Another LA Visit Question - Didn't want to hijack the other thread

[Vintage914Racer]

I will be at the LA Auto Show for press days on 11/28 and 11/29 and am looking for some recommendations from the pelican brain trust. I've never spent time in LA. I understand that I can't see everything in my short visit, but would love to get a good taste of LA and the surrounding areas.

First, where would you recommend staying that is within reasonable proximity of the convention center? I have colleagues staying at the W on Hollywood and Vine. Thoughts on this area? I've never spent time in LA and would like to stay in a fun area.

Second, I will have a day or so with a convertible to spend exploring the surrounding areas and would like to drive either up or down the coast. Based on the other OT thread I get the sense that opinions vary on where to go. Is it worth hitting Mullholland drive for an early morning cruise? Other ideas?

[nostatic]

I hate Hollywood but ymmv. If you're doing the convention center on a Wed and Thu you could stay downtown (it has regentrified some), or you could stay in Pasadena, though the drive into the cc in the morning would suck. If you want to do scenic drives there are a lot of options:

1. Angeles Crest Highway. Pretty famous especially for motorcycles. A very short trip if you're staying in Pasadena

2. Mulholland through the Hollywood Hills. On a weekday you'd want to do it around lunch time as getting to/from is a PITA during commute times.

3. Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Malibu. A very famous stretch of road. Easy to turn it into loops on some other world-class driving roads up in the hills (Mulholland, Decker, Stunt Rd, etc)

The key to LA is drive time. If you have to be at the convention center on certain days then you need to be convenient to there. On the weekend you can venture further but LA is massive and there is plenty to see generally within about 10 miles of wherever you are.

[Hugh R]

The W is probably OK if you want to cruise through Hollywood. Depends on your time of day drive from Hollywood to the Staples Center. Hollywood is not what you think, not that interesting. You'll be here on a Wednesday and Thursday it appears. Depending on time of day, sure take Mulholland to Malibu to see it. But you'll want to be in and out of there between 10AM and 2PM, traffic goes to crap on the freeway (101) outside of those hours. If you aren't carrying stuff, you might want to consider the subway, from the W to a few blocks from Staples is around 20 minutes. Then a 10 minute walk. The Red line is right in front of the W. At 8 AM the drive would easily be an hour. Cost is $1.25 each way, IIRC.

[speeder]

I don't hate Hollywood. The area around the W hotel, (Hollywood and Vine), has been developed like a MoFo over the last 10 years or so and it's booming and pretty safe. Touristy, (always has been), but lots of nightclubs and just good walking around place. I just shopped at the Trader Joe's in the same structure as the W Hotel about an hour ago and it's pretty cool. That corner used to be the Hollywood DMV, a real buzz-kill, now it's a much happier place. For Halloween, it's absolutely bananas and I'm keeping my old ass inside tonight. If I was younger, I'd be out for *National Dress Like a Slut Night*.

Parts of downtown L.A. are awesome, (notably Little Tokyo/arts district), but unless you have a tour guide, you'll never figure out where to go unless you get real lucky. Chinatown and Alavara St. is a cool area DT as well. These are all "park and walk around" things, not driving things.

I think staying in Hollywood is a great idea, especially if you have some people there from your show. You'll have a ball. Pasadena is a beautiful area but boring for a young tourist. (Assuming you are young). Keep everything central if you're here for a short spell. The drive from Hollywood to DT is a short cakewalk.

If you want to hook up with another Mpls. person in L.A., shoot me a PM with your # and I'll try to meet up with you when you're here. I'll probably go to the auto show.

[Vintage914Racer]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not opposed to staying somewhere else the two nights I need to be closer to the auto show. I'd simply prefer staying somewhere that has decent night life and things to do at the end of the work day.

Is it worth staying somewhere else on my third night, be it north, south, OC, etc.?

[speeder]

I forgot about the Metro, (subway). Hugh is right, it's right under the W Hotel and goes DT. Cleanest, newest subway in the world. Pretty darn nice. And you don't have to park DT.

[Hugh R]

NO, definitely not OC. you'll spend all your time in traffic. I'd stay in Hollywood if you're already there and take a drive in the area like Beverly Hills if you want to tourist. If you're here for 2-3 days don't spend it in traffic.

Denis, when I have to go DT for a shoot (film) I take the Metro when I can. 20 minutes from the Universal Station to Union Station. Then i walk or take a cab. My employer pays for it, and I read the paper on the way in.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

NO, definitely not OC. you'll spend all your time in traffic. I'd stay in Hollywood if you're already there and take a drive in the area like Beverly Hills if you want to tourist. If you're here for 2-3 days don't spend it in traffic.

Denis, when I have to go DT for a shoot (film) I take the Metro when I can. 20 minutes from the Universal Station to Union Station. Then i walk or take a cab. My employer pays for it, and I read the paper on the way in.

