In October 2022, I was interviewed on the podcast Life Hacks LA. If you are unfamiliar, the host Stefan–a fellow Los Angeles lover–shares tips for hacking the best of Los Angeles. He is knowledgeable about this city and has enlisted fellow L.A. fans to talk about the place they call home. I am proud to be one of those L.A. fans.
In the 30-ish minutes that I was interviewed, I gave a lot of Los Angeles secrets. I talked about my favorite places in the city and my perfect day in L.A. There are things on the podcast I haven’t had the chance to talk about anywhere—like my favorite chicken spot and my love for international travel.
Table of Contents
Exploring This Ugly Beautiful City with Kristen
Here is the episode. It is perfect for a coffee break, lunch break, and commute listening.
Episode 131: Exploring This Ugly Beautiful City with Kristen
Show notes
Here are all of the places and posts I mentioned in the podcast.
The Intro
In the intro, you get to know me, why I started This Ugly Beautiful City, and how it got its name. In this post, I go into greater detail.
One of Los Angeles’ most notoriously ugly things is traffic. We talked about how sometimes you have to suffer through ugly traffic to get to beautiful places.
Our podcast journey takes us up Highway 1, past Santa Monica, to Malibu, to one of my favorite beaches in Los Angeles. For the past two years, the most popular post has been about tide pooling at Leo Carrillo State Beach. It gives advice about parking, tide charts, and the types of animals you will find hiding in the tide pools.
We also discuss another favorite hiding along Sunset Blvd/, the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades. (Shortly after my interview, the Lake Shrine is featured in episode 133.)
What advice would I give those coming to Los Angeles?
Don’t try to do everything in one day. Stay in one neighborhood because there is a lot to see, do, and eat.
My neighborhood deep dives start with the touristy locations in a neighborhood and branch out to more places to explore. After the Hollywood Walk of Fame, visit Lake Hollywood to see the famous sign or go to Yamashiro for great views of Los Angeles. Don’t head all the way to Santa Monica after Hollywood & Highland. You will spend all day in the car and be miserable.
We talked about touristy Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and Griffith Park.
What are my most frequently asked questions as someone who gives advice about Los Angeles?
There are some questions I get asked frequently about Los Angeles. I dedicated entire posts on the best time to visit, how I find great places to eat, and how to navigate the confusing LAXit process.
Itineraries
My neighborhood guides are great options to build your self-guided itinerary with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with things in between. If you want a cheap and easy way to explore Los Angeles, check out my grab & go itinerary page.
Do Angelenos like going to Hollywood?
Once we have done the touristy spots in Hollywood a couple of times, we would prefer to visit the non-touristy areas or another neighborhood. We will go, but once you realize it is just a sidewalk, we want to get out of there.
Best walkable neighborhoods
Culver City
Eating
When I worked in Culver City in the Helms Bakery District 15 years ago, there were fewer places to grab something during my lunch break. Now there are so many options. I am digging Konbi (RIP), Destroyer, and Citizens’ Public Market.
Note: Konbi only lasted 6 months and then closed.
Something to do between all of the eating
- Museum of Jurassic Technology (A must-see L.A. stop)
- The Culver Hotel
[Bonus note: Get around the area on the Culver City Ride.]
We also recommended or mentioned
Chicas Tacos, Versailles, Pasta Sisters, and Father’s Office.
Check out my Culver City Guide
It has all of my favorite places to eat, shop, and have cocktails.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo/Arts District is a great walkable neighborhood with tons of history, museums, and food. See the MoCA Geffen and the Japanese American National Museum and grab something to eat/drink at the Far Bar.
Day Trips and Weekend Getaways
We love Los Angeles but also enjoy the beauty surrounding Los Angeles. If you have read This Ugly Beautiful City, you know that I love Palm Springs. I have a Palm Springs guide which you should check out. I make a special note of Pappy & Harriets and talk about The Integratron. You can find other weekends and getaways here.
International travel
One of my goals for 2023 is to add guides for U.S. and international locations. My first self-guided itinerary outside of the Los Angeles area is dedicated to another city I love, Barcelona.
Two Days in Barcelona
Currently being edited.
My perfect day in Los Angeles (with a teleportation device)
Because traffic can screw up accomplishing your perfect day.
Morning
I would get a pastry and coffee at Konbi (Again RIP), then explore what is new at the Museum of Jurassic Technology.
Lunch
There is a special place in my heart for Pollo a la Brasa on Western. It is a rotisserie chicken place in Koreatown. It was my comfort food during a rough patch in my life. Everyone is friendly there, which is what I needed, and it is also inexpensive and filling, which was also what I needed. I always order the quarter chicken dark with fries and salad. It is less than $10. [Note: The website in Yelp is not a website for their business.]
Afternoon
I would spend the afternoon at The Huntington’s Chinese Garden. It is one of the most beautiful and meditative places in Los Angeles. After the pandemic, I craved quiet places. This has been a great place to ponder what is next.
Happy Hour
I would then grab a drink at Bolita. I commented how this is an excellent place to enjoy low/no abv mocktails.
BOLITA CLOSED ON DECEMBER 2, 2024.
Dinner
In the dinner section, I was stumped. There are so many fantastic restaurants. There is one Restaurant I would resurrect, Dialogue, a small restaurant hiding in a food court on the Santa Monica Promenade. It was helmed by Dave Beran of Pasjoli, and each tasting meal was a progression through a story told by all of the staff. Themes worked through seasons. Think of summer, all the things you enjoy, and the memories you had during that season. Summers at the lake, snow cones, crawfish boils, and whatever the word summer conjures up for you. Sadly it was a pandemic closure.
After Dinner
If my perfect day took place on a Friday, I would jump into the teleportation machine and dance off my dinner at Club Underground in DTLA. It gives me some serious nostalgia. They play goth, industrial, dark wave, Brit pop, Bowie, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, and more.
[Photo: Although Bruce Lee is the prominent figure in this photo, in the background, you will see the Grand Star Jazz Club, which hosts Club Underground.
At the end of the episode, the host featured some of my free itineraries and neighborhood guides.
Urban Hike Santa Monica to Venice, Hollywood the Neighborhood Guide, and the Malibu Guide
I can’t believe how much ground we covered in 30-ish minutes. This post may be helpful if you want to explore more of Los Angeles this week.
This post was originally part of my newsletter. If you want sneak peeks at posts, more ideas for exploring Los Angeles, or want to support my work, please subscribe.