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?!

Molhulland Drive, California…read more If you're looking for a chill, romantic drive, Mulholland Drive is a great pick!!! The views are beautiful, especially in the spring and fall when everything is green and wildflowers are blooming. The road winds through the hills, so you get nonstop scenic views. Driving with the top down and the wind in your hair makes it even better ~ super relaxing and enjoyable. It's the kind of drive where you just take it slow and enjoy the ride. There are several lookout spots where you can pull over, catch an amazing sunset, and later see Hollywood and San Fernando Valley city lights at night. Plus, there are plenty of spots perfect for Instagram ~ worthy photos. Definitely worth the drive.

Amazing place for first day of new year for sunrise! We had…read morea blessing time here. Highly recommended!!

I had the pleasure of dining here with my Argentinian friend a while ago. It was during a DineLA…read moreweek. It was the best afternoon we had! The ambience was very jovial yet elegant, I felt like it should become my Argentinian getaway! We chose the special options offered and they were well thought out. I opted for the branzino lunch including a starter of an empanada, a side of rice and broccoli My friend opted for the steak with a caper sauce and with same sides. They were gracious enough to let me take my friend's empanada to go. The food was excellent as were their wine selections, my white wine was crisp, it paired nicely with the meal. My friend's Malbec was perfect with the beef. As we lingered, our server offered to "top off" our wines, I was blown away by this gesture, it alone should garner great acclaim! The dessert was excellent! I thank them for this gem!

We stopped by Bodega Malbec for our 1-year anniversary celebration, and honestly, the experience…read morewas delicious overall! The empanadas were definitely the highlight -- the chicken and beef flavors tasted really good. I also tried the potato filling with asparagus and ham, and it was packed with flavor. Everything tasted fresh, savory, and satisfying. And the chimichurri sauce? So delicious! Especially when dipping and mixing it with the empanadas -- it added so much flavor and made everything even better. My partner ordered the steak and said it was tasty, but a little too oily for his preference. The same with the grilled vegetables -- they were literally soaking in oil on the plate. That was probably the only downside for us. The service was friendly and attentive, and the ambience made it feel cozy and perfect for a date night or special occasion. We still left full and happy and enjoyed celebrating our anniversary there.

Late night snack as we arrived from LAX, and made our way to N Hollywood…read more We split a pasta/spaghetti dish and a nice green salad. Both were excellent. No bread but they did bring us a crostini. Hard to dunk that in the delicious sauce. My iced tea was bottled. I think that's odd in a craft restaurant. Nice service from someone who I think is the owner. I understand this to be a neighborhood gem. Good luck.

What a hidden gem in N. Hollywood. Such a beautiful, cozy spot with both the interior and outdoor…read morespace thoughtfully and tastefully decorated. Our server, Diana, was incredibly attentive and checked in often to make sure we had everything we needed. The food was absolutely delicious; the pork belly, the salad, and the branzino were standouts. Our only mistake was talking too much and not diving into the pasta right away, but even then, it was still very good. The atmosphere was peaceful and inviting. I'd love to come back during the day to fully enjoy the greenery under the turf. They also have a nice wine list. Street parking is available and wasn't an issue for us. Definitely a spot worth visiting.

The murals of Chandler along the bike and path of North Hollywood have changed and expanded with…read moretime, with new murals and pieces being added not only the buildings, walls and spaces that highlight it, but the path itself, with more benches and even workout equipment so you can enjoy the beauty of North Hollywood in more ways than one. The murals and art stretch from the near Chandler Ave/Vineland Blvd down to Chandler/Cahuenga Blvd... Short stroll to from the Metro B (Red) Line. It stretches for a half mile and is an easy 10 to 15 minute stroll depending on your pace. A few local staples at both end including Great White Hut (restaurant) and Iliad Bookshop, not to mention a great brewery in-between (Lawless), off Craner Avenue (tiny side street). Lots of parking in the area, free of restrictions, walkable distance to other parts of NoHo like my favorite dives The Good Nite and Bullet Bar, both on Burbank Blvd. Take a stroll through a slice of North Hollywood's Chandler Blvd Art & Mural walk and enjoy a slice of valley outdoors.

