Los Angeles has been a world city for a long time, but some didn't see it that way. It took the…read more1984 Olympics and everything else that can go wrong - more population, higher prices, and increased strife - to make it one, along with a few more museums, nonstop flights, and even more Hollywood. Then, there was the joke: "What's the difference between yogurt and L.A.?" "Yogurt has culture." Los Angeles had quite a canvas to work with. Its coastal basin is hemmed in by the San Gabriel Mountains, with its palms set against that backdrop and seen dusted in snow on a few clear winter days. With low humidity and not much rain, L.A. has comfortable weather ranging from some 55 to 90 degrees. Los Angeles moved forward to become America's second city, eclipsing Chicago, and for which they can be bitter! L.A.'s calling card is that it is the largest American city with a Mediterranean climate. While not a desert, its raw materials were not lush. Irrigation and landscaping give the illusion that it is. It's hard to run out of things to do in the L.A. area, let alone with the many day trips to nearby coastal cities, desert towns, and mountain hamlets, but the traffic into and out of the area increasingly chips away at this perk. Los Angeles is best understood in its context. L.A. runs on an on, running into many adjacent cities or encircling some such as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and others. L.A. holds 4 million people. Los Angeles County, with a part in the Mojave Desert, holds 10 million people. One in ten and one in four Californians live in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, respectively. Before Houston's growth and the trend to consolidate cities with their counties, L.A., with some 460 square miles, was America's largest city. With over 8 million people in New York's 330 square miles that include detached housing and parkland, L.A. is comparatively roomier as it spreads out to vapid suburbs that repeat the formula, but without the name recognition. It includes the large, less populated Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mountains, home to much wildlife, including some bears and mountain lions who became YouTube stars. Regrettably, the city has many entrenched problems. It's America's poster child for homelessness, with the eastern half of downtown being a tent city. Tents are now found on suburban sidewalks. I never saw this growing up. It's possible that a larger middle class and more feasible prices may have served as a buffer. It is now a very "have-have not" sort of metro area. Crime is pocketed but, more so than not, L.A. is fairly safe. Transit is woeful, with a true albeit limited subway arriving in the '90s, decades behind the 8-ball. The city has always been diverse and tolerant, with long established Hispanic, Asian, and Black communities, with L.A. born offspring being Angelenos all the more! Our street was truly a mosaic - all on one West Side block. Everyone just shrugged and coexisted. The same was true in Sun Valley, Silver Lake, and San Pedro. However, polarization has increased. Los Angeles has never had a blond head of hair. It has always had a head of dark hair that's getting darker. "Brady Bunch" kids are a thing of the past, products of graduates of top Midwestern engineering schools working in aerospace, Dust Bowl escapees, and transplants from northerly latitudes. Now, many have left. Portland's Oregonian once featured a series entitled "The New West." It is exactly this boomer demographic that up and left - to exurbian counties or far away, to Denver, Boise, Flagstaff, and beyond. Even if they wanted to come back, and most don't, they probably couldn't afford to. Los Angeles is a feast for the senses - a coastal Pacific metropolis with its own blend of easy-going and aloof, but with a subtle unwritten overlaid code of "cool" that thwarts its being more individualistic. I chalk that up to Hollywood, affluent whites, and surfers, among others. If navigating Los Angeles sloppily, one might waste time and not like it. If the trip is planned well, most visitors do like it. A poll I once saw indicated that 77% of Americans had a negative knee jerk opinion of it. I'm sure most were from the Heartland or he South, and religious, yet, when there was a thriving middle class, L.A. also had its slices of old school Americana such as roller rinks, malt shops, and single screen movie houses. Those elements are mostly gone. Visiting Los Angeles and walking down memory lane makes for sensory overload. Where are the big hair and ubiquitous Cutlass Supremes? Each of the 5 GM brands once had their own dealerships. Now, they are combined ... or gone. Stucco ranches with 2-car garages that your friends lived in look much dowdier if occupied by older owners who have paid them off, and unrecognizable if affluent younger folks have revamped them. L.A.'s overall layout is the same, but the intricacies and the vibe are so different that "you can't go home again."

The City of Los Angeles is a huge beautiful melting pot. I…read morelove that i can pretty much get any type of grub. There's amazing spots and of course some shady spots too but let's be real all cities have em. Overall the city of LA is always a good place to go and explore.

