Los Angeles Through the Looking Glass

Lizzy Calvo, a Newhouse senior from Los Angeles, offers a comprehensive guide to exploring Los Angeles during the Newhouse LA program. A magazine, news and digital journalism major, Calvo participated in the program in summer 2024.

a person takes a selfie
Visiting the Warner Bros. Studio. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in the world, greeting a whopping 50 million visitors a year, according to the Los Angeles County Development Corporation. For students participating in the Newhouse LA program, exploring the new city may be daunting. 

This summer I made my way home to participate in the Newhouse LA program. As a native Angeleno, here is  my guide to exploring LA and all that it has to offer:

The Map

The first vital thing to understand as a student coming to LA for the first time is its layout. I like to think of LA as having two distinct sections: the Valley, and everything else. 

The new Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program campus is located in North Hollywood, where most students will live during the program. Despite “Hollywood” being in the name, NoHo is located in the Valley, which is separated from Central LA by the Hollywood Hills. The Valley also houses Burbank, where you’ll find some of the major studio lots, in addition to several other smaller cities to explore. 

Moving west through the Hollywood Hills is the part of LA that most people imagine. Griffith Observatory sits high on the hill, overlooking the city below it, the Hollywood Sign a few miles over. Down below is West Hollywood, a neighborhood with a vibrant nightlife culture and great for lovers of comedy clubs. Moving further west, you pass Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, and then The Getty, eventually hitting the ocean and arriving at the famous Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66. Further east lies Dodgers stadium, Downtown LA, and a little further out, concert venues including The Forum and Sofi Stadium. 

Now that you have a little understanding of Los Angeles’s layout, here are some of the best spots to visit across the map.

Entertainment

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The first must-do activity without question is the Warner Bros. Studio tour. The Newhouse LA program typically provides students with tickets to the tour, which is how my classmates and I got to attend! The tour consists of a drive around the lot, getting to see the sets of famous TV shows like “Friends” and “Gilmore Girls,” a tour of a current soundstage and a photo op at the end, alongside the opportunity to explore a warehouse full of costumes and props from famous films. 

a group of people sit on a couch
Lizzy (far left) and friends sit on the “Friends” couch during the Warner Bros. Studio tour. (Photo courtesy of Lizzy Calvo)
a film set of a coffee shop from the television show "Friends"
The Central Perk set from “Friends.” (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

The Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl is one of the most famous venues in the city, located in the hills right in the pass where the Valley turns into Hollywood. The venue itself is a massive outdoor amphitheater that hosts sing-alongs, concerts, theatrical performances and more. I attended the “Barbie Movie Live In Concert” with my roommate, and we got to see a fireworks show in addition to a live orchestra and the movie itself, fanfare that is not uncommon for Bowl productions. 

The Barbie movie showing on a giant screen above the Hollywood Bowl
“Barbie” in concert. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

New Beverly Cinema

This is for the hardcore movie lovers, and was recommended by Newhouse LA faculty member Cecile Murias, who teaches The Art of Production course. Owned by famed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, New Beverly Cinema is a theater focused on creating the best viewing experience. Most of the movies shown are on film, preserving the movie’s original form. In addition, they have special themed double features that are great for spending a whole day locked in at the movies.

Food

Grand Central Market

Located downtown, Grand Central Market is one of the best places to eat in the city. Taking up an entire city block right next to the famous Angel’s Flight Railway, Grand Central Market has every kind of cuisine you can think of from Chinese and Mexican to sushi, to breakfast sandwiches and giant strawberry donuts. This has been one of my favorite spots in LA since I went with my parents as a little kid, and comes highly recommended by Newhouse LA faculty Michael Green who teaches communications law.

Food stalls in Grand Central Market food hall in Los Angeles
Food stalls in Grand Central Market. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)
A neon sign in Grand Central Market. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

Porto’s Cuban Bakery

Another spot from my childhood, I can’t recommend a single spot in LA as highly as Porto’s. Located in Burbank (very close to the Dick Clark Center), Porto’s has every single baked good you can think of and more, in addition to serving hot food. If you want to try out some classic Cuban foods, I recommend the potato balls, Cubano sandwiches and guava strudels, but every single thing they make is delicious. 

Tito’s Tacos

A classic LA hotspot on the west side, Tito’s Tacos is famous for their authentic Mexican food. The restaurant is mostly takeout, where you order at a counter and grab a box with your food, but they have plenty of tables to eat there. You simply cannot leave LA without having had a Tito’s Taco.

Miscellaneous Must Visits

Universal Studios Hollywood

One of the best things to do as a student is go to Universal Studios. Although it is a theme park, it’s built next door to the Universal Studios lot. Go on the studio tour, where you can spend up to an hour on a guided tram tour of the lot, sometimes getting to see the behind the scenes of what’s being filmed on the lot. The best part is that it’s only a 10-minute drive from campus!

Universal Studios arch
The Universal Studios entrance. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

Dodgers Stadium, SoFi Stadium or the Crypto.com Arena

Another staple experience to have before leaving LA is attending a sporting event. Depending on the season, you can pick between baseball, football and basketball, but luckily LA has some of the best teams for all three! I would recommend going to a Dodgers, Rams or Lakers game. The Clippers, Chargers and Angels are alternative team options (but I think real Angelenos are fans of the other teams). 

a baseball stadium
Dodgers Stadium on a sunny day. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)
an image of a concert in a stadium
Attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert at Sofi Stadium. (Photo by Lizzy Calvo)

The Getty Museum

Sitting high in the hills above the 405 freeway is the J. Paul Getty Museum, my favorite art museum in LA. Their collections have varying forms of art, from as far back as two thousand years ago to today, with paintings, sculptures, photographs and more. The museum grounds also have a beautiful garden that is fun to explore. I recommend spending the whole day here, as there is so much to see and an hour or two won’t allow you to see much! Tickets are free, but reservations are required at least a day in advance.


Whatever your interests, there is something for everyone here in Los Angeles. As you start your program, take some time to look around and learn about where you live. Happy exploring!