Everyday, people think to themselves, How can Jeff live in LA.  Honestly, not a day goes by that I don't wonder that myself.  Sure, LA actually is as evil as everyone makes it out to be.  But after five and a half years, I've settled into life here (or should I say, LA has settled into my life).  There are things here that make daily life great.


EAT

CALLAHAN'S   |   Wilshire & Euclid, Santa Monica
A lovely diner with old school charm.  My favorite is the murky green booths.   Family-run, the food is great and devoid of pretense.


EL CHOLO   |   Wilshire & 11th, Santa Monica
The best Mexican food in California, quite possibly the United States.  I live for the chimichangas.  Usually reserved for special events (e.g., birthdays).


FATBURGER   |   Various locations, Los Angeles
Forget what you know about fast food.  Fatburger is the one to beat.  In-N-Out's got nothing on them.


GAUCHO GRILL   |   Various locations, Los Angeles
Spanish food that's reasonably priced, super yummy, and classy all at once.


SWINGER'S CAFE   |   Beverly Blvd, Hollywood
Definitive over-the-top LA eatery.  Consider it to be Bizarro Callahan's.  This is where the dirty scenesters like to eat.  The best tuna melt in the world, but I prefer the ostrich burger.


THE KITCHEN  |  Sunset & Santa Monica, Silverlake
Dare I say, my favorite eatery in Los Angeles?  Need I say more?

DRINK

FATHER'S OFFICE   |   Montana & 10th, Santa Monica
Not a big fan of the Hollywood Hipster Scene, all I need is a good pint of beer and some conversation.  FO is the kind of bar for that.  It has something like thirty microbrews on tap.  Drool.


THE HUSTLER STORE   |   Sunset Blvd, W. Hollywood
There are two reasons I get coffee from this place.  First and foremost, it's right around the corner from my apartment.  Second, it's a fucking porno shop with a coffee bar in it.  How can anyone not want to get their coffee there?


KERCHOFF COFFEEHOUSE   |   UCLA Campus
I cannot start my workday without a cup of vanilla tea from here.  Plus, they sell a garlic cream cheese that is deee-lish.


WESTWOOD BREWING COMPANY   |  Westwood
Home of my favorite beer in existence, the Scottish Ale.  I'm a Happy Hour regular there, all the waitresses know me.

BUY

AMOEBA RECORDS   |   Sunset & Cahuenga, Hollywood
Anyone who's lived in the Bay Area knows that Amoeba is the best record store on the planet.  They finally got around to opening one up down here and I go there every weekend.


ARON'S RECORDS   |   Highland & Santa Monica, Hollywood
Previous Heavyweight Champ of Record Stores until Amoeba came along.


BANANA REPUBLIC   |   Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
The flagship store that has all the stuff you can't find at the mall.  Three levels of fancy shmancy clothing and accessories for our post-modern yuppified era.


FRY'S ELECTRONICS   |   Hollywood Way, Burbank
Superior to the Manhattan Beach store, this one has a flying saucer crashing into the front.  It's where I live out my geekdom to its fullest.


TARGET   |   Victory & Vineland, Burbank
Without Target, the delicate fabric that is our lives would be ripped apart.  For some reason this one is never crowded.  I go to the one on La Cienega, though, because it's closer to my house.


TRADER JOE'S  |  Various Locations, Los Angeles
Cheap groceries.  Heaven.

FILM

MANN'S VILLAGE THEATER   |   Westwood
The best theater in the world.  I'm not kidding here.  One of the few single-screen houses in existence, it has a completely flat screen and the most incredible sound system.


LAEMMLE'S SUNSET 5   |   Sunset & Crescent Heights, W. Hollywood
Not only does the Sunset 5 play the best of the best in independent film, but also LA is home to the marvelous "Special Engagement," which means the film opens a month or two before everywhere else in the country.


THE ARCLIGHT  |  Sunset & Ivar, Los Angeles
The first of two theaters that kicked LA moviegoing up a notch.  Legendary for the cafe and bar that were in the theater, the stadium seating and crushingly intense sound system really made it worth the $12 per show.


THE STADIUM AT THE GROVE  |  3rd & Fairfax, Los Angeles
While not as amazing as the Arclight, the Stadium was an awesome addition to everything movie-related in LA.  Again, prices were a bit higher than other theaters, but you got what you paid for.

MUSIC

THE EL REY   |   Wilshire Blvd (Miracle Mile), Los Angeles
My favorite theater to see shows, you can find free parking in the surrounding neighborhood.  And that's what counts.

HOUSE OF BLUES   |   Sunset Blvd, W. Hollywood
Not as spacious as the El Rey, but parking's not an issue because I can walk there.   The sound system leaves something to be desired, though.  I got caught in my first mosh there.

KNITTING FACTORY   |   Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood
Fairly new, it attracts a more "mature" audience (by that, I mean there are thirty-year-olds there).  The interior is very posh, and there are tables on the floor.

TROUBADOUR   |   Santa Monica & Doheny, W. Hollywood
The best club to see rawk shows in LA, it's viciously small.  Another venue I can walk to, I usually get there early and grab a seat on the balcony.

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