LA Live
Over the last few years, Downtown LA has undergone a vast rejuvenation. What used to be empty buildings and areas that, frankly, you wouldn’t want to even walk in during the light of day now is home to great restaurants, beautiful apartment and condo complexes and fun entertainment areas. A huge part of this rejuvenation is the complex called LA Live. A 5.2 million square foot, $2.5 Billion dollar development, LA Live is like its own little city with hotels, residences, restaurants and nightclubs.
Situated next to The Staples Center and the LA Convention Center, the biggest venue on the LA Live property is the 7,100 seat Nokia Theatre which also has a club venue, aptly named Club Nokia, that seats a more intimate 2,300. The Nokia Theatre has held concerts featuring The Eagles and The Dixie Chicks as well as John Mayer. It has also held the finales of the 7th, 8th and 9th seasons of American Idol.
LA Live also houses The GRAMMY Museum. Established by the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Museum pays homage to the history of the GRAMMY Awards. It also features numerous exhibits of musical artifacts. One of the coolest things about the GRAMMY Museum is that they have their own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Museum – bronze discs with the names of the top GRAMMY winners on them.
LA Live also plays host to a myriad of incredible restaurants including Katsuya, Lawry’s , Rock’N Fish, Flemings Prime Steakhouse, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill and others. And what mini city wouldn’t be complete without its own broadcasting company and move theater? Certainly not this one. The ESPN Zone Broadcasting Company was built as a way to service sports coverage on the West Coast and the Regal Movie theater seats well over 3,700 people and even has a special 800 seat theater built specifically for “lucrative” movie premiers. That’s a pretty fancy theater.
LA Live is also a home away from home for some and a place to call home for others. As we discussed in a past blog on hotels, the JW Marriott, the Courtyard Los Angeles, The Residence Inn Los Angeles and Ritz-Carlton hotels are situated at the LA Live complex. Travelers from all over can stay in the numerous accommodations offered at various price ranges. Staying in the city is always a fun option as you really get to experience all that Downtown has to offer, but you are just a short car ride away from Hollywood and the beaches. You can also live at LA Live. The Ritz Carlton has 224 condominiums known as the Residences at the Ritz Carlton which includes the Ritz’s 5 star services and amenities along with your home. Talk about living like a star!
There are so many wonderful things to discover about Los Angeles and LA Live is just one of them. Discover it and more on a tour with us! We hope to see you soon.