Music, Arts, Sports, Restaurants, Nightlife, Nature, Festivals and More
By Shana Ting Lipton, About.com Guide to Los Angeles
The entertainment capital lives up to its title with 'places to go and people to see,' as the saying goes. Beyond all the great restaurants, clubs, bars, live events, galleries, and museums, LA also dazzles with its natural scenery.
Art and Architecture
The Southern California art scene has centered on the likes of such world-class creators as David Hockney, Ed Ruscha and Ed Moses. Our architecture includes the famous Disney Concert Hall, the Getty Center and works by Rudolf Schindler and Frank Lloyd Wright. Check out the galleries, museums and architecture that put us on the global cultural map.
- Hollywood Architecture and Ambiance Tour
- Shopping, High Tea and Art; Culver City’s Royal/T Has It All
- The Annenberg Space for Photography
- Downtown Los Angeles: Home of Art Walk, the Bank District and Artists' Lofts
- Downtown Art Walk: A Monthly Event in the Cultural Heart of LA
Healthy Living
We didn't get our reputation as a 'healthopolis' by accident. It's true that many LA residents, live, breathe, eat and sleep wellness. Thankfully, there are lots of healthy living things to do in this town--from yoga and Pilates classes to hiking and vegetarian dining and food shopping.
- Finding the Right Gym in LA
- Guided Meditation and Hypnosis from Marina Del Rey Based Universal Creations
Holidays and Special Occasions
Christmas in LA might not include snowball fights and going caroling, but that doesn't mean we don't celebrate the holidays in our own fun, unique style. From Halloween to Fourth of July, this city promises plenty of great ways to enjoy annual festivities.
- Halloween Events, Traditions and Legends in LA
- Halloween Costume Shopping in a Multicultural Film & TV Industry Town
Live Performance
Whether you're in the mood to catch the latest rumblings from the Indie music scene at Spaceland in Silver Lake, share an evening of jazz and fine dining with friends, or heckle or praise a comedian at the Laugh Factory--LA is packed with options for live shows.
- An Interview With KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad
- Fact Sheet: LA Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel
- Top 15 Live Music Venues for Medium to Large Concerts in Los Angeles
- Free Comedy Shows and Workshops in Los Angeles
- Rock 'n Roll Wine Pairs 'Vino' and Live Music
- Husband and Wife DJ Duo Synchronicity Rock the Playboy Mansion and Beyond
Restaurants, Food and Drink
LA's fancies for restaurants, clubs and bars are constantly shifting. The best of the best in gastronomy and mixology come out here to make it. So, there's an assortment of great new hot spots that seem to crop up often alongside some equally worthy old mainstays.
- Review of Oliverio at the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills
- Review of Vinoteque on Melrose
- Review of Breadbar Cafe and Restaurant
- Review of Miru 8691 in Beverly Hills
- Review of Westside Tavern
- Los Angeles Area Farmers Markets by Neighborhood
- 10 Restaurants With Unbeatable Ambiance
- Top 12 Wine Bars in LA
- Saveurs Gourmet French Meals Hit Farmers Markets in LA
- Picnic Boxes, Lunch Boxes and Gourmet Deli Food
Nature and the Great Outdoors
All the glitters is not tinsel in the Golden State's entertainment capital. There's a whole natural world to discover in Los Angeles as well--from Topanga Canyon and Rustic Canyon, to the hills of Mount Washington and Marina Del Rey. LA's beaches, parks, canyons and hillside areas offer locals a chance to take a much-needed time-out from their busy metropolitan lives.
- 15 Top Surfing Spots in Los Angeles
- Hit the Trails With a Dog Walking Tour of LA's East Side
- Malibu: A Day at the Beach
Classes and Instruction
Whether you want to learn karate or screenwriting, there is a wide range of instructional courses and instructors available and accessible throughout LA.