I'm a ride or die! One thing about the people in the Valley is that we've got that 818 PRIDE!…read more As kid (and young adult even) I got a lot of smack for living in the Valley but NOW, everyone who was once talking smack is moving here. Neighborhoods where you know your neighbors, parks galore, readily available parking, community events and boatloads of wonderful hidden gems. I also love to ride my bike around the Valley and there are plenty of hiking spots to explore! Great for families. People are generally more friendly than on the other side of the hill in my opinion. Yes, it gets hot, but we've got movie theatres and malls and community pools and more to cool down. The Valley will always have my heart!

It's the SFV! The…read more818 great... The valley Alicia Silverstone references as the iconic Cher Horowitz in the 90s must, Clueless! And Sun Valley (where the party was) has quite a bit Kohl's, the second location for 786 degree (super pizza) and a solid Grocery Outlet... among other hidden gems. The San Fernando Valley has got heart, charm, grit and gold... Full of kind souls... Young, beautiful, and bold and is the place I call home! I was born in Los Angeles near LAX in the city of Gardena and attended grade and some middle school all over Los Angeles county. Aside from the 1993 Northridge earthquake some of my early valley experiences were visiting friends who lived here back in the day. Venturing through Tarzana, Reseda, Van Nuys and Canoga Park (home of the famous Follow Your Heart cafe & health food store/grocer) which are also cities I've lived in since returning to LA close to 13 years ago and setting up home in one of the most laidback and still very adventurous parts of the Greater Los Angeles. There is so much history/herstory/therestory in these SFValley streets from Ventura Blvd to Rinaldi (Street)... Agoura Hills to the edge of Burbank... North Hollywood, Studio City, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Shadow Hills, Pacoima, Arleta, Valley Village, Valley Glen... Encino, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, Porter Ranch... the cities go on!! Cinema & television studios, gorgeous murals, unique museums, a melting pot of food + beverages whether, strolling around, sitting down or pushing a grocery cart about... Markets are good and plenty. Major brands covered... Target, Del Taco, CVS, Macy's, Starbucks, AMC Theaters, 2 Bob's Big Boy, loads of gyms. Family friendly, education is plenty, lgbtq+ inclusive + lqbtq+ spaces, vegan options for days, parking pretty okay on most days... You quickly learn to navigate. We've got the 5, 118, 170, 134, 101, 210, and 405 as our major freeways. Housing of all kinds and finding something affordable is a well worth find. Apartments, Townhomes, Condos, Houses, Studios, Guest houses, Hotels, Inns, Motels, you name it... We got it! Public transportation has been improving, but definitely needs more and more tlc. The metro G (Orange) as well as B (Red) Lines run the main show, but the city busses, metro micro and LADOT Dash go beyond. Scooters and Bikes are here, just not in as many accessible places as the main city. Have a nice dinner at a great restaurant, get take out, pop into a dive bar, find that speakeasy, swirl at one of the many wine bars or wineries... Laser tag, escape an escape room, see a magic show, explore parks, gardens and trails... Ride the outdoor carousel... Plenty to do and fun people to do it with! Grateful I have so many friends who live here, with a few new ones in the area as well. Cool places to visit, but an even cooler to live in my opinion.... Then again after 13 years I'm a little bias.

