Play: Beverly Hills? Even the budget-conscious can have fun in the land of the rich and famous.
“I’m not a Beverly Hills dude,” the late director John Singleton once declared, referring to how he resisted moving into a swanky ’hood, despite a successful career in movies and TV.
I’m not a Beverly Hills dude, either. Not even close. But I sometimes pretend.
For many summers, I’ve joined other journalists in covering the Television Critics Association press tour at the Beverly Hilton — the hotel that hosts the Golden Globe Awards … and, um, also where Whitney Houston died. For most of the two-week tour, we are held captive in a frigid ballroom, listening to TV actors and producers chat up their latest projects. But every now and then, we get to step out into the radiant Socal sun and enjoy the offerings of a city known for luxury, fame, Botox and a little teen melodrama that subjected us to Tori Spelling.
In doing so, I’ve discovered plenty of ways to enjoy the 90210 without breaking the bank (translation: not shopping on Rodeo Drive). Here are a few.
1 Head to a park
Beverly Gardens Park, 1.9 miles of manicured greenery, is just across the street from the Beverly Hilton.
Starting at the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, I’ll slip on the earbuds and listen to some tunes as I jog, or stroll, along its tree-lined trails.
And it’s a peaceful place where you can go to smell the roses — lots of them. There’s a beautiful rose garden and a cactus garden, as well as water fountains, arbors and plenty of funky public art pieces.
The park also features the famous, Instagramready Beverly Hills sign and lily pond.
Join all the other tourists and snap a selfie to let Hollywood know that you’re ready for your closeup. Find more details at www.beverlyhills.org.
2 See a creepykooky house
Just north of Beverly Gardens Park is a whimsical private residence that appears to have sprung straight out of a Grimms’ fairy tale.
Known as The Witch’s House (516 Walden Drive), it features a pointy, sloping roof (reminiscent of a sorceress’s hat), oddly misshaped windows and an intentionally dilapidated facade. A moat teeming with koi circles the front of the property.
Built in 1921 as a set for a silent movie studio in Culver City, it was relocated to Beverly Hills in 1934 and has undergone extensive renovations in recent years. It might look jarringly out of place among the city’s elegant mansions, but the drive-by tour buses love it and I bet little Halloween trick-or-treaters do, too.
3 Visit The Paley Center for Media
Of course a TV geek is going to give a shoutout to a place that preserves and celebrates the shows we love.
At the heart of the Paley Center (465 N. Beverly Drive) is a digital library of more than 140,000 programs covering almost 100 years of television and radio history. Just plant yourself at a console and have at it (a classic episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” perhaps?). Or check out a special screening in one of the facility’s theaters.
The Paley Center also regularly hosts panel discussions with stars and producers of current TV shows, along with fun rotating exhibits. During my most recent visit, several fantastical costumes from “The Masked Singer” were on display.
So, yes, I gazed into the beady eyes of the giant Peacock — and, no, Donny Osmond was not still encased inside.
4 Go hotel-hopping
I have a fervent interest in Hollywood’s Golden Age, so a visit to the Beverly Hills Hotel (aka The Pink Palace) on Sunset Boulevard is always a blast.
Opened in 1912, this historic landmark is a celebrity hot spot that has played host to Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and many others. Meanwhile, music fans will recognize it for portraying “Hotel California” on the cover of the Eagles’ iconic album.
Of course, you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the city’s hotels. Just drop by for a drink, or bask in the glamorous settings, or do some people-watching. You never know when you might spot someone famous.
Another jaw-dropper is the incredibly ornate Beverly Wilshire, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. Some know it as the “‘Pretty Woman’ Hotel,” for its appearance in the popular Julia Roberts-richard Gere film.
For more contemporary digs, check out the fabulous Waldorf Astoria, which opened in 2017, and head to the open-air rooftop lounge. There you’ll be treated to panoramic views that extend from the Hollywood Hills to downtown Los Angeles.
5 Experience a sugar rush
While juice bars are all the rage in Beverly Hills, I still can’t resist a visit to the original Sprinkles cupcakes store (9635 S. Santa Monica Blvd.). In fact, my family will disown me if I don’t return home with a big box of red velvety goodness.
If you’re more of a frozen-treat person, be advised that Sprinkles runs an ice cream store right next door. But maybe the real attraction is embedded in the wall between the two — the world’s first 24-hour cupcake ATM. Yes, a machine that dispenses emergency frosted desserts whenever you need them!
And you thought the iphone was a marvelous invention.
Another way to indulge your sweet tooth is a visit to Edelweiss Chocolates (444 N. Canon Drive). Founded in 1942, it’s one of the oldest confectionaries in America that still processes its
treats by hand and was recently named by mentalfloss.com as the best chocolate shop in California. Oh, yes, there’s a TV tie-in: Legend has it that Lucille Ball got the idea for her famous chocolate factory scene at Edelweiss.
6 Visit Greystone Mansion & Park
It’s fun, of course, to gawk at the marvelous mansions of Beverly Hills, but even better to get an upclose-and-personal experience. This magnificent property (905 Loma Vista Drive) provides that opportunity.
Built in 1928 and formerly known as the Doheny estate, it’s a 55-room castle-like behemoth that sits on 18.5 acres of gorgeous, city-owned parkland. You can stroll the tranquil gardens and courtyard for free. The interior is only open for tours on select days. The tours are offered by the city and by the Friends of Greystone (www.greystonemansion.org).
If the place looks familiar, you’ve probably seen it in several films and TV shows. “Gilmore Girls” fans might recognize it as the exterior of Chilton Academy, the prestigious private school that Rory attended. Also, its gardens played host to the famous wedding of Luke and Laura on “General Hospital.”
The rich, in other words, and famous.