Hollywood has come an incredibly long way from its roots in the late 1880s as a quiet, temperance-minded agricultural community. Once early filmmakers realized the year-round sunshine and varied landscapes were perfect for shooting movies...and a great way to escape East Coast patent enforcers, those rustic lemon groves quickly transformed into the glamorous global epicenter of the entertainment industry. Today, while the classic tourist trail revolves around the Walk of Fame and the iconic 1923 Hollywood sign, the area's true creative pulse really beats just a bit further west. During my visits, I actually spend almost all of my time hanging around West Hollywood as well as the Melrose area. It is the ultimate hub for scoring great vintage shopping finds, grabbing a fresh plant-based food bowl, and diving into the vibrant nightlife. Whether I am bouncing between clubs or catching a punk show--especially on nights when my best friend is performing at legendary venues like the Whisky a Go Go--this side of town perfectly captures that classic California cool. It delivers all the historic Tinseltown energy you expect, just with a much better soundtrack. read more

Another awesome awesome night I really enjoyed it. Everybody was in. The spirit conversation was nice to people. Everyone felt included such a beautiful vibe again Yelp elite thank you guys so much and thanks to everyone who came also the food was top-tier and everyone's customer service better than I expected ‍ read more

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We did enjoy our time in Hollywood, California!!! I've driven through Hollywood a few times, but my last time here, we walked the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, had a great time here. There are a lot of characters in this area, let's just say that. We also drove through the Hollywood Hills, but we didn't go to the famous sign. We were here during the day, mostly on Hollywood Boulevard, enjoying all the different shops, the famous Chinese Theater, the stars, plenty to see here!! read more

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Nice place to visit but,yes,I'd live there. It's been a few years but I came across someone's Hollywood posting so I thought I'd piggyback off of it. I missed my calling . Should have dropped out of highschool and headed for Hollywood. I'm ready to return for a visit. Love the place read more

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Hollywood as in Hollywood California brings to mind the famous Sign. It's the Film Capital of the World! In fact I created a business page with that name. As long as I can remember my parents showed me full length movies. I remember clearly the first one Walt Disney's Peter Pan. If you read the history of film you can see the role this city played and plan your sight seeing tours. Ask my Yelp Friend Diele K. :-) I've had short visits but if I return it would be for no less than three nights four days. I'm recommending. Don't forget to get your photo of the Hollywood sign. It was HOLLYWOODLAND in the old days. read more

Hollywood - In the beginning.....posted with review 04/06/25 I love Hollywood. - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

iconic neighborhood where the entertainment industry is always evolving. it's a real neighborhood where people live & work, and folks from all around the world visit to be inspired. super walkable. great local spots to trusted brands. i recommend visiting Amoeba Records, Larry Edmund's Bookstore, Ovation, Mixue, Dr Simi's Similandia, The Hollywood Museum, The Aster/Lemon Grove, Funko, Sana'a Cafe, Couplet Coffee, Float Coffee, Tiago Coffee, Cafe de Leche, Japan House, Blue Note LA, Hotel Cafe, Elbow Room, Jemma, Palm & The Pine, Daddy Diamond's, Nivessa Records, Laya, Hollywood Roosevelt, Kimpton, Godfrey, Dream, W Hollywood, Loews, Palihotel, IKI Nori and IKI Ramen, Bopomofo, Superba, Linden, NY Chopped Cheese, The Egyptian Theatre, Power House Bar, etc. read more

