I have lived in New York and Southern California, and I sympathize with your scheme. Although I prefer New York. :)

My favorite thing in LA continues to be The Getty - if you and BF like art museums, then you must go. The scale of it and the lovely outdoor spaces are unlike anything in New York. It's a bit outside the city but that gives you an excuse to use that sweet convertible.
posted by CRM114 at 10:08 AM on September 19, 2011

For your planetarium/hike: start at Fern Dell, hike up to the observatory, then come back down and have a drink/snack/lunch at The Trails cafe. Casually open up your phone/newspaper and contrast the weather you're experiencing with what's happening in NYC.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:21 AM on September 19, 2011

Also, track down the CoolHaus gourmet ice cream truck.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:24 AM on September 19, 2011

For a nice little drive and quintessential Los Angeles charm, check out the Will Rogers State Park. A lot of the locals don't even know about it. It's very pretty, there's nice hiking around there, polo grounds, and you can see Will Rogers's house and stables. It's worth a visit, particularly if you're heading to Malibu. It's on the way, and the drive is pretty.

In Santa Monica, we like Tacos Por Favor. Very good tacos for Santa Monica. Nice ambience, good sauces. We like this place, and if you're going to be around Santa Monica/Venice, this is quite good.

For sure you should go to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Sunday morning. Park at the beach, and parking is free with validation (and you have to be out of there by 1:30 PM). You prepay, and then they give you your money back when you leave. It's very local, and you should check out the Basiltops pesto when you walk into the Farmer's Market. After, hand out at the beach. Go to Groundworks and get some coffee (it's the very very best).
posted by rybreadmed at 10:25 AM on September 19, 2011

Mrs Buggzzee and I have watched the sun rise over the desert mountains and did a little desert motocross on the dirtbikes, did a little snow-skiing and had lunch at about 7000 ft elevation in the mountains and watched the sun set over the Pacific as we had dinner at the beach.

All in one day.

Try getting THAT done in NYC.
posted by buggzzee23 at 10:28 AM on September 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

After checking out Griffith Park, pass by Birds and Daily Planet on Franklin... it has the neighborhood vibe of a New York block, but smaller, and with mountains behind it.

Larchmont Village, and Main Street or Montana in Santa Monica are also decent places to go that may help a New Yorker make the transition. Downtown L.A. is great, but its New York light.
posted by Unsomnambulist at 10:34 AM on September 19, 2011

I moved from NYC to LA for a year and while I would now rather lose a finger than have to go back, I have to say that LA sunsets are fucking breathtaking. Make sure he sees at least one from a nice location.
posted by griphus at 10:41 AM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

As long as you're headed out to Malibu, check out Dume Cove. Relatively secluded and incredibly beautiful. Follow up with fish and chips at Malibu Seafood.
posted by carsonb at 10:47 AM on September 19, 2011

Fellow NYCer here: I recommend the Rose Bowl flea market, if it's happening the weekend you're there. Awesome quintessential LA vintage stuff. Plus the very notion of it is so not-NYC: these people have houses! They have cars to put their finds in! They collect things! Plus you will see a lot of old weirdos there.
posted by xo at 10:58 AM on September 19, 2011

OP, your plan is flawed & will not work.

All the LA suggestions can be found around the NYC area (Yes, even beautiful mountains & vistas).

Your biggest obstacle will be, Can he accept the LA mind-set? This is the overriding difference between NYC and CA, and the one that will stand out most to him. The taste of the most awesome LA taco won't top this.

After this, the weather. Nature is far more convincing than man.
posted by Kruger5 at 11:07 AM on September 19, 2011 [3 favorites]

SPACE. We have so much of it. Some people get really freaked out by that, but I use it to my advantage in growing quite a bit of my own food, being involved in the L.A. Urban Chicken Enthusiasts, the Backward Beekeepers, sustainable agriculture and underground farmer's markets and food/crop swaps.

