PDC2008 : Social

Put the PDC in your pocket!

Denise Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:13:00 GMT

Go to: http://m.microsoftpdc.com/ for the PDC mobile experience.

L.A. Insights: Cinephile's Delight

Denise Begley — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:15:00 GMT

Angelenos have a well-deserved reputation as laid-back -- but when it comes to movies, they can be as passionate and serious as the most diehard cinephile. There are convenient places to check out the latest high-profile releases – like downtown’s no-frills Laemmle’s Grande 4-Plex, or the pricey ArcLight in Hollywood. But part of the fun of living in such close proximity to the movie capital of the world comes from the many special screenings and in-person appearances by filmmakers. The week of the PDC is no exception...

To find out more about the nuts-and-bolts of movie-making, you could check out a behind-the-scenes workshop by Richard King, sound editor for the year’s biggest film: The Dark Knight. On Monday night, he’ll be talking at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theater with music editor Alex Gibson about how the two approached the project, complete with pre-dub and post-dub excerpts from the film. If you’ve ever wanted to ask writer/director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt) a question, he’ll be doing a Q&A after a screening of his 1999 film Election at the U.S.C. film school on Thursday.

The week of the PDC is also a great week for documentaries. None other than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screens Oscar-winning documentaries each Monday, and on the 27th, will be showing two of the winners from 1993: Defending Our Lives, about abused women driven to kill their tormentors, and I Am A Promise, about an inspiring Philadelphia principal in a low-income school. Doc producers will be in attendance to discuss. On Tuesday, the Egyptian will be screening Lioness, a new doc about five female soldiers who saw combat in Iraq, even though technically women are not supposed to be under fire. And along with a panel of distinguished academics, U.S.C. professor Joe Saltzman will screen and discuss Black on Black, the Emmy-winning documentary he produced in 1968 about the devastating riots in South L.A. during that unquiet decade.

Lastly, the annual film festival of the American Film Institute will begin on October 30, which may give you an incentive to stay in town an extra day or two. Opening night will kick off with the world premiere of The Soloist, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, based on the true story of an L.A. Times columnist who befriends a homeless, mentally-ill man on skid row who turns out to be a trained classical musician. But make sure to buy tickets in advance!

Monday, October 27, Behind-the-scenes look at the sound of The Dark Knight (free), Egyptian Theater, Hollywood, 7:30 – red line to Hollywood and Highland.

Defending Our Lives and I Am a Promise ($5), Linwood Dunn Theater, Hollywood, doors open at 6:30 – red line to Hollywood and Vine, walk 4 blocks south to 1313 Vine St.

Tuesday, October 28, Lioness (free), Egyptian Theater – red line to Hollywood and Highland;

Black on Black (free, although RSVP requested at annenberg.usc.edu/rsvp), Annenberg Auditorium, 5 P.M. -- Take southbound commuter Express Bus 422 from stop in front of convention center at Pico and Figueroa -- bus terminates at Jefferson and Hoover, at USC campus. Marked as “ASC” in grid square D4 on this map.

Thursday, October 30, world premiere of The Soloist ($25; $125) – red line to Hollywood and Vine; $25 screening held at Arclight Theater; $125 at Cinerama Dome next door, 7 P.M.

Q. & A. with Alexander Payne and screening of Election (free; although email visionandvoices@usc.edu to get instructions on how early to arrive to deal with first-come, first-served policy), room 108 of George Lucas Instructional Building, 7 P.M. – Take southbound commuter Express Bus 422 from stop in front of convention center at Pico and Figueroa -- bus terminates at Jefferson and Hoover, at USC campus. Screening will take place in room 108 of George Lucas Instructional Building, marked as “LUC” in square 3D on this map.

