Managing Editor at ACCLAIM and straight-up chill bro Alex Weiland
is all about doing things with dudes – working with them, being fathered by them, writing for a style title catering to them, inhabiting the same planet as them AND traveling with them. Which is where we came in.
The En Route Issue
of ACCLAIM (#synergy) celebrating the journey of inspiring creative individuals and collectives is out super soon – get your hands on it pre-order. Alex was kind enough to STOP, collaborate and tell us her Top 10 Things to do in LA when Traveling with Dudes.
ALEX: As the only girl in an office of six or so dudes, I’m pretty used to hanging with guys. For the most part it’s pretty enjoyable and while I love girls, when it comes to holidays, traveling with guys might just be the way to go. Let’s face it, they’re more likely to party, less likely to sook and if shit goes down, they generally have to deal with it by default. Sucks to be you guys.
LA is basically a dude’s dream world: big cars, greasy food, lots of tequila and Latin women everywhere. So here are my top ten things to do in LA when traveling with dudes. VIVA LA BROFEST!
1. Party: The Do Over
@ Lure (formerly Cabana Club)
Address: 1439 Ivar Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 463-0004
Website: www.lurehollywood.com
Alex says: Day parties are my jam! Specifically those involving an abundance of sangria, in tropical surrounds and with a soundtrack of disco, rap, 80s boogie and West Coast bangers. Head to The Do Over, a day party held every Sunday (I think) over summer. They have a ‘one girl to every dude’ policy which means girls and couples get to skip the queue, kinda sucks if you’re a single dude but it’s worth the wait as it means it’s no sausage fest. GOOD. Always an epic secret lineup. When we were there it was Gaslamp Killer, Krystal Klear, Dj Quik etc. And it’s free. INSANE. Oh and they’re holding one in Melbourne soon!
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2. Shop: Amoeba Music, Hollywood
Address: 6400 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 245-6400
Website: www.amoeba.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:30am-11pm, Sunday 11am-9pm. Trade Counter Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:30am-9pm Sunday 11am-8pm
Alex says: Amoeba Music is the biggest independent record store in the world, DANG! And their Hollywood location is their biggest store. So… it’s a pretty damn big store. It occupies a whole block in downtown Hollywood and has millions of titles across all platforms including secondhand vinyl etc. They also do heaps of in-store events and signings. And dudes love music, so this is a no brainer. It’s actually really close to the Do Over so maybe head there before.
3. EAT: Sushi Gen at Honda Plaza
Address: 422 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 617-0552
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11am-2pm + 5:30pm-10pm, Saturday 5pm-10pm
Alex says: This is the best sushi I’ve eaten in my life. I dream of it often. It’s in a bit of a weird little area downtown in Little Tokyo but it’s worth the search as it is just insane. It’s a no bullshit, simple little sushi bar, no train gimmick just amazing melt-in-your-mouth raw fish, Japanese beer and sake. If you’re serious about your sashimi, head here, sit at the bar and order lots of the octopus.
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4. SHOP: Fairfax Ave | La Brea Ave etc
Alex says: Most dudes will wanna head to Fairfax Ave and its general vicinity for shopping, as it has every damn streetwear brand’s store you can imagine, all in one spot. And of course insanely cheaper than back in Oz. There’s a couple of vintage stores in between for reprieve but they’re pretty overpriced and average so just surrender to a dude shopping trip and get used to sitting in the ‘boyfriend chair.’
Canters Deli is the famous lunch spot but if it’s worth grabbing lunch at this joint called Golden State. It’s a chill little café with great food (esp burgers), cold beer and chill staff. And make sure you drop into Known Gallery just down the road. They always have great shows on the street art/graffiti vibe from artists like Pose, Patrick Martinez, Roid and Saber etc.
Fairfax runs into Melrose, so if you really can’t stomach looking at another graphic tee, haul ass down there for all the estrogen friendly stores you can handle.
