Mann Village Theater
Westwood, Los Angeles
Even some seasoned Los Angeles visitors overlook Westwood, home to the UCLA campus and several examples of modern Los Angeles culture. But this area has always thrived with city life, not to mention some of LA’s most prominent cultural attractions. Sculpture, architecture, botany, movie glamour and celebrity graves might seem like an unlikely combination, but they all come together in Westwood.
Such variety often manifests at Royce Hall, the main venue for UCLA Live. Its recognizable façade is part of four original Romanesque buildings that surround the campus’ central plaza. Inside the building, history has been made with such guests as George Gershwin, Albert Einstein and John F. Kennedy. Visitors can purchase tickets for one of UCLA Live’s shows, which have gained a reputation for its strengths in a number of genres, including dance, music, spoken word and experimental theatre.
Nearby, UCLA’s Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden offers a tranquil setting for picnic lunches among 70-plus sculptures by luminaries such as Jean Arp, Isamu Noguchi, August Rodin and Alexander Calder. Considered as one of the premier sculpture collections in America, it’s a must-see attraction that combines masterworks with LA's sunny weather — an art form in its own right.
The 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants at the campus' Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden also showcase nature’s beauty. The garden spans seven acres, featuring a paradise of eucalyptus, koi, acacia and others. Unexpected, refreshing and deeply moving, the garden tends to take visitors by surprise.
The Fowler Museum knows a thing or two about surprises, too. Its exhibitions, which are free of charge, emphasize non-Western cultures with art pieces, artifacts and an array of audiovisual presentations. Collectively, the museum’s exhibitions serve up a dose of academia for visitors who truly want to experience the campus.
But Westwood also has a lighter side. After all, all work and no play makes even UCLA’s beautiful campus dreadfully dull, which is why Westwood Village, just south of campus, provides a number of entertainment options.
The Geffen Playhouse, for example, mixes classic plays, new works and musicals, often hosting world premieres. Originally a Masonic Hall, the Geffen was used as an Army barracks during WWII. The Mediterranean/Spanish Colonial Revival complex was recently renovated, and the 522-seat main theatre now has the latest technologies to host cutting-edge productions.
A different kind of production awaits at two of LA’s grand single-theater movie palaces, Mann’s Village and Mann’s Bruin movie theatres. Located across the street from one another, both theaters have been hosts to glamorous premieres, red carpets and paparazzi, and recently the LA Film Festival — one of the city’s biggest events — named Westwood its new home.
Film and celebrity go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that Marilyn Monroe is somewhere nearby. At Westwood Village Memorial Park, Monroe rests in a simple wall crypt, number 24, still wearing a platinum blonde wig. Rumor has it that Hugh Hefner has reserved a crypt next to Marilyn, putting him in the same company as Truman Capote, Frank Zappa, Dean Martin and Roy Orbison.
With so much glamour, it wouldn’t feel right without iconic hotels. Hotel Palomar obliges with its new boutique celebrating motion pictures in its flashy décor. Just two blocks from UCLA campus, it offers 268 rooms and suites with some of LA’s best views.
Nearby, W Los Angeles – Westwood has been completely renovated. 258 rooms sporting Thom Filicia design feature spacious luxury and panoramic views. Among the hotel highlights: lavish cabanas and Bliss Spa, both of which exude sophistication and tranquility.