The Devil’s Field Guide to the PDC2008

Denise Begley — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:09:00 GMT

The long awaited “The Devil’s Field Guide to the PDC” is the ultimate insider’s guide to having the best PDC experience ever. It answers questions that attendees of any type of large Microsoft conference event ponder, for example:
• Where do all the Microsofties hang out after the event?
• How do I get the backchannel instead of what the mainstream media wants me to hear?
• How do I avoid standing in lines?
• How do I maintain my stamina?
• How do I talk to a Microsoftie who can actually help me?
Of course, there is a lot more to know so get inside the field guide to find out!

PDC2008: We don't need no stinkin' badges!

Denise Begley — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:44:00 GMT

Countdown to PDC2008: We don't need no stinkin' badges! Yes you do-- if they’re PDC Badges! Collecting PDC Badges is the way for anyone attending PDC to capture their experience at the PDC conference. Just for showing up at registration you’ll receive the “I was there at Microsoft PDC2008 Badge”. If you go to a PreCon, you’ll get the “Captured Brain Power Early” Badge. Not every Badge is that easy to get though. Only a few will obtain the exclusive “Keynote Front Rower” Badge or the “Coded4Fun” Badge.

The best part is that everyone is joining in! You will find Badges available from the Conference, Product Groups, Sponsors and Attendees. Find more details on collecting or creating your own Badges from Adam Kinney, the Badge Evangelist.

L.A. Insights: Music Highlights during PDC

Denise Begley — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Los Angeles music scene may not be as cohesive as when jazz clubs lined Central Avenue in the 1940s or when Axl and friends emerged as the kings of the Sunset Strip in the 1980s – but there are always a huge number of live events going on, from classical to hip-hop to country to rock to bebop. We’ve picked out some downtown-centric music highlights for the week of the PDC.

For a gold-plated experience, you could head up Bunker Hill to the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Concert Hall. Living jazz legend Dave Brubeck will be appearing with his quartet on Sunday; and on Wednesday, bossa-nova icon Milton Nascimento will be singing with the Jobim Trio, which lists the son and grandson of the immortal Antonio Carlos Jobim among its members. You could also head to Disney’s smaller Redcat Theater, which tends to program avant-garde artists – on Wednesday, experimental musician Meredith Monk will unveil an “immersive theatrical environment” that will use a choir, vocal ensembles, a string quartet, percussionists, and visual elements to represent various religious states. For one of the best bargains in the pricey world of high culture, stop in at the prestigious conservatory known as the Colburn School--on Sunday night, two of the faculty pianists will be giving a joint recital, which is free as long as you request tickets in advance.

If all of this sounds too highfalutin, consider the rugged DIY punk club known as The Smell. They don’t serve alcohol, but admission is usually just $5-10 dollars, and they’ll be having a full slate of acts on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. You also might head over to Redwood Bar and Grill, which books local indie rock acts most nights. If you’d prefer hearing inexpensive live jazz, head over to 7 Grand, which has free local performers after 10 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. You could also try Little Tokyo’s 2nd Street Jazz Bar, where you can hear young, local players for the cost of a 2-drink minimum at the bar, or a small cover at tables – Wednesday is DJ night, where everything from rare groove to electronica might be heard.

For higher-profile concerts, you’ll have to get on the subway. (Staples Center and the newcomer Nokia Theater, the two biggest downtown venues, aren’t having concerts early in the week). At the turquoise, art-deco theater known as the Wiltern in Koreatown, indie rockers Against Me! will headline on Tuesday.

Over in Hollywood, the Hotel Cafe has become an important venue for upcoming folk and singer/songwiter types to get noticed, and has inexpensive shows 7 nights a week. The Knitting Factory Hollywood will be featuring a variety of acts, including the metal festival Appease the Beast 2 on Sunday and a Latin hip-hop showcase on Wednesday. The Catalina Jazz Club is one of the two most prestigious jazz clubs in the city. They’ll be featuring a variety of second-tier players throughout the week, except for Sunday, when the outstanding chanteuse Tierney Sutton will be appearing. And since no price is better than free, keep your eyes on the Amoeba Records calendar of in-store performances – it’s standing room only, but a great way to catch up with an unknown up-and-comer or an established star.