Beach of beaches…read more Ginger Rogers Beach named after the late great dancer, singer, actress - classically referenced as dance partner to Fred Astaire is probably my favorite in all of Southern California. A safe space and branch off from/at Will Rogers Beach unofficially officially the LGBTQ+ beach of Los Angeles. Sparking in the 1940s were queer men and women gathered to enjoy all the great comforts of beach time feel good fun. It didn't come without many obstacles from law enforcement, city officials and even locals, but ain't nobody nowhere got time for that. Keep Our Beaches Hate Free :) The bike and walking paths are clear, the sand is amazing, bike rentals available, the volleyball courts volley well... The restrooms are CLEAN - rinse/shower stations work well, some vendors selling snacks and frozen goods on a loop on the beach The views are super clear well and there's a sense of community that echoes in every direction. Maybe even more so since the painting of lifeguard towers 17 and 18 in rainbow flag chic in summer 2023, which were vandalized days after they were painted... But that's not going to put anyone off from enjoying not only the beach like anybody else, but being unafraid to dance it out, skip along the beach, hold a hand, share a kiss and take in a day's worth of summer bliss. We met up with Bears LA for their Summer Beach Day/Birthday Bash for Mr. Bear LA 2023 and his partner who's birthdays were a part of the festivities. They had a great tent next to tower, the bear pride flag and with our group of 40 (more tent covers, chairs, blankets, umbrellas, beverages and shareable snacks grew. I don't know how we got so lucky to also have another group of guys next to us with possibly the best DJ set list of music from the 60s to 2024 super remixed the entire time were were there. The set up with the speakers Donna Summer, Aaliyah, Beyonce, Gaga, Billie Eilish, 90s RnB, Funk, Soul, Rock, Pop, Alternative, ... seriously was this wonderland? Sand was amazing though I will say very very hot to walk on bare at times unless fresh out of the water and much later in the afternoon/evening (earlier was good too before 1PM). If you can shade yourself with a big umbrella like my boyfriend did for us and adjusted as the sun shifted, please do - while the weather was beyond perfect those UV rays are rich in Vitamin D but also intensity. Sunscreen is your friend for sure and when you're in a big group you have extra. It was so fun and so amazing to run into lots of people including allies all day long and friends from as far as Pomona, Whittier, our local bars in the valley (SFV) and further out. Parking is limited as the lots fill up from here to Santa Monica on those perfect beach days like they did today. You'll come across those makeshift lots from small businesses utilizing their space and a few others here and there. Plus there's tunnels that go under PCH to safely cross over to the beach side... One for Ginger Rogers Beach under the parking lot and one more Will Rogers centric on West Channel Road across from where it meets Chautauqua Blvd, it might pop up as the Roosevelt Tunnel and is actually a fun little journey where as the other tunnel is more of a direct shot after you descend the staircase ironically by the colorful Ocean Pacific Coast Stairs. If you're around Entrada Drive a lot of the local residential parking has no restrictions on Sundays only... however everyone might have the same idea to grab that street parking as they do. We found a $20/$25 lot which considering the 5 hours we spent at the beach with our group and each other was more than worth it. The wouldn't even let anyone in the main parking lot after it was super full probably to cut down on a huge parking lot jam. I haven't been here since before 2020, but absolutely hope to get another day in here soon while the heat is hot. Come on down to Ginger Rogers were all are welcome, leave the negative energy and bias elsewhere... Or better yet let it wash away.

Will Rogers rocks ! Great beach- clean, well maintained, decent food, good waves, great for…read morebody/board surfing/ body boarding, etc. Lots of soft sand areas to set up in and for kids to play. I've been going here for 40 years (along with other beaches north of here). As far as surfing, Topanga, Malibu and Zuma are decent breaks. Do not go in the water until at least 2 days after rains, the water quality will not be up to snuff. Bacteria levels are not healthy for swimming. only one drawback, and that is the sudden drop off about 10 ft from shore. Watch for that- Apart from that, enjoy your time there, sunny or cloudy! Love this beach.

It was amazing. They had a promotion going on for the unlimited rides and it was well worth it. I…read moregot to ride all the rides twice.

Opened since 1909, my friend lives near here and I made it a point to come, they have fun games and…read moresnacks for the kids. If you've cruised down route 66 to the end you'll know this spot since it's the official end of Route 66 and there is a sign on the boardwalk commemorating the stop along with a small gift shop that sells rout 66 related souvenirs. Some notes from our visit here: -It's a pretty far walk all the way to the end of the pier from the street and there are surprisingly not too many people at the end. It was once a great fishing spot. -The churros ladies are here and we are glad we caught them since we missed them at Venice. It's $5 for a bag of churros and you can add chocolate or cream sauce to your churros. -Pacific Park is here, there are multiple ticket booths so you can buy it at the back entrance near the bathrooms to avoid long lines. West Coaster is an easy ride that is not scary and loops twice. It's probably the rollercoaster with the most fantastic beach views in the world.

