L.A. Bizarro

L.A. Bizarro is a guidebook that catalogs the strangest and most unusual locations, businesses, and attractions across Los Angeles. The book maps out over 100 offbeat destinations, from obscure museums and restaurants to peculiar architecture and local oddities. The authors divide the city into geographic sections, providing detailed directions, historical context, and practical visiting information for each featured location. Each entry includes photographs and insider tips about the best times to visit, what to look for, and how to access these often overlooked spots. Beyond pure documentation, L.A. Bizarro serves as a cultural artifact that captures a hidden side of Los Angeles that exists beneath its mainstream tourist attractions. The book reveals layers of local history and subculture while maintaining an irreverent perspective on the city's endless capacity for eccentricity.

Readers describe L.A. Bizarro as a quirky guide to Los Angeles' offbeat attractions, oddities, and lesser-known spots. Multiple reviews note its usefulness for finding unique photo opportunities and unusual restaurants. Liked: - Detailed directions and practical visiting information - Historical background on locations - Humorous writing style - Mix of famous and obscure locations - Color photos and maps Disliked: - Some locations have closed or changed since publication - Too much focus on kitschy/touristy spots over authentic local finds - Writing can be overly snarky according to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (27 ratings) Sample review: "Works both as a practical guide and coffee table book. Found places I never knew existed despite living here 20 years." - Goodreads user "Perfect for urban explorers and photographers looking for something different from standard tourist attractions." - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 This irreverent guidebook explores over 350 of Los Angeles' most unusual, eccentric, and offbeat locations, many of which are unknown even to longtime residents. 🌟 The book's first edition was published in 1997 and became an underground cult classic, leading to an expanded and updated edition in 2007. 🌟 Co-author Matt Maranian previously owned the infamous 1990s LA store "Planet Unicorn," which specialized in kitsch merchandise and became a celebrity hangout. 🌟 The book includes detailed explorations of oddities like a shop specializing only in rubber stamps, a museum dedicated to banana cultivation, and a restaurant shaped like a giant tamale. 🌟 L.A. Bizarro served as inspiration for several TV shows about weird Los Angeles, including segments on "Sunday Morning Shootout" and "California's Gold" with Huell Howser.