Sunday night Swanking at LAX
 

As we all know, some layovers can be a drag, but one so close to my nearest and dearest friends doesn't need to be. I mentioned it earlier, but figured it bears repeating.

Sunday, September 21 from 3:30 to 7:30 - Get ready for dancing, romancing... Okay... I dunno what - maybe a burger at Islands or a visit to Encounter to see if it's shaped up a bit. (I dunno, I haven't kept track).

So, who's in?

I would love to. I'll see if S is up to traveling by Sunday.

No.







:p

Me wants in.


As long as my standing obligation doesn't interfere, I'll be there for flyaway layover swank.

Um, anybody else?


BTW, if I can make it (which I hope to) ... where are we meeting the fabulous Miss Erica??

The Shiny Shuttle Service (me) will be picking her up at LAX. We're tossing around somewhere in the Howard Hughes Promenade but it's not for sure. It will be somewhere close to LAX.

Sorry, I'll be at LAX tomorrow, flying to London. I'll think of you Sunday at that time as I will be traveling (first class, of course) on the chunnel to Paris at that time. Please pray for no more tunnel fires that day! :eek:

ok, that's a good excuse.


Um, so let me know where when the Erica shuttle stop will be.

One of us will post details when she figures it out. I have the flight info too for delays.





do you want to help me keep her here?

Mmmm, kidnapping!!

You guys can decide for me... as long as I can make it back in time for my flight back...

Wait... Do I need a kidnapping contingency plan? In case you all decide to NOT drive me back to the airport?? ;)

You don't live here. Your pick. :p

Your kidnap contingency plan is to call S. He'll help ;)

iSm... use words like this in front of TSA and watch what happens.

No no, see we're going to be outside the airport.

Oh wait, I said to much.

Susan and I are in.

How about The Encounter Restaurant - I've always wanted to go there!

If everyone else wants to go to Encounter than that's fine. Personally, something a bit easier on the budget would be better for me, but I can make it work if that's the consensus. We have about 4 hours with her (that is with the built in cushion).

Hey, that's enough time to get across state lines...

I'm leery of Encounter. It's gotten worse and worse and worse. I vowed never to go back. The LAX theme building it's housed in is undergoing a major renovation ... and I have it in mind to give Encounter another try when that is finished. But not before, unless Ms. Erica desires.



Um, not that I have any other great suggestions, though. :rolleyes:

Howard Hughes Promenade isn't far. Here is a list of their restaurants.

I believe thai is out because of the peanuts. There is an Islands a Japanese place and a bunch of other places. It's close to LAX.

I'm leery of Encounter just because it, you know, crumbled. But I've been once and the view and swankery is fun (the food, not as good.)

There is mini-golf available at the Howard Hughes building. Just sayin'.

Also, Tom and I are in.

OK, executive decision:

Islands in the HH Promenade. 3:45ish (I'll post before I head to the airport to confirm the flight is on time). Then mini-golf if timing permits (and it should).

Be there or be a square.

I'm cool with NOT going to Encounters - it was just a thought.

Can I be there AND be a square?

Only if you bring my drunken seamstress.

She'll be there.

Then you can be there and be a square. :D

Well, I have no excuse not to go ... seeing as I can walk there from home.

I've been wanting to check out this place it's airport close, and if you scroll down to the "Never Again" comment, you'll see they have a loud pool party every Sunday Night - now that's an LA experience.

For those who don't click:

Custom Hotel
8639 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, USA
250 Rooms
Style: Cutting-Edge
Atmosphere: Lively

If I'm feeling better, I think we may join you. I'd prefer to check out the Custom Hotel Bar over Islands - I've been to one already this year and that was enough.

I want to check out the Custom, too. But perhaps it's something we should do after late afternoon lunch ... I'm not sure, but I think Erica's flight schedule won't allow her to stay until the loud pool party at the Custom gets cranking.


But I'm for either ... or BOTH.



(BTW: the best food at the Howard Hughes Center happens to be pizza, not Islands. Though Islands is certainly passable.)

The restaurant at the Custom looks decent and there is an outdoor bar and grill by the pool with private cabanas. It seems to have potential swank - and a very plesant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Ooooh, I sense change of plan!!!!



