Los Angeles: city of dreams and imagination.Probably no other city in the world during the 20th century has been the center of people's hopes, dreams and imaginations more than Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Even before Hollywood developed its glamorous reputation as the movie capital, visitors have been drawn to this southern California mecca on the chance that its magical aura will rub off on them. Maybe it is the city's intoxicating in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. mix of beaches, sun, palm trees, mountains and consistently mild climate. Others have said that it is the feeling of endless opportunities and discoveries that are possible in no other major metropolitan area. Los Angeles is a city that is constantly recreating and redefining itself, stretching the limits of innovation and providing a refuge for those who seek a new perspective on life. In the last 20 years, Los Angeles has emerged as a city that effectively intermingles diverse cultures. It provides a visitor the chance to travel the globe without leaving the city. Communities such as Chinatown, Olvera Street, Koreatown and the Fairfax District offer proof of the city's reputation as an international melting pot. Visitors coming to Los Angeles should be prepared for a multitude of experiences, sights and sounds. L.A. is a city that refuses to accept a simple characterization. Instead, it is a blending of elements that are uniquely assoicated with this bustling metropolis. The best way to grasp Los Angeles is to break it into five regions: Downtown, Hollywood, Westside, Coastal and the Valleys. Like a great Sunday morning buffet, it's best to sample a little bit of it all. DOWNTOWN Here's where it all started. Los Angeles was founded by the Spaniards in 1781 near what is now Olvera Street. Downtown has been buoyed by the recent development of high-rise offices, cultural institutions, unique public sculptures and sophisticated shopping centers. Stop in a City Hall, once the location of the "Daily Planet," during the Superman TV series. Inside the lobby is a holographic See holographic storage. photo of Mayor Tom Bradley as well as gifts presented to him by dignitaries throughout the world. One of the world's largest newspapers, the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Morning daily newspaper. Established in 1881, it was purchased and incorporated in 1884 by Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) under The Times-Mirror Co. (the hyphen was later dropped from the name). , is across the street and offers behind-the-scenes tours of its media empire. Downtown is a cornucopia cornucopia (kôr'ny  kō`pēə), in Greek mythology, magnificent horn that filled itself with whatever meat or drink its owner requested. of cultures. Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Broadway and Olvera Street stand as examples of the native lifestyle of L.A. residents. Los Angeles has also established itself as a major culture center and nowher is it more strongly evidenced than in Downtown. Near Little Tokyo is the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Temporary Contemporary Museum. Close by is the Wells Fargo Museum. Serious shoppers can explore the Garment District and the Jewelry District, where quality merchandise is sold at discount prices. This is where major retailers often purchase their own goods. The Music Center, frequent home to the Academy Awards extravaganza, offers excellent cultural performances. Tours of the complex are available. Just south of Downtown is Exposition Park, site of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum For board track racing circuit, see . Present use The Coliseum is now primarily the home of the USC Trojan football team. During the recent stretch of its success in football, most of USC's regular home games, especially the alternating games with rivals UCLA and Notre and the Sports Arena. At the park, the visitor can also explore the Los Angeles County Museum Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles, Calif. The original museum opened in 1913. Among its important patrons was William Randolph Hearst, whose enormous collection brought the museum major status among the country's art houses. of Natural History, the Museum of Afro-American History and Culture, the California State Museum of Science and Industry Museum of Science and Industry can refer to:
HOLLYWOOD Nearly 80 years after the first motion picture was made, Hollywood still is drawing those seeking stardom, or at least a chance to be close to it. The famous Hollywood sign, nestled in the hills above the city, stands as a constant reminder of the presence of the movie industry. On Hollywood Boulevard, celebrity names are etched onto the "Walk of Fame" sidewalk as a tribute to famous entertainers. Visitors wishing to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the movie industry can do so at Universal Studios Hollywood. There, the secrets of movie magic, including the shark from the film "Jaws," are presented daily. In Griffith Park, the largest urban park in the country, the sights include the outstanding Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo founded in 1966, is a large zoo located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Zoo, located in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, is home to 1,200 animals from around the world. , Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town and the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum. Now far away is the magnificent Hollywood Bowl, a world-famous outdoor amphitheater for the performing arts. For a bit of the unusual, visit Melrose Avenue with its eclectic shops and restaurants. Nearby are Farmer's Market, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is the official and world-renowned art museum of the County of Los Angeles, California, located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. , La Brea Tar Pits La Brea Tar Pits Fossil field in Hancock Park (formerly Rancho La Brea), Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. It is the site of “pitch springs” oozing crude oil, formerly used by local Indians for waterproofing, and was explored by Gaspar de Portolá's expedition in and The George C. Page George C. Page was a farmer boy from Fremont, Nebraska who left for California at the age of sixteen because of an orange. He had only $2.30. He worked as a busboy and a dishwasher until he had earned $1000 dollars. Museum. Of course, a trip to Hollywood must include Mann's Chinese Theatre where the handprints and footprints of celebrities are case in concrete. WESTSIDE Once a visitor has explored where the celebrities work, it's even more interesting to see where they live and play. The Westside includes some of the city's most prestigious addresses, including Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood, Brentwood and Bel Air. Beverly Hills is home to the most famous shopping district in the world, Rodeo Drive, where stars, Rolls Royces, chic boutiques and elegant bistros abound. Maps to the homes of celebrities are available on streetcorners for individual exploration, but scheduled tours are plentiful. |
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