Welcome to The Village At Sherman Oaks on Ventura Blvd, not to be confused with The Village At…read moreSherman Oaks - Retirement Homes of the same name. This beautiful stretch of Ventura Blvd (as well as part of Van Nuys Blvd) encompasses the heart of the Oaks. From health, fitness and wellness to shopping, services, entertainment and all the eats. I've been a local for many years and enjoy walks through this very pedestrian friendly area. You can find metered parking along Ventura Blvd, parking with some daytime restrictions on side and back streets like Dickens Street on the south side of Ventura and Moorpark Street on the north. There are some paid private lot, with a main hub behind Midici's - The Neapolitan Pizza Company as well as the La Reina Place (old theater style building) off Cedros Avenue. Some of my personal go to favorites are: O'cado - the wine bar + restaurant (100% vegan, 10,000% amazing). Lemon Zest - those Mediterranean style wraps are perfect at this location. Mr. Furley's - the gastropub w/ amazing happy hour deals. The Standard Design Group plant store. House of Intuition #YourIntuitionLeadYourHere Daisy - the cocktail bar meets restaurant is growing on me though much like On the Thirty has great everything, but very much on the pricey side. New York Bagel Cafe American Vintage - secondhand store U.S. Bank for in person or those ATM needs. VeStation and numerous other on the main Ventura Blvd side. For Van Nuys Blvd, we appreciate our local saloon meets dive bar The Pineapple Saloon and those awesome cocktails, craft brew selection, sweet potatoes fries and they way they do their Impossible Burger 10/10. Best Buys, because there are not many left and this one has a unique design w/ a main ground floor and a lower level floor for it's games, appliances and various services. Starbucks, because this one is stylish, chic and always on point. I appreciate Gelson's for what it brings, but not for those prices... If I can get the same things at Whole Foods for several dollars less, you're the problem lol... That salad bar and bakery are stellar, not to mention backside parking lot w/ a second entrance. You're definitely paying for the experience. Love the annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair that happens in the fall every year (typically September/October). They shut down a stretch of Ventura Blvd for a Sunday Funday with incredible vendors, performances, giveaways and some attractions. The Village at S.O. brings a unique mixture of local in all the ways from it's great businesses, offerings and festive fun. It's a great place for everyone and one I enjoy often.

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.

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.

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

Nothing brings back nostalgia from the undergrad years quite like setting foot in Westwood Village…read more This place has many things to make a college kid's evening: two hookah bars (I'd chose Gypsy's over Habibi's), a plethora of food and coffee options, a theater, and plenty of shops for just about anything you'd need. This place is clean and safe. It's great to stop by and have lunch or dinner, or meet with friends for coffee. My personal favorite places here: In N Out (of course!), Coffee Bean, and Gypsy's. I've never really hung out at any of the bars here, but they get popping and are frequented by mainly undergrad students. Parking is plenty, but harder to get along Gayley where In N Out sits. The structures are a sure bet if you don't mind the walk.

Westwood Village is a quaint, little area in the vicinity of UCLA, so there are plenty of students…read moreever-present. There are some tree-lined streets with theaters and lots of restaurants, both chain and independently owned. One thing that I really like is that the Village is very pedestrian-friendly, and much of the area is quite walkable. So you can park your car at one locale and stroll to many places within just a few blocks. parking - several garages/lots, metered street parking which is free after 7 or 8PM, depending on location.

Malibu Canyon Road, also known as State Route 2, offers a scenic journey through the Santa Monica…read moreMountains, connecting the San Fernando Valley to Malibu. The winding road takes you through rolling hills, towering mountains, and lush canyons, offering captivating views at every turn. Just a word of caution: Be prepared for unpredictable traffic, especially on weekends and holidays. Also be sure to check the weather conditions beforehand, as heavy rain or fog can significantly impact visibility, or even worse, landslides. And another thing to consider, there are limited amenities along the way aside from a few gas stations and trailheads,

Even after 20 years or so first experiencing driving through Malibu Canyon and Malibu Canyon Road,…read moreI still get a thrill going through this area and popping out from this winding narrow pass to the gorgeous views of the mountains surrounding Malibu and the Pacific Ocean. And just the opposite is true, too. I purposely cut off of PCH and head up into this canyon leaving the water views and the open sky to feel the exhilaration of driving through this curvy passage up through this canyon and eventually hitting Lost Hills onto the 101 Freeway. I freaking love it! If you go through here, get out of your car and into any one of the many turnouts available for people like me who just want to take it all in and enjoy the magnitude of the mountain that was cut through to be able to get to the other side. You will either to reach the San Fernando Valley going back south or go down into the Conejo Valley heading north. It's still a breathtaking, awe-inspiring ride through Malibu Canyon to me.

