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November 22 2024 / 11:44 PM
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Discover Los Angeles
Los Angeles is offering all-new places to explore

Los Angeles is an ever-evolving destination full of fresh concepts and new experiences to discover. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning friend, the City of Angels has seen countless exciting new offerings emerge in recent years. Across the region, new places to stay, award-winning dining experiences, vibrant attractions, advanced infrastructure and more make up “LA 2.0” offering all-new places to explore.

 

Milestones

The Hollywood Sign’s Centennial

Throughout this year, the iconic Hollywood Sign will celebrate 100 years of larger-than-life lettering perched atop the Santa Monica Mountains. Originally reading “Hollywoodland” in its early days, the Sign is now an enduring symbol of Los Angeles as a place where magic is possible and any dream can come true.

Hollywood enthusiasts can celebrate all throughout the centennial year leading up to the official 100th birthday in December. There are many ways to experience Hollywood’s past and present including the upcoming opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ Hollywoodland exhibit chronicling the founding of the Hollywood studio system. Visitors can also step into Hollywood history with a stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, a martini at the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill or a show at the Pantages Theatre.

For spectacular views of the cityscape and the Sign itself, travelers can hike through the Mt. Hollywood Trail, Brush Canyon Trail and Cahuenga Peak Trail or even ride horseback on the Mulholland Trail. Visitors can also enjoy delicious food and drinks at rooftop venues such as the Highlight Room atop the Dream Hollywood Hotel or Mama Shelter Los Angeles with the Hollywood Sign as a backdrop. From past to present, there are so many exciting ways to experience the evolution of Hollywood beneath the century-old Sign.

 

100th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The beloved Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum celebrates 100 years of hosting major sporting and entertainment events as a key LA venue in Exposition Park. The Coliseum is an icon of the sports world having served as the home field for Los Angeles professional sports teams including the Rams, Raiders, Chargers and Dodgers in its storied past, and has been home to the USC Trojans since the Coliseum’s opening. The venue has also hosted two Super Bowls, three NFL Championships and one World Series, and is the only venue to host two Summer Olympics—soon to be three in 2028. Sports are not the only major events the Coliseum has seen within its walls, hosting concerts by some of the world’s most famous artists including the Rolling Stones, Prince, U2 and Metallica.

The Coliseum also plays a part in key historical events, dedicated as a memorial to LA County WWI veterans upon opening in 1923. Martin Luther King Jr. also spoke at the venue less than a year after giving his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.

On top of the incredible events that happen at the Coliseum year-round, 2023 will see additional centennial events in celebration of the anniversary. The year kicks off with Nascar’s Busch Light Clash in celebration of Nascar’s 75th anniversary season on February 5, with the Super Motocross World Championship on the docket for October 14 as well.

 

100th Anniversary of Warner Bros. Studios

A global icon of Hollywood moviemaking, Warner Bros. Studios celebrates its 100th Anniversary on April 4 with a year of exciting centennial celebrations. From fan favorites like When Harry Met Sally and Friends to masterpieces of cinema like Casablanca and Gone With the Wind, Warner Bros. will share the magic of film with audiences in special ways throughout the year.

Film fans can join the celebration through several commemorative experiences, including centennial museum exhibits and screenings at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a special 100th anniversary exhibit at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and a celebration of key films and major talent from Warner Bros. Pictures’ history at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. The centennial exhibit explores 100 years of Warner Bros.’ impact on storytelling, recognizing a range of classic and contemporary productions, including Casablanca, DC Comics, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Abbott Elementary, and beyond. Opening April 5th, the new exhibit is located in the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Welcome Center, which is open to the public, offering guests a photographic exploration of where it all began.

 

100th Anniversary of the Millennium Biltmore

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles celebrates its 100th anniversary with a centennial logo, a series of anniversary events and updates to maintain the Biltmore’s longstanding grandeur. With previous lives as a prohibition nightclub, Academy Awards venue and feature film set, the Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles was recently declared a “Los Angeles Historic-Culture Monument” dazzling guests since 1923.

The centennial celebrations will include an elegant 100th Anniversary Ball in October 2023, thematic speakeasy events, An Evening with Mermaids event, high teas at the Rendezvous Court and a soon-to- be-announced fashion show, showcasing the Biltmore’s impressive history, ornate design and Old Hollywood style.

The “Grande Dame” will also see a restoration of its original fresco ceilings and all new windows and fixtures, and the hotel’s entrance will return to its original location on Olive Street paying homage to the guest experience of the 20th century.

