Imagine this: A sea full of sweaty people in tank tops and shorts. It’s 90 degrees outside, and music is blaring all around you. You’re surrounded by hipsters, people reeking as if they haven’t showered in three days, and blonde chicks decked out in barely-there bikini tops and booty shorts. This is the range of people you’ll encounter at Coachella. The good, the drugged out, and the smelly.

I couldn’t count the amount of interesting outfits I saw (see photo below), or different types of people I met (including a group of tourists from Australia, a techno-obsessed Cubs fan from San Diego, a venture capitalist with a private jet, and a wanna-be pimp surrounded by a harem of his wanna-be groupies).

But reader, beware, random encounters of extremely intoxicated and/or drugged out people are bound to occur. So keep your wits about you, and realize that you might see a few strange sights during your weekend…to say the least.

Coachella isn’t a place for the faint of heart. It’s hard to get in, and out without walking a mile and dodging massive crowds. Expect to be standing and walking all day long, and considering the hot temperatures, it’s easy to get dehydrated. The portable toilets are often nauseating, and the lines are long. However, if you’re willing to stick through the negative elements of one of California’s biggest music festivals, you  certainly get some bang for you buck. Considering the fact that your 3-day pass gets you access to almost every band you’re listening to, the $300 price tag doesn’t seem so bad. If you go with an open mind, and with a good crowd in tow, you’re almost guaranteed a good time!

Tips:

1. Go with friends you know and trust! It makes every experience better!

2. Don’t camp on the grounds. Word on the street is, it took people 5 fives to get in and out! Remember that your whole car will get searched. Multiply that by the 10,000 other people trying to get into the campsite, and I’m sure you can imagine one hell of a queue.

3. Hydrate! Water bottles were $2.00 a pop this year. You can also re-fill water bottles, but the line was painfully long to get to the water fountains. Don’t wait until you’re parched.

4. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Links:

http://www.coachella.com/

Anyways, back to my point.  One incredible happy hour that ABSOLUTELY MUST be taken advantage of is Taco Tuesdays at Dukes Malibu.  Duke’s is one of those old institutions which is a much a part of Malibu as Botox is of film stars.  It is in Malibu right off PCH as close to the ocean as you can get (the waves literally break against the windows during high tide).  The food is of course delicious and every Tuesday night fish tacos are only $2.50!  And they are good-sized tacos.  I can fill up on two, and I’ve never known even the biggest of guys to eat more than four.  On top of that Tecate is only $3.25 and a margarita was only $8.00.  The real deal is on the food, but the drinks won’t break the bank.

Tips

1. If possible try to make it for the Sunset.  The view is absolutely spectacular.

2. The bar fills up so just be a little patient and you’ll be able to swoop a table as people leave.

3. Park on PCH.  They do have valet for $4.00 but why bother when free parking is so close.  Save your $4.00, 5 with tip! and go have 2 more tacos.

Links

http://www.dukesmalibu.com/

I was recently asked to take on this very challenge for Young & Frugal, a popular blog about financial issues for the 20-something set. Surprisingly, I was actually able to plan a night out for under $40 that included alcohol, entertainment, and food. It wasn’t as difficult as you may think. Read about my adventure and how I did it, here.

Tips

1. Plan, plan, plan! There’s no way around it if you’re honestly trying to have  a night out with a restricted budget.

2. Pay attention to happy hour specials, they are your best friend. You can experience some of the best places in town for a discounted rate.

3. Carry cash, and keep credit cards at home. Sometimes you have to retire the credit card if you’re serious about saving money. Having one within easy reach can be too tempting for some…especially after a few drinks!

Related Links:

http://www.youngandfrugal.com/

You can find your local taco truck by driving around the busy streets in your neighborhood after 9 PM. These trucks are often accompanied by semi-long lines and the smell of grilled onions and carnitas. My favorite local taco truck is El Chato (see link below for more information), the best go-to place for cheap eats and home of the most amazing tacos I’ve had North of Tijuana. I’ve brought friends visiting from Mexico to this truck, and even they approved of the wares sampled at this truck!

Word to the wise for all you Chipotle fans out there; if you’re looking for food loaded with sour cream and cheese, you’d be better off driving to your local Taco Bell instead. Taco trucks keep it simple, and that’s part of their appeal. This means  you can expect meat, rice, onions and cilantro in your burrito, and that’s about it!

Tips

1. Bring cash! Most taco trucks are cash only, so don’t forget to grab $20 before you walk out the door.

2. Load up on napkins, taco truck food tends to be quite messy, especially if you’re eating it on the go.

Related Links

http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-chato-taco-truck-los-angeles

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

Last week, we attended a screening for “Hot Tub Time Machine” and had a blast. I came across some passes for the screening at work and begged Miriam to come with me. Although I had never gone to a non-press related screening, I had a feeling it would be a packed house, so we arrived 90 minutes early. This sounds ridiculous, but trust me, if we had arrived any later, we would have been sitting in the front row. Luckily, we made friends with the gatekeeper to the VIP section and were able to finagle our way to better seats.

