Bobby Anand

Have you ever looked at an email from Goldenvoice and/or Live Nation and thought to yourself, “Why are is that band playing there?” Well, there is a reason some of your favorite acts would prefer to play at a non-traditional venue as opposed to the El Rey, or even the Greek Theatre. Smaller, intimate venues can simply make for better shows. Here are four venues around Los Angeles that you definitely shouldn't overlook when it comes to your music needs, so be sure to keep checking their websites for hidden gems. Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Once you arrive at this venue, you'll quickly realize why a lot of your favorite acts (think Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses, etc.) are choosing to perform here. The acoustics built into this church are downright stellar, and the sheer beauty and woodwork inside makes for a gorgeous backdrop. Since most shows are general admission, you're going to want to arrive early to snag a good spot.  Wilshire Ebell Theatre You might be familiar with this venue as a popular wedding destination, but those who have been able to see their favorite artists perform there know what a treat it is. And once the Wilshire/La Brea stop of the Purple Line opens up, you'll be able to head out there without driving (which, you know, gives you more freedom to drink). Masonic Lodge at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Most Angelenos have probably been to a Cinespia movie screening or have caught some kind of show at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, but only th

With the second onslaught of El Niño soaring in our horizon, people will start to remember that it is indeed winter and snow is falling close to home. That is where Mount Baldy comes in. About an hour from DTLA (depending on that pesky traffic), it contains the highest peak in all of Los Angeles and San Gabriel counties with Mount San Antonio (aka Mount Baldy) soaring to 10,064 feet high. To reach the top of the mountain, you have two options. You can take the Sugar Pine Chair Lift (tickets start at $21), which will ferry you from the parking lot to the Top of the Notch Restaurant. Or, if you are looking for a challenge, you can hike up 4,000 feet to the top via the Ski Hut Trail.  Remember that there can be a 10- to 15-degree difference between the bottom of the chair lift and the top, so dress accordingly prior to arriving. Once you arrive at the top, you have a few options for spending your day. You can grab some food at the Top of the Notch Restaurant, hit the slopes on skis or a snowboard if the weather permits (lift tickets start at $19) or hike the infamous Devil’s Backbone, which takes you to the summit of Mount San Antonio. The view from the top of Mount Baldy is worth the cost of the lift ticket ride alone—it's also a great option as a wedding venue for the warmer months. Depending on the snow base, and the amount of man made snow, all four lifts may be open, providing runs for all skill levels. However, sometimes only snow tubing is available when the weather is mi

One of the biggest things that keeps people from hiking in Los Angeles is how inaccessible some of the city’s best paths and trails are. But if you opt to ditch your car for public transportation, you’ll have quick access to some of the best hikes in town. Here are four great Los Angeles hikes that are easily accessible by the Metro or bus. Runyon Canyon (Hollywood/Highland Red Line Metro Station) Photograph: Jeff Gunn/Flickr As imagined, the most popular hike in all of LA is also the most convenient by Metro. Take the Red Line to Hollywood and Highland, walk west on Hollywood Boulevard to Fuller (about four blocks) and then turn right and walk north approximately 2 blocks directly into the park. In total, only 0.8 miles from the Metro stop to the trailhead.  Griffith Park (Vermont and Sunset Red Line Metro Station)  Photograph: Wikimedia Commons Most people forget that the Griffith Observatory is also the nexus for a myriad of great hiking options. From the Vermont and Sunset Metro stop, take the LADOT Observatory Shuttle right up to the driveway at the Observatory (the bus runs every 35 minutes). From there, choose from a variety of hikes ranging from a 6.5-mile trek to the Hollywood Sign or a 0.9-mile stroll to Amir's Garden.  If the LADOT Observatory Shuttle is unavailable once you arrive at the Vermont and Sunset Metro stop, you can take the DASH Los Feliz bus toward Los Feliz Boulevard and Hillhurst Avenue and get off at the Vermont Avenue stop. From there, it is a l

After attending an amazing and exhilarating concert, there is nothing worse than sitting in your car, stuck in traffic. Thankfully, many of LA's finest venues are accessible by the Metro—here's five of them. 1. The Wiltern (Purple Line Wilshire & Western stop) Technically, the Wilshire & Western stop (across the street from the Wiltern) is actually closer than the Ralph’s parking lot where most people end up parking. So save the $20 and enjoy the convenience of walking straight out of the venue and directly onto your train. You can follow the train schedule on the Metro app. 2. & 3. Palladium & Fonda Theatre (Red Line Hollywood & Vine stop) This Red Line stop offers access to two different venues! Both roughly the same distance from the Metro (just a couple minutes walk), this helps alleviate the issue of the removal of parking lots for more condos. 4. The Regent Theatre (Red Line Pershing Square stop) Considering most nearby lots are actually farther than the Pershing Square Metro (0.2 mile), taking public transit is the obvious choice if you're looking for both convenience and cost effectiveness. 5. Hollywood Bowl (Red Line Hollywood & Highland stop) While lots of people know to park in the Hollywood & Highland shopping center (now $15) to avoid the extreme costs of parking at the Hollywood Bowl or in nearby lots, people fail to realize the convenience of using this Red Line stop, located within the same shopping center. Believe it or not, it takes about the same amount of

With all of the amazing shows that Red Bull is sponsoring with its 30 Days in LA during November, some other great events get lost in the shuffle. Here are five shows to check out in the LA area that could have flown under your radar: 1. Widowspeak, Quilt (Wednesday, Nov 11: The Bootleg) For those in search of a modern day version of Mazzy Star, Widowspeak from New York (by way of Tacoma, Wash.) provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying our long-awaited fall weather. Allow yourself to curl up with their haunting melodies and entrancingly slow rhythms. 2. Ride (Thursday, Nov 12: The Wiltern) After their blistering comeback set at Coachella this year, the LA return of Ride has been anxiously awaited from any and all shoegaze fans. With "Vapour Trail," they cemented themselves as one of the godfathers of the genre, only solidified after releasing "Nowhere" in 1990. For fans of jangly guitars, their latter era material can be heard influencing Radiohead and every other Brit Pop fan that came after them. 3. The Joy Formidable (Thursday, Nov 12: Hollywood Forever Cemetery) If blast pop were a sub-genre, the Joy Formidable would be its main advocates! With blistering vocals provided by singer/guitarist Ritzy Bryan, the triumphant return of the Joy Formidable will make the Masonic Lodge resonate with catchy guitar riffs, beautiful melodies and tons of double bass action. 4. Tamaryn, Froth, Roses (Thursday, Nov 12: The Echoplex) Who knew having singer-songwriter Tamaryn collaborate w