Margaret Cho's Guide to Los Angeles

Name: Margaret Cho
Age: 40
Profession: Comic/actor/musician/activist/author/party starter/lover/fighter/blogger
City: Los Angeles
Relationship Status: Married
Sexuality: Queer

What are some of the things you love most about your city/town?
I love that everyone eventually ends up here for some reason or another. It's like heaven. Or hell. And there are elements of both here. Los Angeles is an eternal eventuality.

What are some of your least favorite things about it?
Traffic. The "industry." People talking to you while looking over your shoulder for someone 'better' to talk to - as if there was someone better than me.

What gym do you like most? Why?
Bitch I don't go to the gym. Please.

What are some great restaurants for a night out with gay friends there?
I love Bossa Nova on Robertson. It's right across from the Abbey. Or you could just eat at the Abbey.

What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs? What do you like about them?
I just go to the Abbey. Everyone's there, there's lots of space. Lots of people. If I am in a certain mood for rough trade I will go to the Spotlight on the newly dubbed Cahuenga Corridor. But girl be careful. Don't go unless you have a knife or some mace or some concealed weapon.

What are your favorite gay parties or events, if any? What is the crowd or scene like at those places?
I like doing the political thing -- going to the big fundraisers like for Equality California or GLAAD because it's when everyone gets all dressed up. It's so wonderful and it feels good to get fancy and all political.

Where is the best public place for a gay person to make out?
That trick park next to the Abbey.

What is the gay community like in your city? Do you consider yourself to be part of any particular "scene"?
The gay community is the city. I am more a Silverlake fag hag. Like the kind who rides a bike and uses that crystal deodorant.

Are you involved with any LGBT community organizations there? Which ones? What do you like about those groups?
I do a lot of stuff at the Gay and Lesbian Center.

Does your town have a LGBT pride celebration? Do you usually attend?
Yes we have a huge pride parade! I love it! I hate being in the sun but I love it!

Do you have a particular fashion style? Where do you shop for clothes?
My style is futuristic hippie. I go to Polkadots and Moonbeams on 3rd and Fred Segal on Melrose and in Santa Monica.

Where do you go for other forms of entertainment -- live theater, concerts, movies, art exhibits? Are there any local gay performance groups, bands, or artists that you're a fan of?
My favorite club of all is Largo at the Coronet on La Cienaga. It's the greatest. I have a monthly show there I do called Fingerbang - it's my really guitarded version of Hee Haw. Then I go see shows there all the time. The best one to see is Jon Brion every Friday night. I have been going to see him there since 1995. The Gay and Lesbian Center is an awesome place to see shows. There's always something going on in LA.

What city (or cities) in America would you most like to visit next, and why? Are there any specific spots there (theaters, nightclubs, historic sites, etc.) that you'd really like to see?
I am away from Los Angeles now filming a show called 'Drop Dead Diva' in Atlanta. I am discovering all the gayness of the South and I love it. I am hanging out with the mondo homo crowd and going to mary's - which is the bear bar. I look forward to a hot gay gay gay summer.

Catch Margaret Cho's new TV series Drop Dead Diva airing on Lifetime every Sunday night through late October. Visit her Web site for all things Margaret...