Part II Entertaining Your Out-of-Town Friends in the South Park Social District
Living in one of the greatest cities in the world means that you will inevitably have visitors from out of town. We love them, but people who aren’t local to Los Angeles don’t know the first thing about planning a fun day here. If you missed last month’s article on entertaining guests – here is the link -
https://www.spna-dtla.org/blog/keep-your-out-of-town-visitors-in-south-park
Summer is in full-swing, vacationers abound, and now you have friends coming to Los Angeles for a reunion or meetup or to see you. Here’s my suggestions to turn their visit into a girls’ (or anyone’s) weekend in South Park.
A Day in South Park:
11 am - Start with brunch at the Moxy’s La Lo La restaurant on Figueroa at Pico. Make reservations in advance because this place does book up. Is the service great? No. But is the food impressive? Also no. The view, though. It’s the view all the way to the coastline that is worth the price of admission. Get started with an activity that will let your guests experience the sight of our infamous winding freeways. Show them the mountains all the way to the water (air quality permitting). Also, the snobby waitresses can establish somewhat of an inside joke that will give you something to laugh about for the rest of the day.
12:30 pm – After brunch, walk across the street on Figueroa to Olympic to the Grammy Museum. The exhibits here are always fascinating. They have displays that include original lyrics written by Tupac, Cardi B’s manicure, and dresses that Taylor Swift wore to the famous award show. They regularly update the museum with new exhibits and there are some unique photo ops. Don’t forget to hit up the gift shop on the way out for some musical souvenirs.
3 pm – After spending a few hours in a museum, I always need a snack or a coffee pick-me-up. Skip the Ray Charles rooftop at the museum. It’s usually closed, and it doesn’t have a real coffee selection. Instead, walk across the street on Figueroa to Café Fig in the historic Hotel Figueroa. They have a lounge menu available from 3-9:30 pm where you can regroup, relax, and even book a day pass for the hotel pool if you’re feeling up to it. Resort Pass is excellent for something like this, just make sure you do it in advance.
Then it’s time to head home and change for your night out.
7 pm – Make a reservation in advance for one of the many restaurants (Figueroa at Pico) at Level 8. My favorite is Que Barbaro, where even the simple-sounding chicken thighs will be one of the most memorable dishes you have in your entire life. It’s pricey, it’s extra, it’s worth it. How often do you get to host your out-of-town friends for an LA visit? Do it up here.
9 pm – If you’re a club girlie, head down to Mr. Wanderlust in the same building. But if your scene is something a little more laid back, head 4 blocks over to Hope and 11th to Prank. They have a welcoming outdoor patio, affordable drinks, and often host DJs with live music. You’ll have a good time without needing to stress about crowds or a scene.
Here ends your memorable, walkable day in just a sliver of the South Park neighborhood. Coming up – what to do when your parents visit and what to do when a romantic interest arrives in LA!
By Audry Knox