Also, we can grow food year round as in my neighborhood (Burbank) I have only ever lost a crop to frost once and it was a basil. A lot of basil, but just basil, nonetheless.

This has been a particularly rainy year which means that this year it's been 21 days, with an average of 14. My husband only owns a motorcycle because it rains so rarely that renting a car for a couple of days a year is a far, far less expensive option than even buying a junker.

The L.A. mindset is different and if he chooses to focus on the Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood over the Atwater Village and the Echo Park, that is totally up to him but for those of us who were born and raised here, it is an awesome community.
posted by Sophie1 at 11:16 AM on September 19, 2011 [3 favorites]

Go to the Magic Castle. It's an invitation only private club. I can invite you if you send me an email address.
posted by TigerCrane at 11:27 AM on September 19, 2011

Check out Silverlake. Go to the Wacko Soap Plant/Luz de Jesus Gallery.

Go to the Edison, Its a lavish stempunk decorated bar!

Walk in Ferndell in Griffith park.

Go to the Chinese suburbs (Montery Park and surrounding areas) Whole giant suburrbs that are all chinese.

Central market downtown.
posted by TigerCrane at 11:30 AM on September 19, 2011

Furthermore, LA does have a an optional supply of dog-eat-dog if he decides he misses that.
posted by rhizome at 11:41 AM on September 19, 2011

It's too bad you won't be there during the snow season in November because as far as I know, Los Angeles is one of the few places where you can surf in the day time and then go snowboarding later in the evening.

If you've got any friends who live in a nice house, you can just show him how far your money will go per sq. ft. (I could buy a 3 bedroom house in LA for what I spent on my 1 bedroom apartment here in NY)
posted by cazoo at 11:42 AM on September 19, 2011

Go to Catalina where you then spend the day sea kayaking.

Drive the convertible on Mullholland to Malibu Creek State Park. Hike to the M*A*S*H site. Eat dinner at "The Old Place".

Remind him that you could, if you lived here, take a road trip to Vegas, Mammoth, or Yosemite, almost on a whim.

Remind him that Mark Twain once said about Los Angeles: "It's a great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there."
posted by IvyMike at 11:43 AM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

weird/off the beaten path type of things
art/creative things (installations, museums, interactive work)

You absolutely must check out the Museum of Jurassic Technology
(think Victorian age style museum of the weird and the curious)
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:10 PM on September 19, 2011

Since you mentioned Vietnamese food... I recommend: Golden Deli

(Love the original San Gabriel one,... never been to the Temple City one so I can vouch for it)
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:13 PM on September 19, 2011

I'd very much second the Central Market downtown, especially for Tortas. Also downtown is the Angel's Flight, "The Shortest Railway in the World." For only a nickel, you get a trip up the hill and a very unique Los Angeles experience.
posted by creade at 12:14 PM on September 19, 2011

You will be here for the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I can heartily recommend this. I'm not sure what else is going on that weekend but if I hear of anything I'll PM you.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:07 PM on September 19, 2011

Take advantage of its huge comedy scene. Try the lesser known theaters, especially.

Go to the Sound of Music Sing-a-Long at the Hollywood Bowl.

Yes, it's touristy, but Disneyland. I can't stop but smile whenever I walk down Main Street.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 1:38 PM on September 19, 2011

Oh, I didn't even talk about drives!!!!

Take Angeles Crest Highway up to Newcomb's Ranch for lunch on a Sunday. It was completely burned out in the Station fire and opened up two months ago. We call it our own personal rollercoaster. All new asphalt and just gorgeous twisties. We take it on the motorcycle and the road is pretty dominated by bikes on the weekend but there are plenty of convertibles as well. Also, if you're feeling crowded out by a gang of bikers on the road there are tons and tons of new turnoffs with gorgeous vistas, but I would seriously encourage going all the way to Newcomb's (it's about 1/2 hour). Tons of bikes and bikers who are very friendly to "cagers" (people who drive cars) and yummy burgers. A nice beer too.

