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Monday, June 29, 1998

Break away from Westwood

GUIDE: The Daily Bruin compiles

a guide to the sights and sounds

that put the glitz in Los Angeles

By Vanessa VanderZanden

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Music

Most recognize Los Angeles for its glamorous film industry. Others see it as the home of wealthy celebrities from all media avenues. But what many overlook is the vast array of musicians made and broken under Los Angeles' flashing neon signs.

Although we didn't build this city on rock and roll, music has always played an integral part on the Los Angeles scene. Up and down the Sunset strip, glittering lights advertise unknown locals and international mega-stars alike. Even venues off of the beaten path provide an oasis for artists of sound.

However, knowing where to look for an evening of ear candy can be difficult for those new to the area. Often times, browsing through the L.A. Weekly provides too little information for out-of-town guests to decide upon a stage. However, The Bruin has accumulated a splattering of places which provide affordable shows on a regular basis.

Whisky A Go Go - 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-4202 (all ages, $10-$15)

One of the most infamous clubs on the strip, this small time venue has been the stepping stone for such greats as the Doors, and Guns and Roses. Usually, it showcases small acts that hope for large-scale success later on in their careers. Still, the spot has been known to pack it in for quirky, underground favorites like The Electric Hellfire Club.

The dark, single stage building has a large pit on the ground floor with a walkway-sized railing space accommodating those stationed above. Usually a surly vibe attaches itself to the leather clad punks harmlessly hanging around outside, though the two bar venue remains as safe as can be.

The Roxy - 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 276-2222 (all ages, cover varies)

This roomy, dark space offers a wide selection of accomplished and not-so-accomplished musicians from every genre. A large stage rests at the back of the one floor, pit style arena.

However, for those who don't mind paying for a drink or two, tiers of tables and chairs provide a bit of rest at the outer edges of the venue.

Troubadour - 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 276-6168 (all ages, cover varies)

This comfortable establishment provided a folk music oasis at its inception 35 years ago. Nowadays, it features musicians from all genres of the music world.

Emulating a European town square of the Renaissance era, the stage floor looks up to decorated awnings on one side and three rows of seating in the spacious balcony area. Three full bars serve patrons in the small venue, with a separate room off to the left of the main entrance providing eats.

This oddly fashioned music hall has a welcoming charisma, more inviting than most modern buildings on the strip.

The House of Blues - 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (213) 650-1451 (predominately 21 and up, noted if otherwise, $10-$25)

Begun by a blues brother (Dan Akroyd) and the blood brother of a blues brother (James Belushi), this New Orleans-originated blues shack has set up its sister location in the heart of the L.A. music scene. Designed to resemble a broken down, bayou-side flop house, the trendy location holds a gift shop upstairs, along with a Cajun cuisine-based restaurant. Two bars serve patrons stage-side as a hodge podge of religious idols from all walks of the world grin from the walls.

Overflowing with character, the charming, trendy venue demands energy from the performers atop the small, elevated stage. Everyone from ska heroes to Salsa singers have shaken the wooden shack, while blues remains the venue's musical mainstay.

By Lonnie Harris

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Movies

They don't call Los Angeles the film capital of the world for nothing. Within the city's limits - especially here in the West - are more movie houses than could ever be filled, even by the ever-expanding population. Los Angeles theaters offer not only the standard studio fare found all over the nation, but also small, independent screenings, student films, short films and even revivals of classic holdovers from Hollywood's past. With all this variety, the UCLA student is presented with perhaps the grandest selection of film choices known to man.

For the wary traveler brave enough to venture outside of Westwood, more general and specialized theaters await. Naturally, the entire Westside is littered in the newest, state-of-the-art movie houses, many of which contain more screens than there are movies in current release. These mega-multi-gigaplexes include Century City's AMC 20 and Universal Citywalk's Cineplex Odeon 18. Unfortunately, these theaters tend to use the majority of their space to screen new, big studio releases and so the film buff seeking little-known fare much search a little harder.

Westside Pavilion is home to Samuel Goldwyn's Lammaele Theater with four screens dedicated to new, independent releases (such as "The Opposite of Sex" and "High Art").

Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is also home to a few independent theaters, competing with the larger Mann Criterion located there for the busy weekend crowds. Perhaps Los Angeles' most famous alternative movie house is the Nuart Theater on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. This is where only the rarest screen gems are played. Mainly, if a film has garnered no one's attention outside of the filmmaker's immediate family, it is probably playing at the Sunset Nuart. Recently, a four-hour Swedish sequel was screened for a two-week run!

Of course, this list could not even begin to enumerate the thousands of movie choices located all over the Westside. The best way to find the special movie that isn't playing anywhere? Consult the newspaper, and don't just look at the big theater-chain ads. Hint: If it says Edwards or Mann at the top of the ad, you're probably looking in the wrong place. The films are out there, but only the most adventurous viewer can find them.

By Megan Dickerson

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Museums

It is a little-known fact that museum visits are a college student aphrodisiac. OK, so maybe that contrived axiom isn't true for the entire student population, but museums can, indeed, serve as a cheap thrill; that is, if one knows how to find them.

The following is a selection of the more than 300 museums and historical sites located within Los Angeles' reach. From surfboards to science, most of them are student-friendly and run under $5 for a worthwhile day of learning fun. Catch the bus for a mid-week quickie - and take a friend.

J. Paul Getty Museum of Art and Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood, (310) 440-7300 (free admission).

There's no missing the Getty Center, even if one tries. The newly-opened concrete monolith overlooks the 405 Freeway, offering one of the most uncompromised views of Los Angeles. Inside, a special system of natural illumination in the galleries sheds light on paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, rare manuscripts, antique furniture, and ancient Greek and Roman art. The best part of this much-touted museum is that admission is absolutely free, except for parking. It's best to take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #14, which stops smack-dab in front of the Getty.

International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 960-3483, www.surfingmuseum.org.

Located in the self-touted "Surf City" of Huntington Beach, the International Surfing Museum is an exhibit mecca for the Frankie and Annette set. Cases propping surfboards ranging from balsa boards of the 1920s to a reproduction of an ancient Polynesian board line the walls. In fact, boards used by Duke Kahanamoku comprise a large part of a practical shrine to the Hawaiian legend, who surfers credit with popularizing surfriding in the '20s. The museum also permanently displays many objects of pop surf lore, including the camera used to film the cult-favorite "Endless Summer," one of Dick Dale's guitars, and Jan and Dean's gold record.

California Science Center, 700 State Dr., Los Angeles, Science: (213) 724-3623 Imax: (213) 744-2014 (free admission).

The California Science Center bottles Mr. Wizard, Wild Kingdom, and those wacky milk and oil experiments you did as a kid into one, three-level museum. Open since Feb. 7 of this year, the redesigned, hands-on science hall features exhibits ranging from a 50-foot anatomy lesson to a visitor-friendly bicycle suspended on a high wire. Also of note is the Center's famous IMAX theater, which currently features "Africa's Elephant Kingdom," a 40-minute film by Discovery Channel Productions. The California Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; all exhibits are free except for the IMAX theater, which charges $3.75 to $7.25 per ticket.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 857-6000 (free admission on selected days).

The largest art museum in the United States, "LACMA" hosts over 150,000 objects in a 200,000 square-foot space. Among the highlights of the collection are works by Mary Cassatt, John Singleton Copley and Paul Cadmus, in addition to a wide assortment of Ancient and Islamic Art, costumes and textiles, and photos.

The museum is open from noon to 8 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. Tickets are free on the second Tuesday of each month.

Museum of Tolerance, 9786 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 553-8403.

Talk of the Holocaust can make some people uncomfortable. The Museum of Tolerance features a permanent exhibit on this dark period of human existence, in addition to interactive displays on prejudice and the roots of racism. Visitors receive a card with the photograph, name, and personal information of a child from the concentration camps, and discover that child's fate after touring the museum.

Since so much of the museum is hands-on, it's hard not to forge a personal revelation on "man's inhumanity to man."