What he said. ^^^

That subway is some damn nice infrastructure. Too bad it cost so much to build but I love to ride it.

[Hugh R]

PM sent.

[daepp]

Ok - but Pasadena to the autoshow in the am - wouldnt that be miserable?

[nostatic]

Chinatown is not what it used to be...in fact it isn't much of anything these days other than struggling art galleries. Little Tokyo is a bit better. I've had good luck on the Metro, so staying in Hollywood and taking that downtown could work. I just don't care for Hollywood because I'm usually going to a gig and getting there from elsewhere in town can be a pita of surface streets. I typically play the Hard Rock at Hollywood and Highland once or twice a month. Certainly plenty going on around there at night.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by daepp

Ok - but Pasadena to the autoshow in the am - wouldnt that be miserable?

If you notice, I said that . But it depends on timing. If you are trying to get there at 9am, yes. 10am, not quite as bad, 11am no problem. I've done that morning commute many times.

[daepp]

My bad - I just assumed he had to be there early. I actually don't make that particular commute - just assumed it would be bad.

As for the OP question, would you have him head up the Malibu coast? Or depending on available time, up to 1 north of Morro bay.

As far as great non-coastal drives, have you seen the Mullholand thread?

Getty Center is a great non-motoring-related destination. Griffith Park/Observatory at night - great city lights view. Maybe head to south el lay and get a glimpse of Magnus flying by the LA river.

[Rick Lee]

Pasadena DT on a motorcycle in the carpool lanes and lane splitting is no problem. Wouldn't want to cage it thought.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Chinatown is not what it used to be...in fact it isn't much of anything these days other than struggling art galleries. Little Tokyo is a bit better. I've had good luck on the Metro, so staying in Hollywood and taking that downtown could work. I just don't care for Hollywood because I'm usually going to a gig and getting there from elsewhere in town can be a pita of surface streets. I typically play the Hard Rock at Hollywood and Highland once or twice a month. Certainly plenty going on around there at night.

OK, but what does you trying to get to Hollywood from the beach have to do with him having a good time staying there? He's already going to be there. He doesn't have to drive there from Santa Monica at dinnertime.

All of DT L.A. is pretty cool if he wants to see it. Everything from Chinatown to Little Tokyo is great. It's just booming. And there are a ton of cool bars DT if he's a young guy and wants to go out at night. I don't go out in Hollywood at all at night unless it's to go to the Arclight, but I'm getting old for it and I've lived it more than most people can imagine in my years in the nightclub business. That doesn't have anything to do with a young tourist dude having a ball in Hollywood. It's just one hopping nightclub after another along Hollywood Blvd. these days and he would not even have to drive if he's at the W hotel. In fact, the W has lounge/bar that's pretty well stocked when I've been in it.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Pasadena DT on a motorcycle in the carpool lanes and lane splitting is no problem. Wouldn't want to cage it thought.

Pasadena to DT in a car is a piece of cake, too. You jump on the 110 and you're there in 10 minutes. It's just the last place that some tourist who wants to have fun would stay. It makes no sense. It's all about being where the action is here, like staying on the Sunset strip or at the W Hotel. Pasadena is a good place for rich old people who go to museums.

To hear some of you outsiders talk, it's like you're comparing L.A. traffic to some cowtown. This is a real city. Every great city on earth is absolutely choked with traffic. It's just part of being a city. Lots of people want to be here. Millions. This is one of the easiest to get around, actually, unless you're an idiot and stay in a hotel 20 miles from where you're going to be hanging out.

[Vintage914Racer]

In response to some of the "young dude" references, I am in my early thirties and will be traveling with a co-worker in his late 20's. Being within walking distance of fun bars and nightlife spots is a plus, but I'm not looking to party all night long. I think I've settled on staying in Hollywood, at least on my two auto show nights. Still considering somewhere else on the third night, but not opposed to staying in the same spot.

[speeder]

That's young, partner. Drink it all in.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by speeder

OK, but what does you trying to get to Hollywood from the beach have to do with him having a good time staying there? He's already going to be there. He doesn't have to drive there from Santa Monica at dinnertime.

All of DT L.A. is pretty cool if he wants to see it. Everything from Chinatown to Little Tokyo is great. It's just booming.

If he wants to go elsewhere in LA, then being in Hollywood can be a pita. If someone wants to stay there, take the Metro to downtown, then go drinking, it is fine. If they want to explore other areas it isn't ideal imho. As for Chinatown, not sure you're going to the same place. It has very little "China" left and is mostly struggling art galleries. All of the Chinese culture is out in the SG Valley.

Oh, and Old Pasadena is still fairly happening afaik.

[look 171]

Old Town Pasadena isn't all that bad with plenty of bars, but it is no Hollywierd for sure.