Welcome to Los Angeles! The Los Angeles region offers a vast diversity of cultures, entertainment options, and educational/employment opportunities. The weather doesn't hurt, either - Los Angeles averages 329 days of sunshine each year! Los Angeles county has 10 million residents spread out over 4,083 square miles, 3.7 million of which live in Los Angeles city. With geography that ranges from sand beaches to high mountain peaks, the area offers beautiful scenery and opportunities to swim, surf, ski, and hike.
This guide is intended to give an overview of what the city has to offer visitors and new residents. It is not complete by any means, but offers good starting points to explore the city for yourself.
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
INDEX
GETTING SETTLED
Automobile Association of America - 800-400-4222
For apartments/housing check out westsiderentals.com or
www.laweekly.com
Department of Water and Power - 800-342-5397
Pacific Bell (telephone) - 800-310-2355
National Water and Power - 800-590-7355
GETTING CONNECTED - NEWSPAPERS
LA Times - subscription services 800-252-9141
LA Weekly (free - mostly used for entertainment/recreation news)
TRANSPORTATION
If you ask me, you HAVE to have a car. This is no New York City. However, there is a subway system, limited as it is. It really only serves Hollywood and downtown. There is also a very extensive bus system - www.mta.net. Most people drive.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Los Angeles - Downtown
Downtown is the Financial and banking center of the city. It is busiest during business hours. Otherwise, it becomes a ghost town. Notable places to visit include the Music Center, Staples Center (LA Lakers), the public library, Chinatown, Museum of Contemporary Art, and El Pueblo District - the original settlement of the area. The University of Southern California is also located downtown.
Beverly Hills
Although Beverly Hills is its own incorporated city, most consider it to be a part of Los Angeles. Of course, the city is known for its multi-million dollar homes and the high priced boutiques of Rodeo Drive.
Hollywood
Hollywood has seen better days, but it is currently going through a tremendous renovation which includes the new Hollywood and Highland shopping complex which has drawn back the Academy Awards. No longer is Hollywood the center of movie making, but the history and legacy of the industry are still dominant in the forms of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theater, and the Hollywood Sign.
Melrose
Trendy area of the city known for its punk-rock and alternative scene. However, you can find everything from spike metal dresses and pants to five-star restaurants.
Los Feliz/Silverlake
Two up-and-coming trendy parts of the city. They are becoming the new Melrose in terms of places where the hip and trendy want to shop, eat, and live. Eclectic and diverse are the best ways to describe these areas. Dodger Stadium is located in this area.
Koreatown/Mid-Wilshire
Just off downtown, as the name would suggest there are many business and restaurants owned and operated by people of Korean decent. It's where you'll find the best Korean BBQ. Mid-Wilshire is home to the Museum Row, Miracle Mile, The Farmer's Market, CBS studios, and the La Brea Tar Pits.
Hancock Park
Before Beverly Hills there was Hancock park. The homes are big and stately and the area has more character. It is still a very fashionable area in which to live, especially for people of color. Larchmont Village is the place to hang out and have a latte.
West Hollywood (Weho)
Like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood is its own incorporated city. It's really a tale of two worlds. On one hand, Weho is known as being very welcoming to and almost predominately inhabited by gays and lesbians. On the other, it is also home to the Sunset Strip which is where you will find some of the most trendy bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels in the city. Notable are the bars Viper Room, Whiskey A-Go-Go, House of Blues, and Sky Bar; the hotels The Mondrian Hotel, The Argyle Hotel, and Chateau Marmont Hotel. It is where celebrities and visitors to the city go to see and be seen.
Santa Monica
Beach, beach, and more beach. It is a very vibrant area where people go to shop eat and of course, go to the beach. Third Street Promenade is one of the few streets where you'll get a lot of foot traffic in LA - shopping and eating are not at a premium. The Santa Monica Pier is also a must visit. By the way, did I mention the beach?
Westwood
LA's version of a college town, home to UCLA. Westwood Village is a hot spot for college students. It is dotted with movie theaters, cool shops, and restaurants that range in price from very cheap to ultra expensive. Generally speaking, Westwood is not cheap. I don't know how students can afford to live here!
Malibu
Known for beautiful beach and magnificent beach homes, Malibu is home to many celebrities. You have not "done LA" until you’ve driven up the Pacific coast highway through Malibu.
Pasadena
A little slice of the Midwest right in Southern California. Pasadena is home to a lot of old money and reminds you of the Midwest and East Coast in terms of homes and architecture. It is home to great shopping, the Rose Bowl, California Institute of Technology, and the very quaint Old Town Pasadena (the other area with lots of foot traffic) and the Huntington Museum and Garden. When you're ready to escape LA but only have a couple hours, head to Pasadena.
Lemhert Park
Lemhert is the cradle of music (especially jazz), poetry, and the arts for the African American community. You can find some of the best southern cooking around while at the same time have your spirit filled with good music and art. Other predominately black communities include Baldwin Hills and Ladiera Heights.
WHERE TO SHOP - MALLS AND ARCADES
The Beverly Center
Mainstream mall at La Cienega and Beverly in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood. Known for celebrity sightings. Has a movie theater (not very good, go to the Beverly Connection across the street).
