I read about Lilley Hall decorations and the Halloween spirit in Toluca Lake area for years! In…read more2020, the pandemic year that gave us less activities and made me look around for new ones that I didn't get to do when we were spoiled with many choices. Toluca Lake is a beautiful neighborhood very close by us, so we drove around Moorpark and Mariota, parked and walked around. We felt like kids admiring the houses decorated for Halloween with music, animatronics, Vintage figurines, all breathtaking. So grateful to find joy during a pandemic, so close by in the Valley! I was grateful to everyone for putting us in the holliday spirit! The Lilley Hall aka Pumpkin House stood out - The Tudor style is impressive, the details, the decorations. Trick and treating here for kids should be so much fun! This year I head from a friend that she went to Lilley Hall and the X-mas decor was fantastic. I took visitors from out of town and everyone was thrilled to check it out! There is a choir composed by figurines and you can hear carols while looking around. The Lilley Hall was named after Joseph J. Lilley, music director for Paramount, did the score for "White Christmas", who lived here. The new owners are nice and welcoming and start the festivities after Thanksgiving. Check out their Instagram page for updates! I appreciate their work, dedication and generous spirit! The place is fairy tale like, ready to put you in the holiday spirit. Park around and walk, be respectful and enjoy the sights. We are lucky to have it so close. Many people who live around worked for the studios so they also go out with decortions for the season! Free activity you can do at your leisure in LA, off the beaten path that will make your holidays more joyful! Lilley Hall is a magical place!

There isn't much for me to add, given that other Yelpers offered impressive details as to the…read morehistory of Lilley Hall. I just always wanted to see this place during the holidays because I had heard how great the decor is... they weren't kidding, and it did not disappoint. So glad I can now check this off my local flavor bucket list !!! LOVE the holiday decorations here !!!

You find out new things each time you come here. I've been loads of time but usually for lunch or a…read morestroll through the mall. There's nothing fancy there but since it's there might as well walk through. But along the main strip, they do have a good amount of restaurants, bakery and quick and easy dining. Not to mentioned some shopping along the way. We came for dinner with some friends which I didn't even know that that had a night market happening. I was told that it goes on during The weekend. It's nothing to fancy just a few vendors with homemade gifts and a few food stalls. It's a good way to showcase your business as it right along the strip where the movie theatre and restaurants are. I've also been to a Yelp event just along here which was fun. Downtown Burbank isn't crazy but it does pack a lot into it. With Finney's, Yardhouse, Granville to name a few of the bigger chain restaurants. You have the movie theatre, more restaurants and shopping along the strip. Then there's the mall at the corner. It's a few block radius which isn't too big but all packed in together. Also loads of sushi restaurants which I love. Plenty of parking at one of the many parking structures. There's street parking if you get lucky.

Gotta love DTBK, Downtown Burbank in the city of Burbank is a central hub of food, entertainment,…read moreculture and more. From the local Burbank Town Center to the AMCs (16, 8 and 6) to the cool statues like Batman outside of the Slice House by Tony Gemignani Enjoy fun vendor marts, the Taste of Burbank festival and gatherings throughout the year. Parking garages are plentiful, but they can absolutely fill up on weekends as well as holidays. Walking is fun with easy navigation (very pedestrian friendly) - I'm often around exploring from Angeleno Avenue to Burbank Blvd/San Fernando Blvd, which breaks up but highlights the center of Downtown. Enjoy sandwiches at the Wild Carvery, ranked #30 among top sandwich shop spots in 2025. Dine in at Granville, Wokcano and other little big chains. Another Broken Egg Cafe is very much a popular spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Shop it up at Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's and more. Selfcare at Purpose LA Barbershop, The Local Salon inside the mall (aka BTC - Burbank Town Center) and Eden Nails & Spa to name a few. Laugh it up at the iconic Flappers comedy club off the corner of 1st Street/Magnolia Blvd. Take the Downtown Burbank Metrolink, local city LA Metro or Burbank Busses, Pink and Orange routes. Some parts of Burbank do have an incline, especially in the down of town area. Easy but busy freeways like the 5, the 134 being the closest connection. Depending on your destination to or from Magnolia Blvd, Glenoaks Blvd and even Burbank Blvd can be the next best thing. For the nightlife Fantasia Billiards is a fun place to shoot some pool and have a drink, nice patio overlooking the main Boulevard. And Round1 Bowling & Arcade stays open until 2am w/ karaoke rooms, eats and solid beverages #FunForAll The cost of living ranges (2k for a one bedroom), but the area is very inviting, rich in life and culture, not to mention cuisine. Summers can be quite hot, but also enjoyable. Winters and fall will definitely see some exciting season holiday decor, plus happenings. Explore, visit and thrive in Downtown Burbank.

