L.A. Woman

{photo by Jean-Francois Chenier}

I realize that is an incredibly unoriginal title...just had to get that out there. Moving on. In an effort to get to know my new city, I am doing what I always do when I don't know where to begin; I'm making a list. There are some basic L.A. things that I need to see and/or do in order to feel like a legit local.  This is totally arbitrary, based on nothing beyond my whim and a few Google searches, and subject to change at any time. Once everything is crossed off the list, I will declare myself an official Angeleno.

{photo by Kevitivity}

I've already hit up many of the typical Los Angeles destinations, but there is always more to see at the Getty. On the other hand, once is enough for some of this stuff. For example, I see no reason to ever revisit the Hollywood schtick of the Walk of Fame and Grauman's Theater. Being bum rushed by fake Princess Leia and a thousand camera-wielding tourists was bad enough the first time, so I'll put it on the list, but I'm not doing that shit again.

{photo by Slices of Light}

To Do in L.A.

1. Ride the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier
2. Go horseback riding by the Hollywood sign
3. Ride bikes along the boardwalk in Venice Beach
4. Take in Hollywood Boulevard
5. Have drinks at Chateau Marmont
6. Picnic and hike in Griffith Park
7. Visit the Museum of Tolerance
8. Drive the Malibu coastline in a convertible
9. Go to a live taping of something
10. Explore downtown - Angel's Flight Railway, Grand Central Market, Cathedral of the Angels
11. Have high tea at the Huntington Library
12. Get your culture on - Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Natural History Museum, Norton Simon Museum
13. Hike in Runyon Park
14. See something at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
15. Check out a book at the Los Angeles Central Library
16. Visit the La Brea Tar Pits
17. Buy something on Rodeo Drive, preferably while dressed like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (pre-makeover)
18. Have a Dodger Dog at a game
19. Hike and picnic in Griffith Park
20. Have a pre-show picnic at the Hollywood Bowl
21. Hike to Escondido Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains
22. Be part of a live studio audience
23. Take daytrips: Oxnard, Pasadena, Santa Inez Valley, Catalina
24. Go camping in Joshua Tree National Park
25. Visit Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse
26. Sample the offerings of the different ethnic enclaves: Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Little Ethiopia, Thai Town, Little Armenia
27. Have dinner at an overpriced, fancy pants, celebrity hotspot 
28. Cruise Mullholland Drive
29. Tour the Kodak Theater
30. See some stand-up at The Upright Citizens Brigade and/or The Groundlings Theater
31. Have Mexican food on Olvera Street
32. Visit the Bradbury Building downtown.

That's it for now. What am I missing?