This would be a great drive following the Rose Bowl Flea market as they are very close!
posted by Sophie1 at 1:52 PM on September 19, 2011

I'd second Hairy Lobster's recommendation of Golden Deli (try the eggrolls!), unless you're more of a bahn mi/Vietnamese sandwich type, in which case, head directly to Bahn Mi My Tho in neighboring Alhambra. Unbelievably good sandwiches in the jankiest little shop for absurdly low prices.

Honestly, if you're looking for exceptional Chinese or Vietnamese eats, you don't have to go all the way down to Orange Country. Just go cruising through Monterey Park or Alhambra on Valley or Garvey. There are Chinese cafes open until 2AM serving everything from soup dumplings to club sandwiches. The Chinese markets around there are also a lot of fun: huge tanks of live and often exotic seafood, aisles and aisles of various noodles and sauces, and crazy snack foods that will simultaneous attract and appall. I grew up around there, so I'm used to it, but I'm told it's a lot like visiting another country.

And hit up the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena or the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino if you want a walk on the more refined side. Beautiful spaces with lots to see.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:56 PM on September 19, 2011

Philippe's and The Apple Pan will scratch your "food" and "off the beaten path type of things" itches, I would hope. I really enjoyed them when I was living there. And show him Pink Dot -- "comfort food delivered to your home"
posted by kmennie at 7:21 PM on September 19, 2011

The Great Taco Hunt is the definitive guide to tacos in SoCal. Thirsty In LA is all about the craft cocktail scene in Los Angeles.

The Arclight Cinema is a state-of-the-art, reserved seat, no commercials deluxe multiplex theater in Hollywood across the street from the best record store in the world, Amoeba Music and also across the street from the big wonderful Sunday morning Hollywood farmer's market. Within walking distance is Umami Burger if you like great burgers.
posted by conrad53 at 10:21 PM on September 19, 2011

I'm from LA and don't know enough about NY to compare, but after reading the suggestions, I second the Getty, the Edison downtown, Rose Bowl Flea and Tacos Por Favor in Santa Monica. I'm not a fan of Open Tacos (Holy Guacamole). Sorry, you said "taco" and so, the gloves are on!

Here are some more suggestions:
- Rent a bike and bike along the bike path from Santa Monica to Venice and back. In Venice, don't eat along the bike path but ride up to Abbot Kinney for Gjelina Take Away (really yummy breakfast sandwich and great salads/pizza) Kind of pricey...so good. If you are there on Saturday afternoon, the Kogi taco truck parks at a bar called the Brig from noon to 3(?). I know, they're Korean tacos and they are/were trendy, but I don't care, they are good. Also on Abbot Kinney is a coffee place called Intelligentsia. People who love coffee love Intelligentsia. If anything, just go soak up the scene.
- Walk through the Venice canals (skip the boardwalk)
- If you're on Main Street in Santa Monica not far from Venice, there's a little hole in the wall place called Sunny Blue. They make the most delicious meat/veggie filled rice balls called omisubi. Addictive! They're hard to explain but so good. The menu changes everyday. Love the chicken curry!
- The Annenberg Community Beach house pool (if it's hot, they open the pool) It's a beautiful pool right on the beach.
- Right above the Annenberg in Santa Monica are the bluffs overlooking the ocean. It's a park-like setting with benches and places to have a little picnic. Whenever people come from out of town, people love it there. Great place to watch the sunset.
-Dan Sung Sa for a fun dive-y bar and korean food in Koreatown. Crazy place-I love it.
- Rent stand-up paddle boards in Malibu and paddle in the ocean
- Go see a concert at the Greek Theater
posted by hellochula at 10:29 PM on September 19, 2011

The conventional wisdom for a long time was to avoid downtown, but there have been a ton of great bars and restaurants opening there over the last 5 years. It might help to show him that LA isn't all sprawl.
posted by outlaw of averages at 11:17 AM on September 20, 2011

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