Los Angeles

[JRM]

Re: Los Angeles

>The Goose is up in Oregon or Washington State, now, isn't it? I just saw
>something on the tube about it...

I stand corrected: http://www.sprucegoose.org/

Seems to be in McMinnville, OR.

[gh]

Re: Los Angeles

Wow! A Spitfire, P-51, ME-109! This sounds like something that makes a trip to the USATF Convention actually worth it.

[marknhj]

Re: Los Angeles

The Aquarium at Long Beach is very good. If you go to Westwood you can go and stare at Marlilyn Monroe's grave if you like that sort of thing. She stuck in a wall behind some offices. Truman Capote and Natalie Wood are also there. Don't think the Colesium is open but you can look through the gates. Just remembered The CA Science Center is next door and it has an aviation exhibit. They also have a unique exhibit right now: Body Works, has a bunch of dead guys whose bodies have been plasticized (or something). Sounds kind of ghoulish to me:
http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/ ... ctions.php

[Archivist]

Re: Los Angeles

If you hurry, you might still catch the LA Gopherballs in action.

[deltre]

Re: Los Angeles

Santa Anita north in Arcadia for a different kind of track.

[bad hammy]

Re: Los Angeles

> Everything you ever wanted to know about Nike (the missile, not the shoe) http://ed-thelen.org/

> I remember as an elementary school kid going to a Nike base deep in the mountains of Washington and getting to sit on one.
> Having built the plastic model, it was the say of my life.

Funny, I grew up about four miles from a Nike missile site and did not even know it until high school: one of our cross-country/track training runs was a run up the hill to the Nike missile base. By then (early 70s) the missiles were gone, but the abandoned military housing was still around. Now that too is gone and it is all part of a local park, with no obvious indication that there were ever missiles there.

[slowcoach]

Re: Los Angeles

What about the La Brea tar pits?

Have a quick dip...

[wamego relays champ]

Re: Los Angeles

>>> or the Cleveland National Forest near Glendale>>>

You probably mean the Angeles National Forest. Cleveland National Forest is in San Diego County.

In thinking of urban parkland in LA, one can't forget about Griffith Park (next door to the LA Zoo and north of Hollywood). Although the famed Observatory is closed for renovation, the park is delightful.

[SFValley]

Re: Los Angeles

>Spend a day in the downtown area. Walk past the Coliseum and visit the County
>Museum in Exposition Park next to the USC campus. Eat at steak and eggs at the
>Pantry, near the Staples center, or have a sandwich at Phillippe's near Union
>Station... either place is like dining in a time warp from the 1920's, you
>expect to see Laurel and Hardy at the next table. Walk around and check out the
>funky, cut rate stores in the garment district next to the California Mart.
>Just don't get lost or hang out after dark while you are downtown. At night, go
>hang out in the Melrose shopping area. Be sure to make careful gender
>identification of any new friends you make there.

From your reply I would bet that you're a Trojan and while I prefer Westwood and West LA if I were to spend a day near the USC campus I would do exactly as you suggested. The Pantry and Phillippe's are great. And while it is closer to Melrose than to USC Pinks is a great place for a hot dog. The only problem is that the lines at Pinks are long, but then again you never know who you'll see there. Nate 'n Al's in Beverly Hills is a fun place for breakfast, but, again, long lines.

I believe you'll have to go to New Mexico for a look at A Bombs.

[marknhj]

Re: Los Angeles

>>>> or the Cleveland National Forest near Glendale>>>

You probably mean the
>Angeles National Forest. Cleveland National Forest is in San Diego
>County.

In thinking of urban parkland in LA, one can't forget about Griffith
>Park (next door to the LA Zoo and north of Hollywood). Although the famed
>Observatory is closed for renovation, the park is delightful.

>>>

Yep, you're right, sorry. Usually heard of on fire or where murder victims are found!

[4001h]

Re: Los Angeles

How efficient is Public transport in LA. Can I get to these sites by bus or do I need to rent a car?

[EPelle]

Re: Los Angeles

Watch out for the colors you wear on the busses... you wear red on some lines, and that may be the end of the line for you; blue on others, and that:s the color may turn once you exit the bus. No wallet or jewelry on public transportation, and make sure you don:t keep your money in your shoes... someone may get both (your shoes, and your money).

[marknhj]

Re: Los Angeles

You have to rent a car - no question.

[JRM]

Re: Los Angeles

>Watch out for the colors you wear on the busses... you wear red on some lines,
>and that may be the end of the line for you; blue on others, and that:s the
>color may turn once you exit the bus. No wallet or jewelry on public
>transportation, and make sure you don:t keep your money in your shoes...
>someone may get both (your shoes, and your money).

I think that's an outrageous over-reaction about public transit in LA. I suppose it ultimately depends on *where* you're taking a bus. But by and large, you're not in any danger taking transit in the regions where a "tourist" would want to go. Don't buy into the "big bad city" hype.

That being said: yes, a car rental is unquestionable. Not that the transit does go to the locations you want -- it will just take forever to get there.

[EPelle]

Re: Los Angeles

JRM -- that was written from experience. Not downwtown LA, but Pasadena - Colorado Boulevard. Fortunately, I only got a bunch of verbal slack from people on the busses (had blue/gold on, to support my team in the 1994 World Cup). That was not an over-reaction, just an over-done statement.