Getting Away: Southern

By Stacy Morris

o one who owns a television set downright enchanting. And stereotypes of And then there’s the outdoorsy factor; or who has been to the movies both coasts aside, it is indeed an entirely an irresistible lure in January and Feb- N has not laid eyes on Los Ange- different culture — and one worth expe- ruary for East Coasters. It’s the sur!ng les. It’s home to some of the most !lmed riencing. Ironically, it’s the !lm industry culture that has made Los Angeles ground real estate in the world. Los Angeles may and its ensuing wealth and glamour that zero for approachable "ip-"ops-and- have the Dodgers, the Beach Boys, and also keep tourists away; the image is a shorts dining with hamburger stands some of the most extravagant shopping little intimidating to most mortals. such as In-N-Out, , Carl’s Jr., in the world, but it’s the !lm industry The Bentley-driving A-List residents and Astro Burger dotting the landscape. that has put it on the map for the past and their resort-sized mansions are Conversely, vegans and their ilk are well- century. From the opulence of Rodeo embedded in the scene, but the truth is represented via the juice bars on practical- Drive to the carnival atmosphere of the that the welcome mat is rolled out for ly every corner, ubiquitous yoga studios, Santa Monica Pier, we’ve seen the images visitors who drive a mid-sized American daily farmers markets, and health food of perpetually sunny Southern California model rental car, too. “Beverly Hills is stores the size of supermarkets. again and again. Most of us, however, actually a very welcoming and friendly Two of the most famously !lmed and have probably never penciled it in as the place,” says Claire Delacruz Soe of the storied districts of L.A. are Beverly Hills next vacation getaway. Beverly Hills Visitors’ Center. “It’s a and Santa Monica. From Top Gun, Beverly Florida’s closer and, if you’re like most town known for luxury and high-end Hills Cop, and , we’ve all seen Easterners, you’re well into the double dining, but there’s also a wonderful ar- the surf and the splendor. It’s a town that’s digits of return visits. Los Angeles is not ray of arts and culture here as well, and made for both showbiz and tourism. only sunny and laden with beaches; it’s it’s very walkable for sightseeing.”

54 | women@work Photos: Beach, Santa Monica Convention and Visitor Bureau; TCL Chinese Theatre, Margalit Francus/Flickr; Greystone Mansion Andrew HItchcock/Flickr. 6925 HollywoodBoulevard (formerly Grauman’s) TCL Chinese Theatre Must Sees below thefamous promenade istheSanta ing viewsofthePaci!c.Situatedjust vibe, celebrityresidents, anditssweep Monica isknownforitslaid-back hipster Set smackattheendofRoute 66,Santa santamonicapier.org (310) 458-8901 Santa MonicaPier Best PlacesforFamilies cobblestone pedestrian-onlystreet. collection ofhigh-endboutiquesona the shoppingdistrict,2Rodeoisasmall way up.Considered the crown jewelof Rodeo (nearWilshire) andworkyour lat. Forthefullwalkingtour, startat2 of BeverlyHills,andVoges HautChoco Brighton Coffee Shop,TheCheeseStore Nespresso BoutiqueBar, NikeTown, Louis Vuitton andPrada,checkoutthe known asTheGoldenTriangle. Besides and inthesurrounding 16-blockarea and diningexperiences,bothonRodeo neighborhood offers arangeofshopping well asthe!lmindustry’swealth.The are savvyenoughtocatertouristsas doors. ButRodeoDriveanditsmerchants few armedguards standinsidetheglass costs seven!gures. And more thana Yes, window thenecklaceinCartier’s 2rodeo.com rodeodrive-shop.com Beverly Hills Rodeo DriveandDayton Way with acircled starinthesidewalk. dozens ofcelebritiesare immortalized fabled HollywoodWalk ofFamewhere lure tourists.Thetheaterissetalongthe lissa McCarthyandWarren Beattythat Barrymore andMarilynMonroe toMe from iconiccelebritiesrangingfrom John checkerboard ofhand-andfootprints It’s thehistoricforecourt anditsgray Most visitorsneversetfootinthetheater. TCLChineseTheatres.com (323) 461-3331

- - - Monica Pier, amassiveamusementpark are free and open to the public. by the city of Beverly Hills. The grounds One a Cause the siteofmanyamovie( A longtimetouristattractionaswell griffithobs.org (213) 473-0800 Los Angeles 2800 EastObservatory Road Griffith Park Observatory Carousel, anationalhistoriclandmark. nearly century-oldLooff Hippodrome arcades, sidewalksketchartistsandthe contains roller coasters,eateries,pinball on stiltsthatstretches intotheoceanand ous !lmssuchas mansion has also been featured in numer ebrated and largest home in the city. The complete. To this day it’s still the most cel was built in 1927 and took three years to Built in 1928, the former Doheny Estate greystonemansion.org (310) 285-6830 Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210 905 Loma Vista Drive Greystone Mansion ment. creative process behindgreat entertain a widerangeofeventsthatexaminethe View thecelebrationoftelevisionwith programs spanningalmost100years. international collectionofnearly150,000 radio programming, thecenterhasan foremost publicarchive oftelevisionand gem ofculturalhistory. Considered the Smack inthemiddleofglitzisa paleycenter.org (310) 786-1000 Beverly Hills 465 NorthBeverlyDrive Paley CenterforMedia Best PlacesforCouples sive spaceandscience-related displays. free and the main building features exten since 1935,admissionhasalwaysbeen are especiallysparklyafterdark.Open panoramic viewsofthecity. Thevistas tory sitsatopMountHollywoodandhas . The entire 18-acre site is now owned and The Terminator Spiderman continued onpage Rebel Without ), theobserva and Air Force 56 - - - - - Greystone Mansion at TCLChineseTheatre Marilyn Monroe’s handprints capregionwomenatwork.com | 55 continued from page 55

