THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO
LOS ANGELES ...
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WEST HOLLYWOOD AREA
Start the day with a nice morning Hike in the hills before it gets too hot! Follow up with an outdoor yoga class before you head on to grab a hotdog – vintage style at Pink’s! This will leave you energized for the rest of your day of exploring...
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles www.laparks.org
Runyon Canyon Yoga
http://runyoncanyon-losangeles.com Tjek out the facebook page too: www.facebook.com – search for “Runyon Canyon Yoga”
1. Fuller St. Entrance One of the main lower entrances to Runyon Canyon Park is at the end of Fuller, a few blocks off Sunset. Parking can be a bit hectic right around the park entrance, so it’s a good idea to find a place to park a few blocks away. There’s a place to buy water and snacks right by the gate. It seems to operate on the honor system, which I’m surprised to see in LA. 2. Errol Flynn Tennis Court Just a little ways into the park there’s a switchback right before the ascent up the canyon begins. On your way up you’ll see an old tennis court on your right. Really should be turned into a skate park. 3. The Stairs You’ll get to the first scenic overlook and then take a left turn to head up the stairs. They’re pretty steep and make for a good workout if you can avoid the dogs and slow people.
Runyon Canyon has taken yoga to the next generation and then some. Take yoga, sprinkle in some sunlight with the perfect amount of shade from the trees, add some fresh air, a soft patch of grass, some soulful tunes and you have Runyon Canyon’s FREE daily yoga class. 3-5 times a day (see schedule on facebook page) You should be prepared for a full yoga experience when you come to the yoga classes at Runyon Canyon, you should come equipped with a yoga mat or towel, a towel for sweat, some water and a smile. Although the yoga classes at Runyon Canyon are FREE, donations are always accepted and welcomed by the yoga instructors that make these yoga classes possible.
4. The Outpost Sign Just about at the top of the stairs, you’ll see a bunch of twisted metal off to the right of the trail. It’s the remnants of something called the Outpost sign, which, much like the famous Hollywood sign, was intended to advertise a new housing development, except the outpost sign was bigger, and neon! During WWII, the sign was disabled due to the blackout rules, and it fell into disrepair. The old photo in the collection below is the only picture I can find of the original monstrosity. 5. The Big Bench At the top of the eastern route past the Outpost sign, there’s a big open area with a few benches. I just call it The Big Bench. It’s high off the ground so you can swing your legs like a little kid and look out over the city. 6. Mellow Way Down There’s a wide, curvy road that takes you down the East side of the canyon. It’s a lot less steep than the Western route up with the stairs. You’ll end up near the Vista St. entrance which is just a little bit away from the Fuller St. entrance. 7. All Done
WEST HOLLYWOOD AREA
...continue your day of exploring with some shopping and a bit of “must-do-tourist-stuff” while you are in the area anyway...
PINK’S HOTDOGS
709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles www.pinkshollywood.com EWS g FOXToNp Ten Hot Do
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La Brea Blvd
La Brea Blvd is excellent for vintage shopping, but it is rather pricey, so if you are on a budget – at least just go window and inspiration shopping! The Target and Best Buy on La Brea is also worth a visit: Target has everything from groceries to electronics at low prices — while Best Buy is electronics heaven on earth! La Brea Blvd is also home to some awesome secondhand shops – if you are into this; Jet Rag is definitely worth a visit (1$ parking lot sale on Sunday Mornings) http://districtlabrea.com www.target.com www.bestbuy.com
Pink’s is the ultimate Mom and Pop hot dog stand. It’s a Hollywood love story, starting with Paul & Betty Pink selling hot dogs from a cart on a neighborhood street corner at La Brea & Melrose in 1939. Pink’s is renowned for its delicious variety of hot dogs and hamburgers, huge portions, and affordable prices. Its historic, fun atmosphere is considered a quintessential Hollywood experience, particularly for the late-night club crowd. Celebrities love great hot dogs, too, and Pink’s has been visited by many stars. Back in the day they ranged from Orson Welles to Marlon Brando to Michael Jackson. Today Pink’s serves personalities such as Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Steve Martin, Bill Cosby, Betty White, Martha Stewart, Aretha Franklin and Guy Fieri -- and is visited by celebrity chefs such as Bobby Flay, Giada de Laurentiis, and Emeril Lagasse.