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"Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe The place where people come to live out their dreams of becoming a star. My friends and I would sometimes swing by Hollywood Boulevard back in the 1990's while visiting L.A. Back then, Hollywood was pretty rundown and was dealing with crime and poverty. There would be all sorts of characters walking around during late hours on Hollywood Blvd. We would usually hang out at some nearby café or bar in the middle of the night and then walk over and check out the handprints over at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Since those days, you can tell that the city has been trying to clean things up around here while still maintaining its rich history in entertainment. Hollywood has always been associated with the film industry because of film studios like Warner Bros, Sony, Disney, Paramount and Universal Pictures all being located here. Hollywood is also known as "Tinseltown" and its very first movie studio (Nestor Studios) opened in 1913. The big Hollywood sign used to say "Hollywoodland" and was erected in the Hollywood Hills in 1923. The hike up to the sign actually makes for a fun day if you ever have some time to make it up the mountain. Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd are where many of the iconic buildings and the Walk of Fame are located. El Captain, Hollywood Museum, Madame Tussauds, Hollywood Wax Museum and Dolby and TLC Chinese Theatres are all located on Hollywood Blvd. The Comedy Store, Roxy Theatre, Whisky a Go Go, Viper Room, Chateau Marmont and Sunset Tower Hotel are iconic places on the Sunset Strip. The Hollywood Roosevelt is an old hotel where many celebrities stayed at during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Cruising around Hollywood has its pluses and minuses. The costumed characters are always a crackup and will bug you to get a paid photo with them. If you are a big movie lover like me, I enjoy seeing the names of my favorite actors on the Walk of Fame and in the cement over at the TLC Chinese Theatre. I also enjoy attending a live taping or touring one of the film studios. It gives you an opportunity to see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff and how movies and television shows are made. read more

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A good first stop to take in and explore everything I've only seen in the movies or tv or read about. I saw most of the necessary landmarks, the most famous being the Hollywood sign. I remember asking my friend as we were driving towards it, what's in those mountains up there?" She laughed at me. Those are the Hills child!! Ahhhh right, where my Bravo Housewives live. It's really quite something that if you're lucky enough to live up there you can literally look down on the rest of Los Angeles. And yet for all the glamour that's associated with Hollywood what I was warned about and immediately took notice of so much homelessness, mental illness and drug abuse. Just turning off of Hollywood Blvd and walking down Sunset we passed so many camps and so much trash. Even passing by the famous Roosevelt Hotel and Hollywood High School I can't imagine any stars around here. By the way Sunset which runs parallel to Hollywood is a deserted stretch in comparison. read more

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A Mix of Glamour and Grime. Hollywood's duality shines: iconic studios, Walk of Fame, and luxury hotspots alongside eclectic shops, street performers, and urban grit. Daytime tourist hub turns nighttime entertainment district. Not perfect, but quintessentially LA. read more

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Truth is~it's always super fun driving around the 'City of Hollywood,' at night any time since the streets of 'Hollywood,' CA have always been extremely lit up super bright into the dark of the night. I have definitely taken better pics of the 'City of Hollywood,' CA., before This review came about, but this gigantic ad caught my eyes right away. I grew up on playing Super Mario Nintendo games lol~when I found This particular Super Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach gigantic ad, I had to catch some snaps of this billboard. Other ads I caught were 'Willy Wonka and His Chocolate Factory,' musical, but I'm sure that's not the only musical that would be playing in town. I'll be back some more adding more night life to this review. What a fun town!!!! Cya soon. Love driving you at night but probably not during storm nights. read more

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As Natasha Bedingfield would say, "I've got a pocket full of sunshine..." if you're on Hollywood and Vine definitely try Trejo's Tacos... stroll about and you might find Amoeba Music... The line is down the street, but worth the experience.... "Whoa"... Hollywood's Walk of Fame is endless don't ignore Gower and La Brea, its over a mile of side walk with lots of long standing spots.... "Take me away.... A sweet escape". In a post 2020 world Hollywood is still kicking and thriving. The Highland and Hollywood Center, Kodak Theater and most of Hollywood Blvd alone being a huge staple for shopping, entertainment, drinking and dinning. The Egyptian, TCL Chinese and Pantages Theaters soon to be major hubs for entertainment once more... Not to mention the iconic Hollywood Bowl. The exclusive Magic Castle behind Loews Hotel is a must if you know someone who is a member. There's grim and grit just like most places in the world, but also a lot of love. The public transportation system is pretty on par above and below ground in the city, parking is first come first serve if you can manage something on the street, but being the inviting city it is... You're probably going to have to spring for a garage if you're staying for more than 2 hours. Parking garages range and vary, but there are a few $10 ones scattered about for your best deals aside from street though depending on where you could end up in a complimentary experience like the garage for Trader Joe's off Vine just before Equinox. There's food of every kind especially pizza, pizza and more pizza, Italian, Greek, Armenian, American, Thai and some of the best plant based and vegan spots I've ever had in LA County including Cocobella Creamery, Doomies, Doomies Next Mex and Vegan Thai House Bistro to name a few. Hollywood has good bar like No Vacancy, Frolic Room and Sunset Grill. The Hard Rock Cafe has some of the most water down drinks I've ever had, but the service is excellent! I recommend The Room or for NightClub life when that's back in full swing as well as The Three Clubs. There are lots of great small and large hotels to stay in if visiting from out of state or out of town. You'll definitely encounter some sorted characters and probably see or experience something unforgettable. Like the guy and his friend we saw smoking not cigarettes looking for an imaginary dog, or the forty bucks I found in the middle of nowhere across the street from the magic castle or a harmless bum argument. Hollywood is very much a roll of the dice if you're a resident, yet also comforts and community. At night the lights of the city are beautiful especially for a nice scene view. The hiking trails are pretty solid, as is the traffic, but whatever Hollywood lacks in charm it makes up for in experience. read more