(Believe me, I'm the FIRST to look for other options than the Howard Hughes Center. As you might imagine, I'm extremely bored with it. Though it's a good place to grab a slice before a flick.)




Hey, there's enough of us to make it affordable ... Let's rent a cabana!



(Or, um, do you suppose we'd have to be guests to rent a cabana??) :D

There's nothing wrong with Howard Hughes center - but it's just another mainstream mall (but it does have mini golf). When there are other possibilities that have actual swank potential, then I'm more excited about the prospect of adventure.


Keep in mind that the Custom is owned by the same group that own The Angeleno, the Mondrian, the Standard, Shutters, the Roosevelt, and the Farmers Daughter - sites of several swank encounters.

How's the price? I think there are some budgetary issues involved. And I thought it was selected because Erica loves the restaurant?

I honestly don't care where we are, as long as everyone can afford it and we're seeing Erica.

Well, I suppose it might get a little pricey once we add in the cabana. ;)

We will be at Islands. You guys can feel free to go elsewhere. Perhaps some of these other places can be visited in December or when Erica is back in town again for longer than 4 hours.

Whoa. Why the snark?


Do you know something about Islands we don't? You're the only one who's spoken with Erica, so please illuminate us.


But attitude is not necessary. We are all friends just trying to work out a pleasant afternoon for Erica's very brief visit.

wow.


Maybe I'll visit with Erica another time. This seems like a bad scene.

Actually, I think it was Erica who first mentioned Islands? In the first post.

I think this can be a chill-er discussion, really - yes, there's no need for snark on any side. But since Marla was the one who stepped into plan according to Erica's wishes, it makes sense to me to follow that plan?

Not snark. I don't know something you don't about the restaurant. She suggested it in her first post. It's frustrating when something so simple as a meal and visiting has to be turned into a search for adventure and swank.

She has 4 hours here and wants to stay pretty close to the airport. My budget is next to nill and I know others are pretty tight too. So, what we have is an affordable place where we can relax, socialize, visit with Erica and get in a round of mini-golf.

I'm sorry if I came off snarky. I was trying to be direct.

Aw, guys. This swanking is about Erica! It doesn't need to be about big personalities clashing. I don't think Marla meant to offend anyone, and I don't think others were intending to undermine already-set plans. There is perhaps some miscommunication here but it doesn't mean we can't celebrate with Erica four a couple of hours! That is this swanking's purpose, after all.

Erica's original post had no definitives and left things open for suggestions of fun possibilities. When the word "swanking" is in the title of a thread, I figured that swank was being sought.

But, this has turned into a freak show and I'm not interested in freak shows.

Oh, whoa! No freak shows here.

Erica and Marla had settled on the burger restaurant, so I can see why she'd be frustrated that others were suggesting a change of plans.

As I understand the event, it wasn't really about "swank" as much as Erica wanted to see people, and had a limited range of time to do that.

God forbid that something other than a loud chain restaurant be suggested for a place for friends to get together and catch up.

Maybe I don't keep up on the minutia of planning that went on with this thread. For me, it was "oh look, I have a couple of hours in my life and there's this cool place to explore nearby - maybe I'll suggest that".

But, that was obviously way out of line. :rolleyes:

Well, I'm sorry to hear that anybody on any side is frustrated. No worries, people. An afternoon outing is not worth fighting about.

I'll be wherever Erica is and I hope to see you all there.

Lisa, it's not a freak-show. It's just a discussion with differing opinions of different people trying to come to a happy solution workable for all ... and I daresay, especially for Erica.

I suppose Erica's not in a position to reply to this thread ... so I'm willing to assume that Marla's got her "proxy."


So, yeah, there was nothing in the original post about Islands. It suggested Encounter for swank, or something near the airport ... and i think mentioned the Howard Hughes Center as something near the airport that has a bunch of restaurants.

Then it seems to me that Encounters seemed a combo of too iffy and too pricey. So Marla spoke to Erica and they arrived at Islands as a cheaper and, though less exciting, certainly reliable alternative.


Ok fine.


