Field Manual · Vol. I · Los Angeles, CA
Surviving Los Angeles — Dad's Guide
should you find yourself stuck here
with a small Dot
LAT 34.1°N✦ ✦ ✦LON 118.3°W
Field Map — Select a Region
N
Legend
Free
Low Cost
Adventure
Basecamp
I
Griffith Park
Walk From Basecamp
I
Echo Park
I
Silver Lake
II
La Cañada
II
Exposition Park
II
Pasadena
II
Santa Monica
A
Adventures
B
Basecamp
Chapter 01
Out Around the House
5–15 minutes away. Parks, trails, free stuff.
Open →
Chapter 02
A Little Further
15–40 minutes out. For the intrepid.
Open →
Appendix
Basecamp
Things to do at the house.
Open →
Roll the Dice
Guides
Ch. 03
Restaurant
Guide
Cheap eats, Dot approved,
and date night.
Open →
Ch. 04
Nightlife
Guide
Dads gone wild.
Open →
Stay Hydrated  ·  Bring Snacks
Chapter 01 · Terrain Within Range
Out Around the House
5 to 15 minutes away
No Cost
Griffith Park
Has it all — kinda the Balboa Park of LA. Playgrounds, pony rides, picnic spots, hiking, trains (see Travel Town), room to roam. Great playground called Shane's Inspiration.
Fern Dell Nature Trail
Shady quarter-mile walk through lush ferns, turtles, crawdads, little bridges. Right next to a playground and The Trails Cafe (coffee, pie, sandwiches — outdoor seating in the trees). All in the same little pocket of Griffith Park.
Bronson Canyon Park
Her friends go here. Playground, picnic tables, easy hiking. Nearby: Bronson Caves — the actual Batcave from the '60s Batman show, used in hundreds of movies. Short walk in from the lot.
Travel Town Museum
Free train museum within Griffith Park; has a little train ride (~$3).
Griffith Observatory
Free admission (paid parking), lawns, incredible views, space stuff!
Barnsdall Art Park
Free, has a parking lot and the most beautiful views. S-tier picnic spot. Many families. Friday evenings May–September: Friday Wine Nights (21+, ticketed).
Echo Park Lake
Ducks, geese, paddle boats, playground, walk around the lake.
Silver Lake Reservoir / Meadow
Nice grassy patch for a picnic or kicking around a ball.
Farmers Markets
Silver Lake (Saturdays) and Los Feliz (Sundays) close by. Take the bus for added fun and reduced driving. Link has the full LA schedule.
Kids' Storytime at LA Public Library
Free storytimes, songs, and playtime at branches all over the neighborhood. Link has the full calendar by branch.
Low Cost
Los Angeles Zoo
Griffith Park — I have tickets.
Autry Museum of the American West
Griffith Park. Cowboys.
American Cinematheque & Vidiots
Often have family-friendly matinees on Saturdays and Sundays, especially Vidiots. Check the showtimes with these links.
← Return to Field Map
Chapter 02 · Extended Range
A Little Further
If you're down for a drive — 15 to 40 minutes out
No Cost
California Science Center
Located in Exposition Park. Big lawns and gardens around the museums.
Santa Monica Pier
Walking around is free, tho the rides aren't. Could be good to combine with the beach/Annenberg (see below).
Low Cost
Kidspace Children's Museum
Pasadena. Sounds like one thing cuz the name but it isn't. All outdoors with a stream to play in, honestly cool science stuff. She loves it.
The Huntington
You know the one.
Annenberg Community Beach House
Santa Monica. Beach + splash/play setup. Very family oriented. Check the website for public programming/events.
Adventures
Subway Adventure — Metro to Downtown
Is the metro sketchy? Sure kinda. Does she care? Hell no. And she loves counting down the stops. Take the Red Line in (15 min walk to Hollywood/Vine stop) to any of these: Angel's Flight (it puts the "fun" in "funicular" — world's shortest railway, $1.50), eat right at the bottom at Grand Central Market. There's The Last Bookstore, admission to The Broad is free (just book ahead — she'd love the giant balloon animals and furniture). Metro also goes to Little Tokyo / Japanese Village Plaza — sushi conveyor belt at Kura, gashapon machines, mochi, she loves it. Culture!
Busventure
Multiple stops close to us, take one to Los Feliz or Echo Park or wherever. Un-sketchy in my experience.
For Dad — No Dot Required
Gabrielino Trail — Altadena
LA County's only National Recreation Trail. Easy entry from Windsor Ave — flat paved path into Arroyo Seco then gentle shaded singletrack. Go as far as you want and turn back. Very family-friendly for the first section. For the full El Prieto loop (14.7 miles), save that for a dad day. Free parking at Windsor trailhead.
Millard Canyon Falls — Altadena
Shortest and easiest waterfall hike near LA — only 2 miles round trip. Shaded leafy canyon right behind Pasadena. Doable with kids too.
Eaton Canyon Falls — Altadena / Pasadena
~3.5 miles, 40ft waterfall, popular but beautiful. Stream crossings — bring water shoes. Best in winter/spring after rain.
