Laguna Beach Vincent Ivicevic

Last 10 days of December. Yup. Just another afternoon at Venice Beach pier and this is how it could look like. A free event, every day between 4:30 and 5:00 pm approx. during winter time. Enjoying at the drums circle on the beach, or just walking to the end of the pier and standing on the center "echo circle" will be pure and simple fun. I think, Venice Beach, colorful, sometimes unpredictable, is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in L.A. It's a sunset you shouldn't miss. ;) Fernando

I have lived in Los Angeles for 5 years and it's time to be able to tell my friends what my top 5 things about L.A. are. The first one is more of a geographical, cultural note and the other four more specific on cities I love in L.A. And I know so many of your grew tired of L.A. or just didn't do it for you, I hope this list will bring some good memories or for those who haven't come, to start planning that trip! 1. Because it is California and Because it is L.A. Simply because it's California, more specifically Southern California, being in L.A. often means a big opportunity to go to places and venues close by or have some pretty amazing getaways. From Las Vegas to Big Sur, From Coachella to Burning Man, From Palm Desert to Yosemite, from Catalina Island to Mountain High… For five years this has been a continuous discovery journey in the perfect weather (I almost miss that one!). And L.A. is more than Santa Monica summer Pier Concerts (which I Love), The Getty Center, the Hollywood clubbing scene, BBQ's and art festivals that will just never leave. It's more because of its people, coming from all different corners of the world, finding space and venues to preserve their cultures and learn from others, exchanging everything from slang to food and drinks. Maybe that is a reason why within my closest group of friends I can count at least ten different countries and ethnic backgrounds. And it might have been enough seen so far to be able to say that I have good reasons to love Los Angeles and to be willing to stick around for another year… for now, in beautiful Culver City. 2. Downtown L.A. The real thing. Downtown L.A. is the only part of Los Angeles that reminds us the cities we grew up in - for those of us who grew up in cities like San Francisco, Bogota, Buenos Aires, New York or Madrid. Clean and dirty streets, busy sidewalks, old architecture, more brick, more stone, more concrete. Real buildings, a subway. To some, these are nothing but all the things you try to avoid having in your life, others like me, kind of like that "cityness". But there are a few specific venues you can't miss. Watching the Los Angeles Philarmonic in the Disney Concert Hall, wonderful acoustics, beautiful and inspiring design, and some of the most talented musicians playing for you in one of the architectural icons. The Downtown Artwalk, one of the best urban parties around. A source of inspiration and display of imagination and creativity in all shapes and colors. Music, party, dancing, art, and all of pretty high quality. This self tour around all art galleries and museums including the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), is one of the best free venues you can get in L.A. Some of the best bars like The Edison, will give you a unique night bar-club experience, entertained by actors, dancers and gymnasts jumping around and outing together small sketches all around an industrial, rustic and the same time modern space. Some of the best - and/or - craziest parties happen downtown, and other interesting spots like the Old Brewery for art venues, L.A. Live, The National History Museum First Fridays, The Staples Center big games, the Taco trucks, The Fashion District… Downtown L.A. is more and has more to offer than what you've heard. 3. Hollywood. Nope, not exactly what you were thinking and a bit more than The Wax and Believe it or Not Museums, specially if you live outside the US. Hollywood is entertainment, of all kinds. Free, cheap, affordable, expensive and super expensive. Inocent, funny, violent, skillful, extravagant or just random. From shady streets of homeless to multi-million dollar houses in the hills. From poverty to stardom, this city of dreams, illusions and stars has a bar for every genre, and a stage for every skill, so a night of random bar hoping could be an interesting experience full with discovery. Stuff I personally think you can't miss, The Hollywood Bowl concerts, walking down Hollywood Blvd. (and of course The Walk of Fame) for some people watching, attending one of the many Film Festivals galas, taking an acting class or go see an improv show. You can't miss El Dia de los Muertos in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and also Cinespia Screenings, also at the Hollywood Cemetery, and one of the Biggest Costume parades in the World for the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival! And there's more, just around Hollywood, the Griffith Park Observatory, is a fantastic hike and a great viewpoint of the city. And we could go on and on, only I have to jump onto my next favorite thing in L.A. 4. Venice Beach. Yes, of course Venice. Where in the World you could get that mix of people, from different paths of life and put them all so close together, so artistically displayed and so ironically harmonious. From Abbot Kenney's chic bars and art galleries to the rough, surreal circus of the boardwalk. Don't miss Abbot Kinney's First Friday venues for an open free art gallery self-tour. From being home to Julia Roberts to be home of … some homeless, in just a couple of streets within. From the Venice canals' old hand built boats to the surf boards all along the Venice Beach with the most perfect and aerodynamic shapes. You can go to the terrace of The Erwin for a drink and see the city of Venice or just sat next to a group of musicians jamming on the boardwalk. Maybe see the sunset from the pier. Home for Jim Morrison's The Doors and Charlie Chaplin's set for "The Circus". Venice historically a land of friendly and artistic people is always welcoming to new adventurers! 5. Malibu I Know it already sounds too good to be true, but Malibu, just 20 to 25 minutes away from other wonderful places, will offer you a completely different entertainment cocktail. Surf? Hike? Wine? Art? Yes. Malibu has all of that and more. It took me a while to discover the variety of activities that happen in Malibu, and they were so fun that's worth including this are in the top 5 attractions of L.A. Wonderful surf spots are wonderful weather you surf or not, since just watching some of these guys is always a good show. Zuma Beach is one good spot for a relaxing beach day, a run and some rock climbing for beginners - so much fun! Then you have little venues like Malibu Wines, for a chic wine tasting experience with outdoors seating and live music, sourrounded by green mountains. The Getty Villa Malibu is alos one nice little museum with nice gardens and views of the ocean. And just by Malibu, one of my favorite hikes in the Topanga Canyon, Paseo Miramar, or just driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, will offer some of the most beautiful ocean views of the coast. Fernando