A few of our favorite places for our out of town guests...
Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood and Vine - World famous corner with nearby landmark Capitol Records Building (that looks like a stack of records...you remember what they are right?) at 1750 Vine Street. Almost every major recording artist's master tapes have been recorded or mixed here from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles. And you can book a time to sweeten your own master tape in Studio A.
The Beatles Walk Of Fame Star is right across the street between 1753-1799 Vine Street. Audry Hepburn's Star is at 1652 Vine Street. There is an online address book for locating any favorite Star of yours - watch your step though, other visitors are walking while looking down, too! For the latest news in
Ameoba Music Records - is one of the best in Los Angeles at 6200 Hollywood Boulevard. Let your fingers do the walking through aisles and aisles of CD's new and super-cheap used. One-of-a-kind rock posters and paraphernalia, too.
Pantages Theater - across from Ameoba Records at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard is an Art Deco building marvel. Still going strong, lately showing the musical Hamilton.
Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue
Grauman's Chinese Theater and Forecourt - 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. You can spend an hour here looking at all the cement signatures, hands, and footprints embedded in the front of Grauman's. Look for Marilyn Monroe's piece of earring still embedded in her block of cement.
Roosevelt Hotel - across the street from Grauman's at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. Classic Hollywood lore lives here, where the first Academy Awards Ceremony was held. Step inside at the Hollywood Boulevard entrance to see an ornate lobby, and sit on the bench with a sculpture of silent movie great, Charlie Chaplin. Upstairs in the hallway is a History of Hollywood timeline. Go to the back entrance of the hotel and gaze at the outdoor swimming pool with a mural at the bottom, painted by the artist David Hockney.
El Capitan Theater - across the street from Grauman's and just East at 6338 Hollywood Boulevard, this movie palace built in the 1920s, has the most incredible neon facade on the Boulevard, best seen at night.
Hollywood High School - Just off Hollywood Boulevard at 1521 N. Highland Ave. is worth a quick gander at the 50-foot-tall portrait mural of some movie star alumni including Carol Burnett, Cher, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, etc. And "Go fighting Sheiks!"
Hollywood Wax Museum - a fave tourist trap, which I haven't indulged in yet.
Musso and Franks Grill - Where all the movers and shakers in town have had their famous Martinis at the bar served with a sidecar carafe. And dine in a red booth where everyone from Orson Wells to Quentin Tarantino has held court. Dine on Filet Mignon to a French Dip Sandwich.
Miceli's Italian Restaurant - you can see it just off Hollywood Boulevard near Musso and Franks at 1646 N. Las Palmas Avenue. I've hoisted many Peroni beers while listening to live music upstairs in the piano bar. I recommend the pizza. And check out the "Mona Lisa Holding a Pizza" painting to your right as you enter downstairs.
In-N-Out Burger - The number one burger joint in Los Angeles has an outlet parallel to Hollywood Boulevard just an easy 2 block walk South at 7009 Sunset Boulevard. I get the Double-Double with Cheese. They always ask "Do you want onion?" I always say "You bet!" Check out the Bible quote stamped under your paper soda cup.
Anywhere Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Vine Street - get your Hollywood T-shirts, shot glasses, and refrigerator magnets at the myriad of shops all up and down the Boulevard.
Beyond Hollywood Boulevard going East - just a short drive really.
Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers - 5873 Hollywood Boulevard. They get the short straw compared to In-N-Out Burger, but not in my book. Their burgers are a hot mess dripping in beef chili...sooo gooood. I ask for cheese and mayo on mine.
Thai Town - a myriad of culinary delights just East of Hollywood. We recommend a stop at Sanamluang Cafe, 5176 Hollywood Boulevard, and it's BYOB and super-cheap, with delicious outdoor dining. Google "Thai Town Los Angeles" and discover your own new favorite dining destination.
Carousel Restaurant - right next to Thai Town at 5512 Hollywood Boulevard is premier Armenian dining in a Los Angeles ubiquitous mini-mall, and it's cuisine at the right price, too. Linda and I recently had a Falafel Sandwich and loved it.