I've lived in this area for around 15 years. I have met everyone here and it has been a great…read morepleasure. I hope for all of the small and local businesses to continue. I represent Los Feliz in my battles. Individually we are individuals. Together we have already won as one. Trust me. Ask me about the secret Los Feliz handshake and I will show you (as long as you have some mail thatbproves you belong to this amazing community). No public bathrooms so don't ask Thank you

Like my fellow Elite friend @Quintin E wrote earlier, 'Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA.,' is another…read moresmall town from the upscale regions. I was visiting these following specific the 'City of Los Feliz local biz this past week before we got hit with the Los Angeles, CA storms this week, 1). Liberate Emporium 2). Every Table 3). Sacred Light I didn't realize; that between 'Liberate Emporium,' and 'Sacred Light,' were two extremely neighborly businesses within walking distance!!!! It was definitely my super fortunate day visiting the 'City of Los Feliz,' when I uncovered this Emma Swan exactly alike car from the formerly popular TV show, 'Once Upon a Time,' and I just had to stop to snap a shot here. I got to park right across from this particular car via 2-hour free parking. Ha!!!!! Can't beat free parking especially roaming about anywhere LA....I brought enough coins ready for any street meter parking, but I didn't even use any coins. I'll be back again soon. That was a fun, short trip to the 'City of Los Feliz,' CA., last week though.

Abbott Kinney is only a mile long but there's so much to see. Whenever I'm in Venice, I never miss…read morecoming in here and strolling around the neighborhood. So many things to see in here such as checking the small businesses , view the colorful murals and attending pop up events. Also love dining here as there's so many different options as well. I love hanging out the stores which has either front and back patios. I really like the vibes and atmosphere here.

One of my favorite streets in Los Angeles. Abbot Kinney has a unique atmosphere with local vendors,…read moreboutiques, cafés, street musicians, and interesting architecture. It's a great place to walk around, grab a coffee, and enjoy the Venice vibe. Every visit feels a little different, and there is always something new to discover.

Sunset Boulevard is a 23-mile major street that goes from the PCH to downtown L.A. It passes…read morethrough Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It is known for its many historic buildings. It is also a very congested road to drive on. There are billboards everywhere advertising the newest movies coming out. Some historic buildings include the Sunset Tower, Chateau Marmont, Cinerama Dome and the Beverly Hills Hotel. A popular place to grab a quick bite is at Carney's - a yellow Union Pacific rail car that serves hamburgers and hot dogs. The Sunset Strip portion of Sunset Boulevard has been known for its nightlife scene going back to the 1950's. Many songs and films have been made about this area. I have driven up and down the Sunset Strip on a number of occasions. The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go and The Roxy are popular clubs that launched the careers of many bands over the years. The Comedy Store is a comedy club that has been around since the 70's. Back in the early days, I used to hang out at the old Tower Records store on Sunset Blvd. I used to go there to buy new CD's and vinyl for my music collection. Amoeba Records is another music store that I love to chill at.

Sunset Boulevard is iconic and fun to experience at least once. The views, history, and energy make…read moreit interesting to drive through, even if parts feel busy and a little chaotic at times.

It's 2026 Topanga Days. Oh how times have changed ... for the worse…read more Who actually pays an outrageous $74.00 to enter / $63.60 online? They tell you ''become a member & save". Save what, $5.00? Back in the day people were really upset to pay $25.00! Imagine a family of four going for a day out this weekend ... that's $296.00 just to get in. You wander around only to find way less vendors than ever before & too much of the same thing. No exciting surprises. No special gifts. No unusual handcrafts. Hungry? ZERO healthy food, just expensive junk food. So much for a healthy community! The only good deal is the giant lemonades over at the far end for $7, which you will need for hydration. Wait, what about the music? A few standout singers & bands but for the most part, mediocre, nothing really memorable, just background noise unless you've had plenty of alcohol & really don't care. Familiar faces from over many years are rare, as many in the community no longer show up to dance & play. HUGE disappointment - Overpriced, pure greed on the part of the Topanga Community Center (TCC), who put this on every year to fill their coffers. SMH with absolute disgust. Is anything about Topanga Days worthwhile? The random games are fun if you participate, but the best thing is the Monday early morning community carnival, but you will have to be there before 8am to witness or participate, as Topanga road is closed until late morning for the floats. Unless you're within the community, you won't get to see any of it. If/When/Until the TCC pulls themselves together, hires fresh, younger, innovative minds that actually care, quits the greed & selfishness, lowers the exorbitant entry fee, entices better vendors & memorable music artists, Topanga Days is just not worth it anymore. Very, very sad.

Another Great Event excellent music excellent Food great great people very fun Kids Zone...read more