By Louise Chu

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Restaurants

Beyond the gleaming lights of Wilshire and Sepulveda, there's a world of good eating that few auto-less Bruins know. The average campus-bound freshman can rarely explore much beyond the splendor that is the residential dining halls. But those who dare to venture beyond the Westwood area will find a variety of interesting places that would satisfy those pesky real-food cravings.

Tuition payment or dinner? Mmm...

Sitting at a clean table, having someone cater to your culinary whims, patting the crumbs from your lips with a plush cloth napkin ... It's a vision that many college students can only dream of. Assuming that extravagance implies extra cheese on the pizza, the following restaurants are relatively pricey, but well worth the financial setback.

The Cheesecake Factory, 364 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills and 11647 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood.

It's posh, it's pretentious, but it's a guilty pleasure that few can refuse. With menu prices averaging in the mid-teens for entrees, The Cheesecake Factory provides a warm, relaxed atmosphere, complete with candles and outdoor dining.

But it's all about the cheesecake. There is an endless list of tempting options from Southern Pecan to Kahlua Almond Fudge, but the winner has to be the Lite cheesecake, a dessert that belies its name. This reduced-fat version tastes equally as satisfying as the original and is well worth the $3.

Now, that's how you splurge with extra cheese.

Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica.

This popular Bruin destination is known for its trendy shops, unique street performers and sun-soaked oceanside view - but it is also a restaurant mecca. While Fatburger and McDonald's may be tasty and easy on the wallet, the real treat comes in experiencing the ones that don't offer Happy Meals as an option.

Some good compromises between malnutrition and destitution would be Yankee Doodles, a colorful burger and sandwich joint by day and swanky 21-and-over beer fest by night; Yangtze, an interesting pseudo-Asian restaurant (you must question authenticity when an Asian restaurant can't decide on a specific country) with a unique decor; Broadway Deli, a large diner across the street from Santa Monica Place; and World Wrapps with their creative takes on the tortilla roll.

The Stinking Rose, 55 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Nestled in the heart of Restaurant Row, The Stinking Rose is the garlic lover's fantasy come true. With firestarters like the 40-clove garlic chicken, this place is ideal for a $15 dinner.

"Pass the Vivarin ..."

Sitting in Powell at midnight with torn hair and a 1000-page book that must be finished by the next morning, there's nothing a procrastinating Bruin may want more than some late night eats. Considering that nightlife in Westwood is an oxymoron, the following places may provide some 3 a.m. refuge.

Cacao Coffee House, 11609 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles.

Hey, it serves coffee, and it's open until 2 a.m. Need more be said?

Canter's, 419 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles.

An L.A. landmark, this Jewish restaurant, delicatessen and bakery is a not-so-nostalgic throwback to the '70s. The outdated beige and brown color scheme does not necessarily exude "L.A.," but that's probably why many flock there 24 hours a day to experience their hearty matzo ball soup and corn beef sandwiches. Their menu is infinite, and the bill for a typical meal will never exceed $15.

Jerry's Famous Deli will never seem the same.

"It's not the food, it's the ambiance!"

Who said meals had to be all about the food?

Dive!, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.

What would Los Angeles be without a restaurant associated with a celebrity? Besides the multitude of Hard Rock Cafes and Planet Hollywoods, there's an L.A. original that outsiders can only find in Las Vegas or Barcelona: Steven Spielberg's Dive!

Built like a submarine, customers are treated to ultimate underwater dining with portholes (there are video screens simulating water behind them) and steel doors.

It sounds like a hangout for Aaron Spelling's children, but prices are surprisingly moderate, ranging from $10 to $15 for hamburgers, pastas and (of course) subs.

Ed Debevic's, 134 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills.

This is one place where people actually tip well for bad service. In fact, the worse the better.

Set like a '50's diner, Ed Debevic's trains their waiters to wisecrack and throw straws at the patrons. They also periodically pull a "Grease Lightning," dancing and singing on the tables. Their burgers and malts are pretty standard, but this place is packed for reasons other than the food.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

The Third Street Promenade offers a variety of restaurants and activities.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

The Troubadour in Santa Monica is a popular night hang out.

MICHAEL WACHT/Daily Bruin

The Getty offers fine art and other learning experiences.

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