Disney Concert Hall, including the Redcat
Dave Brubeck Quartet ($36-99)
Milton Nascimento with Jobim Trio ($36-89)
Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton ($30)
Heewon Kwon and Jeffrey Lavner recital at Colburn School (free)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center,” and walk uphill on Temple to Grand; to avoid the climb, take DASH Bus Route B)

The Smell (typically $5-10)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center”; walk south on Hill St. until you reach 2nd St. make a left and walk east for 2 ½ blocks until you pass an alley just west of Main St. the Smell entrance located in the alley, just north of 2nd).

Redwood Bar and Grill (cover charge: $0-$5)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center”; walk south on Hill St. until you reach 2nd St. make a left until you hit 316 W. 2nd)

7 Grand (music free)
(Blue, red, or purple line to 7th St./Metro Center; walk three blocks east to 515 7th St.)

The Wiltern (Against Me! $25 general admission)
(Purple line to Wilshire and Western)

2nd Street Jazz ($10 at tables, or 2-drink minimum sitting at bar)
(Red line to Civic Center; or DASH bus “Route A,” but only up until 6:30 P.M).

Knitting Factory (tickets $5-40)
Catalina Jazz Club ($10-40, plus 2-drink minimum; please note that even pedestrians enter through the parking garage behind the club, which looks like an office building from outside)
(Red line to Hollywood and Highland).

Hotel Cafe (tickets typically $10-15)
Amoeba Records (free)
(Red line to Sunset and Vine).

Countdown to PDC2008 Ambush Dan and Brian, Taking Over their C9 Show for 10 Groovy Minutes

Denise Begley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Countdown to PDC2008: Brian and Dan may have day jobs, but they are also doing a ton of work on PDC including running the Show Off contest. Show Off is a really cool experience, but it’s kinda hard to explain in writing so Brian and Dan give it to us in plain words and tell us how easy it is to get involved (and maybe win some big prizes). Plus, we hear all the PDC sessions are going to be online within 24 hours for FREE! Is that really true!? The guys confirm for us the dealio on the cool PDC virtual experience, and tell us what to expect.

L.A. Insights: A Business Meal That’ll Impress the Boss – On A Budget

Denise Begley — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Downtown L.A. offers a huge array of choices for business meals. But you’ll make your boss happy not only by picking out a top-notch restaurant, but by avoiding over-priced culinary blowouts that look bad on an expense report.

The south end of the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Hall houses Patina – it’s a soothingly elegant restaurant, with an interior of dark greens and browns, illuminated by latticed yellow lighting fixtures. The dinner menu tends to a sophisticated international style, and is not cheap. But there is a 2-course business lunch special that costs just $25, with the same highly-attentive service that you receive for a far heftier check (a recent special consisted of squash soup with micro-cilantro, followed by lamb croquettes over fava beans). Patina is the crown jewel of a restaurant group with many constituents – and the sister restaurant Cafe Pinot is also worth visiting, and not just for the inventive California cuisine. This “California bistro” sits in the public garden of the Central Library, and there’s nothing like cypresses and flowers blowing gently in the breeze to take your mind off of a hectic week – did you forget that this is L.A., where it’s generally sunny even in late October?

Patina can claim to be the best restaurant downtown in part because longtime powerhouse The Water Grill lost its chef, who departed to start the rapturously-praised Providence (which is accessible only by a drive to Hollywood). The Water Grill still makes for a fine meal though, in spite of the somewhat dated wood bar and beige-toned mural. The menu will appeal if you like meticulously-prepared fish that incorporates a crazy-quilt of international flavors, from foams to cous-cous to chorizo to the German pasta called spatzle. The “fruits of the sea platter,” consisting of a huge range of chilled shellfish over ice, is a delicious way to eat light, and costs a not unreasonable $35/person.

