In a world increasingly dominated by sedentary virtual activities, the Los Angeles Natural History…read moreMuseum is the antidote to many of our problems, issues, and ailments. What I mean is, on about 200 acres in the heart of the city is a storied and exquisite tribute to earth's almost infinite wonders and the role of millions of species in making this planet a paradise in a somewhat sterile universe. A visit to the website as well as an in-person trip and tour of the grounds and the vaulted spaces inside can restore the soul. It does that for me each time I go. I have hundreds of photos taken during these visits, but I have selected a few from my Nikon full frame to illustrate the marvel and treasure that this museum represents. Among the best and most curated and cared for archives in the world, the Natural History Museum seeks to inspire and educate visitors, patrons, old and young alike, by showcasing the earth's cultural and natural beauty. These are troubling times all over the globe. This institution can revive our faith in civilization and our terrestrial mother in just a few brief hours. It is not be be missed.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is such a fun place to spend a few hours! There is so…read moremuch to see and explore, from the impressive dinosaur fossils to the beautiful exhibits featuring animals, gems, minerals, and the natural world. The dinosaur hall is definitely a highlight, and I love how the museum combines history, science, and hands-on learning in a way that's interesting for both kids and adults. The building itself is beautiful, too! You can easily spend several hours wandering through the exhibits, and there's always something new to discover. It's a great LA outing whether you're visiting with family or just looking for something different to do. Definitely worth adding to your Los Angeles bucket list!

I love the design of the building by Elizabeth Diller, and that the you get a free entry for a…read moregreat modern art collection. It can get really crowded at times, but the permanent collection is stellar. Best to get timed entry to the Kusama Infinity Mirror room at the same time as your general admission. Temporary exhibits can be hit or miss, but loved the recent Yoko Ono show! And am looking forward to the new expansion.

I am very picky when it comes to the merits of museums - science, history, natural history, art,…read moreetc - as I have been blessed to visit museums in many major cities such as Seattle, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cleveland to name a few. Los Angeles is great in many ways but museums is not the city's strong suit, in my opinion, with a few strong exceptions (Getty, Huntington, LACMA sometimes). When The Broad opened its doors next to the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles; the entire city was upside down with excitement and it was the talk of the town. Lines circled around the building for admission and everyone wanted to check it out. I tend to wait out crowds so it took me this long to visit The Broad but I finally went to celebrate my 42nd birthday alongside fellow Yelper Michael B. Everyone is familiar with the story behind The Broad with its existence made through the art contributions of Eli Broad and his wife sharing their private art acquisitions with the City of Angels. Not to be outdone by the world-famous architecture of the Disney Concert Hall; The Broad went full-force to make its own building a work of art resembling a structural masterpiece versus simply a piece of real estate and in that respect, it succeeded; as The Broad is unique, artistic and satisfying for the eyes. Admission is free which is also an inviting plus-side to The Broad. But to me, that is where I stopped being impressed. The Broad has sooo much potential and so much unused space (but it is expanding in 2027 so perhaps it will level up) but it honestly comes off as a glorified art gallery that is simply a tourist trap. The building is so large and in charge but there the ratio of art to the space is minimal and not truly that mind-boggling. The MOCA across the street is a much better choice, honestly. There was only one piece I was in-love with (the melting street lamp) and have already seen everyone's photos for years of the large table, ballon sculptures, Michael Jackson and Bubbles, mirror room, etc; that they don't even require a second glance at this point. Yelper Michael B. is a long time Basquiat respectee and enjoyed the Basquiat room (and he said there was a rare piece included in the exhibit) plus Murakami; but I stick by the lamp post (the silver train is cool, too). My other area of excitement at The Broad? Entrance and exit to the bathrooms include waving your hand over motion sensors which is not only futuristic but hygienically sound and I found this super amazing. But if there is only one piece of art and the BATHROOMS that I find notable; then The Broad is a bust. Honestly, I would have been upset if I had paid for admission. The Broad just seems like another overly-hyped spot that has potential but doesn't live up to its popularity. Or, again, perhaps I am a museum snob and too picky. The Broad is worth a single visit (even though free, make reservations ahead of time); but don't expect some world-class art museum with extensive viewing. We were in and out in about an hour, maximum. Thanks Eli Broad and family; but the actual building is more impressive than your museum.

Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

This was just a fun little stop we made while walking Hollywood Blvd…read more The museum of illusions tickets cost $35, and a tripod rental is $10. They also offer many other packages. A good time was had by all!

lovely experience at the Love Museum!!…read more came here with my boyfriend and enjoyed learning more about him and us as a couple. We spent around 3 hours here, there are many activities to explore (around 50+) very interactive and fun. Monica, our host was super nice and helped us with any questions we had and also made sure we parked on the correct spot to avoid getting a ticket. there is metered parking around the area and they offer parking for $6. the entry ticket is $75 for two people, if you want to have a photo booth picture, it's an additional cost. If you love your partner you should definitely come here and experience this museum!! i know i had a great time with my handsome lovely man.

Uhhmmm. What do I say about our experience. I would say it's a good experience for couples who want…read moreto do some activities to see how well you and your mate actually click and know each other. But it started a bit on a sour note. Let me explain. We had a 6:15 appointment and driving in from close to the eastern border of Los Angeles county; we left 1.5 hours early so we would not be late and hold up this establishment. We arrived at 5:50sh and parked in their back alley lot. A guy came out to check if we are there for the museum of love and will let you know that parking is $6 and to pay it when you enter from the main entrance on Melrose. We went in and after being asked by the lady about our appointment time, we were told to come back in a very direct way. Let's say if I didn't already pay the $72 for our experience, we would have went somewhere else on this night. That street feels less than safe, and it was about to get dark... we went back to sit in the car for 20 minutes and returned. The lady was much more friendly this time and explained how she was dealing with a lot of customers today and was a bit overwhelmed. After the unpleasantness at the beginning, the experience was decent. There are quite the number of small activities to make you look deeper into your relationship. We saw quite the number of couples leaving after the experience with a little bit of animosity towards each other and figured some of the exercises must have really tested them. My wife and I didn't run into anything that made us upset, or maybe we just know each other and click that well. In any case, the entire thing is a a bit interesting and something you can do with your special person, but there are some things you have to deal with if you are gonna give it a try.

An absolute must-visit in LA! Fully enjoyed Urban Light, Monet, and Do Ho Suh's masterpieces…read more I had an increy time fully immersing myself in the art here! Starting with an essential photo at the signature Urban Light installation, I was blown away by the beautiful Claude Monet painting and the breathtaking, large-scale Hanok installation by Do Ho Suh. The level of detail in Suh's work was absolutely mesmerizing, and I found myself staring at it for a long time. Beyond the artwork, the panoramic views of the LA cityscape looking out through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows were a visual treat in themselves-it felt like looking at a living painting! 입구의 시그니처 포토존인 어반 라이트 조명 샷으로 시작해, 고전 명화인 모네의 작품과 특별 전시된 서도호 작가님의 대형 한옥 설치 작픔까지 정말 알차게 감상했습니다. 특히 서도호 작가님의 작품은 경이로울 정도로 섬세해서 한참을 머물었네요. 전시장 곳곳에 있는 커다란 통창 유리 너머로 내려다 보이는 LA 시내 전경도 하나의 예술 작품처럼 아름다워 보는 내낸 힐링 되었습니다

This is a limited review...first visit to LACMA since the opening of Zumthor's building, 5 months…read moreafter opening. We were there for the Fashioning Chinese Women exhibit @ BCAM, so did not enter the Geffen galleries. But we did want to get a drink at Erewhon on this 100+ degree day, visit the store, and also use the restrooms, all on the ground floor. I will defer a more thoughtful judgement on the merits of Zumthor's design, but it appears to me that, sadly, someone or possibly more than someone has ignored the Miesian dictum "God is in the details." There are several specific shortcomings in the new LACMA design and resulting experience, in no particular order: 1. Inadequate wayfinding signage and legible cues. Firstly, the site orientation map handed out at the ticket booth looks like it was drawn by an 8-year old (my apologies to 8-year olds) and is lacking in scale and specificity to be able to find the most direct route to ground floor destinations. There is not enough directional signage, and what there is, is too subtle to be obvious and thus useful. Unlike the pre-Zumthor LACMA, there are several staff stationed around the building to help direct people (not very helpfully), as well as freestanding signs, that are clearly afterthoughts. 2. While the plazas facing Wilshire are better than I expected, the other outdoor spaces are utterly bleak and soulless. They need to hurry up and figure out how to humanize those spaces. 3. Someone was not paying attention to workmanship in the restroom construction. Poorly masked painting, peeling paint at the restroom sink, toilet grab bars coming off the walls, and wobbly coat hook on the door, only 5 months after opening do not bode well for longevity. Was someone cutting corners for budget and or schedule? I can foresee excessive maintenance costs to keep things in a condition that befits such an important civic institution. Does this portend a higher rate of membership fee increases to fund necessary upkeep? Who is accountable to the membership and the taxpayers for such lack of oversight?

