Just as a safety precaution...(And not to put down downtown LA or scare the daylights out of anyone.)
If you are going to have a dinner together, I strongly suggest to travel in groups if you are walking to the restaurant at night. Try not to travel alone late at night if you can help it.
I used to work downtown LA late at night and it can get pretty hairy sometimes.
The LA convention Center is HUGE and quite nice. But sadly, it's not located in the greatest area. If you walk a few blocks in the wrong direction, it's gang territory. (We call 'em "Gangbangers" or "gangstas".)
The Staples Center is located right next to the convention center, (The home arena of the basketball team, the LA Lakers) so don't be surprised if you encounter sports fans from the arena during C-4. The LA Convention Center is one of the few convention centers in the U.S. that do not have a hotel next to it or any nearby hotels. The nearest hotel is a few long blocks away. So the restaurants are a bit of a walk.
If you can help it, try not to walk around the area during the wee hours of the morning like 3 a.m. or so. (There was an incident not too far away of a college student who returned from a party, tried to walk back to his dorm around at 3 a.m. and got shot & killed by a driveby gangbanger.) If anything, try to leave the downtown area by 12 a.m. or earlier if you can help it.
Most of the people in LA are quite friendly and very helpful. It's the gangbangers that make them and the city look bad. If you get rid of the gangbangers in the city, you'll probadly cut the crime rate by 80%.
You can easily spot gangbangers by the way they are dressed and the way they swagger. (Bandannas on their head, baseball cap worn sideways, very baggy pants that sags and shows their boxer underwear, long T-shirt that ends up on their knees, tattoos on their necks/forearms, tacky gold jewelry on their neck and earrings.)
It may sound like a stereotype from a movie, but it isn't. I've worked in high schools with gangbangers and probation officers in the past so it taught me how to spot them.
If you see people dressed like that (Especially in groups) close to the area during C-4 at night..
DO NOT APPROACH THEM and walk away in a
DIFFERENT direction.
(And no, they don't know what Star Wars is nor do they care. Their choice of movie is the gangsta "Two Cent" movie. A lot of them think Star Wars is a wimpy movie.)
During daytime, it should be O.K. Many of those gangbangers are asleep after peddling their drugs. (I think they are nocturnal.
)
If it's very late at night, try not to wear a costume if you can help it. The costume screams "tourist" to the gangbangers.
Also there are agressive panhandlers (bums) who roam the area. Don't give them any money if they ask you. If you give them any money, word will get out among them that you are sucker or a tourist.
If it's any consolation to LA, at C-3 Indianapolis, I also saw gangbangers at the nearby shopping mall. One was pointing and laughing at all the Star Wars costumers. ( Although he was dressed worse than any of the costumers with his sagging baggy pants, bandanna on his head, baseball cap worn sideways, T-shirt up to his knees, and tacky gold jewelry. ) They didn't do anything though.
Once again, I'm not trying to scare anyone off, but I just want everyone to stay safe. Just take some precautions and you should be allright. (There's safety in numbers.) Bring your cel phones also in case you need to call 911. If anything, downtown LA is not filled with gangstas shooting left and right at everybody like it's exagerrated in the movies. It can be quite safe. But it would be prudent to just take some safety precautions.
I'm also sure that LAPD will also increase patrols during this event for your safety.
Just a quick note...Disneyland is about 40 minutes to 1 hour away by car. (Depending on traffic.) But it's a lot, lot safer even at night and there's better food choices.
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Originally Posted by Predatormv 
I'll be there all 4 days, so I'm good to go whenever.
....and I was looking forward to finally meeting you...
Don't even tell me Gotmaul, Seeker and Brak's Buddy aren't coming either?
