Love the concept of this place! I hadn't heard about Graff Lab until my relatives from Japan said…read morethey wanted to see the big Michael Jackson mural here. It's an art studio that creates a safe space for graffiti artists to legally practice their skills all over the walls, pavement, ceiling of the garage, and just about anything that can be painted on. It offers public workshops, private events, and custom art services, aiming to positively transform individuals and communities through art. The studio is known for its open-studio format, allowing artists to work on various projects like denim jackets, skate decks, and canvases with professional materials. The website indicates that they are only open on the weekends from 10am - 7pm but I came on a Wednesday morning and the lot was open. If you're interested in painting or checking out an event, peep the Graff Lab website for more info.

I don't know what Graff lab is all about, but I do know they have a private parking lot and…read morebuilding that is open to have people showcase their talents. It's all dedicated to graffiti! I travel a lot and am always searching for graffiti. It can be beautiful art (and I do acknowledge some people just starting or some tags are not that but hey, you have to start somewhere!) I appreciate that this was open for me to walk around and admire these pieces. The play slide for kids, my 5 year old loved! The car, great addition! Overall a cool.place to spend a little time looking. Also, you jay catch someone making art (I did!) Check it out!

San Pedro has a wonderful Arts District. Me and my girlfriend love coming down here to window shop…read moreand people watch. I like the little shops and places to eat here. I have only been coming here for a little while. Its like a small knit community with Theaters and Tattoo shops here too. We like to have coffee here too. The vibe is fun here. Not too bad with finding parking. You should check out the Arts District San Pedro.

The Arts District of San Pedro is a strange little conglomeration of galleries, shops, restaurants,…read morea pawnshop or two, a couple of bars, a thrift store, a coffee house, a tattoo shop, the old Warner Theater, and various places that people claim are galleries but they are simply living inside of these business/industrial spaces perhaps creating their art inside. Or, maybe not? This area is basically defined by 6th and 7th Street, South of Pacific Avenue. Though one could argue it stretches a little bit farther in the various directions. There are certain art complexes in L.A., (say Bergamont station is a great example), where when you visit you will be confronted by numerous galleries that are open and exhibiting their various styles of art. This, however, is not the case with the Arts District of San Pedro. What you do find here, in terms of art galleries, are store fronts that are closed and are open by appointment only. Thus, the question has to be raised, is this an Art's District at all? For me, I look at it as an overall expensive area of San Pedro that was once a functioning downtown but has lost that definition long ago. Thus, the storefronts are simply a place where you know art exists but the chances are you will never truly see it. Therefore, You must see this area as art onto itself. So, when you go here, do not necessarily expect to see any personal creations of art. Simply understand that you have to believe that there is art in the structures, the businesses, the restaurants, and the people that are hiding behind the closed and locked doors that they claim are galleries.

I've always loved Santa Monica. The college days where the beach was the spot for after classes and…read moreweekends. Then the big kid job where I got my start at Fred Segal making money. Oh those days are long gone. The hub for it all would have been third street promenade and the pier. Fast forward decades later, it is nothing compared to what it used to be. Of course you still have the beautiful homes north Montana and so on. But mainly you think of Santa Monica with the pier and water. Now it's just a faded memory. The bluff park and walkway is still beautiful with the scenery. But there's the homeless effect here and there all over LA. The view is still beautiful. Then there's the third street promenade. Like wtf happened there. Stores have completely disappeared while empty storefront line the boardwalk. The days of busy shoppers and lookers walking by and restaurants with waiting lines to get in. Now it's like a ghost town with random shops here and there. Three blocks of shops and restaurants has completely vanished. You still have random shops open here and there but it definitely not what it used to be. Covid did have a big impact with shoppers now just doing everything online. What's the fun in that. But Santa Monica still has its luster. You know it's alway going to bring people in with the hotspot. The beaches, the pier, PCH, Main Street and not far from it, the Venice boardwalk which connects through along the boardwalk. Santa Monica has its flaws but the beauty outtakes it all. A nice afternoon grabbing lunch along ocean blvd and walking along the bluff to a fun experience on the pier and beach. Water situation is a little iffy. But everyone knows Santa Monica and will keep coming.

Gorgeous sunsets, salty air, and the pier lit up at night. It's the postcard version of California…read more But between the $3/hr parking, the crowds on Ocean Ave, and the aggressive seagulls, it can test your patience. Go on a weekday morning and it's perfect. Come on a Saturday in July and you'll understand the 3 stars.

This is definitely not my favorite Frank Gehry building, but it's still architecturally interesting…read moreand famous. And if you're in Venice, absolutely drive down Main street and see this. It's stunning. As it is now a Google building, if you're taking pictures of this wonder of architecture, security WILL come out to question you. Because, you know, Google cares about privacy. Theirs.

