I've been in the same boat as you... tough to make a call on what to do in a city like LA... there is just so much you could do. Will you have a vehicle? If so, drive around Beverley Hills, up Mulholland Drive, go see the Hollywood sign, drive down Rodeo Drive. Go check out the beach areas - like Huntington Beach. If you have never been, go to Disneyland! Why not! Even Universal Studios can be fun. Just stay out of the bad neighborhoods - and just 1 or 2 wrong turns could get you in trouble.
I always wanted to rent a car, and just drive around LA for hours on end, getting lost and seeing the sights. I think that itself would be pretty cool, just make sure you don't end up in some gang neighborhood.
I think you're making a big deal out of what is a joke there taco...I don't think anybody has been so religious as to complain about the hookers and blow joke. And I highly doubt the people who actually do hookers and blow with any form of regularity bother to post on here.
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__________________ I wish the heck I could like fish, I just hate the taste of it . . . I wish I could eat one, they look so good . . . - Gil Fisher (The Fishin' Musician):
I was in L.A. last weekend. Some things to do are:
The beach: Santa Monica is beautiful, and the pier is very fun. There is a restaurant off the 3rd Street Promenade called Trastevere that serves great Italian food.
The beach: A little crazy, but certainly full of colour is Venice Beach. There are all kids of weirdos, street performances, and the like. On Sunday afternoon, they have a huge group (500-1000 people) who drum on the beach and smoke pot until sunset. It is quite something to see.
If you want to see where the elite hang out for their nightlife, go to the Sunset Strip. The House of Blues is where John Belushi died, and River Phoenix died at a place called the Viper.
Universal Studios City Walk is really cool for an evening. You don't have to pay admission into the park and they have excellent restaurants and clubs and stuff. There is a piano bar that I really enjoy here.
You could get tickets to the tonight show (see NBC website) or to watch a show get filmed. I believe the best website is TVTickets.com, but if that doesn't work, just google it.
There are three wineries out near the Ontario airport for some wine tasting. San Antonio Winery, Galileano Winery, and Joseph Fillipi Winery, I believe, but don't quote me on the spelling.
L.A. is a great place, and there is loads to do. My advice is to get the maps and make a plan to be sure to maximize your short stay. If you wind up somewhere that is so great you want to stay, you can always change your plans.