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Los Angeles Dating Ground Rules
A city with 10 million people, beaches, and the Hollywood scene. Dating must be easy in Los Angeles, right?
Being single in this town is notoriously difficult. But we’re here to tell you the biggest challenges and how to get around them. The three most important things about dating in Los Angeles are:
1) Location
2) Location
3) Location
Where to Live in Los Angeles
In any city, you want to live or work close to a social hot spot – somewhere with restaurants, clubs, people hanging out. That seems obvious, but L.A. is so spread out that if you don’t choose carefully, you could find yourself living 40 minutes away from the nearest action.
To help you pick a place to live, here are some of the top spots in the L.A. area and the people you’ll find there:
- Cahuenga Blvd. and Hollywood Blvd. – Hollywood (Younger, Hipsters)
- Sunset Blvd. at Sweetzer Ave. – Hollywood (All Age, Hipsters)
- Ventura Blvd. at Woodman Ave. – Studio City (Older)
- Sunset Blvd. at Santa Monica Blvd. – Silverlake (Alternative)
- Grand Ave. at 6th St. – Downtown (Professionals)
- Pier Ave. at Hermosa Ave. – Hermosa Beach (Very Young and Casual)
- Manhattan Beach Blvd. at Highland Ave. – Manhattan Beach (Very Young and Casual)
- Colorado at Fair Oaks – Pasadena (All Age)
- Main St. at Hill St. – Santa Monica (All Age, Casual, Some College Students)
- Gayley Ave. at Weyburn Ave. – Westwood (College Students)
If you can find a place to live near one of these spots, you’re halfway done. But only half. Because the other big impact of location is how far away your job is. Most new singles in Los Angeles don’t realize how a long commute can kill your social life. Most Angelinos work long hours, not getting off until 7 or 8 in the evening. If you tack an hour commute on top of those late hours, all of a sudden it’s 9 p.m. before you can even meet up with anyone. And because there’s no real downtown, like in a New York or Chicago, the people you want to meet up with are probably coming from just as far away as you are.
To minimize the late starts and all the driving, do everything you can to work close to home. Again, it seems obvious, but many singles convince themselves that they can make a commute into the San Fernando Valley or down to Orange County work – only to find that they spend more time stuck in traffic than out socializing. So if you like where you live, it’s worth hunting a little longer to find work nearby. Or if the distant job is just too good to pass up, consider moving to a happening neighborhood in the vicinity.
The Cost and The Clothes
Los Angeles is known for its casual vibe, but East Coasters may be shocked at how far this relaxed code goes. Jackets can be found on men in some of the high-end eateries, but ties are extremely rare. It isn’t at all surprising to see a thousand-dollar suit with Chuck Jones sneakers and a vintage T-shirt. Women are very casual during the day, and evening dress varies greatly depending on the part of town. The beach has skirts and tank tops. Silverlake has nice jeans and vintage T-shirts. Sunset Boulevard has the latest fashion.
Depending on where you’re from, the cost of dating in L.A. is either a bargain or a burden. Surely, there are cheap dates to explore. You can go to the Griffith Observatory and stare at the stars for free. But if you’re interested in dinner and bar-hopping or a dance club, you’re probably in for $100 at least and possibly twice that amount.
The Risk
We would be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the problem of drinking and driving in L.A. Like most cities that grew up in the second half of the 20th century, L.A. is spread out and has no practical public transportation. (There are trains and buses, but when it comes to dating they are almost always worthless.) This means that after a bottle of wine over dinner and a couple of drinks in a bar later, you’re going to be climbing behind the wheel with a serious problem. The police in L.A. have been known to set up roadblocks on Sunset Boulevard, stopping every driver for a sobriety test. Cabs are expensive, but DUIs are far worse.
The Best Part
Finally, it’s important to remember that in terms of meeting the opposite sex, there is no one “Los Angeles.” If you socialize in Westwood, you’ll be talking to college students from UCLA. If you socialize downtown, you’ll be talking to professionals or lawyers. If you socialize on Melrose you’ll be meeting entertainment industry people – actors, agents, and the like. If you don’t like the people you’re meeting, it’s easy to change your location and change your luck.
Things to Do with Your Date: Los Angeles Attractions
Take a Hike
Who says nobody walks in L.A.? Based on the number of trails in Los Angeles, hiking should be the official city pastime. Taking a long walk with a date is also a great way to get to know a person. Plus, it's inexpensive and low maintenance! How very un-L.A.!
Head Downtown
With a major revitalization effort well underway, Downtown Los Angeles is getting alot more attention these days. Before the city center gets too hip, discover some of its historic charm on a walking tour. For just $10 per person, enjoy a guided tour of City Hall, Little Tokyo or the famed Biltmore Hotel.
