Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia : L : LO : LOS : Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
Los Feliz is a neighborhood in the north-central region of the city of Los Angeles, California. It lies north of East Hollywood and just south of the Santa Monica Mountains, at its feet, between the neighborhoods of Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park. It is home to Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory along with the Greek Theatre. The area is generally considered to be bordered by Hollywood Boulevard on the south, Hyperion Avenue on the southeast, Griffith Park on the north, the Los Angeles River on the east, and Western Avenue on the west. It is traversed by Los Feliz Boulevard, which separates the wealthy upper class section, located in the hills north of "The Boulevard" (as the natives call it), and the more upper-middle and middle class abodes to the south. It is considered to be at the border between the Westside and the rest of L.A.
The neighborhood has historically been home to movie stars, musicians, other assorted members of the glitterati, and members of the Hollywood elite. Although Beverly Hills has become the symbol of ultimate luxury living in Los Angeles in recent times, Los Feliz still holds the title as one of the most exclusive and expensive areas in Los Angeles. It is also home to some of the more interesting residential architecture in the city, including two homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: Hollyhock House and the Ennis House. During the 1950s, Los Feliz was also home to an energetic village that was flocked by not only its wealthy residents, but the rest of Los Angeles. There was a decline in popularity during the 1970s but after a period of dormancy, the district was rediscovered by pioneering gays in the 1980s, and a decade-long period of gentrification resulted in Los Feliz regaining its position as one of the chicest and artsiest places to visit. The district's popularity was also boosted considerably by its prominence in the 1996 hit film, Swingers.
The Hills
Affectionally nicknamed as "The Hills" by residents of Los Feliz, the Hills is home to the elite and wealthy of Los Angeles. Although Beverly Hills has now taken the title as the luxury center and residential area of Los Angeles, Los Feliz has still retained its spot as one of the most sought out areas and home to one of America's wealthiest zip codes, 90027. Most of the mansions and private estates (dating back all the way to the 1920s) are located deep within the hills, overlooking Griffith Park that have magnificent views of the city. The single most expensive avenue in the Hills is "North Vermont Avenue," where homes belonging to Gwen Stefani, Madonna, and Leonardo DiCaprio are located. "North Vermont Avenue" is also the gateway towards Griffith Park and is commonly used by residents of Los Angeles and toursists to reach the Greek Theatre, where many performances are held throughout the year. Recently, America's Next Top Model cycle 6 founds is home in a newly refurbished mansion, the Ennis House, one of several historic homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Los Feliz / Hollywood area.
Nightlife
Los Feliz village is home to numerous restaurants and bars. They are mostly located on Hillhurst between Los Feliz Blvd. & Prospect Ave., and on Vermont between Franklin Ave. & Hollywood Blvd. Below is a small sample of the many flavors located in Los Feliz.
The Derby, at Hillhurst and Los Feliz, the last remaining location of the historic The Brown Derby chain, was featured in the movie Swingers and is a traditional favorite, with swing dancing on select nights and live music almost every other night of the week, and comedy on Monday.
Tangier bar and restaurant, just across the street, sports a very trendy decor with a cool back room that supports live music and VIP events.
Ye Rustic Inn, a few blocks down on Hillhurst, has a friendly pub-like atmosphere with a solid jukebox and flat screen TVs on which to watch the game on Sundays while enjoying their $7 bloody mary breakfast.
The Drawing Room, across from the Rustic, is a small dive bar that offers the popular Sunday night karaoke.
The Good Luck Bar is a Chinese themed bar at Hillhurst & Hollywood that offers polynesian specialty drinks and very strong Chinese whiskey; They also have a lounge area in the back that offers very comfy chairs and couches.
The Tiki Ti Bar, located at the edge of Sunset junction just around the corner from Good Luck bar, was founded in 1961 - it is one of the oldest (and smallest) bars in Los Feliz area. Be sure to check their odd hours before you go - they're closed Sun-Mon-Tue.
The Dresden Room on Vermont, also featured in the film Swingers, has live entertainment 6 nights a week by the world (in)famous Marty & Elayne.
Fred 62, also on Vermont, is notable for its 24 hour diner fusion style menu. It stays busy around the clock with locals and celebrities.
Recreation
There is much to do in Los Feliz, which is bordered by Griffith Park and the village of Los Feliz. It is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, along with numerous golf courses, tennis courts, athletic fields, hiking trails deep within the mountains away from the residential district of the Hills, and equestrian trails. At Traveltown, one can ride on a miniature railroad and see actual rail cars or locomotives from bygone eras that used to go through this area.