Trail Canyon Falls — Sunland-Tujunga
4.8 miles out and back. 30ft waterfall, shaded canyon, a couple of water crossings. Dog-friendly on leash. Easy off the 210.
Switzer Falls — Angeles National Forest
3.5 miles, two-tier waterfall deep in the San Gabriels. Beautiful chaparral canyon, ruins of an old trail camp. Best after rain. Requires an Adventure Pass for parking ($5/day or $30/year — buy at a ranger station or REI).
Angeles Shooting Ranges — Sylmar
Outdoor public range open since 1957. Pistol, rifle up to 600 yards, shotgun and clays. BYOG — they don't rent. Open daily, Wed until 9pm.
Oak Tree Gun Club — Newhall
Huge outdoor facility with rifle, pistol, cowboy action, and sporting clays. Well-run, great range. BYOG. Check the website for hours and match schedule.
← Return to Field Map
Appendix · Home Territory
Basecamp Activities
Things to do at the house
A Walk From Basecamp
A Walk From Basecamp
On foot from the house: Bronson Canyon Park, grab a coffee at Beachwood Café, lunch at The Oaks, and on the first Saturday of every month at 5:30pm, Wildly Appropriate at UCB Franklin — all-ages improv, kids 5+ can get on stage.
Cozy Dad Ops
  • Modelos w/ friends after bedtime
  • Movie night after bedtime — we have pretty much all the streaming services
  • Front yard breakfast / coffee morning
Dot-Friendly · Dad Pleasant
  • Sidewalk chalk + music outside
  • Walk around Beachwood Canyon (+ the wagon for a workout)
  • Walk to Beachwood Café or The Oaks for breakfast/a snack
  • Bake cookies
  • Dot movie night + blanket fort
  • Pancake breakfast; picnic on lawn
  • Cook dinner together
← Return to Field Map
Chapter 03 · Field Provisions
Restaurant Guide
Cheap eats, Dot approved, and date night
Cheap Eats — Dot Approved
Birds — Los Feliz / Franklin Village
$$$Street parking
Local Franklin Village institution. Famous rotisserie chicken, good cocktails, covered patio. Casual and reliable.
Clark St. Diner — Los Feliz / Franklin Village
$$$Street parking
Classic diner on Franklin, open late. Booths, big menu, good shakes. Reliably solid.
La Poubelle — Los Feliz / Franklin Village
$$$Street parking
French bistro (dive with food) in Franklin Village. Close, easy, classic.
Red Lion Tavern — Silver Lake
$$$Small free lot + street parking
German beer garden, kid-friendly until 10pm. Big outdoor biergarten upstairs.
Golden Road Brewing — Atwater Village
$$$Free lot + street parking
Huge ultra kid- and dog-friendly brewery with a sprawling patio and yard games. Full menu, great beer.
Salazar — Frogtown
$$$Street parking (can be tight)
Former auto body shop turned Mexican restaurant. Dirt floors, cacti, great margaritas, lots of young families and dogs. Outdoor only. Reserve on Resy
Spoke Bicycle Café — Frogtown / LA River
$$$Very limited — bike in or park a few blocks away
Right on the LA River Bike Path. Big open patio, great food, waffle fries, coffee and beer. Daytime only (closes ~6pm).
Verdugo Bar — Glassell Park
$$$Street parking — fills fast on weekends
Huge dog-friendly back patio, 20+ rotating craft taps, rotating food trucks. Weekdays from 5pm, weekends from noon.
Habitat Coffee — Glassell Park
$$$Street parking (limited, easier off-peak)
Cozy all-day café with healthy food, great coffee, and a nice outdoor space. Open 7am–5pm.
Highly Likely — Highland Park
$$$Metered street + paid lot nearby
Much loved all-day spot on Figueroa. Big back patio shaded by trees, open 8am through dinner. Good food, reasonable prices, good brunch. Weekend reservations taken 8am–3pm. Reserve on Resy
Walt’s Bar — Eagle Rock
$$$No on-site parking — walk from neighborhood
Pinball bar and locals’ watering hole. Vintage machines, hot dogs, pretzel, local beer and wine. Dog-friendly patio. Open from noon daily.
Lady Byrd Café — Echo Park
$$$Street parking — generally easy
Whimsical greenhouse tables tucked in the hills of Echo Park. Sandwiches, pasta, pastries, cocktails on evenings and weekends. All-day café with dinner Thu–Sun. Reserve on OpenTable
Highland Park Brewery — Chinatown
$$$Street + dirt lot across the street
Excellent craft beer taproom across from LA State Historic Park — Dot can get her wiggles out first, lots of free public programming there too. Full food menu, giant Rockenwagner pretzels, spacious dog-friendly patio. No reservations needed.
Date Night
Little Dom's — Reserve on Resy — Los Feliz
$$$Street parking + $5 valet
Classic red-sauce Italian on one of LA's best pedestrian streets. Cozy booths, great cocktails, late-night bar and pizzas on Fri–Sat. Reservations recommended for dinner — or pop in unannounced and grab a bar seat or two.
The Dresden — Los Feliz
$$$Free lot off Normandie (fills early on jazz nights)
Family-owned Hollywood landmark since 1954. Dim lighting, stiff drinks, and live jazz in the lounge nightly. Sit in the lounge, not the dining room. It will be busy — get there before 8 to ensure seats. Essential LA experience.