Star Gaze
When we allude to star gazing, we don't mean on trendy Robertson Boulevard. Instead we suggest visiting the famed Griffith Observatory for a birds-eye view of what lies above.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art or the Getty Center
L.A. boasts two of the best museums in America. The Getty Center opened in 1997 to instant fame. (The view alone is worth a visit.) LACMA has just completed a $50 million renovation, and its evening jazz and other music events are a great way to enjoy an artsy date night.
L.A. Sports Events
Some of the best sports teams call L.A. home. The Lakers, the Dodgers, USC, UCLA, the Galaxy, the Kings…and even the L.A. Clippers.
Farmers Market
This “farmers market” isn’t all pickup trucks and fruit stands. It opened in 1924 and has become a gathering place for several L.A. communities. With dozens of restaurants, shops, markets, and bars, the date strolling is superb.
Biking the Strand
This 22-mile bike path/skate path runs from Will Rogers State Beach north of Santa Monica down to the Torrance County Beach. It passes through some of Los Angeles County’s most interesting beach territory – Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach. You can rent bikes up and down the route.
Things to Do with Your Date: Clubs/Bars Music
Hotel Café
Right in the middle of a vibrant nightlife scene on Cahuenga Boulevard, Hotel Café is a singer-songwriter haven and a sure bet for great talent.
Neighborhood: Hollywood
1623½ N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 461-2040
www.hotelcafe.com
Dancing - El Floridita
By day it’s a restaurant serving the best Cuban food in town. But that’s not the real story. When the sun goes down and the band start serving up salsa, THAT’s when the fun begins. The salsa nights are well attended and fabulous, but mambo, merengue, and other styles aren’t forgotten.
1253 N. Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone: (323) 871-8612
Drinking – Golden Gopher
Downtown drinking at its best. Industrial interior. A little loud and a lot of fun with the downtown office crowd. The kind of bar your dad loved when he was 30.
417 W. Eighth St.
Los Angeles, CA
90014-3000
Things to Do with Your Date: Dining
Mortons Steakhouse
If you are looking for a night of fine dining, high quality steak, fresh lobster and classy ambiance, look no further than Mortons. Tip: Save room for the chocolate souffle!
Saddle Ranch Chop House
For a casual night out, check out the cowboy-themed restaurant for great burgers and evan a chance to ride a mechanical bull! The crowd is fun and it's a great, relaxed environment.
Padri Restaurant
Located in old Agoura, about 20 minutes from Malibu, is an italian restaurant that resembles an old Tuscan farmhouse, Padri. If it's traditional italian food you are after, make a special trip there -- it's worth the drive and their martini bar is a fantastic mingling spot as well.
Paradise Cove Beach Café
Barefoot diners sit on chairs in the sand staring at the Pacific and drinking wine as a cool breeze blows through the palm trees. Many people consider THIS the best way to date in L.A., and it’s hard to argue. A great place for seafood, jazz, breakfast, and brunch. The bar (which is really just some chairs in the sand) is the perfect place to kick off a new romance.
28128 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Malibu, CA 90265
Phone: (310) 457-2503
Red Lion
The Red Lion is as much a revered institution as a beer and brats bistro. The décor is over the top, as is the one-man band playing German classics on a synthesizer. But the beer selection is top-notch, the food is rustic and comforting, and the beer garden is stocked with Silverlake hipsters watching the Lakers on TV. It’s a great way to soak up the local ambience.
2366 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
90039
Phone: (323) 662-5337
Open Hours Restaurant: 11a.m.–2 a.m. M–Su (Dinner starts at 5 p.m.)
www.redliontavern.net
USER TIPS
1) Fun, Cheap, Tastey Cuban Food
They have several locations around LA, and a simple menu with lots of Cuban specialties. MY favorite being the Garlic Chicken. It's a little bit exotic - but not really. It's a great date place because it's affordable, lite on the romance - paper napkins and flourescent lights, and in several locations.
http://www.versaillescuban.com/locations.html
2) An LA Hamburger Tradition
I like dates that do two things - don't cost much, and convey what kind of woman I am. If a guy wants to take me to a fancy place, I don't complain. But if he asks me where i want to go - I say, The Apple Pan. It's a hamburger joint. A counter that serves the best burgers and pie in town. The building is very simple, they use paper wrapper, and the help a bit surly, but it is all part of the charm.
Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064-2105
Phone: (310) 475-3585
3) The BEST Date Beach
I like Zuma. The weekend can be busy but the weeks are not crowded. You can drive up PCH to Neptune's Net and get either fresh or friend seafood.
Neptune's Net
42505 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
Phone: (310) 457-3095
4) Cemetery Screenings
If you’ve spent a summer in Los Angeles and haven’t caught a movie on the lawn of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, you’re missing out. This summertime Saturday-night staple runs from May through September and costs a very reasonable $10 a person. Bring a picnic dinner (alcohol permitted) and a low-back chair and sit back for a unique film experience. http://cemeteryscreenings.com/
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