Los Angeles Times - Bret McKenzie's Best of LA - 2008

Bret McKenzie's Best of L.A.

Wellington, New Zealand native Bret McKenzie has become pretty well-acquainted with Los Angeles over the last couple of years, having relocated here along with Jemaine Clement, his bandmate in Flight of the Conchords, to work on their HBO  sitcom. The duo, who also recently released their first full-length album, Flight of the Conchords, won't be around town much longer, as they're scheduled to begin shooting the second season of their hit series in New York. But here are a few of the local pleasures McKenzie might partake of in the meantime.

1. Alegria on Sunset   Silver Lake / Echo Park

Probably my favorite spot in Western North America. I get the crispy carnitas or the veggie burrito.

2. Largo at the Coronet   Fairfax District

Great live music venue now on La Cienega next to Trashy Lingerie. I saw Aimee Mann's show the other night--it was awesome. Jon Brion performs regularly. He's good, but I just wish he could play more than one instrument.

3. Magic Castle   Hollywood

It's the only place I know that has a ghost piano player who takes requests. I've had the ghost play "What a Fool Believes," by the Doobie Brothers and some Elton John tunes. When she doesn't know a song, she'll play two notes so it sounds like she's saying, "Uh-uh."

4. Pie 'n Burger   Pasadena

Great vintage pie and burger spot. Like most places in LA it claims to have the best burger and has a number of burger awards on the walls. I like places where the name let's you know what you're going to get. No surprises.

5. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens   San Marino

The Cactus walk is amazing. It's one of those spots where reality gets all psychedelic on your ass.

6. Inn of the Seventh Ray   Topanga

Deeply organic hippie spot in the Topanga Canyon. The menu says it all: "The food is prepared with love and is charged by our dedicated staff with the vibration of the violet flame for your personal gain, and perhaps transportation to a higher plane."

7. Moonlight Rollerway   Glendale

It's a roller disco. Monday nights is fun for beginners. Smooth jams and and not so smooth moves. I never learned how to rollerskate as a child. Some kids were rollerblading, but I was more into the doing the moonwalk.

8. Trashy Lingerie  

This is where I get all my pirate themed lingerie.

9. Galco's Soda Pop Stop  

Endless selection of boutique fizzy drinks.This is a good spot to avoid the guilt of drinking Coke.

10. Dong Il Jang   Koreatown

Awesome Korean BBQ. You cook the food on a hot plate in the middle of the table. The kimchi rice is delicious.

talkingstove wrote:
Is it so bad to love one FOTC boy and then pinch-hit every now and again?  

hellomyfriend wrote:I just took a look at the Trashy Lingerie website ... they really *do* have a huge selection of pirate-themed lingerie! Hahahaha.  I had no idea that was such a popular theme.  

ines wrote:This just makes me more in love with the Bretmeister.  He really likes to eat doesn't he? Where does he put it all?  Oh, big hair, big fat hair...LOL  

SheWolf wrote:The most unpicky eater ever?  Jemaine's the one who's fave is "anything" member??  

The highlight of the article was: "they won't be around town much longer, as they're scheduled to begin shooting the second season of their hit series in New York."  Yis!! Come to me, my babies!