I've been to this library since I was in elementary school. It was one of my favorite places and my…read moreall time favorite library. It was a lot different then. Very kid friends with awe sensory activities and book reading groups. I recently started school. I enjoy a different scene from my warm bedroom especially now in the summer. Studying at this library is not as pleasant as it used to be. It smells really bad in specific areas due to many homeless people. They take up all the study tables and quiet corners. Most of them sit for hours on their phone. Some Sleep for hours. It's not as quiet as other libraries but it's quiet enough to study my online classes. I'm a bit disappointed with how the remodeled. It feels more modern than homie which is no issue just not my vibe. I don't remember the library staff allowing homeless people in when I was a kid unless they looked somewhat well kept and with better hygiene. Anyways if it weren't for the homeless people and smell this library would still be my top favorite. I prefer the signal hill library now but still Billie Jean is a close way from where I live Oh and signal hill library is open on Mondays! Which is great because I study everyday of the week. I don't mean to be mean towards homelessness people. I agree there should be more done but one reality is that not all of them care to work and most are doing drugs. I can see that being of conflict in assisting them with stability. Nevertheless, I will always remember the good memories I had at this library. I practically grew up here.

I call it the Disneyland of botanical gardens. ;) I am a member of the Huntington, and have been…read morecoming for years. It is my absolute favorite Zen spot in the world. I no longer live in the state, but visit every few weeks and make sure to visit the gardens every time. I've painted these gardens over the years and will continue to do so. My favorite gardens are the Rose garden, the Japanese garden and the Chinese garden. This is the perfect date spot as well as a perfect place to walk in the morning amongst nature before the day gets too hot. The children's garden will entertain the littles and they even have a water feature on the hot days. The art pieces throughout the museums are not only beautiful but historical and should not be missed. There is a great coffee shop to grab a cup for your walk and a great gift shop at the exit. There are a couple of quick food options as well. Parking is plentiful- but make reservations! Verdict: perfection- everyone must visit this lovely land at least once in their lifetime.

This was hands down one of the best out of nowhere experiences I had in a long time and it…read morecompletely blew my mind. Not just was it one of the coolest free things to do with a lot of content to be seen. I so glad I stopped in.

Terrific museum. There are two small buildings, one that offers rotating exhibits and the other, a…read morepermanent collection. I liked how the art was hung, as it was eye level and good lighting. The volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful! One suggestion for the room with the rocks, please have placards made that inform us what the rock is, and where it was found. Looking forward to returning and see more art.

Last Sunday was my first time here, and it was well worth it! The museum has a great display of art…read morepieces and artifacts. Even with 2 of the main exhibitions closed, I still spent about 3-4 hours here. The parking is $25 dollars during the day, but I believe it drops to $15 & $10 after 3pm & 6pm, respectively. The tram from the parking garage to the center and the entry itself are free, just be sure to reserve your time slot ticket before you arrive. Just a little detail I loved: they offer umbrellas for use while walking out in the sun! Make sure to pick one up on your way in.

The Getty Center in Brentwood is a beautiful way to spend a Saturday morning, especially in June…read morewhen the weather is clear and comfortable. The outdoor gardens are wonderfully picturesque, with artistic sculptures thoughtfully placed throughout the landscape. Unlike the Huntington Library, though, there aren't placards identifying the different plants and flowers. Upstairs, the museum offers sweeping views that stretch past Hollywood and all the way toward the ocean. I brought a tripod hoping to take family photos, but tripods must be checked at the front. Fortunately, I found someone kind enough to take pictures for us. Inside, there is an impressive range of sculptures, paintings, antiques, and other artworks. The galleries are organized by historical period, and the informational placards provide helpful context without feeling overwhelming. I especially loved the rich collection of nineteenth-century pieces. Between the art, gardens, architecture, and panoramic views, the Getty is absolutely worth a visit.

