Valmonte is my favorite neighborhood in Palos Verdes Estates (with Malaga Cove in second place &…read moreLunada Bay third). Valmonte borders the Hollywood Riviera neighborhood of Torrance on the north & Palos Verdes Golf Club on the southwest. Valmonte homes are on both sides of Palos Verdes Drive North, a picturesque road with a wide, tree-filled median. (PV Dr N takes you into Rolling Hills Estates as you leave Valmonte heading south.) That PV Drive median is so generous because it was intended to accommodate a train during the development of the City of Palos Verdes Estates in the early 1900s. For various reasons the train didn't happen....but today the lengthy median boasts a lovely, curving, gravel walking path & an adjacent wood chip trail for horse riders from nearby Palos Verdes Stables. Yes, horses, meandering right down the middle of the divided road. The residential area called Valmonte Grove is my choice walking territory on the planet. It's downright enchanting, especially just before sunset when golden glowing rays beam thru tall eucalyptus trees, casting shadows of intricate patterns. The green hills of Malaga Cove are the background. The ocean is a few blocks away. I took an out-of-towner, someone who has travelled the world for decades, on a walk though Valmonte Grove. He remarked, "This is the prettiest little neighborhood I've ever seen, anywhere. All the trees!" Yeah, all those trees. To preserve the character of the area, the city won't allow for them to be removed unless diseased. It's not unusual to count 15-20 eucalyptus trees on a single property. Gutters & lawns fill up with endless tree debris and, although eucalyptus seem to have shallow roots, not so great for underground plumbing pipes, I'm told. And the trees have been known to topple over occasionally. Worth the hassle for such unique beauty? I say yes. I see Valmonte Grove as a collection of vintage homes, of many different architectural designs, built into a eucalyptus grove. I've heard, but can't confirm, that the eucalyptus were originally planted there more than 100 years ago to be cut down & used for firewood. That would explain their density. Valmonte has no streetlights, sidewalks or traffic signals....only stop signs. There is an Art Jury, in place since the City of Palos Verdes Estates was created, that oversees any new residential building projects, including size & style of homes, as well as modification to existing houses. Changes to exterior doors & windows, roofs, even landscaping....must be approved. Exterior paint colors are restricted. If your new porch railing does not conform to your 1940s Colonial style house, you'll be replacing it. Strict, yes. But stroll through Valmonte & you'll understand why such rules endure. Photos cannot capture the intoxicating scent of eucalyptus, the sound of song birds or the charming peacefulness of Valmonte. The prettiest little neighborhood anywhere, where sunlight filters thru tall trees, where kids can safely play on narrow quiet streets, where meticulously manicured flower gardens abound, where neighbors all know each other.....this is where I've wandered on foot for years, allowing the magic to envelop me. It never gets old or boring - it only gets better as time passes.

Some of my friends love to do this ride and they talked me into going. I'm glad I did but it was…read morenot any easy sell for my friends. Ride a bike on the streets of LA/Santa Monica; (no offense to Santa Monica but unless you see a sign how do you really know what city you are in?). Were they nuts? I imagined us being road, kill done in by distracted, cell phone toten, soccer moms & finished off by yuppies hurrying to happy hour; (they do, do it on a Friday afternoon, prime happy hour time). Actually, it turns out there is safety in numbers and the most folks on the road just seemed bemused by the temporary flood of urban bikers. Where did we go? I don't know for sure, I was having such a good time I just followed the crowd and my friends. Afterwards we went to a well deserved but belated happy hour. But that's another story. If you have never been it's one of those greater Los Angeles moments that you should experience. Oh, and you don't have to be a hard core biker to enjoy the ride. I certinly wasn't.

If you live any where in or near the west side and you own a bike you need to be coming to Santa…read moreMonica Critical Mass. Why? Because it's the most fun you'll have on the first friday of EVERY month. Because it is the most inclusive/diverse group of people all out to have a good time. Because it's free. Meet at the Santa Monica Pier at 6:30 on the first Friday of every month and join hundreds of fellow cyclists in a casual ride through the streets of Santa Monica and West LA. The ride is usually accompanied by several patrons blasting classic tracks such as MJ's "Billy Jean," Hall & Oates "Man Eater," Tupac's "2 Live & Die in LA" and many more. A really fun/free thing to do on the West side that ends with drinks and dining for those so inclined. You need to come out, for sure.

