I'm going to SoCal in two weeks

[Lazymeatball]

The motel I booked is sort of north of the airport off of rt5, right next to Olde Towne Historic Park. I think I'm going to a Padres/Cubs game Friday night. I plan on hanging out downtown as well as checking out Pacific Beach.

I need some more LA people to weigh in. The Santa Monica Promenade sounds like something I would like. I need an area where I can just hangout and find stuff to do without having to plan ahead more than 6 hours at a time.

[shant]

Sunset Blvd as mentioned earlier has lots of bars and clubs in walking distance of eachother but has expensive parking and somewhat douchey clientelle. Hot women though.

The Promenade is a definite good spot to hang out and walk around on a Friday or Saturday night there will be a lot of action.

Also, Main St. in Santa Monica a few blocks away from the Promenade has some cool bars and places to eat, and cheap parking. You can hop around to 4 or 5 good spots to drink and hangout, depending on the crowd you like.

Also, if you like shopping/looking at hot women you can make your way over here to Melrose Ave. and eat a Pink's hot dog and walk around on a weekend afternoon.

If you need any specific names of these bars/clubs, just ask.

[daryn]

bummmmmmmmp
bump bummmmmmmp

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

If you want to do some touristy stuff in San Diego and you like this kind of stuff, then Balboa Park is pretty cool and there's always the world famous San Diego Zoo. There's the Wild Animal Park, and then there's places like La Jolla Cove or Torrey Pines State Park. If you're a golfer, check out Torrey Pines. I doubt you'll get a tee time on TP South, but you can try anyway.

If you want to hit a bunch of bars and you're done with downtown/gaslamp, check out Pacific Beach.

[Guthrie]

Don't forget the Bike. No poker player's trip to LA would be complete without it. It's in the same general vicinity as the Commerce.

Everything in LA is spread out and the freeways are a nightmare. If you want walking distance from a hotel, there's Sunset, where the hotels are obscenely overpriced. If you don't like the Standard, try the Chateau Marmont, it's a legend.

I lived just a few blocks away from Universal Citywalk for years and rarely went there. I guess tourists like it. You can now get there by subway from Hollywood and save the parking, although I wouldn't park my car in Hollywood and leave it.

The Santa Monica Promenade is great, especially in the summer, at night, and on weekends. Chicks need sweaters, it's very cool near the beach in June. You'll find outdoor propane heaters at the restaurants at night.

Melrose in Hollywood is really funky. Jay Leno does a lot of his stupid people interviews there, along with Hollywood Boulevard and Citywalk.

Hollywood Boulevard is a scummy tourist trap. Although it's cleaned up dramatically in the last ten or twenty years, drug dealing in the open is rampant.

All the cardrooms will be a substantial drive from anywhere else in LA that you want to be. Rush hour lasts 20 hours a day, in all directions. Bulletproof glass is +EV.

There are thousands of great places to eat, although I never found any really good barbecue or, oddly enough, Mexican food. Be sure to get a hot dog at Pinks. Be prepared to wait in line on the sidewalk and don't be surprised at who's standing beside you.

Mel's Diner on Sunset. I used to take a lot of meetings there. So does everybody else. If you see a lot of black SUVs in the upper parking lot, then engage your celebrity radar. They were stalking Winona Ryder last time I was there.

Any of the expensive coffee places on the west side, especially Beverly Hills and Sunset, are great for girl watching. I'm talking grade A, prime, culled by experts.

If you want to get in an audience, just Google for whatever show you want. I think most of the sitcoms will be on hiatus in June, but you can find game shows, Leno, or any of the other talk shows. Tickets are free but you'll probably need to get them in advance.

Oh yeah. There's a beach.

[DeezNuts]

[ QUOTE ]
There are thousands of great places to eat, although I never found any really good barbecue or, oddly enough, Mexican food. Be sure to get a hot dog at Pinks.

[/ QUOTE ]

This has been discussed before, but Pink's is DEFINITELY not worth the wait or the feeling of sickness afterwards. For Mexican food go to El Taurino or King Taco. Ask for the red sauce on the side(or you'll be sweating profusely). Greasy, but so delicious. I think I'll have to go to El Taurino(Hoover/Olympic) tonight.

You will have no better Korean BBQ in the US than in LA's Koreatown. Manna on Olympic is $16 all you can eat and a good value.

DN

[SackUp]

If you are in old town you might want to hit up the Historic area as they are destroying it all soon. Good mexican food in that joint and there is a place with 3 foot beers.

Downtown/Gaslap is cool as others have said.

If you like Comedy shows check out the Comedy Store in La jolla. There is also one in LA. It is a good time.

If you are in SD on a weekend we will be blowing up teh beach and getting mad wiffle ball games in most likely if you are interested. And you really should just be at the beach all day if you are there on a weekend.

Oh and there is also Sea World. It is kinda fun, but the best part is the beer school put on by budweiser.

[Lazymeatball]

Okay, this is starting to sound good. I'll probably want to check out the Comedy Store, and I know this Korean who can probably show me around Korea town, very convenient. If anyone wants to meet up at the Commerce June 7th through 10th or so PM me.

[SackUp]

Try this site for some other ideas in SD if you don't already have enough.

Sign on SD

[Lazymeatball]

Wow, that's a pretty comprehensive listing of bars, among other things on that site. I think I've pretty much got SD covered now. Next I need to figure out more stuff to do in LA.