trinacriabob

Absolutely, I didn't add that in because, if traffic conditions are bad along 101/405, that can keep someone from completing the loop I described. Taking Topanga Canyon or Malibu Canyon back up to the 101 and then down to the 405 to return to the city proper really helps explain Los Angeles's canyon/valley/coastal basin "set-up," which is quite unique.

immigrant

One way or another, a 3-day tourist to LA needs to get some sand in between their toes. Malibu is the most "rural," so it has a good feel. People more representative of what LA "used to be" are more likely to be found in Manhattan and Hermosa, Redondo had a decent pier and Torrance's beach south of there offers a nice view of "the sweep" of the bay, Santa Monica actually has a crappy beach and parking is expensive...and wait...for some Bohemian (as Berkeley or Santa Cruz as it gets in SoCal) vibes, Venice Beach may be ok...but not after the sun goes down. So many (stupid) people bash LA. I showed LA to my cousin from Europe in 3 days the "right way" and she was impressed....a city that just can't be explained! A palm-lined waterfront and snow-capped mountains behind the downtown skyline. What's there to bash?

Day two could look like this: - go to the Getty Museum - drive along Sunset into the Palisades taking a detour here and there to check out some nice homes - drive up to Malibu to see the ocean, the old Malibu Pier, get the view from Pepperdine, eat at Gladstone's or other place (try Leo Carrillo State Beach, it feels 200 miles away from LA, or even Zuma Beach can be ok) - drive down to the South Bay and check out beach strand in Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo and get a quick glance at the Marina del Rey en route - drive up to the northward outlook of Palos Verdes to see the curve of Santa Monica Bay which is worth a few photos - return to Santa Monica and spend an evening in Iran/Armenia/Israel/Mexico/surfer land/movie star wannabe land and get a good dinner while peoplewatching It's all good.

first in.... response to thread: North Carolina

:angry2: Well, then I'll only go to Montreal and forget Toronto. Just kidding, of course. So you'll be missing out on my hometown. LA can be done in a 3-day period and you can see a lot (if you skip the amusement parks/studio tours) Day one: Downtown LA major things (fairly compact), tacky Hollywood must-sees and Beverly Hills Day two: Santa Monica, Malibu and the South Bay Day three: Orange County highlights OR coastline to Santa Barbara OR Angeles Crest/nearby mountains OR other type of day trip About San Francisco, if you are there on a weekend, take the BART train UNDER THE BAY and check out the street vendors in Berkeley...a veritable time warp, with lots of tye-dye wearing people who make you wonder how they can afford to live in the Bay Area to begin with...just walk out of the BART station onto Shattuck Avenue and you will see some interesting people...I don't remember if it's on Saturday or Sunday. The Berkeley campus is also interesting, in general.

Public Storage

That's right, keep giving me dollars like the extra years on your posts on a repeated basis, and I will be able to buy a house behind gates with a circular driveway. Who knows...we might be coming to Hockessin DE and crash the gates for your 40th. Tell your wife to have cannolis ready. Nah, I still write a check a month (it's called graduate school)...but not that many years/dollar amount left on the balance.

banana

Hey, I know Villanova is a good school. I went to a Catholic undergrad and, because of the check I wrote for years after that, I became cheap. Throw grad school/a career change on top of that and I became even cheaper. I definitely would not do the private school thing again. There is no house with a gate or even a circular driveway in my future. Such is life.

Richter scale

You mean she's "pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen?"

The dude from Lancaster, PA! Galloping Gertie...what's with that in your av? I was just there over the weekend (oh, no, you and I are telepathic)!

Happy Birthday, to you guys on both coasts!

earthquake

sugarcoat

Housewives of Atlanta

You should invite him over, PCS.

STD

Before I even read your "last post/response," I knew such a theme would follow and I was ready to ask you for a directory of Latin Masses in the U.S. so I can lift my cultural profile even higher, perhaps to match yours! Buona Pasqua, B.

Going up north where the remaining members of my family live...the once-every-3-month ritual...but will take a day for myself to go up to Canada, or somewhere, to clear my head. Well, I know it will be salmon on Friday night (Good Friday) and a brunch I don't have to pay for on Sunday morning, so not all is lost. Any plans for Easter?

Park (one of the ever-changing names for Candlestick Park in San Francisco)

deplorable

Boston Market

Awesome, guys. I appreciate it!