The Best Date Ideas in Malibu, Topanga, and the Pacific Palisades
Malibu is a great place for an all-day or half-day date when you want to get away from it all without straying too far from the Los Angeles area. You get beautiful beaches and mountains, as well as great restaurants and other attractions. Check out these date ideas in...
The Best Downtown L.A. Date Ideas
Downtown Los Angeles is an ideal date destination with great restaurants, bars, and attractions, many of which are within walking distance. Traffic and parking can be difficult in downtown L.A., so park your car in a good central location (like Pershing Square) and...
The Most Romantic Restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles: 71 Above
71 Above an ideal destination for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday, or if you just really want to impress someone on a first date! Often, restaurants with a gimmick like a good view or special location have mediocre food. That’s not the case...
The Best BBQ on Los Angeles’ West Side
Los Angeles is not a town known for its BBQ, but it actually does have some good spots if you know where to look! I love barbecue: the brisket, ribs, cole slaw, beans, potatoes, biscuits, and of course the sauces! Here are some of my favorite BBQ places on LA’s...
Have a Great Date Night at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills
Wolfgang Puck is arguably one of the most famous chefs in the world. His flagship restaurant, Spago, in Beverly Hills, has been on my bucket list for a while, and I finally got to try it! Getting There and Parking Spago is located in the heart of Beverly Hills on...
The Best Casual First Date Ideas in Los Angeles
If you’re going on a first date with someone you don’t know very well, planning the right kind of date is critical! True first dates, where you don’t know each other very well, have special requirements in addition to the obvious stuff like being fun...
The Coolest Vintage Bars in Los Angeles That Are Sure to Amaze
If you’re looking for an extraordinary place to bring a date to, or just a place where you can hang out with friends, check out some of my favorite vintage Los Angeles bars below. These will surely impress! 1. Clifton’s / The Pacific Seas (DTLA) The first...
Why the Downtown LA Arts District is An Amazing Date Destination
The Arts District east of Downtown LA is one of the most vibrant, hip, and up-and-coming areas of the city. It’s now one of my favorite daytime date destinations in the entire LA area! It’s undergone an amazing revitalization with cool galleries,...
The Best Museum Date Ideas in LA
I believe that a museum is a great place to go to on a date. It’s quiet so you can talk, and there are usually interesting things to see and comment on. Maybe you can even show off some of the stuff you learned in that art history class you took in college. And...
Terranea: A Hidden Gem in Palos Verdes with Spectacular Hiking Trails
Terranea is a hidden gem that’s worth a bit of a drive. Sure, there are other beautiful places to hike along the shore in Palos Verdes. And, there are some great restaurants as well. But Terranea combines the best of both. It’s an ideal place to have a good meal and go for an easy walk with breathtaking views of the ocean. You’ll feel like you’re staying at a high-end resort for a fraction of the cost.
The Best Orange County Date Ideas
Orange County actually has some really charming destinations that are ideal for a romantic date! Here are my favorites. 1. Laguna Beach My pick for the best Orange County date area is Laguna Beach. Once a secluded beach town, the secret is out, and traffic and parking...
A Great Summer Date Idea: Hollywood Night Market at Yamashiro
I’m so psyched that the Yamashiro Night Market is back!! (Actually, it’s now officially called the “Hollywood Night Market at Yamashiro”). This is one of my favorite summertime Los Angeles events! Starting in May 2019, it will be every Thursday...
Have a Great Hike with Amazing Views at Griffith Park
Griffith Park is famous for its observatory, but it also offers some great hiking trails which offer amazing views of downtown LA, Century City, the Hollywood sign, and the valley. I’m going to tell you about my favorite trail which begins at the Glendale Peak...
Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens – An Ideal Holiday Date Idea
If you want a magical date experience during the holidays, check out Descanso Gardens Enchanted: Forest of Light in La Canada Flintridge. It really is “enchanted”! Logistics You definitely should buy your tickets in advance as this does sell out almost...
