Coming to LA?
I was not going to go, then after reflecting up the fact that I actually went to scorching heat of Mufreesboro last year and almost expired (we Minnesotans cannot handle the murderous heat of Tennessee I've been told), then there was no excuse for not soaking up the SoCal atmosphere.
-2 in traveling party
-section 4, lower area
-plan to stop at UMAA tailgate, but also see if anything is going on to the North on Figeroa
-plan to be in SD for two nights followed by two nights in Redondo Beach
-We hoped to take a bus up from Redondo beach, but that takes 90 minutes and the cab is close to $60 each way, so we will take the rental car and park in some ramp on the campus just to north.(and moderate the drinking) I understand surface lots w/tailgating are hard to get into for single game visitors. I'll bring a small cooler just in case I can find a spot. I have some conflicting information about weather some parking might be available on the west side of the LA Col/ exp. park. area.
I hope all you Gophers coming to LA have a great time. First, believe it or not, many rival school's fans actually setup their tailgate parties on SC campus. You must be able to smack talk real well, but you will be safe, not like you would be in the SEC. Last year a very large contingent of Washington fans were positioned in front of our landmark statue of Tommy Trojan in the heart of campus where throngs of SC fans stroll across to the Coli. Empty parking lots don't exist in LA. Spots are available near the Coli.
If you are looking for an offbeat place to eat, I recommend Tico's Taco and/or Johnie's Pastrami located back to back to each other near the airport and near UCLA off Sepulvada Blvd. Of course Lowrys is famous for its prime rib and all Rose Bowl teams eat there as part of their Rose Bowl experience. If you want to go to a place that hasn't changed since I first went to LA in 1973, go to Culver City which is close by. One of my favorite places in Culver City is Yogurt Land, where you self serve among 20 assorted flavors and tons of toppings. If you are looking for something close to campus, there are a few places on Figeroa Ave. (simply known as "Fig"). You will notice Californians call there interstate highways, "the" 10, or "the" 110, not I-10 or I-110.
My daughter, who works at SC and is a SC grad, says the weather is terribly hot right now, so maybe it will be like your Middle Tenn. experience without the humidity. Perhaps it will have cooled down by Sat. on the other hand. If the wind isn't blowing off the Pacific, it can get hot in LA in august.
The Staples Center is just north of SC campus. Do not wander south of the Coli. That is South Central LA, home of the OJ LA riots.
If you want to see a live pic of SC campus and check out the weather (and Tommy Trojan) go to Fighton.com and click the link "Tommy Cam"
A cheap way (and safe) to Redondo Beach and SD is the train. My son rode the train by himself to SD from LA two weeks ago and said it was fine.
Enjoy yourselves and I hope this helps. I will be watching the game here in North Carolina. Wish I was there.
