A Landmark Not To Be Missed: Landmark Theaters at the Westside Pavilion

Watching a movie at the Landmark Westside Pavilion is a whole new movie viewing experience. It was kind of like watching a movie in my living room, except the couches (that’s right couches!) were way comfier than mine and the screen was like 1000 times as big and the speakers were 1000 times better. Ok, so maybe it wasn't like watching a movie in my living room, but that’s a good thing.



Housed in the Westside Pavilion shopping center, the multiplex - just opened in June - plays a mix of mainstream and indie films. Most of the twelve theaters are relatively small, filled with cozy leather couches. Even a few stability balls are thrown in the front for people to sit on or perch their feet on. Parking is free and plentiful (almost unheard of on the Westside).



Unlike other theaters, you choose your exact seat when you buy the ticket so you can avoid those nasty front row seats that require an ostrich-like neck crane to watch the movie, leaving you in pain the next day. Did I mention there are ushers around to escort you to your seat?

So what's this experience going to cost? Amazingly, tickets run about the same as other theaters around town - $11 for an adult, $9 for a matinee. Besides the standard popcorn and soda on offer, the concession sells Yogurberry fro-yo (a Pinkberry rip-off), pizza from Pizza Rustica, and fancy imported chocolate like Toblerone.

Touted as the ultimate grown-up moviegoing experience, Landmark offers special 21+ nights on Fridays and Saturdays, when you can buy a glass of wine or a brewsky to enjoy with your flick.

To find out what's showing now, click here.

Westside Pavilion
10850 Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Cross Street: Westwood Blvd

The Huntington: World-Famous Roses, Cacti, and Rare Books

Spanning 120 acres in San Marino (next to Pasadena), The Huntington comprises a library, art collections, and themed botanical gardens.



Henry Huntington, a railroad magnate, founded the collection in 1919. Help came from his uncle Collis Huntington, who died in 1900, leaving Henry an inheritance and, as fate would have it, his widow Arabella (a great art collector who went on to marry Henry in 1913.)

A stroll through the gardens calms the soul. The gardens are all exceptional, but the Desert Garden - almost like a display of modern art - is not to be missed.

Picturing tumbleweed and parched earth, I was pleasantly surprised by the Desert Garden's variety.



Who knew cacti come in so many different shapes and sizes? Small, large, furry, barrel-shaped… Some even had red fruit growing on them. I learned the hard way to admire the fruit from a distance after getting sharply pricked.

I thought my knowledge of the desert was pretty limited until I heard one woman ask earnestly, “What do they do if it rains?” I was tempted to tell her they throw a massive tarp over the whole 1.5 acres of desert plants.



Next stop was the Japanese Gardens. The scene is zen-inducing, complete with a wooden bridge, perfectly-pruned bonsai, and a pond filled with brightly-colored Koi.



Stop and smell the roses in The Rose Garden, which houses row after row of these vibrantly colored, fragrant flowers. It’s also fun to check out the names of the different species on display like Christian Dior, Prima Ballerina, and Bewitched.



Let your inner botanist loose at the nearby Conservatory, which houses displays of tropical and bog plants and also has a room with interactive displays. Have fun measuring which flowers have enough sugar to attract bees. See the difference between moss and liverwort under a microscope. And last but not least, there’s a plant petting zoo where you can touch and smell a variety of flora.

Ready for a change of pace? Meander through the world-renowned library collection. The original books on display put history into context in a way that textbooks can’t. Friendly docents explain how the Gutenberg Bible - one of the earliest printed books from the 15th century – is only one of 47 left. Huntington bought it in 1911 for $50,000 – the highest price ever paid for a book at the time. Amongst the one-of-a-kind items on display are an original handwritten essay by Locke, a Shakespeare play, a Henry David Thoreau manuscript, and the last photo of Lincoln before his assassination.



In celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, there’s an exhibit on the colony’s history on now through mid-January 2008. Since playing Pocahontas in a 6th grade school play, I’ve been a bit obsessed with Jamestown. You might be familiar with the colony via Disney’s Pocahontas flick. This exhibit gives some non-fiction insight into the relationship between the colony’s founder Captain John Smith and the nearby Powhatan Indians.

Last but not least, don’t miss tea-time at the Rose Garden Tea Room, which overlooks three acres of roses. Limitless refills of tea and scones are served so come on an empty stomach. Reservations are required.

At $15 a pop for a ticket, entry to the Huntington seems steep, but when you consider that it includes admission to the gardens, library, and special exhibits, it becomes more justifiable.

Admission is free the first Thursday of every month, but you need to secure a reservation in advance. Click here for more info.

The Huntington
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

Tues - Fri: Noon - 4:30 p.m.
Sat - Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.