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Pixystix_tiny by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Comment 445 comments

Hello, LLers. As some of you may know, I will be making a special guest appearance in Seattle in August. What you don't know is that I will also be invading California for a week and I would love suggestions for things to do there. I will be starting in San Francisco and will work my way down to Los Angeles and San Diego. I would love tips on: 1) Things to do in the bay area, 2) Places to see on the drive from the bay area to Los Angeles, and 3) Fun things in LA (near UCLA, seattlebruin this is all you), SD, and maybe even Tijuana.

Star-divide

Also helpful would be tips on where to find good eats. Look out, California, I'm coming for you.

 

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Comments

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You in Tijuana scares me.

I am going to start calling my trip to Seattle a “Special Guest Appearance” also.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Jul 24, 2008 6:44 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're not very good at this are you?

Did Willie Bloomquist's dad die and make you queen?

by JI on Jul 24, 2008 9:34 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wouldn't she just say nothing then show up one day?

Did Willie Bloomquist's dad die and make you queen?

by JI on Jul 24, 2008 9:40 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I would advise against going to Mexico unless you're pretty committed to it

you’re gonna need a passport and a whole lot of patience to get across the border each way, and honestly, I’ve always thought TJ was overrated

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 9:21 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Apparently you can get steroids there

so that’s a positive.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Jul 24, 2008 2:51 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

San Diego is a great town

Go to Petco. The park is gorgeous. While you are there, hit the Gaslamp District. All sorts good places to eat and drink. San Diego Zoo is one of, if not the, best zoos in the world. Check it out. Wild Animal Park is cool, but its a long drive to just look at more animals. The Zoo is in Balboa Park which has 13+ museums. Cherry pick anything that will interest you (Aerospace museum is one I like). Hotel Del Coronado is an institution. You need to go and look at it. Proposed to my wife there (just like 50% of all other San Diegans). Tijuana is….. yeah, not really worth it. Its cool if you are 19 and want to drink sort of legally and get a fat stripper to sleep with you. Other than that, the zebra-painted donkeys depress me.

Make sure you get a California burrito. There are thousands of burrito places in San Diego and they all have one. Usually, the crappier the building, the better the burrito. If you want something that looks good and tastes okay, go to Sombrero’s. There are 20 or so of them. While in California, hit an In and Out. Its a bit over-rated, but its the taste of SoCal. Get the fries animal-style (forget about any heart conditions you might have).

by TheEmrys on Jul 24, 2008 6:49 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Fun Mississippi activity:

Find the smallest town possible that still has a bar, walk inside and announce loudly; “Hello, friends, I’m from Los Angeles by way of Seattle. I was wondering if you could tell me where to find the nearest Whole Foods Market. My boyfriend has a serious craving for oysters, and you all know what that means!” The locals will find it hilarious and buy you a beer.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:35 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   1 recs

No. Mississippi is by far the worst.

Civilization exists in Alabama and Tennessee—particularly Tennessee. At least they have large cities, some form of culture, a few decent universities.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Jul 24, 2008 9:37 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

As I'm sure acblue will attest to

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 9:37 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I defend Tennessee to those that deride it, and I criticize it to those that defend it.

Tennessee is one of the better places in the south, but it’s still the south.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:41 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh dear God yes.

If the opportunity arose, I would live in Memphis for a year or two. It’s a nice city. Just too hot.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:47 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Starkville and Oxford are somewhat pretty and moderately less backwoods.

The rest of the state should have an electric fence put up around it. It would take a week for the entire population of the state to be electrocuted while urinating.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 12:04 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hahahahahahaha

Starkville is hideous and filled with backwards people. The people look the same, talk the same, believe the same. It could be wiped off the map entirely and I would giggle with glee.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Jul 24, 2008 12:06 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

College towns are generally worth preserving.

I was a little kid when I spent any significant amount of time there. My Uncle Lynn was a Professor at MSU and he was awesome so it’s entirely possible that any good memories of the place are directly related to him.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 12:10 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Geographically or culturally?

Geographically, nothing. Culturally, Alabama and Mississippi are fairly close, but Alabama is a bit less destitute. West Tennessee is a lot more like the Midwest, and Eastern Tennessee (at least in the population centers) has a fairly Progressive Southerner vibe going on, kinda’ like Atlanta.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:39 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Nor do I.

Unless it’s in the panhandle and has less than 20,000 people.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:48 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

TN is one of the more up and coming areas in the US.

Nashville and Memphis are darling cities and Knoxville isn’t bad. I rate TN ahead of Kentucky and I rather like Kentucky as well.

