Hi,

Admin asked me to put together some things to do in Los Angeles since I love my city. There really isn't much to do around the Airtel hotel, and LA is a car town, so it is best to have a car.  Taxis are very expensive and buses aren't the most reliable in the world.  The Subway, yes we have one, it isn't too bad, but has limited hours (ends at 1 or 2am,) limited routes and is usually 20-30 minutes between trains. However, if you want to get between Universal City and Hollywood and Downton LA, it isn't too bad. 

• All the Amusement parks – Disneyland/California Adventure, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm and Magic Mountain (the last two for you roller coaster lovers).
• Studio Tours – Univeral Studios, Warner Brothers, Sony Studio and Paramount do guided walking tours as well. Accomplice Hollywood sounds like a fun tour/scavenger hunt http://www.zerve.com/Accomplic…..A/Hllywood
• Star tours- where you go on a bus and drive past "stars" homes.  You can pick up various tours from the shopping  center at Hollywood and Highland (H&H), it's not a bad mall to visit to see the Walk of Fame and the Mann's Chinese Theater.  Across the street is the Roosevelt Hotel which has a great outdoor bar and is a frequent star hangout.  Avril Lavine just got into some altercation out front.  TMZ, the gossip website, has a tour of famous celeb hangouts, haven't done it, but heard good things about it.

Places to go

• Hollywood Blvd, not that much to see, but better than it used to be. The crazy dress up folks in front of the H&H and in front of the Manns Chinese Theater are amusing.  Check out the footprints and hand prints
• Rodeo Drive in Beverly HIlls for window shopping, where the 1% lives ( ) you are almost guaranteed to see a Ferarri.
• The Famous Sunset Strip – where many bands got started. The Whiskey A GoGo, The Roxy, The Key Club, The Viper Room, etc are all great little venues. If the weather is good, brunch at the area known as Sunset Plaza is good and you never know who you might see
• Places to star gaze – Chateau Marmount or Bar Marmount – you need reservations. The Standard Hotel.  Asia De Cuba -has a great view and you can sometimes sneak into the Sky Bar from this restaurant.  These are all pretty pricey
• Los Feliz/Silverlake – trendy area with cool little shops and restaurants.  The Dresden Lounge is fabulous – hipsters, locals, tourists, nerds everyone is welcome and most nights Marty and Elayne play lounge music – if you've ever seen the movie Swingers- they are fun
• Griffth Park for a hike – you can hike all the way from Los Feliz blvd to the Griffth Observatory, Runyon Canyon for a hike – you never know who you'll run into or if you'll run into the paparazzi as they chase someone.
• Santa Monica – Third Street Promenade and Main Place Mall – shop to your hearts content a couple of blocks from the beach and enjoy the street performers.  Lots of good food around. Santa Monica pier – where they fillmed to Love and Die in LA
• Venice Beach – Muscle Beach – the famous Venice Boardwalk.  Well known for the street performers, roller skating guitar guy, chain saw jugling guy, etc. The area is grittier than Santa Monica, but pretty safe during the day, if you haven't lived in a big city, I'd stay away at night.
• Near Venice is Abbott Kinney – an artsy street with some great restaurants, galleries and did you know there are actual canals in Venice CA? Yes there are, between Washinton and Venice Blvd east of Pacific.
• Downtown LA – lots of Castle episodes are  filmed in downtown LA- the Biltmore Hotel, Spring street alley, etc.  I'd suggest visiting during the daytime & go to LA Live at night. Check out if Nokia Theater or Club Nokia have a band playing, check out the Grammy Museam or the Congo Room.  Olvera Street/China Town/Union Station are right off the Red Line of the subway and nice little places to visit with less expensive food, lots of really good bars as well.  Phillippes, across from Union Station has great french dip sandwiches (I think the pork dip is the best)
• Check out Hidden LA on facebook, they have a lot of off the beaten path ideas too.

I hope that gives you some ideas, please feel free to ask if you want to know anything specific.  Or you need restaurant suggestions, I'm good at that.  Just let me know a price range. 

And Sunday night Drag Queen Bingo in West Hollywood, http://hamburgermarys.com/weho/ not for the prudish, definitely a lot of fun.  Usually for charity

Yes, I second that the area around the hotel is not good and do not walk around the neighborhood. I forgot to write that.

davidsmom said:

m_hanh — I meant to compliment you on your list – fantastic!  I've lived in the Los Angeles area for more than 30 years and you either brought up lots of places I'd have mentioned…or suggested ones I'd never heard of — wonderful job!!

Thanks