Unfortunately, I Hollywood has become a haven for the homeless. It is quite apparent that the mayor and governor are not really concerned about the welfare and the health of our homeless, our citizens that reside within a Hollywood district or the businesses. The trash in the garbage that you frequently see on the street is inexcusable. You see Clean Streets all the time, however they're unable to keep up with the exorbitant growing amount of trash. The homeless have made their homes intensities very expensive. Some to the point where they are blocking the ability of pedestrians to use the sidewalks. Yet nothing is done. The situation is growing exponentially out of control, and the people who are paying the price are the people who work and live in Hollywood. If you're coming to visit, you're going to be disappointed I would suggest frequenting the Brentwood, Westwood and Beverly Hills/Culver City areas. read more

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If you've never been to Los Angeles in your life before, chances are you'll find yourself here in Hollywood as a tourist. Nothing wrong with that since you're exploring the scene. It's a pretty cool experience for first timers, but once you've seen everything already, you're going to not want to come back here ever again. Pre pandemic it's just super crowded, but post pandemic, it's now replaced with a ton of homeless and I guess drug addicts. Most notable sightseeing sites include the long stretch of road known as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but everyone only cares about the few blocks around the TCL Chinese Theatre and the rest are irrelevant. TCL Chinese Theatre as I mention before is a hit spot. And then there's the Hollywood Sign. The Hollywood & Highland Center is a cool place to walk through and has a good view of the Hollywood Sign, right by the TCL Chinese Theatre. read more

We'd never been to Southern California, so when we made our plans for Los Angeles this summer, we wanted to totally immerse ourselves in the SoCal lifestyle for a few days. We got a cool air b and b, right off Hollywood Blvd, and just soaked it all in. We were in walking distance to West Hollywood, so it made our location even better. Heck, I even enjoyed my daily 8am walk to Ralph's every morning for coffee and breakfast supplies. Walking a few blocks down Hollywood Blvd was fun and exciting, even at 8 am. I've lived in Florida my whole life.........pretty boring. Not Hollywood! Surprisingly, to me, anyway, everyone was so friendly and helpful. From store owners/ employees to people on the street, everyone was so nice. I brought my good vibes and got good vibes from everyone else. The city was clean and comfortable. The weather was perfect for our visit. We were able to find eating, drinking, entertainment establishments easily. The one thing we wanted to do was figure out the underground metro system. Didn't have time to do it on this trip. I could be wrong, but I think you may be able to travel from the beach back to Hollywood using that transportation. Next time for sure!! 4 stars for the expense of EVERYTHING. Not used to that at all. At least I didn't have to buy gas. Can't wait for our next trip!! read more

