Los Angeles – Fairfax Avenue between Beverly Boulevard and 3rd Street is one of the few enclaves where celebrities, locals, and tourists unabashedly mingle.
Marked by CBS Television City and The Grove at the Farmer’s Market, this neighborhood is highly walkable, offers a variety of unique shopping experiences, and is central to other parts of Los Angeles. Except there’s no freeway access in this part of town; during rush hour, walking can feel faster than driving.
Here is a list of activities and locations that you can see, shop, eat, and visit on foot in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles around CBS Television City, The Grove, and the Farmer’s Market.
Ride the Trolley at The Grove
The Grove is an open-air luxury retail complex within the historic Farmer’s Market. From the upper levels of its parking garage, you can look down into the lots of CBS Television City. From The Original Farmers Market, a double-decker trolley strolls past large shops like American Girl, Nordstrom and Sephora, stopping at a grand fountain with hourly water shows. As a teenager, I did my homework from the balconies of the Cheesecake Factory and Barnes and Noble. From the parking structures, you can look into the studios at CBS Television City next door.
Go Luxury Grocery Shopping
This is where you’ll find some of the most lavish grocery shopping in Los Angeles County. The original Erewhon draws models and actors for a $17 breakfast burrito. Across the street from Wholefoods and Trader Joes, the Farmer’s Market offers over 100 gourmet grocers and restaurants, having served Los Angeles since 1934.
See a Taping at CBS Television City
Passing through the gates of CBS Television City is a rite of passage for some actors since the studio was built in 1952. Today, it’s easy to buy studio audience tickets for a taped late night talk show. However, the lot does feel dated in comparison to the more modern production studios – like the Netflix HQ a few miles north. Luckily, the facilities are scheduled to be modernized by the new owners.
Watch a Screening at Writer’s Guild of America (some day)
The elusive brown building at the corner of Fairfax and Beverly is the Writers Guild of America West, a labor union representing thousands of writers for TV, movies, and news. If you haven’t “made it” (and don’t have a friend in the Guild), you can eavesdrop on working screenwriters schmoozing over morning coffee at one of the local diners. One day, once you’ve sold that big script and paid your $2500 membership fees, you can look forward to complimentary screenings with filmmakers. Alternatively, your friend who’s a member of the Guild is allowed to bring two guests.
Exercise at Pan Pacific Park
Even before the Grove opened in 2002, I attended day camp and intramural sports training here in the summer as a child. The city grew around Pan Pacific Park, a family-friendly recreational center with several lawns, an indoor basketball complex, tennis courts, swimming pools, and playgrounds.
Offer Shabbos Goy
Historically, the Fairfax District has been a center of the Jewish community in Los Angeles. Some of the traditional Jewish families you might see practicing the Sabboth have lived in this neighborhood for generations. Synagogues, family centers, schools, and kosher delis are nestled throughout the Fairfax district. Close by Pan Pacific Park is the Holocaust Museum.
