Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [68]
In the downtown area, several city-owned garages offer two hours of free parking, including one at 9510 Brighton Way. For two hours of free valet parking, head to the garage underneath Two Rodeo (enter from Dayton Way). Narrated 40-minute tours aboard the Beverly Hills Trolley (Map; 310-285-2438; cnr Rodeo Dr & Dayton Way; adult/child under 12 $5/1; 11am-4pm Tue-Sat Jul, Aug, Nov & Dec, Sat only otherwise) run hourly in dry weather.
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OUT & ABOUT IN LOS ANGELES Andrew Bender
LA is one of the country’s gayest cities, with the rainbow flag flying especially proudly along Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood (WeHo). Dozens of high-energy bars, cafés, restaurants, gyms and clubs flank this strip. Most cater to gay men, although there’s plenty for lesbians and mixed audiences. Thursday through Sunday nights are prime time.
Beauty reigns supreme among the buff, bronzed and styled of Boystown. Elsewhere, the scene is considerably more laid-back and less body-conscious. The crowd in Silver Lake runs from cute hipsters to leather-and-Levi’s and an older contingent. Venice and Long Beach have the most relaxed, neighborly scenes.
Except for the hardcore places, LA’s gay spots get their share of opposite-sex and straight patrons, drawn by gay friends, the fabulousness of the venues, abundant eye candy and, for women in gay bars, a non-threatening atmosphere. Within the gay community this new trend meets with – shall we say – diverse opinions.
If nightlife isn’t your scene, there are plenty of other ways to meet, greet and engage. Outdoor activities include the Frontrunners (www.lafrontrunners.com) running club and the Great Outdoors (www.greatoutdoorsla.com) hiking club. For more ideas, check the freebie magazines (such as Frontiers and IN Los Angeles), which contain up-to-date listings and news about the community and gay-friendly establishments around town. The website www.westhollywood.com is another good source.
A Different Light (Map; 310-854-6601; 8853 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood) is LA’s bastion of queer literature, nonfiction and magazines. The LA Gay & Lesbian Center (Map; 323-993-7400; www.laglc.org; 1625 Schrader Blvd, Hollywood; 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat) is a one-stop service and health agency.
The festival season kicks off in late May with the Long Beach Pride Celebration ( 562-987-9191; www.longbeachpride.com) and continues with the three-day LA Pride (www.lapride.org) in mid-June with a parade down Santa Monica Blvd. On Halloween (October 31; Click here), the same street brings out 350,000 outrageously costumed revelers of all sexual persuasions. Click here for the Outfest film festival.
There’s gay theater all over town, but the Celebration Theatre (Map; 323-957-1884; www.celebrationtheatre.com; 7051 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood) ranks among the nation’s leading stages for LGBT plays.
All WeHo hotels are de-facto gay-friendly, as are most hotels city-wide. San Vicente Inn (Map; 310-854-6915, 800-577-6915; www.gayresort.com; 845 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood; r $70-300; ) is LA’s men-only guesthouse. Rooms and cottages overlook a tropical garden, and the clothing-optional frolicking zones include a hot tub, sauna, pool and sundeck.
Eating & Drinking WeHo
Abbey (Map; 310-289-8410; www.abbeyfoodandbar.com; 692 N Robertson Blvd; mains $9-13; 8am-2am) From its beginnings as a humble coffee house, the Abbey has developed into WeHo’s bar/club/restaurant of record. Always cool and fun. There are so many different flavored martinis that you’d think they were invented here, plus there’s a full menu of pub grub and desserts. You can match your mood to the many different spaces, which range from outdoor patio to Goth lounge, chill room to your own private divan. On weekend nights, they’re all busy. Breakfast is served until 2pm.
East West (Map; 310-360-6186; www.eastwestlounge.com; 801 Larrabee St) Finally, WeHo has an intimate, mod lounge worthy of the deep-pocketed hotties who live here. Prices aren’t exactly cheap but the drink menu is creative (lots of champagne