Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas

by Joy Yoon

Overview

The definitive guide for tourists and locals alike, this comprehensive guidebook draws on a lifetime of local experience for 1001 great things to do in Los Angeles.

Probably more than any other major cultural metropolis, Los Angeles is a city for those in the know. A guide like no other, this is the first book to go beyond locations and events to tap into the variety of things only a local could know. The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles explores every aspect of Los Angeles life. Find the best spots to view the Hollywood sign or exactly where to catch postgame fireworks at Dodger Stadium. Track down the most authentic eateries in ethnic enclaves, and engage in L.A.’s legendary food wars, from hamburgers to French dips. Follow the most beautiful routes up and down the Pacific coast, take your own unique architectural tour of the Hollywood Hills, or find out where the city’s best bookstores are and read up on it all instead.
 
Organized by theme – from destinations to views and sights, food and drink, and of course the Hollywood trail of superstar haunts and famous locations – and with contributions from celebrated Angelenos including, Gary Baseman, Flea, Ludo Lefebvre, Sasha Spielberg, and more, this is simply the most helpful and fun guidebook there is to the City of Angels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789322579
Publisher:	Rizzoli
Publication date:	06/25/2013
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	1,101,197
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 7.86(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

Joy Yoon is the editor-in-chief of The New Order magazine, the online editor of slamxhype.com, and contributes regularly to The Huffington Post.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

Introduction 10

How to use this book 12

Chapter 1 The Classics 15

Historic Sites

Famous Haunts

Signature Activities

Expert Contributor Shaniqwa Jarvis: My Five Favorite Ways to Feel at Home in L.A.

Chapter 2 Views and Sights 57

Scenic Drives

Grand Houses, Hotels, and Theaters

Views from Bridges and in Tunnels

Beach Views

Sights of Sanctuary

People-Watching

Expert Contributor Jenni Tarma: My Five Favorite Views in L.A.

Expert Contributor Sasha Spielberg: My Five Favorite Places to "Hang"-or Go on a Blind Date

Chapter 3 On the Street 91

Parades

Art Walks and Neighborhood Strolls

Street Fairs

Markets and Malls

Expert Contributor Gary Baseman: Capturing Los Angeles

Expert Contributor Grace

Yoon: The Five Best Things to Discover on the Streets of LA.

Chapter 4 Arts and Culture 123

L.A. Philanthropists

Museums

Art

Music

Dance

Theater & Performance

Film

Expert Contributor James Bewley: My Ten Favorite Cultural Distractions in LA

Chapter 5 Eating and Drinking 167

L.A. Chefs

Incredible Meals

Famous Food Wars

Food Festivals

Farmers' Markets

Gourmet Markets

Dinner with Entertainment

Restaurants with Gardens

Ethnic Eats

Expert Contributor Ludo Lefebvre: My Favorite Spots for Food in L.A.

Chapter 6 The Great Outdoors 221

Parks and Gardens

Cinema al Fresco

Outdoor Music

Water Fun

Nature and Wildlife

Day Trips

Outdoor Yoga

Surfing

Beach Volleyball

Expert Contributor Michael Leon: The Five Best Places to Skateboard in L.A.

Chapter 7 Bargains and Splurges 265

Department Stores

Sample Sales, Outlets, and Warehouse Sales

Boutiques and Specialty Shops

L.A. Designers

Bookstores

La Brea Avenue

Records

Expert Contributor Kristin M. Burke: My Ten Favorite Places to Spend Other People's Money

Chapter 8 Enrichment and Renewal 301

Literature and Spoken Word

Classes and Courses

Acting

Cooking

Bowling

Expert Contributor Mike Sonksen: The Ten Best Ways to Enrich Yourself in L.A.

Chapter 9 City of Cars 327

Car Washes

Classic-Car Rentals

Famous Gas Stations

Getting Around L.A. in Other Ways

Expert Contributor Albert Yeh: My Favorite Bike Rides in L.A.

Chapter 10 Only in L.A. 341

Unique Sites and Activities

Disneyland

Celebrity-owned Restaurants

Celebrity Cemeteries

Studio Back-Lot Tours

Expert Contributor Flea: Flea's Favorite Things

About L.A., in No Particular Order

Expert Contributor Paul Mittleman: The Best Things to Do in L.A.

Index 363

Calendar of Events 380

About the Author 384

Editorial Reviews

"In vast Los Angeles, it's easy to feel at a loss for where to begin (or to be straight-up lost). Not with a new guide to the city, The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas. L.A. native Joy Yoon offers a fresh view of the town, suggesting sites and activities for the traveler (or even local) with contemporary tastes. Her "classics" chapter covers predictable tourist spots like Chateau Marmont and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the rest of the book offers up insider-y info, such as a primer on local fashion designers, and a tip on where to find Korean short-rib tacos." ~Wall Street Journal

“It’s a delight to come across the likes of Joy Yoon’s The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles, a big fat, fun-to-read compendium that offers fresh perspectives on old LA standbys alongside eclectic, unexpected leisure-time ideas. Yoon has expertly crafted over a thousand mini essays that will make you want to take an LA vacation pronto or get out of the house for an adventure if you live in Southern California.” ~Passport Magazine

"Thoughtfully organized by type of experience rather than geography, the book does the impossible and makes a bewilderingly complex megalopolis remarkably accessible. Tightly-written capsule descriptions give you everything you need to know to plan your voyage. The book leaves no LA neighborhood stone unturned; from behind the Orange Curtain to the San Gabriel Valley. Yoon even provides brief education on local fashion designers, philanthropists and seasonal street fairs." ~Cool Hunting 

From the Publisher