Taiko drummer at Nisei Week in Little Tokyo

A Walking Tour of Little Tokyo

09/25/2014

Discover Los Angeles

With roots dating to the 1880s, Little Tokyo is a major cultural and civic center for Japanese Americans living in Southern California. Little Tokyo is a Downtown L.A. area of about five city blocks, bounded on the west by Los Angeles Street, on the east by Alameda Street, on the south by 3rd Street, and on the north by 1st Street, including the block north of 1st and west of Alameda. One of only three official Japantowns in the United States, Little Tokyo is the home of the annual Nisei Week festival, and was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1995. From museums to restaurants and bars, read on for a walking tour of Little Tokyo, one of L.A.’s most historic and popular multicultural neighborhoods.

Victorian manors on Carroll Avenue in Echo Park

Hidden Gems in Echo Park

09/23/2014

Esther Tseng

Flanked by Elysian Park, Elysian Valley, Silver Lake and Chinatown, Echo Park is a historic and diverse neighborhood where you’ll find everything from Dodger Stadium, the home of our beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, to Echo Park Lake, which reopened recently after a $45-million renovation. Locals and visitors alike enjoy paddle-boating around the lake, while the surrounding area continues to experience a retail, recreation and restaurant renaissance. Read on to find out more about Echo Park hidden gems, and discover an entirely different side of the neighborhood.

Girl dancing at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

A Three-Day Los Angeles Itinerary for Latino Culture

08/11/2014

Wiebke Schuster

The past, present and future of Los Angeles have been shaped by the rich diversity of its cultures. Nearly half of L.A.'s residents can trace their roots to Latin American origins, from Mexico and Peru to El Salvador and Costa Rica. Each year from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, Angelenos and visitors of all backgrounds celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors the cultural heritage and traditions of the Latino population.

Los Angeles was officially founded on Sept. 4, 1781, centuries after European explorers first arrived in the region in 1542. The cradle of L.A. is El Pueblo de Los Angeles, a historic district located in the oldest section of the city. The area includes landmarks such as Los Angeles Plaza, La Placita Church, and Olvera Street, the lively outdoor Mexican marketplace where visitors can find anything from handmade leather goods to custard filled churros.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to experience L.A.’s vibrant and diverse cultures. The following three-day guide explores historic and modern Latino culture in Downtown, then takes you west to Museum Row and West L.A.

Hidden Gems in Los Feliz

06/26/2014

Esther Tseng

Whether it's the Hills, Estate, Knolls or Village of Los Feliz, this neighborhood is proudly inhabited by a diverse cultures, ages and incomes. Along with Griffith Park to the north, Los Feliz made up one of the first land grants in California, to Corporal José Vicente Feliz.

With Hollywood to the west, Silver Lake to the south and Atwater village to the east, the hillside neighborhood is home to some of the most outstanding architecture in Los Angeles County, but also the birthplace of many a motion picture and TV studio. Read on and discover the must-see, hidden gems of Los Feliz, from an architectural landmark to a red-hot dining destination.

Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City

Hidden Gems in Century City

04/07/2014

Esther Tseng

Century City originated as the backlot of 20th Century Fox. With the advent of television representing tough competition for the studio and a budget for the movie Cleopatra spiraling out of control, the studio sold portions of its backlot to Alcoa Inc. and William Zeckendorf with the option to lease 75 acres back.

Welton Becket - who designed landmarks such as the Capitol Records building, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and the Cinerama Dome - as well as other architects were hired to develop a masterplan for the brand new commercial and residential city-within-a-city, using aluminum for high rises. The city was designed with pedestrian bridges and wide boulevards to ease crowding. Today, Century City is a center of business and commerce in Los Angeles, so it can be easy to overlook the public places worth visiting. Read on and discover 10 hidden gems in Century City.

The Sunset Strip, viewed from the Mondrian

A 72-Hour Itinerary of Los Angeles Nightlife

03/14/2014

Discover Los Angeles

Daytime in Los Angeles serves up sunny beaches, rolling golf courses, and the hike-inspiring Santa Monica Mountains. But when night falls, another side of the city awakens. This is when the town comes alive with dining, music, clubbing, and much more. Get ready for L.A. after hours with this three-night itinerary.

Gay Los Angeles: Romantic Dining

03/14/2014

Frontiers LA

It's time for your romantic L.A. getaway - you’ve got the roses, you’ve got the chocolates, you’ve got your lucky pair of undies on - now it’s time to figure out your dinner plans. We’ve put together a special evening just for you, starting with champagne and ending with cupcakes. Anything that comes in between (or after) is just a bonus.

Jennifer Lopez at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

A 72-Hour Los Angeles Itinerary for Celebrity Spotting

03/13/2014

Discover Los Angeles

Red carpets, flashing cameras, couture in motion - these are some of the hallmarks of famous Hollywood moments ascribed to Los Angeles. Determined to meet a celebrity while visiting, or at least walk in their footsteps? These itineraries are a “shoe-in” - stiletto style.

Amoeba Music

A 72-Hour Los Angeles Itinerary for Bargain Hunters

03/13/2014

Discover Los Angeles

You don’t have to break the bank to experience Los Angeles. Plenty of the city’s glitz, glam, and signature attractions can be seen for free, or with a miniscule price tag. Read on for three days of excursions that are both memorable and easy on the wallet.

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