Eh... where were the cherry blossoms? :'(…read more That may have been a downer for this event, but I still had a very enjoyable and fun time at this festival. It was my first Japanese culture festival here in Little Tokyo (surprisingly I didn't get a chance to go these past few years). I absolutely love Japanese culture... so when I saw the lolita fashion show, and the incredibly high voice of the cute girl doing the ro-sham-bo contest, I was excited. Hands down my favorite part of the festival had to have been the food. Dogzilla was really good, and the okonomiyaki was savory and tasty (although one could have fed two people... if only I could have yelped it before hand, lol). And yes, I did try the Kirin and sake at the 21+ garden. Mhmmmmm We came for the Photogenic dog contest... and damn, so many cute and energetic dogs everywhere!! Congrats to Bailey for the win, though I'm sad Billy didn't place...

The 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California was postponed from its original dates on April…read more2 and 3 2011 to September 24 and 25 because of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan March 11, 2011. The theme was "Blossoms in the Fall." Months ago I did not know about the cancellation until I walked around Little Tokyo and finding no festival. I did go this year with a friend and later with my family on the same day. The festival was at the parking lot near the Metro Station near Alameda Ave and Temple. In previous years (I've only lived in LA for three) the festival was within the Little Tokyo neighborhood, which was quite nice because it made the village seem so lively and busy and so much going on especially since it is around the businesses. There seemed to be fewer vendors this year. Komodo was the only food truck at the festival. There was really affordable food at the festival, but nothing exciting...we left the festival to get some food anyhow. Entry to the festival is $1. It does cost quite a bit to put on a festival and maybe this is part of their fundraising efforts to rebuild Japan. The festival is also staffed entirely by volunteers. The origami cranes you see around tables or around the festival is their Japan Rebuild - 10,000 Paper Cranes. People make cranes, donate them, and make more at the festival and it sells for $1 with a message. All proceeds go to Japan Rebuild, which the Cherry Blossom Festival made a five year commitment to support. I took my niece and nephew to the kids crafts zone and for $1 I kept them busy. The interactive storytelling kept me awake because, to be honest, watching my niece and nephew color was like watching paint dry. I decided to leave them to their parents (my sister and husband) while I checked out the rest of the festival. There were four stages with nearly constant stuff going on: Blossom Stage, J-Pop Stage, Martial Arts Stage, and Hawaiian Village Stage. I usually just catch a little of this and that...a little ondo and dancing, music, performances, fashion shows, etc. The festival was nice. It's nice to see a bit of Japanese culture through the festival. Some cultural festivals are geared towards people of the culture presented. Some cultural festivals foster awareness among the community. I've been to a handful of festivals in Los Angeles. Cherry Blossom Festival was another reason for me to visit Little Tokyo (though I visit pretty frequently).

The little big neighborhood city of Toluca Lake was established in the roaring 1920s with a mostly…read moreresidential make up encompassing some great hidden streets, avenues and sites. Moorpark Street being to most roaring part a century later in the 2020s. From longstanding historic eateries like Bob's Big Boy (on the border of Toluca Lake in Burbank) to the local Trader Joe's, Fresh Brothers Pizza and Tocaya Moden Mexican fast casual restaurant. Incredible personal favorites such as Something Vegan, Forman's Tavern and Paty's Restaurant. It's a fairly accessible area both by car and on foot with easy streets, a fairly function LA Metro system, the 155, 222, 224, 501 and Commuter Express not to mention the Pink Route bus via the nextdoor city of Burbank. Historical gems such as the Gary Marshall Theater are here as well as other small theaters and/or playhouses. Your main freeways are the 134, 101 and 170, but surface streets are very much the way in Toluca. The Lake of T resides alongside the Lake Country Club & Golf Course on Clybourn/Toluca Avenue. Toluca Lake Elementary and Toluca Crossroads School, both off Cahuenga Blvd, are the only schools in Toluca Lake. Bordering Burbank, Universal City, Studio City and North Hollywood in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley the T Lake has great places to eat, shop and stay with most of your essential needs within the "city limits," but also very closeby. Parking can be a challenge like almost anywhere in Greater, however you can definitely find it and find your way. The cost of living is steep with studios starting around $2k, one bedrooms around $2.4 for a one bedroom. Homes are worth a pretty penny as well and for the comfort and luxury of living in a little big slice of SFV/LA County greatness, you can definitely see why visiting, passing through and exploring is definitely something a lot of us can enjoy without breaking the bank, that said they have most bank branches (Chase, Us Bank, Wells Fargo, etc) here as well as a Fire Station (number 86), US Post Office and Neighborhood Council. The nearest library is in North Hollywood and the closest medical facilities are the UCLA Health Toluca Lake Primary Care and the Toluca Lake Medical Building on the cusp of North Hollywood. Toluca Lake is a skip over to Warner Bros Studios as well as Universal Studios. With some awesome accolades for cinema, television and digital mediums such as Pulp Fiction, the Netflix series Never Have I Ever, and T.J. Hooker to name a few. This overall neighborhood in the city is charming, intimate and inviting even more so for seasonal occasions like Halloween and Christmas, they go all out!

