Got to get right back to where he started from

Ryan CABRERA is a singer-songwriter who was first introduced to the world as the boyfriend of Ashlee Simpson on the MTV reality show that chronicled the production of her first album. But since then, the 22-year-old Dallas native has seen his own debut, “Take It All Away,” enter the charts in August at No. 8. When Cabrera isn’t on tour or locked away in his friend’s studio writing songs, he likes to hang out at all the places he first visited when he came to L.A. in search of a record deal.

Songs in the city

L.A. has been a great inspiration for writing material. I have a song called “Echo Park,” which I wrote on a day when my co-writer Jimmy Harry and I found ourselves on a hilltop in Echo Park. It was such a spectacular view, the cars looked so small from up there. It made me realize for the first time that every light in the city reflected a different aspect of humanity, because for every one light I saw, there was at least one person in the city that it represented. I think Echo Park is also the most romantic place in the city. Taking a date up there after dinner is always a nice thing to do.

Street dreams

Another enjoyable pastime is going to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. There’s a second-story seating area that’s part of the food court near Wolfgang Puck’s that’s great for people watching. While I’m there, I usually walk over to a few of my favorite stores, like Diesel and Urban Outfitters. One day, I’m going to bring my guitar and start playing out on the sidewalk like all those street performers do. I’ll start out playing Neil Diamond cover songs and see how it goes. If anybody stops to listen to me, maybe I’ll throw some of my own songs into the set too. I wonder if anyone will throw tips in my empty guitar case.

Breakfast anytime

One of my favorite places to eat in L.A. is at Fred 62 on Vermont Avenue. It’s a 24-hour diner that has some off-the-wall menu choices like Rocky Road pancakes, with chocolate chips and marshmallows. I am a “could eat breakfast at any time” kind of person, so I like the fact that I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. One of my favorite Italian restaurants is Miceli’s, which is near my house in Studio City. The bread is like a big, puffy cloud in heaven, it’s so good! The first place I ever ate in L.A. is Cafe Med on Sunset. Any day of the week I could go for the penne with meat sauce they serve there. Once I’m done eating, I might head over to hang out in the balcony section of the House of Blues to catch Jamie Cullum or Maroon 5 playing an intimate set.

Sentimental values

I am also very attached to the first movie theater I went to when I moved to L.A., the one at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Recently I watched “Ray” and “The Forgotten” there. My friends think I’m insane because even if it’s out of the way of where we’re going, I will always force them to go see a movie here instead of somewhere else in the city. I am a very loyal patron or just sentimental, I guess. I have always felt that if you find a place that feels like home, that’s where you should stay.