People come from near and far to see the great Hollywood Boulevard…read more I suspect it disappoints many hoping to see the glimmer of a shining Hollywood street. However, you won't find that here, Hollywood is about creating magic in a warehouse. If you want to tangibly see fancy and richness, go to Beverly Hills. That being said, I LOVE cruising on Hollywood Boulevard and walking it once in awhile. There is so much fun to be had, even if it is a bit more gritty than the rest of town. You will see many of our unhomed while on Hollywood Boulevard. Kindness or if you can't be kind, simply ignoring is best. Don't bother arguing if someone cuts you off, or bumps into you. I saw a cowboy try to do this with one of our unhomed yesterday, it didn't bode well for said cowboy. And if you go to the 7-11, they may be blaring loud opera or classical music to keep people from hanging out outside. But even at the loud volume, it blends in with the hip hop & banda blasted by people selling on the streets. Occasionally, there is a band of unhomed people performing, as well. Last week I saw a person VERY into their puppet rendition of Little Shop of Horrors. Just mind your business as you walk past the security guard outside of the Church of Scientology still hoping random stragglers wander in to learn the wonders of the great Science Fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. Not sure Tom Cruise has the sanity rating he once did though. You'll also see the Hollywood Walk of Fame - stars past and present with sidewalk stars to immortalize their status. Most you won't know if you're a Millennial or younger - I sure don't! But Tupac got his star in front of Amoeba and near him is Dr. Dre! So there you go my fellow Millennial babies. You'll even find a bunch of tourist traps you might enjoy! Ripley's Believe it Or Not, the Wax Museum, old chubby men dressed as Disney characters, see a Disney movie premiere at El Capitan (they are GREAT), shop at the Ovation (they have everything), hope on a tour bus to see homes of the rich & famous, the Hollywood museum, a few weird pop-up instagram photog museum, catch a bunch of celebs on a red carpet at the Chinese Theatre and souvenir shops galore - there's surely something for everyone. I LOVE HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD! I love everything about LA and that includes this beautifully imperfect street full of fascinating humans and interesting spots.

This is probably indicative of Los Angeles as a whole, because Hollywood Blvd is rampant with…read moretrash, homelessness, poor dining options and expensive hotels. It's not really a place for family, for couples or tourists tbh. Go to the Valley or the beach, you'll thank me later. Also, there are tacos, and every taco stand is overpriced and not very good.

Review #977 2026-043…read more Village Del Amo is now a hoppin' & bustling business plaza since its new construction on the west side, bringing in new restaurants & businesses. The withering row of restaurants (aka Restaurant Row) got a face lift & slew of fresh tenants. Parking is plentiful, particularly on the east side along Hawthorne Blvd.; however, it can be cramped on the west side at Restaurant Row, particularly during lunch & dinner rush. The refreshed Village Del Amo is anchored by Hannam Chain Supermarket & BevMo! Beverages & More, with a slew of restaurants. It's quite unusual for a plaza to have more than 1 bank, & VDA has 4. Wells Fargo Bank is more mainstream than the other 3, whereas PCB Bank is a niche Korean-American community bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative for CA educational employees with higher savings yields & lower fees, U.S. Bank offers better APYs/specialized savings. Tenants (non-exhaustive list): Bafang Dumpling 八方雲集 Benihana BevMo! Beverages & More Cyclebar Del Amo Nails Dental Associates of Torrance Hannam Chain Supermarket Jamba Juice Marugame Udon PCB Bank Pho Hue Oi Postal Mail Boxes Penzeys Spices Poké Bar Presotea SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Starbucks Coffee Tender Greens The Bagel Factory The Kebab Shop The Little Gym U.S. Bank Branch Wells Fargo Bank Yogurtland Yori Tofu I've been to half of the eateries in the plaza: Tender Greens, Bafang Dumpling, Poké Bar, Pho Hue Oi, Presotea, Marugame Udon. There's several on or near Restaurant Row that I'm hoping to explore soon: Yori Tofu, The Kebab Shop, Board & Brew. I'm hoping Korean fusion Yori Tofu is here to stay; that spot has had high turnover in the past decade, likely due to its corner location having lower foot traffic. I'm mostly here for groceries at Hannam. Village Del Amo is becoming a popular dining destination, assisted by its anchors to maintain steady customer traffic. Its easy access off Hawthorne & Torrance Blvds. & proximity to Del Amo Fashion Center makes this plaza a convenient spot for dining & shopping.

P L A Z A The plaza…read moreis alright. There's okay parking, some of the shops are a little old but I suppose it gets the job done. There's places to eat and a Tender Greens here now. There's a good curry spot, and yogurt here. Otherwise just your average shopping center where you gotta dodge the people and the cars!

