Last month a work colleague moved from our quiet little corner of England to LA, while her partner is working there.
I was just wondering if any Dopers from LA or the environs, could suggest places, or activities outside of those listed in the regular tour guides.
Oh and she already thinks I’m wierd, so let’s try to keep it bland.
NORMAL! I mean normal 
I haven’t been to LA since 2000. Santa Monica used to have a few English style pubs. Might be interesting to visit one. A lot of British ex-pats live there.
By ‘LA’, do you mean Los Angeles or Louisiana?
I suggest staring up in wonder at a sky that isn’t alway gray and dripping. That should be novel.
Assuming you mean Los Angeles, not Louisiana, I have to start with the general disclaimer that LA is big. No, really. So a big part of the question is where are they, and how far do they want to go. Equally importantly, what are they into? Would they enjoy outdoorsy stuff (this is a fantastic time of year to spend time outdoors), or do they avoid the big bright shiny ball in the sky? Do they have any particular interests? Do they like museums, night clubs, movies, or whatever?
My generic suggestion is to just hop on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and drive. Venice is fun if you like people-watching, and if they venture down to the orange county beaches, Laguna and Balboa are lovely.
Also, they need to go eat at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. Now. Seriously. Call them and tell them to go immediately and order the number 13 (“One delectable waffle and one succulent breast,” and yes I giggle every time I read the menu).
I totally agree.
Also, anyone and everyone who moves to L.A. needs to (at least once) hop in their car, drive an hour or so over to the Sunset Strip to go to the bars, get disgusted at the amount of money that people want for parking, turn around, drive back home, drink a twelve-pack of Pacifico and root against the Lakers.
What? Am I the only one?
She might get a kick out of Hearst castle, though it would be at the expense of American sense of taste and style. How far away do you have to go to find Joshua trees? A U2 fan might find them interesting (plus hanging out in an old west style town for a while). If she hasn’t seen a deserts befor then heading out into one may be worth the trip. Other than that I’m sure many of the tourist staples would appeal to her. Though do ask, since some Brits would love a Beverly hills tour, and others would rather sandpaper their eyeballs then look at a star’s home. Others would love universal studios, or hate the noise and busstle of such a place.
I do mean Los Angeles rather than Louisiana. My bad (and my bad geography )
Cheers for the tips so far, I’ve linked to this column in the last e-mail I sent her. With a bit of coaxing I’m sure I can get her to post with a few of her prefernces.
Mind you, Roscoe’s… Chicken and waffles!
Mmm…
Ye Olde King’s Head on Santa Monica Blvd. at 2nd Street. I’d post a link, but they’re updating their website. I like the fish’n’chips or the bangers’n’mash. Their curry is tasty, but I prefer Indian restaurants for that. There have been a few DopeFests there.
There’s also The Cat And Fiddle on Sunset (which is a long way fromSanta Monica). Cool place, but I agree with the blogger that the food isn’t very good. Better to go to the King’s Head.
Hearst Castle is about 240 miles away from L.A.
The Antelope Valley (Lancaster, Palmdale) is about 75 miles north of LAX. There are Joshua trees there. There’s also a poppy festival in the spring. People come from all over to look at them.
Mmm…a Brit wondering about odd combinations of food…Bubble and Squeak anyone?
LA is simply huge, and there is so much to do…it would be a shame to try to find a few British pubs…that would be like me going to London and only hanging out at Hard Rock and McDonalds.
Hit a few Gay clubs in West Hollywood, just to see and experience the process, then hit a few clubs on Sunset Blvd for the same sociological tour…check out the crazies on Venice Beach on a Saturday morning…hang out at the Santa Monica pier and promenade, go to the Farmer’s Market area on Fairfax and 3rd, walk down Melrose and window shop, and then do the same on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills…hit any number of huge malls…go watch a live taping of a sitcom or game show. When in LA, for godsake, do like the locals and just get out there and experience it…plus, with a British accent, you should do just fine no matter where you find yourself.
I always tell friends headed to the UK - if you like the food, you’ll love the weather…well, LA has great weather and you can sample foods from almost every culture on earth while you are there - get out and roam the city and have fun!
You might find this thread enlightening. Also, there was a thread a while back (December?) started by a Brit visiting California on vacation, which had some good tips too.
Suggest to her that she fall in love with Steve Martin beneath a freeway sign which dispenses love advice.
So Spiny Norman and I went to the ArcLight tonight, and since we were in the neighborhood, decided to take your recommendation and try out Roscoe’s. I wish we could concur that it is a Must Do. The breast was anything but succulent (dry, would be more like it), the waffle was undercooked (soggy and mooshy), not to mention thin enough it should probably be called a pancake, not a waffle. And if it’s not bad enough that the food was mediocre to bad, the place has (as of this posting) a B rating from the Health Department. Not great. Sorry. I’d say put Canter’s on your list instead.
Visit Toi on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. It’s Thai-Chinese restaurant with rock and roll memorabilia decor, open till 4 AM every day.
Have the fried *brown * rice or the Thai spagetti.
Pick up. Everyone likes a British accent.