Thanks for the info. I was thinking it would be pretty warm…
First of all, about the “DASH” thing… allow me to laugh. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH.
Get a cheaper hotel and rent a car. You do NOT want to be relying on public trans in LA, believe me.
Downtown is a bad starting point, but there are a few cool touristy things and places to eat. Depending on what aspect of LA interests you (one of our strengths is that we really can be all things to all people) Hollywood would be better.
Great cheap food downtown:
Olvera street (soft pork tacos on handmade tortillas…mmmmm)
Dim Sum in Chinatown… mmmmm (Empress Pavilion)
No, all the good weather goes to Los Angeles.
Then again, all good stuff goes to Los Angeles, which is why San Francisco is this chilly, cramped, overpriced, hill-infested city whose residents are perpetually jealous of us Los Angelinos. 
And to Stoid: I think Ocean Seafood beats Empress Pavillion, easily. Then again, I’m probably biased, since I had my wedding reception at Ocean…