Do you like spotting the "world's largest" types? e.g. world's largest ball of yarn, world's…read morelargest picnic basket, typically strewn out around rural parts of Kansas or Idaho, places you'll likely never need to visit? If the answer is yes, then boy, this spot is for you! Although not officially named the "world's largest pair or binoculars," it probably could be! Good for pulling over, snapping a photo, and then moving along.

Wow! A beautiful and intriguing fountain in the middle of a small parking lot…read more The mermaids are in a peculiar stance and doing special things with their hands. Don't remember too much of those poses/statues in high school history classes.

Dec. 2011 review update:…read more I'm obsessed with this fountain. I might need an intervention. I'm in Malaga Cove Plaza every couple days: post office, market, coffee shop, cafes, gift shop, newspapers....recently I was there to get my hair done. I got to Malaga 40 min early so I could check out fountain photo ops. I was almost late for my appt.. Two hours later, hair cut & colored, I'm back at the fountain waiting for sunset. I was freezing. I was hungry. Should've gone potty before I left the salon but was in a hurry to get back to the fountain....(TMI, apologies). Sometimes in the plaza I avoid looking at the fountain. Resist. Don't take that first pic, you'll be hooked. A couple times they shut off the fountain's water & I felt a sense of panic. Withdrawal symptoms. I never check-in here. People will get wise. She's at the fountain again. Complete transparency: I haven't posted all the pics I've taken, not even close. It's embarrassing. This has been going on for 8 years. I'm exhausted. That Beach Boys song, "Help Me Rhonda", plays in my head but I altered the words: Help me Neptune Help, help me Neptune Help me get him out of my head. I've seen a lot of beautiful fountains in my day (e.g., Chicago's landmark Buckingham Fountain) but none so captivating as this one. It's got me. And there are no barriers here to keep people at a distance. It's so easy to use the sky as a photo backdrop, as water squirts & drips from every cherub, mermaid & dolphin orifice. Flowering trees surround the fountain in late winter/early spring. And Neptune, the star of the show, appears to reach for clouds & contrails. Sometimes it looks as if they emanate from his giant hand. He's powerful. I'm smitten. Another Yelper managed to capture Neptune holding the moon, well done. And then there's that pic where the stature is purple, captioned "photo class". Creative. And btw....about that fig leaf: Originally Neptune was not wearing one, which apparently caused a bit of an uproar as did the topless mermaids which remain. I'm guessing that today, almost a hundred years later, there'd be an even bigger uproar over a completely naked Neptune in the middle of a parking lot. So we've got half-nekkid Nept with the girls spraying water from their bosoms & a crazy lady taking pictures & everybody's just doin' their thing. A glimmer of hope: I'm not tempted to take photos when it's raining. Yet. But whoa, what interesting shots those could be. Uh oh

First time visiting Little Ethiopia, which finds itself located mostly on Fairfax Avenue with a…read moremyriad of shops, store, and other businesses. You can easily walk through the entirety of it in an afternoon and I'm sure they host community events and celebrate here too. I'm not usually in this area, so it was a treat that the Gintama Art Exhibit was randomly hosted here. There are so many options for dining here, so hopefully one day we'll be back in the area to try more or to get a drink from one of the businesses. We saw some shops selling vintage goods and a grocery store too. There were casual coffee spots, sit down restaurants that were banquet style, a buffet, and much more. Way too much for an afternoon and for only 1 stomach in that sense. Strong community feeling here as I saw the businesses owners chatting with each other and locals coming in and greeting them like lifelong friends. Parking can be free, but just be wary of where you park and READ THE SIGNS.

Back in Little Ethiopia!…read more This small slice of culture in the mix of Central Los Angeles with awesome eats, artsy beats, cool shops and bits of tranquility. My primary doctor is a short stroll away so I pass through and by a lot, but actually got to have a nice sit down post routine check up meal and go in for the frills. Rahel's Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine is a must stop dream! I enjoy them when they do pop ups at events for sure, but nothing beats an in person experience. Vintage Treasures and Repairs is a great vintage jewelry, clothing furniture as well as repairs shop. Cannonball & Tilly is a fun thrift store that encompasses a good portion of the neighborhood and 45 Three Modern Vintage Home is thee used, vintage & consignment one truly should explore with so much amazing art. Fun markets via Merkato and Buna, which both double as restaurant/cafes. Don't forget to enjoy the iconic Paradocs Coffee and Tea featured on Infatuation LA last year, and a personal favorite of mine. That coffee is 10/10. Open to all, teatastic teas, and good vibes for everybody. You'll discover fun flyers and/or posters for music nights, events, etc., Take in the greenery throughout and large sidewalks with a mid street crosswalk, for a very pedestrian friendly area. I've only driven over once or twice, but parking is pretty adventurous. I recommend metro or rideshare. And often catch the LA Metro 217 bus over from the Hollywood area over, which goes down Fairfax and even stops at The Grove along the way. Always a great part of the city to enjoy #SupportSmallBiz #SupportCultureinLA

