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h1. Dining, Things to Do, Dining
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h2. Orientation

The greater Los Angeles area is a vast and sprawling metropolis with many cities, neighborhoods, and micro-communities.

h2. The Beach

The main beach communities of the Los Angeles Area are, from north to south: Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice and Maria Del Rey. Unfortunately, Downtown LA is on the east side of town, so in order to dip your toes in the Pacific, you'll need a car or a bus trip. Access to the beaches is free, but parking is not.

If you're looking for suggestions, here is a link to recommendations for [8 great LA area beaches|http://discoverlosangeles.com/play/activities-and-recreation/outdoors-and-sports/los-angeles-beaches-eight-great-beaches-in-los-angeles.html].

h2. The Arts

There are many great art and history museums in Los Angeles. Here are some resources to explore and just a few options to consider:

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Discover the Arts in Los Angeles | [http://discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/] | Resource to find deals for numerous museums, plays, etc. |
| LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) | [http://www.lacma.org] | An amazing museum, including two new complexes. Check our BCAM for contemporary art. |
| Getty | [http://www.getty.edu] | Two locations, one in LA off the 405 and one at the coast on Pacific Coast Hwy. Both are amazing\! |
| MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art | [http://www.moca.org/] | South Grand Ave near Pershing Square exit. |
| Annenberg Space for Photography | [http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/] | A small space, but great photography. In 1-2 hours, you'll see it all and be ready for your next adventure in LA. |
| Petersen Automotive Museum | [http://www.petersen.org/] | If you're a car nut, this place is for you. Just across the street from LACMA. |
| Hollywood Bowl | [http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/] | Music, performances. |
| Walt Disney Concert Hall | [http://www.laphil.com/visit/] | Not sure if there will be performances, but worth a look\! |
| Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper Forum | [http://www.centertheatregroup.org/] | If a play's your thing, check out these great venues. |
| Griffith Observatory | [http://www.griffithobservatory.org/] | Great view of LA, planetarium, and much more\! |
| The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens | [http://www.huntington.org/] | In San Marino-Pasadena. |

h2. Amusement Parks, Rides, and Zoos

|| LocationIndependent ||Shakespeare URLat ||Griffith NotesPark || | Disneyland | [http://disneylandwww.disney.goindependentshakespeare.com/] | In AnaheimShakespeare. Griffith Park. A significant commute from downtown LA. |
| Universal Studios | [http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/] | A short freeway drive from downtown LA. |
| Six Flags Magic MountainCheck schedule to see if playing during conference.|
| Autry Museum Of Western Heritage | | |

h2. Amusement Parks, Rides, and Zoos

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Disneyland | [http://wwwdisneyland.disney.sixflagsgo.com/magicMountain/index.aspx] | In Santa Clarita/ValenciaAnaheim. A significant commute from downtown LA. |
| Knott'sUniversal BerryStudios Farm | [http://www.knottsuniversalstudioshollywood.com/] | A short freeway drive. Notfrom asdowntown impressiveLA. as the others, IMO. |
| |Six SantaFlags MonicaMagic PierMountain | [http://www.santamonicapiersixflags.org/com/magicMountain/index.aspx] | Rides,In food, beach..Santa Clarita/Valencia. A commute from downtown LA. |
| Knott's LABerry ZooFarm | [http://www.lazooknotts.orgcom/] | GreatA for kidsdrive. GeneNot Autryas Museumimpressive acrossas the streetothers, IMO. |
| AquariumSanta ofMonica thePier Pacific | [http://www.aquariumofpacificsantamonicapier.org/] | Long BeachRides, food, beach... |
| h2.LA SightseeingZoo 
|| Location [http://www.lazoo.org/] || URLGreat ||for Noteskids. ||Gene |Autry DiscoverMuseum Losacross Angeles | [http://discoverlosangeles.com/]the street. |
Links| toAquarium optionsof big and small. |
| Hollywood Signthe Pacific | [http://www.hollywoodsignaquariumofpacific.org/] | ALong popularBeach. symbol|
of
LAh2. Sightseeing

