LOCAL CULTURE
The 'Center' of the City
Many visitors to Los Angeles think that downtown is the 'center' of the city. As Los Angeles is made up of many different areas that grew westward toward the ocean, the center of all that's known about LA would be near the intersection of Santa Monica and La Cienega Boulevards.
Rush Hour
Don't make the mistake of asking how far it is (as in miles or kilometers) in Los Angeles, but best to ask how long does it take to get from point A to point B, and keep in mind the rush hours, 7am-9am and 4pm-7pm.
Tipping
It is customary to add gratuity to a restaurant bill as a tip for the server betweeen 15-20%, Often, for parties of 6 or more, the tip will be included. In a taxi round up to the next bill not requiring change, or more for good service.
Public Transport
Los Angeles area busses do not give change. Take singles with you and some quarters too, so you don't have to overpay.
What to Wear
Casual chic is the mainstay of Angeleno style. Tie and jackets are rarely required and denim jeans of the high end variety are acceptable almost everywhere.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Century City History
Century City was once the back lot of 20th Century Fox Film Studios. Due to the overwhelming budget of "Cleopatra" in 1963, and star Elizabeth Taylor's unheard of salary of one million dollars, the studio was forced to sell this very valuable land to developers interested in building a new city on the Westside of Los Angeles.
The "Flower Tower"
The "flower tower", visible from Olympic Boulevard, is located on the athletic fields of Beverly Hills High School and houses an active oil well drill. In fact, this entire area sits atop a very rich and active oil field, but all the equipment is housed in disguised buildings.
Movie Location
The Fox Plaza Tower, immediately to the left of the hotel is often recognizable as Nakatomi Plaza in the original "Die Hard" film. A scaled down model of the building was used to destroy it in the movie, as you see, it still stands today.
WHAT TO PACK
Clothing
To the surprise of many visitors, Los Angeles does not usually have extremes in weather or temperature. Summers are not as hot as elsewhere in the Southwest and evenings can be cool. Layers of clothes are best. Sunscreen and sunglasses are essential. Rain is not uncommon from late fall to early spring. Mid-weight coats and umbrellas may prove useful.
Cameras
You are the star of the show in LA. Bring your own camera (lights and boom mic are optional). There is a lot to capture here and post online.
Special Events
From the Grammys to the Oscars, to NBA championships and the Hollywood Bowl, there is always something happening in LA. Call ahead to get the scoop and get tickets to the event of your choice.
California Guide
If you have time to get out of LA, you may want to familiarize yourself with all that the Golden State has to offer. From San Diego to Mount Shasta, the most populous state in the US has a lot of ways to get away from it all.
The Basics
Don't forget common sense, acess to funds and a spirit of adventure, we can take care of the rest!