Hi Elise,

Think I can help with the restaurants, as I'm a veg myself.  Some all-veg choices include:

Kung Food at Fifth and Quince near Balboa Park, recently reopened, is an all vegan buffet with some innovative versions of traditionally non-veg entrees.

Jyoti Bihanga on Adams in Normal Heights.  Dinners are great, especially the Brahma Burrito, but breakfast is mostly egg-based (nothing against eggs, mind you), and not that exciting.  Call ahead because their hours are weird.  Usually closed on Wednesdays.

Spread on University in North Park, next to the (currently undergoing renovation) North Park Theatre.  A new, funky place with interesting food and a huge selection of gourmet peanut and almond butters they make themselves.  The cookies and cream version is particularly tasty.

As for places to visit, I've had good luck taking friends from far away and all walks of life up to Julian, especially in the winter.  That and it's a great excuse to eat some amazing apple pie and drink warm apple cider to warm up.

Hope this helps!  PM me if I can be of further assistance.

Enjoy your friend's visit.

All the best,
H3

How about doing some "local" things like PB Bar & Grill, a club in Hillcrest, kayaking in La Jolla, a day at D-Land, Mexican food in National City (El Juans), a day trip to Scottsdale? just a few thoughts.

Modern SoCal is about TV, movies, aerospace, and a whole new level of urban sprawl... does she want to chill out or are you two up for stimulation?
I don't have to remind ladies that there's always shopping. Everywhere. And SoCal's surf brands ususally bellweather Northern Hemisphere trends.
SDO has the Flying Karamotsov Bros. in town, and still has some surviving aerospace. LA has JPL, the original Universal Studios with a behind the scenes beyond the tourists' usual pap and TV. The beaches everywhere are too cold, but local snowboarding could be really good at BigBear by then. Get a couple wetties and do the surfboard/snowboard in one day thing.
 You guys been to the Norton Simon? 'stands up to any fine arts museum anywhere-- especially in light of where it is and how it fits into LA infrstructure and community. It takes a day by itself, so plan on two nights in Venice.
 If you're into outdoor challenge, check with the National Forest Service and consider a one day hike of Mt Baldy's Devil's Backbone-- take your ice axe-- or into the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Big Horn sheep just two hours from your front door. Just leave word at the trailhead when you hike in.
 Palm Springs and the Spa at Marriott Las Palmas? Sign me up.
 Casa del Zoro in Borrego Springs?
And you can't beat the vegan food in LA. There's every kind of fruit and nut you could imagine. PM Laurel; she must be plugged in to all the goodies...

The Getty museum in Malibu.

It has one of the best van Gogh collections in the world. I think it's the best museum in the US. There's no entrance fee and parking is free but you must make parking reservations weeks in advance. Most people park down at the beach and walk the mile up or take a cab.

The Huntington Library in the Los Angeles area is also a good choice.  It has a beautiful grounds with plants from all over the world, a Japanese garden and an experimental rose garden.  In addition it has a small but quality art and antiquity collections.  You can possibly arrange to have an english tea buffet while you are there if you can get a reservation quickly enough.

-- Modified on 1/12/2005 9:12:07 PM

I've been to La Palm Azul in TJ several times.  It's on Aguacaliente near Los Arcos and the Twin Towers.  Nice.

If you want to drive for 20 minutes, La Fonda on the Baja toll road is really fun, and a great view.

Hard to beat the Mediterranean though.  We're a little sleepy around here.

Have a great time!