|| Location || URL Hollywood|| andNotes Highland, incl. Mann's Chinese Theater||
| Discover Los Angeles | [http://www.hollywoodandhighlanddiscoverlosangeles.com/] | SeeLinks theto Chinese,options glimpsebig theand Hollywoodsmall. Sign|
from| theHollywood observationSign level, see the El Capitan Theatre across the street, gawk at people dressed in costume. A short subway trip from downtown. |
| Griffith Park | [http| [http://www.hollywoodsign.org/] | A popular symbol of LA. |
| Hollywood and Highland, incl. Mann's Chinese Theater | [http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpkhollywoodandhighland.com/] | |
| Beverly Hills | [http://www.beverlyhills.org/] | The [Graystone Mansion|http://www.greystonemansion.org/] is a free place to visit See the Chinese, glimpse the Hollywood Sign from the observation level, see the El Capitan Theatre across the street, gawk at people dressed in costume. A short subway trip from downtown. |
| SantaGriffith Monica PierPark | [http://www.santamonicapierlaparks.org/] /dos/parks/griffithpk/] | Rides,|
food, beach... |
| Venice Beach | [| La Brea Tar Pits | http://www.venicebeachtarpits.comorg/] | Famous or infamous? LACMA next door. Petersen across street. |
| Beverly ChinatownHills | [http://www.chinatownlabeverlyhills.comorg/] | |The [Graystone | Union Station | [Mansion|http://enwww.wikipediagreystonemansion.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Los_Angeles%29]] is a free place to visit. |
| |Santa OlveraMonica StreetPier | [http://enwww.wikipediasantamonicapier.org/wiki/Olvera_Street] | Rides, food, beach... |
| LittleVenice TokyoBeach | [http://enwww.wikipediavenicebeach.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo,_Los_Angelescom/] | Famous Downtownor LA.infamous? |
| Queen MaryChinatown | [http://www.queenmarychinatownla.com/] | Long Beach|
| Union h2.Station Shopping

More places than can be mentioned here. Just a sample:

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Americana - Glendale| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Los_Angeles%29] | |
| Olvera Street | [http://wwwen.americanaatbrandwikipedia.com/org/wiki/Olvera_Street] | Popular|
new mall. | | Beverly Hills - Rodeo DriveLittle Tokyo | [http://wwwen.rodeodrive-bh.com/index4.htmlwikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo,_Los_Angeles] | Iconic.Downtown ExpensiveLA. |
| BeverlyQueen CenterMary | [http://www.beverlycenterqueenmary.com/] | NotLong inBeach Beverly|
Hills,
but a mall nonetheless. |
| 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monicah2. Shopping

More places than can be mentioned here. Just a sample:

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Americana - Glendale | [http://www.thirdstreetpromenadeamericanaatbrand.com/visitors/index.html] | Open-airPopular walkingnew mall. |
Moments| awayBeverly fromHills Santa- MonicaRodeo pierDrive and beach. Another major mall next door. A commute from downtown LA| [http://www.rodeodrive-bh.com/index4.html] | Iconic. Expensive. |
| TheBeverly GroveCenter | [http://www.thegrovelabeverlycenter.com/] | AnotherNot in popular open-air mall. Farmer's market nearbyBeverly Hills, but a mall nonetheless. |
| Hollywood and Highland3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica | [http://www.hollywoodandhighlandthirdstreetpromenade.com/visitors/index.html] | See the sights, buy some things. Mann's ChineseOpen-air walking mall. Moments away from Santa Monica pier and beach. Another major mall next door,. ElA Capitancommute Theatrefrom acrossdowntown the streetLA. |
| h2.The DiningGrove 
There are many, many restaurants and eateries in the LA area.

