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CNNGo in Los Angeles: Hollywood stars, food trucks and barcade
Aired August 13, 2014 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should I just act like I'm fishing really quick?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. I'm happy to die right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go. Let's bite into L.A.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like it's just a lot more fun out here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vibrant is such a great word to use.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's incredible, haba (ph). We talk about this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to go swimming.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
CISCO ADLER, MUSICIAN (voice-over): Good morning, everyone. It's your boy, Cisco Adler here, Malibu, California. We're on the pier and I'm
about to show you some of my favorite spots, starting with the Malibu Farm Cafe.
Make sure you do one thing when you're here: enjoy.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ADLER (voice-over): It's funny, because for 10 years, this pier was dormant and then recently the Malibu Farm came and set up shop. Some
people might have thought they were crazy, but it brought the whole pier back to life.
Hi, here we are at the wonderful Malibu Farm Caf,, where we're going to get served up some organic farm-to-plate treats and some good vibes. So
come on.
It's BYOW here at the Farm. You know, I mean, bring your own watermelon. So I brought enough for everyone today.
Lucky number 7.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, how are you, guy?
ADLER (voice-over): What's up, my brother?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put it there.
ADLER (voice-over): That was wonderful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. We like it.
ADLER (voice-over): Oh, looking good. OK, thanks, good. Cheers.
Here we go, some quinoa oatmeal with almond milk, I believe, you know what I mean. Kind of keep that healthy. This is, after all, Malibu in Los
Angeles.
Oh, wow, yes. That's real. I mean, you might want to come and experience this for yourself.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ADLER (voice-over): Well, we are at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, California. I think if you buy a postcard of California this beach may be
on it. So we are at the epicenter of California surf culture.
You know, people from all over the world come here to grab a little taste of California and it's my back yard. So I'd be a fool not to use it.
So I try to get out more every time I can.
Living in Malibu is interesting because you know, it's -- they say it's 27 miles of scenic backstabbing. It's a very small town. There's one
road. Everyone knows everyone's business. So there's the beautiful small town feel about it. But then we're 20 minutes away from one of the
craziest cities in the world.
And if you get an itch, you can go scratch it.
Hi. I'm going into Sunlight Organics to get a juice and I love this shop.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ADLER (voice-over): We are in Sunlight Organics. You know, we're living in L.A., or California in general, you want to keep healthy and fit.
And it's just a good vibe. Again, it's a community feel. You come in and you say hello to 20 people, have a good juice shot, you're out of here.
Your day's ready.
What is this I'm spilling here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wellness shot.
ADLER (voice-over): OK. What's in it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got ginger, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, lemon, oregano oil -- filters bacteria. It's amazing, too.
ADLER (voice-over): Just think, pharmaceutical medicine.
You hear that? Medicine.
That's better than tequila.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HUEMAN, STREET ARTIST (voice-over): Hi, I'm Hueman. I'm an artist in L.A., let me show you around.
We've got Project Gallery in the middle of Hollywood and right now my exhibit between the lines is hanging up. I've got all my art here all
around me. It's a really cool place. I mean, the space itself is really cool. You've got the brick and the high ceilings. It's in a really this
cool area. There's bars. There's music venues, clubs, restaurants and they show a lot of emerging and established artists, a lot of what's really
edgy and just forward art right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HUEMAN (voice-over): The art scene in L.A. is really cool. It almost feels like the Wild West. Anything goes, you know. A lot of the world's
best artists are attracted to this city.
Seeing art is just you're getting a dose of culture in a place where not many people would think there is culture. You know, like when you
think of L.A., you think of the entertainment industry. You think of movies. You think of Hollywood. But there's so much more to L.A.
The name Hueman comes from just living. Ever since I started painting on walls, I was using my whole body. I wasn't behind a computer anymore.
I wasn't staring at a screen. I felt human. That's where the name comes from.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HUEMAN (voice-over): We're here at Eightytwo in the Arts District in a part of downtown L.A. And Eightytwo is a barcade, which is exactly what
it sounds like, a mashup of a bar and an arcade. You've got your regular arcade games, your pinball games with music and a bar. What more can you
want?
I'll be Marilyn. I'll be the wizard.
Downtown L.A. is really cool. In the years past, it wasn't really seen as that safe of an area. But in the last, I want to say 5-10 years
it's been going through a big change.
I feel like it's one of L.A.'s best kept secrets, because there's a whole lot going on here that the rest of the city doesn't really know
about.
I got it. Even worry about it.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ADLER (voice-over): This place, it was opened in 1973, we're sitting above the world famous Roxy Theater right now.
Up here was sort of the ultra VIP area. There was keys, there was a 24-hour bar. I -- Lennon played that. You know what I mean? He played
that exact chord I just played, damn it. The history is crazy because it hasn't been told. You know, it was truly a secret spot.
