I had the blackened catfish and was disappointed. In fact, I’ve made it a rule to avoid any blackened fish in restaurants.
Some miles further up the coast is Moonshadows; more expensive but much better food. If you can spare the cash, you might want to go there instead of Gladstones.
I hear there is a diner where if you show up there in Jammies on Wednsdays, you can get a free meal.
What are the odds of that? Bakersfield can actually be a neat place. If you’re here at night- head over to the Crystal Palace. You get to see a country legend performing plus there’s lots of hot cowboys. I don’t go often, but it’s fun every once in a while.
And sure I would! I could show you around! 
I don’t go to the desert often, so I can’t really answer that question.
If you really are itchin to get out of LA for a day, maybe go to Las Vegas? It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from Bakersfield, can’t be too much more out of LA. You can get a hotel cheap there, of course.
Just another idea.
Your wish is my—err, request, fulfilled in this case because I happen to live around the corner from said diner, and am currently in an easygoing, compliant mood and eager to please.
Note that their definition of acceptable pyjamas is quite narrow and strict:
From my experience it’s quite uncrowded if you go early in the week. We went last summer on a Monday, and we never had to wait more than 20 minutes to get on a ride.
Even without spending the night, you can have dinner and/or drinks at the Polo Lounge. It’s not terribly expensive; just ordinary prices such as you’d find in any slightly upscale cafe.
Part of King Tut’s treasures will be in LA as well. Opening in June.
www.kingtut.org
Ohh, you beat me to it. My wife and I are Cafe 50’s regulars. Great milkshakes.
I live near Sepulveda and Olympic … we’re practically neighbors … .
Barrington and Ohio.
Aye, tis a good life—except when it’s time to pay the rent.
Take a drive around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If you’ve never spent time on the West Coast, PV will give you a memorable dose of wild, rocky coastline, and it’s just minutes from LA.
Go to the Huntington Museum and Gardens in San Marino - it’s worth it just for the Japanese Garden.
Pine Avenue in Long Beach is a nice place to hang out and eat - not crowded or touristy like many of the other places mentioned.
If you want see something offbeat, check out the Watts Towers
You also asked for tips - the biggest one I can offer is not to fly into L.A. International Airport (LAX) if you can avoid it. If you’re staying in San Bernardino, your best bet is going to be flying into Ontario, but you could also consider Orange County, Long Beach (JetBlue goes there), or Burbank.
The Getty is pretty neat. Even if you’re not into art proper, the architecture of the place is rather cool. Zuma Beach is also nice…I was there a couple days ago and I took some pictures. Ignore the trash, it’s from the storms we’ve had here in the past week or so.
Fellow Mississippian here, by the way.
Some time, especially if you need to get food late at night, you must hit Canter’s Deli & Bakery on Fairfax!
But upon entering the L.A. area, locate a copy of L.A. WEEKLY, a freebie paper which lists most all the art-culture-music events happening that week. I found out about a great community theatre presentation of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE that way. One year, if I’d gotten it in time, I’d have been able to see Oskar Schindler’s widow at the Museum of Tolerance.
Universal CityWalk outside Universal Studios is great for shopping & eating & has an OK movie theatre, including an IMAX.
If you are churchy, the Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim is a must (check a broadcast of HOUR OF POWER if you aren’t familiar with it to see if it’s your style). Then get breakfast across the street at Hof’s Hut (outside dining if it’s not raining- that way, cute little birdies may well take food off your plate!)
If you like horror films, check Dark Delicacies book & movie store on Burbank. Sometimes they have signings also. And if possible, tour the collection of Forrest J. Ackerman (he’s getting elderly & has sold some of his collection, so the window is closing).
I like Knott’s, love Disneyland, not thrilled with Disney’s California Adventure but it doesn’t suck either.
