How to Find Local Hotspots in LA

You've arrived in Los Angeles for a short trip. You've spent a day in Disneyland, a day walking around the pier in Santa Monica and you've stared at the weirdos on Venice Beach. You're bored. You want to do stuff locals--Angelenos--do. Here are some tips on how to find local hot spots in Los Angeles.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

To hang with Angelenos, you have to spot Angelenos

1. Isolate local hangouts from tourist hangouts. The way to do this is to be able to tell who is a local and who is a tourist. It's not as difficult as it seems. It's never good to generalize, but there are some key differences. A tourist is more inclined to sport a backpack or fanny pack, lug around a camera (small enough to distinguish him or her from a paparazzo), wears shorts and smile. Tourists also usually travel with families. An Angeleno is more likely to wear fashionable clothing, look as though he may have undergone a cosmetic procedure or two on certain parts of his face or body. He may talk on his cellphone, be seen on his own or with one or two other people at the most and generally appear aloof.
2. Look for advertisements of malls, amusement parks, restaurants and bars. Memorize them. Now avoid those places. The more advertised a venue is, the more likely it is a tourist spot and not a place frequented by locals. Except for a few places--Canter's Deli on Fairfax Ave is popular among both crowds, as is Dodger's Stadium.
3. However, do make note of advertisements for neighborhood events, such as fairs or festivals, and check out local farmer's markets as well. There are usually held weekly in various neighborhoods around Los Angeles country. Take the scenic route through Sunset Boulevard to the coastal community of Pacific Palisades to enjoy some of the best produce and homemade Greek staples, cheeses and baked dishes at its farmer's market, held on weekends.
4. Drive on Hollywood Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard after 11 pm and make note of areas where people are standing in a queue and where traffic is backed up due to people waiting for valet parking. This indicates the location of a popular nightclub. The harder it is to park near one, the more popular and exclusive it likely is. Locals love to go to places deemed exclusive.
5. Check out the fine eating and shopping establishments along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley --the area north of the prestigious Hollywood Hills. Tourists don't tend to venture there as much, while locals from all over the Los Angeles area frequent it often, especially for the numerous sushi restaurants found inside and near the Studio City area.
6. Visit bars or restaurants located near entertainment business districts at hours where Los Angeles employees are likely to be after a long day at the office. Such areas include mid-Wilshire Boulevard as well as the main streets of Burbank, where many of the large movie and television studios are located.
7. Venture into the more "ethnic" neighborhoods to find the best cuisine relevant to those cultures. Koreatown-- located near the southeastern part of Los Angeles, between east Wilshire Boulevard and Western, and north of Downtown--boasts the best Korean barbecue and tofu houses. The San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Reseda, home to many Israelis, Persian and Lebanese residents, has tasty falafel and Middle Eastern food in restaurants and supermarkets.