Communicated with the City about getting business license since our office just moved, also parking…read morepermits and painting permits. The staff was very communicative and helpful. Shows up went to the cashier paid the fees and filed the necessary paperwork to complete. I was in and out pretty quickly with temporary parking signs. The city said they would email us the business license once we has the city inspection

Mood - beach Ive…read morebeen to many beaches and honestly I must say this experience was truly a different one. We stayed at a hotel on Pac Hwy and had the wonderful opportunity to walk down to the beach and entertain restaurants and shops along the way. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean everything was, and the friendliness of all the people I encountered. The beach was well kept and the lifeguards very attentive, you can tell a sense of pride by the people who frequent this beach, as it didn't seem the typical tourist destination. Would thoroughly recommend- Location is 1 Pier Ave/ Pac Hwy - parking is streets

I often find myself at this intersection at night while transfering busses. I literally have been…read moresolicited for sex everytime. Sometimes the men drive by and put up their finger, then pull over and wait for me to walk over. Other times they just give a dog whistle expecting me to frolick over. One time I was quite obviously ignoring a suitor hollering at me from his sparkly orange hummer with gold rims, so he got the attention of some poor little man who was also waiting for the bus and told him to get my attention. This lil man walks over to me and says "excuse me mam, I think that man wants to talk to you"... it was awesome. This confuses me for two main reasons: 1. This corner is where the TRANNY prostitutes turn their tricks, which either means I am being mistaken for a transvestite or that these men actually want to fuck a woman, but settle for men dressed as women when times get rough.*** 2. I am always at this intersection after school and am therefore always toting a ginormous backpack. Isn't that a tell tale sign that I am not a prostitute? Do they think its fulll of sex toys? I am giving this intersection two stars because these encounters although a lil frightening at times, are entertaining, which helps pass the time. ***If you don't know about this phenomenon read up!!!! http://www.tgsrm.org/MSM.html

Four stars because I'm surprised to see this on Yelp. Haha!…read more I meant to finish this review a long time ago and am now finishing it up for all my curious, sick minded Yelpers. I used to frequent this spot because of the 7eleven located a block away from the corner. Yes! There ARE strange activities going down, especially at night. From lots of sirens playing music up and down the streets during the day, to transgenders and hookers "waiting" at the bus stop, it's really quite a scene to look at it change so suddenly after 6 pm. It's more comedy to me than it is of anything else. Some people may find this "dirty", "ratchet", "tranny-chasing", or just a place to take a break from the bars up the streets. But I wouldn't trust this place if I stayed there for more than 20 minutes. I begin to feel these unwelcomed shadows lingering drunkenly from around the corners, no matter if it's day or night. But if this is your cup of tea, then put on a hoodie, use a different name, and talk like Batman, because I guess that's the norm when you're looking for something in this area.

Sierra Madre is gorgeous located just on the outskirts of Pasadena. I visited for the Wisteria…read moreFestival with my Foster Dog (pictured) Drew! I must say, Sierra Madre is so well taken care of and it's evident that the city loves to maintain and remember history. Memorial Park is just full of lush grass. A little past Memorial Park you can find the City Hall which is just gorgeous on the outside with a little trail that you can follow that has a small edible garden! If you continue to follow the tiny dirt path you find yourself in an amazing rest area that has benches and beautiful plants surrounding. I sat there with Drew for about fifteen minutes just enjoying the weather and the scenery. Everyone in Sierra Madre is so friendly saying hello and with smiles! Definitely a nice place to visit if you're in the area!

Ever wonder what it's like to live in a small quaint little area? Where the pace is slower, the…read morepeople are actually nice, friendly and helpful? Maybe a little like "Mayberry, North Carolina?" Well, maybe not that quaint... Well, this is Sierra Madre. Just 30 minutes East of the Valley & Hollywood without traffic! (Traffic on the other hand is a whole different story). However, it's worth the trip! I have been coming here for over 20 years but hadn't been here in a decade! That's about to change... Why you may ask... 1. FREE STREET PARKING 2. Great variety of restaurants 3. Boutiques to stimulate the economy and they aren't overpriced! 4. They have their own Playhouse Theatre 5. It's beautiful and up in the hills 6. Like I already mentioned...the people are friendly!