Los Angeles Chinatown is a hybrid of classic Cantonese Chinatown, commercialized China Town, new…read moreimmigrant South East Asian, Vietnamese Asian Town and the new rejuvenation of "Hipster" elements, a modernization and removal of antiquated tradition. Chinatowns were originally Chinese Ghettos, the designated regions where White America would allow Chinese laborers (and subsequently their families) to live. Typically undesirable lower socioeconomic regions. It became commercialized in the late 1960's through the 1970's as a tourist attraction, a cultural curiosity of sort. New York and San Francisco had, has and have a more "authentic" if there is such a description "Chinatown" with East/West coast snobbery towards those Cities over Los Angeles' C-Town. Chinatown is still kind of dirty 'tho, much as New York's and San Francisco's that on a hot humid day you can smell the overrun of sewage stench along the curbs of the streets. It's not quite as filthy as Seattle and Honolulu Hawaii's Chinatown 'tho. Parking can be difficult, but they have ample paid parking lots, and is also off of a public metro transit system. It's nearby Little Tokyo (aka Japantown) as well as kind of close to Dodger's Stadium, Downtown LA, Crypto (aka Staples) Centger, LA Live, the Financial District, the Garment District, etc. So, as a tourist or local running errands, there's many stops along the way and perripherally adjacent. If you crave Chinese Food however, I'd recommend the SGV San Gabriel Valley or The OC, Orange County area of Irvine as great alternatives or greater destinations for dining. If it's visiting something historic, this Chinatown is gritty and a nice experience during the day. The nightlife is mediocre, 'tho if you're driving and want food past 11pm, Chinatown has some really good eats! There is a "Bruce Lee" statue for a photo op for visitors as well as a sitting statue of Sun Yat Sen in the townsquare area. Golden Dragon Restaurant is a good place for authentic Dim Sum. There's an annual Chinese New Year Parade (Lunar New Year, typically sometime in Jan-Feb annually) held here too.

THIS IS CHINATOWN?! (3 stars)…read more Not going to lie, I'm use to San Francisco's Chinatown so coming here it was like "this is Chinatown?" It's really rundown and I feel could have potential is the right businesses and attractions were put in place. 1) if was so easy to find parking - yes, in LA, and in a Chinatown. 2) the streets were empty with a few local elderly walking around but packed in areas where there were groceries being sold 3) not many attractions to look at. I kind of felt sad for this part of down. It has a great view of downtown LA and prime for development but it feels like a washed up and forgotten area.

One of the most vibrant food spots in the city. Awesome night spot with people walking the block…read moreand outdoor eating. Interesting shops. One of my favorite streets in LA. Seems safe. Save time for parking. So many choices for food and desert close together within walking. Go to dinner at one spot and desert at another.

I'm originally from Japan. When I need to buy or eat anything Japanese, I always go to Sawtelle…read moreinstead of Little Tokyo in downtown. You can find virtually anything Japanese you want in Sawtelle. It's easy to find parking and often free parking. It feels so much safer than downtown. My two most frequent businesses, Daiso and Nijiya Market, are in the same building. Right across the street from that building is another small strip mall with many restaurants. I highly recommend that you visit Sawtelle if you haven't already to experience Japan while in Southern California.

Let's start off with a true fun fact about this community that is highly diverse ethically and is…read morean example of complexity to others. See what I did there, LoL! Besides that it's also known for 24/7 economy and spas and if that's your jam then you need to come get it man! For us foodies it's a paradise of the late night coffee shops, restaurants and Oh Yeah them sweet dessert shops! Yes I know parking can be an issue but that's an easy fix if you come early and make a day trip out of it. And yeah some people make that complaint of homeless and the streets are dirty but you know what, it's OG and that's what's up because it keeps on thriving. And I say this. I drive on her streets cause she's my companion, I walk her streets cause she knows who I am. It's the city I use to live in, the City of Angels, we were once lonely and together now we never cry. No judgment here like some other cities in deep orange and no worrying about labels and what you look like. That's how it should be, a place where you can be you and not looked down upon. Mix that up with amazing food and a fire nightlife and you have yourself this very special place. I'm not writing this because I grew up here I'm just stating the facts! And that's my take on it, Peace out my peeps...

Nothing beats the magic of LA's KTown…read more Koreatown is a neighborhood bordering Downtown LA as well as Mid-Wilshire, Hollywood and so many other get areas in Los Angeles. It resides in the central east side of town with amazing eateries, siperies, bars, taverns and even music venues like the iconic Wiltern theater off Wilshire/Vermont. You can access public transit via LA Metro, LADOT DASH and it's very own D/Purple Line and B/Red line - though the Purple Line is being extended and serviced the early half of the summer. Driving is still fairly easy, though traffic is extra real during the day and early evening. Loads of scooters, bikes and of course ride share in the area. One of my favorite places to eat is still Monty's Good Burger on Western Avenue between 5th and 6th. Which is also next to Franks and Hanks dive bar and The Artist Tree, both places I support. Discover a ton of karaoke popular spots off 8th like Rosen Karaoke or karaoke w/ cocktails, video games, vendors, patio fun and dancing at the speakeasy Break Room 86, located on the side of The LINE LA hotel off Ardmore Avenue/Wilshire Blvd just across from the Wilshire/Normandie Metro Station. Do K-BBQ at Baekjeong, now on 8th and a local favorite of my favorite k-town human Sarah S. Take in historical buildings, admire the new huge apartment buildings, support small grocers and markets. Get the big essentials at your local Jon's, Ralphs, Vons and of course H Mart. Good bars, fun shopping, magical eats, city scenery the glam and the gritty. Reading at your local Pio Pico Koreatown Branch Library is fundamental as well as at local mom & pop bookshops and stores like SeJong or Happy Bookstore, both on Western Diversity, culture, art, in a foodie and walkable slice of flavor where local meets tourist in this melting pot inspired and thriving with Korean and Asian Culture. It's not the most cost affordable area with so many lavish buildings popping up monthly if not weekly, but it's still KTown at its core. There's nearly two doesn't schools including the Southwestern Law School and the Wilshire Private School (formerly Wilshire Elementary among other names). Festivals and gathering throughout the year especially for major holidays like Korean New Year and Chinese New Year both also often referred to as Lunar New Year in many parts of the world. What is LA if not a city blended of all kinds of people learning, growing and thriving as best they can. Koreatown is without a doubt a huge part of that.