Walking Los Angeles. Erin Mahoney Harris

      A groovy TV landmark

      BOUNDARIES: Moorpark St., Tujunga Ave., Ventura Blvd., Vineland Ave.

      DISTANCE: About 1.75 miles

      DIFFICULTY: Easy

      PARKING: Metered street parking is available on Tujunga Ave.

      Woodbridge Park is a preternaturally idyllic residential neighborhood in Studio City. The streets are shaded with mature trees and lined with meticulously maintained traditional homes. Bordered by the Los Angeles River on the south, US 101 on the northeast, and Tujunga Avenue on the west, this charismatic slice of affluent small-town America is effectively isolated from the anonymous sprawl of the surrounding Valley. Further, a neighborhood park and the collection of shops, salons, and restaurants in Tujunga Village ensure that residents have little reason to leave their bucolic surroundings. It’s no wonder the Brady Bunch chose to settle down here.

      Walk Description

      Begin at the corner of Tujunga Avenue and Moorpark Street, and head south toward Woodbridge Street. You’re in the midst of Tujunga Village, a collection of neighborhood restaurants, shops, and salons that retains a distinctly small-town vibe. Aroma Coffee & Tea Company, at 4360 Tujunga, is a big draw on this stretch; its ample patio seating makes it a great spot for dog owners, and the sandwiches, pastries, and coffee served by the friendly staff are usually quite tasty. But for really good food, Caioti Pizza Café might be the better bet. Chef-owner Ed LaDou is famed for popularizing California-style pizza (thin-crust pies with innovative toppings), but the restaurant is best known for its mysteriously named “The” Salad, a concoction of romaine, watercress, Gorgonzola cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, and walnuts said to induce labor in moms-to-be. Vitello’s Italian Restaurant, at 4349 Tujunga, is the infamous spot where actor Robert Blake dined with his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, just before she was found murdered in Blake’s car, which was parked on a nearby side street. On a lighter note, Tujunga Village also features boutiques and salons; taco stands; a gourmet food store; and Two Roads Theater, which presents plays, movies, and musical performances.

      After you cross Woodbridge, Tujunga Avenue becomes a residential street lined with a mix of old and new apartment buildings. Tujunga is a main thoroughfare between Moorpark Street and Ventura Boulevard, so traffic can be steady during rush hour.

      Turn left on Aqua Vista Street, leaving the traffic of Tujunga behind as you enter an orderly suburban paradise of quiet, smoothly paved streets, carefully manicured lawns, and charming cottage-style homes. The dominant architectural styles are traditional ranch homes and wooden farmhouses, but Woodbridge Park also features a number of English cottages and Spanish-style homes.

      Turn right on Elmer Avenue. You’ll notice a colorful Southwest-style house on the southeast corner of Elmer and Aqua Vista. This vibrant home, sheltered by pine trees and innovatively adorned with abstract metal sculptures, stands out from the more traditional homes on this block. Continue south on Elmer Avenue. Straight ahead, you can see the low, green hills of Studio City.

      Turn left on Dilling Street. At 11222 Dilling is a familiar house: despite a new paint job and the addition of a low wall around the front yard, it will be instantly recognizable by members of a certain generation as the Brady Bunch abode. (Please respect the owner’s privacy.) Dilling is cut off from surrounding streets to the south and the east by the channelized Los Angeles River, which residents and city officials hope to see revitalized someday as a 52-mile-long park.

      Turn left to head north on Klump Avenue, just opposite the Brady house. The street is trimmed with eucalyptus, sycamore, and magnolia trees, whose ample shade provides welcome relief during hot Valley summers. A quaint stone cottage catches the eye at 4146 Klump. After crossing Aqua Vista, look for the owl statue perched atop the low, peaked roof of the garage at 4208 Klump.

      Turn right on Acama Street and continue one block to Fair Avenue. On the northeast corner of Fair and Acama is a home with a beautiful, abstract stained-glass window facing Acama.

      Turn left on Fair Avenue. A very 1960s-style apartment building resides at 4252 Fair, its colorful facade a jarring combination of stucco, wood, and stone.

      Turn right on Valley Spring Lane. At this point, the neighborhood starts to have a more rustic feel, as the sidewalks disappear and split-rail fencing defines yards. The rural vibe is somewhat spoiled by the hum of the adjacent US 101, however, as you continue east.

      Follow the road as it curves left, becoming Valley Spring Place. When you reach the dead end, you’ll see a modern black, wood fence on the left, constructed to prevent cars from trying to cut through the narrow passageway leading to Fair Avenue. Cut through here, and continue south on Fair Avenue.

      Turn right on Valley Spring Lane and continue one short block to Klump Avenue.

      Turn right on Klump. At the end of the street, continue straight along the footpath that passes through a picket fence entryway.

      The path emerges into the park for which this neighborhood is named. Скачать книгу