Being an art lover, I found out about this place on Yelp. Since it was a nice day and this is…read moreoutdoors, we took a drive out here. My review is based on my observations, with no research on its background. This stretch of a few blocks appears to be the exterior wall of some industrial businesses. The city at some point built an outdoor walking, jogging and bike path for all to enjoy. Then came the murals to bring color and life to an otherwise dull and grim row of fences/ walls. We strolled about 10 minutes and viewed some pieces. They were mostly nice, but really hoped there was some information telling me the background of the mural and the artist(s). Unfortunately, some were also tagged by graffiti. If you're nearby, it's a nice way to spend about 10-15 minutes on a stroll, and it's free to see. There was plenty of street parking. Wear sneakers as the walking surface can get uneven.

Maybes it just me but it seems like there's always something new popping up in the area. It's a…read moretine little neighborhoods but packs a major punch with what they have. There's a good selection of restaurants, some bars, and a few shops here and there. Mainly more eateries than the others. It pretty much street parking along the main roads or neighborhoods. There's a huge parking lot a block away where the red line station is. Crowds are alway pretty mellow. Not stuffy like the city scene. Majority of time if we're in the area, it normally for a meal and then a drink afterwards.

One of my favorite/frequent places I've been to over the years! The NoHo Arts District has…read moresomething for every flavor - plenty of coffee shops and restaurants, hidden gem shops if you want to support small businesses, theatres if you're feeling the arts, and loads of street art lurking around. Lots of hipster doofuses and wannabe influencers abound. Parking can be notoriously difficult but that's California for you!

Luminaria is a very nice event organized by the Studio City Council for 6 years now. It takes place…read moreat the historic Campo de Cahuenga. I've never heard of this event before this year, so I attended today (Sunday, Dec. 2nd) for the 1st time. Takes places from 3 pm - 7 pm. Luminaria is a festival of lights that starts the holiday season in the area, brings joy on a December evening (kinda cold for LA). Parking - Universal subway lot, for free! With the bookmark from the event printed out or of the Eventbrite ticket (free) also printed and placed on the dashboard of your car. Simple, right? Then, you're off to go, ready to enjoy the festivities: music (nice carolers) to put you in a festive mood, a self-guided tour of Campo de Cahuenga (great way to learn about the history of California), drawing for kids, vendors, cookies, hot chocolate and cider for everyone. For free!!! Wonderful event to attend, nice, simple, low key. Everyone in the staff was nice and welcoming. The lights are beautiful (they don't use real candles for safety reasons), calm, serene, creating a nice atmosphere. I loved attending Luminaria and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Happy holidays!

A local flavor in Burbank if you're looking for a Christmas decoration extravaganza. The house is…read morewell done. Parking can be a little tough, so good luck. You can listen along in your car to Christmas music when you tune in to 99.1 or listen to it outside as well. Feels a little strange to be hanging out in front of someone's home, but that's why we're here right? To see Christmas on Clark st. Seasons greetings.

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING ! 4 & 1/2 STARS! People come from all over SOCAL during the…read moreHalloween season to see the Clown House & others on Clark St. in Burbank & go trick or treating. There is also a Christmas celebration that's less known & not as big but has some great lights up & down Clark street. They have a good show @ 3600 W Clark St. It is also less than a 10 minute ride from Holiday Fantasies Come to Life which is Spectacular & gets better every year. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

A date brought me here for Valentine's day, had a lovely dinner. Our server Michael was really…read moreattentive and made sure we had a great night. The mezzelune was the standout, cooked perfectly al-dente!

Stopped by for dinner!…read more They have valet parking but there is metered street parking (free after 6p just verify the signs). We shared some squid ink linguini, seafood soup, and burrata. We told the waiter we were sharing so he split the dishes for us! Food was great tasting, presented well and appropriate portions. We sat inside and the booths were comfortable. We walked by the patio area and it seemed pretty lively on a Friday night.

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.

Just about every weekend, I find my way to Downtown Burbank. There is just so much here. Plenty of…read moreplaces to kill a little time, whether that be for clothes (Old Navy, Macy's, Ross), food (Panda, Silver Lake Ramen, Finney's Crafthouse), movies (an incredible 3 AMC's here) or just walking around to people watch. My wife and I have the AMC A List and so we're here at least twice a week, most weekends. I like that the area has an indoor mall portion as well as an outdoor section, and that there's businesses up and down the street as well. It gives you a ton of options for new things to try and places to get lost in every time you come. The area is walkable, and despite the best efforts of the city, free parking is still (mostly) available to the public. Hopefully, they keep it that way...I've gone with 4 stars because the city is now charging for some parking in the area, which I think puts a lot of extra pressure on the already-crowded free garages, and discourages business. Otherwise, this is one of my favorite places to be most weekends :)