SILVER AND GOLD, LOS ANGELES
Welcome to part III of The Good Life, L.A. When you’ve already got good sex and good food, what could possibly be left?
PART III
GOOD FRIENDS!
There’s no surviving the big city without a support group. Seven years ago I moved to Los Angeles all on my own to pursue a career in film. In this time I’ve discovered that acquiring a good circle of friends takes time and patience. L.A. has a reputation of being full of self-centered, shallow douchebags. I’m here to tell you…it’s 100% true. There is no green in Greenland, so too, there are no angels in Los Angeles….but, there are definitely good souls to be found.
NEW FACES
Why not invite some new faces into your life by taking a class? Meet new peeps, learn something new. Media Bistro’s courses are tailored towards creative professionals.
Or, try something new and gauranteed to be fun - IO West in Hollywood offers ongoing classes from beginning to advanced level improvisers. I can say from personal experience taking classes there that the experience has greatly enriched my life. I’ve made great friends and have had a lot of laughs doing it. The fact is, it’s impossible not to have fun in a class that’s all about making each other laugh.
More reasons to take an improv class? If you’re a performer, improv skills are almost mandatory these days, especially if you’re a commercial actor, since auditions are usually all improv based.
If you’re not a performer but rather a shy wallflower looking for ways to break out of your shell, improv classes provide a safe, supportive environment for overcoming social anxiety. IO West has some amazing instructors, not to mention an amazing bar….so take a class, watch some shows, then get your schmooz on at the bar.
OLD HATS
There are so many fun things to do in L.A. with a group of friends. L.A. first of all, is a great place for terrible singers who love to flaunt their window shattering talent. My favorite spots have been The Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater on Monday nights and The Drawing Room (1800 Hillhurst Ave) in Silverlake on Sundays. They both have extensive song books and the crowds are always lively. If you’re up for an…er…interesting evening, I would try Primetime (5556 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, Saturday nights only) or Smog Cutters in Hollywood. There’s no walking out of either of these weird, dive-y bars without having stories to reminisce about for years to come. For instance, one time my friend Jeff was almost gangbanged by a possie of angry Asian ladies…another time, the woman behind the bar asked my friend Todd if he was showing everyone his penis. It was weird. Just really…kind of…weird…
But anyway…
If singing’s not your bag, definitely check out the cemetery screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday nights (only through the summer). I’ve been addicted for the past two years!! My favorite movies I’ve seen so far at the cemetery have been Annie Hall, The Shining, and Warriors. These screenings are no longer L.A’s best kept secret, however. You have to get there early to stake out a spot, but there’s nothing funner than being part of a massive quilt of movie-lovers spread out over a grassy field, noshing on picnic food, drinking wine and hanging out.
I could go on and on about the fun things to do in this town…but I’ll end here for today. The truth is, if you’ve lived here for a significant amount of time, life can sometimes feel like a grind…if you’re a creative professional, no one’s going to hand you successful career overnight. It takes a lot of persistence and self-care to last in this town. So do yourself a favor and seek out the good life.
** If you have any suggestions of great restaurants, fun and quirky events that make up your own brand of ‘The Good Life, LA’, leave a comment and share!
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