If you’ve never experienced a screening before, there are a few things you should know. Some screenings are intended for the press (media, journalists, etc.) and some are just a publicity based event that exist only to create buzz and get people talking about the film before it comes out. The latter is the easiest type of screening to get access to, but you have to be willing to wait in a line! But either way, you’re getting in for free, and who doesn’t like a good, cheap form of entertainment?

Tips

1. Plan your night out beforehand. Take into account that there will be parking difficulties and lines. Most screenings have a few areas in the theater that are blocked off for VIPs. If that’s not you, you’ll have to be there two hours in advance in order to get a good seat. However, if you have a good friend to wait in line with you, you can take turns holding down the fort if someone has to run across the street to feed the meter, make a bathroom run, or get a couple of burritos if/when hunger strikes.

2. Although the screening is free, sometimes the snacks are not. So if you’re not sure whether or not popcorn is included, you might want to bring your own food if your budget is a concern.

3. Join mailing lists for websites, like the ones listed below, to help you get access to free screenings in your area!

Related Links

http://www.filmmetro.com/

http://freemoviescreenings.net/

One of the most fantastic things about LA is the incredible music scene.  Every night there are over 50 venues offering exciting new music that everyone in the industry rushes to.  While many of these are in Hollywood, the one I went to on Sunday night was located in a little town called, and I’m not joking, Pioneertown.  Pioneertown is located just north of Palm Springs and about a two-hour drive from LA.  unfortunately, I can offer no helpful suggestions as to places to stay since we decided to drive there and back in the space of seven hours.  That would be four hours of driving, and three at the venue.  I believe that I have already mentioned that this was a random adventure.

The venue that we went to was called Pappy & Harriets which was, I am not joking, the ONLY building on this desolate stretch of highway.  It was also incredible.  It was a huge country western bar complete with pool tables, seating, great food, great drinks, a stage, and a massive outdoor area where you could see the stars.  One of LA’s many downfalls is that even on the clearest night you still can only see about five stars maximum.  But all you have to do is drive out into the desert and then you can see a canopy a stars which makes me want to do nothing more than lie on my back and gaze into the heavens.

Needless to say, we had an excellent time.  The bottom line is, take a road trip.  Where is up to you.  There are other worlds a short drive away.  The opportunities truly are endless.  Whether you want desert, snow, or surf, all are a stones throw away. Go somewhere, anywhere, and remember, the randomer the better!

Tips

1. Know where you are going.  Look at your destination on a map before you leave.  I realize that this  is 2010 and we all have iPhones and Blackberries, but sometimes the phones glitch or we lose signal, so check where you are going before you leave.  You don’t want to be lost in the middle of nowhere not knowing the name of the turn you’re looking for.

2. Stock up on snacks.  Take food, take drinks, take music, take whatever you need to have a good time.  The journey part of the adventure.  Make sure it’s a good one.

3. Oh, and there will be traffic.  There is always traffic.  We all know this, so stop complaining and plan appropriately.

Related Links

http://www.pioneertown.com/

http://www.pappyandharriets.com/

After the aforementioned missed opportunities, I finally found the right time to visit The Getty…a new TV show premiere.

After reading over the details of a last minute call to cover a red carpet for the premiere of Discovery Channel’s new show, “Life,” I was pleasantly surprised to see that the designated location was The Getty. So although I wasn’t going to be able to peruse through the exhibits and leisurely explore the campus, I was going to be there. And that’s all that mattered.

Although the red carpet was fun, and the screening was breathtakingly beautiful, just being at The Getty for the first time made the entire experience that much more incredible. The Getty is beautiful at night, but it can get a bit cold, so I encourage bringing a sweater. I learned this the hard way. Wearing a cocktail dress and 5-inch heels isn’t exactly conducive to staying warm in high (well, high for Los Angeles) altitudes. However, the view was absolutely gorgeous so I was willing to endure the cold in a effort to stay outside longer. I recommend a daytime visit, if it’s your first time there.

I’m proud to say that I’ve finally made my way to The Getty for the first time, but it won’t be the only time. I definitely plan on going there again, but next time as a true patron of the arts, and not necessarily as a member of the media.

Tips

1. Try to go during the day (if it’s your first visit) in order to take full advantage of the beautiful view.

2. However, if you want to visit at night you can park for free after 5 PM on Saturdays, which is a definite plus.

2. If you can’t go with your sorority, or your boyfriend, or with your Mother when she visits, just go by yourself. It’s worth it.

3. Don’t wear sky-high heels. There are a lot of stairs. Trust me.

Related Links

http://www.getty.edu/

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/life/series_overview/

You can enjoy this activity whether you’re single or attached. Young or old. With friends or with family. So although I went to my first mimosa brunch on Valentine’s Day, I encourage everyone else to try it whenever they get the chance, regardless of the season.

Upon realizing I had to work on Valentine’s Day evening, I decided to take the whole day off and do something I’d never done before.  A close friend suggested we go to a bottomless mimosa brunch, and after a little research we found there were quite a few options that were surprisingly inexpensive. One of them being Overland Cafe in Culver City which features the infamous $4.99 bottomless mimosa with purchase of an entree. Wow, hard to beat, but the wait was going to be over an hour. No bueno.

