And you thought doing it behind the bleachers was lame.
Owner Joe Reynolds transformed a strip-mall Romanian restaurant into a cross between an old-school Hollywood haunt and a gussied-up basement rec room with a basic Italian menu and some sort of entertainment (comedy, dramedy, live music) six nights a week.
Take a note from the underground and look here for music, performance, and wild one-off parties like Irregular Wine Tastings (peculiar pairings and oenoculture commentary) and Down & Derby (a monthly night of drinks and dancing on roller skates).
El Rey means “the king.” As in, this place is the king of that uniquely L.A. brand of deco theater-turned-hip music venue. This one’s a cut above: beautifully restored with a diner-style cafe for hanging out before the show.
Small, loud, and raucous. Sort of the opposite of outer space. But exactly what a cutting-edge music venue should be. Go here to see bands you won’t stop hearing about in a few months’ time. Free entry Monday nights.
And you thought doing it behind the bleachers was lame.
Venue of the gods. Catch divine performances under the stars surrounded by the lush hills of Griffith Park.
A destination for indie rockers, electro fiends, and the neofolkster hippies in between. Rockabilly country barbecues and funky soul-jam dance parties should not be missed.
Photo: Getty Images