In my humble opinion? This is the cutest neighborhood in Los…read moreAngeles. I have yet to come across a cuter little village like city. The shops are mom and pop owned. The restaurants are super cute, and the people are cute and friendly. Yes, I used cute a lot...it's because Toluca Lake is SO DAMN CUTE! I've been planning to move here for a while, I just didn't have the financial means to relocate. I'm getting married in August and my fiance and I are looking for a place in Toluca Lake. When he proposed to me I agreed only under the condition that we move to Toluca Lake. Yep, I love this place that much. Even looking long term it makes sense. The house value will only increase in such a great neighborhood. Its a great little town to raise kids, and the schools here are spectacular. Oh and they have a lake and a car show every sunday during summer! What more can you ask for?!

This is probably the most unique place I've ever visited in Southern California. Three of our…read moredocents were actual workers on the castle, so we got an inside view of its origins. I'll never forget the experience and highly recommend that you make it a priority to visit. When a person has a vision and spends 25 years fulfilling it with hundreds of friends and neighbors, you have a masterpiece! Go as soon as you can!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

Went to the cat beauty pageant or whatever it is called. Cannot believe they charged 6.00 for…read moreparking in their old and dilapidated parking structure (of which there were hardly any cars parked). Was very disappointed in the pageant itself, and most of these cat owners were pretty unfriendly and weird, to say the least. I did get to see some sweet adult cats for adoption, and also some unusual rare breeds, but nonetheless it was also not worth 6.00 for admission to not even be there for a half hour, and the auditorium is really old and dilapidated itself.

I just came from The Armenian Food and Culture Festival at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. Its a…read morereally large place, with a second floor as well. Below they sold food, and had things for the kiddies. On the second floor was more food, vendors selling all sorts of things, clothes and jewelry, and a stage with an area for dancing. And there was plenty of seating both upstairs and downstairs with tables to eat your meal. There was plenty of parking when I arrived in the afternoon. We were charged extra to park, in addition to the entry fee, but the parking was right there next to the entrance. The Glendale Civic Auditorium is a great location for any group that would need a really large space.

Midnight RidaZZ. Nuff Said…read more Ha. Actually, I could leave it as that, but you'll need to know the AWESOME POWER they bring. I've been on couple of rides since moving here 2 months ago. I've earned my nerdy spoke cards, which I'm very proud of, but you'll definitely find a ride that fits you. If you want to ride fast go with hustle, if you are a G-Ma and can only ride on the weekend, like this author, check out THE FMLY ride (usually every 1st Saturday). Great music, awesome RIDAZZ and just a general Happy-Go-Lucky time riding your bicycle in the streets of LA. It'll make you say "I F-ING LOVE LA!"

The ultimate party on wheels! Midnight Ridazz happens the second Friday night of every month. What…read morestarted as a small group of friends riding bikes through the city after dark has grown into a phenomenon of more than 1400 people reclaiming the roads of Los Angeles in the name of bicycle culture, and has inspired similar rides both within Los Angeles and in several other cities. The ride is similar to the Critical Mass in that they both are about promoting bicycles. But whereas Critical Mass is much more political and confrontational with the motoring world (occurring during rush hour), Midnight Ridazz begins around 10pm after the roads have cleared and is more about having fun rather than having an agenda, thus attracting riders of all experience levels and backgrounds. As a result, I would argue that it is largely responsible for the sort of bicycle renaissance happening in this car-centric city. Midnight Ridazz rides used to regularly congregate at the Pioneer Chicken parking lot, but now the meet-up point changes every month. Check the website the week of the ride to get the details. The routes are usually around 15 miles long and go at a very easy pace so everyone can keep up. The saying is "No rider left behind" so even if you get a flat tire or something else should go wrong, there'll be people there to back you up. Bring a bike, a flask, and a serious appetite for a good time and remember: when they say, "Midnight Ridazz!" you say, "RIDE ON!"

I have lived in EXP my whole life... from the time I ducked bullets to it being gentrified to now…read morebecoming a very cool and super expensive place to live in (I love my home increasing in value ;) ). These stairs have never changed! They always kick your ASS. I love Echo Park because of all the secret stair cases and hills (Baxter being on the news) that you can use for cardio. I did not know about them for a couple of years but found out about them through my family that they were hidden no more than a block and half away... I have tried time and time again to run them up once without stopping but I have gotten winded every single time and it just never gets easier. The views from the top are magnificent! On a clear day you can see all of the west side including the observatory and the Hollywood sign. Or if you look to the east you can catch a good view of DTLA and the east side. The stairs lead right to Elysian Park and there are trails that you can take from there if you want to continue your work out. I sometimes run up the stairs once and then take a trail because when I have tried to run up and down those stairs more than once I don't make it to the trail LOL. In the evenings you do have to be careful because we have coyotes that roam around in a pack of three. They can be harmless but I wouldn't chance it with small dogs. I don't know how parking is since I just walk over to them. I have tried counting them and then get so exhausted that I forget I lose count.

We wanted to try a new trail and took the Baxster Stairways to get to the Elysian Park Trail. Being…read moreout of shape, going up the stairs was tough but the view was amazing and it was a great way to exercise.