Back in 2009 I wrote up my LA bucket list “100 Things To Try in LA Before You Die.” It was a Valentine to the city I’ve called my home for nearly 20 years. It for sure is a personal list made up of activities that I thought would make anyone fall deeper and deeper in love with Los Angeles. Not so much touristy things, like “Put your hands in Marilyn Monroe’s handprints at Grauman’s” but must-dos that are more about the overall experience where you’re left going, “Ah, L.A.” Like eating a Sprinkles Beverly Hills red velvet cupcake (#3) because that’s where the cupcake craze first launched in L.A. Or hitch a ride with the Goodyear blimp (#57) because it’s one of only three blimps in America and happens to make its home in LA. Or biking on the beachside bike path from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach (I extended it from Hermosa).
My bucket list went on to win me my first L.A. Weekly Web Award — “Blog Post of the Year” — and, I think, inspired a lot of Angelenos to come up with their own bucket lists.
But it’s been five years and it’s SO overdue for an update. Especially since the list included a lot of cocktails that are no longer available like Copa d’Oro’s Sour Kraut (sad face) as well as places that are no longer around like Spaceland and Empress Pavilion. So I’ve switched out expired items with 29 new ones (#71-#100), and updated some things like “an Old Fashioned by Eric Alperin at the Varnish” instead of just having the “Remember the Maine.” It HAS to be made by Eric, as he’s the one who not only runs the place but taught Ryan Gosling how to make one for Crazy Stupid Love.
Anyway, get out there and enjoy the city! And please share your own bucket list items in the comments. I’d love to see what I’m missing.
By the way, if you missed my walk-on/blimp ride on ABC 7’s “Eye on LA” with host Tina Malave (now my most favorite person ever), you can check out their LA bucket list here, including some picks from my “100 Things To Try in LA Before You Die” list!
- Korean short ribs taco from Kogi BBQ taco truck
- Great Los Angeles Walk
- Red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles Beverly Hills
- Dessert tasting menu at Providence
- Classic martini at Musso & Frank Grill
- Pedal boat at Echo Park Lake
- Bowling at Shatto 39 Lanes
- Kobe-style beef at Park’s BBQ
- Mulholland Drive from 405 to 101
- Father’s Office burger
- Red Line Metro barhop
- Magic Mojito at Bar Centro at the Bazaar by Jose Andres
- Wine tour through San Antonio Winery
- Sample everything at Scoops ice cream
- Bike from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach and back
- Mochi from Mikawaya Little Tokyo
- Carne asada burrito from Tacos Tumbras A Tomas at Grand Central Market
- Diddy Riese Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Ride the mechanical bull at Saddle Ranch and have a premium SR AMF
- Greyhound Proper at Hungry Cat
- LA Conservancy’s Historic Downtown walking tour
- 21+ screenings at the ArcLight
- Secret beef feast at Totoraku
- Moonlight Rollerway
- Manhattan at Comme Ca
- Gourmet pizza at Pizzeria Mozza
- Ride the Pacific Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier
- Late-night Danger dogs
- Blood & Sand cocktail at Tiki Ti
- Tea and a stroll through Huntington Gardens
- Drive Sunset Boulevard from Downtown to PCH in a convertible
- Hike from Fern Dell Drive to Mt. Hollywood, stopping at Griffith Observatory
- Scorpion cocktail at Hop Louie
- Request a song from Irma the piano playing ghost at Magic Castle
- Scoe’s No. 2 at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles
- LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats
- Philippe’s French Dip with hot mustard
- Omakase dinner at Urasawa
- LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Pool party at Standard Rooftop Bar
- Quarter chicken with side of garlic sauce at Zankou Chicken
- Goddess spa treatment at Olympic Spa
- Vodbox at Nic’s Martini Lounge
- Turkey dinner at Clifton’s Cafeteria, don’t forget the green jello
- Los Angeles Marathon
- Marty & Elayne at Dresden Room
- Coleslaw and sourdough toast at Original Pantry
- Real Black Dahlia Tour by Esotouric
- Stay in a bungalow at Chateau Marmont
- Sunday wine tastings at Silverlake Wine
- Power lunch at the Polo Lounge
- Cadillac Margarita at El Cholo
- Courtside at a Lakers game
- Angel City Derby Girls Tournament
- Box seats at Hollywood Bowl summer concert
- Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium
- Ride the Goodyear blimp
- Ringside at Lucha VaVoom
- Summer movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- History Walk from Mission San Gabriel to Olvera Street
- Taro ice cream at Fosselman’s
- Galco’s Soda Pop Shop
- Angel City Drive-In
- Downtown Art Walk
- Bonfire at Dockweiler Beach
- Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s
- Karaoke at Brass Monkey
- Yee-Mee-Lu “blue drink” at Good Luck Bar
- Sunset dinner and horseback riding with Sunset Ranch
- Hike to the top of Sandstone Peak and sign the register
- Stay in Marilyn Monroe’s suite at the Hollywood Roosevelt
- Ride Angel’s Flight
- Stair climb for Los Angeles
- Sip scotch on 10 Pound’s balcony
- Club 33 in Disneyland
- Old Fashioned from Eric Alperin at the Varnish
- Cigars at Buena Vista Cigar Club
- Kayaking in Marina Del Rey
- Explore an underground tunnel
- Mint Julep at Seven Grand
- Crying Tiger Pork at Jitlada
- Dinner at Trois Mec
- Run the indoor track in the Los Angeles Athletic Club
- Yamashiro Farmers Market
- Pastrami sandwich at Canter’s Deli
- 100 stairs walk in Echo Park
- Close the night at Jumbo’s Clown Room
- Hike the Trans-Catalina Trail
- Disco draft and dance at Honeycut
- The Godmother from Bay Cities Deli
- Canned Negroni at Church Key
- Hike to the Hollywood sign
- Tour Greenbar Collective
- Go on a craft brewery bar hop
- Rhode Island Red from Vincenzo at Copa d’Oro
- Car hop night at Bob’s Big Boy
- Finish a Route 66 road trip in Santa Monica
- Surf at Zuma Beach
- Ciclavia
- Yoga on the beach
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