Hollywood - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Hollywood is "Glitz and glam". Stage and screen, Movie stars, Rock stars, Screen writers, Actors, Actresses, Comedians -- and a whole lot more of trying to become the next big thing while waiting tables at all the restaurants we love. The downside is that it's a city of shattered dreams. But, at least, it's possible, albeit small. Tons of homeless, very dirty streets, it really needs a good wash down with soap. With that said, Hollywood is filled with a lot less glitz and a lot more grime than glam. Things to do: 5/5 Safety: 2/5 Cleanliness: 2/5 GEOGRAPHY -- Hollywood lies about eight miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the home of the famous Hollywood sign. According to the Mapping L.A. project of the Los Angeles Times, Hollywood is flanked by Hollywood Hills to the north, Los Feliz to the northeast, East Hollywood or Virgil Village to the east, Larchmont and Hancock Park to the south, Fairfax to the southwest, West Hollywood to the west and Hollywood Hills West to the northwest. FAMOUS SITES/OTHER -- Hollywood Bowl, Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscars and AFI Fest), Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, Hollywood Chinese Theatre, Amoeba Music, Pantages Theater, El Capitan (Disney Theater), ArcLight Hollywood Movie Theater (featuring the 110mm very wide-screen Cinerama Dome), Griffith Park & Observatory, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. If you're not from around here (or want to just play a tourist), you can hop on a open-air Bus, and tour around top landmarks and sights including celebrity homes. SHOPPING -- There's lots. Boutique shops along Melrose, and the monstrosity called The Beverly City head my list. FAV RESTAURANTS & THINGS TO DO -- please refer to my "Berger knows: Hollywood" collection, https://www.yelp.com/collection/vydNiUo3mfyEBL2EjIEE9A. In particular, a special shoutout to my Musso & Frank Grill review (https://www.yelp.com/biz/musso-and-frank-grill-hollywood?hrid=WC_cuYwVESxh7Lqve4c4PA), and one of my fav reviews of all-time for Hot Wings Cafe (https://www.yelp.com/biz/hot-wings-cafe-los-angeles-2?hrid=dh5qqcRvExnwD9Er_iT7-Q), and this one for Starbucks on Beverly (https://www.yelp.com/biz/starbucks-los-angeles-105?hrid=ouKyTsuoa8SQ1FUHB_fs2g). read more

Hollywood is bright and busy! Totally exhilarating and a must see if you're visiting LA. Adam and I spent lots of our nights just walking around and looking at the shops and the different venues. It does feel different in the day versus at night. In the day it's more for tourists to take pictures of the stars on the ground and the footprints/handprints, shop, take pictures with people in costumes. At night you for the lights and maybe to see a movie. It's a great short walk to do in between other activities you may have planned. Who knows, maybe you'll get stopped by the Jimmy Kimmel show or stumble on a movie premiere! read more

Hollywood - Not John Green the author of "The Fault in Our Stars"! - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Bright lights, tons of tourists! Passing by Hollywood and Highland on a Sunday evening in January, it's still packed with visitors. The Hollywood mystique perseveres and draws the crowds to Hollywood Blvd. From Highland to Vine and points further west, the area is a curious mix of glamorous hotels, along with folks down on their luck. Cheap tourist gift shops bump up against more interesting and better quality boutiques. I suppose you could say you never know what's going to happen next here, and there's excitement in the unknown factor. Mainly, for those of us who live in the area, it's a place to take out of town guests, or else to perhaps catch a show at the Pantages Theatre. The Max Factor Hollywood Museum with its glory days of glam sits next to Ripley's Believe It Or Not collection of oddities. This kind of juxtaposition is normal in this unplanned area that seems to keep reinventing itself on the fly. Welcome to Hollywood! read more