Bixby Knolls has lost its charm over the years. Take a stroll through the entire Bixby Knolls…read morearea. Make a day of it. Nice area to walk around and get some steps in, however the level of self absorption by its residents has reached an all time high. More specifically, the south side of Bixby Knolls. Facebook moms and never ending "post-able" content seekers on every street. Residents hosting drinking parties on their front lawns. Summer and winter concerts hosted in driveways with liquor being passed around till midnight. Playdates where parents are video recording and snapping cell phone photos non stop, searching for that perfect post-able photo! Neighbors copying each other's home re-models and re-landscape projects trying to one up each other. One neighbor buys a new car only for 3 other neighbors to run out and buy more expensive cars....again trying to outdo one another. I do not understand what has happened to Bixby Knolls. Seems like a majority of residents have become complete narcissists and are constantly in a battle of being better and having more than the next person. Very sad to see the superficial bubble world that Bixby Knolls has become. Self absorption is only one example of behavior I have observed in Bixby Knolls. There are many residents here that seem to think that they should involve themselves in everybody's lives and business, even when it does not concern them. It seems that COVID has brought out the worst of these types. While taking a stroll through Bixby Knolls, on the west side of Olive Ave., between Marshall Place and Roosevelt streets, one resident actually came outside of their house and started screaming at me, "6 feet, 6 feet!" All because I was taking a leisurely stroll with a family member that I live with. So here, the screaming Bixby Knolls resident was screaming at me all because I was walking on a public sidewalk! WOW! This is a prime example of how a Bixby Knolls resident was trying to get into somebody else's business that did not concern them! This type of behavior can be seen all over the area. If you are a Bixby Knolls resident, beware of who you associate with. Neighbors gossiping about other neighboring families, resulting in rumors flying up and down the streets is sadly an everyday occurrence. Neighboring parents bragging about their kids. "My kid is better than your kid." Again, a sad daily occurrence in Bixby Knolls. The scent of weed comes and goes all day. Take a walk in Bixby Knolls and you will smell it. Live in Bixby Knolls and have your windows open on a hot day? You will have the scent of weed blowing into your house. Take a drive through Bixby Knolls and you will smell it seeping into your car. Those kids that were better than yours? Wait till they reach adulthood - you will know why you are smelling weed everywhere. Overall, a nice place. Beware of who you associate with in Bixby Knolls. Sincerely, - a lifelong resident.

I went to see this mural in Gardena a couple months ago. It was completed around March 1, 2026…read more It is located at the corner of 156th St. & Crenshaw Blvd. Look for Coe's Glass & Mirror building, it is on the side wall of the building facing 156th Street. Celebrating Ice Skater Alysa Liu's Olympic Gold Medals is what this mural is all about! She is the first American woman to win an individual Gold medal in Olympic figure skating since 2002, when Sarah Hughes won. Alysa also helped the women's team secure a Gold Medal. This achievement earned her a spot in history as the first time a women's singles skater won two golds in one Olympic Games. This mural highlights Alysa testing the gold medal along with showing her skating during the individual Gold Medal performance. What is the relevance of featuring her here in LA when she grew up in the Bay Area (San Francisco)? She's a student at UCLA, which isn't very far from Gardena. Gustavo Zermeño Jr, @gz.jr , is the muralist who created & painted this golden mural. If you want to see another mural he did, go to Kin Sushi House in Torrance. It celebrates 3 Asian Dodgers player surrounded with Sanrio characters (Japanese theme). Super kawaii!! Glad I was able to come appreciate the mural of Alysa Liu's bright shining moments!

Inspired by her gold medal win at the 2026 Olympics, LA artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr created this…read moremural in Gardena on the side of Coe's Glass & Mirror. For a lot people in the world - from professionals to casual viewers of the sport - the talented young woman captivated our hearts being unapologetically herself and winning the first gold medal for the US in 24 years in women's individual figure skating. For me personally, it was such a point of pride that she really repped the Asian community and Oakland. I didn't grow up in Oakland myself, per se, but I grew up in the East Bay about 20 minutes east of Oakland. She's also the second Asian woman to win gold from East Bay. The other one being Kristi Yamaguchi Who has a temp skating rink in my hometown each year during the holidays. Since I have a lot of family in the South Bay, I knew at some point I was going to visit this mural and admire it. I wanted to do it before it started getting drawn over by disrespectful taggers. Anyway, just a great place to visit to check out this mirror really quick. I had a coffee in hand while doing it and there are a lot of great eateries nearby. Also, as with most public works of art, this is free!