Somebody just emailed me earlier today asking for cool places to check out while in California. I'll copy-paste what I sent him as you may wanna check out some of these places as well if you have a chance:
WACKO
4633 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(This is pretty much the craziest pop culture store you'll ever see and something I always tell visitors to Los Angeles they absolutely must check out)
AMOEBA
6400 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(The largest music and movie store in the country. downstairs is all music, upstairs is all movies. It's a MASSIVE place and I've spent entire days here finding many of the treasures that I write about on the site)
SANTA MONICA PIER
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(A classic LA destination. A big pier complete with a roller coaster, arcade, restaurants and more. Great for sightseeing the Pacific Ocean 'n all)
BIG KIDS COLLECTABLE TOY MALL
14109 Burbank Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401-4908
(Doesn't look like much from outside, but inside, it's like going back in time to a place with all kinds of amazing retro toys and games. Very cool lil' shop.)
ROCKET FIZZ
2112 West Magnolia Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91506
(If you're a fan of obscure sodas, this is absolutely worth visiting. They have a TON of sodas for you to try and a nice assortment of candy as well.)
CABAZON DINOSAURS
50800 Seminole Dr
Cabazon, CA 92230-2304
(I did an article about these dinosaurs on I-Mockery and I enjoyed seeing them - particularly cuz I'm a huge fan of Pee-wee's Big Adventure. So if you have a chance to go out that way, it's worth checking out. If you do go, be sure to eat at the Wheel-Inn restaurant right next door. Good food and it's another place that's clearly frozen in time.)
THOUSAND STEPS BEACH
9th Ave & Pacific Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
(My favorite beach in California. It's a decent drive down South, so I don't know if you're gonna be headed that way, but if you do, it's worth seeing. Very secluded beach - hardly anybody even knows about it - with amazing cliffs around you on all sides.)
CIRCUS LIQUOR
5600 Vineland Ave
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(I don't drink, but this is just one of those random things in LA that I love. It's a liquor store with a huge creepy clown sign. It's a well known landmark and has been in a variety of films. Why anybody thought a huge evil clown at a liquor store was a good idea is beyond me, but I'm glad they built it, cuz it makes for some great photos if you happen to be up that way.)
BOB'S BIG BOY
4211 West Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505-4146
(This is the original location and it still feels like something straight outta the 50's - and the food is great too. People who own hot rods and other awesome classic cars have a huge gathering here every Friday night from - or "cruise night" as it has come to be known - from 6pm - 10pm.)
Other great things to check out that I would've typed up descriptions for but were already on his list include the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena (which is going on this weekend I believe), Frank & Sons Collectibles Show, Gallery 1988 (where our new Halloween pixel print is currently hanging), Melrose Trading Post, the New Beverly Cinema, and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
Hope this helps and hope to see ya at Comic-Con
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