Some thoughts about LA from my recent trip

[steve2470]

Hi all. Some of you may remember I asked for help before my trip to LA for my son, for his future music career. My son finally convinced me that the music industry is very decentralized now. We ended up going to Amoeba records 2x and seeing one live show at El Rey theater on Wilshire Blvd. We didn't do any studio tours or do anything else music related. We saw Kenny G at the Rose Bowl for July 4th (he hates Kenny G, Kenny G is just ok with me). We also saw a live show by Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band at Amoeba.

To summarize, we had a wonderful time. We ate Korean BBQ, Ethiopian, Thai, Jamaican jerked chicken, In and Out burgers along with Fatburger, a small diner in West Hollywood that serves a nice breakfast, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood, Norm's in LA for breakfast, etc. Yes, it was a culinary treat for both of us.

We drove a grand total of 552 miles. We saw ZERO accidents of any kind, which completely amazed me. It never rained during our stay, which helped I'm sure. Traffic was very heavy of course, but nothing I'm not used to.

Parking was a minor nightmare in the city of Los Angeles. Free spaces were pretty much non-existent (I didn't want to drive around for 30 minutes looking), but the parking meters took credit cards which was awesome. Lots were 5 to 20 bucks.

My son might move there eventually. He really liked it, as did I on my 4th trip to the city. We also went to the Getty in Brentwood and to the LACMA on Wilshire. Very awesome museums.

You Angelenos should be justifiably proud of your city. Everyone we encountered was friendly and polite. Thank you again for your help in my last thread.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear steve2470!

I'm glad you two had a great time. LA is a cool place, as you discovered.

You saw the cream of what we have...

[steve2470]

2. yes we did

If I could afford, comfortably, to live there, I would. My son might be fine with a few roommates. I'm too set in my ways for a roomie unless I loved her a lot lol

[abelenkpe]

3. Roscoes!

Love that place. Glad you had a good time.

[steve2470]

4. we did, ty ! nt

[kestrel91316]

5. Thanks! I used to hate this place, but after 30 years it has kind of grown

on me. Mass transit has improved 1000%, and the ethnic restaurants and fine dining can't be beat outside of NYC (in the US). Even our smog is hugely improved - we used to get Stage 3 smog alerts all the time, and now I couldn't tell you how long it's been since we had one, maybe years.

Food and museums - it never occurred to me that you could cobble together a nice vacation right here in the city from those.

[steve2470]

6. I forgot, we also went to Long Beach, Venice Beach and Santa Monica pier

We did a lot, as you can see. The smog was very tolerable, but seemed to get a bit worse on the last day, no idea why.

[demwing]

27. My home town!

Venice High, class of 1981

[frylock]

7. come down to san diego next time. we have the best taco shops on the planet!

sounds like you had a great time!

[steve2470]

8. we'll have to do that ! nt

[SunSeeker]

9. If you go to San Diego, stay at the Catamaran and catch a luau.

Glad you liked L.A.!

[steve2470]

10. ty for the advice ! :) nt

[Tikki]

16. Come on up to Santa Barbara the next time...

Glad you both had an amazing time. We love our music people around here.

Tikki

[steve2470]

19. thanks !

I'm not sure when next time will be. I have to really watch my money.

[demwing]

28. No Love for Titos tacos in LA?

shocked, I am...

[frylock]

29. i'm ashamed to admit i've never been..

checking it out next time fo sho!

[pinto]

11. Great observations. LA is a great, international city. And very decentralized as cities go.

My uncle and aunt have moved downtown from the San Fernando Valley and love it - they're originally city people (from NY and find the renaissance of downtown LA pretty cool).

Lots of good food. Interesting neighborhoods. And obviously music, music, music. As well as a vibrant theater scene. And some great architectural gems from the 30's, 40's and 50's tucked in among everything else.

Traffic is overwhelming at times - the city spread on the backs of automobiles. But, yeah, accidents seem relatively rare on the freeways. I guess Angelenos have the whole process down.

(disclaimer) I live ~ 200 miles north of LA. Wouldn't live there - the pace is too much - but really enjoy my visits.

[steve2470]

12. LA reminds me of "Orlando on steroids", Orlando being my hometown

It has all the desirable things Orlando does not have, currently.

[PasadenaTrudy]

13. Glad you enjoyed it!

I'm almost 50 and a native Angeleno. Traffic has gotten a million times worse than when I was a kid. I stay in Pasadena, never go west of DTLA

[steve2470]

21. thanks ! nt

[CreekDog]

14. I love LA

and even though I'm a native San Franciscan, I'm not afraid to say it.

it's a great city, one that anyone in California should be proud is in our state.

[zappaman]

15. Glad you liked it!

I can see why you went to Amoeba twice....you can get lost in there for hours.

And I think LA has the best live music and restaurants in the US. I see a live show at least once every 2 weeks (got 6 lined up for October already ) and it seems like I am constantly discovering new restaurants!

Come back soon!

[steve2470]

20. thanks ! nt

[SoapBox]

17. Gosh...

you did more than I've done in LA since I moved here in 1986! LOL

I'm south of downtown, sort of/kind of in the harbor area...I just go to work (near LAX) and then
go home...I've not even been in downtown in at least 20 years and HATE our once per year trip
up to "The Valley" for a Sons of Norway Lutefisk Dinner. Oh, I don't like lutefisk but Mom does!

Thanks for the interesting post.

[steve2470]

18. you're very welcome

I knew we were only in town for 8 days, so we had to make the most of it. We definitely did lol

[flamingdem]

22. Great report! LA really offers a lot on the musical side

as well as culinary side.

[JDPriestly]

23. Thanks. And you hardly saw anything of the city.

Many areas, like the one I live in, are really communities, like small-town America. People know each other and are friendly. Other areas are not. But if you find an area that is a community, you won't want to leave it.

[steve2470]

24. Yes, good points

My son was most focused on culinary adventures, so that was our main focus, besides the shows we saw. If we went again (not likely anytime soon due to cost), I'd twist his arm to see those communities. We've already done all the standard tourist stuff. Thanks for your input.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

25. DO come back, Steve

Good to hear you found people friendly. That may be partly because so many of us are transplants from the Midwest and East Coast. Great weather might also be a factor. But be sure and stop in Pasadena on your next trip - parking very manageable and tons of neat things to see along with great food. Glad you had fun.

[steve2470]

26. We will, we were in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl 4th of July but of course did not see much of....

Pasadena besides the roads. I was reading about a few museums there I think ?