LA Question: where to stay for visit in Panorama City

[Neilk]

Hey LA peeps,

I have to visit some clients in Panorama City for three days in a couple of weeks. We arrive in LA around 3PM and don't have to get to client's office until 8:30AM the next morning. What would ya'll suggest between LAX and Pano? I know it's kind of vauge.

Any suggestions on where to stay, places to see? Should we just stay as close to the client as possible and drive to any desirable places at night in light of the traffic? I've only been to the LA area once, so it is more or less new to me.

[Cdnone1]

Do not stay in Panorama City.
Stay anywhere on the Westside and leave yourself more than enough time to travel to your clients. There is everything to do on the Westside and nothing you want to do in Panorama City.

The only good thing about Panorama City verses the Westside is the hotel will be cheaper, a lot cheaper, but there is a reason for that.

[Noah930]

Do not stay in Panorama City. It is worth posting that advice a 2nd time.

Panorama City is probably only about 20 miles straight north of LAX. No desirable places to stay by the airport, either.

If you don't stay in the Westside (i.e. Santa Monica) and want to stay closer in the San Fernando Valley, there is a Courtyard Marriott in Encino on Ventura Blvd(by intersection of 405 and 101), or there's a decent place my in-laws just stayed in this past weekend in Studio City, the Beverly Garland.

[Craig T]

Do not stay in Panorama City. It is worth posting that advice a 3rd time.

I agree with Noah. The Courtyard Marriott in Encino is a good choice...or the Hilton Universal City or Sheraton Universal Studios are good choices too. You can spend the evening at Universal City Walk. There should be a couple live music choices there.

[craigster59]

I'll reiterate the Panorama City love. If you stay on the westside (near LAX), you shouldn't have a problem with traffic going to PC in the AM (opposite of traffic). There's also a few nice hotels in Burbank (Holiday Inn) that are walking distance to nice restaurants and shops and give you a 20-25 minute commute to Panorama City. I'd do like Craig suggests and stay at Universal and hit City Walk for the quick nightlife.

[Noah930]

Heck, there's even the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, by Coldwater and Ventura.

[speeder]

All good advice, I have nothing to add other than a vote for the nice parts of the valley over the west side. Think Sherman Oaks or close by, look at a map. Avoid North Hollywood or Van Nuys.

[look 171]

Anywhere between Studio City and Encino. Plenty to do in a few hours on Vetura Blvd. Have dinner in Universal city. Plenty of people to watch and food is actually pretty good depending on the restaurant. Panorama City is a place you go to and get out of once you are done there.

[Hugh R]

The motels in Pano rent by the hour.

2nd City Walk. Not much traffic on the 101 going towards Ventura, get off the 101 at Van Nuys Blvd, in the AM as traffic starts backing up.

[patz]

Only place worse is Pacoima.

[Nostril Cheese]

LOL, the wonderful panorama of junkyards and roach coaches.

As the others have stated, stay out of the valley.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by patz

Only place worse is Pacoima.

Ha! I got rear-ended at a light in Pacoima by two gangbangers. My Cayenne's trailer hitch went right through their radiator. The damage was pretty bad. My car was hardly scratched. The guy jumped out and got in my face…"YOU AIN'T CALLIN NO F#@KIN COPS. JUS GO MAN".

He was right out of the movies. Baggie oversized shorts, white wifebeater tank shirt, tattoos on his face…even the bandana pulled down to his eyes. I said…No problem my brotha. I'm outa here!

I avoid Pacoima now,

[slodave]

Funny how first response was to stay on the Westside. What's wrong with the rest of the Valley? ... Nothing...

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Heck, there's even the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, by Coldwater and Ventura.

I stayed there once. Wasn't bad. I walked across Coldwater to that sushi place, ran into Ginger Lynn and had a nice chat with her.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by slodave

Funny how first response was to stay on the Westside. What's wrong with the rest of the Valley? ... Nothing...

Absolutely! Ventura Blvd from Woodland Hills to Studio City has some GREAT restaurants and nightlife, and food from every region of the world. I would love to live within walking distance on the south side of the Blvd, especially Encino.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I stayed there once. Wasn't bad. I walked across Coldwater to that sushi place, ran into Ginger Lynn and had a nice chat with her.

She hangs out in the bar at Monty's sometimes too. A lot of the old porn star girls hang out in there. Monty's is middle-aged swingers paradise.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I stayed there once. Wasn't bad. I walked across Coldwater to that sushi place, ran into Ginger Lynn and had a nice chat with her.

Which one? There are about 3 sushi restaurants per block on Ventura Blvd. Makes for a pretty high standard for them to stay in business. (I'm guessing Ahi, BTW).

Vivid Entertainment also has their HQ over in Universal City across the street from the Nissan dealership.

Who says there's nothing worthwhile in the Valley?

[Rick Lee]

Yes, it was Ahi. Hung out with Lemmy the following night at the Rainbow and met Chris Squire and Peter Criss on the way out of there. Stellar week for celebrity encounters.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I stayed there once. Wasn't bad. I walked across Coldwater to that sushi place, ran into Ginger Lynn and had a nice chat with her.

Rick - Thax for the tip....Need an address and Pic's......Oyster House in Studio City is an interesting night if you drink with the owner.....

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Rick - Thax for the tip....Need an address and Pic's......Oyster House in Studio City is an interesting night if you drink with the owner.....

You can't miss Sportsman's Lodge. It's on Ventura at Coldwater, just across from Ralph's. Ahi is on the same side of Ventura as Sportsmans, but just across Coldwater, next to Twain's. Can't miss it. But best sushi in LA is Gin in Pasadena on Colorado at Rosemead.

Ginger and me.


Lemmy, some German friends of mine and me.


Chris Squire and me. Peter Criss took this photo, but I was so starstruck by running into Chris Squire, I didn't think to ask Peter for a photo. Chris is a huge hero to me.