Tips for weekend in LA
 

Hi all

I'm stateside for a work trip next week, as follows:

LA: sat 21 - mon 24
Houston: tues 25 - wed 26
Wash DC: thurs 26 - sat 29

Houston and Wash DC are pretty well booked out with client visits and a conference (IP law) but I have a free saturday and sunday in LA.

I'm staying in Santa Monica. I would welcome any tips for some Porsche/car related fun, plus general tips on some cool ( but non touristy) stuff to do/see.

I was going to suggest beach bunny viewing at Newport Beach, but then I noticed that you live in Sydney...;)

good point - i see your newport beach and i raise you a bondi beach

although i hear newport is a little more 'pneumatic' than bondi...

The Will Rogers State Historic Park, on Sunset Boulevard between Bel Air and Pacific Palisades. Historic ranch buildings, easy hiking trails, spectacular views, peaceful and non-touristy.

Finally...I was hoping the La-La land guys would weigh in...:)

- L.A. Philharmonic (world class orchestra -- if available).
- PCH from Santa Monica to Malibu for some grub.
- No P-car, so no Mulholland, Yerba Buena, Decker Canyon, Los Flores or Sepulveda fun (too bad)
- Huntington Liebury in Sierra Madre (cool Bonsai and Japanese gardens...and more)...day time type of deal.
- If you are an AA, I can clue you into THE meetings.
- Great church on Mulholland (if that is your cup-o-tea) -- Bel Air Pres.

thanks guys - can anyone recommend a good spot for some dinner and drinks in SM for sat night?

There's hiking all over the Santa Monica Mtns. Varies from easy to difficult. Even though no p-car, drive Mulholland anyway, it does afford some nice views. Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

Touristy:
Since you are in Santa Monica, walk 3rd street, the pier, Venice for the culture, Hollywood, Universal Studios.

Dave

3rd Street.

Dave

There is a hotel overlooking the Santa Monica pier, Loew's, that has a good restaurant...If you are looking for hip/happening Sushi with awesome ambiance...Akwa (walking distance from 3rd St. Promenade--people watching)...A good buddy of mine owns it, I would recommend it anyway.

A Porsche guy should really take Mulholland Highway by the Rock Store and on to the beach. PM me if you need a guide (Saturday, can't do Sunday).

Restaurants? I'll add The Galley. Old, charming, reliable. Seafood mainly.

an offer you can't refuse

i agree - a pm has been dispatched

Border Grille on 4th between Santa Monica & Wilshire.

Then you can go across the street to Harvelle's for blues.

One block to the West is the 3rd St. Promenade with lots of people watching and a couple of Brit bars in case you need some real beer.

I tend to go against the grain w/ tourist advice around here, but I would say that the key to an enjoyable short stay in L.A. is to avoid too much driving. It is a HUGE city, and one can easily spend hours in a rental car travelling to some "must see" thing that ain't all that.

Santa Monica is a nice area but very crowded and not very interesting, IMO. If the weather is nice it's beautiful, though. I would have dinner at Chez Jay, (if you can get in), it is an old-school Steak House on Ocean Avenue. Hasn't changed since Peter Lawford took Sinatra and Marilyn there in '62. Coolest place in SM by far, but then I don't consider most of the newer stuff cool at all.

There are a lot of good museum options, including car related ones, but my top two choices would be the Getty w/ 2 great photo exhibits right now or the Reagan Library which just opened its Airforce One exhibit to the public this week. (You can enter the plane and check it out, used by 6 or 7 Presidents). If I have time, I might be interested in one of these, send me a message. I can also give you more detailed advice on where to go.

As for the Newport Beach advice, yes, there are lots of attractive girls/women down there. They stamp them out on an assembly line. But L.A. is a world class city these days with lots to see, and the idea of going to another county to see hot women is sort of a (?) You could never leave LAX airport and you would see more of that then in most places in the world. :cool:

You can't go wrong with diner at Akwa and some Blues at Harvelles. Walk to them and you'll find more things to explore along the way than you will have time for.
Don't forget to check out upstairs at Akwa. My wife and I took freinds from out of town there for diner the other week and it was great
Steve

I figure a guy from Down Under might like something he can't get as readily at home -- good south-of-the-border chow...

For a real quality sushi experience, the hands-down favorite among the cognoscenti is Sasabune, Nebraska at Sawtelle. Good celeb watching there, too.

Lunch at Versailles (good Latin food, lots and cheap), dinner at either the Stinking Rose or Lowry's Prime Rib. All 3 on La Cienega (sp?) in W. Hollywood or towards LAX on La Cienega from W. Hollywood. And go window drooling at the high end car dealerships in the area.

Going south on La Cienega (from Sunset Blvd), that would be right on Wilshire...left hand side...Good way to get to Santa Monica anyway, through Beverly Hills, past Rodeo Blvd (Porsche paraphenalia shopping), the Beverly Regent Wilshire and through the Wilshire corridor...ends at the beach.