Places in the US that suck:
the ND-OK line: for reason of being really boring
the AR-MS-AL-LA (outside NO) quadrant: for being oh-my-god y’all backward.
MI: for having Detroit in it

by Matthew on Jul 24, 2008 10:09 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No on Orange County

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:33 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think I'm OK with going to your hell then

mine looks like Vegas – alcohol and gambling

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:42 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh, that's supposed to be a minus sign

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:43 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Showgirls yes, rides yes

drinking no, gambling no, Bellagio buffet no

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:46 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's my personal hell

Vegas on infinite loop without drinking or gambling

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:47 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't think anyone is going to offer to trade with Robert

he’s like the guy who goes to the trading block with HoRam as his best trading chip

The Jose Lopez Watch - 120H - 13 BB - 61 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:51 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Did

Old MV rumor has it that the Dairy Queen was used as a place to run drugs, using crazy orders to purchase supplies of drugs. Apparently it got shut down when a lady bought a sundae and ended up with a whole bunch of meth by accident.

by Robert on Jul 24, 2008 10:59 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Better than Anaheim.

Deal’s back on, but I keep purgatory.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 10:47 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Alright, you don't have to give me full control of purgatory

but how about a time share or a place to be named later

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:48 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Fair enough.

(FYI-my purgatory is waiting for the Ballard Bridge to close.)

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 10:48 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

.... make it a place to be named later

I don’t want anything to do with the Ballard Bridge

The Jose Lopez Watch - 120H - 13 BB - 61 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:50 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

.

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:34 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

OC no

I driven both east and west Texas and yeah, it was pretty bad, so ok the ND-OK line is extended to include TX.

Naturally, the major cities within that line are exempt. It’s not all-encompassing.

by Matthew on Jul 24, 2008 10:50 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That rules out a road trip with Erik Bedard!!

......

The Jose Lopez Watch - 120H - 13 BB - 61 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:54 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   1 recs

I have not.

I’m sure there are infinitely more depressing places than Tijuana. I just haven’t been to them.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 1:34 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I assume you'll take the PCH down from SF to LA ?

If you didn’t plan on doing that, then you should.

by infant on Jul 24, 2008 8:22 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Convince him :-)

I think it really is a beautiful drive. Also, Monterey, Big Sur etc are nice areas to visit and see.

I agree with what has been said about San Diego. If I would want to live in a big city, that would be the place for me. Absolutely love it there.

Are you into art and museums and those kind of things ? There are some interesting places to visit in LA if that’s the case. There are also some interesting places in LA if you want to party ;-), so if you need advice on any of those just let me know.

Checkout Balboa (peninsula) @ Newport Beach. I quite like it there as well.

by infant on Jul 24, 2008 8:27 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Don't Take PCH

Unless you have unlimited time and don’t mind staying in places you hadn’t plan to visit. The fires through Big Sur and then even further down towards Santa Barbara still have things messed up. Of course, it wil make sightseeing easier because you only will want to look at the ocean—not the devastated hillsides.

If you have time, and if they had not had these fires, then a drive down PCH is an unforgettable experience. Under current circumstances, I’d blast down I-5 and get to your destination efficiently.

While in SF, take the Alcatraz Tour from Fisherman’s Wharf. If you can catch a game at Insert Dime Here Park it is worth even watching the Giants play. For nightlilfe, there are about a billion bars of all persuasions in the South of Market area—just follow the crowds that include people you think you would like to hang out with.

by kva15 on Jul 24, 2008 9:58 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The alcatraz tour is pretty fun

But avoid the rest of Fisherman’s Wharf. Too touristy. Check out Castro and Haight/Ashbury just to get the feel of the neighborhoods. Japantown/Chinatown are fun to walk through as well. Just avoid Tenderloin on your walking tours.

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on Jul 24, 2008 10:00 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If you're into rides and such, definitely hit Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia

and/or Disneyland and California Adventure. They’re all fun the first time. If you get the chance, try Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles. Foodwise, I’m really partial to all the Asian areas, especially K-town, so let me know and I can toss up some recs (but it helps to go with Korean people…)

I’ll come up with more stuff when I’m a little less busy

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 9:40 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also, if you like good vegetarian food and totally bugfuck strange dining experiences

there’s a restaurant in San Diego called Jyoti-Bihanga that is run by a group of followers of Sri Chinmoy, who is a New Age Spiritual Leader kinda’ dude. The food is delicious, and everyone that works there is totally serene is a really unsettling way. It’s bizarre but awesome.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 9:51 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You could also always visit beautiful Temecula, CA and the rest of the Inland Empire (where I live now...)

Don’t do it. Really. Avoid Riverside County at all costs.

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 9:45 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

How do you survive there ?