The Best Mid-City L.A. Date Ideas
The mid-city area of Los Angeles offers some of the best restaurants and coolest attractions around, making it a prime date destination. By “mid city”, I’m referring to the area roughly between La Cienaga Blvd on the West and Western on the...
The Coolest Date Spots in Venice, CA
Venice has become one of the hippest areas of the West Side. Here are my top ideas for fun and interesting dates in Venice. 1. Restaurants and Shops on Abbott Kinney My favorite date hangout area in Venice is Abbott Kinney Blvd, named “The Coolest Block in...
The Best Free and Cheap Date Ideas in Los Angeles
Going on dates can be really expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are some really great date ideas in Los Angeles that are cheap or free. Here’s my list! 1. Hiking Trail to Sandstone Peak Hiking tops many lists of cheap date ideas for good reason. I...
My Favorite “Secret” Beach – Lechuza Beach Malibu
There are many wonderful beaches in Los Angeles and Orange County, but many of these are crowded and lack privacy. I’d like to tell you about a “hidden gem” that I found.. a beach that feels like a private beach far away from the crowds of the city....
A Relaxing Bike Ride on the West Side – The Ballona Creek Bike Path
The Ballona Creek Bike Path is a beginner-level bike path completely free of cars and signals, extending from Culver City to Marina del Rey. It can be a great date idea if you go at the right time of day (avoiding the heat of mid-day) and make plans to hang out...
The Top Date Ideas in Culver City and the Surrounding Area
Culver City and the surrounding areas have some really romantic and fun places that are ideal for a date. Here are my top recommendations. 1. The Culver Hotel Grand Lobby I consider the Culver Hotel to be the jewel of downtown Culver City. Completed in 1924, it...
Twenty Fun & Romantic Pasadena Date Ideas
Pasadena has some amazing places to take a date! It’s got fine restaurants, bars, shopping areas, cultural events, museums, and a lot more, making it worth visiting even if you live far away. Here are my top date ideas in Pasadena and the surrounding area! 1....
My Four Favorite Restaurants in Old Town Pasadena
There are so many great restaurants, bars, and hangouts in Old Town Pasadena, it can be difficult to choose. Here are my personal favorites based on food, service, and ambiance, in no particular order. 1. Mi Piace Right in the heart of Old Town on the...
Romantic Restaurants and Bars on Ocean Avenue Santa Monica
If you asked most people what the best date spot in Santa Monica is, many would say Third Street Promenade. But Ocean Avenue has a collection of great restaurants and bars too. Although it’s gotten more crowded and touristy lately, it’s still a...
Los Liones Canyon Trail – My Favorite Hike
You might have noticed that I’ve been going on a lot of hikes in the Santa Monica mountains lately. They’ve all be great, but each seems to be better than the last. At a friend’s recommendation, I did the Los Liones Canyon hike and I think it’s...
All of the Outdoor Movies Playing in Los Angeles, and How to Enjoy Them
In Southern California, watching an outdoor movie can be a nice way to spend an evening with someone special almost any time of year. Time Out Los Angeles maintains an up-to-date list of outdoor movies happening in Los Angeles. It’s a great resource! Note that...
Temescal Canyon – An Ideal Date Hike
The Temescal Canyon Loop is a popular trail and is an ideal date hike because it’s the perfect length, it’s just the right difficulty level, it’s very close to civilization, and has some great views and interesting terrain. It’s a great way to spend a weekend morning...
Tips for Having a Great Time at a Staples Center Sporting Event
Home of the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings, and host to concerts and other events, the Staples Center is a prime attraction in downtown Los Angeles. Here are my tips to make your visit fun and hassle-free. 1. Bring a good jacket for Kings games If you go for a Kings... The Best Museum Date in LA: The Huntington Library and Gardens
I’m a big fan of museums, and Los Angeles has some great ones, including the Getty, the Getty Villa, LACMA/La Brea Tar Pits, and the California Science Center. But, I recently re-visited the continually-expanding Huntington Library and I concluded that it’s the...