I still meet with the people while politely taking back my friend's claims about looking for a job right now?

Authentic Charity for donationing car to breast cancer

matthelm — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:26:19 -0800

I want to donate my car to a charity, specifically for breast cancer, how do a choose and how do i know they are for real? I want your help to find a authentic charity for breast cancer that i can donate my car to...I need your advice and if you have or know someone that has done so I want to know how to go about it. It needs to be in Los Angeles for that is our current location...thanks!

Food Festivals and Competitions in Southern LA

matthelm — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:32:50 -0800

I am looking for any and all food festival / competitions that happen in southern LA that are open to the public. I think it would be great to be able to go to such events and would love some help on getting in the know... I am living in Culver City area and don't mind driving a bit to get to such events....

Los Angeles, I'm yours

boyinmiami — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:08:07 -0800

Los Angeles, I'm yours - Going to be in LA for the next couple of days Wed and Thursday. Please help us figure out what we should be doing. (More details inside) Going to LA for a wedding, but a buddy and I will be in LA a couple of days early. We are looking for activities for two single, late twenties guys can do. Trying to decide if we should stay in Downtown or Hollywood? Need recommendations for restaurants, lounges/bars, comedy clubs etc to check out at night, and day time activities were we might be able to cause some trouble at; (Heard the Standard pool is a fun party on Sundays but is it any good on Wed-Thursday). Any other options? Thank you LAfites :)

Where to buy electronic components in Los Angeles

Charlie Lesoine — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:48:20 -0800

Looking for somewhere to buy electronic components in Los Angeles, possibly in bulk ammounts. Things like resistors, capacitors, op-amps, LEDs. I'm imagining a great big store with aisles and aisles of switches, knobs, project enclosures, components, wires and soldering irons. Does Frys have this stuff? Pacific Radio? I know radioshack has some components, but I'm looking to buy a whole bunch...

I Would Be a Member of Any Club...

drjimmy11 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:34:57 -0800

What group/club/organization can I join on L.A.'s eastside? Film-related is a plus. I'm looking for something, but I don't know exactly what. I'm trying to solve two problems:

1) I feel kind of adrift in my film career. I have made a few short films at an almost-professional level but am yet to make any money at it and still have a dayjob. I've always had issues finding collaborators and am frustrated by the fact that I didn't really meet many people I'd want to work with again on my last project. I want to meet like-minded people to collaborate with, but I really haven't. For the sake of this question let's assume I am not a total clown and have enough ability as a writer and director that i wouldn't be laughed out of a room of professionals or talented amateurs. I'm just not sure exactly what I should be doing next.

2) I moved to the eastside (Silver Lake) two years ago and I really haven't made many friends over here. I have an existing, westside-based group of friends, but I spend a lot of time alone because they often aren't interested in the same things as me. Also, getting back and forth across town is a hassle.

So in an ideal world I would find some kind of film collective- people who were interested in working together to make cool, low-budget indie film type things. In addition, it would provide a peer group who I could talk about film-nerd stuff with. The closest thing I'm aware of is the Echo Park Film center, but they only offer one class longer than one day, and it's in documentary filmmaking, which I am not especially interested in.

I definitely have a lot to learn, but I'm not interested in beginner classes like those offered at a community college at this point. And in an ideal world I would find more like an ongoing club or society than a class.

Even if it doesn't have to do with film, I would love to find any kind of likeminded group of people on the eastside with whom i could share some or all of the following:

1) literature
2) hiking/outdoor stuff
3) good music
4) Even if they're not filmmakers, people who are interested in good movies- more like the Agnes Varda double feature I saw Sat. and less like, say, Transformers II
5) writing, screen or prose
6) still photography
7) Anything else I haven't thought of where I might interact with creative, open-minded people

Just a few more notes:
1) I have tried and failed to start something on my own before, a writer's group. I found it exhausting to maintain on my own and I really wasn't able to grow it how I wanted, and eventually it fell apart.

2) I am mainly looking for specific things I can join on L.A.'s eastside. General suggestions like "join a club" or "volunteer for something" aren't that helpful because I have tried and I am struggling to find the right thing for me.