Some highlights:
Golden State
Address: 426 North Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 782-8331
Website: www.thegoldenstatecafe.com
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12noon-10pm
Known Gallery
Address: 441 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (310) 860-6263
Website: www.knowngallery.com
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 12noon-7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
Supreme
Address: 439 North Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 655-6205
Website: www.supremenewyork.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
The Hundreds
Address: 7909 Rosewood Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (310) 807-1754
Website: www.thehundreds.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am–7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
Diamond Supply
Address: 451 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (323) 966-5970
Website: www.diamondsupplyco.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
Stussy
Address: 112 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 933-2251
Website: www.stussy.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
Mishka
Address: 128 S. La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (213) 536-4234
Website: www.mishkanyc.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12noon-6pm
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5. EAT: El Coyote
Address: 7312 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 939 – 2255
Website: www.elcoyotecafe.com
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am-11pm
Alex says: Shopping makes you hungry, no? Luckily for you this epic Mexican restaurant is just around the corner on Beverly Blvd. El Coyote has been around since 1931 – it’s super charming, has great food and a really fun vibe. FUN FACT: Edward Norton is said to visit the restaurant on occasion… according to their website. I did not see him when I was there. I have a thing for Edward Norton. I was bummed. Tequila eased the pain.
6. STAY: The Standard, Downtown
Address: 550 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 892-8080
E-Mail: downtownLA@standardhotel.com
Website: www.standardhotels.com
Alex says: Not an original suggestion, I realise, but The Standard really has set the standard (ZING!) for affordable accomm worldwide for a reason. They have that ‘laidback luxe’ vibe down to a fine art. The rooftop bar is a great place to chill after stomping the concrete all day and room service here is ILL. We ate it heaps when we got home late and drunk (ie. most nights). Once we passed out before we could eat this giant order and we woke the next morning to an untouched table full of cold burgers, fries and mac ‘n cheese with lobster! Don’t let dudes order. Fricken lobster mac ‘n cheese? WTF.
They also have parties on the rooftop over summer called Swimming with Sharks. Girls party in bikinis there, which is def a novelty for dudes from Melbourne… or anywhere.
7. LOOK: MoCA
Address: 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 626-6222
Website: www.moca.org
Opening Hours: Monday 11am–5pm, Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday 11am–5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am–6pm
Alex says: I love checking out the big art museums of whatever town I’m visiting. LA’s MOCA is actually pretty great. I was lucky enough to be in town during the epic Art in the Streets Exhibition at the Geffen Little Tokyo location, which was organized by Jeffrey Deitch, Roger Gastman and Aaron Rose. It was the first museum show of graffiti/street art they had done and was truly amazing. The other location on South Grand Avenue has a really strong collection too and is pretty quiet. Huge rooms of Warhols and Claes Oldenburg sculptures all to yourself and iconic works by dude’s like Rothko. Check it out.
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8. PARTY: Dance Right
Address: 336 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90013
E-Mail: info@danceright.net
Website: www.danceright.net
Alex says: Another good club night to check out downtown is Dance Right. Pretty sure they run every week or so. Sign up to their mailing list so you know what’s coming up but it’s generally fun electronic vibes a la Mad Decent/Fool’s Gold. I can’t remember too much about the time I was there, which means it was obviously a good party. Someone gave us a lift home, I’m pretty sure. Someone always gives you a lift home in the States. It’s great. But maybe don’t take those lifts if you’re not travelling with dudes. See? They have their perks, right.
9. CHILL: El Prado Bar
Address: 1805 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: (213) 484-6079
Website: www.elpradobar.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6pm-2am, Sunday and Saturday 2pm-2am
Alex says: If all this partying is making you start to feel a little ‘Less Than Zero’-like, perhaps you need something a little more soothing and chilled out for one of your nights. Enter El Prado bar in Echo Park. They’re slanging “Beer, Snacks and Records”. Not bad. The cocktails are really good and it’s all kinda classy and lovely and you will feel nice afterwards.
10. SEE: Jumbos Clown Room
Address: 5153 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90027
Phone: (323) 666-1187
Website: www.jumbos.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 4pm-2am
Alex says: So, you’ve recovered? Good, because we’re going to the strippers. Who doesn’t love the strippers? Strangely in the States or at least Cali there’s some weird law where chicks can’t get totally nude if there is booze around (which means the only girls who can, are girls who work in places with no booze ie. Under 21 year olds, it’s all a bit creepy) so this is actually more of a ‘bikini bar’. It’s very LA and super cheesy but fun. Free entry and 80s rock all night and the strippers are more on your Suicide Girls/Kat Von D end of the scale. And the drinks are strong. And you don’t need to dress up. Hit it up!
BONUS. Last tip: Get a car. And make the dudes drive it.
Follow Alex on Twitter @CC_mayoress
*Pics courtesy of Alex’s dude, PJ Smith.