we love going to these little pop-up stuff that we see on social media or on Google and everything…read moreand this time we went to bubble world in Montebello. It wasn't that far of a drive for us and parking. There was a lot of parking and it was free and I believe you had to purchase your times to go and you wait in line and then you also have to sign like a waiver or something We love seeing all these high technology and everything. It was so cool so much opportunities for photos and a lot of things to do with your kids and they seem super entertained. I think we went in and it took probably a good hour or so to see everything and do everything so if you were ever in the area, then totally check it out just kidding. The exhibit was closed now LOL

Was not impressed. At all…read more Not worth the price and people are gross. The workers do not do their job either. Of course, the place is already quite dirty as it is, especially since it's closing soon. Some of the rooms were cool. I like the balloon room and the lights, but some people should really read the rules. First off, this family blocked the stairway to get in. And one of the family members was this short, big guy who was just running in the balloon room in circles and popping all the balloons and kicking them around up over the walls. Now that's fine, but then me and boyfriend tried to make our way in and another couple too, were there. He continued to kick up a bunch of balloons, while me and another person was trying to take pictures. He even accidentally knocked down his daughter in the process. He was extremely obnoxious and even joked about it with his family members, who just laughed and took videos. Now most of the interactive stuff was bad. It was gross for the most part due to all the germs, dirt, and hair. The balls and balloons all have random dirty smears of brown and orange on them. The ball pit was very dirty. I assume they're not planning on sanitizing any time soon due to the exhibit closing down. Anyways, we go into the light room and the worker says stay in the path and don't the lights. After two minutes, all of a sudden these three kids run in and start going into the lights and grabbing them, she stares and doesn't say a thing to them. These kids are super rowdy so I say something, and then she says oh, yeah don't do that. Pretty useless in my opinion. Most of this stuff is geared towards kids, but my bar was already super low. Do not spend your money here. Go somewhere else.

Fun stop when visiting Grand Central Market. So many movies have filmed here -- Blade Runner and…read moreLethal Weapon just to name a couple. It's refreshing to see this kind of architecture in Los Angeles among endless mini malls. You can tell real pride went into the design and craftsmanship. A true historic landmark and worth taking a few minutes to appreciate while you're there.

What can you say about the Bradbury Building except that it is not what it once was. Currently, you…read morecan walk in there pretty much seven days a week and see the skeletal remains of what was once a fantastic piece of DTLA architecture. Now, the upstairs offices are generally blocked off and all that is left is the what used to be. Certainly, the Bradbury Building came to fame during the 1982 movie, Blade Runner where it was used as one of their primary sets. This was long before it was renovated showing off it's truly unique interior architecture. Very beautiful! For a lot of years, this building was pretty much closed to the public except for those who used it as a filming location. Being involved in the film industry for a lot of years, I personally have been in this building a number of times throughout its evolution. More recently, somebody got the great idea to renovate it. I guess that's a good thing? But, in its current state, all that you see is a whole lot of tourists coming in there, even tour guides, taking people in there telling them all kinds of lies about the history of the building. They weren't there, so they don't know! Yet, they speak about it. Now, it's a modernized office structure. Yes, much of the interior metallurgy is still there -- reminiscent of the time gone past. But much the vibe of the building is long gone. That's sad, I think. So, if you're in DTLA, and you want to look back to the past, the Bradbury Building is a interesting place to do that. It's right across the street from Grand Central Market, so it's impossible to miss. You can pretty much go in there seven days a week, and though you'll be limited to staying on the first floor, you can take a look and see what once was. I would say it's definitely worth the expedition.

