• Our Top 5 Favorite Local Museums to Visit,Todd Kingsley

    Our Top 5 Favorite Local Museums to Visit

    From art and culture to nature and history, there are many remarkable museums around town. Whether you prefer a stroll through Huntington Botanical Garden & Library or to peruse The Broad Museum, there’s much to see and do. Read on for the list of our top 5 favorite local museums to visit.   The Broad Art Museum Contemporary art from 1950 to the present is the focus at The Broad Art Museum in downtown LA. Likewise, two of Yayoi Kusama’s immersive mirror rooms are on display, along with works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and others.   The Getty Villa Located in Pacific Palisades, The Getty Villa was founded in 1974 by J. Paul Getty and features Getty’s collection of Mediterranean antiquities. Likewise, the recreated Roman country home and courtyards are worth visiting. Just keep in mind that the Villa is closed on Tuesdays; admission is free but requires a reservation.   Norton Simon Museum   If you have a passion for French impressionist and 17th-century Dutch art, then the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is a can’t miss. Featuring paintings by Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, and many others, the museum also has an excellent sculptured garden for your aesthetic enjoyment. Open Thursday through Monday, 12:00 to 5:00 pm, admission for adults is $15.00, seniors $12.00, and children are free.   The Huntington, Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens   Simply a cultural delight, The Huntington in San Marino is a must. The museum features a vast library, art collection, and 120 acres of amazing botanical gardens. To access the library, you must apply for credentials prior to your visit, tickets for the Huntington range from $13.00 to $29.00.   Peterson Automotive Museum   If beautiful automobiles are a passion, this museum will delight you. Located in Miracle Mile, it has 150 cars on display, from vintage to contemporary high-performance and Hollywood favorites. Tickets for entry range from $16.00 for adults to $14.00 for seniors and $11.00 for children.

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  •  Where to See the Stars in SoCal,Todd Kingsley

    Where to See the Stars in SoCal

    In LA, it can sometimes be tough to see the stars. Luckily we live within driving distance of destinations where you can get your stargazing on. From Joshua Tree to even Malibu, there are plenty of places for you to take in the night sky.   MILPITAS WASH IN IMPERIAL COUNTY Milpitas Wash offers you a perfect getaway Experience-Just you; the dark-filled night and the great Palo Verde mountains obstruct the light from Blythe. You might also have one or two owls to keep you company. For convenience, carry along some food or snacks, water, and your full sense of adventure.   JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, RIVERSIDE COUNTY Lone Joshua trees, a striking rock-strewn landscape, and a vast desert oasis, Joshua Tree National Park is a perfect stargazing site in Los Angeles. Here, you will enjoy a perfect getaway away from the city’s chaos and light pollution and step into the awe of naturally dark clouds, serene desert air, and a tranquil atmosphere.   POINT DUME STATE PRESERVE, MALIBU Malibu gives you every reason to venture out and enjoy the star-filled canvas of a clear SoCal night sky. Malibu offers you a great escape away from the city’s light pollution. Even better, the city successfully implemented its dark sky ordinance last fall, making Point Dume a preferred star gazing site.   RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK One of the best things about living in Santa Clarita is not having to travel far for a stargazing experience. For instance, the Red Rock Canyon State Park makes for a perfect stargazing location. Approximately 45 minutes from Santa Clarita, it’s an amazingly rugged destination full of geologic formation. Just make sure to find a clear space with fewer trees to enjoy the spectacular views.

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  • The Top 5 Must-See Historic Sites in Town,Todd Kingsley

    The Top 5 Must-See Historic Sites in Town

    Regardless of if you are local or planning to be soon, playing tourist in LA is a must for all who live here. With a bevy of historical sites to see, we thought we would round up our favorites for you to check out. Venture out into the rich history of this buzzing town and discover the intersections of past and present. Historic LA Site #1 Eames House Located in Pacific Palisades, Eames House was built by Charles and Ray Eames in 1949. It has a glass exterior with large, color-blocked panels that give it its unique Mondrian-style architecture. You can reserve your visit for $10 to tour the exterior and imagine how the Eames moved around during the 40s. Historic LA Site #2 Heritage Square Museum If you’d like to learn about LA’s Victorian architecture and lifestyle during the mid and late 1800s, visit the Heritage Square Museum. Tour the living history museum and learn more about life during the Victorian age, the Pasadena Church, Palm railroad station, and early residences. Historic LA Site #3 Getty Villa As most Angelenos know, the Getty Villa came to be as a result of J Paul Getty’s enthusiasm for collecting Greek and Roman antiquities in the 1950s. The villa, however, was built in 1974 and featured Roman-style homes of the 1st Century AD. It’s an excellent place to observe unique architecture and a collection of over 40,000 exhibits. Historic LA Site #4 Los Angeles City Hall The LA City Hall’s construction took place in 1928.  It features classic pillars, monumental steps, and contemporary and classical art décor, making it one of the most significant landmarks in the city. Historic LA Site #5 Venice Canal Walkway A quiet and relaxing place, the Venice Canal has been a stable for Abbot Kinney since 1908, inspired by the canals in Venice, Italy. Visit the area and walk on quaint bridges as you awe the designed building surrounding the area.

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