I couldn’t think of a better place to set me loose! Greystone Manor is a hidden gem tucked away above Sunset Blvd in Beverly Hills. The mansion, built in 1927 is only open during special programs such as Music in the Mansion and Friends of Greystone events, although the outside grounds are open daily for visitors to enjoy! Greystone Mansion, …

“Fundamentals of Taking It Off.” “Psychology of Inhibitions.” “Applied Sensual Communication.” The courses I recently spotted on a student application from the 1960s could only have been taught at one place: the Pink Pussycat College of Striptease in Los Angeles. The “school,” which opened in 1961, was held at the Pink Pussycat Club, the city’s most unique burlesque theater for …

When you’re at LOVE’S, the whole world is delicious… How I miss “Love’s Wood Pit Barbecue”. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, these recognizable retro structures were all over Southern California. They always seemed to be conveniently located and had pretty decent ribs for a chain. I have vivid memories of dipping that delicious bread in the BBQ sauce, (with …

The Cock n’ Bull in 1974. The CR prefix stood for CRestview. This beloved “Vintage Los Angeles” tavern located at Sunset and Doheny was not only popular with the neighborhood locals, but also with ‘Old Hollywood’ entertainers like John Barrymore, Bette Davis, Orson Welles, John Carradine, Sal Mineo, Peter O’Toole, Jack Webb (who had his own table and lived across …

The Legendary Past and Celluloid Future of Tower Records on the Sunset Strip. Photo: Robert Landau It’s impossible not to think of Tower Records when referring to the Sunset Strip. It’s even more impossible to accept that the beloved store once located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Horn Avenue is no longer in business. Tom Petty & The …