Soap Plant Waco Store - 4633 Hollywood Boulevard. An emporium of outrageous kitschy novelties that are actually pretty cool. Tiki Mugs, plastic skulls, underground books, robot toys, and a great art gallery in the back you should not miss.
More Eastward on Hollywood Boulevard - you are soon entering the hipsterville Silverlake neighborhood. Just Google "Silverlake, Los Angeles" and get your kool on.
Hollywood and Vine - World famous corner with nearby landmark Capitol Records Building (that looks like a stack of records...you remember what they are right?) at 1750 Vine Street. Almost every major recording artist's master tapes have been recorded or mixed here from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles. And you can book a time to sweeten your own master tape in Studio A.
The Beatles Walk Of Fame Star is right across the street between 1753-1799 Vine Street. Audry Hepburn's Star is at 1652 Vine Street. There is an online address book for locating any favorite Star of yours - watch your step though, other visitors are walking while looking down, too! For the latest news in
Ameoba Music Records - is one of the best in Los Angeles at 6200 Hollywood Boulevard. Let your fingers do the walking through aisles and aisles of CD's new and super-cheap used. One-of-a-kind rock posters and paraphernalia, too.
Pantages Theater - across from Ameoba Records at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard is an Art Deco building marvel. Still going strong, lately showing the musical Hamilton.
Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue
Grauman's Chinese Theater and Forecourt - 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. You can spend an hour here looking at all the cement signatures, hands, and footprints embedded in the front of Grauman's. Look for Marilyn Monroe's piece of earring still embedded in her block of cement.
Roosevelt Hotel - across the street from Grauman's at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. Classic Hollywood lore lives here, where the first Academy Awards Ceremony was held. Step inside at the Hollywood Boulevard entrance to see an ornate lobby, and sit on the bench with a sculpture of silent movie great, Charlie Chaplin. Upstairs in the hallway is a History of Hollywood timeline. Go to the back entrance of the hotel and gaze at the outdoor swimming pool with a mural at the bottom, painted by the artist David Hockney.
El Capitan Theater - across the street from Grauman's and just East at 6338 Hollywood Boulevard, this movie palace built in the 1920s, has the most incredible neon facade on the Boulevard, best seen at night.
Hollywood High School - Just off Hollywood Boulevard at 1521 N. Highland Ave. is worth a quick gander at the 50-foot-tall portrait mural of some movie star alumni including Carol Burnett, Cher, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, etc. And "Go fighting Sheiks!"
Hollywood Wax Museum - a fave tourist trap, which I haven't indulged in yet.
Musso and Franks Grill - Where all the movers and shakers in town have had their famous Martinis at the bar served with a sidecar carafe. And dine in a red booth where everyone from Orson Wells to Quentin Tarantino has held court. Dine on Filet Mignon to a French Dip Sandwich.
Miceli's Italian Restaurant - you can see it just off Hollywood Boulevard near Musso and Franks at 1646 N. Las Palmas Avenue. I've hoisted many Peroni beers while listening to live music upstairs in the piano bar. I recommend the pizza. And check out the "Mona Lisa Holding a Pizza" painting to your right as you enter downstairs.
In-N-Out Burger - The number one burger joint in Los Angeles has an outlet parallel to Hollywood Boulevard just an easy 2 block walk South at 7009 Sunset Boulevard. I get the Double-Double with Cheese. They always ask "Do you want onion?" I always say "You bet!" Check out the Bible quote stamped under your paper soda cup.
Anywhere Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Vine Street - get your Hollywood T-shirts, shot glasses, and refrigerator magnets at the myriad of shops all up and down the Boulevard.
Beyond Hollywood Boulevard going East - just a short drive really.
Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers - 5873 Hollywood Boulevard. They get the short straw compared to In-N-Out Burger, but not in my book. Their burgers are a hot mess dripping in beef chili...sooo gooood. I ask for cheese and mayo on mine.
