Create meetup in Los Angeleschevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
explore Los Angeles Guides
bar_chart Trends in Los Angeles
What to do in LA alone?
honestly just wander around ktown for a bit, grab some soondubu at BCD Tofu House on Wilshire, it's open 24hrs and hits different when you're solo. for music check if the Hollywood Bowl has any cheap $20 seats left in the super-nosebleeds, the sound is still amazing up there. if you're into skating or just watching people, Venice Beach boardwalk on a Saturday afternoon is chaos but in a good way, grab a slice from Boardwalk Pizza and just people-watch for an hour. dodger games are cool but tbh the traffic getting out of there is a nightmare solo, so maybe hit up a food market like Smorgasburg if it's happening that weekend
You're 17 and solo in LA on a Saturday, perfect timing for the free stuff. Head to Griffith Park and hike up to the observatory, the trail starts right off Vermont Canyon Road and takes maybe 45 minutes. You get a killer view of the whole city and the Hollywood sign without paying a dime. For food after, walk down to the Trails Cafe at the bottom of the hill, their sandwiches are solid and it's a chill spot to sit outside. If you're still up for a rollercoaster vibe without the cost, the Santa Monica Pier is free to walk around and ride the Pacific Wheel for like $10.
At 17 you can get into a lot of stuff for cheap or free. If you're near the beach, Santa Monica Pier has the rollercoaster right on the ocean, and the whole promenade is good for just walking around with a coffee. For sports, catch a Dodger game if they're in town that day - the cheapest tickets are usually like $15-20 in the top deck, and the vibe up there is fun. For music, check if the Echo or the Smell in Echo Park has an all-ages show that night, they usually do weekend matinees or early shows. Grab a taco from a truck on Olympic Blvd after, they're usually open late and way better than any sit-down spot.
How can I find mobile hot dog vendors for a private event?
honestly the SGV has a ton of licensed cart operators who mostly do private stuff now. look up "hot dog cart catering San Gabriel Valley" on Yelp and you'll get a handful that are fully permitted, which matters if your venue needs a health permit on file. expect around $400 to $700 for a few hours plus a per person minimum, usually 50 or so. the ones based in Alhambra and Rosemead tend to be cheaper than Pasadena because they're not paying that rent.
fwiw the county health dept keeps a public list of permitted mobile food operators, its searchable by city on the LA County Public Health site. filter for "pushcart" or "MFF" and you'll get vendors cleared for SGV zip codes, which saves you the headache of a venue asking for paperwork later. also worth checking with the Old Town Monrovia or Alhambra farmers market folks, the carts there are usually booked solid but they know who's free and they'll pass along names. just dont wait till the last week, good ones book out 2 to 3 weeks in teh summer.
You could try hitting up the folks who set up outside Home Depot or the DMV in El Monte on weekends, a lot of those carts are owner operated and they'll do private gigs if you ask. Just walk up and grab a card, they usually have one taped to the cart.