One great day in one great LA neighborhood!

To those who say: “LA’s a great place to drive, but I wouldn’t want to park there,” we offer our snarkiest adolescent sneer and this new regular feature.  Coordinates is all about maximizing your LA experience while minimizing your carbon footprint.  Our staff writers are teaming up to spotlight neighborhoods that are as convenient to navigate as they are intriguing – so you can spend an entire day enjoying while you exercise. …Yes, exactly like Disneyland. (Toby Muller)

1) Breakfast/Brunch: Café Tropical, 1800 W. Sunset

Start the day with fantastic service, great coffee and pastry that makes your gym membership worth having. Whispering the words Café Tropical to most Eastsiders will elicit moans as they fantasize about the guava-cheese pie, a tart layered between croissant-like bread with cream cheese and guava paste.  Or try a classic Cuban sandwich: ham or turkey, cheese and pickles all pressed together and grilled to buttery, gooey goodness.  Grab a massive and delicious peanut butter cookie for the road (a steal at $1.00).  Mon-Fri: 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun: 7am-10pm.  (Sasha Perl-Raver)

2) Shopping:  Clover, 2756 Rowena

What’s truly great about Clover is that you can find gifts for uncle Tony’s birthday or your sister’s baby shower. This mini department store carries all kinds of fantastic pieces, each hand-selected by owner and Silver Lake local Drea Valentine.  Drea stocks brand names such as Citizens of Humanity, Veronica M., Angry Little Girls and Paul Frank Men, houseware gifts by Umbra, a great selection of books, and even a tea room featuring private label teas. www.cloversilverlake.com (Tenny Hovsepians) 

3) Shopping: Lake, 2910 Rowena

Lake is a breath of fresh air among the hustle and bustle of the LA shopping scene.  New York transplant Melissa Lovoy’s tranquil shop houses some of the latest trends in the city, featuring designers such as Mike & Chris, James Perse, Phillip Lim, Nile Lotan, and Mimo.  This charming boutique offers clothes and accessories for men and women plus a fine selection of beauty products and exclusive gifts.  Lake is subtle, yet unique; affordable, yet high-end – a combination that’s hard to come by. www.lakeboutique.com (Tenny Hovsepians) 

4) 131 Steps Back in Time: The “Music Box Steps”/Vendome off Sunset

Laurel & Hardy fans may recognize the narrow public staircase that climbs from Vendome Street to Descanso Drive from the classic comedy, The Music Box.  In the film, the boys have to deliver a piano to a customer at the top.

Geographically, the steps may be in trendy Silver Lake, but, to me, they live in the dream-neighborhood of Hollywood.  (I don’t care what the Thomas Guide says).  The Hal Roach directed short won an Oscar^â in 1932.  Thirty-five years later, I’d be watching it on a scratchy 16mm print at summer camp laughing my little eleven-year-old ass off.

Ever since I moved to LA, this spot has been on my to-do list.  What struck me as I finally climbed the steps today is the sharp divide between the shabby houses on the lower end, with their cracked steps and sagging chain-link fences, versus the houses above, with their new gates and brick walkways.  And now, the housing is crowding the steps claustrophobically – in the film, the steps are in the middle of acres of green grass.  This is the other geography of Los Angeles, with boundaries determined by real estate values. (Peter Basch)

5) Art: Thinkspace Gallery, 4210 Santa Monica Blvd.

Thinkspace Gallery, right in the heart of Silver Lake across from the Sunset junction, is the perfect stop for LA flavor. Featuring monthly exhibitions and a special back room, Thinkspace brings the hippest of the hip to your art hungry eyes. This little gallery can feed the art enthusiast and creator alike. Take advantage of the opportunity for a professional critique on Thursdays as well as regular hours and fantastic openings for viewing art. Moderate prices are an added bonus. (323) 913-3375. Open Thurs–Sun, 1pm-6 pm or by appointment contact@sourharvest (Cate Nelson)  

6) Dinner: La Payita Siete Mares, 3143 Sunset Blvd.

The first time I visited El Payita Siete Mares, I was apprehensive. It didn’t really look like the kind of place you’d expect great seafood from.  But I was wrong. So wrong!  Forget the drive to Neptune’s Net. In the 3100 block of Sunset Blvd is some of the freshest seafood around. The fried talapia, served head, eyes and all, is incredible! Their fish stew, chockful of white fish, shrimp, and crab legs, is a revelation! If there’s a seafood lover in you, forget the cheddar bay biscuits and sail to Sunset Blvd. Seven Seas!  Daily: 8am-10pm. (Sasha Perl-Raver)

7) Nightlife: Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd.

Spaceland is best described as a dark, underground fun house.  The undiscovered 'Modest Mouse' and a young Beck have performed here. And while you’re waiting for the alt. stars of tomorrow to take the stage, there’s juke boxes, video games, pool and a maudlin crowd - almost too cool to converse.  Don’t worry, things loosen up when the cocktails kick in.  Smoke to your heart’s content out back.  Only one word comes to mind:  heaven.  (Nikki Wantz)

Also visit other Editions of LA2DAY COORDINATES: DOWNTOWN, OLD TOWN PASADENA and HOLLYWOOD