Offbeat L.A.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2010 (5860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ASK average tourists what they did on their recent trip to Los Angeles, and they’ll usually tell you the same thing: a visit to a theme park like Disneyland or Universal, the famous handprints of the stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, or perhaps Venice Beach.

All great places to see, mind you, but there’s so much more to the City of Angels than these big draws, especially if you’re a movie or television buff, you enjoy great local food, or you just want to soak up some culture. For your next trip, consider straying off the beaten path with an offbeat L.A. tour.

 

Philippe’s French Dip Restaurant

A visit to L.A. would not be complete without a stop at Philippe’s. Not far from the edge of Chinatown, where the final scenes of Roman Polanski’s 1974 film of the same name were shot, the self-described home of the French dip sandwich is a treat.

Stepping into the confines of this venerable establishment is nothing short of a journey into a bygone era, where the price of coffee remains at nine cents, the counter girls still dress in 1940s-style uniforms and the clientele is a refreshing cross-section of Angelinos. Think homeless people, cops, lawyers, movers and shakers. Bypass the breakfast menu and go straight for your preference of beef, ham, pork, lamb or turkey dip sandwich — all accompanied by Philippe’s special hot mustard. Philippes.com

UCLA Campus Bookstore

Care for a bit of cool shopping? Head to Westwood and drive straight into the main entrance of the UCLA campus. At the end of Westwood Boulevard is a visitor’s parking garage on your left with nominal rates. Step onto the campus and ask anyone where the bookstore is. It’s a short, brisk walk to a main central building, which houses a massive floor of USC and UCLA-themed merchandise that has to be seen to be believed. Here you’ll find myriad clothing and souvenirs, perfect for gifts, or treat yourself. Two floors above, there’s also a food court with open-air dining areas. Shop.uclastore.com

Chili John’s Restaurant

Love authentic chili? Care to rub shoulders with locals and the occasional Disney animator? You won’t find a better bowl of chili or more friendly service in a cool diner setting anywhere in SoCal than Chili John’s in Burbank. In fact, LA Weekly has rated it among its top restaurants to eat in before you die. Just be careful when you choose your level of spiciness, and ask for an Arnold Palmer to wash it down.

2018 West Burbank Boulevard

Three Stooges Steps

Fans of the Three Stooges will thoroughly enjoy this trip back in time. I speak, of course, of one of the most hallowed, and remarkably preserved, film locations in Stoogedom: the famed Three Stooges steps. Essentially, it’s where one of the most famous Stooges episodes was shot.

The episode is 1941’s An Ache in Every Stake, in which where Curly attempts to carry blocks of ice up a long flight of concrete stairs to an impatient customer, only to find the ice melted down to a cube when he reaches the top.

The location is hard to find. It sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in Silverlake, between 2257 and 2258 Fair Oak View Terrace. A GPS will prove handy here. But once there, you can, as some Stooge fans have done, bring along a set of ice tongs and Styrofoam ice blocks, and attempt the same poses as the comedy trio. Neighbours are generally OK with it all, but please, no pie throwing.

94th Aero Squadron Restaurant

One of the best ways to spend a relaxing afternoon is to head over to Van Nuys airport for a landing at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant. On arrival, the extravagant World War One-themed aviation decor will prompt you to pull out your digital camera, but it’s best to walk through the place and grab a seat on the open-air terrace. The restaurant is adjacent to one of the busiest runways in the world, where you can sit in the shade enjoying lunch or dinner, an Irish coffee or cold beer, watching aircraft — some belonging to the stars — land and take off. Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes flew out of Van Nuys, and John Travolta keeps some of his aircraft there.

By the way, some of the scenes from Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, were filmed at this airport, which offers historical tours.

The94thsquadron.com and lawa.org/welcomeVNY.aspx

Vasquez Rocks

What Trekkie would not want to release his inner Kirk and explore the otherworldly Vasquez Rocks — site of one of the most famous Star Trek episodes, Arena, in which Capt. James. T. Kirk (William Shatner) battles and defeats the reptilian Gorn creature.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is located about 50 kilometres north of L.A., off Hwy. 14. The strange, unearthly looking formations have been used numerous times in film, television and countless magazine ads, and chances are, you’ll see a film truck there. Look carefully for the off-ramp sign — it’s quite small and easy to miss. Admission to the park is free. On the way back, stop at nearby Agua Dulce Winery for a refreshing wine tasting.

Santaclaritaguide.com/vasquezrocks.html and com aguadulcevineyards.com

Chez Jays

Most tourists who walk the Santa Monica Pier are probably not aware that, just down the street, at 1657 Ocean Avenue, is a fabulous, 1960s-era bar called Chez Jays, one of the most famous living landmarks in Rat Pack history. Yes, Frank Sinatra and the boys used to hang here, along with actresses and astronauts.

In fact, astronaut Alan Shepherd took one of the peanuts from Jay Fiondella’s bar to the moon and back. It’s also rumoured a certain Hollywood actress could be seen in one of the booths, waiting for a phone call, then leave to meet none other than JFK for a secret rendezvous. Jay passed away at age 82 not long ago, and a lot of history went with him, but the bar still serves up great steaks and beer. Chezjays.com

 

— Canwest News Service