Author Profile: Rebecca Forstadt-olkowski

Glendale, California is often made fun of as in the recent Anne Hathaway flick “The Idea of You.” Many people consider it boring compared to Echo Park, or Hollywood but it has plenty of charm and historic significance. For many years it was Hometown U.S.A. and was used as a filming location. I was an extra on a Max Baer Jr. film that was shot in Glendale with the same name. We spent many evenings driving 1950s cars between Brand and Central and also hung out in front of one of its old high...   view more

Sawtelle Japantown in West Los Angeles is smaller than Downtown’s Little Tokyo but has a charm unto itself. It’s a tantalizing area of the city to eat Asian cuisine and do some shopping. To be honest, in all the years I’ve lived in L.A., I hadn’t heard of it until recently. It’s a hidden...   view more

El Segundo is a beach town on Santa Monica Bay just south of Los Angeles International Airport that was incorporated in 1917. It was an oil drilling area with a refinery that has been in operation since 1911 but has become one of the most charming sections of Los Angeles that not many people know about. The vibe is Midwestern with friendly people, excellent food, and a thriving...   view more

There are charming and interesting neighborhoods all over Los Angeles, and Larchmont Village is one I have always loved. I remember going down there when I lived in Hollywood in the 80s, but much has changed. It’s almost become a mini-Montana Ave with high-end shops, pleasing cafes, and plenty of...   view more

Mount Washington, next to Highland Park, is a bohemian community developed in the early 20th century. Nestled in the hills are Victorian and craftsman-style homes with a close view of Downtown Los Angeles. You’ll find Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Octagon and other homes. By 1909 Mount Washington was the home of artists, intellectuals, free thinkers, and some hunters who made their homes...   view more

The Rainbow District in West Hollywood is a bustling center for nightlife and features numerous bars, restaurants, and boutiques that reflect its large LGPBTQ population. L.A. residents call it WEHO for short or sometimes Boystown. West Hollywood became its own city within Los Angeles on November 29, 1984. It has its own mayor and city officials and is the site of the famous LA Pride Parade and...   view more

Old Calabasas is a city in the County of Los Angeles located at the southwestern corner of the San Fernando Valley below the foothills of the Santa Monica and Santa Susanna mountains. It’s an affluent area best known as the home of the Kardashians and other...   view more

As an L.A. Eastsider, living in Altadena, I spend a lot of time in the charming Old Pasadena area. Not far from Colorado Blvd to the South is South Pasadena which has its own appeal and historical significance. South Pasadena is a separate city from Pasadena east of the Arroyo Seco and North of the San Rafael Hills. It runs from Columbia Street to the North, Huntington Drive to the south, San Pasqual Avenue to the west, and Wilson Ave to the...   view more

California is known for its stellar wine regions like Napa, Sonoma, Mendicino, the Central Coast, and Temecula. However, there is another much smaller but charming enclave with wineries in Tehachapi that many people do not know about. I only found out about it because my son, who is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, lives there. It’s a quiet community dotted with Joshua trees and herds of mule deer who graze in the area. There are just a handful of wineries, but all are charming, and the...   view more

The charming wine-tasting region of Sonoma in Northern California is not only a lovely place to spend time but has a history that is interesting as well. My sister and I spent the day in its historic downtown to learn about its intriguing...   view more

How can you not love California’s beaches where the weather is temperate, and the vibe is laidback? That’s what it’s like in Santa Barbara, one of my favorite beach towns in Southern...   view more

Palm Springs, California is a desert oasis known for its mid-century modern charm, Hollywood history, and laid-back resort atmosphere. Its downtown section offers activities that combine history, culture, shopping, and...   view more

I always enjoy going to Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) whenever I get the chance. Some parts of it are rough, but in the last decade or so it’s experienced a revival and is always a cool experience. It’s not as old as Boston or New York but it has a colorful...   view more

Old Town Pasadena is best known for its annual Rose Parade and is one of my favorite areas of Los Angeles not only because it is lovely, but also because of its history and architecture. When you visit this lovely community, you’ll see historic brick buildings, craftsman homes, parks, museums, and glorious...   view more

Little Tokyo is nestled within 5 city blocks in Downtown Los Angeles. It was founded in 1884 and has endured a long and sometimes difficult legacy of Japanese American residency and culture in L.C. Its community experienced great hardship during WWII when many Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps. Today it is a thriving and fascinating area of Los Angeles to visit with exceptional cuisine, alluring art, and rich...   view more

BoominginLA is about things to do in Los Angeles, but I also like to highlight side trip destinations in my beautiful state of California. I have relatives in Napa, California and one of my favorite towns up there to hang out in is Yountville. Over the years the town has evolved into an artsy community as well as a culinary stronghold. It is only about one mile from one end of town to the other and is a lovely place to stroll, do a little wine tasting, and eat some of the most amazing food on...   view more

If you grew up in California as I did, you studied the California Missions. Every 4th grader does a mission project. I remember doing mine when I was a kid and I helped my son and daughter do theirs. We’ve visited several California missions over the years. One of my favorites has always been Mission San Juan...   view more