Coolhaus Shop offers exotic house-made ice creams sandwiched between cookies.
In the shadow of a towering steel-and-aluminum rainbow, an old movie town is evolving into a bona fide art hub. Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, artist Tony Tasset’s 94-foot Rainbow sculpture at Sony Pictures Studios (formerly MGM Studios, where the 1939 classic was filmed) will be the latest addition to the 90-plus pieces of public artwork scattered around Culver City. The burg’s unusually shaped 5 square miles are also known for a forward-thinking culinary scene.
Do
Dubbed the Chelsea of the West Coast, the dozen or so art spaces along Washington Boulevard 1 have hosted an impressive list of pop artists from Andy Warhol to Banksy. For a map and list of galleries, check out the Culver City Art District Gallery Guide. Learn how to fold tamales, sharpen knife skills, or roll out fresh pastas at the New School of Cooking 2. Classes start at $75. 8690 W. Washington Boulevard. 1-310-842-9702. Thursday nights at the 1924 art deco Culver Hotel 3 ooze speakeasy charm with silent movies and live Prohibition-era tunes. 9400 Culver Boulevard. 1-310-558-9400.
Shop
In addition to a wide variety of professional kitchen tools, from food mills to sieves, Surfas 4 also offers a great selection of artisanal olive oils and hard-to-find ingredients. 8777 W. Washington Blvd. 1-310-559-4770. Stone Candles Warehouse 5 specializes in earth-friendly coconut, soy, and beeswax candles. 8771 W. Washington Boulevard. 1-310-559-0133.
Eat
Share in the communal dining experience at A-Frame 6, which expertly combines American comfort food with Asian flavors. 12565 W. Washington Boulevard. 1-310- 398-7700. Next door, British gastropub Waterloo & City 7 delivers English standbys, like beef Wellington—beef tenderloin wrapped in flaky puff pastry—as well as adventurous charcuterie and inventive pizzas. 12517 W. Washington Boulevard. 1-310-391-4222. At the no-frills Coolhaus Shop 8, you can indulge in exotic house-made ice creams scooped into soda floats, sandwiched between cookies, or dolloped into espresso. 8588 W. Washington Boulevard. 1-310-424-5559.
Please call to check hours and availability of businesses, attractions, and events before you visit. City of Culver City: 1-310-253-5776.
Getting There
Culver City is approximately 6 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Access Washington Boulevard from I-405 (exit 51 southbound; exit 52 northbound) or I-10 (exit 6, Robertson Boulevard, eastbound; exit 7B westbound). For a free Los Angeles Central & Western Area map, visit your local Auto Club branch.
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