MITCH’S COOL LOS ANGELES

(In Praise of the Unfairly Maligned Los Angeles By Mitch Schneider)

• Leaving this world behind (like Elvis used to, as legend has it) by walking/meditating at the lushly landscaped 10-acre Lake Shrine, Self-Realization Fellowship), off Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades (310 454 4114, free).  www.yogananda-srf.org

• Buying organic produce, eating CornMaiden’s eclectic tamales and tossing dollars into open guitar cases every Sunday morning at the Hollywood Farmers Market (Sunset and Ivar, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, free). www.farmernet.com

• Greek-feasting at the bustling, warm-hearted taverna/market Papa Cristos, Pico and Normandie (2771 W Pico Blvd, 323 737 2970), at the same location for over 50 years. www.papacristo.com

• Taking in the swimming pool-dotted view of the Valley from the Topanga Boulevard Overlook, three miles south of Ventura Blvd on Topanga (free parking and picnic tables).  www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=59

• Pondering the city’s unique blend of glamour and cruelty while looking out over Los Angeles from the secret gardens of Beverly Hills’ Greystone Park and Mansion (905 Loma Vista Dr, 310 550 4796, free). www.greystonemansion.org

• Gallery-hopping and grabbing a bite at the art complex Bergamot Station in Santa Monica (2525 Michigan Avenue, 310 586 6488, free parking). www.bergamotstation.com

• Rejecting the mainstream by taking in an essential left-of-center movie at the reliably well-programmed Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles (11272 Santa Monica Blvd,310 281 8223). www.landmarktheatres.com

• Sliding into your pricey-but-worth-it reserved seat at the state-of-the-art Arclight Theatre in Hollywood (6360 Sunset Blvd, 323 464 1478, www.arclightcinemas.com) and then walking across the street to buy CDs at Amoeba Music (www.amoeba.com)

• Food shopping downtown at the sprawling Grand Central Market, the city’s oldest and largest open-air market (317 S. Broadway, 213/624-2378) www.grandcentralsquare.com

• Ocean-gazing from atop the nine-story Ferris wheel at Pacific Park in Santa Monica, particularly on a warm January day as the sun falls into the sea while freezing temps accost your East Coast buddies (310 260 8744).   www.pacpark.com

• Luxuriating with a Korean Buff and Massage at Koreatown’s posh Aroma Spa and Sport, where admission includes use of multiple steam rooms,  hot/cold tubs, swimming pool and high-tech gym (3680 Wilshire Blvd, 213 387 2111). www.aromaresort.com

• Transcending the mundane by getting ridiculously pampered at that better-than-therapy hideaway known as the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel (9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, 310 551 2888). www.beverlyhills.peninsula.com

• Sampling tea from around the world and scones at Afternoon Tea, served all day, at the Chado Tea Room in downtown Los Angeles inside the Japanese American National Museum (369 E. 1^st Street, 213 258 2531) www.chadotea.com

• Winning, placing, showing—and brunching–on the Turf Terrace at Arcadia’s art deco, 1934-opened Santa Anita Race Track, against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains (285 W. Huntington Dr, 626 574 6336).  www.santaanita.com

• Giving shout-outs to Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone; Jayne Mansfield; Rudolph Valentino; and Cecil B. DeMille at the hundred-year-old Hollywood Forever cemetery  (6000 Santa Monica Blvd, 323 469 1181), site of an infamous Korn party in 2006 that marked Axl Rose’s first public appearance in years.  www.hollywoodforever.com

• Taking the canyons and back streets when the freeways look foreboding on the live maps at the heaven-sent Sig Alert. www.sigalert.com

• Heading downtown by going underground and exiting at the beautiful art deco landmark Union Station. www.metro.net

• Dining in style at Traxx under the high Spanish ceiling along the sweeping Grand Ticket Concourse at Union Station.  www.traxxrestaurant.com

• Enjoying one of the best panoramic views in the city—Hollywood Hills and downtown–while “dining” on the roof at the Beverly Center mall adjacent to the Food Court. www.beverlycenter.com

• Eating the best pizza in the city at that venerable rock and roll Italian restaurant/hangout, the Rainbow Bar & Grill, where rock and roll never forgets and dinner is served until 2:00 AM seven days a week (9015 Sunset Blvd, 310 278 4232). Ask for Table #14, site of the first date for Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio when the eatery was called Villa Nova. www.rainbowbarandgrill.com

• Going poolside with a day pass at various hotels like the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel where you don’t need to be a guest (1700 Ocean Ave, 310 458 6700).  www.santamonicaloewshotel.com

• Eating Pan-Asian food (including crickets and worms) at Typhoon while watching the private planes take off and land on Runway 21 at Santa Monica Airport (Typhoon, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S, 310 390-6565 www.typhoon.biz)

• Treating yourself to the four star bathrooms in between meetings by stopping off at the Four Seasons hotel and then checking your Blackberry by the fireplace in the lobby (300 S Doheny Dr, 310 273-2222). www.fourseasons.com

• Throwing a dinner party amidst the velvet images of Charlie’s Angels in the kitschy wine room of the long-running Antonio’s Mexican restaurant (7470 Melrose Ave, 323 658-9060). www.antoniosonmelrose.com/Antonios_on_Melrose.html

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