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The Man Who Ate L.A.1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Itinerary | Home Los Angeles Where to Stay With its Old Hollywood vibe – Canadian actress Mary Pickford was an original investor and Marilyn Monroe lived here for two years – and its Young Hollywood clientele, the historic Roosevelt is the It hotel (again). Watch out, Chateau Marmont. The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica is a modern take on the beach hotel – from the stingray-skin-covered front desk to the penthouse-level restaurant overlooking our favourite feature: the long stretch of beach. The vibe at the Avalon Hotel is mid-century Modern meets SoCal, complete with monthly villa rentals. After dinner at its all-American restaurant, take its signature cocktail, the Blue Avalon – Bacardi, coconut rum, pineapple juice, blue Curaçao and Sprite – over to the original hourglass pool. Where to Eat From Koreatown to Little Armenia, Los Angeles is a culinary atlas (for less than it costs to park). Here are some of our favourite places to eat. Hint: Leave the Zagat at home. The Apple Pan 10801 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 310-475-3585 Regulars to In-N-Out Burger have developed a secret menu over the years. To pass for a well-apprised Angeleno, order animal-style fries (with sauce and cheese) and the Flying Dutchman burger (no bun). There are lots of options for a post-dinner drink, but here are two favourites. Bob’s Frolic Room, beside the Pantages Theatre, is like a movie set for old Hollywood bars. Look for the portrait of Alan Hale Jr. behind the bar. You can’t go wrong with a $3 Bud and a jukebox. The Dresden Room is a mecca for cocktail and lounge music aficionados. Our tip: Order a whiskey sour and stay to hear legendary duo Elayne and Marty do an unforgettable version of “Stayin’ Alive.” Resources While everyone else is reading scripts, you can pick up a few L.A.-themed books that give the backstory of the city. Chasen’s: Where Hollywood Dined, by Betty Goodwin, is about the famous Hollywood restaurant that invented the Shirley Temple cocktail. For a hilarious essay on L.A., read Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters. Finally, screenwriter/novelist Bruce Wagner’s novel I’m Losing You is indispensable to understand where the cultures of the famous and the not so famous collide. Travel Planner Los Angeles What to Pack in November / Quoi emporter en novembre Light jacket, umbrella, your appetite. Time Difference -3 The Experts Getting There |