Introducing The Hollywoods

If you move to Los Angeles from anywhere else, one of the first things you learn is that Hollywood isn’t just one place. Tinseltown might seem like it should be centralized in the vicinity of the iconic Hollywood Sign, but it’s really spread out in a number of neighborhoods on the northeast side of downtown LA.

The Hollywoods – especially West Hollywood, North Hollywood, and just plain Hollywood – are among Los Angeles’ most vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods, full of cool hangouts like restaurants, bars, locally owned shops and urban parks. People move to LA from all over the world to try to make their fortunes in Hollywood. They don’t all make it, but many end up permanent residents of these great neighborhoods nonetheless.

We’d like to introduce you to The Hollywoods – here are some of the great things to do and see you can look forward to in each of these unique sub-neighborhoods. We won’t have time to mention everything, so don’t hesitate to add your favorite Hollywood highlights in the comments section.

Hollywood – Hollywood at its core is a place where live entertainment reigns king, so you will never have a valid to reason to be bored if you move here. The clubs and theatres of Sunset Boulevard, which can dazzle the eyes and the imagination when they’re lit up at night, and have been a homing beacon of sorts for young musicians since the 1950s. The movie industry, of course, is what Hollywood is really famous for, and the Walk of Fame stars honoring famous entertainment personalities attract millions of tourists each year. As a result, most of the businesses in this area cater directly to tourists, selling tchotchkes, fast food and of course the entertainment of costumed street performers. Residential Hollywood is a mix of high rise apartment buildings, including historic properties that have been kept up in grand style, and smaller multilevel and duplex style apartments.

West Hollywood – With green building, rent control, and aggressive promotion of affordable housing development, West Hollywood is close to a renter’s utopia. It’s also known as a center of gay rights and culture, and the annual Pride celebration is a major event.  Cultural diversity is a hallmark – there is a large population of Russian immigrants in West Hollywood, and over 40 percent of the population is made up of gay or bisexual men. Nightlife thrives along Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevard, and all of the neighborhoods are walkable. Apartments include garden-style units with plentiful landscaping, towers with 4-5 stories, and small homes.  West Hollywood residents love their animals, so many properties allow pets. Buttressed by the Hollywood Hills with their fancy houses, West Hollywood’s liberal and creative vibe is one of the most vibrant in the greater LA area.

North Hollywood – With a more pastoral upbringing than its sister neighborhoods, North Hollywood is a center of resident diversity and massive housing development that makes the residential area one of the more affordable places to find an apartment in greater LA.  You’ll be able to find many stylishly renovated and redeveloped apartment communities with coveted amenities here, and public transportation makes commutes to other area cities easier. Development of an arts district has added to the cultural diversity of the area, and numerous local restaurants featuring the ethnic cuisine of NoHo’s residents mean you won’t have to venture far to find  great evening out.

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