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Expat Culture Guide Los Angeles

Cinema

Arclight Hollywood Cinema is touted as the industry favorite. On opening nights and weekends the audience fills with industry professionals. The sound system is the best in the country and screenings divide time between the latest mainstream movies and Hollywood classics. There’s a restaurant and bar onsite plus a shop that sells books and Hollywood memorabilia. Ticket prices aren’t cheap but you are paying for the outstanding sound system and comfortable, wider than standard chairs. All seating is reserved. Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $11.50 for seniors, $10 for children. Weekends and holiday prices are slightly higher. Buy in person or online (service charge may apply).

6360 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles. CA 90028
(323) 464-4226
Other locations: Pasadena, Sherman Oaks (Tickets are slightly cheaper)
http://www.arclightcinemas.com

Grauman’s Chinese

LA’s most famous cinema, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre still entertains with red carpet premiers attracting the biggest names in Hollywood. The theatre opened in 1927 with Hollywood’s golden couple, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, performing the very first footprint ceremony outside its doors. Many stars have followed and it’s always fun to measure a shoe or hand print with a Hollywood idle. The grounds also attract numerous performers dressed up in Spiderman or Batman costumes. Ticket prices are $11.75 for adults, $9 for seniors, $9 for children. Buy in person or online (service charge may apply).

6801 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 461-3331
http://www.chinesetheatres.com

Vintage Cinema Vista Theater

Located in the Los Feliz/Silverlake adjacent, this one of a kind theater has lots of charm, history from the early 20’s and lots of leg and elbow room between the seats. $9.50 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and children under 12. Children under 4 are not admitted.

4473 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027-6043
(323) 660-6639

Silent Movie Theatre

The Silent Movie Theatre was built in 1942 and for a time was the only working silent movie theatre in the country. The original 1940’s art deco has been fully restored and the eclectic program is not limited to silent features.

611 N Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 655-2510
http://www.silentmovietheatre.com

AMC Theaters

AMC has more than a dozen theatres around Los Angeles that show the latest big movies. Ticket prices are $11.50. Buy in person or online.

AMC Avco Center 4
10840 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024 (888) 262-4386
http://www.amctheatres.com

DVD Rentals

Netfllix is the premier DVD distribution service. Their headquarters are in northern California and delivery is countrywide. With a small monthly fee, you can watch numerous movies and TV programs from all genres (no pornographic movies). Monthly membership plan beginning September 2011 will be updated as follows:

$15.99 Plan – Unlimited instant play viewing + unlimited single mailings.
$7.99 Plan – Choose one of the following

  1. Unlimited instant play viewing only
  2. Unlimited single mailing viewing only

http://www.netflix.com

Blockbuster Video

Blockbuster Video used to be the leading retail and rental spot just until a few years ago. As the Netflix’s new technology swept the market, the former rental giant has been slowly disappearing from the neighborhoods leaving just a handful that are still operating. Most stores have ‘All Access’, meaning Blockbuster also has rental video games, which Netflix does not cover.

The Hollywood store rents many titles distributed through Blockbuster and you won’t find these independent gems anywhere else. Blockbuster also rents the latest films on DVD and many titles can be downloaded from their website or mailed to your door. Used rental titles are for sale. Rental prices start at $4.00 a title plus there are monthly plans.

5445 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles. CA 90027 (323) 467-0481
http://www.blockbuster.com

Opera

LA Opera is the fourth largest opera company in the US under the directorship of Placido Domingo. Single tickets range from $20 to $250 and their website provides information on seating, productions, and a glossary of terms to study up on and impress your partner.

135 N Grand Ave # 327
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3018
(213) 972-7219
http://www.losangelesopera.com

Ballet

The Los Angeles Ballet has made its name from their Christmas performance of The Nutcracker. Season performances are announced in August.

11755 Exposition Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90064-1338
(310) 477-7411
http://www.losangelesballet.org

Theatre

Theatre Row on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood is home to more than twenty small theatres where many a famous actor started their acting chops. Productions range from the classics to the bizarre, from musicals to comedy. Many are award winning and most are critically acclaimed. Ticket prices are $20. The Theatre Row website has a list of all the companies on the row.
http://www.theaterrowhollywood.com

Los Angeles is proud of its Broadway. Located Downtown, Broadway has seven big show theatres and more than a two dozen concert halls and arenas. The big names play here.
http://www.broadwayla.org

The Geffen Playhouse is noted for its eclectic mix of premiers with many Hollywood actors taking the stage, such as Annette Bening and Laurence Fishburne. Ticket prices vary. Order online to reserve a ticket.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3021
(310) 208-5454
http://www.geffenplayhouse.com

Concert/Live Music and Arts Performance

LA Phil Harmonic Orchestra at Disney Concert Hall

Designed by Los Angeles-based architect Frank Gehry in 2003, this new home to LA Phil Harmonic Orchestra is the most acoustically sophisticated in the world. The exterior is also unmistakably one of the most eye-catching pieces of architecture around.

111 S Grand Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(980) 575-7099
http://www.laphil.com
323.850.2000

Music Center

Built in 1964, the Music Center of Performing Arts has been recognized many times for its delivery of artistic excellence.

Ste 201, 135 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3017
(213) 972-7211
http://www.musiccenter.org

Hollywood Bowl

One of the most prestigious venues in the city is the summer home of LA Phil Harmonic Orchestra. It is a Hollywood tradition to bring in your own food and drinks and enjoy a picnic with your loved ones on a hot summer night at Hollywood bowl with extraordinary music in the background.

2301 N Highland Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90068
www.hollywoodbowl.com
(323) 850-2000

Staples Center

The home of the Lakers also brings in a wide array of music lovers and other event goers.

1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
http://www.staplescenter.com
(213) 742-7100

Nokia Theater L.A. Live

In the little city inside the city, ‘LA Live’, Nokia Theater is the new venue that attracts all the party goers and alike for some good times and great music.

777 Chick Hearn Ct,
Los Angeles, CA 90015
http://www.nokiatheatrelalive.com
(213) 763-6030

Ticket Sales

Museums

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

At this biggest art museum on the West coast, you can witness a collection of ancient artifacts to the post modern and to the pop culture.

5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
http://www.lacma.org
(323) 857-6000

Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA)

Although it is a small museum which only takes about an hour to go through exhibitions, it packs a crowd with exciting contents.

250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
http://www.moca.org
(213) 626-6222

THE Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

Former police car warehouse turned museum in the heart of Little Tokyo was a renovation by California architect Frank Gehry.

152 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 621-1741

The J. Paul Getty Museum – 2 locations
http://www.getty.edu/museum/

The Getty Center Los Angeles
Overlooking the city and the Santa Monica Mountains, the beautifully structured architecture stands tall with the big collection of European art (and more) within. Check the website for exciting events.

1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, California 90049
(310) 440-7300

The Getty Villa Malibu
Educational center as well as the art museum, the gorgeous Villa was inspired by Roman architecture and the gardens.

17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, California 90272
(310) 440-7300

Grammy Museum

All the great things about the Grammy’s can be viewed and found and enjoyed here. It’s a music lovers’ haven.

800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A245
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-6800
http://www.grammymuseum.org

Resources

Useful links

Interesting fact

The city of Los Angeles is ranked the fourth largest economy in the United States compared to other states.
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