LA Neighborhoods: North Hollywood
Despite its name, North Hollywood is not adjacent to Hollywood. It’s a small suburb in the San Fernando Valley north of Studio City and west of Burbank. The area is largely working-class with more than half the residents of Latino heritage. The region is dense with multi-level apartment buildings and small homes interspersed among car repair shops, dental offices and taco bars.
North Hollywood has a retro feel reminiscent of the 70s. The LA River criss-crosses the area as well as large fields of electrical towers. The main road through North Hollywood is Lankershim Boulevard. Here you’ll find antiquated stores stocking typewriter ribbons and vintage clothes emporiums selling gowns from American movies. You’ll also find gun shops, strip joints and storefront psychics.
North Hollywood is home to more than a dozen recording studios. The Alley on Lankershim is where Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix recorded albums. Barris Kustom Auto on Riverside Drive is where the late George Barris stored his television car creations including the original Batmobile, the Munster Koach Car, the Beverly Hillbillies truck and the Monkeemobile.
Like much of the San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood has hard to find gems on dark streets and hidden alleyways. The Tonga Hut on Victory Boulevard is LA’s oldest tiki bar (open since…