Visitors can attend concerts under the stars at the magnificent Greek Theater, which was built to resemble a Greek ampitheater. Visitors can also study the stars at the newly renovated Griffith Observatory. A planeterium is also located within park grounds.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, it is estimated that there were 40,573 people residing in the Griffith Park/Los Feliz area. The ethnic or racial makeup of the area was 60.54% non-hispanic White, 3.77% Black or African-American, 0.43% Native American, 13.61% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 7.37% from other races, and 6.45% from two or more races. 16.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The median income for a household was $52,104, and for a family was $62,562. The per capita income was $37,443.
Notable residents
- Conor
- Madonna (North American Residence)
- Geena Davis
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Brad Pitt (P/T residence)
- Kirstie Alley
- Anthony Kiedis
- Michael Balzary (aka Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Bela Lugosi
- Johnnie Cochran (where he died in April 2005)
- Gwen Stefani
- Gavin Rossdale
- Tony Kanal (also where his Kingsbury Studios is located)
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Blair Underwood
- Colin Farrell
- Howard Hughes (died in 1976)
- Kim Shattuck
- William J. Bratton
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Slash (Musician)
- Al Jolson
- Mandy Moore
- Philippe Naouri (Antik Denim jeans designer)
- Butch Walker
- Edward Van Halen
- Valerie Bertinelli
- Shepard Fairey
- Stephen R. Hill (Artist)
- Beck (Musician)
- Adam Levine (Musician)
- Dario Frommer, Ca State Assemblyman since 2000
- Katharine Cornell, author
- William Kermisch
Rancho Los Feliz
The rugged, chaparral covered mountains of Griffith Park rise just a few miles north and west of the tall modern skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles. An oasis in a major metropolis, much of the parks natural beauty appears today as it did to original inhabitants of the fledgling pueblo. One of the earliest leaders and protectors of the pueblo received these nearby mountains, hills, canyons, valleys, and streams as a token of appreciation by the Spanish government. This area was once the 6,647 acre Rancho Los Feliz, one of the first land grants in California given to Corporal Jose Vicente Feliz. An old adobe house built in the 1830s by heirs of Feliz still stands in Griffith Park on Crystal Springs Drive.
Rancho Los Feliz had a succession of owners after the Feliz family. One such owner, Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, donated over half of the ranch to the city of Los Angeles, which became one of the largest city owned parks in the country.
Long before the Spanish pobladores (settlers) arrived to settle near the banks of the Los Angeles River, Indians were the only people in the area. The Indians established villages, known as rancherias, throughout the countryside. One of these settlements was located within the boundaries of what was to become Rancho Los Feliz. Archeological surveys have found evidence of a substantial rancheria that existed in the mouth of Fern Dell Canyon in Griffith Park. It is estimated that the Indians first came to this area approximately 10,000 years ago. The traditional name of this village is not known, but the inhabitants were Gabrielinos. This name was given by the Spanish because of the Indians' association with the San Gabriel Mission. When Gaspar de Portola traveled through the vicinity in 1769, his expedition encountered members of this particular village.
In 1882, Colonel Griffith Jenkins Griffith acquired 4,071 acres of Rancho Los Feliz. The Lick estate still owned the southwest portion of the rancho and there developed the Lick Tract, which later became a part of Hollywood. Griffith was a successful mining engineer and businessman. He made a fortune in mining and real estate. He was a short, rotund man, and was a chronic alcoholic. He was seldom sober and while intoxicated, he was often delusional. He was pompous and he pranced around like a proud peacock. Griffith never served in any branch of armed forces in the United States, but he was given a courtesy title of "Colonel" from influential friends in the California National Guard. The title remained a permanent fixture to his name.
Colonel Griffith J. Griffith died on July 6, 1919. He was sixty-seven years old. Griffith bequeathed $700,000 and his Los Feliz acreage to the city of Los Angeles to be used for additions to Griffith Park. The park's acreage was increased to over 4,100 acres. In 1930, the Greek Amphitheater was built as designed by Griffith himself. Money from the Griffith estate was used to build an observatory at the peak of Mount Hollywood. In 1935, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium was completed and opened to the public. Provisions in Griffith's will also included that a permanent endowment be in place to help maintain the theater and park grounds.
External links
- [Los Feliz web site]
- [Los Angeles Zoo]
- [Griffith Park Observatory]
- [Los Angeles River]
- [The Greek Theatre]
- [Gene Autry museum]
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