3) i work a dayjob and am gone from home 7am - 6pm every weekday. this rules out things that take place on weekdays, like tutoring at 826LA in Echo Park, which i would love to do otherwise.

thanks!!

I'm totally convinced they're satanists.

eschatfische — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:28:09 -0800

Is the Quality Coffee Shop in LA -- where this scene in Ghost World takes place -- still open? I checked Yelp but there weren't any reviews, I tried to call but nobody answered, and Google street view doesn't seem to work right for that address, showing what appears to be further down the street. I assume it's gone, but I just wanted to check.

To pay or not to pay: LARSO rent registration fee

booksandwine — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:29:35 -0800

Los Angeles Filter: Should I pay the rent registration fee even though my landlord did not give me the requisite 30 days notice? I live in Los Angeles and started the lease on my new apartment this past May. My apartment falls under LARSO - LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Per LARSO the landlord may collect a rental surcharge of $9.35 every year in June, which is the tenant's half of the annual rent registration fee, provided that he gives me 30 days notice. I received a letter in the mail this past week telling me my $9.35 is overdue - this is clearly not 30 days notice, and this is the first notice I have received.

I love the apartment, I think I got a very good deal, and the building being under rent-control is an added bonus. I want to have a decent relationship with the landlord. I am planning to pay the $9.35, but want to consult the hivemind to make sure I am not 1) being a doormat and 2) setting a precedent for the landlord to take advantage of me in the future.

My questions for Metafilter are as follows:
1. Would you pay the $9.35 if you were in this situation?
2. Is this one of those laws that every landlord ignores? Other Angelenos living in rent-controlled apartments, do you receive 30 days notice of the $9.35 every May?
3. The ordinance also says the landlord is supposed to give me a copy of the rental registration - I don't have one, should I ask for one? Or is it just posted somewhere in my building and I've missed it?
4. Would it be a good or bad idea to include a letter with my check citing the relevant portions of the ordinance and saying something like "In the future, I would appreciate 30 days notice"?
5. Or should I just shut up, send the check, and thank the stars I got a good deal on an apartment that I love?

Thanks for your input!

So where can I go see the stars without having to sleep in a tent?

Lord_Pall — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:52:23 -0800

So where can I go see this Milky Way you speak of? More specifically, where's an awesome local place to go see the stars if I'm based in Los Angeles and with a wife who doesn't camp?

Los Angeles Area Cyber Cafes for WoW?

felix — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:44:03 -0800

What's a good, clean, safe cybercafe/lan party place with decent computers in Los Angeles? Objective: 5 hours of World of Warcraft. A catastrophic billing error has put me without internet access at home for the next two weeks. But, I run a world of warcraft raid guild, so that's clearly not acceptable. All my neighbors are rightfully paranoid and have protected wireless networks.

What's the best way for me to get back up and raiding, given that I have to get out of the house to do so? Have raid-capable laptop with 802.11g/n, blizzard authenticator, car, and UNENDING TWITCHING FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO MY DAILIES FOR MORE THAN 2 DAYS NOW

LA now

Jason and Laszlo — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:25:28 -0800

Los Angeles now: in town for a week and want to eat, shop, relax at the best new places. I'm from LA so I know all the basics, but what's come up in the past year or so that I should not miss? Particularly interested in restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, unique events.

I'm in North Hollywood but travel easily.

What is the Best Movie Theater in Los Angeles?

Lord_Pall — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:11:10 -0800

What is the Best Movie Theater in Los Angeles? So I'm a misplaced Austinite. I cut my teeth on the Drafthouse, Rolling Roadshows and their expansions. I consider the audience, food, maintenance and extracurricular activities of the Drafthouse to be superb.

I also experienced the Finnkino Tennisplatsi near Kamppi in Helsinki. Quiet, Clean, all assigned seating and nobody talked because they were all Finnish.

Now I find myself in Los Angeles. Marina del Rey to be specific.

I wish to see a film, in this case, the new Star Trek Film.

I might consider seeing other films at a future juncture as well.

Rolling Roadshows, community stuff, new releases are all things that I am interested in.