Chris and Lisa made an alternate suggestion. I happen to think their suggestion is indeed more in line with the swank Erica seemed to be hoping for in her original post. And absent renting a cabana, it doesn't look to be all that expensive or anything.


What would Erica do? Where would Walt have lunch? Which would Jesus pick?


It's my sole opinion that Erica would like the Custom better.


That opinion is rooted, btw, in my intimate knowledge of the Howard Hughes Center and its Islands.



But there's no need to get upset about a simple lunch discussion.

Guys... I really don't care where we go. Really.

I didn't decide on Islands, but then again, I really don't care where we go. Really. It was a silly suggestion, but a perfectly fine one to me.

I just said it because it suggested a wide array of options. I want people to feel comfortable coming, and not have price be an issue, if it was. And if we wanted to go somewhere else, I'd be more than glad to help out if budgetary issues were at hand. Besides, I'm around too early to really eat dinner... so it doesn't matter to me where we go. I just want to see some friends. If no one was going to be able to make it, it wasn't going to be a big deal either... Although I must say - the United terminal is deadly boring.

Oh, I did see the Custom Hotel while landing. Looks interesting.

But again, I really don't care where we're going. Really.

ok, then ... sheepishly, can we go to the Custom, because I'm awfully bored of that Islands?

And may I add that I used to go there all the time with zapppop, whom I'd rather not be reminded of nowadays.



Heheh, not that I couldn't deal. Oh, hell, the Custom just sounds more interesting. Pfft, I'd eat at the United Terminal if it meant seeing Erica for an hour.

Can you post detailed directions from LAX to this place? Like seriously detailed.

For some reason I was under the impression it was a dinner thing and frankly since I'm pretty strapped and shouldn't even be going up there (but it's to see E and well...) I was suggesting some place I know that is cheap and know how to get to. Since we're doing more drinks, sure, this place sounds fine. But I need seriously detailed directions from terminal 7 at LAX.

WWJDFAKB?

(What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar?)

1. Get in your car.
2. Close the door.
3. Put the key in the ignition and start the car (though you may choose to put this step before #2
4. ...

I'll work on the rest later.

Simple as pie directions from LAX or points south. (aka "The Rest")

North on Sepulveda Blvd.

Take the left fork to Lincoln Blvd. (this fork is well-signed, just north of the airport)

The Custom is at Lincoln and Manchester, about 3 minutes north.
8639 Lincoln Blvd.

I'm glad this worked out and I'm hoping we can make an appearance. I'm not sure we could've committed to a sit down meal. This way we can all come and go as time allows. I believe the Grill by the pool is a place that many can gather, come and go as you please, order drinks or nosh or both or nothing. And, more importantly, relax and have some social time together.

Directions:

I drove by the Custom today to scope out parking in the area. Something on the website caught my attention (namely, $22 parking!!!), so I did a drive-by to investigate.

It doesn't look like there's any free parking lot for the hotel (but rates weren't posted streetside). There's plenty of free parking, though, at a recreational park on Lincoln, 1 block south (at La Tierja), on the other side of the street (the east side).

There's also closer parking in the little neighborhood just north of Manchester, just to the east of Lincoln. This is about half a block from the Custom.

$22 parking? Jesus Christ. Thanks for scoping out the sitch.

$22!?!!?! Holy crap!

Can you post detailed directions to said free parking (and does it look to be monitored)?

yes, I'd much prefer to go elsewhere but due to the obvious unhappiness over somewhere not deemed "swanky" I will do whatever it is that the group wants to. So please make a group decision and tell me where to deliver the goods.

Um, I posted where the free parking is, 3 posts up.

Easiest is the absolutely unmonitored recreational park parking just one block south on the other side of Lincoln.

Closer but a tiny bit more tricky, yet also free and completely unmonitored parking, is in the residential area immediately north of Manchester, immediately east of Lincoln.


(And with so much free parking nearby, I can't really believe they charge $22 at the Custom ... and perhaps they don't. That wasn't part of their official site, just a tip from a guest, in the comments section of that website write-up that €uro linked to)

Thanks iSm.

Since I don't know LA the street names don't mean a lot. But E knows how to get there so we'll see you guys all tomorrow.

