Sunday, November 05, 2006

what to do with a day in LA?

Okay, it's not really a secret. I'm one of the people lined up for the December tapings of Knitty Gritty. Eep! We won't talk about nerves and stuff. I'm more nervous about the prep and about the cruelty of cameras than I am about actually doing the show.

But I do have a Saturday in the city to amuse myself and am not really sure what one does in LA without a car[I just booked a car, cheap. I can't bear the thought of being stuck in this big place with no way to get around]. I know NYC well enough not to be intimidated by just heading out and exploring, but I know almost nothing about LA, except that Suss and Knit Cafe are there...and what else mustn't I miss?

eta: I'm staying in Burbank because that's where they shoot the show. So Saturday morning, I'll get myself to LA. I'm spending the morning with my cousin Greg and his shweeet wife, Laurel, and then they're off to watch the USC/UCLA game at 1:30. So from 1:30 until my flight home at 10pm, I'm totally free. Any Knittyheads in the area up for a little yarn crawl? The chicken and waffles sound amazing, too. Yum.

As for seeing Knitty Gritty in Canada, no luck unless one of our cable channels picks it up. Start writing letters to HGTV, people! Do you have any idea how many cool people have been on that show? [No wonder I'm intimidated.]

posted by amy [Knitty] @ 6:13 PM 24 comments

Comments:
I hear LA is a hotbed of great food, maybe a ritzy lunch somewhere?
# posted by Blogger fibersnob : 8:50 PM, November 05, 2006
 
How deep in LA are you going to be? There's so much to do. If you can, hit Olvera Street. Just an absolute hotbed of culture and awesome food, and not to mention, Mariachis on the corner! If you can get to Long Beach, hit the Queen Mary and the Aquarium.

and there's always Disney if you feel like driving a bit...or someone can get you down there (metrolink maybe???)
# posted by Blogger Laura : 10:36 PM, November 05, 2006
 
Hi, when will the honorable mentioning gallery be up :D
Thanks :o))) I am so curious to see the pics! :o)
# posted by Blogger bente : 12:47 AM, November 06, 2006
 
If you can get to Studio City, go to La Knitterie Parisienne!

In what part of LA are you staying?
# posted by Anonymous Nora : 3:39 AM, November 06, 2006
 
ACK! what about that knitting store in Santa Monica...that is close to LA...the one Tracy Ullman goes to??? the one where she and the owner of the store wrote that book together??? Mel Clark is her name? you have to go there! :o)
and definitely, you'll have a rental car too right? because you can't be in LA without a car. make sure to get a map too. freeways galore. luckily, no tolls though. just lots of smog.
can't wait to see you on knitty gritty! whoo hooooo! :o)
# posted by Blogger kelpkim : 3:44 AM, November 06, 2006
 
Hi there... I am a big fan of the website, and all of its neatness! Love it! I was just wondering... all my bookmarks have cute wee icons beside them... what about an cute wee icon for knitty.com too??? you could do a competition?? Sorry to bother you... thanks for having such an awesome site!

From Lisa in New Zealand!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 6:51 AM, November 06, 2006
 
LA (the metropolis) goes almost halfway across the state of California. Do you know what neighborhood you will be in?
# posted by Anonymous chuk : 9:44 AM, November 06, 2006
 
Go eat at Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles - it's in North Hollywood. The decor is kind of Auntie's Rec Room complete with gold-edged mirrors, but the food is super-fantastic, dirt cheap and you won't believe how good a waffle tastes with a side of fried chicken.

If you aren't up for that, Killer Shrimp is my second favorite L.A. restaurant. They have three items on the menu - shrimp and pasta, shrimp and rice or shrimp and bread (my favorite). You get a big bowl of shrimp in some kind of cajun-y broth and a colandar full of bread plus a bib. It's hilarious, also inexpensive and very super tasty. I've eaten at the one at Marina Del Ray and one somewhere around Studio City.

And In-and-Out Burger, of course...
# posted by Blogger Jen : 10:43 AM, November 06, 2006
 
I am going to be there over a weekend too...eep. I am so nervous...
# posted by Blogger Isela: Purling Sprite : 11:18 AM, November 06, 2006
 
Congrats on being on knitty gritty! I've heard about the show, but have never seen it. Living in Canada (Montreal) we don't get any channel that has the show. Do you know of any way to be able to watch knitty gritty - on the web - other??