Outdoor Activities a discreet Leonardo DiCaprio squiring Will Rogers Memorial Park a date. Spago has more than just star- 9650 gazing though: it received two stars in Beverly Hills the Los Angeles edition of the Michelin (310) 288-2807 Guide, won AAA’s Four-Diamond beverlyhills.org/exploring/cityparks/willrogers- Award, and has won Wine Spectator’s memorialpark Grand Award for !ve consecutive years. Pink’s Hot Dogs When this picturesque and fountain-!lled 709 North La Brea Avenue park opened in 1915, it was called Sunset Los Angeles Park. But when entertainer Will Rogers (323) 931-7594 was named honorary mayor of Beverly pinkshollywood.com Hills in 1952, the city renamed the park in his honor. The lush landscaping, shady This 75-year-old landmark proves that a The Intercontinental in Los Angeles trees, and banks of "owers make it the hot dog stand is not just a hot dog stand perfect spot for a picnic or a respite from when it’s a third-generation legend that touring the city. serves the blue collar crowd, college kids, Franklin Canyon Park and stars ranging from Betty White to 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive Bryan Cranston. Favorites include the Beverly Hills Double Pastrami Swiss Cheese Burger, (310) 858-7272 Ext. 131 the 9-inch Stretch Chili Dog, and the Mul- lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=14 holland Drive Dog topped with grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, nacho cheese, The park’s history dates back to 1914, and bacon. when William Mulholland and the Nate & Al’s Los Angeles Department of Water and 414 North Beverly Drive Power began construction of a reservoir Beverly Hills in upper Franklin Canyon for water (310) 274-0101 distribution. The park now contains 605 natenal.com acres between Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley and includes grasslands, Imagine the mouthwatering options oak woodlands, a three-acre lake, picnic of New York’s Stage or Carnegie Deli grounds, and more than !ve miles of delivered by uber-competent, no-non- hiking trails. The park is also home to the sense waitresses. Now picture it all in Sooky Goldman Nature Center and the sundrenched L.A. where showbiz deals Roasted red snapper at Spago Sam Goldman Amphitheater. are sealed over platters of Pastrami Eggs Benedict, Brisket on Rye, and Wild Nova Dining Lox. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, have fantastic soups and Spago salads, and their prices are reasonable. 176 North Canon Drive Beverly Hills (310) 385-0880 Accommodations wolfgangpuck.com The Intercontinental 2151 Avenue of the Stars ’s movie-star-magnet of a at Beverly Hills restaurant is as emblematic of Tinseltown Los Angeles as the Hollywood sign. Established in (310) 284-6500 1982, you’re sure to spot multiple genera- IntercontinentalLosAngeles.Com tions of Hollywood royalty at more than one elegantly appointed booth, whether Minutes from the heart of Beverly Hills Hot dog options at Pink’s it’s Norman Lear in his trademark hat or and a few miles from Santa Monica and the Photos: Intercontinental photo coutresty hotel; Spago, Ernesto Andrade/flickr; Pink’s, Chris Yarzab/Flickr; Will Rogers Memorial Park, zigzig20s/wikimediacommons; Farmers market, Santa Monica Convention and Visitor Bureau.

56 | women@work Best Time to Visit When temperatures start to plummet in the Northeast, it’s the best time to head to southern California. Late fall, winter, and early spring are ideal. Try to Avoid Los Angeles is famous for clear and sunny skies and summer-like temperatures for the majority of the year, but there are brief bouts of rain in early winter. It also tends to get gridlocked with an overflow of Will Rogers Memorial Park humanity during Oscar week.

beaches, this luxury hotel contains an on-site in 1927, is green sustainable and was For more information on the Beverly spa, terraces in every room, a 24-hour !tness recently renovated. It even has its own Hills area, visit lovebeverlyhills.com. center, and a heated in!nity pool. recording studio and a restaurant serving For more information on the Santa Loew’s Santa Monica Beach Hotel breakfast, lunch, and dinner. W Monica area, visit SantaMonica.com. 1700 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica (310) 458-6700 SantaMonicaLoewsHotel.Com Situated just a few steps from the famed pier, the hotel’s 345 rooms have the Pa- ci!c Ocean in their backyard. Channel Road Inn 219 West Channel Road Santa Monica (310) 459-1920 channelroadinn.com A 15-room bed and breakfast with com- mon areas, a private yard, and outdoor lounging areas. Crescent Hotel 403 North Crescent Drive Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210 (310) 247-0505 crescentbh.com Farmers market in Santa Monica

Photos: Intercontinental photo coutresty hotel; Spago, Ernesto Andrade/flickr; Pink’s, Chris Yarzab/Flickr; Will Rogers Memorial Park, zigzig20s/wikimediacommons; Farmers market, Santa Monica Convention and Visitor Bureau. This funky boutique hotel was built

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