Yo-yo. I’m off to LA for 6 weeks. Just wondering what people’s favourites spots are and where they like to go.
Also, slightly short notice but if anyone knows anyone looking for a short term let in London SE6 there is a two bed house available from Sept 15th. Irie.
Been a while but here’s a few… my missus family live just south of Long Beach
Largo (WH) good fun for standup + Norm’s diner across the street
Venice beach is a bit tacky now but still a few pockets of fun, frazzled oldtimers ‘9/11 was an inside job’ truthers if you fancy a laugh
The Last Bookstore (Downtown)
The Original Pantry Café is a must for pancakes
Amoeba Records is huge
Grand Central Market (Downtown)
The Troubadour has all the history, worth popping in
We stayed on Yucca Street (Hollywood) at the motel which appeared on the hotel California sleeve. Hollywood Boulevard still pretty seedy, one to swerve
For parties Lovefingers is your man.
Sounds like big trouble. You’re going to need plenty of legal advice before this thing is over. As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you’ll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours. Blows my weekend. Because naturally I’m going to have to go with you. And we’re going to have to arm ourselves… to the teeth
I listened to the Revenge RA podcast at gym (sorry) yesterday which starts with this quote (over Police Voices)
if you’re gonna be there for six weeks, do try and get over to palm springs - who knows, maybe you can get booked at the ace hotel and they can subsidize the jaunt? no idea who’s doing bookings over there now…
palm springs is pretty awesome, a beautiful little time capsule. i’ve heard of some amazing disco collection seams being mined out of there in the 90’s, but that’s probably dried up by now.
This is my cliché LA hitlist. My brother lives there and we usually do one or more of these. Enjoy!
Huntington Gardens
Venice/Santa Monica Beach
Getty Centre near 405
Griffith Observatory
street tacos
Troubadour for a show
Yamashiro restaurant above Hollywood
Dresden Bar in los Feliz
drive up the coast to Santa Barbara/Carpenteria
hikes around Malibu
A fireapple-red convertible?
If you need a break from LA head up the PCH to Monterrey and Carmel. Still a few old hippies hanging around the blues bars in Pisno Beach. The Big Sur is amazing scenery. We even saw condors. Hired a van from Escape Vans in Inglewood and didn’t plan too much beyond selecting campgrounds. Everyone was superfriendly without feeling too forced.
Heading south is completely different. Mojave desert is filled with cactus fields, the joshua tree inn where Gram Parsons has a shrine, also Pioneertown is worth a stop. Huntingdon is pretty grim jockville to be avoided. Laguna sunsets are pretty special. Loadsa posh galleries and stuff. Michael Cook recommended Zuma Beach too, esp the far end (famous from a million movies)
I’m sure Harv would be down for a surf.
Apart from that, not been for a 10 years or so bit out of touch, I’d love to hit some Taco trucks next time.
Mozza and all of Nancy’s restaurants were always great if a little spendy.
Abbot Kinney was great for shopping
I lived there for a while.
Kogi (and anything associated with Roy Choi) and Mozza are a must.
Würstküche - particularly the one in DTLA is a must as well. Proper ambiance, full of characters and around it there are great stores and boutiques plus the mother lode of Mr Cartoon graffiti (which he doesn’t do anymore) that truly needs to be seen.
This is all great. Thanks all.
And yeah I’m going to floating points doing promises with Shabaka Hutchins and many others at the Hollywood bowl so can’t really wait for that x
El Cholo in Santa Monica for great margeritas and amazing food.
The bootleg tshirts outside are something else. Take a $20. The Grace Jones tshirt is still the single best piece of concert mercy I’ve ever seen.
Almost forgot…
They sell a nice tshirt as well.
Better burgers though.
Love Hour in K-Town
Trophies on Fairfax
Ambon Quality Meats in Chinatown
A trip to Peanut Butter Wolf’s Gold Line bar in Highland Park, LA. The DJs play from his records. So far tonight a mix of messed up beats into string out Afro and some nice Pal Joey business. The records I imagine are quite ridiculous.
Just got home after 5 months in the city, and it feels like we only scratched the surface!
yeah it’s just so vast. really hits you when you land at LAX at night. Itching to get back to West Coast but will hopef head North next time
We are going to San Fran and LA for 12 days in July so this is all super useful, thanks 
Any other tips for SF most welcome. Seeing the Stones at Levi Stadium on the 18th then we plan to take the coast down to LA and maybe stop off in Monterey or Big Sur or somewhere along there. Feeling a bit overwhelmed as there is just so much to see and do so need to hone in on the essentials…
Oh yeah and any gig connections in SF or LA very welcome too x
