BrewsterNorth.Net

...Well, I missed my chance to meet Shaun that particular night, but wasn't particularly bothered. (I had plenty of other opportunities.)

Instead, took some time out to get to know the nabe a bit better, and ended up taking the Big Blue Bus (line 3, which stops just outside the hotel parking lot) to Santa Monica. A public bus. The concierge was almost apologetic about the fact it cost a princely 75 cents one-way. Heck, if it only covered more of the city I'd willingly have paid more! Never mind.
First impressions: like someone'd taken a butter knife to a metropolis the size of NYC and spread it, and spread it, and spread it. (Though, actually, considering the population stats, it's more like someone stapled a couple of NYCs together before spreading.) And then added far too many auto-shops, or auto-friendly bars and restaurants.
Secondly: it's true. Virtually nobody in L.A. takes the bus. For the first few stops I felt uncomfortably like a clueless out-of-towner. Except in Santa Monica, it seems, where not only do they bus, they also bike (and there are bike-racks on the front of every bus for the purpose). There was a certain NY vibe to the place, to the point where I was tickled to find that it even had a Broadway as one of the main drags!
Thirdly: even nonfreezing weather can feel cold (Bru, you idiot). Ended up eating at a fantastic Asian restaurant, getting some slightly warmer clothing from a place that was about to go out-of-business, then voyaging onto Santa Monica Pier in the dark, accompanied by the sounds of the funfair and the Pacific swell. It's about as close as I got to the Pacific, but then again I haven't yet set foot in the Atlantic on this side. It was somewhat meditative. Surprisingly, there wasn't too much in the way of Valentine's kitsch in circulation.

The remainder of the night was divided between "argh, knackered" and "was that who I think it was who just walked in...?" It was just about adequate preparation for what was to come.