Thanks,
Maaike in Montreal
# posted by Anonymous Maaike : 11:25 AM, November 06, 2006
 
Check out the LA County Museum. They have an excellent costume collection and usually have a cool fashion exhibition going on.
Cate
# posted by Blogger Having a Knit Fitt : 11:44 AM, November 06, 2006
 
Another wild idea for you--how about the southern california Alpaca Fest? It is this weekend (Sat & Sun) in Industry Hills. It would be a bit of a drive (maybe 30 minutes), but could be fun!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 12:14 PM, November 06, 2006
 
When you sign up for newsletters at The Knitter's Studio http://www.knittersstudio.com/ they send you coupons. And if I had to choose just one place, I would go to The Knit Cafe. It was awesome!!!!
# posted by Anonymous Stacy : 2:28 PM, November 06, 2006
 
Change HGTV to DIY Network. Or their owner Scripps Networks http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/press

HGTV is a sister channel, though! Also, all these great Knitty Gritty Episodes would make a rockin' dvd box set, don't you think? That'd be a great gift for next year's Holiday season.
# posted by Blogger Freecia : 2:31 PM, November 06, 2006
 
Depending on what you like to do.

I highly recommend heading to the Getty Center or the Getty Villa....both are amazing.

But museum-y.

If you're not into that, then head to Melrose Drive in Beverly Hills for funky fashion, or to Santa Monica 3rd St. Promenade for great people watching, eating, shopping, and hanging out.

Have fun!
# posted by Blogger Sarah : 2:51 PM, November 06, 2006
 
bring me in your suitcase, I'll smuch-up super small.
# posted by Blogger denny Mcmillan : 4:58 PM, November 06, 2006
 
OK, on the knitting side of things - In Burbank, check out UnWind - its a great little yarn store that was featured in some recent TV show (6 feet under or somesuch) - anyway, been there a couple of times, nice and friendly.

Also, check out Dino's Pizza- right down the street from UnWind and great food!!

The place referred to earlier in Santa Monica is Wildfiber that has the Tracy Ullman tie - SM might be too far away for you to get to and do everything else in a day though.
# posted by Anonymous Katie Doan : 5:33 PM, November 06, 2006
 
Unwind is a really nice yarn shop in Burbank, Cecily used to (still does?) teach there. Make Cecily drag you around!
# posted by Blogger Shannon : 8:23 PM, November 06, 2006
 
Bummer! I'll be out of town this weekend, otherwise I'd love to show you around. I second the rec to hit unwind in burbank, and you might also want to check out stick & stone in van nuyes, which is close, too. Stick & Stone is a wonderful spinning store. They have a gazillion wheels to try and great fiber - including some cotton.

MindofWinter Julia
# posted by Blogger Julia : 3:55 PM, November 07, 2006
 
P.S. Though all of the recs above are good, a lot of them are far from where you'll be. If you don't want to do too much running around and navigating, I really think that Unwind and Stick & Stone will do it for you. LA has a ton to offer, but you might be better off in the burbs for a quick trip.
# posted by Blogger Julia : 3:59 PM, November 07, 2006
 
Unwind is a really good yarn shop. The owner, Stephanie Steinhaus, is super sweet and nice. They have an iBook set up for people to look up patterns online. I'm sure they'd love it if you came!

If you go to the LA County Museum of Art you have to walk down the block to the La Brea Tar Pits. It will blow your mind. Tar! Bubbling from the ground in the middle of the city!
# posted by Anonymous April : 1:14 PM, November 08, 2006
 
Check out Vicki's blog: http://vickiehowell.com/blog2.html. She just announced that KG will be on HGTV. :)
# posted by Anonymous Ashley : 6:29 PM, November 08, 2006
 
Hey maybe we could get a group together for fun on Saturday. I'm going to be a knitster on the 6th and Marnie and Stichy are going to be around on the 7th and 8th. A Saturday party would be fun! There are a number of groups here in the LA area...check out http://www.stitchnbitchla.com/
# posted by Blogger LizKnits : 5:34 PM, November 09, 2006
 
Congratulations on your upcoming Knitty Gritty appearance! I dvr the show every day, and am looking forward to your episode. Can you divulge the project or projects you will be demonstrating?
# posted by Blogger luvnbeng : 9:45 PM, November 09, 2006
 
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