Where should I go?

Priorities for me -
Assigned Seating - I like this, but it's not a breaker
Crowd - This is HUGE. No talking. Quiet crowd or a theater that discourages this type of jackassery
Maintenance - No underlighting of the bulbs, maintained sound system.
Concessions - Tasty would be nice, but not a breaker.

I don't mind paying 20 bucks a ticket or more if I need to.

I also don't mind 2 different theaters, one for new releases and a few others for quirky community stuff like the Angel City Drive In

So Angelenos, enlighten me as to where I can go, or if I should just wait for the DVD...

Quality TESL training in Los Angeles area?

no1un0 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:57:33 -0800

I would like get a TESL certificate, move to Costa Rica, teach for 5-10 years, then retire there. From basic research, it appears that CELTA, Trinity and SIT are among the most credible facilities offering such certificates. However, I currently live in Los Angeles, CA and none of those programs are available within 100 miles. I have located two other venues in the area, the “Oxford Seminars” and “LC Coaching,” which are similar in content, price and duration. Can anyone speak to the quality of these programs, as compared to CELTA, Trinity, etc? Does anyone know of any better programs in the LA area for TESL training?

Los Alamos History

backwords — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:25:45 -0800

I'm interested in reading about the history of Los Alamos National Lab. Does anybody have any recommendations for memoirs, magazine/newspaper articles, books (documentaries) etc. that are engaging and well written about the lab?

LA - Eyeglasses lenses in an hour (or a day)?

seeka — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:50:08 -0800

Where in Los Angeles can I get eyeglasses lenses (a fairly difficult perscription, at that) in an hour, or a day? Bought great frames at Old Focal's in Pasadena, but need lenses! ASAP! Thanks Meta!

We actually do want to volunteer. Really.

Space Kitty — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:28:15 -0800

I need to organize a group volunteer project for work. The problem is we have a number of restrictions and I need inspiration.

Requirements:
We can only have a one-day event
We only have six people available to volunteer
The project must benefit children

Limiting factors:
We can't have a fundraiser
The project cannot be physically strenuous
We cannot provide tutoring
The activity cannot involve terminally ill children or special olympics (we already have existing programs in place)

Who knew six people could have so many limiting factors?

Thoughts? Anybody? For extra fun, we're located in South Bay and something local would be ideal.

HALP!

Do you have any suggestions for Jewish wedding catering on a Saturday in Los Angeles?

rybreadmed — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:29:56 -0800

Jewish wedding catering in Los Angeles on a Saturday. Is this possible? I'm getting married in January 2010 to a Chinese girl. I'm Jewish. For the wedding ceremony, we're going to do a Chinese tea ceremony. We're going to have a semi-traditional Chinese wedding reception at a Chinese restaurant in Monterey Park. It's planned for a Saturday.

I wanted to get some Jewish food catered, as well. I picture my grandparents, cousins, and some of my aunts and uncles struggling with chopsticks and them wondering what's going on in the shark fin soup. I thought it'd be really cool to provide them (and any of the Chinese guests, of course) with the option of eating some Jewish food. Kosher would be great, but therein lies the problem.

Do you know of any places that cater kosher food on a Saturday (Shabbas!) in or around Los Angeles? It doesn't have to be kosher, but perhaps Jewish and/or Israeli food would fit the bill. It does have to be tasty. All I've been able to come up with so far is catering from one of the delis (like Canters or Jerry's Famous), but they mostly seem to specialize in party platters--cold cuts, smoked fish, bagels. I would like something more than that for our wedding--you know, something more wedding-like. And I'm looking at providing this food for about 30 to 50 guests.

The caterer doesn't have to be Jewish. The food doesn't have to be kosher or prepared in a kosher kitchen, either, though that would be a plus. They don't even have to serve the food. They can drop it off at the Chinese restaurant. If it's REALLY good, I wouldn't mind having someone pick it up. The most important thing is that the food HAS to be good. I'd rather spend more on amazing non-kosher food than mediocre kosher food, too. Make sense?

Can you help make our wedding the most memorable Jewish Chinese wedding ever?