What are you making for us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
ADLER (voice-over): OK. This is my kind of drink.
Well, tequila, a couple berries, looking good. Here it is, the shake, ladies and gentlemen. Fantastic.
You know? It's a very special place. You won't find anything like it. So I hope you (INAUDIBLE).
Tastes like a good time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JON FAVREAU, DIRECTOR AND ACTOR (voice-over): So this is Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. This is the Aero Theater. It's been around since
1939 and I've come here over the years. It's a special place.
And it'll -- smell that movie theater -- yes. I used to be an usher in a movie theater through high school on the East Coast and you get the
smell of the butter, the popcorn, the sticky floor. It still has that.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
FAVREAU (voice-over): This is the Aero Theater. It's now part of the American Cinematheque, which is an organization that supports the
preservation of film in every step of its existence. I like it personally because it's a revival house. They'll have two or three different programs
a week. And I never went to film school. My whole history of film was introduced to me pre-video in old revival houses.
For this place, they want to be able to screen film prints, which is another thing that you don't really get to see that much anymore. Here you
get a sense of history. And we live at a moment where that's all going to change. We're right at the cusp of the disappearing. And it's nice that
you have this. So this is more of a museum than a theater, really.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
FAVREAU (voice-over): So here we are, we're in the parking lot of the Brig on Abbott Kinney in Venice. This is kind of where the whole food
truck thing started. Over there's the Kogi taco truck. He started the whole food truck movement.
Here's the man, Roy Choi (ph). The first time I ate his food we were in "Iron Man II."
ROY CHOI, THE KOGI TRUCK: I remember the contract for that. We were so (INAUDIBLE) because we get catering contracts. And when someone
(INAUDIBLE) and then we saw "Iron Man II." We're all like comic book geeks, anime geeks. And we're like (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So really simple menu, like it's just tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
FAVREAU (voice-over): What I like about this truck is that you eat one meal here and you get the whole taste of L.A. So if you visit L.A. and
you see this truck, right here.
What's the mix here?
CHOI (voice-over): So right here, this is the -- this is the classic Kogi taco the way it looks on the streets. And this is two little griddled
tortillas with caramelized short rib, which is marinated (INAUDIBLE), cilantro, onion and then a little cabbage slaw mix. It's also real hot.
FAVREAU (voice-over): Yes, that's the slaw, the salad. And then when you --
(CROSSTALK)
CHOI (voice-over): Yes, the salad.
FAVREAU (voice-over): That's the good -- that's the part.
CHOI (voice-over): And then when you bite into it, it feels like you're biting kind of into Los Angeles (INAUDIBLE) --
(LAUGHTER)
FAVREAU (voice-over): Here we go.
CHOI (voice-over): Yes.
FAVREAU (voice-over): Let's bite into L.A.
CHOI (voice-over): A bite out of crime.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
LUBOV AZRIA, CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BCBG (voice-over): Hello. My name is Lubov Azria and I want to welcome you to my L.A.
Best. I have to get this.
Melrose Trading Place is one of the most exciting places for me, rain or shine, it's here and you come here and it's just a merge of different
cultures. This is probably as close as I'm ever going to get to snowboarding.
(LAUGHTER)
AZRIA (voice-over): Look at everything around you, everything's on the Internet. You can find things, but to really find something unique,
you need to go out of your way. And I think the market here really gives you a very unique assortment of different pieces that you would not find
anywhere else.
Look at this bag. It's all hand weave. Oh, my gosh, it's stunning. And the colors.
Probably the best part of shopping is having a little snack in between.
This is amazing crepes that you get here. Again, my favorite is Nutella. Mmm. Of course, no calories. When you're shopping you burn them
all.
(LAUGHTER)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
AZRIA (voice-over): We're at Annenberg Space for Photography and it's one of the most amazing places for me because, number one, it's free;
number two, the exhibits change here all the time. So you -- when you come here, you're always wowed by something new and something exciting.
That's unique. That's not staged. That's real life.
All of this amazing behind the scenes pictures and then you have James Brown in the middle, James Brown. It's amazing.
The original juke box.
Nothing brings history alive like a great photograph. And you can see it here at Annenberg.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
FAVREAU (voice-over): So this pier is the last of the -- of the coastal amusement parks that are based on an actual pier. These piers,
over the -- this is about 100 years old, this pier. In 1919, it was built.
So for people who say that L.A. is superficial and doesn't have a history, you know, I think you just have to look a little deeper and found
out what's exciting about it.
I've included this pier in a lot of things I've done and I've -- you know, I had Iron Man flying past that Ferris wheel. And I had -- in
"Chef," I'm on the roller coaster and even on "Swingers," went out on that beach.