Thai Town - a myriad of culinary delights just East of Hollywood. We recommend a stop at Sanamluang Cafe, 5176 Hollywood Boulevard, and it's BYOB and super-cheap, with delicious outdoor dining. Google "Thai Town Los Angeles" and discover your own new favorite dining destination.
Carousel Restaurant - right next to Thai Town at 5512 Hollywood Boulevard is premier Armenian dining in a Los Angeles ubiquitous mini-mall, and it's cuisine at the right price, too. Linda and I recently had a Falafel Sandwich and loved it.
Soap Plant Waco Store - 4633 Hollywood Boulevard. An emporium of outrageous kitschy novelties that are actually pretty cool. Tiki Mugs, plastic skulls, underground books, robot toys, and a great art gallery in the back you should not miss.
More Eastward on Hollywood Boulevard - you are soon entering the hipsterville Silverlake neighborhood. Just Google "Silverlake, Los Angeles" and get your kool on.
Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave.
Parking - I try to find free parking on 8th Street at Spaulding Ave. - do read signs for parking time limits (usually 2 hours at a time.)
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures - a great museum about our film culture. Covering several floors with costumes, props, huge painted backdrops, and projection screens with your favorite film clips, highlights include the Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz and a room full of Oscar golden statuettes. https://www.academymuseum.org/en/
Peterson Automobile Museum - for all you gearheads out there the current show features James Bond film cars and flying machines, including the 1964 Aston Martin (with the ejection passenger seat) from the movie Goldfinger. There are other vintage vehicles galore throughout the multi-floor setting.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - half a dozen buildings teeming with art and sculptures. You will get an overdose of art here.
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum - a hidden treasure of L.A. in an underground space to view full-sized dinosaur skeletons. With dioramas of domestic and hunting scenes, and fossil galore.
99c only Store - across the street from the Academy is an eyepopping exhibit of cheap$kate food and everything else. Hey, in these budget-busting times check out aisles of goodies for, you guessed it, 99 cents each! Everything from fresh produce to flip-flops.
Irish Pubs:
Molly Malones - is a welcome dark narrow bar after hitting the bright daylights of Los Angeles. Settle in for an Irish Whiskey or a frothy Guinness beer, and do check out the paintings throughout the bar including a famous John Kennedy portrait. Food and live music too, so check their calendar for dining times and tunes.
Tom Bergin's - get a classic Shepherd's Pie or Fish & Chips, in booths or at the large round bar. Plenty of elbow room to chill out and chat about your museum-hopping.
Parking - I try to find free parking on 8th Street at Spaulding Ave. - do read signs for parking time limits (usually 2 hours at a time.)
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures - a great museum about our film culture. Covering several floors with costumes, props, huge painted backdrops, and projection screens with your favorite film clips, highlights include the Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz and a room full of Oscar golden statuettes. https://www.academymuseum.org/en/
Peterson Automobile Museum - for all you gearheads out there the current show features James Bond film cars and flying machines, including the 1964 Aston Martin (with the ejection passenger seat) from the movie Goldfinger. There are other vintage vehicles galore throughout the multi-floor setting.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - half a dozen buildings teeming with art and sculptures. You will get an overdose of art here.
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum - a hidden treasure of L.A. in an underground space to view full-sized dinosaur skeletons. With dioramas of domestic and hunting scenes, and fossil galore.
99c only Store - across the street from the Academy is an eyepopping exhibit of cheap$kate food and everything else. Hey, in these budget-busting times check out aisles of goodies for, you guessed it, 99 cents each! Everything from fresh produce to flip-flops.
Irish Pubs:
Molly Malones - is a welcome dark narrow bar after hitting the bright daylights of Los Angeles. Settle in for an Irish Whiskey or a frothy Guinness beer, and do check out the paintings throughout the bar including a famous John Kennedy portrait. Food and live music too, so check their calendar for dining times and tunes.
Tom Bergin's - get a classic Shepherd's Pie or Fish & Chips, in booths or at the large round bar. Plenty of elbow room to chill out and chat about your museum-hopping.