What's at Empire Commercial Center that brings me here? Glad you asked. Well, there are two…read morebusinesses that draw me in... Banh Mi Che Cali and 888 Seafood Restaurant. There used to be one more... Com Tam Kieu, but they closed down. And now it's Golden Delight which I have dined at once thus far. Anyway, there are a handful more shops and restaurants that are here in this center. I haven't entertained all of them yet, but maybe one day I will check out at least the ramen joint. There are plenty of parking on both sides of this center. They do get filled up when there's a wedding banquet or special event at 888 Seafood. Plan accordingly. Btw, exiting from this center can be challenging since it's on a very very busy street, Valley Blvd. Be careful of oncoming traffic. Thank you for your patronage and support if you deside to come here.

TODAY, years old when I realized the archway opening for this collection of local shops and…read morebusiness was its own little slice of Sherman Oaks. Ventura Collection is an mix of a handful of longer standing business, and with its own parking O-O including: Fantastic Sams Earthensoul - herbal shop Didar Kitchen (formerly Tamashii Ramen House) #RestInRamen George Timuryan - State Farm Insurance Agent (entrance in the parking lot and upstairs, the only business with a view from the top). Heart and Harmony Acupuncture Mantra Thai Massage & Spa Armed Forces Career Center - Sherman Oaks Green Nails - Sherman Oaks VIP Tickets - yes the place for major sporting events, live theater and epic concerts. and AT&T (which ironically offers a discount for active military, veterans plus their families). Lots of great deals, lots of good variety to choose from for business and services. Open during peak hours from 9AM to 9PM Come enjoy the selections at of this hidden hidden gem: https://www.yelp.com/collection/2VpfDlv2MQqWbj2xwT9wyw/Ventura-Collection

It's a shopping plaza with LA fitness, Ralph market as their 2 biggest venues in theirs plaza and…read moreALOT of small stores, shops, fast foods, restaurants, so forth...the parking lot is HUgE with small drive way through it very spacious and their 2 main signs are hung right on both Main Street so easy to see.

I'd recently covered the 50's and the film Salt of the Earth when in the same week I came across an…read moreexhibit of the same title in Chinatown! Welcome to Eastern Projects Gallery, an expansive space with a mission to highlight talent in the LA community. Super convenient to arrive to from the blue line exiting Chinatown. Parking is only street; weekdays are easier to find over weekends when you'll have luck in a parking lot. Do note the times or call ahead to make an appointment as sometimes the space may be closed. If you're in Chinatown visiting the historic landmarks, trying the culinary scene and shopping, add Eastern Projects to your list.

Eastern Projects is a contemporary art gallery located in the Blossoms Plaza in Chinatown right…read moreacross Bank of America. I have passed by this place numerous times while strolling down Chinatown. I have tried so many times to come in but it's always closed. One time I even waited over an hour because I wasn't sure if the advertised hours is 12 or 1. Someone had pulled off the #2 sticker by the door but no one opened its doors. Until one day, I finally made it and saw the exhibit "All Lit Up". It featured four of the top 5 neon artists to follow in Instagram selected by Los Angeles Magazine. It was a pretty nice exhibit showcasing the different styles of these artists using the same medium. Having neon lights as the subject of this exhibit, it would have been better if they seen at night but unfortunately, they close at 6pm. Or they could have put thick curtains or blinds to block off sunlight. Nevertheless, it was great to see their masterpieces. The gallery is spacious but it feels very warm inside as what other reviewers mentioned. My visit was on 8/24/18, a truly hot summer day. There was no AC so they had a fan running by the door which didn't help with the ventilation at all. However, I'm still looking forward to see any future exhibitions.

looked around for 20 minutes only to realize this place hasn't existed for over a decade. Fun…read moreadventure. Would recommend!

Mexican folk art at its finest. You'll find all sorts of goodies here that you'd probably only…read moreexpect to see East of Downtown or on Olvera street. Mexican wrestling mask, day of the dead figures and all your standard stereotyped Mexican crafts are fully represented and you can get them year round. Which is a nice treat. The service is pretty friendly and they do pack your purchases up fairly nice. So you shouldn't have an accident on the way home. Classy place for classic Spanish arts and crafts. Well worth stopping by.

Frogtown especially by the LA River has become one of our pup's favorite walkable areas. There's…read morealways something new to discover.The weather always feels a few degrees cooler and sitting by the water never gets old. First Fridays is a group of shops that span about nine blocks from Bauer Pottery to The Left Bank, ranging from food, clothing, books, art, dog treats, etc. Brick and mortar spots like Forager Crafts typically have a different vendor set up shop in their parking lot. The Spoke Bicycle Cafe is always open and a good halfway point. The event is free with plenty of opportunity to shop small, support local. All the participating venues are dog friendly. Parking can be challenging but mostly free. I highly recommend!