Best of LA 2015: Do
Ballona Freshwater Marsh
Jefferson Blvd. at Lincoln Blvd, Playa del Rey, CA, 90293
310-306-5994
Bring an early-morning repast and binoculars, grab a bench facing the Ballona Freshwater Marsh, and voilà: avian TV
Website: http://www.ballonafriends.org
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Parks & Beaches
Bootie LA
Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
Instead of a velvet rope or dress code, there’s a come-as-you-are ethos—perfect for those more concerned with letting loose than being seen
Website: http://www.bootiemashup.com/la
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Dance Clubs
Case Study House No. 22
1635 Woods Dr., Hollywood, CA, 90069
208-429-1058
Set high in the Hollywood Hills, the midcentury-modern Case Study House No. 22, aka the Stahl House, offers a better-than-Runyon view of the city
Website: http://www.stahlhouse.com
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Museums
Circle X Theatre Co.
3269 Casitas Ave, Atwater Village, CA, 90039
323-644-1929
Try not to miss anything by Circle X Theatre Co., which recently arrived at the Atwater Village Theatre complex after two decades of bouncing around town
Website: http://www.circlextheatre.org
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Live Theatre
Cove Paddle Fitness
23823 Malibu Road, Suite 50-111, Malibu, CA, 90265
310-429-2058
A choppy ocean can be intimidating, but Tyler Lennon of Malibu-based Cove Paddle Fitness instills confidence with a combination of unwavering attention and skillful teaching
Website: http://www.covepaddlefitness.com
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Fitness & Instruction, Sports & Recreation Instruction
Coyotes Book Group
1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, CA, 90027
323-660-1175
Bibliophiles will geek out over Coyotes Book Group, which meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Skylight Books in Los Feliz
Website: http://www.skylightbooks.com
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Community Organizations
CURE Salon & Spa
8358 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA, 90069
310-623-9000
The private, minimalist micro-hamams would soothe any Istanbulite: a half hour on a travertine bed surrounded by billowing vapor, followed by a cool dip under rain showers
Website: http://www.curemedspa.com
Category: Beauty and Spas, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do
Dear Diary: Mortified Live
Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
Dear Diary: Mortified live is the coolest touring storytelling show in L.A. Performers share embarrassing childhood relics—journals, art, song lyrics—in front of a live audience
Website: http://www.getmortified.com.
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Live Theatre
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA, 91011
818-949-4200
Descanso Gardens allows tykes to safely explore the natural world—lily ponds, acres of roses, and lush camellia groves—and learn something about it, too
Website: https://www.descansogardens.org
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Parks & Beaches
Eightytwo
707 E. 4th Place, Downtown, CA, 90013
(213)-626-8200
At this downtown Arts District barcade, patrons are greeted by two things: a pair of tapsters and a satisfying din of whirs, blips, dings, and beeps emanating from more than 40 restored games
Website: http://eightytwo.la
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Bars, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do
Gallery 825
825 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove, CA, 90069
310-652-8272
Become a regular at the exhibitions and you’re sure to be the most art-savvy person in the room
Website: http://www.laaa.org
Category: Art, Art Galleries, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do
Great Mind Robotics
18801 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 110, Tarzana, CA, 91356
818-292-8008
If you want your child to assemble the next WALL-E, Great Mind Robotics is the place to be
Website: http://www.buildcoolrobots.com
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Education
Hollywood Aerial Arts
3838 W. 102nd St, Inglewood, CA, 90303
310-412-7171
Anyone who has dreamed of running away with the circus will fall—sometimes literally—for this high-flying discipline performed on fabric suspended from the ceiling
Website: http://www.hollywoodaerialarts.com/
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Fitness & Instruction
Jim Gavin
137 S Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90004
Middle Men, Gavin’s 2013 debut, reads like the real-life Short Cuts—only with bottomless empathy instead of bottomless Julianne Moore
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Publishing, Writers
Maker City LA
The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
(213) 634-0920
Sometimes you just need to put on pants and get out of the house
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do
Mission Tiki Drive-In
10798 Ramona Avenue, Montclair, CA, 91763
(909) 628-0511
When the first drive-in opened in New Jersey in 1933, Americans loaded into autos to watch movies under the stars
Website: http://missiontiki.com
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Cinema
NKLA West L.A.
1845 Pontius Avenue, West L.A., CA, 90025
(424) 208-8840
Caring for cats and dogs at this well-maintained adoption facility offers ample emotional returns
Website: http://nkla.org
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
Category: Animal Organizations, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do, Pets & Animals
Paint: Lab
1453 14th St., Santa Monica, CA, 90404
310-450-9200
The three-hour “Brushes & Bites” class at Paint:Lab amps up the experience with wine, cheese, and veggie snacks as you channel your creativity onto canvas, all for a fee of $67
Website: https://www.paintlab.net
Category: Art, Best of LA, Best of LA 2015: Do, Best of LA: 2015, Best of LA: Do