I'm a ride or die! One thing about the people in the Valley is that we've got that 818 PRIDE!…read more As kid (and young adult even) I got a lot of smack for living in the Valley but NOW, everyone who was once talking smack is moving here. Neighborhoods where you know your neighbors, parks galore, readily available parking, community events and boatloads of wonderful hidden gems. I also love to ride my bike around the Valley and there are plenty of hiking spots to explore! Great for families. People are generally more friendly than on the other side of the hill in my opinion. Yes, it gets hot, but we've got movie theatres and malls and community pools and more to cool down. The Valley will always have my heart!

It's the SFV! The…read more818 great... The valley Alicia Silverstone references as the iconic Cher Horowitz in the 90s must, Clueless! And Sun Valley (where the party was) has quite a bit Kohl's, the second location for 786 degree (super pizza) and a solid Grocery Outlet... among other hidden gems. The San Fernando Valley has got heart, charm, grit and gold... Full of kind souls... Young, beautiful, and bold and is the place I call home! I was born in Los Angeles near LAX in the city of Gardena and attended grade and some middle school all over Los Angeles county. Aside from the 1993 Northridge earthquake some of my early valley experiences were visiting friends who lived here back in the day. Venturing through Tarzana, Reseda, Van Nuys and Canoga Park (home of the famous Follow Your Heart cafe & health food store/grocer) which are also cities I've lived in since returning to LA close to 13 years ago and setting up home in one of the most laidback and still very adventurous parts of the Greater Los Angeles. There is so much history/herstory/therestory in these SFValley streets from Ventura Blvd to Rinaldi (Street)... Agoura Hills to the edge of Burbank... North Hollywood, Studio City, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Shadow Hills, Pacoima, Arleta, Valley Village, Valley Glen... Encino, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, Porter Ranch... the cities go on!! Cinema & television studios, gorgeous murals, unique museums, a melting pot of food + beverages whether, strolling around, sitting down or pushing a grocery cart about... Markets are good and plenty. Major brands covered... Target, Del Taco, CVS, Macy's, Starbucks, AMC Theaters, 2 Bob's Big Boy, loads of gyms. Family friendly, education is plenty, lgbtq+ inclusive + lqbtq+ spaces, vegan options for days, parking pretty okay on most days... You quickly learn to navigate. We've got the 5, 118, 170, 134, 101, 210, and 405 as our major freeways. Housing of all kinds and finding something affordable is a well worth find. Apartments, Townhomes, Condos, Houses, Studios, Guest houses, Hotels, Inns, Motels, you name it... We got it! Public transportation has been improving, but definitely needs more and more tlc. The metro G (Orange) as well as B (Red) Lines run the main show, but the city busses, metro micro and LADOT Dash go beyond. Scooters and Bikes are here, just not in as many accessible places as the main city. Have a nice dinner at a great restaurant, get take out, pop into a dive bar, find that speakeasy, swirl at one of the many wine bars or wineries... Laser tag, escape an escape room, see a magic show, explore parks, gardens and trails... Ride the outdoor carousel... Plenty to do and fun people to do it with! Grateful I have so many friends who live here, with a few new ones in the area as well. Cool places to visit, but an even cooler to live in my opinion.... Then again after 13 years I'm a little bias.

Wow! 'The City of Encino,' turned out to be an extremely upscale city. I have never been here…read moretill a recent YelpSFV Elite Event through our CM, Maddy M. I stuck around for awhile taking pictures from the venue's plaza which I will attach later. This city seemed quite generous with street and plaza parking. I drove here at extreme ease from Pasadena, CA. I would love to return visiting 'The City of Encino,' in the near future supporting more businesses in the SFV region. I love me all upscale cities such as 'The City of Encino

Welcome to Encino home to many residents including some famous and even fictional folks via Brendan…read moreFraser's Encino Man and the Larusso Family (The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai). This mostly residential community is also loaded with amazing shops, food and essentials from kosher markets to the super markets of Ralph's, a brand New Amazon Fresh, Smart & Final and of course Trader Joe's with that infamous how is this even a parking lot... but you keep going back for great service and solid stock. As far as cuisine for a sit down or take out you cant' go wrong with places like Tel Aviv Grill, Esso, Jamin/JamaFo and of course More Than Waffles. The familiars such as Subway, Chili's, Buca di Beppo, Fat Sal's, CPK and Benihana's are quality as far as chains go. The night scene is here though more low keep with a little more excitement in the "TarCino" area near Reseda Blvd in the form of Maui Sugar Mill, Dark Horse Tavern and Surly Goat. Encino is one of the cities I recommend for slightly lower gas prices as it's major streets aren't as rampant as Sherman Oaks or even Tarzana's half of Reseda Blvd. The Shell at the corner of Lindley and Ventura Blvd almost always has incredible deals and even neighbors two other gas stations with good prices. Good schools, pet friendly (including dogs parks), fair prices for cost of living and one of the largest parks in Los Angeles - Balboa Park which actually encompasses not only Encino, but the city of Lake Balboa as well on the west side of the 405 all the way down to White Oak. I worked in Encino for 5 years roughly at the still kicking BevMo so I know it well and still pop through for food, fun and the occasional shopping experience. The Encino Commons area is probably one of the larger draw in's as their are multiple stores of all kinds on both sides of Ventura Blvd for quite a ways. Parking is not too bad though residential like almost anywhere in LA is a struggle... watch for those street cleaning times during the week. Encino has a weekly farmer's market on Sundays between Balboa and White Oak off Victory that is worth checking out.

