Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Los AngelesLos Angeles is broken up into many smaller districts and neighborhoods, many of which are world famous, and some of which are unknown even to their next door neighbors.

Here is a list of some of the Los Angeles neighborhoods that might have something to offer visitors. Explore the links below to see what the neighborhoods of LA hold for you.

Beverly Hills – Upscale residential and commercial area with tons of shopping, some restaurants, cafes and sightseeing

Downtown – Commercial area with wholesale and retail shopping, a few restaurants and bars

Echo Park – Residential and commercial artist/musician area with smaller restaurants, bars and small-scale shopping

Hollywood – Shopping, commercial and residential area with a wide variety of restaurants, bars, sightseeing and interesting locals

Los Feliz – Residential and commercial artist and musician area with some shopping, restaurants, bars and cafes

North Hollywood – Commercial, industrial and residential area with a few restaurants and bars

Santa Monica – Diverse shopping, residential and commercial area with plenty of restaurants, bars and sightseeing

Silver Lake – Musician and artist residential and commercial area with bars, smaller restaurants, lots of cafes and some shopping

Venice – Popular beach bum/surfer/artist commercial and residential area with lots of restaurants, bars, sightseeing and shopping

West Hollywood – Slightly more upscale commercial and residential area with tons of restaurants, shopping, bars, sightseeing and other attractions

Toppers Yogurt

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

toppers yogurt los angeles7158 Beverly Blvd (map)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 936-3165

Los Angeles is not exactly running low on frozen yogurt, but the consensus is as long as an establishment can offer something unique, there’s always room for more. This small, semi-unknown frozen yogurt shop near Beverly and La Brea may not have the name power of other trendy, overhyped frozen yogurt joints (this is almost a strength, since Pinkberry’s notoriety has become a joke), but it manages to hack out its niche through flavors you can’t find in most other places. Red Velvet frozen yogurt has been on tap for a while, and the Peanut Butter Crisp (check this) has been a favorite for a while. A recent addition is Devil’s Food Cake, which took the place of the delicious soy Blueberry. Toppings are old-school — crushed cones, cookie dough chunks, brownie pieces, and an assortment of chocolates, fruit and sprinkles to decorate your mound of soft-served num-nums. Stop in frequently to see what’s new for the week.

West Hollywood average prices

The haiku version:

Like Baskin Robins
Went to Cheesecake Factory
And ordered desert

< Back to Restaurants

Libertine on Sunset

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

libertine on sunset west hollywood8210 West Sunset Blvd (map)
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 656-3005

www.libertineonsunset.com

The Libertine is the Sunset Strip-style club for Los Angelenos who aren’t particularly into Sunset Strip or clubs. With a posh, upscale atmosphere, plus fireplace, couch seating and outside patio, minus lines, dress code and douchey attitude, this is where you might take your out-of-town friends on night two of their visit, after you’ve had your fill of all the typical “Hollywood” places you’d bring them to on night one. The comfortable back room houses a few big-screen TVs for a relaxing veg-a-thon, the outside smoking area has its own bar (though not quite as equipped as the main bar), and the dance floor is more “unofficial” than some places, roughly resembling the boogie area created in the living room of your buddy’s Hollywood Hills pad. Musically you will hear house, some respectable electronic and indie selections, and nearly zero top-40 sludge. Price-wise it’s not East Hollywood, but it’s also not your typical Sunset Strip bar. Expect to pay around $7 to $9 for a standard drink. The bar also serves a decent menu of food, on par with any restaurant in the area. The $14 valet is tough (it’s still Sunset), but at least you won’t get a drink poured on you by some guy in Kanye shades.

West Hollywood average prices

The haiku version:

Kind of like a house
Owned by a really rich guy
With lots of TVs

< Back to Nightlife

Rock Sugar

Friday, April 9th, 2010

rock sugar los angeles10250 Santa Monica Blvd (map)
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 552-9988

www.rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com

Located in the Century City shopping area, this upscale, contemporary-Zen restaurant fuses Chinese with Indian cuisine, creating an amazing and decidedly unique dining experience everyone should try at least once. Those who normally shy away from the earthy flavors of Indian food will be drawn out of their shells by savory-sweet Chinese-style preparation, sauces and aromas. Though the lunch and dinner menus offer incredible dishes like the Caramel Chicken or Shrimp and the Ginger-Soy Black Cod, the real attraction is the Chef’s Tasting Menu, where for $35 each, guests can try five sample-sized courses from the dinner menu, including appetizers, soups and salads, meats and seafood, noodles and veggies, and dessert – and damn, that Caramelized Banana Custard Cake is good. Whether it’s for a date or a casual drop-in, visiting this place is definitely good karma.

Beverly Hills pricey prices

The haiku version:

On the border of
India and China lies
A taste paradise

< Back to Restaurants

The Museum of Jurassic Technology

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

museum of jurassic technology los angeles9341 Venice Boulevard (map)
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 836-6131

www.mjt.org

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is … odd. If its name sounds somewhat contradictory, it is, and you will find no resolution within its confines. According to its web introduction, the museum traces its origins back to a certain genre of “tawdry and specious” 19-century collections featuring natural and historical oddities, the sort of which P.T. Barnum capitalized on. The biggest question here is to exactly what degree the audience is in on it. The curiosities of “technology” in question vary from strange carvings on matchheads to seemingly non-contextual dioramas and drawings, curiously preserved flora and fauna, and unusual contraptions whose purpose raise more questions than are answered. One notable exhibit takes you into the mind of a dog via a holographic image accompanied by the sounds of, yes, barking and yipping. The fewer questions you ask the better.