Century City Shopping Center
Outdoor mall in ultra expensive Century City (across from Beverly Hills). Popular because it's outdoors, you're likely to run into someone famous, and it has nice movie theaters. It's the hangout spot of high schoolers from Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Westwood.
Third Street Promenade
Third Street Promenade is blocked off to motor traffic which makes it a popular place to hang out and stroll after a day at the beach (Santa Monica). On every corner there are performers of all kinds entertaining large groups of people. Third Street is basically a mall on the street.
Old Town Pasadena
One of my favorites. It has lots of foot traffic even though it is not closed to cars. Old Town is quaint because the facades of the buildings have been restored to their old turn of the century glory. Didn't they shop at Banana Republic and Restoration Hardware back then? There are two movie theater complexes as well as numerous restaurants and bars. If you like to be pampered, the Burke Williams Spa in old town is the place to visit. The Norton Simon Museum is also at the end of the block, located on Colorado Boulevard Between Marring and Pasadena Avenues.
Paseo Colorado
Just down the street from Old Town is this new, slightly more upscale outdoor mall. There is an apartment complex above the mall as well as a movie theater.
Melrose
Bounded by Fairfax and Highland Avenues in LA, this shopping street is home to everything alternative and off the wall. Interspersed are more mainstream fare like Starbucks and Johnny Rockets. For the most part this is where the pierced, tattooed, and hip hang out.
The Grove
Just down the street (a bit west and south) sandwiched between the CBS Studios and the Farmer's Market is the newest mall (also and outdoor mall) is The Grove. Think Disney World meets the Suburbs. The Grove is one of the few centrally located malls with a movie theater that features stadium seating. What makes the Grove special is that after a shopping extravaganza you can walk next door to the Farmer's Market for a bite to eat.
Glendale Galleria
In the city of Glendale, this is THE suburban mall of LA. For me the best thing about the Glendale Galleria is the Nordtsrom - one of the few in Los Angeles.
Rodeo Drive
The world famous street in Beverly Hills (between Beverly and Wilshire Blvds). This is the ultimate in terms of opulence and chic. This street is home to the likes of Armani, Hugo Boss, Harry Winston, and Dolce and Gabana. It's very popular with tourists which means you'll also find much more reasonably priced stores as well.
WHERE TO SHOP - GROCERY STORES AND MARKETS
Ralph's
Large chain, reasonably priced located all throughout Southern California.
Von's
Large chain, reasonably priced located all throughout Southern California.
Pavilions
Large chain, more expensive with more specialty items located throughout greater LA.
Whole Foods Market
Moderately expensive chain but worth it. They specialize in organic and natural foods. You will be able to find lots of specialty items. They are located all over the city.
Trader Joe's
Inexpensive version of Whole Foods.
When living in LA, however, you also have to get to know the standing and weekly outdoor markets. You'll be able to get everything from fresh produce and meats to fresh cut flowers and herbs.
The Farmer's Market
The oldest and most well known market that is open most days of the week. I go to get my meats and sometimes vegetables. It is also a great place to go and have a quick lunch.
Hollywood Farmer's Market
Located at Sunset Boulevard and Ivar Street in Hollywood, this market is only open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is the place to go for produce and fruits.
There are many other markets located throughout the city that are only open on certain days of the week. The most popular are Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Studio City/North Hollywood.
SIGHTSEEING/LANDMARKS
Mann's Chinese Theater
6925 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood
323-464-8111
Griffith Park Zoo (Los Angeles Zoo)
5333 Zoo Drive
323-644-6400
El Pueblo District
Plaza and Main Streets
Downtown LA
Hollywood Sign
Off Mulholland Drive
Will Rogers State Park
State Park Road
Los Angeles
310-454-8212
MUSEUMS
Getty Center Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles
310-440-7300
Exposition Park - University of Southern California
(California Science Center, Natural History Museum, and African American History Museum)
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Boulevard 323-857-6000
Museum of Latin American Art
628 Los Alamitos Boulevard Long Beach
562-435-4048
Museum of Contemporary Art
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles
213-626-6222
Pacific Asia Museum
46 N. Los Robles Avenue
626-449-2742
MUSIC VENUES AND THEATERS
Ford Theater (Outdoor Amphitheater)
2580 Cahuenga Boulevard
Hollywood
213-625-7000
Pantages Theater
6233 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood
323-468-1700
Shubert Theater
2020 Avenue of the Stars
Century City
310-553-9000
Kodak Theater (Home of the Academy Awards)
Hollywood and Highland
Hollywood
Music Center Complex
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Taper Auditorium, Ahmanson Theater
(Opera, Plays, Musicals, Chamber Music)
135 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles (Downtown)
213-972-8001
Mann's Chinese Theater (Movies)
6925 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood
323-464-8111
Cinerama Dome (Movies)
6360 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood
323-444-3401
SPORTS (PROFESSIONAL)
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Staples Center
1111 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles (Downtown)
213-742-7100
Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
Great Western Forum
3900 W. Manchester Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90306
310-419-3100
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL Baseball)
Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park
Hollywood/Los Feliz
323-224-1448
Los Angeles Kings (Hockey)
Staples Center
See LA Lakers
Los Angeles Galaxy (ML Soccer)
Rose Bowl
1010 Rose Bowl Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-432-1540
Back to City Guides index