First, you'll notice that restaurants have a letter grade on the door. This is a rating of cleanliness from the city. You want to eat at an "A" restaurant. Less than an "A" means the establishment hasn't met all health codes. You can learn more here: [http://lapublichealth.org/eh/misc/ehpost.htm]


|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| The Original Pantry | [http://www.pantrycafe.com/] | An LA landmark. Good ole American diner fare. |
| Urban Spoon's Picks | [http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/5/415/LA/Downtown-Los-Angeles-restaurants] | |
| Yelp's Picks | | [http://www.thegrovela.com/] | Another popular open-air mall. Farmer's market nearby. |
| Hollywood and Highland | [http://www.hollywoodandhighland.com/] | See the sights, buy some things. Mann's Chinese next door, El Capitan Theatre across the street. |

h2. Dining

There are many, many restaurants and eateries in the LA area.

First, you'll notice that restaurants have a letter grade on the door. This is a rating of cleanliness from the city. You want to eat at an "A" restaurant. Less than an "A" means the establishment hasn't met all health codes. You can learn more here: [http://lapublichealth.org/eh/misc/ehpost.htm]


|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| The Original Pantry | [http://www.yelppantrycafe.com/search?find_desc=restaurants+downtown&find_loc=Los+Angeles%2C+CA] | |


If you're interested in exploring LA's food truck scene, try:
[LAist Food Truck Twitter List|https://twitter.com/#!/list/LAist/foodtrucks]
[Roaming Hunger|http://roaminghunger.com/la] An LA landmark. Good ole American diner fare. |
| Urban Spoon's Picks | [http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/5/415/LA/Downtown-Los-Angeles-restaurants] | |
| Yelp's Picks | [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants+downtown&find_loc=Los+Angeles%2C+CA] | |


If you're interested in sampling someexploring of LA's amazingfood tacos and taco truckstruck scene, atry:
great[LAist resourceFood isTruck [The Great Taco Hunt|httpTwitter List|https://www.greattacohunttwitter.com/#!/list/LAist/foodtrucks].
But seriously, almost any taco trunk you come upon is going to have something unique and delicious.

You may have heard that LA has excellent Chinese food. The best place to get some of the most authentic and regional [Roaming Hunger|http://roaminghunger.com/la]



If you're interested in sampling some of LA's amazing tacos and taco trucks, a great resource is [The Great Taco Hunt|http://www.greattacohunt.com/]. But seriously, almost any taco trunk you come upon is going to have something unique and delicious.

You may have heard that LA has excellent Chinese food. The best place to get some of the most authentic and regional cuisines is in the various towns of the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Downtown.

h2. Sports, Concerts

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Staples Center | http://www.staplescenter.com/ | Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Concerts, etc.|
| LA Forum | http://thelaforum.com/ | Concerts, etc.|
| LA Dodgers | http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la | Go Blue! |
| Anaheim or LA Angels | http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana | Go Angels! |
| The Greek Theatre | http://www.greektheatrela.com/ | Concerts, etc.|


h2. Off the Beaten Path

|| Location || URL || Notes ||
| Adamson House, Malibu | [http://www.adamsonhouse.org/] | Beautiful location, learn about Malibu history, amazing tile. |
| Hollyhock House, Hollywood | [http://hollyhockhouse.net/] | Frank Lloyd Wright. 'Nuff said. |
| MAK Center at the Schindler House, West Hollywood | [http://www.makcenter.org/] | Art and architecture. |
| Gamble House, Pasadena | [http://www.gamblehouse.org/] | Architecture. Pasadena. Might remember it from Back to the Future. |
| Culver City Art District | [http://www.ccgalleryguide.com/] | A collection of art galleries with new and old art and photography for sale. |
| Bergamot Station Art Center, Santa Monica | [http://bergamotstation.com/] | A collection of art galleries with new and old art and photography for sale. |
| LA Metro Art | [http://www.metro.net/about/art/] | The art at bus stations, rail stations, etc. |
| Los Angeles Farmer's Market | [http://www.farmersmarketla.com/] | |
| Los Angeles Fashion District, Flower District | [http://www.fashiondistrict.org/] | |