California is -- there's a sense that people come here and they leave where they're from. And so it becomes more about the people and about what
you build here, about where you settle down, where you choose to go. The city itself doesn't have a strong enough personality for you to become a
part of it. You kind of have to make your own way. And everybody's experience here is very different.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GARRETT LEIGHT, EYEWEAR DESIGNER (voice-over): Hi, I'm Garrett Leight. I'm from Los Angeles, California. And today I want to show you
around my city.
For the first location, I want to show you today is the Venice canals, which is one of my favorite places in all of Los Angeles. It's located in
my hometown of Venice Beach. And it's one of the most relaxing and beautiful places in the entire city.
When you're living in this community, you're always walking and riding your bike around and this is something you never skip by. You'll always
make (INAUDIBLE) if you have to cross it at all to go through it and take your time and really enjoy the moment.
Which is something not everybody in Los Angeles does. And this is one of those places that just gets that out of everyone.
This is a variety of events that a local community does on the canals. There's a Venice Canals Association that even puts together movie nights in
the summer. They put up a big projected television and people ride their (INAUDIBLE) and watch a movie. I think the reason I love Venice is it's
just sort of this perfect harmony of all things that are Los Angeles. And a lot of those things people don't like, but for me it's just a way of life
in terms of the variety of culture and people and I like that. I like to be around that environment. It feels even just -- it's very comfortable
for me.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BEN BALLER, JEWELER: Hey, guys. My name is Ben Baller, jeweler to the stars, born and raised in Los Angeles, grew up right here in this part
here in Koreatown. And I'm going to show you my city, the greatest city in the world.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BALLER (voice-over): I'm going to take you guys inside one of my favorite Korean barbeque places here in Koreatown. It's actually not that
far from where I grew up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you?
(CROSSTALK)
BALLER (voice-over): We'll go with the regular. Let's do -- let's do roast gui (ph). Let's do -- let's do dak galbi (ph). Let's do some kkot
deungsim (ph).
The place is not just like super dear to my heart because it's like in my neighborhood where I was born and raised, I've been actually coming here
for over 30 years. (INAUDIBLE) young kid. And this is official. This (INAUDIBLE) marinated. I'm going to cut it up and everything in small
pieces (INAUDIBLE) here.
Mmm, that's so good.
Most Korean people in Korea will tell you that the Korean food at the better restaurants here in general, the Korean food here is better. Most
of the best chefs and all the Korean people, they've moved to America and specifically Los Angeles. And so the food in Koreatown in Los Angeles is
probably better than anywhere in the world.
This is one of my favorite dishes in the entire world. This is a mixture with a little bit of roast gui that was just cooking, but sliced up
with a lot of kimchi, a lot of garlic, a lot of spice. You have to come (INAUDIBLE). You got -- this is just crazy. This is so much food.
Went into Little Tokyo right now. This is like a super interesting area.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BALLER (voice-over): So we're here with L.A. and consignment store, pretty much the best sneaker store on the Earth. Their knowledge on
vintage and rare sneakers is just impeccable. They're like sneaker headhunters.
Where else are you going to find a shoe like this?
So this is the Marty McFly, "Back to the Future," Air Mag.
You almost done?
People come from different areas just to have him lace the shoes up.
These are perfect.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BALLER (voice-over): So we're here at the Oyster (ph), finally. I have not had French fries or Coke in six weeks. I'm excited. We're in
Eagle Rock (ph).
Oh, man, look at that. Like opening up a Christmas gift right now. (INAUDIBLE), that's delicious, pulled pork sandwich. And this place is the
closest place I can think of from being in Texas. Oh, my God, I'm a happy guy right now.
These are piggy fries. Has melted cheese, grilled onions and Thousand Island dressing, totally off my diet. I'm so excited right now. This is
crazy.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
LEIGHT (voice-over): So now we're at one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. It's in downtown L.A. on Olvera Street. It's called
Cielito Lindo. They have the best taquitos on the planet.
Number one, please.
Olvera's (INAUDIBLE) one of the most inspiring places for me because there's incredible fabrics and colors and materials and you can find
anything from the best Mexican food in Los Angeles to handmade sombreros, blankets, all kinds of stuff.
I'm getting a tamarindo stick, which is like Mexican candy. It's very sour and salty and then I need some water to help (INAUDIBLE) with the
taste.
Gracias.
I come here often to look for inspiration. And it's not hard to find.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
LEIGHT (voice-over): Right now we're in Echo Park, which is in the heart of Los Angeles. We're at Echo Park Lake specifically.
Beautiful place; you can ride around on boats on the lake and walk and run and a lot of people come here to just relax and kick back and
(INAUDIBLE).
I wouldn't say that Los Angeles is known for its parks. But Echo Park Lake is definitely a great place (INAUDIBLE) it's a beautiful park and it's
one of the best in the city, if not the best.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
END
