Nice Hang Out West of LA
May 2, 2006 12:04 PM   Subscribe

What's a good place to meet a friend, hang out and maybe have some lunch that's roughly half way between LA and Thousand Oaks?

I'm in LA for a couple days (near La Brea and Wilshire) and I have a good friend who is near Thousand Oaks. We're planning to meet for a late lunch on Saturday and have a couple hours to hang out. I'm looking for some suggestions for a nice place (park, museum, etc.) where we could do both.
posted by robabroad to Travel & Transportation around Los Angeles, CA (9 answers total)
 
Bergamot Station in Santa Monica is another good spot. Less formal than the Getty, but I'm not sure if they have any food there or not.
posted by p8r1ck at 12:24 PM on May 2, 2006


Santa Monica sounds way off course to me, for somewhere between Wilshire & La Brea and Thousand Oaks.

I think you want something along Ventura, in Sherman Oaks.
posted by Rash at 12:59 PM on May 2, 2006


Not so much a place to hang out, but if you like Japanese food at all, check out Todai. There's one in Moorpark, I believe. Closer to TO than you, but it's well worth trying.
Take a visit to the Reagan library. Even if you're commie pinko like me, it's worth the trip.
(The Nixon library in Orange County is a surreal place to visit. I love their take on history)
posted by Eddie Mars at 1:06 PM on May 2, 2006


The Japanese Garden in Van Nuys is right off the 101. There are tons of restaurants nearby on Ventura Blvd. What kind of food do you like?

Or you could walk around the lake at Lake Balboa Park, which is also very close to Ventura Blvd.
posted by clh at 1:57 PM on May 2, 2006


There's always the Sherman Oaks Galleria.
Several restaurants to choose from and some good people watching. I recently saw Christopher Atkins.
posted by clh at 2:04 PM on May 2, 2006


Sagebrush Cantina in Calabassa is a bit more mid-way. It's a restaurant, but they have live music, sawdust on the floor of the outdoor eating area, and hanging out is just what everyone else there is doing, too.
posted by Carsey at 2:37 PM on May 2, 2006


If you like sushi, Sushi Spot has the best sushi I've ever tasted, and it's in Tarzana. There are no museums directly between the two of you - the Getty would be out of the way for both of you. If you're dead-set on museums, one of you will have to be willing to travel a little further to meet at one.

I also second the Calabasas idea. Sagebrush is lots of fun. There's also good shopping in Calabasas as well as the Leonis Adobe Museum, though it would be a bit closer to your friend than to you.

Also, consider Universal City Walk. There's loads of dining and shopping as well as the Universal Studios Tour nearby (though this location would be closer to you.)

Good luck, and have fun!
posted by Lillitatiana at 3:06 PM on May 2, 2006


I don't know from hangouts, but if you're looking for something kinda retro with large amounts of comfort food, try Jerry's Famous Deli in Studio City. Try the Reuben.
posted by diddlegnome at 5:37 PM on May 2, 2006


If you mean equidistant to both, then perhaps Malibu is the best bet for hanging out. Calabasas, along with most of the Valley, is suburban hell. Fine if you want a good mall, but not so good if you're looking for a "nice place."
I'm not familiar with restaurants at the northern end of Malibu, up by the good beaches (like Zuma). Perhaps others can fill that in.
PS, Todai is crap sushi. Not to be disrespectful, but... it's crap sushi (all you can eat - say no more).
PPS, if you want a deli, skip Jerry's. Try Art's in Studio City instead. WAY better.
posted by johngumbo at 6:08 PM on May 2, 2006


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