Hollywood Blvd
Of course you should pay a visit to the Walk of Fame, Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre (Home of the Oscars) all located on the walk of fame! – But beware of the crowds of tourists and people dressed up as stars offering to take your photo for a curtesy fee. There are tons of tourist shops if you want to buy cheap souvenirs!
THE SUNSET STRIP
After a nice hotdog you should be ready to cruise along Sunset Blvd, which holds the mile-and-a-half also known as “The Sunset Strip” which is the name given to the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood. It extends from West Hollywood’s eastern border with Hollywood at Havenhurst Drive, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive. The Strip is probably the best-known portion of Sunset, embracing boutiques, restaurants, rock clubs, and nightclubs that are on the cutting edge of the entertainment industry. It is also known for its trademark array of huge, colorful billboards.
The Sunset Strip
Cool Restaurants and Bars
Rainbow Bar & Grill
9015 Sunset Blvd www.rainbowbarandgrill.com
BARNEY’S BEANERY
The Viper Room
8852 West Sunset Boulevard 8901 Sunset Blvd www.viperroom.com www.whiskyagogo.com
8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood www.barneysbeanery.com
THE ORIGINAL !
Whiskey A-Go-Go
Welcome to Barney’s Beanery
A Los Angeles favorite for over 90 years and counting!! Barney’s location, combined with the fact that the owner was apt to extend credit and occasionally give away food, made the bar popular with people from all walks of life, including artists, writers, and other celebrities. Older Hollywood actors like Clara Bow, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Judy Garland and Rita Hayworth were all regulars in their day. By the 1960s, the neighboring Sunset Strip had become an important music center, and Jim Morrison (who was reportedly thrown out of Barney’s for urinating on the bar) and Janis Joplin (who had drinks at Barney’s the evening before her death) became regulars. Poet Charles Bukowski hung around, as did artists Ed Kienholz and others associated with the Ferus Gallery, which was located nearby on La Cienega Boulevard. Sport fan? We’ve got you covered! We have over 60 HD TV’s, every sports package known to man, 200+ beers, 700+ menu items, and a plethora of varied seating: couches, stadium seating, booths, tables, and bar seating!
THE WEST SIDE
Pumpin up the volume, breakin down’ to the beat Cruisin’ through the west side We’ll be checkin’ the scene ... (Pink: “Get This Party Started”)
After a visit to Barney’s Beanery you can keep crusin’ down Santa Monica Blvd – there are many cool things to look at along the way. Santa Monica Blvd takes you all the way to the coast, where you find the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade, nice restaurants, the REI store and much much more. When you feel you have seen enough of Santa Monica – continue your drive a bit south – crusin’ into Venice Beach. You can find beach parking - which can be rather expensive – but often worth it compared to wasting time searching for street parking.
The Santa Monica Pier 200 Santa Monica Pier www.santamonicapier.org
3rd Street Promenade 1351 3rd Street Promenade www.downtownsm.com
REI Store
402 Santa Monica Blvd www.rei.com
Venice Beach
Venice is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half-mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors.
Beach Excercise
Options are plenty: Biking, Walking & Rollerblading on the Board Walk, Muscle Beeach in Venice, and the Rings in Santa Monica.
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
..Now it is decision time – you are faced with two options – Take Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) North or South...? Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
State Route 1 (SR 1) is a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the state of California. Highway 1 has s everal portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or Coast Highway. The highway is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the USA, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.
SOUTH BOUND ...Will take you through Marina del Rey, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and La Jolla.
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Eat on the Go...
Take a luxurious shopping break Probably the BEST fastfood you will ever have...!
at South Coast Plaza, which is an upscale-luxury shopping center in Costa Mesa, Orange County. It is the largest mall on the west coast, housing over 250 retailers.
Take a DETOUR and go to the Mall
before you go south. Culver city is just around the corner and there is a nice mall with all the typical mall-type stores. Check out the directory on their website before you decide which type of shopping spree you are in the mood for.
WESTFIELD CULVER CITY
6000 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City www.westfield.com/culvercity
SOUTH COAST PLAZA
3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa www.southcoastplaza.com
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
..Now it is decision time – you are faced with two options – Take Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) North or South...?