Culver City
The Culver Hotel - at 9400 Culver Boulevard. Our local Art Deco landmark has a tasty Happy Hour in the main lobby, with drink specials and live lounge-style music, also with silent movie projections on the lobby wall. Read about its history in the front window including the time The Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz stayed and partied after a long day of filming at a nearby movie studio.
Trader Joe's - 9290 Culver Boulevard. Right across the street from The Culver Hotel is our local Trader Joe's. This is a great and unusual grocer you should wander through at least once. Featuring fresh produce, great frozen food meals, and fresh-baked bread, Trader Joe's is everyone's go-to for an extensive selection of liquor, beer, and wine. Every heard of Two Buck Chuck? Yep, well-reviewed wine for $2 was sold here, alas no longer but you get the idea. If you need a frozen entree, wine, juices, or just healthy bags of munchies for your stay, your first stop should be at Trader Joe's (they located are all over town.)
Culver Boulevard - has a vibrant street scene right down and across the street from The Culver Hotel with many well-regarded restaurants to dine and window shop at.
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Center for Land Use Interpretation
Village Well Bookstore & Coffee - 9900 Culver Boulevard. Believe it or not but we read books here in Los Angeles. This is a new bookstore and a nice hangout for coffee.
Backstage Bar & Grill - 10400 Culver Boulevard. Across from Sony Pictures movie studio, this watering hole is where the locals go to watch Dodgers Baseball but not Rams Football as Backstage is Home to the Seattle Seahawks team, go figure. Regardless the Happy Hour menu is loaded with food and drink specials from 4 pm - 8 pm. I get the Cheeseburger and Fries, of course.
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook - 6300 Hetzler Road. Takes you to the top of the park to see a cool museum about the flora and fauna of the area. At the foot of the Overlook near the Jefferson Boulevard entrance is free parking where you can climb the Culver Stairs for a workout. People from all parts of L.A. come here to tackle the imposing steps, but the reward is a spectacular view of Downtown L.A, Hollywood and Santa Monica hills, and the ocean. I've even walked it a couple of times!
The Culver Hotel - at 9400 Culver Boulevard. Our local Art Deco landmark has a tasty Happy Hour in the main lobby, with drink specials and live lounge-style music, also with silent movie projections on the lobby wall. Read about its history in the front window including the time The Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz stayed and partied after a long day of filming at a nearby movie studio.
Trader Joe's - 9290 Culver Boulevard. Right across the street from The Culver Hotel is our local Trader Joe's. This is a great and unusual grocer you should wander through at least once. Featuring fresh produce, great frozen food meals, and fresh-baked bread, Trader Joe's is everyone's go-to for an extensive selection of liquor, beer, and wine. Every heard of Two Buck Chuck? Yep, well-reviewed wine for $2 was sold here, alas no longer but you get the idea. If you need a frozen entree, wine, juices, or just healthy bags of munchies for your stay, your first stop should be at Trader Joe's (they located are all over town.)
Culver Boulevard - has a vibrant street scene right down and across the street from The Culver Hotel with many well-regarded restaurants to dine and window shop at.
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Center for Land Use Interpretation
Village Well Bookstore & Coffee - 9900 Culver Boulevard. Believe it or not but we read books here in Los Angeles. This is a new bookstore and a nice hangout for coffee.
Backstage Bar & Grill - 10400 Culver Boulevard. Across from Sony Pictures movie studio, this watering hole is where the locals go to watch Dodgers Baseball but not Rams Football as Backstage is Home to the Seattle Seahawks team, go figure. Regardless the Happy Hour menu is loaded with food and drink specials from 4 pm - 8 pm. I get the Cheeseburger and Fries, of course.
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook - 6300 Hetzler Road. Takes you to the top of the park to see a cool museum about the flora and fauna of the area. At the foot of the Overlook near the Jefferson Boulevard entrance is free parking where you can climb the Culver Stairs for a workout. People from all parts of L.A. come here to tackle the imposing steps, but the reward is a spectacular view of Downtown L.A, Hollywood and Santa Monica hills, and the ocean. I've even walked it a couple of times!
