When we tribesmen are not complaining, we’re either shoveling a knish into our yappers (which knish will be washed down with a Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda in turn) or showing you just how good we have it.  I recently had the pleasure of showing two New York resident friends around Los Angeles, and we had a time — the beach, Malibu Seafood, Bay Cities to go (and eaten on UCLA’s quad), The Dresden, dinners at Paco’s Tacos and Chaya Venice, driving with my roof down, hanging at the Viceroy pool, a friend’s rooftop party in Hollywood, a show at Groundlings, and a “goofball time” at El Guapo to name a few activities.  However, you’ll note that the one major thing missing from this list is an actual tour of Los Angeles.  For that, I prepared a beautiful day in LA itinerary, which I repost here (with some edits), that allowed my friends to tour my awesome city on their own and see the sites.  You’re welcome (and so were they)!

1. Brunch at The Farm in Beverly Hills

 

The Farm

439 N Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 273-5578

 

-       Right out of hotel drive onto Ocean Avenue

-       Right onto Wilshire Blvd.

-       Stay on Wilshire for about 6.5/7 miles – when you pass a tall flat white building on your right, look to your left, because that’s Westwood

o      Optional UCLA Detour – Just past that tall white building, turn left on Westwood Blvd.  Take Westwood Blvd about a mile or so through the town and into the campus.  Turn right on Charles E. Young Drive.  If you pay attention to the signs carefully, it ultimately will loop back to Westwood Blvd., at which point you should turn right, go back to Wilshire, and turn left on Wilshire.  If you get lost on campus, try to backtrack however you can (or ask at any of the multiple info. booths how to get back to Wilshire).  Alternately, you can walk around campus – instead of turning onto Charles E. Young, continue on Westwood Blvd., and park in the pay lot.  The student union and Wooden Center are very close to the lot.

-       Once you cross Santa Monica Blvd., start looking at the street names, and turn left on Beverly Drive.

-       Turn right into Public Parking lot next to Crate and Barrel, just past Brighton Way (and before Little Santa Monica Blvd.)

-       Exit the lot on the Beverly Drive side, and cross the street to The Farm

-       Eat and walk around Beverly Hills

o      Rodeo Drive is one block back in the direction you came from

 

2. Get lost driving around big houses in Beverly Hills

 

-       Exit the lot on the Beverly Drive side

-       Turn right on Beverly Drive

-       Once you go past Sunset, start looking at the big homes, and get lost in the streets

-       Eventually, drive back down to Sunset and turn left

o      Note, if you keep going up and over, you might end up in the Valley – I don’t suggest doing that now (instead take the Optional Valley Detour under 6 below)

 

3. Drive to Hollywood

 

-       Once you are heading east on Sunset, keep going, and look out and see the “Sunset Strip” – fancy clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc.

-       Turn left on La Brea (look for Hollywood sign up and to the left)

-       Turn right on Hollywood (look for Hollywood sign on the left)

-       Enjoy crazy Hollywood!

-       Just before Highland Ave., look to the left and see the Chinese Theater, which is next to the Kodak Theater

o      You’ll know you’re there because it is LA’s answer to New York’s 42nd and Broadway

o      Optional Walk Around Hollywood: If you must park and walk around, which I don’t suggest, turn left on Highland, and then immediately left into the lot at the Hollywood and Highland shopping complex

 

4. Snack and Hipster Shopping on Melrose (vintage tees and the like)

 

-       Keep driving in the same direction on Hollywood Blvd.

-       Turn right on Vine

-       Turn right on Melrose

-       At La Brea, look to the right and see Pink’s Hotdogs (an LA institution and the only food I know of that gives you a hangover)

-       Count 5 or 6 blocks and park the car on Melrose or on one of the side streets

o      Pay attention to the parking signs to avoid getting a ticket

o      At Melrose and Poinsettia, you will get a preview of El Guapo Restaurant and Bar, where my birthday party will be

o      Walk along Melrose in the same direction you were driving (i.e., away from La Brea) towards Gardner where you will find the Coffee Bean

o      Get a snack and a drink at the Coffee Bean – I’d suggest a Mocha Iced Blended

o      Keep walking around and shopping until you’re bored and hop back in the car

 

5. Shopping at Fred Segal

 

-       Keep driving on Melrose in the same direction

-       Turn left at the light on Crescent Heights

-       Turn immediately right into the parking lot at Fred Segal

-       Browse the bizarre store, and buy something frivolous!

 

6. Driving along Mulholland Drive

 

-       Turn left out of parking lot and head north, towards the hills, on Crescent Heights

-       Crescent Heights will become Laurel Canyon as you climb the hill

o      About halfway up, you’ll see my favorite restaurant in LA (called Pace), which is nestled under the General Store (a good place to stop for a bottle of water if you need it)

-       At the top of the hill, turn left onto Mullholland

o      To your left is LA, to your right is the Valley

o      Pull off on any of the “observation lots” (or whatever they are called) to enjoy the view and take pics

-       Optional drive through Valley: Turn right on Beverly Glen Blvd., and head down the hill into the Valley, turn right on Ventura Blvd., which is a main drive in the Valley, turn right onto Coldwater Canyon Avenue to head back up over the hill and then down into LA

-       If you don’t drive to the Valley, turn around on Mulholland close to Beverly Glen Blvd, and take Mulholland back to Coldwater Canyon Avenue, and turn right on Coldwater to head back down into LA (unless you take 7b)

 

7a. Early evening dinner and drinks at The Ivy (Option 1)

 

The Ivy

113 N Robertson Blvd

Los Angeles, CA

(310) 274-8303

 

-       Once you get down the hill, Coldwater Canyon Avenue will end at a point where you can turn left onto Rexford Drive or right onto Beverly Drive

-       Turn right onto Beverly Drive

-       Turn left onto Little Santa Monica Blvd. (which is one block past the regular Santa Monica Blvd. and will feel like you are in the town of Beverly Hills)

-       Little Santa Monica Blvd. becomes Burton Way

-       Turn left onto Robertson

-       The Ivy is a block and a half up on the left hand side

o      Park on the street if you can, or else do a U-Turn on Alden drive and valet park

o      You can tell it’s The Ivy because the valet parkers are in blue oxford shirts and maroon ties, there is a white picket fence out front, and there will probably be a small crowd and maybe an Aston Martin out front

o      Order bloody marys

 

7b. Dinner at the Getty

 

The Getty

1200 Getty Center Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90049

(310) 440-7300

 

-       Instead of u-turning at Beverly Glen, continue on Mulholland until it hits the 405

-       Take the 405 South and follow signs for the Getty

-       Enjoy the views, and the meal at their restaurant

 

 

8. Drive back to hotel

 

-       From The Ivy

o      Drive down Robertson back in the direction you came from (towards and then past Burton Way)

o      Once you pass Olympic Blvd., things should start to look familiar

o      Continue about 2 miles past Olympic Blvd. (appx. 3 miles from The Ivy) and get on the 10 West

-       From the Getty

o      Take the 405 South to the 10 West

-       Once on the 10 West

o      Take the 10 West to the 4th/5th Street Exit (not exit 4 or 5, but the exit for 4th/5th streets)

o      Continue straight at exit and turn left onto 4th Street

o      Turn right onto Pico

o      Turn right onto Ocean Avenue

o      Turn right into hotel