I went to MOCA a couple weeks ago for the first time in almost twenty years. I'd only been once or…read moretwice before, in my student days, when the museum would host free events with live music and late entry into the galleries. I remember going with my cool friend June K. and seeing a Rauschenberg, thinking, "What is that?" This only came back to me on my more recent visit, to catch the end of an exhibit with my (cool for a 41-year-old) friend Sergio P. before lunch at Grand Central Market. It was called "The Expanding Field: MOCA's Collection from the 1940s to 1970s," and I randomly read about it in a newsletter the night before we went. I always hear about stuff at the Broad and LACMA, but I almost missed this MOCA exhibit completely. I guess it's a smaller museum, with a lower marketing budget. I'm really glad we caught it, because the exhibit was fantastic, an impressive showcase of collection highlights from the mid-20th century. First of all, there were eight Rothkos, all on view in one room alongside a couple of Giacomettis. There were works by Miró and Mondrian, Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns, a fantastic Warhol painting of a telephone. Multiple Rauschenbergs, which I appreciated more this time around. I also loved pieces by Joan Brown, Anne Truitt, and Nicolas de Staël, among many others. MOCA isn't big, and outside of this exhibit, the other gallery space seemed to be closed, possibly in preparation for another show. It took us less than half an hour, at a leisurely pace, to take in the exhibit. We stopped by the store after, which was great, full of art books and fun contemporary museum shop goodies. This was a wonderful way to spend an hour on a random Wednesday, and it cost nothing except for parking (the museum doesn't have its own lot, and I paid over $20 to park across the street at the Music Center; next time, transit). MOCA offers free admission, a bountiful gift to art enthusiasts in L.A. Reservations are recommended, but easy to get without much planning. Now that MOCA is back on my radar, I expect to go again soon, or at least in the next few years. It's a stellar museum with an interesting collection, worthy of regular visits.

What a gem. I can't believe this museum is free…read more Located in Downtown Los Angeles, it's easy to pair with other nearby attractions, making it a great stop if you're spending the day exploring the area. The exhibits were fantastic. MOCA focuses on contemporary art, so you'll find everything from bold abstract paintings and large-scale installations to sculptures, video art, and thought-provoking mixed-media pieces. I love that contemporary art invites you to interpret it for yourself. Some works made me stop and think, while others were simply fun to experience. It was a nice balance of playful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is quiet and easy to explore. It never felt crowded, so I could actually spend time with the artwork instead of feeling rushed from room to room. I also really enjoyed the gift shop. They had a fantastic selection of art books and exhibition catalogs that were honestly hard to resist. They also carried plenty of fun collectibles, including lots of reasonably priced Smiskis, which made me smile. Overall, this is an amazing free museum and an easy recommendation if you're in Downtown LA. Whether you're already into contemporary art or just curious to try something different, it's well worth stopping by.

My wife and I visited the California Science Center to see their Mummies of the World exhibition…read more Luckily we managed to make time in our packed schedules to see the exhibit on the last day it was open - talk about a close call! It had been years since either of us had been to the California Science Center so it was like the first time again. Parking is expensive but entrance to the center is free so that's something. Since it's free, there are hoards of families and kids running in every direction so expect crowds galore! Considering the amount of foot traffic the center gets, it's actually pretty clean so shout out to the cleaning staff! The Mummies of the World exhibition was fascinating to see. You had to pay for this exhibit but it was worth it if you're at all interested in mummies and the dead. Crowd control wasn't the greatest as everyone was kind of crammed inside, but it is what it is. Lots of mummies on display with interesting histories/facts to absorb. We also checked out the free exhibits for Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear and Fire! Science & Safety. Both were pretty interactive with lots of informative fun! I can see why the California Science Center is so popular amongst kids/families - apart from being free, it's very hands-on so it's engaging for the little ones. They have a food court that offers a little bit of everything, so if you have picky eaters in your group you'll be able to find something for everyone. Naturally it's museum food, so it's going to be costly for what it is. If you want some cheaper options, they have food vendors out front and out back offering street dogs and Mexican treats. If you really want to save some money, the museum allows you to bring in outside food and drinks, with the only caveat being that you can only eat/drink in the food court or on the patio outside. The Rose Garden out back is a nice change of scenery if you want to stretch your legs and have some free space away from the crowds. The big fountain as well is nice to lounge around to cool off and take pictures. Overall we loved the California Science Center - it's mostly free, the grounds are well-maintained and spacious, it's interactive, and it's a great way to spend the afternoon while exercising the ol' brain with science. If you want to get a souvenir from your trip, there's a gift shop that has numerous options in every nook/cranny.