I go crazy (because of the heat) every time I’m out there

by infant on Jul 24, 2008 9:54 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I live with one of my best friends from college and work in SD

so there’s lot of opportunity to get in trouble

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 9:56 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

For San Francisco, I suggest starting downtown

walking to the wharf, visit Alcatraz, come back to Wharf, eat at in-N-Out and then proceed to walk down Powell to Lombard and then turn left on Stetner and walk to “holy crap we’re still not there yet?” which is about an hour away and feels like 4.

by Matthew on Jul 24, 2008 10:15 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

In n Out is more overrated than Yuni's defense

but yes, do try it once

The Jose Lopez Watch - 118H - 13 BB - 62 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 10:40 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Everything is overrated when you don't have access to it often.

When I lived in Japan, Taco Bell was a big thing to experience when coming back to the states.

by Wilder. on Jul 24, 2008 10:41 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I miss In-n-out

In-n-out > ................................................................................... > Dick’s

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on Jul 24, 2008 11:12 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Incorrect

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by I'm NOT Corco on Jul 24, 2008 12:30 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

100% incorrect

and I loves me some In-N-Out burger. But it doesn’t hold a candle to a deluxe, fries, and chocolate shake. Especially at 1.45 am after a show.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jul 24, 2008 1:08 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I miss a lot of things about Seattle

but that’s pretty much the top of the list. I even got my never-lived-in-Seattle wife hooked.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jul 24, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Frisko Freeze, ftw.

Dick’s? Overrated.
In-n-Out? Hideously overrated.

It’d be a closer contest if douchebags in So.Cal wore Dick’s logo t-shirts, but as that doesn’t happen, I’ve gotta say In-n-Out is the most overrated chain.

by marc w on Jul 24, 2008 2:55 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Frisko Freeze is awesome

I can attest to this

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by I'm NOT Corco on Jul 24, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dick's is not anywhere near overrated

Good, fresh-never-frozen burgers, hand-cut fries; it’s always been cheap, and they’ve always hired HS kids and given them good wages/benefits when most fast food chains pay minimum wage and no benefits.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jul 24, 2008 3:05 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I agree that Dick's is not overrated

just that Frisko-Freeze is also awesome

Dick’s is so incredibly tasty I want to kill myself for being 500 miles away from it at the very thought of their burgers

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by I'm NOT Corco on Jul 24, 2008 3:54 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I enjoy their business practices much, much more

than I enjoy their products.

That’s just me. I’m weird like that.
Part of it is that they don’t do any sort of special order, which I think is a bit lame. On the plus side, they’re really, really cheap. And yes, at 1:30, after a show, it tastes pretty good. But then, 1:30, after a show, a number of better options pop up – the great Seattle street dog, for one.

by marc w on Jul 24, 2008 4:19 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You have also just accurately described In-n-Out

I think Dick’s is, but I also think In-n-Out is better. “Hideously overrated” is a bit much. I don’t think it’s over or under rated, it’s just popular.

by nwtrev on Jul 24, 2008 4:26 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

How has this thread not gotten incredibly off topic?

I keep watching it and expecting it to flip, but people keep sharing travel commentary… which is close enough to the real topic to not be weird.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Jul 24, 2008 10:44 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Travel, like beer

almost never goes off-topic once it reaches that topic.

Personally, it’s two of my three favorite things to talk about.

by Matthew on Jul 24, 2008 10:48 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I hate comments like this.

By now we should all know what they cause to happen.

by Jeff on Jul 24, 2008 11:04 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

They remind everyone to stay on topic?

Did Willie Bloomquist's dad die and make you queen?

by JI on Jul 24, 2008 11:05 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I agree, you should need to add a reason for a rec

or a flag

The Jose Lopez Watch - 120H - 13 BB - 61 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 11:07 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Unless it's butthol then flag away

The Jose Lopez Watch - 120H - 13 BB - 61 G Left

by seattlebruin on Jul 24, 2008 11:07 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Still works when used sparingly.

Did Willie Bloomquist's dad die and make you queen?

by JI on Jul 24, 2008 11:08 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Your just jealous of my astounding rec totals.

Did Willie Bloomquist's dad die and make you queen?

by JI on Jul 24, 2008 11:13 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

In general, the whole "Ooh, new toy!" SBN 2.0 thing has worn off.

I like the ability to rec and flag, and I like auto-updating comments, but the celebration of the new features got a little extreme for a while.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 1:41 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I like the ability to rec and flag

I don’t like the constant “look I rec’d you!” or “look I flagged you!”. But auto-updating comments is the best thing they did.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jul 24, 2008 1:45 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm cool with "rec'd/flag'd for (whatever)" in the game threads.

Much like a lot of other things, it should stay in the game threads.

by acblue on Jul 24, 2008 1:49 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs