Pico Boulevard
Encyclopedia
Pico Boulevard is a major Los Angeles
street that runs from the Pacific Ocean
at Appian Way in Santa Monica
to Central Avenue
in Downtown Los Angeles
, California
, USA
. It is named after Pío Pico
, the last Mexican governor of Alta California
.
, running north of Venice Boulevard and south of Olympic Boulevard. Numerically, it takes the place of 13th Street
(many cities with numbered streets use a named street in place of thirteen)
Major landmarks include Santa Monica College
, Santa Monica High School
, the Westside Pavilion
mall, Fox Studios, the Hillcrest Country Club
, the Staples Center
, and the Los Angeles Convention Center
.
Pico Boulevard starts in the city of Santa Monica and enters the city of Los Angeles near the intersection with Centinela Avenue. The neighborhoods of Los Angeles through which Pico Boulevard travels are among the most culturally diverse in the city. From west to east, they include the Japanese
and Persian neighborhood of West Los Angeles
, the predominantly Anglo neighborhood of Rancho Park
, the business and entertainment center of Century City
, the primarily Jewish neighborhood of South Robertson
, the largely African American
and Latino
Mid-City
district, the heavily Korean
neighborhoods of Country Club Park
and Koreatown
, the predominantly Central American neighborhoods of the Byzantine-Latino Quarter and Pico Union, the redeveloping South Park, and the Garment District of Downtown Los Angeles
.
The music video for the 1991 single "Unfinished Sympathy
" by band Massive Attack
features singer Shara Nelson
walking along West Pico Boulevard in an unbroken camera shot.
The artist Fatlip
walks along Pico Boulevard in the music video "What's Up Fatlip?"
The 1947 song "Pico and Sepulveda
" by Felix Figueroa
& His Orchestra (actually Freddy Martin
& His Orchestra) was frequently featured on Dr. Demento
's syndicated radio show.
In his poem "Hot," Charles Bukowski
abandons his mail truck in the intersection of Pico and Western because it stalls and won't start, and he desperately has to get home on time because his girlfriend leaves whenever he's late.
Act 5 of the This American Life
episode 110: Mapping features Jonathan Gold's process of eating at every restaurant on Pico Boulevard.
"South of Pico" is a feature film that focuses on events in the neighborhoods referenced in its title.
The rapper Kool Keith mentions Pico Blvd. in the song "Baddest MC,' on the album "Matthew."
In the 1984
film The Terminator
, the club Tech Noir is said to be located on Pico.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
street that runs from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
at Appian Way in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
to Central Avenue
Central Avenue (Los Angeles)
Central Avenue is a major north-south thoroughfare in the central portion of the Los Angeles, California metropolitan area. Located just to the west of the Alameda Corridor, it runs from the eastern end of the Los Angeles Civic Center south, ending at Del Amo Boulevard in Carson...
in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is named after Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
, the last Mexican governor of Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
.
Description
Pico runs parallel south of Olympic Boulevard and is one of the southernmost major streets leading into Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, running north of Venice Boulevard and south of Olympic Boulevard. Numerically, it takes the place of 13th Street
Los Angeles streets, 11-40
This article covers streets in Los Angeles, California between and including 11th Street and 40th Street. Major streets have their own linked articles; minor streets are discussed here.These streets run parallel to each other, roughly east-west....
(many cities with numbered streets use a named street in place of thirteen)
Major landmarks include Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College is a two-year, public, junior college located in Santa Monica, California.Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study...
, Santa Monica High School
Santa Monica High School
Santa Monica High School, informally known as SAMOHI, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1884, it is one of the oldest high schools in the state....
, the Westside Pavilion
Westside Pavilion
The Westside Pavilion is a shopping mall located in West Los Angeles. It is owned and operated by The Macerich Company. It is a three story urban-style shopping mall with 150 shops and is anchored by a Macy's and a Nordstrom...
mall, Fox Studios, the Hillcrest Country Club
Hillcrest Country Club (Los Angeles)
Hillcrest Country Club is a private social club located in Los Angeles, California, United States.-The club:The property includes an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts, and serves as a meeting place for its members. The 18-hole "Hillcrest" golf course was designed by Willie Watson and opened in...
, the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
, and the Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles Convention Center
The Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3...
.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
and Persian neighborhood of West Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
West Los Angeles is a district in Los Angeles, California, within a larger region known as the "Westside."-Geography and transportation:...
, the predominantly Anglo neighborhood of Rancho Park
Rancho Park, Los Angeles, California
Rancho Park is a small residential neighborhood in West Los Angeles, California with mostly single family homes and tree lined streets. The community is nestled between Westwood and Cheviot Hills. This enclave draws young professionals and families and is home to residents working in a variety of...
, the business and entertainment center of Century City
Century City, Los Angeles, California
Century City is a 176-acre commercial and residential district on the Westside of the city of Los Angeles. It is bounded by Westwood on the west, Rancho Park on the southwest, Cheviot Hills and Beverlywood on the southeast, and the city of Beverly Hills on the northeast...
, the primarily Jewish neighborhood of South Robertson
South Robertson, Los Angeles, California
South Robertson is a Los Angeles neighborhood south of Beverly Hills. The commercial district along Robertson is sometimes called SoRo Village. It is served by zip codes 90034 and 90035, and a local neighborhood council...
, the largely African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
Mid-City
Mid-City, Los Angeles, California
Mid-City is a district in Los Angeles, California. It is 2.5 miles south of Hollywood and 3.5 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The Lafayette Square, Victoria Park, Wellington Square, and Vineyard neighborhoods are part of the district.-Geography and history:Mid-City's boundaries are roughly...
district, the heavily Korean
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
neighborhoods of Country Club Park
Country Club Park, Los Angeles, California
Country Club Park is a neighborhood in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, California.-Geography and transportation:Country Club Park's is bounded approximately by Olympic Boulevard to the north, Western Avenue to the east, Pico Boulevard to the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard to the west...
and Koreatown
Koreatown, Los Angeles, California
Koreatown is a neighborhood in the Mid-Wilshire district of the city of Los Angeles, California known for its concentration of Korean American people and institutions...
, the predominantly Central American neighborhoods of the Byzantine-Latino Quarter and Pico Union, the redeveloping South Park, and the Garment District of Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
.
Pico Boulevard in the media
Unfinished Sympathy
"Unfinished Sympathy" is a song by English electronica group Massive Attack, from their debut album Blue Lines . The song was written collaboratively by the members of the group , with Jonathan "Jonny Dollar" Sharp and Shara Nelson, the latter providing lead vocals for the song...
" by band Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
features singer Shara Nelson
Shara Nelson
Shara Nelson is a British singer and songwriter. She is notable for her work with the band Massive Attack in the early 1990s, and for her solo career in which she garnered five UK Top 40 hit singles...
walking along West Pico Boulevard in an unbroken camera shot.
The artist Fatlip
Fatlip
Fatlip is a Los Angeles-born hip hop musician. He started his career in the hip hop group The Pharcyde.-The Pharcyde:...
walks along Pico Boulevard in the music video "What's Up Fatlip?"
The 1947 song "Pico and Sepulveda
Pico and Sepulveda
"Pico and Sepulveda" is a 1947 song by Freddy Martin and his orchestra. Composed by Eddie Maxwell and Jule Styne , it utilizes a Latin-style beat, and Martin used the alias "Felix Figueroa" when performing and recording the song. It was frequently featured on the Dr...
" by Felix Figueroa
Freddy Martin
Frederick Alfred Martin was an American bandleader and tenor saxophonist.-Early life:Martin was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised largely in an orphanage and with various relatives, Martin started out playing drums, then switched to C-melody saxophone and later tenor saxophone, the latter the one...
& His Orchestra (actually Freddy Martin
Freddy Martin
Frederick Alfred Martin was an American bandleader and tenor saxophonist.-Early life:Martin was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised largely in an orphanage and with various relatives, Martin started out playing drums, then switched to C-melody saxophone and later tenor saxophone, the latter the one...
& His Orchestra) was frequently featured on Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
's syndicated radio show.
In his poem "Hot," Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
abandons his mail truck in the intersection of Pico and Western because it stalls and won't start, and he desperately has to get home on time because his girlfriend leaves whenever he's late.
Act 5 of the This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
episode 110: Mapping features Jonathan Gold's process of eating at every restaurant on Pico Boulevard.
"South of Pico" is a feature film that focuses on events in the neighborhoods referenced in its title.
The rapper Kool Keith mentions Pico Blvd. in the song "Baddest MC,' on the album "Matthew."
In the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
film The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
, the club Tech Noir is said to be located on Pico.
Notable landmarks
- Santa Monica State BeachSanta Monica State BeachSanta Monica State Beach is a California State Park operated by the city of Santa Monica.-Santa Monica Beach:The beach is located along Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica...
- California State Park operated by the City of Santa Monica. It is two miles (3 km) long, has a picnic area, shops and pier. Visitor activities include volleyball, basketball and a bicycling and running path along the beach. - Casa del Mar hotelCasa del Mar hotelCasa del Mar hotel is an U.S. luxury hotel located on the beach and Santa Monica Bay, in Santa Monica, California.-History:Club Casa del Mar originally opened for business in 1926 as a beach club. The building, was designed in an Italian Renaissance Revival architectural style. It became a hotel...
- luxury hotel at base of Pico Boulevard, Club Casa del Mar originally opened in 1926 as a beach club. The building, built in a Renaissance Revival architectural style, became a hotel and recreation center for U.S. service personnel during World War II. After the war, the building underwent different incarnations, becoming, among other things, a drug rehabilitation center and a Pritikin Longevity Center. In 1998, The Edward Thomas Hospitality Corporation acquired the building and converted it into a luxury hotel.
- RAND Corporation HeadquartersRANDRAND Corporation is a nonprofit global policy think tank first formed to offer research and analysis to the United States armed forces by Douglas Aircraft Company. It is currently financed by the U.S. government and private endowment, corporations including the healthcare industry, universities...
- opened in November 2004, the RAND Corporation new headquarters facility was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the environmentally responsible design of the headquarters campus, along with the Los Angeles Architectural Award for corporate headquarters design.
- Santa Monica Civic AuditoriumSanta Monica Civic AuditoriumSanta Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket....
- 1855 Main Street (at Pico); 3,000 seat auditorium opened in 1958 and designed in the international style by Welton BecketWelton BecketWelton Becket was an architect who designed many buildings in Los Angeles, California.Becket was born in Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington program in Architecture in 1927 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree .He settled in Los Angeles in 1933 and formed a...
; home of the Academy Awards ceremony from 1961-1968. - Santa Monica High SchoolSanta Monica High SchoolSanta Monica High School, informally known as SAMOHI, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1884, it is one of the oldest high schools in the state....
- 601 Pico Blvd.; public high school opened at same location since 1906; alumni include Dean CainDean CainDean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
, Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, Carson DalyCarson DalyCarson Jones Daly is an American television host. He is the host of NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, a late-night talk show that began airing on January 7, 2002. Before his role as host of that program, Daly was a VJ on MTV's TRL, and a DJ for the Southern California based radio station KROQ-FM...
, Robert Downey, Jr., Daryl DragonDaryl DragonDaryl Frank Dragon is a keyboardist, known as Captain in the successful 1970s pop musical duo Captain & Tennille, with his wife, Toni Tennille....
(Captain & Tennille), John EhrlichmanJohn EhrlichmanJohn Daniel Ehrlichman was counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon. He was a key figure in events leading to the Watergate first break-in and the ensuing Watergate scandal, for which he was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury...
, Emilio EstevezEmilio EstevezEmilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
, Glenn FordGlenn FordGlenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
, Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
, Sean PennSean PennSean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
, Charlie SheenCharlie SheenCarlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
, and Heather ThomasHeather ThomasHeather Anne Thomas is an American actress, screenwriter, author and political activist, best known for her co-starring role as Jody Banks on the TV series The Fall Guy.-Early life:...
. - Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa MonicaWoodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa MonicaWoodlawn Memorial Cemetery is located at 1847 14th Street in Santa Monica, California.-Notable burials:*Hugo Ballin , artist*Mabel Ballin , Actress*George Bancroft , actor...
- 1847 14th Street (at Pico); celebrities buried at Woodlawn include Glenn FordGlenn FordGlenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
, Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo in CasablancaCasablancaCasablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, Charles BickfordCharles BickfordCharles Bickford was an American actor best known for his supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for The Song of Bernadette , The Farmer's Daughter , and Johnny Belinda...
(three-time Oscar nominee), Irene RyanIrene RyanIrene Ryan was an American actress, one of the few entertainers who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television and Broadway....
(Granny on The Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
), Ted BessellTed BessellTed Bessell was an American television actor and director.-Early career:Born in Flushing, New York, Bessell grew up in Manhasset on Long Island, New York. He was originally gearing up for a career as a classical musician...
(boyfriend Donald on That GirlThat GirlThat Girl is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City...
)
- Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica CollegeSanta Monica College is a two-year, public, junior college located in Santa Monica, California.Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study...
- first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College, current enrollment is 32,000 students; the college also has one of the largest international student populations of any community college in the US, with approximately 3,000 from more than 100 countries. - McCabe's Guitar ShopMcCabe's Guitar ShopMcCabe's Guitar Shop is a musical instrument store and live music venue on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. Opened in 1958, McCabe's specializes in acoustic and folk instruments, including guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, psaltries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, and ethnic...
- Located at 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, McCabe's is a musical instrument store that opened in 1958 specializing in acoustic and folk instruments: guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, psaltries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, ethnic percussion. Since 1969, McCabe's has also been one of the most noted forums for folk concerts.
- National Academy of Recording Arts and SciencesNational Academy of Recording Arts and SciencesThe National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
- Formerly headquartered at 3402 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, the Recording Academy is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its makers. The Academy is famous internationally for the Grammy Awards. (NARAS moved to a new location in 2009, although the Pico Boulevard building still stands.) - Pico and SepulvedaPico and Sepulveda"Pico and Sepulveda" is a 1947 song by Freddy Martin and his orchestra. Composed by Eddie Maxwell and Jule Styne , it utilizes a Latin-style beat, and Martin used the alias "Felix Figueroa" when performing and recording the song. It was frequently featured on the Dr...
- a song by Felix Figueroa & His Orchestra (stage name for Freddy Martin's band). The 1947 song was frequently featured on Dr. Demento's radio show. It is about streets in Los Angeles and was composed by Eddie Maxwell and Jule Styne.
- The Apple PanThe Apple PanThe Apple Pan is a restaurant located at 10801 West Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles. It opened in 1947 and is locally famous for its hamburgers and apple pies served with vanilla ice cream. It consists of a single, U-shaped counter surrounding the central food preparation area. Closed on...
- Located at 10801 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, The Apple Pan restaurant opened in 1947 and is locally famous for its hickory hamburgers and apple pies served with vanilla ice cream. In the first season of Six Feet Under, Nate Fisher (Peter Krause) asks his sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose) if she wants to go to the Apple Pan to eat together.
- Westside PavilionWestside PavilionThe Westside Pavilion is a shopping mall located in West Los Angeles. It is owned and operated by The Macerich Company. It is a three story urban-style shopping mall with 150 shops and is anchored by a Macy's and a Nordstrom...
- Spanning a full block on the south side of Pico between Westwood Boulevard and Overland Avenue, three story urban-style shopping mall with 150 shops anchored by a Macy's (formerly May Company and later Robinsons-May) and a Nordstrom. Part of the current mall occupies the site of the Pico Drive-in theaterDrive-in theaterA drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
, which was located there from 1934 to 1950 and is considered only the fourth drive-in in the United States, and the first in California. - Rancho Park Golf Course - Located along Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles, Rancho Park Golf Course was the busiest golf course in the United States with more than 125,000 rounds played. In 2000 Rancho was the only golf course in the United States to have hosted the PGA, LPGA and the Senior PGA. The golf course first opened in 1921 and was built on land that was part of Rancho Rincon de los BueyesRancho Rincon de los BueyesRancho Rincon de los Bueyes was a land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1821 to Bernardo Higuera and Cornelio Lopez by Pablo Vicente de Sola, the Spanish Governor of Alta California. In 1843, this Spanish grant was confirmed by Mexican Governor Manuel Micheltorena...
in what was in 1921 the town of Sawtelle, 12 miles (19.3 km) west of Los Angeles. - Cheviot Hills Park and Recreation Center - Located at the corner of Motor Avenue and Pico, the Cheviot Hills Park and Recreation Center includes 14 tennis courts, basketball courts, gym, picnic areas, volleyball courts, archery range, auditorium with stage, amphitheater, and sports fields.
- Fox Studios - 20th Century Fox or simply Fox, is one of the six major American film studios. In 1926 Fox acquired 300 acres (1.2 km²) in the open country west of Beverly Hills and built "Movietone City", the best-equipped studio of its time. In 1957, Fox announced plans to develop a portion of its backlotBacklotA backlot is an area behind or adjoining a movie studio, containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions, or space for temporary set construction....
into a new city center. In 1963 the first building, Century City Gateway West, was complete, followed the next year by Minoru YamasakiMinoru Yamasakiwas a Japanese-American architect, best known for his design of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, buildings 1 and 2. Yamasaki was one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century...
's Century Plaza Hotel. Fox Studios continues as an active film studio on the southwest portion of the property, along Pico Boulevard. - Hillcrest Country ClubHillcrest Country Club (Los Angeles)Hillcrest Country Club is a private social club located in Los Angeles, California, United States.-The club:The property includes an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts, and serves as a meeting place for its members. The 18-hole "Hillcrest" golf course was designed by Willie Watson and opened in...
- Located at 10000 West Pico Blvd., is a country club and golf course located across the street from Fox Studios. Hillcrest was the first Los Angeles country club for the city's Jewish community. In old Hollywood, when Jews were not permitted to join non-Jewish country clubs, they instead joined Hillcrest, all of whose members were Jewish. Hillcrest's members have long included many of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Milton BerleMilton BerleMilton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
, Jack BennyJack BennyJack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, and George BurnsGeorge BurnsGeorge Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
. Even Groucho MarxGroucho MarxJulius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
, who famously proclaimed that he would not want to be a member of any club willing to have him as a member, was a member. Producer Louis B. MayerLouis B. MayerLouis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
reportedly punched producer Sam Goldwyn in the showers at Hillcrest. The 18-hole "Hillcrest" golf course was designed by Willie Watson and opened in 1920. - Simon Wiesenthal CenterSimon Wiesenthal CenterThe Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
- With headquarters at 1399 South Roxbury Drive (at Pico), Los Angeles, the Wiesenthal Center was established in 1977 as "an international Jewish human rights organization" dedicated to confronting antisemitism, hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and dignity, standing with Israel, defending the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations.
- Museum of ToleranceMuseum of ToleranceThe Museum of Tolerance , a multimedia museum in Los Angeles, California, USA, with an associated museum and professional development multi-media training facility in New York City, is designed to examine racism and prejudice in the United States and the world with a strong focus on the history of...
- Located at 9786 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, the Museum of Tolerance is a multi-media museum opened in 1993. It receives 350,000 visitors annually. In "The Holocaust Section," visitors are divided into groups to take their own place in some of the events of World War II. The museum also features the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. A classroom visit to the museum was featured in the 2007 movie, Freedom WritersFreedom WritersFreedom Writers is a 2007 American drama film starring Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey. It is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell who wrote the story based on Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach,...
. The museum was parodied in an episode of South Park called "The Death Camp of Tolerance". - Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n WafflesRoscoe's House of Chicken 'n WafflesRoscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles is a Long Beach, California-based soul food restaurant chain founded by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native, in 1975...
- soul food restaurant founded by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native, in 1976. It is best known for serving chicken and wafflesChicken and wafflesChicken and waffles is a dish combining waffles, a breakfast food, with fried chicken. It is served in certain specialty restaurants in the United States....
. The popularity of Roscoe's was assisted by celebrity support, including Natalie ColeNatalie ColeNatalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Redd FoxxRedd FoxxJohn Elroy Sanford , better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life:...
(who would tell his television audience that Roscoe's was a place they should eat), Arsenio HallArsenio HallArsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
and Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
. Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
also made frequent references to Roscoe's on his sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
. - Byzantine-Latino Quarter A neighborhood known for its historically Greek AmericanGreek AmericanGreek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
population (Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox CathedralSaint Sophia (Los Angeles)Saint Sophia , was built by Charles Skouras in 1952, in what was then the Greek section of Los Angeles, California. It is located at West 15th Street and South Normandie Avenue in what is now the Harvard Heights neighborhood. This Greek Orthodox church is the result of a Hollywood success story...
is just south of Pico), now primarily Latino in population.
- St. Thomas the Apostle Church - founded in 1903, St. Thomas the Apostle is one of the oldest parishes in Los Angeles, located at the corner of West Pico Boulevard and Mariposa Avenue. The architecture of the church is from the Spanish renaissance period used in many of the old mission churches.
- Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles Convention CenterThe Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3...
- 720,000 sq ft (67,000 m²) convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, Anime ExpoAnime ExpoAnime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
and is best known to video games fans as host to the now-defunct E3. The LACC also gained notoriety for hosting Celebration IV.
- Fashion DistrictFashion District, Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Fashion District is a design, warehouse, and distribution nexus of the clothing, accessories and fabric industry in Downtown Los Angeles. The Fashion District spans 90 blocks and is the hub of the apparel industry on the West Coast of the United States....
- The Fashion District is a design, warehouse, and distribution nexus of the clothing, accessories and fabric industry in Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
. The district spans 90 blocks and is the hub of the apparel industry on the West Coast of the United States. The area also features Santee Alley, a heavily populated "back alley" shopping path between Maple and Santee Streets.
Education and transportation
- Pico Boulevard is served by two major bus companies: Santa Monica Transit line 7 (along with the Rapid line 7) and Metro LocalMetro LocalMetro Local is a bus system in Los Angeles County operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority . This retronym designation was placed to differentiate it from the Metro Rapid service...
line 30 and Metro RapidMetro RapidMetro Rapid is a bus rapid transit service in Los Angeles County, California that operates in mixed traffic environments and has fewer stops than the Metro Local service. The system is mainly operated by LACMTA. Two routes are operated by Santa Monica Transit and one by Culver City Transit...
line 730, all of which meet in Mid-City at the old Vineyard Junction at Pico and Rimpau Boulevards, a former rail stop of the Pacific Electric Red Car Lines more than 50 years ago; Santa Monica lines 7 and Rapid 7 run between Ocean Avenue and Rimpau Boulevard, Metro lines 30 and 730 between Rimpau Boulevard and Downtown LA. In Downtown Los Angeles, Pico Boulevard intersects with the Metro Blue Line light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, and is served by the station of the same namePico (LACMTA Station)Pico Station is an at-grade light rail station in the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system. It is located in the South Park neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles, on Flower Street just north of Pico Boulevard. The station is served by the Blue Line, & the Silver Line...
, also to be served by the Expo Line, directly adjacent to the Staples CenterStaples CenterStaples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
, the Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles Convention CenterThe Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3...
, the Nokia TheaterNokia TheaterNokia Theater is the name of three entertainment venues in the United States, all sponsored by Nokia:*Best Buy Theater in Times Square, New York City, the site of the Heisman Trophy ceremony, formerly known as the Nokia Theater...
, and several new housing and entertainment developments in the South Park district. - Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High SchoolBishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High SchoolBishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School is a Catholic, archdiocesan, all-female high school located in the Harvard Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California...
is located on Pico Boulevard.