Originally part of El Camino Real (The Royal Highway), a road leading through the great Spanish missions, Ventura Boulevard is now the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It winds through SoCal’s diverse Los Angeles suburbs: starting in Universal City, home to Universal Studios, and ending at Valley Circle in Woodland Hills. This main thoroughfare is home to countless boutiques, restaurants, book stores, camera shops, car washes, supermarkets, mini-malls – well just about anything can be found on the boulevard.
Southern California is known for many things including beautiful beaches and beautiful people. While many come to Hollywood to realize their dreams of becoming the next big movie star, pop star or model and to find the ‘good life', many of us are content with a peek into the celebrity lifestyle of the rich and famous.
The allure of Film Noir, those dark downtown thrillers have mesmerized viewers since they began in the 1940's. These steamy, seamy tales of hardboiled P.I.s, of good cops gone bad over a dame and smoldering femme fatales in sinister bars top the list of cult classic favorites.
"Los Feliz" literally means "the happy" in Spanish. In Los Angeles, it translates as an artsy enclave just to the east of Hollywood. One of the few neighborhoods in the city that functions as a walking village, you could spend an entire day hanging out in this hip, small corner of the city.
Hollywood Walk of Fame? Homes of the Stars Tour? Universal Studios? Rodeo Drive? Been there, done that. If you are totally over the totally touristy side of L.A., then you need to go east, young man. The Eastside of the city harbors some hip, eclectic, and fun neighborhoods often overlooked by non-locals.
When traveling to Los Angeles, many immediate points of interests are obvious: perhaps a stroll past Mann's Chinese Theatre, a visit to the Santa Monica pier, or a drive to find the best view of the often smog covered Hollywood sign. For those who prefer hidden gems to what's typical, the Fairfax District is hiding in plain view.
Beverly Hills is a town that caters to the rich, but you don't have to be a millionaire to spend a day like one. Put on a comfortable, yet chic pair of shoes and enjoy all of the over-the-top opulence and Old Hollywood charm that the 90210 has to offer.