L.A. Scene: From Who's Who to Happenin'

We caught up with Memphis Garrett while he was making his rounds surveying the L.A. club scene. As part of his job as general manager of Industry, a nightclub in Los Angeles that was closed for construction last year, the Southerner and former standout on the reality TV show "Big Brother" gets paid to keep tabs on the area's night life.

re:discover: How would you describe Los Angeles?

Memphis Garrett: It's changed a ton over the past four years. L.A. used to be kinda stuffy. You'd hang around, drink your little drink and think you're cool. You're there to be seen. Now, there's more high energy to it. People go out and they want to have a great time. They want excitement. They want to jump up and down.

What do you think brought about the changes in the L.A. club scene?

I think the stuffiness — the celebrity-driven who's-who thing — there are venues in town that are still like that, but even the celebrities just want to have a good time. When people go to places like Dubai, Miami or New York, the clubs there are high energy. Over the past few years, that's edged into the club scene here.

Is the whole mixology craze still as hot?

Downtown L.A. is the place to go for mixology. The Edison is a great place, a huge venue. It used to be the old electric company warehouse. They have a personal absinthe fairy that walks around and serves people.

Describe a typical night on the town?

Right now I'm on Hollywood Boulevard, about to eat oyster po' boys at this new place, Five 0 Four, a New Orleans- type bar that has frozen-drink machines lining the wall. Then we're off to Hemingway's. It's a guys' bar, all concrete floors, eclectic, books everywhere. We'll probably do that for a bit and then head over to … what day is it … Tuesday? Oh … wait, Thursday. We'll hit up the Colony on Cahuenga or we'll go around the corner to Premiere, and then on to Hyde Lounge on Sunset. That's my whole night.

Can you give us the scoop on something yet to be discovered?

The new Redbury Hotel at Hollywood and Vine just opened. It has a nice hidden little venue of its own called the Library, which is on the second floor. I don't think anyone knows about that place. Right now, you can basically walk in and if you know it's there, then you can go. But it's not publicized and they're trying to keep it like that.

What do you like to do when you're away from the club scene?

I like to drive up the coast to Malibu, rent stand-up paddleboards, and paddle around the pier. And L.A. is probably the only place where you can surf in the morning and go snowboarding in the afternoon. Everyone in L.A. should do that at least once just because they can.

Check out Memphis’ L.A.