Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood

Further east (around VINE ST) than the Sunset Strip is where I frequently find myself to be- for a few reasons: The Arclight (Cinerama Dome), 24 Fitness, and Amoeba! (a great new/used all things music/movies). There are a couple more lofts coming into the area which might increase the crowd... You're close to the Hollywood/Vine redline also and if you want to try and escape most traffic snarls try dodging onto streets like DeLongepre/Franklin- though I confess, during rush hour it's just plain annoying. But once you find your sidestreets and where exactly to cut over it'll be much easier. For instance coming over the hill I take Barham/Cahuenga Pass, turn Left over the bridge and right onto Cahuenga. Do NOT take Highland and then I zag over to Vine. Much faster. Anyway, I have fun on this street. There's also a Baja Fresh and a few hip eateries. I usually can find street parking, but again, read the signs! And don't be afraid to walk a few blocks or take the redline into town. Why not?! The vibe of the street is typical urban with a dash of "hipster". Pretty much it has everything. It just needs a few art galleries and high priced shops-- but it's the quieter side of the touristy Sunset/Hollywood Blvd mecca west of it, and presses more on the fringes of the more authentic and urban Hollywood to the east.

If you are looking for LA nightlife in between the 405 and Hollywood, then Sunset Blvd is where you want to be. The famous Sunset Strip is here, along with a number of famous clubs (such as the Whiskey A-go-go), the Sunset Mall, a huge Guitar Center store, and a number of other reasons to visit. Towards the eastern end you are pretty much in the center of the Hollywood tourist areas. So whether you're a single out clubbing or a family on vacation, Sunset Blvd is a place you will have to go in LA.

However, if you have lived in the are for more than a week, you will have learned that there are certain times of day you just don't want to have to be on that Sunset, or any of the streets that run parallel to it. During commuter hours the street is a mess. And so are Hollywood Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, and Wilshire Blvd (the nearest main thoroughfares going in the same direction). It will take you an hour to go five miles during rush hour traffic. So I advise not trying to run your errands from either 6am-9am or 5pm-8pm. Any other time of day though is not so bad.