Across the street at the Hilton is the Checkers Downtown Restaurant, which combines fussiness and casual comfort in a way that has made the place a mainstay for L.A. power lunches. The white tablecloths, stiff-backed chairs, and reticent wait staff give the place a coldly-formal feel. But downing a smoky steak sandwich or a buttery crab cake as natural light streams in from high windows will have you feeling like a local insider.

Over at Cicada, the pricey Northern Italian menu is decent, but the real draw is the richly evocative art-deco dining room, originally constructed during the roaring 1920s. And for a more casual atmosphere, make your way over to Wood Spoon, which serves Brazilian specialties like roasted meats and the fried minced chicken dumplings called coxhina. The narrow front door opens into a high-ceilinged dining room, where colorful abstract paintings adorn white walls. The huge strip of cinnamon that flavors the carafe of cold water on your table is a great symbol of the chef’s attention to detail.

Patina (1 lunch course $9-26; 2 course prix fixe business lunch special $25; 1 dinner course $17-49;) – Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center,” and walk uphill on Temple to Grand; to avoid the climb, take DASH Bus Route B)

Cafe Pinot (lunch entrees $17-30, dinner entrees $22-38), Water Grill (lunch entrees $25-46; dinner entrees $33-48), Checkers Downtown (lunch entrees $12-26; dinner entrees $15-32) , Cicada (dinner only, entrees from $23-42) -- red, purple or blue line to 7th St/Metro Center).

Wood Spoon (salads $8, sandwiches $8-10, Brazilian grill $11) – Take DASH Bus Route E to 9th St. and Los Angeles – walk west past Main and Spring St. to 107 W. 9th St.)

This event is so hot, the T-Shirts caught on fire!

Denise Begley — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:11:00 GMT

Early Tuesday morning, September 30th, Pacific Sportswear Inc., the contract screenprinter for eCompany Store, had a fire in the facility producing the PDC attendee t-shirts. The PDC T-shirts were damaged. Pacific Sportswear ordered more shirts and found another printing facility in Tacoma to print the shirts in time for shipping to L.A.. I just came back from a press check and the shirts looks great. You can check my pictures out from the press check here. Special thanks to Mark and Stacy for going above and beyond to getting the shirts to L.A. on time!

L.A. Insights: Doing Lunch-on-the-Go Downtown

Denise Begley — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With thousands of office workers to feed every day, downtown L.A has no shortage of restaurants. But amid the scads of so-so places, there are some truly memorable lunches to be had. There’s no need to be stuck going to Subway, unless you really want to be. (Although if you do, you’re in luck – there are no less than 10 in the downtown area).

Just a couple of blocks north of the convention center is the 84-year-old diner known as The Original Pantry Cafe, which claims to go through 750,000 eggs per year. As you might expect from that kind of plaudit, this is a 24/7 restaurant that emphasizes volume, but the quality is actually pretty good too, whether you’re looking for a hearty stack of pancakes or a roast beef plate. Just remember you have to pay in cash. For another taste of classic L.A., head to the other side of downtown, where the charmingly spartan cafeteria known as Phillipe the Original serves up what purports to be the original French dipped sandwich (roast beef with the bread slathered in juice from the roasting pan), which you order at the counter and eat at long, family-style tables in a dining room covered with sawdust. The roast beef makes for a good sandwich, but the turkey, pork, or lamb dips are also worth a try. You can wash your lunch down with a .70 lemonade or some really cheap beer, but keep in mind that this place is cash only too.

Perhaps the finest sandwich to be had in Los Angeles requires you to travel west a stop on the subway to Langer’s Deli. In a city where Jewish deli food often disappoints, the tender, spiced pastrami on rye at Langer’s invites comparisons with the best sandwiches you can find anywhere. (The place even won a culinary award from the James Beard Foundation). Langer’s doesn’t do delivery, but does offer “curbside” take-out if you have a car, and is right next to the subway station, if you don’t. You could also head a block west to Mama’s Hot Tamales Cafe, a combination restaurant and community development project that makes wonderfully light and flavorful tamales, with sauces drawn from throughout Mexico and Central America. (Vegetarians will be glad to hear that the herbivore options are made without lard). And if you don’t have time to journey over and sit in the dining room, colorfully decorated with painted adobe and a huge mural of a Mesoamerican harvest scene, Mama’s will deliver downtown, for an additional fee of $10.

