Here's a shot from the Venice Beach pier:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2249331
This is the Venice Beach boardwalk http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2320639
This is on the Santa Monica pier: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2380978
You can walk from one to the other and see a lot of great stuff in between. Venice is closest to the airport. It's about ten minutes away. If you want to eat, there are wonderful places where you can spend a lot of money, like the Lobster at the foot of the Santa Monica pier or De Georgio's on West Channel in Santa Monica or Wolfgang Puck's Chinois on Main Street.. But you can get a better taste of California by stopping in at an old surfer bar on Ocean Avenue. It's about a block south of the entrance to the Santa Monica pier and it's on the east side of Ocean Avenue. It's called Chez Jay. It opened in 1959 when Santa Monica was still a pretty rough edged place that was dominated by the surfer culture and the immigrant population. Today, Chez Jay is a landmark. The food is surprisingly good. It's less expensive than the toney restaurants but still not really cheap. Expect to spend twenty bucks or so for a meal and a drink. The sand dabs with almond sauce are fabulous. (Sand dabs are a native fish.) Their fish specials are also very good. As a side dish make sure you order the house special potatoes. They're scalloped potatoes made with banana. Yeah, it sounds bizarre, but it tastes great. Have fun in LA, young lady.
Paul
On May 22, 2004, at 3:03 PM, Stan Halpin wrote:
I recommend the Venice Beach and Marina del Rey areas. Not too far north of LAX, nice ambiance. The Beverly Hills shopping district is another world - if you can arrange the transportation, 'tis also worth the wander through. Downtown L,A. is a totally different other world. Don't do this one without an escort.
BTW, luggage? You mean you are bringing things with you? I thought you were just mailing them to tv in advance?
Stan
TMP wrote:
Just wanting to re-check who will be in LA, and if anyone would like to meet
up this coming Friday (28 May)? I have to check out of my hotel by around
11am, and then won't be catching my flight to DC until 10.30pm that night,
so I'll have about 12 hours to "spare"... Any ideas/suggestions?
Activities that are CHEAP! And also, I am concerned as I will have all of
my luggage with me during that time - does anyone have any ideas about where
I may be able to safely store it at all?
TIA,
tan.