NORTH BOUND
DTLA – DOWN TOWN LOS ANGELES
While everyone who does not know any better seems a firm believer that there is no actual downtown Los Angeles; there are some pretty awesome hidden gems in the area... Many highly reccommendable culinary must-experience places, architectural and historical buildings, the diversity and the many different neighborhoods... The Original Pantry Cafe
The Original Pantry Cafe is an iconic coffee shop and restaurant in Downtown L.A. Located at the corner of 9th and Figueroa in the South Park district, The Pantry (as it is known by locals) claims to never have closed or been without a customer since it opened in 1924, including when it changed locations in 1950 to make room for a freeway off-ramp. It served lunch in the original location and served dinner at the new location the same day. It was, however, closed briefly at the order of health inspectors on November 26, 1997, and reopened the next day. The restaurant is known for serving coleslaw to all patrons in the evening hours, even if they ultimately decide to order breakfast. It claims to serve 90 tons of bread (or 461 loaves per day) and 10.5 tons (20,000-tree harvest) of coffee per year
THE ORIGINAL PANTRY CAFE 877 South Figueroa, Los Angeles www.pantrycafe.com
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Business visit?
Back to the future
Just a few blocks down, you will find L.A. Live, which is the new sportsand entertainment complex in Downtown. It has 5,600,000 square feet (520,257 m2) of apartments, ballrooms, bars, concert theatres, restaurants, movie theaters, and a 54-story hotel and condominium tower on a 27-acre (10.9 ha) site. Make sure to take a visit to yard house for the world’s largest selection of beer on tap, live music and a unique dining experience. Happy Hours; Mon-Fri: 3-6pm & Sun-Wed: 10pm-Close
YARD HOUSE
800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, www.yardhouse.com
should you be in LA on business - fear not - the Los Angeles Convention Center is just ajacent to L.A. Live. And after a hard day’s work, it might be time for a coffe run. If you are in it for the best stuff cruise on up to 2nd street, located in the historic Higgins Building where you will find who makes some pretty amazing mocca. After you are done with the coffee break, you could go clubbing; The Higgins Building is also home of the famous Edison Bar.
THE HIGGINS BUILDING
108 W 2nd Street, Los Angeles, www.theedisondowntown.com www.groundworkcoffee.com
THE GRAMMY MUSEUM
800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, www.grammymuseum.org
DTLA – DOWN TOWN LOS ANGELES
If you are a bit of an adventurer and know how to blend - take a walking tour of downtown - and don’t forget to look up, if you are into the historical and architechtural details of long gone times.
BROADWAY ...is a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, that runs from Lincoln Heights on the Eastside, through Chinatown, passing through Central Plaza and the Dragon Gate, the Los Angeles Civic Center, passing the Los Angeles Times building at 1st Street, and Broadway’s historic commercial district and theatre district in Downtown Los Angeles. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, and was for more than 50 years, the main commercial street of Los Angeles, and one of its premier theater districts as well. It contains a vast number of historic buildings and landmarks including The Orpheum, The Los Angeles Theatre and the Chinatown East Gate. Before World War II, Broadway was considered by many to be the center of the city, where residents went to ornate movie palaces and shopped at department stores. Virtually all of the movie theaters on the street have fallen into disuse and disrepair, and some were replaced with parking lots. The department stores have closed, but Broadway has for decades been the premier shopping destination for working class Latinos. Which is why you will find a vivid & colorful range of products and shops here.
SKID ROW ...is an area of Downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2000 census, the population of the district was 17,740. Skid Row contains one of the largest stable populations, between 3,000 and 6,000, of homeless people in the United States. The sidewalks are lined with cardboard boxes, tents, and shopping carts. It is defined as the area east of Main Street, south of Third Street, west of Alameda Street, and north of Seventh Street. Please be careful if you are in this area
EATING AND DRINKING
If this has not made you hungry, you should at least pay some of these places a visit just to grab a snack!
TIPS AND TRICKS
Before you go to a place, it is nice to know the insider’s point of view – as I have been pretty much all of these places I have given you my validation that they are worth a visit, however, when you are on your own, it can be a bit of a jungle out there – here are a few last tips and tricks for you !
SOUTH COAST PLAZA
3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa www.southcoastplaza.com