Local Poll II #8 --(boom chacka) LA, CA!

What's yer name/nickname yer going with here: Andy G

Where do you live?: Los Angeles, CA – Silverlake

What neighborhoods or areas around where you live you do you recommend exploring?
Silver Lake, and Echo Park, Los Feliz – Similar to Wicker park/ Ukranian Village / Logan Square in Chicago – full of your hipsters and hipster wannabes. Venice Beach is worth checking out.

Any good parks round you for sitting in or wandering through?
Griffith Park – 4218 Acres – hiking trails are great – great views of the city – the ocean when it’s clear out, the Hollywood sign, you can even see the “bat cave” if ya take the right trail – enter on Vermont or Hillhurst and Park near the Greek Theater (the Greek is a great place to see a show if anyone good is playing while you are in town – saw the pixies there). There’s also outdoor tennis courts surrounded by mountains.

Any good festivals? When?
Sunset Junction street fair is at the end of the summer – usually they book some great bands – I saw sonic youth, GBV, X and many cool local bands. There’s a big gay crowd that mixes with local families, hipster’s, drunks etc…. it gets crowded at night.

Best on-line/print source(s) for local entertainment info:
LA weekly has the lowdown on music, art, etc… Like the Reader in Chicago.

Best place(s) to stop in to see inexpensive local rock music (particularly those that regularly book bands with females):
Spaceland, The Echo, Silver Lake lounge during the week, Mr. T’s Bowl in Highland Park (free).

Best place(s) to stop in to dance:
The Echo has DJ’s – check the listings.

Best place(s) to stop in to get a beer without pretention or hoo-haw:
The Short Stop – on sunset in Echo Park – similar to the Rainbo in Chicago.

Best place(s) to stop in to get a drink:
The Short Stop, 4100 club.

Best secret deals:
Sea Level Records has in store shows – usually on the weekends – good place to buy records – Ameoba has everything under the sun but it’s toooo big and trendy for me…support the local little guy and check out sea level – Todd’s a nice guy. Check listings for Museum free days.

Best bets for lodging:
not sure... downtown has some fancy places and is close to everything – there’s plenty of places in Hollywood – some seedy some legit.

Is public transport available? Do you recommend it? If so, how much is it? If not, how should a visitor get around?
You can get around by bus – there are day passes but rides are 1.50. I try to bike it in the hood. It is LA and everyone seems to drive here, you can rent bikes in Venice if ya go to the beach – there are busses that go all the way to the beach from silverlake. Having a rental car is the best bet, especially if ya wanna take a day trip somewhere.

Local book store(s)/music shop(s) to check out:
Sea Level Records on Sunset in Echo Park(see above), skylight books on Vermont http://www.skylightbooks.com.

Locally-run cheap restaurant(s) you dig:>
Thai: Sanamluang Café – open late mix of Hollywood asian crowd, club kids, drag queens – very grungy – but cheap and delicious.

Mexican: Alegria on Sunset (3510 W Sunset)– cash only – the fish tacos rock! Family Run / small and cozy.

Fish/seafood: Take a afternoon drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Seafood…not fancy/very casual outdoor – pick your order up at a window type place - but inexpensive, and on the ocean. I’ve seen a few celebs there.

Breakfast: Millies or Eat Well on sunset.

Diner: Caffe Capri – Great Family owned Italian. Mom does the cooking but Dad makes the tiramisu. Recently a friends came to visit and told Rosario (dad) that the tiramisu was better than sex…he started smiling and asked for a repeat what she said…..just then the daughter chimes in “oh no there goes his ego..why did ya tell him that …now we gotta hear him brag all night….” Dad cuts her off with a “I still got it!”….great place --- try the tiramisu…

Comfort food: Canters – a LA classic – Historic Jewish/Deli coffee shop.

Vegan food?: Paru’s Vegetarian Resturant – 5140 West Sunset. Completely veggie and mostly vegan. Family run – you need to be buzzed in from the street – once you are in there the place is covered with tapestries and cool photos everywhere….looks sketchy from the outside but it’s safe and and very yummy.

Pizza: I hear that Masa on sunset in Echo Park has a great deep dish Chicago style pizza – have not tried it yet, Hard Times on hyperion has great slices, Nicky D’s has a real wood burning oven – good stuff, but Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock – on Colorodo is really good – an old style place with red and white checkered table clothes- prepare for a long wait on weekends.

Sushi: Noshi Sushi – 4430 Beverly – Incredible sushi at even better prices. Local Korea Town & Japanese regulars…. With your silverlake/echopark hipsters and thrifty Hollywood types. Cash only. Great sashimi and green tea. Gets crowded at night.

Coffee shop with character: The downbeat cafe in echo park, chango in echo park, Café Tropical – Cuban bakery – unpretentious great coffee, Kings Road (Beverly and Kings Road – west side) has really strong coffee that they roast on site – very good stuff – a trendy but great place for brunch.

One road trip outta town you like:
Joshua Tree National Park is a couple hours away – go there! Also a trip up HW 2 into the Angeles Crest national forrest is less than 1/2 hour from LA. Newcombs Ranch is a good place to eat – about 45 minutes once you are in the mountains. Big Bear is close – you can literally ski in the AM and be back in LA to surf in the afternoon.

Best/worst time of year to come. Why:
It rained a lot this winter – but usually the weather is great year round.

Shoes you recommend bringing for a good visit:
Bring hiking shoes!

Quirks of yer town we should know about:
Could use better public transportation, no smoking in bars.

A bit about who you are:
Mid 30’s, Like indie/punk rock, jazz (old school bop to experimental), I read a lot of philosophy and related stuff, I teach, like outdoor activities: surf, ski, hike, tennis.