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"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles County, CA. I have mixed feelings with Hollywood, casting couch aside, it was a'right, well in my Bold & the Beautiful days. I mean it's nice when my first concern was tanning my obliques and which actress and/or actor will I kiss next. Ahh being young! Now Hollywood is a mixed bag of nuts, literally and figuratively, then you have West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, and even Dollywood! The later named after Dolly Parton and located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Okay, okay back to Hollywood, California, and 9-5 it is not, sorry Dolly! It's a 24/7 District of Los Angeles. And though it's not as glamorous as in the Golden Age it still deserves a place in the history books! I have some history here too. In fact, the very first time I was "hit on" for "a date" was when I was on vacation with my parentals and younger sister. I was maybe 17, and the prostitute looked younger than I was... the seedier part of reality. I wonder what ever happened to her /sigh. After my teen years and a brief military stint, I took my skills and clean briefs to Hollywood for a stab at acting. I had (and still have) friends in the Industry. Of course, I didn't expect to be the next Humphrey Bogart, but heck I'd be okay playing Kato in the Green Hornet, sans Kato Kaelin. And who knew Batman was gay? Well Adam West was, who played the original caped crusader! Then again who knew Ryan Gosling was straight? I sure didn't. If I was stereotyped to be a cabana boy so be it! Just pay me... Hey, girl... I admire those that survive in the industry and those megastars that bring the House down - like a Tom Hanks (from Oakland) or my bestie, Scarlett Johansson raking in 40m last year alone! And she's single again /le sigh. Then you have the character actors, those with lines, but are the everyday people in a movie. Never the lead, but always a familiar face. And the extras, thousands and thousands of extras, I mean you won't find Denzil Washington walking the streets scene, well unless it's "Man On Fire", then watch-out! See in acting it's not always gorgeous that sells, but being someone the crowd can connect with too. In Hollywood, both acting and music, it's a tough industry to really make it big. Get that one big break! I mean I've encountered these people, partied with some in my bad boy Viper days, but the reality is 99.99% people do not make it in the industry, and why waiters, waitresses, and even dishwashing jobs are quite popular too. That's the hard truth. Not to mention how Hollywood Blvd. is so damn dirty! In the end, Hollywood is a diverse community with all types of jobs, professions, political beliefs (though it's cooler to lean left), religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. Of course, I focused more on the entertainment industry, when words like "dapper, gentleman, handsome" for the men, and "glamorous, gorgeous, dreamy" for the women were common of the day. Today, it's better to just have an ex-lovers tattoo and be happy with a job. I mean my last big role was in "Twisted" with Ashley Judd. You might recognize my shadowy silhouette in the bar scene. Yea, that's me! No lines. Whatever. Just standing there while fricken Andy Garcia got all the lines, but hey the rumors of Ashley and that "other guy" are very true! I know, I lived it! Take that Andy! The End. Not really, to be continued... read more

Hollywood - Back in my Bold & the Beautiful "Hollywood" day... Enrique, Emilio & Mark Consuelos, sans Kelly Ripa & All My Children;) - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Hollywood is the most popular neighborhood in LA. It's a place where a lot of tourists and locals visit. Hollywood has two sides: West Holly and East Holly, both are very distinct and has its own culture. Multicultural East Hollywood is home to traditional restaurants in Little Armenia and Thai Town, plus farm-to-table eateries, laid-back cafes, and gay bars. Frank Lloyd Wright's Mayan-style Hollyhock House and the LA Municipal Art Gallery, showing work by local artists, sit in Barnsdall Art Park. Vintage boutiques cluster on North Virgil Avenue, and the area is dotted with indie performing arts organizations. West Hollywood is a trendy area known for its high-energy nightlife. The fabled Sunset Strip features the Chateau Marmont, a swanky celebrity hideaway, plus comedy clubs and live music venues like the legendary Whiskey a Go Go. Santa Monica Boulevard, awash in rainbow flags, is home to a number of gay bars, dance clubs and shops. WeHo also offers some of the city's most buzz worthy restaurants. However, Hollywood has a plethora of homeless people and malodorous odor like a whale carcass washed up on Zuma beach. Food and rental prices are expensive. Visiting is okay but living in Hollywood/LA is a whole different story. read more