Once or twice a year I bike or jog or just show up. A few hours or miles of peace... what a…read moreblessing !!!

I grew up coming to "the trench" during my childhood in Cerritos. But it's really sad to see how…read moretrashed it was today. There usually aren't that many people on the trail, but there was visible garbage particularly near the water. And to top it off, a homeless tent near the entrance. I feel so unsafe coming here. This feels so sketchy that I'm kind of scared to come back here even in the daytime, or at least some chunks of the trail should be avoided. I guess heading towards La Mirada, it seems a bit safer. Regardless, it's tragic that a public place has me fearing for my life. The other strange thing is near the park, there was an abandoned bike and stroller with a backpack. Both seemed like they were freshly left there, so I wonder what happened there. If I wasn't such a germaphobe, I'd try to do a beautification of the junk because it needs a major cleanup. There's wildlife that lives there, and it's disheartening to think they're living in filth.

"Everywhere in LA takes 20 minutes!"…read more Welcome to Sun Valley, the sunny big pocket neighborhood of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, most iconically known from being reference in the movie Clueless (1995), because it was the location of the house party #RollinWithTheHomies but incorrectly also referenced as being part of North Hollywood via Circus Liquor, in fairness if you don't come to the valley, you don't know her that well so we get it Cher. Sun Valley has a lot of schools from pre-school through 12th + the East Valley Skill Center for adult education. There's close to two dozen within the boundary lines for SV in the SFV. Home to the Fire Station #77 on Sunland Blvd. The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, plus three different parks & recreation centers. Two of which have public swimming pools and all of which have the public park essentials: basket ball courts, soccer fields, picnic tables, playgrounds, various sporting fields and more. The Sun V is also home to the LA Public Library Branch for Sun Valley off Vineland Avenue. I'm not on this side of the town often, but pass through on occasion to Shadow Hills, Sylmar, Pacoima and a few other bordering neighborhoods and incorporated cities on the outskirts, but very much still part of the 818, even though they don't like to admit it... talking about you Burbank, Calabasas, and Hidden Hills. Glendale does it's own thing, but we're still related. A valley adjacent cousin of sorts. I've popped into Kohl's in Sun Valley a couple of times recently so been exploring a bit more. The Kohl's is pretty nice and this neighborhood city definitely has a lot of local flavor in various places, from small vendors, business, greenery and art. Being so close to the mountain side of SFV you definitely notice the trees and plants in parts a bit more. It's more built up and developed than when I first moved back to LA and found my home in the valley. The cost of living has gone up but some apartments are still reasonable-esque. And homes aren't as expensive as the front end of the entire San Fernando Valley (West Hills, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Toluca Lake and Burbank to name most) or parts of the West Valley, especially in the Northridge and Chatsworth parts. Definitely some unique things to explore here. But very much more on the mellow side. A few essential stores, chains and eateries, but not as many as neighboring neighborhoods and a lot more residential in parts. Sun Valley, it's definitely a place.

There's something about a city that isn't cookie cutter. There's nothing esthetically clinical…read moreabout Hawthorne...and therein lies it's beauty. The city shows the signs of it's age; mom and pop businesses still in business right next door to a new generation start up. The diversity here is eclectic, the good people are warm and friendly and starting up a conversation isn't as difficult as one might think. The people here are real, down to earth and almost everyone knows where to find the best (insert type of food here). The same is true for business and almost any kind of service. It's true, ask anyone. Much like most of the south bay neighborhoods, on any weekend you can find gatherings of fiends and families celebrating events with BBQ's, parties and various assembly lines making tamales, tapas, tacos or any variation on the theme. And it all smells and tastes amazing. There's always something I need to do in Hawthorne. There variety of commerce here makes it convenient to visit and get things done. Keep on rockin' it Hawthorne!

Contacted City of Hawthorne number and after a few automated messages I spoke to a live person…read moreregarding a dead animal pick-up. Operator was friendly and attentive. Animal was picked up from road within the hour.