Not sure what parking is, the comment was the daily parking rate for guests with cars, which seems par for many hotels. My guess is there is a lower hourly rate.

Doing a little more research on Parking, it appears they have Valet Parking for $6 (source) But as ISM mentioned several reviews mention that there is plenty of street parking nearby.

Bistro Tek is the on sight restaurant, but I think we really just want to go to the Poolside Bar, The Hopscotch Bar & Grill

I'm actually surprised and pleased there is free parking available nearby the Custom. The last time I was at Howard Hughes I had to promise my first child to get out of the garage and I don't think any of the stores and restaurants validate. Someone not ordering at the bar could actually get out of this swanking without paying a dime (except for the gas to get there). Free seankings are always a plus.

I'm excited to see Erica and I'm excited about exploring a new place.

Sooo, what time is this shindig? What time does Erica's flight get in? And in case the flight is late, latening the swankening, what's her flight number so we can monitor?


:confused:

€uro and Not Afraid are going to conduct a little Custom reconnaissance ... with their tips coming via tweet.

(or you can call NA if you have no twit onthego.).

.

If we had the flight number we can check in real time from our iPhones.

United Flight 227 from Denver (from SLC)

Scheduled arrival: 3:19 PM Estimated: 3:13 PM

Here ya go Steve.

United 5503
Operated by: United Express/skywest Airlines


Depart: SMX 2:21 PM
Arrive: LAX 3:23 PM

Mission Accomplished!

I'm headed out in 10 minutes. Everything looks to be on time but it's a very short flight and I have to leave before it takes off. We'll see you all at the pool bar.

Hmm... I guess I better go take a shower and get going. It has been a (much needed) lazy morning and early afternoon.

sorry I bailed on noodles, but something came up just as I was leaving the Custom that was, hmmm, more local. It won.

But the Custom layover was a winner. Love seeing Erica. Love seeing everyone. Love seeing that many nice-bodied boys with their shirts off around the pool. It took me 10 minutes to notice there were really no girls out there. Hmmm, is this some place I should be hanging out more often?

So where do I get the mushrooms Mr. DanceCraze man was on? Yeah, but i think i'd have to dip back into the gene pool before i'd be fit to hang out shirtless by the Custom pool. Ah well.

Anyway, the anti-grav seating unit near the baaaaar made me want to see 2001 at the Edison. Next time, velcro shoes!

A fine gathering indeed. I love the fact that we can get together with someone we haven't seen in many months (it had been that long for me) and after the initial hugs, it was like nothing was different: just friends hanging out!

We understand: we were snubbed :(

There were MANY gorgeous young ladies in their bathing suit finery when I arrived. It took me ten minutes to remember why we were there and that it wasn't to enjoy the scenery.

Hey, what am I, chopped liver?

But in all seriousness, I had a fantastic time with some fantastic friends.

I promptly went back on my plane and slept. I was so tired (double espresso at the airport didn't do jack) that I conked out just after takeoff and only woke because my ears popped from the descent.

ZZzzzZzzZzz

The Custom was great! It's certainly not regular destination worthy, but for an airport meet, it's pretty wonderful.

It was great seeing Erica again (especially for more than 10 minutes ;))

I had fun getting in trouble with ISM. If anyone ever hears that the two of us are going exploring, grab a camera and follow us. Chris caught a few snaps of the trouble we got into. There was no red button this time, but we still managed to get caught by the "authorities" poking around for one.

The noodle place was great and K&S were really good sports about it. It's pretty traditional Japanese food and you never quite know what you are ordering (and the wait staff is difficult to understand). But, we managed to eat some good food and try some new stuff.

No, but you weren't in a bathing suit ;)

The Girl



The scene



The Surprise



The Mischief


The Swank


The Sheep


The Complete Album

Great pictures, Thanks for sharing.

See the woman laying face down on a chaise in the lower left corner - just below and to the right of the guy in the orange shirt? She garnered a tremendous amount of my attention. VERY nice bathing suit.

Hmm, while my attention was drawn to all the not-bathing suit that the buff guys were all not wearing.


Who'da thunk i could get a case of the vapors at a pool party!

Damn, we were at LAX, but 24 hours late.

NOES!

How was your trip??

In a word - spifftacular.