 

Hotels

Los Angeles has added over 5,000 new hotel rooms in the last two years with options at virtually every price point, and the city has also seen a boutique hotel boom featuring unique new hotel concepts. Some exciting new properties across the region include The Conrad Los Angeles, Fairmont Century Plaza, Thompson Hollywood, The Shay and Downtown LA Proper. New properties continue to open their doors in many different areas of the city including the upcoming Moxy & AC Los Angeles in Downtown LA opening in April 2023 and Kensho Ryokan in the Arts District, welcoming guests to stay across LA’s 30 diverse neighborhoods.

 

Emerging Neighborhoods

The Vinyl District

With a long, rich history as the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood has welcomed film-lovers and star searchers to its iconic landmarks such as the Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Theatre for close to a century. There’s a reason travelers are drawn by “Old Hollywood,” but the Vinyl District is setting out to breathe new energy into the neighborhood while preserving its storied past.

Situated around the intersection of Selma and Wilcox just blocks away from Sunset Blvd., this emerging neighborhood was recently named the “Vinyl District” as a tribute to the area’s long history in the music industry with recording studios, record shops and entertainment labels making their home on its blocks throughout the years. The Vinyl District has witnessed a major development boom, with several glamorous hotels reminiscent of Hollywood stardom such as the Thompson Hollywood and Dream Hollywood, new dining concepts from famed LA chefs like Mother Wolf and Ka’teen as well as venues that pay homage to old Hollywood’s music scene while spinning the latest tracks. The Vinyl District is about paying tribute to Hollywood’s storied history while revitalizing the area for a new generation of Angelenos and visitors, with a multitude of ways to spend your day all in one exciting neighborhood.

 

The Arts District

A creative neighborhood flourishing with hubs for the arts, award-winning dining experiences and unique shopping, the Arts District in Downtown LA invites visitors to discover an area rich with cultural gems. A haven for artists in the 1970s, the neighborhood’s artistic landscape today includes murals around every corner by famed street artists such as Shepard Fairey, RETNA and WRDSMTH as well as curated galleries like Hauser & Wirth.

Culinary experiences are also a jewel of the Arts District with a variety of restaurants opening in the neighborhood. Several have been recognized on a global stage with French bistro Camphor receiving a MICHELIN Star and Brazilian restaurant Caboco receiving Bib Gourmand distinction, as well as LA Cha Cha Chá, Girl & the Goat, kodō, Yangban Society and Yunomi Handroll receiving MICHELIN recommendations.

Just blocks away, ROW DTLA transforms industrial buildings into over 30 boutique shops, a weekly outdoor market and dining offerings including MICHELIN-Starred restaurants Hayato and Kato as well as Bib Gourmand award recipient Pizzeria Bianco.

Slated to open in spring 2023, Kensho Ryokan will turn a historic firehouse into a thoughtfully designed Japanese-style hotel, offering an all-new home base for experiencing the neighborhood.

 

Arts & Culture

LA’s arts and culture landscape continues to thrive with more museums and performing arts venues than any other city in the US. An exciting addition will be Destination Crenshaw, the largest public/private Black art program in the nation, stamping a 1.3-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard with an infrastructure project that includes beautifully designed community spaces, landscaping and newly planted trees, and 100 commissioned works by Black artists. While elevating Black culture, Destination Crenshaw will also boost the community through economic development, job creation and environmental healing. Key components will open this fall, with construction of the entire project slated for completion by the end of 2023. The Hammer Museum will also complete its two-decades-long project transforming the building with a new entrance experience, 60% more gallery space and an outdoor sculpture courtyard in March 2023. True to Los Angeles’ ever-evolving nature, there is even more to come for the arts in LA with the new NHM Commons wing at the Natural History Museum in 2024, LACMA’s renovations in 2024, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art slated to open in 2025 and an exciting revamp of the La Brea Tar Pits taking visitors on a journey from prehistoric times to today expected in 2028.

 

Sports, Entertainment & Attractions

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, a highly anticipated innovative and immersive themed land at Universal Studios Hollywood, just debuted on 17 February. This all-new, dynamic land is a visual spectacle of vibrant colors and architectural ingenuity located within a newly expanded area of Universal Studios Hollywood, sweeping guests into the 360-degree world of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. Super Nintendo World features the groundbreaking “Mario KartTM: Bowser’s Challenge” ride seamlessly fusing augmented reality with projection mapping technology and actual set pieces to take guests on through creative courses inspired by the popular Mario KartTM video game series to compete for the Golden Cup in a repeatable attraction with a variety of outcomes. In addition, the signature restaurant Toadstool Café serves a gourmet menu by Chef Toad including Super Mushroom Soup, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger and Princess Peach Cupcakes. Guests can commemorate their visit with a trip to 1-UP Factory for collectable memorabilia from apparel to iconic character hats and an array of plush characters.

