24-Hour L.A.: The Night Owl’s Guide

While New York has long been heralded as “the city that doesn’t sleep,” the Los Angeles area has its share of all-night life, too.

Though it may not be bustling with the a.m. overflow of its Eastern counterpart, Los Angeles can’t be discounted as dead from midnight to 6 a.m. In addition to the requisite convenience stores, supermarkets, coffee shops and gas stations, there are some unusual spots that are open around the clock.

There are many others, but here are a few of the wide-awake hangouts where night owls can be found in the wee hours of morning:

Tennis, anyone?--Merchant of Tennis, 1118 S. La Cienega Blvd., (213) 855-1946. If you’re in the mood for a Wimbledon tuneup in the wee hours, this tennis shop/court complex has available two concrete courts any time--day or night. However, reservations must be made during store hours, which are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Court time costs $7 per hour during the week, $10 during the weekend. After dark, it costs $1.50 per hour extra for lighting.

Parlor games--Hollywood Billiards, 5504 Hollywood Blvd., (213) 465-0115. This hall, claimed to be Southern California’s oldest pool room, stays open 24 hours Fridays and Saturdays, and until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. The 10,000-square-foot structure, built around 1916, once housed the offices of Louis B. Mayer. There are 12 pool tables (with more to be installed early in the year), six billiard tables and three snooker tables, including one that measures 6x12 feet. A parking lot is adjacent to the building. Playing time for two players starts at $2.60 per player per hour; when more than two play, individual rates decrease. Free instruction is offered on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Newsstands--World Book and News Co., 1652 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 465-4352. Insomniacs who like to read may want to peruse the famous block-long racks that display some 10,000 magazines, 4,000 paperbacks and several hundred newspapers. And if you’re looking for the daily paper of any large metropolitan center, chances are it’s here, as well as newspapers from foreign cities such as London, Cairo, Milan and Vancouver. Also open around the clock is the Sherman Oaks Newsstand, 14500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 995-0632.

Health spas--Nautilus Aerobics Plus, 320 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (818) 577-8588. One can stretch and sweat at all hours using Nautilus exercise equipment, Kaiser air-pressure machines, life cycles, life rowers, free weights and a floor mat. Other 24-hour locations are at 6376 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, (213) 493-5486; 8948 Corbin Ave., Northridge, (818) 885-7417; 11315 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 760-7800 (24 hours Monday-Thursday); 850 W. Beverly Blvd., Montebello, (213) 726-8545 (closes at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday); 10431-L Magnolia Ave., Riverside, (714) 351-8031; and 1275 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, (714) 881-1773.

Bowling alleys--You can knock down bowling pins 24 hours a day at Hollywood Star Lanes, 5227 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 665-4111. Other 24-hour bowling alleys include Mar Vista Bowl, 12125 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista, (213) 391-5288, and Shatto 39 Lanes, 4th Street and Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, (213) 385-9475 (closes at 1 a.m. Monday morning).

Restaurants--Gorky’s Cafe, 536 East 8th St., (213) 627-4060; the Original Pantry Cafe, 877 S. Figueroa St., (213) 972-9279, and Canter’s Fairfax Restaurant, Delicatessen & Bakery, 419 N. Fairfax Ave., (213) 651-2030.

Bookstores--Circus of Books, 8230 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (213) 656-6533; also at 4001 Sunset Blvd., Silverlake, (213) 666-1304. This company maintains a well-stocked section of gay publications as well as a large selection of fiction and nonfiction books, mysteries, suspense novels, metaphysical books, science fiction, travel books and consumer magazines.