El Lay Troubles (Bad) and Tribbles (Good)

Discussion in 'City Guides' started by purr1n, Apr 12, 2017.

  1. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,894
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    I don't get the sence that Elon wants to make a lot of money, but more just wants to do what he wants to do. He made a lot of money with paypal, but tesla isn't that profitable, and spacex isn't getting him money. I don't think he would consider Americas interests though, more just what he wants to do.
     
  2. sfoclt

    sfoclt Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    317
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Online
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2017
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    I've flown through LA twice recently and only done shopping stopovers for the wife. Taiwanese colleagues have asked where they should go in LA. I honestly don't have any real local knowledge, but aside from the standard theme parks, walk of fame, Joshua Tree NP, and a drive out to Hearst Castle, I can't think of anything else (besides outlet malls) .

    What would be the standard foreign tourist hitlist? This is obviously dependent on tastes, but it's pretty easy to come up with one for cities like NY and SF.
     
  4. Peti

    Peti Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2016
    Likes Received:
    107
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    PRC (People's Republic of California)
    I've been thinking to move out of L.A. county. Time to get married and start a family, etc. I've always loved the wild west states, like Montana, Wyoming. Recently I've met someone from Helena, Mt. Told her my idea about moving there. You guys should have seen her face. She started an angry rant about how Californians ruined her town by moving there en masse and how, thus, Helena lost it's original charm. I have moved to L.A. from a small borough from central Penn State. Literally, one side of the road Amish, the other side rednecks.


    It has it's charm, but I've always wanted to live in L.A. This city is frightening. So many options, and a world cultural hub. One day you watch the Bodyguard musical at the Pantages, the next day you catch a hockey playoff game. The downs are already mentioned, so I won't repeat that. I know that it would break my heart to move out of this place one day for a new home which is cleaner, cheaper and safer to raise kids.

    Not to mention the frequency of personal audio meets and other related happenings. It seems that SoCal is the world center of personal audio. We are so spoiled here.
     
  5. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    So I guess I should recommend the Schiitr as a travel destination to my colleagues :p
     
  6. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    A friend came to visit and we went to LA for a day trip. Did a Paramount studio tour which was nice and went to lunch at Howlin Rays in chinatown for Nashville hot chicken. Ray's is very hyped and still has 1-2 hour waits in line after being open for a year, although from my understanding they got the wait down to 30min during the week. I didn't go for the hype but mainly because I've been obsessed about hot chicken for awhile and Ray's was the only place I knew that served it in the area(let me know of other places!). I ordered a half chicken at 'hot' and a wing at 'x-hot'. The maximum advertised level is 'howlin' and there is an off menu 'howlin++' for the crazy people. From what I understand they use scorpion peppers and carolina reapers for the hottest levels. After my order the guy warned me not to touch my face all day, DO NOT ignore this.

    About the chicken:
    -They are serious about the spice levels. Hot had some major heat but not so much that I couldn't enjoy the chicken. X-hot was where I was feeling pain and was glad I only got a wing. My friend had a wing of 'howlin' and he said I could take a bite. The single small bite I had was enough to ruin my day.
    -The hype is real. Despite the pain I could taste something really good under all that heat. I would say it's even worth the wait for mild.

    About the place:
    -Very VERY nice staff. Me and my friends got freebies we didn't even order. I got a free drink and my friend got a free wing. I suspect it's because they know we've been waiting in line for a long time.

    Some good news is that they bought a nearby space and are currently expanding, so waits won't be so atrocious in the future. If there was no wait this would be an instant recommendation but with the wait I would say it depends what you are willing to put up with. The good thing is that it is in a food court area and there are plenty of good places to eat. So if you show up and it looks a bit too long for you, then your trip isn't wasted.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Small town. The Schiitr is in the quaint old part of the town which appears to be up and coming. (The new parts of Santa Clarita are a suburban disaster). If I didn't have kids, I'd buy another house around that area. There's a small main street with a few high quality (better food than anything I can get in Calabasas and at a much better prices) gastropub establishments. There is also a playhouse where Mike Moffat has stage manger duties.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    As far as where to visit: the beach. Lots of nice beaches and a few tidepools along PCH in Malibu. Studio tours (Paramount, Warner, etc.) are nice and really the way to go instead of Universal Studios, unless you like the rides and being around millions of other people. You can also go Disney, but Disney in Florida is better.

    The tidepools are neat if you like to see critters, although the last time I went, I got VERY VERY upset at seeing foreigners of various nationalities violently poke sticks under rocks to overturn them, picking up giant sea slugs to torture them (some kinds spray ink when stressed), and f**k with other smaller marine life with chopsticks.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    I was being facetious about visiting the schiitr. These colleagues use the earbuds that came with their phones. I look forward to visiting though.

    Hmm. Studio tours and the beach. Guess that's why I had a hard time thinking of places to go. Not sure the beach would do much for most Asian tourists. They want stuff to do and crap to buy. And they love being around millions of other people. Another colleague recently returned from a trip to Singapore and was raving about the Universal Studios there.
     
  10. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Anaheim, CA
    That sounds like Disney.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    To walk around, buy shit, and look at Bugatti Veyrons: Beverly Hills

    I actually enjoy walking around Beverly Hills.
     
  12. snoogans

    snoogans New

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Tell your colleagues NOT to go to Hollywood.
     
  13. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    Any recos for good, reasonably priced steak in El Lay? We're staying in Century City.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Lawry's. Not too far from there.
     
  15. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    9,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Home Page:
    LA has a rich history of public art and Muralism. There are some great murals that can be found simply exploring the city. The big one in the LA "River" - "The Great Wall of Los Angeles" - is an impressive feat which recounts a forgotten history of the geographic area.

    MOCA and LACMA are also important sites in the history of West Coast Minimalism and late Modernism, if that's your kind of thing. Rothko's Red on Red at LACMA is a truly haunting painting if you give it a little time, pictures don't capture it well. And James Turrell's installations (especially Breathing Light, pictured below) are gorgeous and accessible to an audience normally alienated by contemporary art.

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page