Los Angeles
Los Angeles California CA
- Country Code
- USA
- State Code
- CA
- Day Trips
- Angeles National Forest, in the San Gabriel Mountains
- You'll find skiing in the winter, hiking year-round, and the Angeles Crest Hwy (SR2) makes for a beautiful scenic drive. Even during those few months when Los Angeles is swamped in fog and smog, the San Gabriel mountaintops soar above the clouds, offering blue skies and a new perspective on this sprawling city. For more info, visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles.
- Gay Info
- Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center 323/993-7400, www.lagaycenter.org. 1625 N Schrader Blvd (1 blk W of Wilcox, see Hollywood map).
- South Bay LGBT Center 310/328-6550, www.southbaycenter.org. 16610 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance.
- The Village (Gay & Lesbian Center extension, see Hollywood map) 323/860-7302. 1125 N McCadden Pl (at Santa Monica).
- Aids Group
- AIDS Project LA 213/201-1600.
- Gay Aa
- Alcoholics Together Center 323/663-8882, www.atcenterla.com. 1773 Griffith Park Blvd, Silverlake.
- Gay Pride
- June. Christopher St West 323/969-8302, www.lapride.org.
- June-July. Los Angeles Black LGBT Pride 323/293-4285, www.atbla.com.
- Annual Events
- June - AIDS LifeCycle 866/BIKE-4AIDS, www.aidslifecycle.org. AIDS benefit bike ride from San Francisco to LA.
- July - Outfest 213/480-7088, www.outfest.org. Los Angeles' lesbian/ gay film & video festival.
- August - Centre Court, www.lataweb.com. LA Tennis Association's int'l tournament.
- August - Sunset Junction Fair 323/661-7771, www.sunsetjunction.org. Carnival, arts & information fair on Sunset Blvd in Silverlake to benefit Sunset Junction Youth Center.
- October - AIDS Walk-a-thon 213/201-9255, www.aidswalk.net.
- October - Gay Days at Disneyland, www.gayday2.com.
- Airport
- Los Angeles International LAX near West LA, Burbank Airport in the Valley, John Wayne in Orange County. To get from LAX to West Hollywood, take the airport exit to the 405 Freeway North. Get off, going northeast onto Santa Monica. Take Santa Monica past Melrose.
- Taxi
- Taxi Co-op 877/733-3305.
- Super Shuttle
- LA Express 800/427-7483.
- Super Shuttle 310/782-6600.
- Public Transport
- Metro Transit Authority 800/266-6883, www.mta.net. Includes subway.
- Tourist Attraction
- 3rd St outdoor mall in Santa Monica.
- Chinatown, near downtown.
- City Walk in Universal Studios.
- The Getty Center 310/440-7300, www.getty.edu.
- Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd 323/464-8111.
- Griffith Observatory 213/473-0800, www.griffithobs.org.
- Melrose Ave, hip commercial district in West Hollywood.
- Theme Parks: Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, or Magic Mountain.
- Watts Towers (Simon Rodia State Historical Park), 1765 E 107th St (not far from LAX), 213/847-4646.
- Westwood Village premiere movie theaters & restaurants.
- Venice Beach.
- Visitors Bureau
- Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800/228-2452, www.discoverlosangeles.com.
- West Hollywood Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800/368-6020, www.visitwesthollywood.com.
- Weather
- Summers are hot, dry, and smoggy with temperatures in the 80°s-90°s. LA's weather is at its finest - sunny, blue skies, and moderate temperatures (mid 70°s) - during the months of March, April, and May.
- Best Views
- Drive up Mulholland Drive, in the hills between Hollywood and the Valley, for a panoramic view of the city, and the Hollywood sign.
- Where The Girls Are
- Hip dykes hang out in West Hollywood, with the boys along Santa Monica Blvd, or cruising funky Venice Beach and Santa Monica. The S&M (“Stand & Model”) glamourdykes pose in chichi clubs and posh eateries in West LA and Beverly Hills. There's a scattered community of women in Silverlake. And more suburban lesbians frequent the gay bars in Studio City and North Hollywood. If you're used to makeup-free lesbians, you may be surprised that coiffed and lipsticked lesbian style is the norm in LA. Then again, if you've ever seen an episode of The L Word, how could you be?!