While Los Angeles has a shortage of good pizza – one of the reasons that car-accessible Mozza has been such a sensation – Pitfire Pizza is your best bet for delivery downtown, if you’re ordering more than $20 worth of food. Just don’t wait until you’re too hungry to order – they need 45 minutes to get the food to you. If you need something quick, you could try the well-stocked food bar at the new Ralph’s grocery store at 9th St. and Flower – they also make good rotisserie chicken. You could also head over to the Figueroa and 8th St. location of Famima!!, the Japanese equivalent of a 7-Eleven – their steamed pork buns will hit the spot.

Original Pantry Cafe ($7-15), Ralph’s (rotisserie chicken $6-11), Famima!! (pork bun $1.50) -- 7th St. Metro Center, or a few blocks walk from Convention Center.

Phillipe the Original (Roast beef dipped sandwich, $5.35) – take the red line to Union Station, or the .25 DASH bus, Route B.

Langer’s Deli (hot pastrami sandwich, $11.95) and Mama’s Hot Tamales Cafe (2 tamales combo, $7.50 – Take purple or red line to Westlake/MacArthur Park.

Pitfire Pizza (15” pizza $14-20) – Take red line to Civic Center, walk three blocks east to Main, one block south to 108 W. 2nd, or take .25 DASH bus, Route D.

Dayline’s Exclusive Interview with the Brain in the Jar

Denise Begley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:33:00 GMT

Learn where the brain has been since PDC05 in this exclusive interview with Tina Wood. Discover what the brain likes to do when not developing software; why a jar and if it is a mascot for PDC2008? Enjoy!

Badges!? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges…

Denise Begley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:05:00 GMT

Yes you do if they’re PDC Badges! Collecting PDC Badges is the way for anyone attending PDC to capture their experience at the PDC conference. Find more details on collecting or creating your own Badges from Adam Kinney, the BadgeMaster.

L.A. Insights: Mexican Food

Denise Begley — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:38:00 GMT

Like the movie business, powerful cars, or the Lakers, Mexican food is a topic on which Angelenos hold passionate opinions. (For example, check out this thread by self-proclaimed “heavyweights” on the dining site Chowhound). While some of most highly-lauded places are accessible by car, downtown and the subway will serve you very well on your quest for the ideal taco -- if you know where to look.

If you’re pressed for time and can’t leave the convention center, there’s a serviceable Mexican food window in the South Hall. But you if you head north only a few blocks, there’s Ciudad, located in a roomy space full of splashy art, and serving pan-Latin food distilled through the sensibility of an American culinary academy. It’s a bit pricey, so maybe stop in to try it during happy hour, where you can get 2 tacos, a margarita, or a beer for $4 each. For a very different kind of experience, stroll over to the bazaar and food court known as the Grand Central Market – the sawdust on the floor should tell you all you need to know about ambience. But as for food, the crisp, smoky meat in the tacos at Ana Maria’s will make you glad you made the trudge. In contrast, a highly touristy experience awaits you at Olvera Street, the site of the original settlement known as “Los Angeles,” back when the town consisted of 44 people in 1781. Today there are a lot of tchochkes and tourist traps – but also some gems. La Luz Del Dia will make you a mean combo plate for about $6. And Mr. Churro offers a fine version of the Mexican dessert after which it’s named: it’s basically the equivalent of a long, pointy donut, filled with either strawberry, caramel, or custard cream.

