CALIFORNIA, EUREKA... I HAVE
FOUND IT!
BY CLAY
LARROY
When you choose to travel,
whether it is for business or pleasure, it is important to plan your trip well
before hand. Don't be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travelers let
their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your
traveling and spend the miles you've earned! Miles have expiration dates, so be
sure to use them before they expire. Often you can use them on items other than
travel, so check out your options and get to spending. When
you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Los Angeles, “City of Angels”
About Los
Angeles
A beguiling blend of rugged mountains, urban sprawl and beautiful
Pacific beaches, there's nowhere quite like Los Angeles.
Tinsel Town, as
it's colloquially known, has no shortage of glamour either, thanks to the film
stars who inhabit Beverley Hills, the picturesque suburb of Los Feliz and the
annual circus that is the Oscars. As a result, most of the upmarket clubs and
restaurants are surrounded by clusters of paparazzi come nightfall, while eager
star spotters brandishing iPhones are a common sight on the city's boulevards.
However, there's
more to LA than famous names, with suburbs such as Malibu and Venice Beach
boasting cultural gems as well as quirky shops and interesting boutiques. The
former is also home to the picturesque Malibu Pier, which has a gorgeous
organic restaurant at the end, and the magnificent Getty Villa, crammed with
Grecian gems.
The center of
town, in as much as LA has one, is a string of wildly disparate neighborhoods
that range from the tourist traps of Hollywood (with the Walk of Fame and
Paramount Studios) to the hidden gem of Koreatown. Once down-at-heel, it is now
home to vibrant bars, excellent restaurants and a motley collection of
architecture that swings from classic Americana to Oriental kitsch.
Just as
interesting is Little Tokyo, with its endless Hello Kitty posters and
fascinating pharmacies, many pushing the bizarre beauty cures beloved of
Japan's fashionistas.
A few blocks
away from the urban sprawl of Downtown LA is gay-friendly West Hollywood, which
sits right next door to ritzy Beverly Hills with its sprawling mansions and the
seriously high-end shopping spots along Rodeo Drive.
Burbank is home
to Universal Studios with its colorful theme park and Warner Brothers, a
working studio with tours where you may spot a star or two. To the north east,
the small, historic and cultured city of Pasadena is a pleasant contrast to the
brashness of Hollywood.
So, keep an open
mind and embrace all Los Angeles has to offer and you won't leave disappointed.
Shopping in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a
shopper's paradise with a great mix of upscale air conditioned malls and
boutique style shopping. Designer brands rule.
Key
Areas
The most famous
shopping street in Los Angeles is Rodeo Drive off Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly
Hills. Those without hefty bank balances can still go window-shopping at jewelry
stores like Harry Winston and Tiffany's or the flagship stores of all the
designer names, from Gucci to Tommy Hilfiger.
Melrose Avenue, between Highland Avenue and Doheny Drive, is lined
with 20th century
antique shops and trendy fashion boutiques. La Brea Avenue, off Melrose Avenue,
has more hip boutiques and vintage clothing stores. The Silver Lake area, on
the border of Los Feliz and Hollywood (Vermont Avenue and Sunset Boulevard), is
dubbed the ‘Soho of LA'. It has stalls and boutiques selling stylish vintage
and retro clothing.
La Brea and La
Cienega, south of Sunset, offer a range of interior design and antique stores,
many on a grand scale - you'll find everything from a rug to a chandelier here.
The kitsch shops
along Hollywood Boulevard, opposite the Hollywood & Highland Center, are
good for tacky souvenirs like fake Oscars and clapperboard key rings.
Downtown LA has
various shopping complexes and gallerias. In the Jewelry District (Hill Street
between West Fifth and West Seventh Streets), visitors can find good bargains.
The Fashion District is a real shopping experience - a 90-block mix of
wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers selling discounted merchandise.
Santa Monica's
Third Street Promenade is a pedestrianized mall that runs for several blocks
and is lined with shops and outdoor cafés.
Markets
The historic Farmers Market (Third and Fairfax Streets) in
West Hollywood has been selling fresh produce since 1934. It also has a wide
range of food stalls and small cafes offering fare from around the world. Los
Angeles has a plethora of smaller farmer's markets, good for organic picnic
fare to enjoy at the beach or portable souvenirs like jams, candies and
cookies.
In the Downtown Fashion District, explore Santee Alley, a kind of
open air fashion and accessories market place, and the Textile Area between 8th Street and Olympic Boulevard is great if you're handy with a
sewing machine and fancy being your own designer. The Flower Market at 766 Wall
Street is the biggest in the US and is open to the public at certain times for
a small fee.
The massive monthly flea market at the Pasadena Rosebowl
(second Sunday of each month) has over 2,500 vendors and is a great place to
browse and hunt modern antiques and bric a brac.
Shopping Centers
The Beverly Center in Beverly Hills is popular with celebrities,
and Westfield Mall in Century City is an outdoor shopping plaza; both have
branches of Macy's and Bloomingdales. The Grove is a classy pedestrianized
shopping center in West Hollywood with upmarket brands like Michael Kors,
Barneys, Stella McCartney, Banana Republic and a Nordstrom department store.
Its counterpart, designed by the same architect, is the newer Americana in
Glendale with stores including Armani Exchange, Barneys, Kate Spade and Ed
Hardy. In Santa Monica, at the far end of 3rd Street, Santa Monica Place is an outdoor mall offering upscale
stores.
REFERENCE SITES:
People don't live in Los
Angeles because we are tied to the same old, same old. We live in Los Angeles
because of the intoxicating energy of new beginnings that permeate our city.
Marianne Williamson
Experience life travel with those you love!
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