Park West - Culver City, CA

Culver City was first founded in 1913 by developer Harry H. Culver, who had apprenticed to legendary real estate magnate I.N. Van Nuys. Culver picked out the location of his future namesake city as a key area between the growing resort town of Venice and the booming urban center of Los Angeles. In 1917, Culver set up his first movie studio on Washington Boulevard. Other studios quickly followed suit, and these lots stand active to this day just blocks away from Park West.

Thanks to its proximity to the film industry, Culver City remains highly invested in the arts and the theater. From Park West, you can walk to the Sony Pictures Entertainment Museum, the Eco Station wildlife museum and the world famous Museum of Jurassic Technology. You can also take a short walk to the Kirk Douglas Theater, one of L.A.'s best destinations for live plays and shows.

Park West lies within walking distance of some of the best restaurants and night spots in Los Angeles.

Get in on a game of shuffleboard or darts while you throw back a stiff drink at Cozy Inn. Open from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily, locals will start or end their night at this low key dive bar — especially on game nights.

If you prefer music with your drinking, head a block south to Joxer Daly's for an excellent selection of microbrews on tap and live bands every weekend. Regulars love the casual ambiance — and the surprisingly delicious pub grub. In an area known for its foodies, Joxer Daly's brings its best to its menu of classics.

Vegetarian? On a diet? Got a whole list of allergies? Then you'll want to check out Green Peas Casual Food, which takes pride in not only on accommodating every taste, but making food tasty to boot. While the menu features primarily vegetarian soups, salads, sandwiches and other deli fare, you can add meat or go all the way vegan. The avocado kale salad comes particularly recommended.

For heartier American fare prepared to the highest standards, stop in Metro Cafe down the street for brunch, lunch and dinner fare. Don't be fooled by the casual storefront tucked into an unassuming Travelodge hotel — this place stays packed every day with regulars who love the juicy hamburgers, fresh and bright salads, perfectly balanced BLAT sandwiches and nutella pancakes.

On the leafy streets of Park West, residents and visitors have their choice of transportation methods. As with most of L.A., the majority of residents own cars in order to get around the city, and with the 405 bordering the area to the west and the 10 less than a mile to the north, getting around is pretty easy. But because cars remain so popular, parking is extremely tight in this area. If you don't have a driveway, expect to circle the block a few times before you find yourself a spot.

For that reason, many folks traveling locally get around on foot or by bike. With the restaurants and shops of Downtown Culver City less than a mile away, strolling home on a warm summer night is all part of the fun. Other people rely on modern taxi services like Uber and Lyft, both of which maintain a heavy presence in this area. Hailing regular taxis proves possible but not as popular here.

For those who prefer public transportation, Culver City provides its own local bus routes that extend from Venice to Westwood to Inglewood. Just one block north of Park West lies a stop for LADOT bus routes that run through key points across the greater Los Angeles metro area.

Culver City prides itself on its beauty and its greenery. From Park West, a half dozen minor and major parks make their homes within walking distance.

Tellefson Park, Veterans Memorial and Dr. Paul Carlson Park all provide residents and visitors with cool, shady lawns and picnic shelters to relax under on hot days. Follow the trail along Ballona Creek east to Culver City Park, one of the jewels of the city. Bring the kids for the skate park or the fulcrum ropes course. Bring Fido for an off-leash romp at The Bone Yard, Culver City's ever-popular dog park.

Every third Wednesday, Culver City declares a neighborhood wide Happy Hour in its downtown area. Walk down from Park West and enjoy drinks, dining, prizes, free views of the galleries and museums and live entertainment of all kinds.

Park West may not be as well known as Beverly Hills or Malibu, but it's still a highly desirable neighborhood. Expect to pay quite a bit for real estate. Few apartments exist in this primarily suburban neighborhood, and the few that do charge upwards of $1,700 or $1,800 for a one bedroom. Food and drink tends towards the midlevel to pricey. A microbrew at the local pub will run you about $5 or $6, and a sandwich with all the fixings will cost you at least $10. Gas runs at least 20 percent higher than the national average. However, bus fare on the local Culver City line costs just $1 per ride.

As a small suburban neighborhood, Park West stands almost exclusively composed of single-family homes. However, within just a mile of its borders, you can find a wide range of food, clothing and entertainment shopping destinations.

Get your grocery shopping done in style at favorite local mini chain Pavilions, or pick up your favorite Hispanic groceries and prepared foods at Northgate Gonzalez just across the 405. You can also find major chains like Ralphs and Vons as well as organic specialty stops such as Roots Organic and Grand View Market.

Purchase your produce and handcrafted items direct from the farmers themselves at the weekly Mar Vista Farmers Market, held every Sunday — rain or shine. The Mar Vista Farmers' Market also hosts festivals every year, celebrating Valentine's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween/Dia de los Muertos and the winter holidays.

Along the western edge of Park West sit a range of quirky independent shops that sell gifts, services and hobby equipment to locals. Stop in at Boulevard Music for an all-in-one experience: buy an instrument, record in its studio or perform on its concert hall stage. Right down the street, you'll find Culver City Home Brewing Supply, popular with the growing number of DIY home microbrew masters. If you have a bike, don't take it anywhere else except Abba Padre for service. This shop with a wacky name and astonishingly great service lies hidden under a "Libreria" sign over the door. Look for the "Bicycles" sign in the window.