Hey, I am going to a writing workshop a Oct. 15-18th and I have some questions.

I want to stay in Venice Beach and the workshop is in Culver City. Whats the drive like? If you are familiar with VB, can you recommend places to eat. I like small funky indie restaurants, ethnic preferred (indian, ethiopian, mex).

I'd like to hit the bar at Chateau Marmont Friday or Saturday night, also the Whiskey, what are they like? Mainly I am going by their history. Dress code? Any other clubs that are worth checking out? Small clubs with live music = win.

I am not a huge drinker, I like observing.

Is LAX miserable? Is it O'hare kinda big and crazy and a pain to get to and out of etc?

Can the highways really be congested most of the daylight hours?

Oh and if anyone wants to be my L.A. angel and answer questions about the locale, hit me up here. I don't know what I can do in return, meal, poem, special secret sauce Prince mix, some kindness.

I'm going to lurk in this thread because I'll be there in a few weeks as well. And I haven't been there since I was about 11.

LAX is really not that bad in my opinion.

But the freeways and most major streets are pretty congested in the day hours and hell, at any hour actually.

Venice Beach is actually really close to Culver City, I say about a 10 min drive on side streets, 5 min if you jump on the 10 Freeway. The main business/entertainment drag is called Abbott Kinney and has all kinds of cool funky places to eat, visit, drink etc.

In my experience The Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood is quite pretentious with door policies and such. Really depends when you go. The Whisky is actually kind of lame, again in my experience, and really depends on who's performing that night. Both are on the Sunset Strip and most locals avoid the Sunset Strip. If you head southeast on Sunset Blvd. or Hollywood Blvd. there are funkier places to visit and see what LA is really about. Or you can head out towards Silver Lake and see and experience the whole Silver Lake scene. Downtown LA has a bunch of cool things to do. The Standard Hotel Downtown has a cool rooftop pool bar with DJs spinning most weekends. (FYI There's a Standard Hotel on the Sunset Strip as well.)

One thing I recommend when visiting L.A. is to take a hike up Runyon Canyon. It's an easy hike and once you reach the top you can see an amazing view of Hollywood and Downtown LA and if the day is clear you can see the ocean.

send me an orgnote when you're in town and I'll give you contact info incase you have any questions.

TheResistor said:

That pretty much sums it up, although I haven't actually lived in LA since the 90's. The Rose Cafe in Venice (on Rose) is a great place to eat in VB for breakfast and lunch.

Thank You for all the great information. My name is Rose, I am thrilled with the idea of a Rose Cafe.

I want to go to the Whiskey because of the band X, one of my favorite albums was recorded live there, the whole punk scene back in the idea, for me its like visiting a museum, I guess.

The hike sounds wonderful and I will look forward to that.

Loves me some Ani Difranco, I have the word Joyful tattooed on my arm, for 'Joyful Girl'. Thanks for all this. I'll send you an org note.

TheResistor said:

rozilla said:

venice to culver is real close.altho traffic at certains can be a fucking bitch.
Lala's Argentine Grill on melrose is good!

Christopher said:

Venice is in Italy.

I live in Silverlake. Lots of indie restraunts, Mexican, Indian, Vegetarian, etc.My next door Neighbors, Denise & Garth own a great organic Mexican Restaurant called Allegria. Lots of stores & Coffeeshops too. Thaitown is only less than a mile away on Hollywood Blvd. Hope you can check out my funky Neigborhood.


[Edited 9/19/09 12:34pm]