For a more refined take on Mexican cuisine, hop the subway to Chichen Itza in Koreatown, which serves the blend of Spanish, Mayan, and Lebanese food native to the Yucatan. Unlike the corner taqueria, Chichen Itza features a variety of salads and meats flavored with sour orange juice and the Aztec spice known as epazote. You could also head over to the Oaxacan oasis known as Guelaguetza, where the creamy, slightly sweet sauce known as mole flavors everything from tender roast chicken to the tortilla chips. They also make delicious roast meats.

If you prefer some well-dressed young people with your Oaxacan food, truck on over to the brand-new Hollywood location of Loteria Grill. You can order your taco, burrito, tostada, or soup with one of their rich, spicy sauces that’ll make you wonder how you lived without it before now.

Ciudad (at 5th and Figueroa; easily walkable from Convention Center or downtown hotels; entrees $16-29)

Grand Central Market (take the red line to Pershing Square or walk from downtown hotels) Ana Maria’s (carnitas tacos $2);

Olvera Street (take the red line to Union Station, and head across the street; or take the DASH bus, route B) La Luz Del Dia (combos at about $6); Mr. Churro ($3/churro)

Chichen Itza (Purple line to Westlake/MacArthur Park, walk 1 block north to 6th, turn left, and head to 2501 W. 6th St., entrees $14-28)

Guelaguetza (Purple line to Wilshire and Normandie, walk two blocks south on Irolo St. to 3337 8th street; entrees $10-16)

Loteria Grill (Red line to Hollywood & Highland, walk three blocks east to 6627 Hollywood; tacos $3-4; burritos $8-9).

L.A. Insights: Like Japanese Food? You'll love Los Angeles

Denise Begley — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:22:00 GMT

If you don’t, the city just might prompt a change of heart. The best restaurants are that good, whether in the historically Japanese-American neighborhood downtown known as “Little Tokyo,” or in Hollywood. So hop on the subway, or the daytime 25 cent downtown bus system known as DASH, and explore. (You can also walk to Little Tokyo from downtown hotels, but only if you don’t mind passing through some gritty blocks).

At the well-worn Little Tokyo spot known as Daikouya, the ramen is an essay in simplicity. Who knew that soy sauce and pork bones boiled for a day produce such a thick and delicious brown broth? Add some noodles, bamboo shots, bean sprouts, green onions, and a boiled egg, and you’ve got a sublime bowl that’ll have you swearing off Top Ramen for good. For izakaya, the Japanese equivalent of casual, “small plates” pub food, try 132 S Central Ave for Izayoi, a spare but cheery space nestled between a Quizno’s and a yogurt shop. A seafood salad with ginger dressing and a piece of grilled yellowtail picked fresh from the market nearby are light and refreshing. And to watch the old standby of grilled chicken turned into something truly adventurous and new, head over to 260 E. 2nd Street to Kokekokko, named after the Japanese term for a cock crowing. The skewers of light and dark meat will make your taste buds sing, but you can also push the envelope with chicken livers, hearts, or gizzards. And they’re lucky it tastes so good, since the staff can be unfriendly, there is a 5 skewer minimum, and they run out of things later in the evening – none of which deters the place’s many repeat customers.

For a more elegant, less stressful meal, Los Angeles is one of the best places to get sushi outside of Japan. The most celebrated restaurants such as The Hump, Matsuhisa, Nishimura, Mori Sushi, and Urasawa lie west of downtown and are only accessible by car – but “very good” sushi in this town is “great” by most other standards. So you’ll do well for yourself sitting at the bar at Sushi Gen, located at 422 E Second St, in a Little Tokyo mall called Honda Plaza – their crispy salmon-skin roll tops off a meal with a savory crunch. Hollywood’s Sushi Ike, at 6051 Hollywood Blvd. offers a delicious, no-nonsense approach that will please anyone who appreciates flavorful austerity. At Katsuya (Hollywood), it’s just the opposite -- the combination of sushi and showbiz glamour in a flamboyant space designed by Phillipe Starck will strike some as odd, and the prices will strike everyone as bracingly high. But at no other establishment on this list are you more likely to see the likes of Brad Pitt, Hilary Duff or some of gals from “The Hills” dining at the next table.

