Los Angeles

On View Through the Eyes of a Local

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It’s difficult to encapsulate the essence of Los Angeles, a city of vast contradictions, a place where the glamorous and mundane exist side by side. An expansive landscape, from sun-kissed beaches to the sprawling immensity of the San Fernando Valley, this is a city with endless possibilities. As someone who was born and raised here, I can offer a unique perspective and understanding of the city’s pulse, though it’s hard for me not to simply write a gushing love letter, considering Los Angeles is as much a part of my DNA as my own family. But as a lover of art and culture, I feel duty-bound to reveal the hidden gems of LA that can be lost in the mainstream. My aim is to highlight not only the must-see artistic destinations but also the cultural landmarks that are the heartbeat of Los Angeles.

Though I’ve promised insider knowledge, I can think of no better place to begin this journey than with a quintessential LA hike, winding our way up to the Hollywood Sign. This iconic landmark, celebrating its centenary this year, has undergone a much needed “freshening up,” as is the practice of many of the inhabitants it overlooks. In 1923, Hollywood was not just a city, but a lifestyle and an aspiration, embodied by the original “Hollywoodland” sign erected in the Hollywood hills by the Los Angeles Times publisher, Harry Chandler. Intended as a promotional tool for real estate development, the sign swiftly became the ultimate marquee for a town built by the entertainment industry.