The haiku version:

Abba gagga goob
Shakka wakka gooby gook.
That is what it’s like

< Back to Attractions

Crossroads Trading Co.

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

crossroads melrose7409 Melrose Avenue (map)
Los Angeles, CA 90046-7514
(323) 782-8100

Santa Monica (310) 255-0500
Silverlake (323) 644-0060
Studio City (818) 761-6200
West Hollywood (323) 654-0505

www.crossroadstrading.com

Crossroads is the less picky, slightly more oddball alternative to the high-browed Wasteland, and about on the same playing field as its main competitor, Buffalo Exchange. Its name isn’t necessarily on the lips of every hipster in town, and depending on the location you may have to sift through racks full of made-to-look-vintage cowboy shirts, print-covered bro tees and nondescript jeans to find anything worthwhile. But every so often you’ll come across the shirt you saw for three times the price a few months ago, or the killer pair of Steve Maddens barely worn by some rich kid. It’s thrift mixed with vintage, sellers find it a little less finicky than a few other places, and if you enjoy the hunt, it’s well worth stopping in.

The haiku version:

See what you can find
After Will Smith from Fresh Prince
Drops off all his clothes

< Back to Shopping

The Melrose District

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

melrose los angelesMelrose Ave. Between La Brea and Fairfax (map)
West Hollywood, CA

Melrose, the trendy shopping area that carries the allure of its namesake TV series, attracts area fashion-seekers, store-hoppers and window-browsers on all hours of the weekend and on weekday evenings. The colorful storefronts, artistic signage, unusual architecture and variety of shops and eateries all work together to make it one of West Hollywood’s favorite places to kill time. Shops range from slightly higher-priced boutiques and shoe stores to vintage stores, trinket stores, smoke shops and even pet shops, with a nice sprinkling of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops to provide refreshment and a vantage point for people-watching. Some weekends feature a sidewalk vintage sale at the corner of Gardner, where cheap treasures can be found. Hit up the ever-popular Wasteland, run across the street to Crossroads, then grab a malt at Johnny Rockets. Come later for streetside dinner at I Love Sushi, and stay late for a beer at the getting-more-crowded Darkroom tavern. Metered parking is available with paid hours from 8 am to 8 pm, but it’s usually easier to find free parking on the southern side streets.

The haiku version:

‘80s glam hipsters
Rub elbows with club scene bros.
Both are hungover

Favorites:

< Back to Attractions

  • Aardvark’s Odd Ark
  • American Apparel
  • Coffee Bean
  • Crossroads
  • I Love Sushi
  • Johnny Rockets
  • London Boots
  • Mao’s Kitchen
  • Maya Jewelry
  • The Darkroom
  • The Village Idiot
  • Urban Outfitters
  • Wasteland

5 Fun Date Ideas for Creative Los Angelenos

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Los Angeles loves to date. We’ve almost made an institution out of coming up with clever new date ideas, because when there’s so much to do and see, dinner and a movie is about the least interesting date idea one can imagine.

An LA date can be simple or elaborate, quick or involved. It can be a daytime outing or a nighttime romp, an intimate one-on-one encounter or a group affair. If you’re a Los Angeleno looking for your next date idea, here are a few simple places to start.
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Melrose Place Cafe

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

melrose place cafe los angelesDamn, this restaurant is now closed!

650 N. La Cienega Blvd (map)
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 360-9100

For a city that enjoys sunny weather nearly year-round, one would think there would be more sidewalk cafes. Well, those looking for it have one more place to call home in the Melrose Place Café, a small, streetside eatery featuring a modest décor, a creative, tasty menu and plenty of open-air seating under the shade trees lining the sidewalk. The light-hearted establishment offers an assortment of creative paninis, satisfying salads and Italian and Persian-inspired sides, plus breakfast served all day. The Chicken Cutlet Panini comes glazed with a mild Dijon mustard combined with a balsamic reduction, and the Tomato Basil Mozzarella Panini makes a refreshing, healthy lunch. We’ll be seen at this place more often.

West Hollywood average prices

The haiku version

Light sidewalk dining
In the Melrose shopping scene
…And breakfast for lunch

< Back to Restaurants

Los Angeles Job Finder

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Los AngelesLooking for a job in Los Angeles? Use these online resources to locate Los Angeles jobs in any field or industry. Search large job engines, smaller niche sites, local publications or local organizations to find the job you’re looking for. Happy hunting.

Large job aggregators

These major Los Angeles job engines are packed with listings, updated constantly. They have a lot of positions to offer, and a lot of competition for them.

CareerBuilder Los Angeles

Monster Jobs Los Angeles

Yahoo! HotJobs Los Angeles

Simply Hired Los Angeles

Craigslist Los Angeles

Smaller sites

These sites offer more niche, less-known job listings, with slightly less competition, though they may not be updated as often as larger sites.

Jobing Los Angeles

Jobs Los Angeles

Beyond Los Angeles

LA Careers

Top USA Jobs Los Angeles (A job listing aggregator where you’ll find listings from the above sites, as well as others found only on smaller sites)

Travel Nurse Jobs (An LA-based site for travel nurses, though they serve the entire US.)

Newspaper classifieds

Local newspapers are a good way to find listings from employers who stay away from larger sites.

LA Weekly Employment

LA Times Jobs (Basically a CareerBuilder search, with extra content you might find useful)

City and Organizations

Trying to find a job with a local organization, including the city of Los Angeles itself? Try these resources.

Los Angeles City Personnel Department

UCLA Employment