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Culver City
Area: West side
Overview: Over the last couple of decades, Culver City has reinvented itself – largely due to the renovations and revitalization of Downtown Culver City, the part of Culver City that you should visit. Culver City is located kitty corner – southeast – of West Los Angeles and south of Century City. The north starts from about Pico Blvd and the west border is Sepulveda.
Most people may not recognize or know Culver City. But, they do know Sony Studios and some of the greatest movies of all time produced by Sony, including Spider-Man, The Da Vinci Code and Sleepless in Seattle. Humongous billboards of the latest and greatest movies from Sony hang on the south wall of the Sony Studios lot on Washington Blvd. Right in the center of Culver City, Sony and it’s iconic tower has made Culver City’s reputation, “screenland.”
Founded in 1917 by Harry Culver, Culver City has had its ups and downs. For the last couple of decades, it’s been up and one of the more popular but still underrated parts of Los Angeles by the locals. The main focus of activity centers on Culver City’s beautiful Downtown Culver Plaza area on Culver Blvd between Lafayette Place (west) and Canfield Ave (east). Culver Blvd between these streets and the smaller streets that branch north and south from Culver Blvd, enjoy a sparkling, healthy and vibrant atmosphere. Trees line the streets, the pavement and sidewalks are new, crosswalks have large signals and activities abound.
A semi walking promenade, Culver City’s downtown plaza area proudly assembles some of the tastiest restaurants, local shops and the great, underused, Pacific Culver Stadium 12 theatre. All of Culver City’s plaza, however, seems to be held together by the historic Culver Hotel. The plaza itself has mixed smooth concrete and flat brick, a water fountain and bronze statues of Harry Culver – in front of the Culver Hotel. Downtown Culver City is also home to the Centre Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre.
Of particular note, see a movie at the Pacific Culver Theatres. Feast on a tasty burrito at the recent Chipotle or tri tips at Santa Maria BBQ. For trendier restaurants, check out Ford’s Filling Station and Bottlerock. Then, have some delicious ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. If you like a great pastrami sandwich, however, have a bountiful sandwich at Johnnie’s Pastrami a few blocks away on Sepulveda Blvd and Washington Blvd.
Those in the know will tell you that Culver City has some largely overlooked gems in terms of great culinary kitchen stores, particularly Surfas, and crafts stores (Stone Candles for instance).
You can cover Downtown Culver City in a day’s time. Culver City, along with partner West Los Angeles, which is northwest of Culver City, is a good vantage point for lodging because of the freeway access to the 405 and the 10 freeways.
Sony Pictures Studios Tours: website: http://www.sonypicturesstudiostours.com/, available weekdays, $28.00/person
Accessibility: Downtown Culver City is wheelchair accessible.
Parking: There are metered spots along Culver Blvd and the side streets as well as a huge outside parking lot next to Trader Joe’s and across Culver Blvd from the Pacific Culver Theatres. Four hours free parking there.
Getting There: www.bigbluebus.com, www.metro.net, http://www.culvercity.org/bus/bus.asp