Daikyokuya (ramen $8.50), Izayoi (small plates from $4.50-14; sushi $4-7 per piece), Kokekokko ($12-20), Sushi Gen ($18 and up); Red line to Civic Center; or DASH bus “Route A,” but only up until 6:30 P.M.

Sushi Ike ($18 and up;), Katsuya (Hollywood) ($30 and up); Red line to Sunset and Vine.

One Day Left to Enter T-shirt and Emmy Awards Contests

Denise Begley — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:03:00 GMT

You have until 11:59 PM Tuesday, August 26, 2008 to submit entries to win $500 Visa Gift Card or a trip to the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater in L.A. on Sunday, September 21st. Capture the essence of PDC by designing the PDC attendee t-shirt or showcasing the brain in a photo.

No purchase necessary. See complete rules for details.

L.A. Insights: American Food Downtown

Denise Begley — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:48:00 GMT

With Midwesterners and Southerners flocking to Los Angeles in the 20th-century, the town is awash in outstanding, stick-to-your-ribs “American food.” If you’re looking for burgers, steaks and fried chicken heavy on flavor and light on restraint, you’ll have a ball in L.A.

The prospect of preparing classic American staples has attracted many high-end chefs. Sparked by the phenomenal popularity of the work of art in beef over at Father’s Office, different L.A. restaurateurs have been falling over themselves to trick out hamburgers with elegant touches like Kobe beef, onion and bacon compote, and blue cheese or gruyere. The uninitiated may find these ingredients precious, or wince at the $10-16 price tag, but the results can be spectacular. While Father’s Office is only accessible by car, you’ll find excellent examples of the species downtown at Pete’s Cafe and Bar or Morton’s Steakhouse (lunch only), or in Hollywood at 25 Degrees, Bowery, Lucky Devils or the Hungry Cat. At the opposite end of the burger price, but not taste, spectrum, try the tasty, made-to-order $1.74 hamburger at In-N-Out, the one chain to actually to garner praise in Fast Food Nation.

If this gourmet approach to a simple dish rubs you the wrong way, there are also numerous old-school establishments in Los Angeles stubbornly impervious to trends. The 24/7 Pacific Dining Car has been a go-to steak destination for pols, power-brokers, and Hollywood night owls from Raymond Chandler and Nicholas Cage since 1921 – and they have a free shuttle from downtown. But with steaks north of $30 and sides at $5.75, the experience won’t come cheap. Budget-conscious lovers of the T-bone should head into Koreatown’s Taylor’s Steakhouse, which offers no-attitude charm, complete with thick white tablecloths and red Naugahyde booths. And for classic Hollywood ambience Musso & Frank Grill (6667 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood) deserves a spot on your itinerary (there’s nary a wagyu slider or arugula salad in sight). While Musso is no longer one of the top steakhouses in town, and a bit overpriced, if you keep your order simple -- a steak, a martini, and creamed spinach -- you’ll travel back to the days when Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks were the biggest stars in town. Classy nostalgia keeps Musso fans, including Johnny Depp and Keith Richards, coming back.

And if you’re really looking to get your cardiologist mad at you, head over to the Hollywood location of Roscoe’s House of Chicken n’ Waffles (although it fills up quickly, so try to go on the early or late side). This soul food classic is as the name suggests – it’s up to you whether to add syrup or pour gravy over your fried chicken and waffles. Purists fuss that the bird isn’t sufficiently brined – but after a deeply satisfying calorie bomb of sweet and savory, most people walk out full, smiling, and vowing to hit the gym more often.

Pacific Dining Car offers a free shuttle from select downtown locations.

Subway access:
Taylor’s Steakhouse, purple line to Wilshire and Normandie.

Hollywood:
25 Degrees, Lucky Devils, In-N-Out, Musso & Frank Grill, red line to Hollywood and Highland.
Bowery, Hungry Cat, Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles; red line to Hollywood and Vine.