A MUST DO! A Free Thing to Do! See the Giant Wall Mural of Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale from the…read moreClassic 1939 MGM Movie Musical, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The beautiful mural was painted by local artist & muralist Levi Ponce & adds some beauty to the city's art landscape. It was completed in October 2018 & features a huge picture of Judy Garland as Dorothy in her most iconic role, The Emerald City & The Yellow Brick Road. It is located on the west side of The Theater West Building on Cahuenga Blvd in LA. Founded in 1962 The Theatre West is LA's longest running theatre company. Some of its famous alumni are Sally Field, Jack Nicholson, Ray Bradbury, Richard Dreyfuss, Betty Garrett, Lee Meriwether, Sherwood Schwartz, & Beau Bridges. If you are in the area or headed over to Universal Studios or CityWalk be sure to check it out. This is one of LA's Secret Hidden Gems. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have The Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've Been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like A King On A Limited Budget!

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.

Best. Easiest. Shortest and smoothest freeway in Los Angeles…read more Nobody puts this baby in a corner! The 90 aka Marina Freeway is a not so hidden gem for drivers, commuters, and travellers alike a pleasant surprise among the many highways, freeways and interstates that map Greater LA and SoCal. Connect with 405 freeway and find yourself on some beautiful scenic coastal roads to Venice, Abbot Kinney, Playa Vista and Marina Del Rey to name a few... Not to mention the California 1 - closest destination, Santa Monica and wherever PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) takes you :D Beautiful views, breezes and low traffic before hitting major points of connection - absolutely savory it. Hang ten or rather 55 mph (max speed) on California 90/State Route 90/the freeway of many names and fans. "I'll be your best kept secret and your biggest mistake"

Imagine...New York City...and a highway that directly connects Hells Kitchen to The Village. That's…read moreessentially what The Marina Freeway is for us West-Siders here in SoCal. A zippy efficient route from Slauson to The Marina...but covering far less turbulent terrain. The Marina Fwy is one of two sections of State Route 90. The eastern section, near Yorba Linda, is named after Richard Nixon who was born there. But listen, it's way east of here and we don't have Nixon to kick around anymore so our section, the groovier section here on The West Side, is the only part of the 90 that really matters. That's right, the Richard Milhous Nixon Parkway can eat our asphalt wake. The Marina Freeway is not the shortest highway in the world - you'd have to go to Australia for a run on the Chandler Highway to experience all .86 miles of that one - and for the shortest Interstate in the US - that honor belongs to the 1.06 mile long I-375 in Detroit. (Now, there's some seriously turbulent terrain.) The Marina Freeway's a tad longer than those, weighing in at 3.3 miles. When driving it, it whizzes by in the blink of an eye. But don't whiz too fast...CHP loves to lord over this snappy little stretch of road and enforces a very strict "55 or else" credo. But just as joyful as it would be to hop on a super-slick expressway that blasted you from Hells Kitchen to The Village, it is that joyful and more to experience our Marina Fwy. It slays rush hours like Kanye slays frumpy clothing. With its sly little connectors to the San Diego Freeway, Culver Blvd and Centinela, it's just enough access, without enticing too many drivers to drive it. In fact, THE ONLY BUMMER is...that it's so damn short. But look, if it was longer, it'd become another dreaded 405 or 101-like experience - and nobody needs that. Because it's so stealthy, you find yourself wanting to pull a U'y and drive it again once you reach the end. That euphoric 3 minutes of driving bliss (@ 55mph) is kind of addictive. To sum it up...The Marina Freeway is the driving-pleasure equivalent of a road-time quickie.

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.

Porter Ranch is a beautiful and peaceful neighborhood with a clean, suburban feel. The area is…read morewell‑maintained, and the views of the hills make it feel calm and relaxing. It's quiet enough for evening walks, and I always feel safe whether I'm out early in the morning or later at night. It can get breezy at times, but the fresh air adds to the charm. Shopping and dining are convenient -- everything you need is close by, from grocery stores to restaurants and cafés. The Vineyards is a great spot for food, errands, and quick stops.Traffic is manageable, and parking is rarely an issue, which is a big plus. The community feels friendly, and the overall vibe is calm and family‑oriented. I enjoy hiking at the Limekiln Canyon Trail and watching movies at the AMC 9 theater. There's also a big congregation at Good Shepherd which adds to the strong community feel. When it comes to schools, Porter Ranch has solid options - Public & Charter Schools as well as Private & Specialized Schools. Healthcare access is convenient -- Kaiser, Facey, and Exer Urgent Care are right in Porter Ranch, and two major hospitals (Northridge Hospital and Providence Holy Cross) are just minutes away. A lovely place to live or visit if you enjoy clean streets, open spaces, and a peaceful environment.

Come down today.. 10/18/14 ... From 2pm till 7pm and you will will enjoy a unique October…read moretradition in the heart of Burbank.. Between Olive and Angelino on San Fernando Blvd.. Stretching 2 blocks .. Beer tasting galore.. Beer beer and more beer .. Over 30 breweries.. Booths and people.. The admission includes lots of goodies.. Free tastings of beer and the obligatory small beer glass (which is the legal pour amount of 4oz).. Safe and sane fun.. And who doesn't love day drinking.. Parking is available all around the area.. The value for the money is good.. 5 stars.. Come down and support the wonderful work being done in Burbank.. And grab a beer.. See you there.. Biscuits and Gravey..

Awesome time great beer ! And yelp girl is awesome ! Food at wild carvery is phenomenal ! Worth…read morecoming down for sure!