Zander said:
Thanks very much for the tips.
If you know of any comic book stores, game/toy stores or other places of likely interest to an uber-geek, I'd be much obliged for the info.
Let's see- comic stores: I always go to Amazing Comics on Stearns street. You can take the Passport D bus (its one of the red buses, but, well- with a D on it). Take the D to the end of the line (again, only 90 cents each way). At the end of the line, you'll be at Los Altos center; the dropoff point is a Borders Bookstore. In the parking lot behind the Borders, there is a Sears, Comp USA, and a Circuit City. Amazing Comics is right across the street from the Circuit City, next to a PC Club.
That's the major comic store- there is another one, but it's quite a bit further away (I can't recall exactly where offhand; haven't been there in years and they didn't have much of a selection).
Amazing Comics has a really good selection, comics come out every Wednesday, and they have a pretty good selection of toys and collectibles as well.
You might also want to check out the Tower Records on PCH (again, you can get there by the Passport D- it's on the way to the comic store, and you can't really miss it). Since Tower is closing all of its stores, they are selling off their inventory. Last time I checked, everything was 20% off; it may have gone higher now (that was a week ago). They also have some toys and collectibles, as well as the usual selection of video games, movies... oh, and music. (Not sure where you're coming from, so you may or may not be able to use region 1 dvds or not).
What else?
You should check out the beach, for sure. There are a lot of good restaurants and some degree of shopping in the Belmont Shore area where I live- again, it's on the route of the Passport D. Occasionally they even do some filming in this region and downtown- they shoot CSI Miami a lot in both areas, so maybe you'll get a chance to see that, if that interests you.
The Aquarium is near the Convention Center, but I think its a bit overrated myself. They have some sharks there now, and some kind of cool 3D movies. I think it's $25 admission? I forget.
The Queen Mary can be reached via one of the Passport Shuttles (don't recall which one- either the B or the C). The shuttle is free, and I don't think you have to pay to get on the Queen Mary- I never have anyway. I think you only have to pay if you take the tour or want to see some of the exhibits on display.
Also, right by the Convention Center and the Bookstore I mentioned, there is a Gameworks. Don't know if you're familiar or not- it's basically a sort of trendy restaurant/bar with video games, bowling, skee ball, etc. There's also a really good pub right across from the CC- the Auld Dubliner. It's got that old fashioned Irish-by-way-of-America pub feel. While its got the trendy crowd that hangs out there, it still manages to stay pretty authentic and pleasant, and they serve the best Guinness in town. Best to go during the day, or at least not on weekend nights (the college crowd comes in and it gets loud and meat markety).
If you like Mexican food, go to Super Mex in Belmont Shore. Best and most authentic mexican food I've had in the area, and it's pretty cheap, too.
That's all I can think of offhand that's easily accessible without a car. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
