Excellent - I will add it to my list. Regarding the public transit, I’ve just had a conversation with Mr. California (my goodness, he is dreamy. ahem) - he’s insisting that he’s going to drive me everywhere, so I guess I won’t be needing a bus map. 
I’m still quite keen for “Really Big Things” so if anyone has any suggestions, please keep them coming. So far I’ve got doughnut and magician hat. How about a big lizard? Or a boot? Or something? Anyone? Anyone?
Last time I visited my brother in LA, we stopped by the Forest Lawn Cemetary in Glendale. On a clear day, there are some great views from the hills and you can look around for the graves of Walt Disney, George Burns, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and about a million other old movie stars.
Interesting idea, except cemetarys totally creep me out. There full of, ya know, DEAD people. Euagha!
They’re coming to get you, Aaallliiice.
Hmmm…big stuff. The problem with L.A. is they tear down the Good Old Big Stuff about every three years to make way for the Shiny New Big Stuff. How about the Rooftop Lounge at The Standard? Good view, hipster crowd, mediocre food, watery drinks…totally L.A.
“L.A. has subways?” 
Stranger
How abou some binoculars? Or a Ballerina-Clown? Both are in Venice. (map: click on the two upper red dots)
Hey, you can go to Forest Lawn and do a card trick, too.
Interesting.
So - as an update - The Price is Right is out because they’re not filming when I’m there.
I think the girly tea is out too, 'cus I want Mr. California to feel REALLY manly when I’m around, if ya know what I mean.
We are going to the Arclight, as well as the Vineland Drive-In in City of Industry (which is the wackyest name for a place I’ve ever heard!). 'Cus really, what’s more romantic than a drive in? Nothing, really. I’m hoping SOMETHING is playing. Clerks 2 is coming out on the 21st - that might work.
We’re going to go up to Venice Beach and surf I think. And look at the body builders I guess. 
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Oh, I work next door to this joint. When I passed my bar my mentor took me out for drinks there…I thought the drinks were really weak.
Like I said, totally L.A. C’mon, you don’t go to The Standard for the food, or the drinks, and certainly not for peace and quiet. You go for the view, and the slumming rock stars who are no longer allowed in the Crowne Plaza and the Wilshire Grande 'cause they’ve roasted one too many goats in the room.
Stranger
No way, I had just passed the bar, upon which the fate of my job was hanging. I wanted to get nice and bamboozled. We ended up moving to the Daily Grill next door. I got pleasantly flushed off of 1 of their martinis.
I’m in the sucky lawyer’s suite-8th floor, we can’t see The Standard from our offices. The other lawyers are on the 40-something floor though…and watch The Standard mayhem out of their office windows.
alice should go to Hollywood and hang out with cheesy aging rockers at that bar on Sunset…
Er, The Tower Bar? The Rainbow? Whiskey A Go-Go? Just watch out for Courtney Love. She’d as soon throw a microphone stand at you as to spit on you.
Stranger
I think we may have to take a pass on this! :eek:
*All the “Drama Queen” antics are going to be coming from me, thankyouverymuch! 
*That is to say, none.
Watts Towers is pretty awesome, plus it’s easily accessible by subway. It’s a slightly sketchy part of town (perhaps you’ve heard of Watts), but right next to the subway station. Just make sure you stick on the street that is adjacent to the tracks when going there, and you should be OK (do this during the middle of the day). Make sure you book a tour beforehand, or else you’ll be peeking at it from behind the walls.
I’ve got to put in my usual plug for Tommy’s on Beverly and Rampart for the world’s greasiest and IMHO greatest chiliburger. Supposedly Phillipe’s invented the french dip sandwich and is right next to Union Station downtown. Great food and terrific dive ambiance. I think coffee is still just 10 cents.
Dude, Cole’s was the inventor of the French Dip. I don’t care what Phillipe’s says. 
Hey, but the Toy District/Jewelry District area is a good place to walk around and do some street photography (in daylight). You can easily walk to it from Persing Square station. (I know your boy says he’s going to drive you around everywhere, but maybe you can show him something about L.A. that he hasn’t seen.)
Stranger
That shouldn’t be hard, since he hasn’t seen much of anything - he’s only lived there since March, and had to move at the beginning of June. He’s spent all of his time packing/moving/appartment hunting/packing/moving/unpacking, etc.
Now - to these restaraunts everyone is recommending - I’m a total fuss ass vegetarian (yes, I know that sushi is fish, and fish aren’t vegetables, but “vegetarian” usually gets the point accross.:)) - so, french dips and burgers, and BBQ are sort of out.
Do most of these places have some sort of a veg selection? I mean, a grilled cheese is fine, but I don’t want to drag Mr. California to some place and then not be able to find anything on the menu and wind up eating some stupid salad with the meat removed, ya know what I mean?
Um, I can say with 110% certainty that there is absolutely no point in you visiting Phillipe’s, Roscoe’s or Tommy’s if you are vegetarian. And there’s no point in visiting Cole’s at all, since Phillipe’s french dips are superior.
In general, however, you shouldn’t have any difficulty finding vegetarian food in LA. There’s a huge market for it out here.
That’s what I figured. There just seemed to be a bunch of posts saying things like “Their MEAT is da’ BOMB” and I wanted some clairity.
If for whatever reason you decide to go anyway in quest of celebrity gravesites, remember to do your research first–e.g. www.findagrave.com. Most cemeteries strongly disapprove of that sort of thing and will not be helpful. “Hollywood Forever” is the outstanding exception in this regard.
But not toy shopping, oddly enough. I once took a gaggle of toy-collecting friends to the Toy District, and they were all a-droolin’ over the selection of Asian import knockoff stuff, only to be cruely smacked down by the merchants who told them they only sold to retailers. 
Not a chance in hell. What a morbid passtime!