The new endeavor exhibition is amazing. We went up the escalator and were taken into a room for an…read moreinitial screening... the effects were a surprise and everyone applauded. The shuttle is huge! I almost couldn't walk passed it for the sheer terror that it could fall over Can you believe they built the building around it!! There's also a slide... Go see it.

So there I was, sitting at home watching Hulu when I stumbled across a new show called The Trust…read moreabout the Getty family. I was only a couple of episodes in when I realized I needed something to do! John is in town visiting from Colorado, and we were officially on the prowl for some excitement. And then it hit me... HOW HAS THIS LA GIRL NEVER BEEN TO THE GETTY CENTER?! I've heard about this place for YEARS. The beautiful architecture, the gardens, the art, the views, and of course, all those gorgeous photos people take of themselves looking like they belong in a magazine. So today, we finally made it happen! First of all, admission is FREE! You just need to reserve your visit ahead of time. How have I lived in Los Angeles all these years and never done this before? Better late than never! Now, let me tell you something I wasn't expecting: this place made me feel GOOD about myself. I've always heard people talk about getting dressed up, bringing a really good camera, and having somebody take pictures of you surrounded by beautiful art and architecture. And honestly, I think this is something everybody should experience at least once in their lifetime. Get dressed up, take the pictures, admire the artwork, and let yourself be part of the beauty around you. And ladies, let's talk about BODY POSITIVITY for a minute! After walking around and looking at the artwork and photographs, I started noticing something wonderful. There were images celebrating women's bodies in all their glory, including beautiful, full-figured women with curves, dimples, and bodacious bodies. And I'm not just talking about the old statues! There were contemporary photographs celebrating the beauty of real bodies, too. It got me thinking: why do we spend so much time waiting until we reach a certain size, a certain age, or some imaginary version of perfection before we let ourselves feel beautiful? Looking at all this art reminded me that beauty has never belonged to just one body type. Your prime isn't a particular size, and it doesn't expire at a certain age. There is beauty in every stage of life! By the time I finished walking around, I was really feeling myself! I may not have a model-size body, but honey...I AM A GETTY-SIZE BODY! And that, my friends, is the energy I'm taking home with me! The Getty Center is more than a place to look at art. It's an opportunity to slow down, appreciate beauty, enjoy an incredible setting, and maybe even see yourself a little differently by the time you leave. Whether you're a longtime Angeleno like me, visiting from out of town, planning a special day with someone, or simply looking for something different to do, put this on your list. Bring your camera, wear something that makes you feel fabulous, and don't be afraid to take up space in those pictures! John and I had a wonderful time, and I can't believe it took me this long to finally visit . Come for the art, stay for the views, take the pictures, and leave knowing that you belong in the picture, too.

What an amazing time today at the Getty Center with my family! We saw so many unique art pieces as…read morewell as sculptures but our favorite was Irises from Vincent Van Gogh! What a great piece, and worth millions of dollars! So interesting to see how both painting and sculpting changed throughout the years and how here at the Getty they are preserved for our viewing pleasure. Although admission is free, everything else isn't lol Parking is 25 before 3pm and after that it's 15 but it drops even more to 10 dollars after 6pm. The cafe and restaurant at the Getty are wild when it comes to pricing, so take snack if you have little ones! They have the audacity to charge 6.45 for an olli pop soda and close to 20 dollars for a prepackaged cold sandwich, but I get it...it's for a good cause haha Overall it was a great time, and now we have to go check out the Getty villas in Malibu!