Thanks to all who helped plan my L.A. trip!!!!!

[Patiod]

We had a great time! Thanks to all DUers who made suggestions!

Visited:
- The Tiki-Ti lounge our first night there. Ooga Booga! (thanks DBoon)
- Griffith Park, which had just re-opened. No tickets were available, but hiked the surrounding park for some AMAZING views of a smog-free Los Angeles last Saturday (think you, Santa Ana winds)
- Malibu Seafood for delectable catfish (thanks RadWriter)
- Quality Seafood in Redondo Beach - great oysters!
- Cantina Real in Hermosa for enchiladas
- the Mermaid Inn in Hermosa to watch the sunset with only three other people - was told later that the quiet guy in the wheelchair was Ron Kovic who wrote "Born on the 4th of July"
- Hermosa Pier as the sun went down, and some nice woman informed us (as she rode by on her bike) that we were about to come upon "a rare Night Heron". The Night Heron was totally unimpressed with his visitors from Philadelphia.
- The La Brea Tar Pits, which we we hit the ONE free day of the month that the museum was free
- The Farmer's Market, where I had an amazing lunch at the Gumbo Pit
- Paso Robles for wine tasting, (but avoided RightWing owned Weyrich - thanks, brook)
- San Simeon, for a morning tour and some amazing views of the coast
- In-N-Out twice for "double double" lunches and we are VERY sad there's no In-N-Out in Pennsylvania (:cry:)
- the Hollywood Hills dog park, where we got a GREAT picture under the Hollywood sign at sunset on our last day there

The only thing we missed was Olvera Street and also a visit with DUer "Brook" in Morro Bay, because we misjudged our travel times and were racing back from PR to get to LA in time for the Hollywood sign picture for our Christmas card - we JUST made it!!

On top of that, I got to talk LIVE to CaliforniaPeggy on election night, and I should report that she's actually even NICER on the phone than she is on DU! (hi Peggy! :hi:)

Thanks to all the DUers who gave great travel tips!!!

[Shine]

1. Sounds like you had fun, Patiod!

As a Californian, I'm glad to know you saw some really cool sights. Next time you're in the Monterey Bay area, look me up. I'm in the Santa Cruz mountains.

And yes, you're right about CA Peggy. I've been lucky enough to meet her in person and speak with her on the phone. She is a true sweetheart. :loveya:

[Patiod]

2. I get to the Bay area about 2x year

California is my favorite destination - always something fun to do out there. San Francisco is gorgeous - I'd like to explore a little more outside it (I've only ever been to wine country, and the down the PCH to Big Sur and back, without any stops)

Next trip, (for work) I get to hook up with JulieRB in Seattle!!!

[radwriter0555]

3. Aw.. so glad you enjoyed a couple of my favorite spots...

I have stories about the Gumbo Pot... going back 20 years, Sunday breakfasts with people you just wouldn't believe.

And now I REALLY REALLY miss Malibu Seafood. And the Tar Pits. And Olvera Street.

And taquitos.

[Patiod]

5. Gumbo POT!!! (not Pit)

You can tell I'm jet-lagged.

Noticed a wide assortment of folks there - film students, tourists, wanna-be real estate moguls, bums, you name it (yes, I eavesdrop)

And Malibu seafood was delicious - another place with a wide assortment of clientele.

[radwriter0555]

15. That part of the Farmer's Market was *quite* the place to see and be seen

back in the day, before it got attached to the Grove. 10 years ago it was just open space, some gorgeous old stucco buildings and a massive parking lot and an amazing nursery (Mordigans, now one block west) on the site and literally nothing more. It abutted the park that is now overshadowed by Nordstroms. Mr Lopez had his pumpkin patch there in the parking lot in October, and then his Christmas Tree lot there in December... He and his wife had the BEST produce in the market, until he retired and sold his stall to the korean couple when the Grove was built.

It was frequented by anyone who wanted to be someone in Hollywood, especially on Sunday mornings. It was a literal who's who of today's celebs. There were few tourists, no fans, great food, and it was good times.

It's all different now...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Patiod!

And it was wonderful talking with you as well, sweetie!

Glad you had such a fabulous trip........

Maybe next time you get out here, we can actually get together!

:hug:

[Patiod]

6. We were far from home on the biggest night in 6 years

So it was REALLY nice to share the election excitement with a friendly voice!!!!

I knew when I planned the trip we'd be away, but didn't realize how much I would mississed having Dem friends to share the victory with! Although, had I been home, I would have been at the campaign party for Lois Murphy, one of the few "tossup" Dems who lost that night. And I was at her last party where we lost, but at least this time we would have had good news from other districts to fall back on (Remember I said the district had two distinct arms? Well the country folk from the arm that stuck out into the hinterlands voted 100% Republican, just as the gerrymanderers knew they would, and took the incumbent over the top)

Glad you enjoyed your foray into vote counting!

[driver8]

7. I used to go to the Hollywood Hills dog park every day...

I lived in the neighborhood and took my roommate's Basset Hound -- he was very popular there.

I miss it. We quit going because the Park Rangers started writing tickets for dogs being off leash.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip. Not to rub it in, but there is an In -n- Out about five minutes from my house!

[DBoon]

8. The Tiki Gods appreciate your visit

at the hallowed sanctuary of Tiki Ti.

BTW, was the dog park the one way up the Hollywood hill? Off Mulholland? That would be Laurel Canyon Park.

The other one is Runyon Canyon, actually in Hollywood itself.

[Patiod]

9. The dogpark was RIGHT under the sign, above the reservoir

Lake Hollywood area.

The Tiki Gods confused us - many unknown rituals!!! We drank Navy Grog, and watched the show.

[Patiod]

14. The people there were so nice - we got 3 people to take pics

including a guy with a gorgeous 15-year old long-haired dachshund (and 3 other dogs)

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Glad you had a great time - glad you got to go to Griffith Park!

Too bad no tix were available, but it's quite a view, isn't it?

:hi:

[Patiod]

12. It wouldn't have been much of a view, Bertha

but the Santa Anas had swept away all the pollution, so we got some amazing pictures. I kept telling the S.O. that it's NEVER that clear.

He saw that a few days later when we took pictures of the Hollywood sign, and the view of LA was covered with smog.

I've been out there before, but it was all new to S.O., but now he's quite the LA Guy - Saturday night we were watching some show and a character said "sorry I'm late, I shouldn't have taken the 405" and he said "wow, that's for sure!"

[huskerlaw]

11. Yay! Glad you had fun!

I might have to try out some of the places on your itinerary!

[Patiod]

13. PM me if you want to hear anything about Paso Robles

We really enjoyed our day visiting San Simeon and the vineyards

Have to give DU all the credit for the LA part of the trip!