Option number two was Saddle Ranch on Sunset Blvd, a place I’ve visited quite a few times, but never in the daylight hours. But, there’s a first time for everything, so off we went! The bottomless mimosas here are $9.99, and they have quite a few delicious options. I recommend the Strawberry Blonde and the original.

In conclusion, I’d like to leave you with a few specific tips regarding Saddle Ranch. First, be nice to your server if you order bottomless mimosas. They’ll be running back and forth bringing new drinks to your table, so tip them well. If they like you, you might even get a free shot out of it (like we did). Also, the portions here are monstrous. This is a good place to go if you’re starving. If you’re not, consider splitting an entree. Trust me, you’ll still leave full.

After three mimosas, we decided to call it a day. I’m happy to report that Saddle Ranch can be just as fun during the day as it is during the night!

Tips

1. Make reservations at Overland Cafe if you know you’re going to be coming in for brunch. It’s better than waiting!

2. Make sure you have a designated driver (or some a way to get home) if you know everyone plans on getting drunk.

3. Pace yourself, it’s easy to get carried away with bottomless beverages. Remember, you want to enjoy your day at your table, not in the bathroom getting sick.

Related Links

http://www.srrestaurants.com/

http://www.overlandcafe.com/

As I was saying, perhaps I should just first clarify exactly what I was wearing and you can be the judge.  On this day of beer drinking and chip eating, I was attired in a white tank top, jeans, and flip flops.  I went to pick up a friend and found that she was wearing thigh high boots instead.  I promptly made fun of her, called her such a girl, and asked who in their right mind wears heels to watch football?  Apparently, everyone.

Before entering our first party, we were stopped at the door and asked for our names.  Hmmm, a guest list (my first inkling that I might not be quite dressed up to snuff).  We were, of course, on the list, and proceeded in to the party to find a fully catered food table and a full service bar (Oh no!)  Finally, full well knowing what I was about to find, I turned my head to take in what the rest of our company for the afternoon was wearing.  Do I even need to say it? Every single girl there was in heels and absolutely dressed to the nines.

Oh well.  Needless to say we had an absolutely fabulous time anyway, and the at the party we went to next, I fit in perfectly

Tips

1. Make sure you have a few options lined up for Superbowl Sunday.

2. Know what type of party you are attending (catered or potluck).

3. No matter what you wearing or wherever you may end up, rock it for all it’s worth.

We arrived a little late due to torrential rain and the traffic that often accompanies it. This allowed time for all the hipsters to enter and fill the museum with their dates (never in my life have I been to an event where over 50% of the attendees were so obviously coupled-off). Initially, we knew very little about this event so we were surprised to see that not only KCRW (my favorite  listener-supported radio station in LA) was there, but also that Yeasayer would be performing later.  So we decided to stay, and started to explore.

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

More photos after the jump…

Amused by the fact that we could actually drink at a museum, we paid a visit to the bartender who poured a very stiff dirty martini. Undrinkably stiff. When I asked for an additional splash of olive juice, he informed me that he ran out of that very crucial component of the cocktail I requested, yet decided to make one for me anyway. That would explain the pure vodka “cocktail” he served. Lesson learned…go to a real bar for a martini made by a legitimate bartender who will actually tell when you when he runs out of the ingredients necessary to make the drink you ordered. Go for wine or beer at the museum bar.

After perusing through the exhibits of taxidermied animals, we found a DJ and another bar that served food.  So, we ordered a cheese and fruit plate and took a seat on a couch in front of some deer.

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

Another benefit of first Fridays is that you get to visit the exhibits with a smaller amount of people (sometimes members only and VIPs are allowed in for a few hours before the general public). Walking through the exhibits was a breeze! No lines, no crowds, and museums are usually more fun when you’re actually encouraged to explore with a drink in hand. Comedic photo ops, anyone?

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

We also discovered why there were so many people on dates at this particular event. Apparently, the rainforest section is full of dark nooks for canoodling. Although the images do not document any adventures in canoodling, they do show how realistic the rainforest section looks when you crop out the railings and over-head lights. Fake safari photo ops, anyone?

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

Image copyrighted to "LA our way" 2010

After exploring the exhibits, we decided to go downstairs to check out the bands that were playing. We ended up making a few friends, and having a few laughs before we made our exit.

Tips

1. Parking can be difficult and expensive at events like this, if it wasn’t dark and raining, we would have parked a few blocks away and walked.

2. Although we all love to use our credit and debit cards, bring cash for aforementioned parking lots, and food/drinks inside.

3. Avoid ordering cocktails from terrible, inexperienced bartenders hired by event planning companies. Instead, go for a safe bet. Think wine and beer.

4. Bring a date. We didn’t, but it seems to be the cool thing to do.

Related links

http://www.nhm.org/site/

http://www.kcrw.com/

http://www.yeasayer.net/