This is one of the most beautiful and magnificently adorned churches in Eagle Rock. It began as a parish chapel in a vacant store and was subsequently moved to a private home before opening to the public on Rosary Sunday in 1941. An earlier version of the church, built in 1925, was located across Merton Avenue and was part of St Dominic's School. The church and the school existed in a single building for 16 years on the site where the school now stands.
The Hollywood Property Owners Alliance (HPOA) oversees the Hollywood Entertainment District and the Sunset & Vine Business Improvement District.
The HPOA works with Council District 13 and the Council President's office to ensure that residents and visitors are up to date on traffic, parking codes, construction conditions and more. The HPOA also aims to promote the Hollywood community as a whole. It sponsors the Hollywood Entertainment District website to help promote all things Hollywood, including tourism, the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the HPOA website. The HPOA office is located inside the Taft Building on Hollywood and Vine.
As the largest natural amphitheater in the US and seasonal home of the L.A. Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl has been a Los Angeles Institution since the 20s. Tucked into the Hollywood Hills, the bowl refers to the landscape around it, not to its iconic ringed stage. The shell structure was rebuilt in 2003 and the acoustics are stunning — even with nearly 18,000 seats. It's only open from June to September, but sitting outside among the hills makes you forget you're in a city of four million people.
Parking and public transportation at The Hollywood Bowl
Parking at the Bowl itself is quite limited and prices are steep. Most spots are tandem, so you don't leave until the person in front of you does. There are also public city buses and a few nearby lots with shuttles, but one of the best options is the Park & Ride. 14 parking lots cover the L.A. metropolitan area where you can catch a bus to and from the venue. Pre-purchase tickets for a lower rate, or pay cash onsite. Check all parking options and prices.
Getting tickets at The Hollywood Bowl
Even if you go through the Hollywood Bowl website, your ticket purchase will be directed to Ticketmaster which levies a service fee. Tickets purchased at the box office are sold at face value, but popular concerts sell out quickly. Best to arrive before the box office opens on the day tickets go on sale if you want to avoid fees, but the safest bet is to purchase online.
Types of concerts at The Hollywood Bowl
The Playboy Jazz Festival is a two-day event that's been running for more than 30 years, and is one of the Bowl's most popular shows. Prefer indie world music? Local radio station KCRW puts on a great World Festival series that includes eclectic artists spanning different genres. For a more traditional experience, the Los Angeles Philharmonic graces the stage for several performances throughout the season, as do top music acts from yesterday and today (think Journey and Carrie Underwood). There are even sing-alongs to popular musicals, proving there really is something for everyone.
Other places to visit near The Hollywood Bowl
There aren't many restaurants or attractions nearby because the Bowl is kind of tucked away, but Yamashiro is worth a trip for its sweeping views and Japanese setting. Their sushi and Asian-fusion menu is pricey, but they've been in business for more than 100 years so they're doing something right. The Bowl also has several food options onsite. Choose from sit-down restaurants like The Wine Bar and Rooftop Grill or have food delivered to your box seat- if you're lucky enough to sit in one. The best option, however, is to eat at one of the picnic areas. Bring your own food or pick up provisions onsite. Picnic tables surround the parking lot and are first come, first served. Meet up with friends and don't forget the wine! Alcohol is permitted in the picnic areas and inside the amphitheater.
Where to stay near The Hollywood Bowl
There are a few hotels on Highland Ave. that are walking distance to the Bowl, but unless a concert is the only activity on your itinerary, best to stay down the hill (The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel or Loews Hollywood Hotel are good options). With a Metro Red line roundtrip ticket you can take a free shuttle from the Hollywood & Highland station, or just pay the shuttle fee if you aren't riding the Metro. It's a great way to stay in the heart of Hollywood with easy access to the Bowl. Alternatively you can pick a hotel near one of the Park & Ride locations.
Insider tip for visitors to The Hollywood Bowl
Morning rehearsals are FREE and open to the public! The Philharmonic is usually tuning up Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon during the summer season, but call 323.850.2000 for availability, including top acts. Parking is also free. Bring a pastry and a cup of coffee to enjoy the best freebie in town.
Author's bio: Shelley Graner is a Los Angeles native, food lover and travel writer who has visited more than 30 countries. She writes for various travel blogs, including her own.
Located at the crest of Olive Hill overlooking the city of Los Angeles, Barnsdall Art Park had its beginning in the early 1900s when Aline Barnsdall came West with plans to develop a theatre company. When Aline Barnsdall donated the park and its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, she wished to provide an accessible arts center, incorporating and preserving the famous Hollyhock House as a vital component. The spirit of Barnsdall's intention was to maintain an active arts center for the community and to assure longevity.
Programs and exhibits became a part of the mission of Barnsdall Art Park, which is used by thousands of Los Angeles community members as well as visitors from throughout the world. The Community Arts Division of the Cultural Affairs Department manages the park. For more information regarding the Cultural Affairs Department, see its website at www.culturela.org. Programs include the adult and youth art classes at the Barnsdall Art Center and the Junior Arts Center, the Barnsdall Art Center and the Hollyhock House; museum education and tours programs at the Municipal Art Gallery, the Junior Arts Center Gallery and the Hollyhock House; theatre programs at the Gallery Theatre; and numerous festivals during the year that celebrate the cultural diversity of the community.