Came in for their recent block party with the wife and had a blast! They were celebrating the…read moreopening of their new expanded campus, and it is a seriously cool (and huge) brutalist building that is so filled with art and carefully designed that you feel like you could shuffle around corner after corner seeing new things for eternity - and I mean that in a good way. I found myself so taken with the new building that I ran out of time to see the original building's new exhibit...I guess I'll have to come back ;) With this new addition, I think this place might just have become my single favorite art museum in LA. This museum is impressive, fascinating, and super well curated. I also love how they put on a great event here to show off the new digs and let us LA people in to see it for free! By the way, we loved that strawberry paleta too! A great (and tasty) relief for that hot day. Much appreciated, and can't wait to come see what they do for their next exhibit!

In the (many) years since the last time I was in LA, my list of things to see and do down here has…read moreonly gotten longer and longer. Yet, during that time, checking out LACMA has always managed to stay right near the top, just after eating in KTown. What can I say? I guess I'm just a connoisseur of food and culture...heavy emphasis on the former, far less on the latter. After all, as much as I appreciate museums and art, a big reason for wanting to come here was to also get our prerequisite IG photos of the Urban Lights display like everyone else! Since my gf's friend bought our tickets online for us, I can't really speak to the price or the process. However, what I can say is that buying tickets in advance is highly recommended so that you can lock in your preferred entry time slot, rather than taking a chance on whatever walk up slots are left when you get here. Similarly, their parking lot can fill up quickly, especially on weekends, but there are alternatives nearby. The surrounding streets offer spaces, but most of them seem to have time limits/meters. Otherwise, there are several other parking lots nearby, including a large one a half block away at the Petersen Automotive Museum that we parked at. Now, in all, LACMA is made up of four separate buildings/pavilions filled with exhibits and pieces from a variety of movements, periods, and artists from around the world, whether it be American, European, Latin, Egyptian, Asian, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Abstract, Surrealist, Pop Art, Picasso, Monet, Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, and so much more. The artwork here also extends beyond just the physical, as there was even a live trio performing with a violin player, a singer, and a bicycle riding performer. I don't know if it's just me, but that felt pretty rare to see. Given how art is largely subjective, everyone will feel differently about LACMA's specific exhibits and pieces, but I think it's objectively safe to say that their overall collection of artwork is rather impressive. With so many different distinct styles curated together, there's so much to see and potentially something that speaks to everyone. What's more, the physical museum itself is great - a little congested in certain areas as guests milled about, but I definitely like how modern it felt and how it stretches over Wilshire (kind of cool to stand there and watch all of the cars passing below). Despite how big and spacious this place is, though, there were times inside the main building/gallery where it felt really hot and stuffy, so a bit more A/C would've been nice. Even though we spent a good chunk of the day wandering through so many of their halls and exhibits, I'd be lying if I said we got to see (and appreciate) everything that LACMA has to offer. My favorites were the pieces by Monet and Picasso, as well as the Pop Art wing with Warhol's pieces. However, I'm still kicking myself for neglecting the outside area and the very thing we came here for - the Urban Light display! Pretty horrendous on my part (I just wanted to see in the car with the A/C on blast), but at least it's accessible 24/7 to the public without needing to buy a ticket, so we can always correct that mistake the next time we're in LA. Which, hopefully, won't take nearly as long again.

It's a free museum. How people gonna complain about free, especially in a prime area like Little…read moreTokyo. You got spare time to spend a lazy day? Go spend it regulating your blood sugar levels from that hearty ramen/sushi lunch by walking around the Geffen Contemporary. They definitely get some interesting work coming through here; from highly technical paintings to puzzling installations 'n shit that is so ugly, you can only call it a modern art masterpiece. Though among my favorites has always been Haruki Murakami and all the sculptures and prints around the concept of Super Flat and the marriage of pop art to a fine art setting.

