We live in Pasadena with our two teenage children, ages 14 and 17. We moved from the East Coast four years ago and are still getting to know all the interesting neighborhoods, foods, and quirks of Los Angeles. We spend a lot of time in Little Tokyo because we love everything Japanese, but we need to explore more and see other neighborhoods we don't even know about. We are interested in art, but not in art museums because they are too boring for teenagers. We love food as an anchor for a visit to a neighborhood. Can you give me some suggestions? -Margaret Hunt
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I don't have kids yet, but every time my siblings visit me from Las Vegas, I'm reminded how hard it is to keep teenagers entertained (and off their phones). But it sounds like your boys have interesting interests. We have prepared some mini itineraries in different neighborhoods. You won't be able to do them all in one day, so choose your own adventure.
If your teens like comic book art, check out Revenge Of, not far from Pasadena in Glassell Park. “The store, with its black-and-white tile floors, murals and neon lights, is filled with comics, graphic novels and collectibles,” Times features and entertainment editor Brittany Levine Beckman tells me. “There are also pinball machines and arcade games, which can be just as fun for you as they are for your kids.” Next door is sister shop And Destroy, which offers coffee and creative drinks (the November menu includes a cornbread matcha concoction and sweet potato latte) and hosts a board game day on Sundays. Up the street is Bub and Grandma's restaurant (the tuna was on our Los Angeles food critic's list of great sandwiches a few years ago). But be warned, it gets busy on weekends, so be prepared to wait for a table or a takeout order.
For a west-side option, since your family already knows Little Tokyo, explore Los Angeles' other Japanese enclave: Sawtelle. Start your adventure at Odd One Out, an award-winning boba tea shop, then take a quick stroll to the Giant Robot store, often cited as the birthplace of Asian pop culture products. Your children will love exploring the shelves. In a Times guide to Sawtelle, Grace Xue writes that it's packed with “artwork, blind boxes, plushies, housewares, toys, anime products and quirky, cool gifts that will delight the young and the young at heart.” Across the street is Giant Robot's sister gallery, GR2. The cozy arts center is anything but boring: This month's group exhibit features dinosaur art. By now, you've probably worked up an appetite and the noodles at Wadaya are hearty enough to satisfy even a teenage stomach. Times contributor Tiffany Tse recommends their mazes: “the rich, sauce-slathered, broth-less cousin of the classic noodle dish.”
One neighborhood that should be at the top of every East Coaster's list is Los Feliz, one of the most walkable areas in Los Angeles. Start your day at Ululani's Hawaiian Shaved Ice, a Maui-born candy shop that sells cloud-shaped shaved ice so smooth it practically melts in your mouth. There are fun flavors like cotton candy and pickled mango. Once you've got your treats, head to Barnsdall Art Park, where you can relax on lush lawns and enjoy a stunning view of the city. Don't forget to bring a picnic blanket, and for extra points, bring a game of cards to play. I did this with my brothers and we had a lot of fun. You can also tour the century-old Hollyhock House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Thursday through Saturday; It is recommended to buy tickets in advance. Enjoy a quick dinner at popular burger spot Goldburger and be sure to order the curly fries. Finally, end your evening at Vista, a glorious single-screen movie theater owned by Quentin Tarantino.
Now for some quick options in Los Angeles: There's Koreatown, where you can choose from delicious Korean barbecue, then go bowling at Shatto 39 Lanes, play virtual golf at W Screen Golf, or sing your heart out at karaoke. My colleague, food writer Stephanie Breijo, also suggests visiting the Santa Monica Pier, Camera Obscura Art Lab, “some of the best pastries in Los Angeles at Petitgrain Boulangerie,” and dining at Cobi's, the popular Southeast Asian restaurant. For an unusual art choice, there's Phantasma Gloria, a massive sculpture in an Echo Park man's front yard. It is made of rebar and colored glass bottles and glows differently depending on the daylight. You can view the art from the street in a car or schedule a free tour by texting the creator, Randlett King Lawrence, in advance at (213) 278-1508. It says it has some “dramatic recent expansions.” Finally, downtown Los Angeles is packed with things to do, including exploring the beloved Last Bookstore, eating food from around the world at Grand Central Market, taking a ride along the iconic Angels Flight Railway, and learning about music history at the Grammy Museum.
To live in Los Angeles is to realize how expansive it is. Every time I feel like I've discovered this city, something new and exciting appears and takes me on a path of discovery. So, as you and your family explore this sprawling city, I hope you find more and more reasons to love it as much as I do.
