Suncrawler Reports: Rays from LA

Suncrawler shoots us some rays from LA:
Joan's on Third remains the best place to stop by for a quick lunch complete with magnolia bakery level cupcakes, a top of the line chicken with chipotle mayonnaise sandwich and always more than a few lanky model/actress/industry types.

Down the street, the French run Little Door is worth all of the ink it receives for its understated garden oasis. Fun for a date or with a group, the restaurant also has an extensive selection of wines by the glass. The international crowd is also a plus.

If you are hustled into stopping by the Brent Bolthouse Wednesday night party at LAX definitely don't go for the in flight music. The club's layout and design itself isn't bad. Modern, much bigger than you would hope with some decent tables inside (ask for the black ones towards the center of the room or better yet a hidden outside cabana where you can draw the curtains and really misbehave). The much hyped DJ AM needs to learn to start DJ-ing in the PM as he hasn't learned to play much more than top 40 hip hop and crap remixes of top 40 hip hop. PM to AM: Don't be afraid to throw in some 80's rock or Eurotrash, Ashley Olsen who was dancing there on a recent evening doesn't seem to care.

The burlesque dancers at Forty Deuce (the LA branch more than the Vegas outpost) continue to amaze. Great spot to stop off for a few or more drinks on your way out. And plus people there actually drink, dance and have fun - a rarity for schmooze-no-booze city. Note: last show in LA seems to be at 12:45a whereas in Vegas its 2:45a.

Avoid a place called The Cabanas at all cost. This place is nothing more than an outdoor parking lot they have turned into a crap bar with South Central Latino gangsters or the Hollywood wanna be gangster types who secretly have agents and a pedicurist. Although it should be noted that they have some decent staff who politely inform New Yorkers that the club closes at 2am - so are you sure you want another drink? Yes, naturally we replied. Unfortunately no matter how strong the drink the club was still a disaster.

For lodging, Chateau Marmont remains the gold standard. They will basically let you do just about anything you want and will even fold up your bathing suit the next morning when you have inadvertently left it by the pool the night before. Of course, they will also be quite gruff to you when asking for any type of service but we all like a little attitude here and there.

Idle Time: Drive up the PCH to Malibu. Stop off for a sandwich at the Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market on Cross Creek Road. Then head up off the PCH and into the hills. The Mulholland Highway is a great spot to take a drive. It takes you through the backside of Malibu hills and the down through the hippie commune of Topanga. On weekends the road is littered with of Easy Rider flashbacks.

Time can also be passed by renting a bike on the beach in Santa Monica and riding south down through Venice Beach. If that requires too much physical excursion stop by Shutters On The Beach for an Arnold Palmer.
+Joan's on Third, 8350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles +1 323 655 2285.
+Little Door, 8164 W 3rd St, Los Angeles +1 323 951 1210.
+LAX, 1714 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, +1 323 464-0171.
+Cabana Club, 1439 Ivar Ave, Hollywood, +1 323 463 0005.
+Forty Deuce, 5574 Melrose Ave, +1 323 465 4242.
+Chateau Marmont, 8221 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, +1 800 CHATEAU.
+Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market, 3900 Crossing Creek Road, +1 310 456 7845.
+Shutters On The Beach, One Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, +1 800 745 8883.
+Arnold Palmer [recipe].
+W4: Suncrawler Reports: Pace in LA.
+W4: Rok on RokBar LA?
+W4: Grazing With The Industry Cattle: LA: Buffalo Club.