The myth of Los Angeles as a land of luxury and sunshine has long loomed large in the modern psyche. Two new exhibits, LACMA’s SoCal: Southern California Art of the 1960s and ‘70s and the Getty’s Julius Shulman’s Los Angeles, explore LA’s mid-20th century persona and its dramatic evolution into a world capital. SoCal features wide ranging works that imagine LA as both a utopia and as a funky, in-your-face place with gritty works of assemblage and California pop art. The exhibit runs through March 30, 2008. The Julius Shulman exhibition at the Los Angeles Public Library in Downtown (Oct. 16 – Jan. 20, 2008) will be presented by the Getty Research Institute to launch the Getty Center’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. At 96, photographer Julius Shulman is one of the few individuals who has witnessed and documented the growth of LA during the past century. His seven photographic narratives include the competing urban developments of Bunker Hill and Century City, exotic architectural expressions such as the Watts Towers and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and current urban developments now underway.
www.getty.edu
www.lacma.org

Renovated and ready for the 2007 holiday shopping season, shopping destinations in LA have perfected the art of shopping by making a trip to the mall an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re strolling through The Citadel or riding the trolley at The Grove, uniquely LA shopping is sure to draw the crowds this holiday season.

The Citadel
The holiday season begins on Nov. 17 with the 6th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The 90-foot tree features 15,000 lights. Festivities include live entertainment and the opening of Santa’s Cottage - where kids can pose with Santa for Christmas photos. BCBG and Tommy Hilfiger are among the newest of The Citadel’s more than 85 stores. www.citadeloutlets.com

The Grove
The Grove kicks off the 2007 holiday season with the “Hollywood Christmas Celebration from The Grove.” The lighting of a 110-foot-tall Christmas tree will take place around the Thanksgiving holiday and both children and adults will be delighted by the opening of Santa’s gingerbread house, live entertainment, twice-nightly snowfalls and weekend carolers. New shops at The Grove include Barneys New York CO-OP and Michael Kors. www.thegrovela.com

The Beverly Center
Besides the great shopping options, “Hunky Santa” (Santa’s hipper, fitness buff son) is this year’s highlight at the Beverly Center starting Nov. 23. One night a week “Santa Paws” will pose with pets. The new exterior La Cienega Escalator is set to open Nov. 1 and new shops include Gucci, a Ticketmaster outlet and Burberry. www.beverlycenter.com

Sherman Oaks Galleria
On Nov. 30, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at the Sherman Oaks Galleria when the switch is flipped. Festivities include live holiday jazz, a children’s choir, free cookies and hot chocolate. Mid-November is the scheduled soft opening of the Galleria’s new ArcLight Sherman Oaks: 16 cinemas all with reserved seating, a concierge and one theater will feature a lobby bar. Guests 21 years and older may take alcoholic drinks into the movie. www.shermanoaksgalleria.com

Pacific Park recently rolled out its own red carpet along the planks of the Santa Monica Pier for the premiere of Crazy Cruiser. Many visitors enjoyed the first blockbuster new game of the season and many more are waiting their turn. Featuring a pair of bikes that whirl 360 degrees, Crazy Cruiser has challengers pedaling fast and furious to the finish while competing for Pacific Park prizes. The one-of-a-kind Crazy Cruiser anchors Pacific Park’s Pier Pressure Zone, which includes 21 family-style midway games ranging from Pirates’ Pier Mini Golf, X-treme Wave Jumper and Coastline Cat Rack to Surfside Skeeball, Pier Plank Plunge and Pacific Peak Climbing Wall. In addition, Pacific Park features 12 rides including, Pacific Wheel, the West Coaster, Pacific Plunge, Sea Dragon, Inkie’s Scrambler, Sig Alert, Ship Ahoy, Inkie’s Lil’ Scrambler, Red Baron, Pier Patrol, Crazy Submarine and Frog Hopper. Pacific Park celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year.

Visitors can get a true taste of NoHo, North Hollywood’s unique arts district, at the “NoHo Scene” celebration on Oct. 6. Festivities include free theater, dance and music performances, art exhibits, film screenings, workshops and discounts and samplings from area restaurants, shops and businesses. Free shuttles will run throughout the district and a food and wine garden will invite relaxation. Be sure to visit NoHo’s newest bar, Bank Heist, which opens this month inside a historic bank building. Owner Jason Feld retained the original mahogany walls and terrazzo floors to give it a classy 1920s gangster theme. Mojito snow cones promise to be a menu favorite. HOWS Market also recently debuted in NoHo Commons, a 16-acre retail/residential redevelopment at the entrance to NoHo on Lankershim Boulevard. The 32,000-square-foot upscale market is just one of many retailers flocking to this booming area. The fourth construction phase is scheduled to begin late this year and will include a Laemmle Theaters cinema.
www.nohoartsdistrict.com