downtown la has some really good spots. you should check out the area around staples center. also, if you want to go spot searching, you can get a metro day pass for $5, and it'll let you ride anything that says metro on it, all day.
i will be riding downtown next friday btw
im not sure about using the metro from simi. when i go downtown, i get a ride from my house to the noho subway station, and from there i can get to dt, culver city, long beach, etc.
and yeah, i'll try t you up.