Franklin Lounge — Los Feliz / Franklin Village
$$$Street parking
Little-known hotel bar on Franklin loved by locals. Dim light, red leather benches, dark wood window shutters. Easy walk from the house.
Capri Club — Eagle Rock
$$$Street parking on side streets
Walking distance from Walt's Bar. Retro Italian aperitivo bar in a former red-sauce joint — dark booths, wood paneling, and the best frozen negroni in LA.
Ye Rustic Inn — Los Feliz
$$$Free parking lot + street
Beloved neighborhood dive since 1971. Famous buffalo wings, dark wood interior, jukebox, front patio. Karaoke Tuesdays, bingo Wednesdays, trivia Sundays.
El Prado — Echo Park
$$$Free street parking nearby
Dark, intimate bar on Sunset with great natural wine, craft beer, and vinyl records. Live piano Wednesdays and Sundays. Small back patio. One of the best bars on the east side.
Joy / Pine & Crane — Highland Park / Silver Lake
$$$Easy street parking at both locations
Sister restaurants serving exceptional fast-casual Taiwanese food. Joy is in Highland Park (York Blvd), Pine & Crane in Silver Lake. Counter service, really affordable, genuinely great. Open noon–10pm daily.
Bigfoot Lodge — Atwater Village
$$$Street parking
A 1950s hunting-cabin-themed bar with fake fireplace, full cocktail menu, and a warm, kitschy vibe. Happy hour daily 5–8pm. Bluegrass Tuesdays, karaoke Mondays, trivia Wednesdays.
Edendale — Silver Lake
$$$Street parking + valet after 6:30pm ($5.50)
Former 1924 firehouse turned full-service restaurant and bar. Two beautiful patios, 1920s decor, comfort-fusion food, great cocktails. Weekend brunch too.
Silverlake Lounge — Silver Lake
$$$Street parking on Sunset Junction — rideshare recommended
The longest-standing live music venue on the eastside, open since 1938. Indie, punk, folk, drag cabaret, open mic — check the calendar. Dark, intimate, no-frills.
← Return to Field Map
Chapter 04 · After Dark
Nightlife Guide
Dads gone wild.
Start Here
itk.la
LA events, shows, etc.
showlist.la
The definitive LA show listings. Updated daily.
Venues
Atwater Village
Club Tee Gee — Atwater Village
$$$Street parking
Divey neighborhood bar with rotating events and good weeknight programming. Radiohead jazz Mondays, comedy pop-ups Thursdays. Happy hour daily until 7pm. Instagram
Bigfoot Lodge — Atwater Village
$$$Street parking
1950s hunting cabin bar with fake fireplace and animatronics. Happy hour 5–8pm daily. Bluegrass Tuesdays, karaoke Mondays, trivia Wednesdays. Site — Instagram
Cypress Park / Frogtown
Permanent Records Roadhouse — Cypress Park
$$$Street parking
Bar / record store / live music venue. Huge outdoor patio, craft beer, nightly shows Wed–Sun. Check the calendar — always something good. Instagram
Footsies — Cypress Park
$$$Street parking (free)
Dive with jukebox, dance floor, and back patio. Nightly programming (DJs mostly), happy hour daily until 8pm. Super close to Permanent Records Roadhouse. Instagram
Zebulon — Frogtown
$–$$$Street parking (Fletcher, Ripple, Riverside)
You know the one. Nightly programming — jazz, experimental, indie, film screenings, DJ nights. Big patio. Open daily 6pm–2am. Check the calendar.
Eagle Rock / Highland Park
The Fable — Eagle Rock
$$$Street parking
Irish bar on Colorado Blvd with a fireplace, rotating draft beer, DJs, live music, karaoke, and frequent comedy pop-ups out back. Happy hour 5–7pm daily. Open nightly 5pm–2am. Events calendar.
Lodge Room — Highland Park
$$$Street parking — Metro A Line nearby
Housed in a 1922 Masonic Lodge — beautiful room. Indie, psych, jazz, cumbia, stand-up. 500 capacity. Check the calendar.
The Goldfish — Highland Park
$$$Metered street parking (York)
Thai street food (Sticky Rice), craft cocktails, natural wine, pool tables, arcade, and a live music/event space in back. Check the calendar.
Silver Lake
Silverlake Lounge — Silver Lake
$$$Street parking — Uber recommended
Open since 1938. Indie, punk, folk, drag cabaret, open mic. Check the calendar.
Chinatown
Grand Star Jazz Club — Chinatown
$$$Street + nearby lots
Chinatown landmark since 1946. Two floors, two bars, light-up dance floor, outdoor patio. Live jazz, hip-hop nights, DJs, 60’s new wave “Decadanse Soiree”. Thu 6pm–1:30am, Fri–Sat 6pm–2am. Check the calendar.Instagram
← Return to Field Map
Field Dispatch · Random Generator
Roll the Dice
Answer three questions. Get a plan.
How far are you willing to go?
What time is it?
Who’s coming?
← Return to Field Map