Our sports and entertainment venues are also ready to welcome major events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games at new venues such as Super Bowl LVI host SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome arriving in 2024. The new women’s pro soccer team Angel City Football Club brings Los Angeles to a total of 10 professional sports teams, the most in the United States. With iconic teams such as the Rams, Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, Kings and more, Los Angeles is a global epicenter of sports and entertainment. The city’s legendary teams have venues to match with spectacular arenas including Dodger Stadium, Crypto.com Arena, BMO Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum celebrating its 100th anniversary this year ready to welcome fans to major sporting events across the city.

 

Dining

LA has also established itself as a global dining capital with 26 Angeleno restaurants receiving MICHELIN Stars across the city in neighborhoods such as Downtown LA, the Arts District, Hollywood and beyond. 10 Los Angeles restaurants also made their debut on the Bib Gourmand list, recognized for their exceptional food at a great value. LA’s unique culinary offering spanning over 400 food trucks to high-end dining experiences is a result of the 140 different nationalities that call Los Angeles home, with many cultures reflected in LA’s dining scene. From modern French at Camphor and Southern-inspired American at Hatchet Hall to European-style Gwen and contemporary fare at Manzke, Los Angeles continues to captivate the imagination of the culinary world, offering world-class cuisine from our ever-evolving street food to fine dining in iconic settings.

The dining landscape of Los Angeles continues to shine as The James Beard Foundation Awards announced their 2023 finalists and LA’s world-renowned restaurant scene is well-positioned for a variety of big wins. The diverse group of nine finalists include n/naka’s Niki Nakayama for Outstanding Chef, Bridgetown Roti’s Rashida Holmes for Top Emerging Chef, and Republique’s Margarita Manzke for Outstanding Pastry Chef.

This year, Dine LA Restaurant Week will be celebrating its 15th anniversary beginning with Spring Restaurant Week from April 28 to May 12, 2023. With hundreds of restaurants participating each season, the 15-day program showcases Los Angeles as a premier dining destination where Angelenos and visitors alike can enjoy more than 30 global cuisines across LA County. Since its inception in January 2008, Dine LA Restaurant Week has grown to be one of the largest restaurant weeks in the country with more than 350 restaurants participating last Fall. The program continues to stimulate business for the local culinary community by bringing new diners through their doors and reminding locals to discover the breadth of culinary offerings within their neighborhoods. From casual dining to MICHELIN-starred restaurants and longstanding partners to new crops of restaurants added each season, we invite everyone to try a new culinary experience during Dine LA Restaurant Week this May and October to celebrate this culinary event’s 15th anniversary.

 

Outdoors & Wellness

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Los Angeles has plenty of outdoor activities to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Los Angeles is home to Griffith Park, the largest city park in the country, with 400 square feet of recreational space and 50 miles of hiking trails that lead to some of the most spectacular views of the city and Hollywood Sign. Visitors can hike to the Griffith Observatory or even travel on horseback to experience the best sights. Runyon Canyon also offers great space for visitors to hike, bike and walk. The 106-acre park sits in the middle of Hollywood and offers several great hiking trails and a dog park. LA is also home to over 431 miles of bikeways, including the beautiful 22-mile Marvin Braude coastline bike trail connecting LA’s gorgeous beaches for a scenic ride through Will Rogers State Beach, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey and the South Bay beaches. Plus, Los Angeles is one of few cities in the world where it’s possible to ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon.

 

Transportation & Infrastructure

The Automated People Mover (APM) is the centerpiece of LAX’s $5.5 billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) which will enhance the traveller experience, give guests time-certain access to terminals and provide the long-awaited connection to the regional transportation system. This project is a key portion of LAX’s $15 billion modernization program, considered the largest public works program in the history of the City of Los Angeles. The APM is an electric train system on a 2.25-mile elevated guideway with six stations total – three inside the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and three outside the CTA. Los Angeles International Airport broke ground on the APM project in March of 2019, and will begin testing this year with a targeted opening date in 2024. During peak hours (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.), the APM will run nine trains, each with four cars and will be capable of carrying up to 50 passengers and their luggage, with a total of 200 passengers per train. Train speed will top out at 47 mph. The APM will be free for all users and operate 24/7.

LA’s Metro system is also seeing several projects in motion, including the recently opened K Line serving the Crenshaw, Inglewood and Westchester areas with eight new stations. Upcoming updates also include the Regional Connector Transit Project improving connections between East Los Angeles and the Beach Cities with three new stations and the Purple (D Line) Extension Transit Project expanding the rail system to the Westside. These improvements will help equip our city to serve global visitors with more efficient, sustainable transportation options.

May 15, 2023

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