My brother saw Paris Hilton a few weeks ago. Doesn't matter where as she is not there now. She wanted to sign autographs! So he got agreed to have her sign something! :p

In the interest of full disclosure, because David is my son: I highly recommend this restaurant for extremely discreet star-spotting and the food is also good. Please check the link:



http://www.zagat.com/Search/Details....7%27&RID=26377

If you can afford the drinks, the bar at the BH Four Seasons is a great place to meet people. Lots of beautiful people and occasional celebs.

Hanging out in Malibu is fun. Martinis at Pier View is usually a blast. You can walk around a bit, but most places require a car. Paradise Cove is a bit of a drive west in Malibu, but very relaxing. Mojitos on the sand!

If you like antique luxury autos (one of the finest collections in the world) and orchestrions, there is a somewhat hidden museum up in Sylmar that is well worth the visit.

Actually, if you like cars, you should also check out the Petersen Automotive Museum at Wilshire and Fairfax. An insane collection of cars.

Not a huge fan of the Four Seasons here. For the money, the crowd is much better at the Peninsula bar at near Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards. Mastro's does nothing for me, but a blue filet mignon with double butter at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on South Beverly Drive is a dream. For old time stars, try either Dan Tana's on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, or, a little further east, The Palm. For drinks, also, I'd recommend Lola's on Fairfax...great martinis and great-looking, young crowd. Get there too late, though, and the line can be bad.

As for chili, if you've had Pink's, then you really should try the original Tommy's at Beverly and Rampart. A little closer is Carney's, in a converted train car on Sunset about a mile past Chateau Marmont. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite holevin the wall: Oki Dog, also on Fairfax. A pastrami burrito will feed a family of seven for $4, and you'll be tasting it for days, but it's awesome if you're wasted.

More thoughts as they come to me...

Unfortunately, I'm not a member of Zagat, what is the name of the restaurant?

Thanks to SPG I am a Zagat member.

Brentwood Restaurant & Lounge
Brentwood
148 S. Barrington Ave. (Sunset Blvd.) Brentwood, CA, 90049 (310) 476-3511

I've been meaning to try this place out. It's in a decidedly upscale neighborhood so it ought to be good.

Then again I've seen celebrities at the Fatburger on La Cienega. ;)

Thankyou for the restaurant.

Does anyone know if the First Interstate World Center in downtown LA has an observation area on its top floor?

EFBC & Dryden Flight Research.
 

Somewhat outside the norm, you might try driving up to Rosamond. It's just over an hour north of LA. You will find two places of interest.

The Exotic Feline Breeding Compound. This nonprofit works to breed cats, everything from jaguarundi's to several different subspecies of leopards. You see cats you didn't know exist. Plus you can buy their extremely catchy bumper sticker 'Support Your Local Cathouse'.

Dryden Flight Research Center. Home of the last flying SR71's. NASA is using them for high altitude research. Dryden has been doing flight research for decades. I didn't know they were in Rosamond when i visited the cats and didn't give myself enough time. I had major regrets.

As far as I know, no. The Transamerica building has a restaurant on it's upper floor but as far as I know no other downtown LA buildings have an observation deck.

Tommy's
 

Oh, yeah! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

http://www.originaltommys.com/nutrition_facts.html

scenic activities
 

One of my favorite things to do during SoCal visits is to devote a half day to visiting Hermosa, Redondo, PV (Palos Verdes peninsula). If it works out, I like to drive from LAX through El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, and so on. I absolutely love Portuguese Bend. I end up in San Pedro and can easily continue to Long Beach, downtown LA, Pasadena, wherever). Reverse direction if flying into Long Beach and end up at Venice Beach!

:cool:

ah, Fatburger
 

Not too many celebrities hanging out at the original Fatburger on La Cienega these days, Stimpy: the place closed down over a year ago. That said, it was a good burger, and other Fatburgers live on.

I second the call about the restaurant atop the Transamerica building (12th and Broadway). Used to be called the Tower restaurant, but has undergone a change in ownership, and perhaps name, since I last went. The Top of Five, atop the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown, is a revolving restaurant, but not sufficiently high to make for spectacular dining. Still, not bad.

Don't know about driving out to Rosamond if he's only here for a few days, unless cats and SR-71s are his bag. Rosamond identifies itself as "Gateway to Death Valley" and is blessed with all the charm that title implies.

Another thought, if you're heading up Santa Barbara way, is to continue on to Santa Maria and do the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Something like 30 wineries in the span of 15 miles along a canyon road. Turn your head and you'll miss one. Some very good wines, lots of no charge tastings, and very scenic surroundings. Of course, better to have someone else do the driving if you'll be partaking.

The top of the Transamerica turns into a pretty wild disco on the weekends. After working out on the dance floor, enjoy a drink and the view of LA at night. I think it's called Windows which is aptly named.

Shame about the Fatburger on La Cienega. I've put on many a pound there over the years. It was always a very interesting crowd at 2am on the weekends. A complete cross-mix of LA. Rich, poor, black, white, etc.

Ditto Petersen Automotive Museum: http://www.petersen.org/

I will have to contact the BHH concierge for a definitive answer.


According to the LA Visitors Bureau, the Library Tower, AKA First Interstate World Center, has no observation area and it not open to the public. There are two restaurants though, Windows and LA Prime. City Hall, however does have an observation area.