There’s art that reflects on the legacy of the Cold War and relics from the era itself. The Wende (pronounced VEN-duh) celebrates those individuals, including residents of the Soviet Union, China, East Germany, Vietnam and other parts of the Soviet Bloc, and is absolutely worth a visit. He explained that most people of that time “weren’t Stasi agents or dissidents” but rather everyday people trying to live their lives as best they could. “People think it’s going to be a lot of military- and spy-related stuff,” said Andrew Hartwell, the museum’s communications director. But I’m thrilled to tell you that assumption was wrong. That was my assumption whenever I passed by the Wende Museum on Culver Boulevard. Or just people-watch from the actual steps, which this place has plenty of.Ī small, dark-looking museum dedicated to the Cold War might seem like a bit of a downer. Become the second person to try every single smoothie at Erewhon. Gawk at the iconic Mansion House at Culver Studios, which resembles - but is not - the house from “Gone With the Wind.” Pick up produce at the farmers market if you happen to be around on a Tuesday afternoon. Enjoy live music and a cocktail at Lillie’s at the Culver Hotel. See a movie at the no-longer-the-Arclight-but-still-pretty-great Culver Theater. Decide between the “Not So Fried” Chicken and the pesto caprese at Mendocino Farms - and don’t forget a side of spicy curried couscous. Down a gigantic iced coffee from Philz while your kids race around the artificial turf in the center of the plaza. Swing by Pop’s for a half a dozen of what even the New York Times conceded are some of America’s best bagels. Some ideas to get you started: Sample the monthly flavors at Salt & Straw before ordering your regular scoop of Gooey Chocolate Brownie. Park in the public underground lot and emerge to a day’s worth of places to see and things to do. Not to be confused with the Culver City Stairs - the popular name for the 282 stairs up to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook - the Culver Steps is what real estate developers would call “a mixed-used development” and what a normal person might call “a plaza with a bunch of stores and restaurants.” ![]() Is it a glamorous neighborhood? You tell me: Leonard Nimoy, Jack Benny, Eydie Gorme, Shelley Winters and Monty Hall are some of my neighbors. But squarely within budget was an updated condo in Fox Hills, a charming neighborhood hugging a 10-acre park with pickleball courts, a playground, soccer fields and a walking trail. We couldn’t swing a single-family home here, where those public perks command a sky-high premium. And so my family and I moved to Culver City in the summer of 2020. I wanted a place in a good public school district with lots of green space that wasn’t too far from the L.A. After 11 years in a tiny, rent-controlled apartment in West Hollywood, I was ready to spread out. “All roads lead to Culver City” is also true for me, personally. neighborhood has arrived,” per my colleague Josh Rottenberg - and a meme Instagram account. The city has an Erewhon - “the ultimate sign that an L.A. nightlife hot spot, but there are lots of good places to get a drink with friends. Culver City has long been considered a good spot for families, thanks to an abundance of high-quality public parks and schools, and we have the boutique children’s gyms and family friendly brunch spots to prove it. ![]() The Silicon Beach young professional crowd is spilling over from Playa Vista, taking up tables at independent coffee shops between meetings at the WeWork. The Westside cool of Venice is creeping in with spots like Roberta’s Pizza, Etta and Simonette. ![]() Still, any resident, old or new, could tell you things are changing. I’m not saying the way of life is a bit slower here, but the police sent me a press release about a birthday party they were throwing for a dog. Locals love that despite its glitzy history, Culver City maintains a bit of a small-town feel with its winsome downtown and hyper-local newspaper. Apple and Amazon Studios have taken up residence in recent years, agitating some longtime residents and worsening the housing crunch. The future of Hollywood is in Culver City too: TikTok HQ is up the street from the Westfield mall. “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” tape at Sony Pictures Studios. Now that the writers’ and actors’ strikes are over, the studios are buzzing again. “Gone With the Wind,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Wizard of Oz” were filmed here. ![]() Considering Culver City’s distance from actual Hollywood, there’s a lot of Hollywood history in this town. In many ways, Culver City does feel like L.A.’s point of intersection - and not just in a geographic sense.
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