City of Angels? or just Hell? (Los Angeles)

Member Name: pink_lady

Product:	Los Angeles
Date:	08/12/01 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great people watching, diverse collection of people

Disadvantages: strict 21 and over, very spread out, expensive

Well I have been living in LA for about three months now and to tell the truth it has been a total culture shock. I moved over here from Manchester expecting the bright lights and glamour. Well there is that here but that isn’t what this opinion is about. This is about clubbing. To tell you the truth I haven’t really had the chance to go out much because of the strictly enforced 21 and over rules for drinking over here. As I am only 20 I am having a pretty hard time managing to get out but with the aid of a convincing fake ID anything is possible.

DANCE CLUBS:

The palace nightclub located just off vine and Hollywood is a pretty cool place. An old theatre that has been converted into a club it offers space and a variety of different rooms. Sadly the music played on most nights is not to the taste of most Europeans, kind of weird techno stuff that was popular in the early nineties.
There is also Key Club that offers a Gods Kitchen night and other dance events with an English flavour. As I am not really into the dance music scene I cant really tell you anymore but there is a lot to choose from!

NEW AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES:

The Roxy, The Whiskey and the Viper Room are all famous clubs located on the Strip. Here you will find friendly atmospheres and surroundings that will be familiar to frequenters of student dives. Here you will find a variety of new bands and those that have already been signed, playing to a strange mix of people ranging from punkas to business men. Often the age limits is 21 and over and some nights are strictly industry only... however if you have your blaggers hat on anything is possible.

GAY CLUBS:

The gay scene in LA is located in West Hollywood mainly along Santa Monica Blvd. One of the best nights of the year is Halloween when there is a big parade and everyone walks in the streets wearing outrageous costumes and generally having a good time. Most clubs welcome straights and t
he atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Just off the Blvd is a pub/bar called the Abbey that offers a selection of food and cocktails with a monastic feel to it. Over the road on a Wednesday night there is Club 80s which offers a flash back to the past to relive the decade of legwarmers and puffball skirts. I have to say though, the 80s a European will remember is very different to the 80s Americans remember!!

Really the best piece of advice I can give is to pick up a copy of LA Weekly. This paper is free and you can find it almost anywhere. Use it as your bible and it will guide you through your week telling you where to go and what to see...........at the end of the day going out in LA can be pretty hard work with the price and distinct lack of taxis and the spread out feeling of the place, but persevere and it will all be worth it in the end!!
Have fun!!

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