I recently visited The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and was genuinely moved by the current…read moreexhibition. The show reflects on the histories and legacies of post-Civil War America and how they still shape conversations today. It brings together decommissioned monuments -- many of them Confederate -- alongside contemporary works that were both borrowed and newly created for this exhibition. Seeing these monuments removed from their original outdoor settings and placed inside a gallery changes everything. Some are unmarred. Others are heavily vandalized. Each state of transformation tells its own story. It forces you to look at them not as background fixtures, but as objects with weight, history, and consequence. The contrast between the historical monuments and the contemporary responses is powerful. It's not an easy exhibition, and that's the point. It invites reflection, discomfort, and dialogue. If you're looking for something visually impressive and intellectually challenging, this is absolutely worth your time.

What a gem. I can't believe this museum is free…read more Located in Downtown Los Angeles, it's easy to pair with other nearby attractions, making it a great stop if you're spending the day exploring the area. The exhibits were fantastic. MOCA focuses on contemporary art, so you'll find everything from bold abstract paintings and large-scale installations to sculptures, video art, and thought-provoking mixed-media pieces. I love that contemporary art invites you to interpret it for yourself. Some works made me stop and think, while others were simply fun to experience. It was a nice balance of playful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is quiet and easy to explore. It never felt crowded, so I could actually spend time with the artwork instead of feeling rushed from room to room. I also really enjoyed the gift shop. They had a fantastic selection of art books and exhibition catalogs that were honestly hard to resist. They also carried plenty of fun collectibles, including lots of reasonably priced Smiskis, which made me smile. Overall, this is an amazing free museum and an easy recommendation if you're in Downtown LA. Whether you're already into contemporary art or just curious to try something different, it's well worth stopping by.

Moca was a little bit underwhelming. Only a few art installations were amazing to me. Maybe im not…read morean art person but i dont think you need more than 30 minutes here. The front reception were super nice and even told us where the bathrooms were. You know,In case we wanted our exhibit as the bathroom. Haha.. the other workers were extremely rude. My friend was 2 feet away and pointed to a location on a map and got yelled at for not being 2 ft away. She was confused because she was 2 feet away but i told her it was cause they thought she was using super powers from her fingers. There was one where it was window blinds being used as art and we knew we cant touch it but there wasnt any instructions on not being able to walk under it.. we got yelled at for walking underneath it. Alot of the words were small and im not sure if id be able to read them from 2 feet away but i didnt want to get yelled at so i skipped all the reading.

This place was so cool. It was nice learning about Japanese culture, what foods they eat, and how…read morethey prepare certain foods. I recommend coming in here if you are in the area. It's a cute little exhibit if you are interested in Japan. They do have events throughout the year which is pretty cool. They validate parking by the way which is great!

The Japan House is located at the Ovation Hollywood. It was easy to find parking in their lot. Get…read morevalidation from Japan House, and when you pay the ticket as you leave, make sure that the validation go through before you pay. You will NOT be refunded the overcharge once you leave the lot! Infuriating! I was at the Japan House for two different exhibitions - (1) Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan's Food Replica Culture and (2) Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs. I found the food replica exhibition much more fun and interactive. The people there were very nice.

If this is your first time visiting, it's a must to visit! They have beautiful architecture and…read morehistorical statues, objects, etc. The admission is free, but parking is $25 on the weekend. You must reserve a ticket on their website. It took me around 3 hours to complete everything, but the villa is quite small, but with so many artifacts to look and read through. Overall, great museum to visit! Tip(s): - Parking is $25 on weekend - Admission is free, but must pay parking - Reserve tickets online

The Getty Villa was the highlight of our visit to Malibu. From the outside, it doesn't look…read moreparticularly large, but once you take a couple of elevators, you'll discover just how expansive it is. Admission is free, but parking costs $25. However, if you leave within two hours of entering the parking garage, parking is free. After parking, simply follow the signs to the main entrance. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with stunning views from the upper levels. There are plenty of fascinating artifacts and exhibits to explore, and the villa has many rooms to wander through, so plan to spend a few hours if you want to see everything. There is also a charming café and a gift shop. The gift shop has a lovely selection of unique jewelry, especially earrings, that are worth checking out.