My L.A.

I have a love/hate relationship with Los Angeles. I love the fact that you can bump into a movie star and hate the fact that the highways are actually parking lots, even at 2am!! Definitely go to a nightclub in LA, whether your beat is ‘80s, salsa, or electronica.

I think Manhattan Beach is worth the drive south. Laguna Beach is great, too, but a much farther drive, with guaranteed traffic on weekends.

My last trip included a Morrissey Convention, with a visit to Morrissey's home, which happens to be next door to Johnny Depp's home away from his home in France. It's north of Sunset Blvd.

Olivera Street saves you a trip to Mexico by offering restaurants, traditional clothing, Chicano T-shirts, and cultural entertainment. The Amtrak train station is a 2-minute walk, and it's GORGEOUS! It’s very Art Deco.

Quick Tips:

The four-star hotels in LA are sometimes available for under /night. Be a rock star/movie star!! You're in LA! You can get a good rate for hotels around the airport, but it's kind of far from everything. Everyone should go to Disneyland at least once in their lives, but know that you'll pay for a corndog - seriously.

Best Way To Get Around:

The metro is actually pretty convenient. You can actually get by without a car in LA as long as your accommodations are along the metro line, which goes as far south as Manhattan Beach.

The restaurant is colorful, full of music, with a hip crowd chowing down on sushi rolls like the crunch roll(tempura, avocado, eel, rolled in tempura batter). It's not a traditional japanese restaurant, it's loud like a nightclub, and the walls are bright red. There is a bar, individual tables, as well as teppanyaki style dining.The place gets pretty crowded, so try to get there early. Open every day at 5pm. Valet parking is available too.

HUGE portions make this restaurant a bang for your buck, because you can take the leftovers home for a second meal! Get the best of both worlds and try a combo platter. You don't have to go the islands for da kine grindz. Mainlanders know this is the place for great service, cute banyan tree decor, and awesome food.

A unique Indonesian culinary experience awaits you at the Banyan. With an exotic ambience created by the water garden and stylish elegance of the dark-wood decor, your date will be very impressed. Beverages include a sharp selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, but also unusual traditional drinks like ginger iced tea and avocado smoothies.

A genuine taste of Mexico, this restaurant has a nice selection of mariscos and traditional platos. My favorite is the Pechugas de Angel, skinless chicken breasts baked in superb cream sauce. Maybe I get excellent service from the gentleman staff because I'm a bilingual and lovely Latina, but that is exactly why I always come back to this restaurant. I especially love to dine on the outdoor patio and enjoy some margaritas with my meal.