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If you are a first time visitor to Los Angeles, you must see Hollywood Blvd. It is best, I think, to see by car. There is nothing that special to get you out of your car. Yes, there are the hand-prints at the Mann's Theater (used to be The Chinese Theater) and the stars on the streets all along Hollywood Blvd. but it is not all it is cracked up to be. It is crowded always and unless you just must see concrete with a dead stars hand-prints in it, I don't see the point. But you may like it and there is parking and you can walk a block or a mile. There are a ton of trinket shops, that are over priced, but you can get your post cards at one. But, it is still a must. You can park and walk around the Mann's Theater if you want. It is well patrolled and you will be fine. Your wallet will be in your front pocket, you will not be taking the flyers people want to hand you and you do not want to buy anything at all from a street vendor or worse yet, some guy that says he has a Rolex for you. I would not waste money on a tour bus. If you are in LA, I bet you rented a car. Go by car. Just pick up Hollywood Blvd. off La Brea and start driving east. Once you get to the Pantages Theater, you have done all you want to do. Past the Pantages there is nothing to see and it is not safe at night. The main stretch of Hollywood Blvd. is safe until about midnight and then you want to be in your car. No one is going to hurt you, it is just that a lot of the tourists are gone and a lot of homeless, some nice, some drug addicted will be out and about. If you have time, stop at Musso and Frank Grill on Hollywood Blvd. They have great food and the place is famous and has been there forever. It is not cheap, so if you are on a budget you can grab a Pink's Hot Dog on your way home at Pink's on La Brea. Have a great time. read more

Yes it's a edgy, yes it's grimey, and yes it's a fabulous tourist trap. I've been hanging out in this area since the 80's and it's never a dull moment. You name it this city has it, restaurant, clubs, bars, stores, famous stars, and many hidden treasures that I did not know about. read more

"Hollywood" conjures up a thousand meanings. I can't think of another word that stirs up so many images to people the world over. The curiosity of those who have not been there to experience it must spawn a lot of daydreams. I find the nonstop activity irrestible, like New York, the City that never sleeps. I can feel the energetic creative vibe. The more time I spend in Hollywood, the more fascinated . . . Having family & friends who live there makes it real, not just make-believe. Sharing their experiences gives me an insight into & appreciation of the unique & hard-working individuals who can mesmerize us for hours, lift our spirits, make us laugh, make us cry, entertain us, add another facet to our lives. read more

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Hollywood is the world famous city that brings the glamour of show business to America. It is also a big clubbing hub in the greater Los Angeles area. It is in these clubs that I hung out for a decade after leaving the military. Thus, I have many good (and some bad) memories in this town. Many out of towners tell me that Hollywood is not the glamorous city that the media paints it to be. They say it's dirty, ghetto, weird, etc. But much like any city, it has its own character, and it is not perfect. In fact, it is not even an official city, it is a sub-section of LA. If you're from out of town, you should check this place out at least once in your life. Daytime is where all the tourists are walking around and taking photos with the people dressed in super-hero costumes. There is plenty to see along this avenue, and there are plenty of food stops as well. Night time is when the clubbing people come out to play. If you're going to a Hollywood club, dress to impress and bring more girls than guys. Cover charge averages at $20, and parking about the same price. I've outgrown the Hollywood clubs, and have now moved to more upscale places. But they are fun to check out every once in a while. I've found the parking lot on Hollywood and Highland to be the best. The lot is underground and open 24/7. The rates are reasonable, and the place is secure. Very early morning (around 2:00AM-6:00AM) is when the weirdos are out in abundance. Don't walk alone at these times. read more

I can't count how many times I've been out in Hollywood when I lived in California. When friends came to visit, Hollywood was always requested and it usually ended with too much debauchery. Be warned: Waking up at some random hotel with someone who is struggling to become an actor wishing you had just taken a cab home instead is a definite possibility. However cliché, you must go there once and be that tourist. As a local, I was always happy to get away from the douchebags wannabes who decided to live in Hollywood in the first place. Yes, go visit the stars and take a picture of the sign. read more

Hollywood is bright and busy! Totally exhilarating and a must see if you're visiting LA. Its a cute and cool place to be

Love coming here, since there is so much to do. But I hate it at the same time. Since they're is so much freaking traffic!! Haha. A week isn't along enough to, just look at everything.. It's better to be here for like 2 weeks. Just to be able to see everything and actually enjoy it. Since they're is so much damn traffic. Haha. I only come here, every so often.. (like 2-4x's a year, that I'm down here)... read more

First time i ever went inside and got to see it all. This was so awesom. What an amazin experience it was. Will be back fo sure