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Updated
A glamorous neighbor of greater Los Angeles, West Hollywood (sometimes known as WeHo), has its share of A-list celebrities to rub shoulders with and legendary nightspots to order a cocktail. It’s home to the Sunset Strip, but West Hollywood has more to offer than just glitz and glamour; it's a thriving, urban community, compact and close to other cities and welcoming to alternative lifestyles.
In the last couple of decades, West Hollywood has welcomed many LGBT residents; its in the first county that approved legal domestic partnerships in the 1980s. The population hovers around 35,000, and many residents identify as liberal and progressive. It’s one of the most popular areas in the L.A. region to live; average home prices hover above $1 million, and rent prices are higher than average around the greater L.A. metro.
Though it's part of Los Angeles County and bordered by glamorous zip codes such as Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, West Hollywood itself is a fairly small place – yet surprisingly self-sufficient. Most of the neighborhoods only span a couple of blocks, and the city prides itself on being the most pedestrian friendly that California has to offer. But if you don't feel like walking, you have a few options, most of them inexpensive. For example, the city recently implemented the WeHo PickUp, a free service started in 2013 to help locals get around busy nightspots safely and easily. The service promotes food and drink specials at many of the stops as well as special holiday routes. Another free form of transportation known as Dial-a-Ride offers curb service to all seniors over 62 years of age, as well as to the disabled.
Many people come to West Hollywood specifically for the nightlife; the array of bars and clubs on the Sunset Strip, part of Sunset Boulevard, are known for their celebrity history, and the PickUp shuttle makes it easy to enjoy a nightcap. Festivals and events in West Hollywood range from the Halloween Carnavall, the nation's largest Halloween street party, to after-parties for the Academy Awards. For a dose of culture, venture to the city's book fair, held every year since 2001.