I have a girlfriend coming from overseas, so I'll be partially incommunicado and most likely unavailable for at least couple of weeks starting either the 19th or the 20th...

Please be patient with me.  I'll try to answer calls and emails as frequently as possible and I've got a little time to date prior to then...

P.S.  I'd never bring a date to my home.  The entertaining is merely the girlfriend.

Anyone with any out of the way places that I could take a girl that lives three blocks from the mediterreanan and has done the ropes through the rainforest of Costa Rica let me know.. this town is kinda boring for a girl that's been in the Guggenheim.(sp)  The zoo, wild animal park, old town are out and we already did Balboa Park, the Dam out in Santee, the Mission.

She'd think nothing of a naked beach, and she's vegetarian, so most of the restaurants are out because she can't even stand to look at meat/fish as food.

I'm thinking a whale watching trip and maybe a quickie to Venice Beach for an overnighter... (I can't afford cancun or los cabos!!!)

xoxox
Elise  

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.

There is an art exhibit by a well known CA artist that you could go see.  His works are really pretty nice.  Here are some links - http://www.calart.com/Data/Artists/Carl_Oscar_Borg.asp

http://www.artnet.com/artist/2791/Carl_Oscar_Borg.html

Hope these are helpful.  Whatever you do, be good  VF

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 Getty museum in Malibu is closed for renovations.
Scheduled to open Fall 2005 as the "Getty Villa".

The NEW Getty Center in LA is open and is very very nice.

http://www.getty.edu

Just up the hill is the Skirball Cultural Center which is currently having an Einstein exhibit.

http://www.skirball.org/exhibit/einstein.asp

I think this lady from Europe would love to go to Catalina Island.  Even if it's cold out there, I think she would appreciate it.

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!