Gerhard Marcks - “Maja” in the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden

A Walking Tour of Westwood

03/02/2015

Esther Tseng

Located on the Westside of Los Angeles, Westwood is a commercial and residential neighborhood that’s bordered by Beverly Hills to the east and Century City on the southeast. Westwood was initially developed in 1919 by Arthur Letts, the founder of the Broadway and Bullock's department stores. Developed in 1929 by Janss Investment Company, Westwood Village is a shopping and commercial district in the heart of Westwood, home to cultural attractions like the Hammer Museum and Geffen Playhouse. The campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is just north of Westwood Village. Read on for a walking tour of some of the can't-miss spots in Westwood.

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Marina del Rey at sunset

A Walking Tour of Marina del Rey

02/20/2015

Discover Los Angeles

With over 4,600 boat slips, Marina del Rey is the largest man-made small-craft harbor in North America. Prior to its development, the Marina was a marshland popular for fishing and duck hunting. Various development plans date back to the 1880s, but it wasn’t until 1954 that President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Marina as a federal project. Over 50 years later, the Marina is a thriving residential and boating community with year-round water sports, waterfront dining, and harbor cruises.

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FYF Fest at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The Guide to Exposition Park in Los Angeles

02/18/2015

Discover Los Angeles

Located just south of Downtown Los Angeles, Exposition Park is home to a world-class collection of museums, sports facilities and recreational areas. Exposition Park also offers diverse cultural, entertainment and educational activities. The 160-acre site was founded as Agricultural Park in 1872 and subsequently renamed Exposition Park in 1910. The park has since become one of L.A.’s premier cultural and special event destinations.

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Palm tree in Santa Monica

A Letter to Boston from L.A.

02/10/2015

Discover Los Angeles

Hey Boston, I heard you broke up with Snow the other day. Come out to the West Coast and let’s have some fun in the sun. It's a three-day weekend and the forecast is in the 80s!

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Driving down PCH in a convertible

The Guide to Driving in Los Angeles

01/27/2015

Discover Los Angeles

Whether it’s your first time in the City of Angels or you’re a frequent visitor, here are some basic driving rules and tips to help you discover Los Angeles.

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Interior of Sushi Tsujita

A Walking Tour of Sawtelle Japantown

01/20/2015

Esther Tseng

The neighborhood of Sawtelle Japantown (formerly known as Little Osaka) is a true gem of West Los Angeles. The historic area is home to a sizable Japanese American population and is known for the trendy shops and restaurants centered on Sawtelle Boulevard. During World War II, the community was disrupted and lives were uprooted because of the Japanese American internment, one of the darkest chapters in American history. A large number of them resettled in Little Osaka as they reintegrated into society. Today, Sawtelle Japantown is represented not only by its Japanese American postwar settlers and their descendants, but by a diverse set of Asians and other ethnicities and backgrounds. Take a stroll through the neighborhood and shop kitschy boutiques, nosh on delicious multicultural fare and more.

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Larchmont Village clock

A Walking Tour of Larchmont Village

12/16/2014

Esther Tseng

Discover an intimate shopping district and community in historic Larchmont Village, the hub of many activities for the residents of one of L.A.’s most well-regarded neighborhoods. There’s been a recent surge of newcomers to the pedestrian-friendly area, but you'd be remiss if you overlooked the long-time favorites. Read on for a walking tour of Larchmont Village, from one of L.A.’s best coffee shops to unique stores and excellent restaurants.

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Jackson Market and Deli in Culver City

Hidden Gems in Culver City

11/29/2014

Esther Tseng

From its inception and then incorporation by Harry Culver in the early 1900s to the renovation and revitalization of its downtown that began in the 90s, Culver City is a city rich with motion picture, television and aviation history. Metro Goldwyn Mayer built their studios there in the 1920s; the facility later became Sony Pictures Studios. Howard Hughes opened his Hughes Aircraft plant in 1941 - at one time it was the largest employer in Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Entertainment is Culver City’s largest employer to date.

Iconic films such as "The Wizard of Oz," "Gone with the Wind," a portion of "Grease" and the Tarzan series were filmed in Culver City. By the early 2000s, parts of the Hughes empire had been purchased by or merged with General Motors, Boeing, NewsCorp and Raytheon, but Culver City’s imprint on aviation is evident throughout Martin Scorsese’s biopic, "The Aviator."

Read on to learn about the lesser-known destinations worth seeking out in “The Heart of Screenland.”

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River Rock at Sportsmen's Lodge

Hidden Gems in Studio City

10/27/2014

Esther Tseng

Formerly known as Laurelwood, Studio City is located on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains. It was part of the Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando, a Mexican land grant, and named after the area's studio lot, opened by Mack Sennett in 1927. That studio is now known as CBS Studio Center. As a community that was born out of the entertainment industry, Studio City is regarded as the "Jewel of the Valley," attracting actors, musicians, and writers and serving as a hub of the San Fernando Valley and a gateway to the Westside and Hollywood. Read on and discover hidden gems in Studio City that are worth checking out.

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