How do I LA? Hollywood Through the Eyes of a Summer Intern

Kyle Kennedy, one of our summer interns, came to LA for the first time to spend her summer in her office. On her last day,  we asked her to share with our readers what it was like to come from Miami to LA in order to pursue a career in entertainment. She learned a lot about managing social media accounts, but she also learned a lot about our city! 

Note: We're looking for Fall 2016 interns! See our post here.

Hollywood, CA, land of fabulocity and glamour- or so I thought. When I found out I would be living in Hollywood, I imagined somewhere completely phenomenally, unimaginably, mind blowing. When I came back to earth, I realized that the only reason we all think Hollywood is glamorous, is because it’s in movies. Don’t get me wrong, I love having had the opportunity to live in Hollywood, but it’s definitely not as attractive as I imagined. People don’t walk down the street dressed in Balenciaga and Louboutin like you might imagine, it’s far more casual, though you might see a pair of Yeezy’s every so often. My first experience in Hollywood was a crazy dude walking down the street yelling at the sky getting arrested. I mention all of this to say, movies are movies for a reason, and nothing is perfect but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it to experience and enjoy.

Make time to explore LA! If you’ve never been here, it’s one of the most amazing places to be and there are tons of things to do all around LA. Staying true to tourist tendencies, I took a Hollywood tour and got to see the homes of JLo, Johnny Depp, the home used in Iron Man and The Godfather, Dr. Seuss’ house, and many more. It seems corny, but it is a highlight of Hollywood, and I would definitely do it again.

Another thing that shouldn’t be missed is the hike to the Hollywood sign. Now I have to be honest, I should have checked how long the actual hike is because it’s definitely not a walk through the park. I went through a HUGE range of emotions on this hike.

While at the bottom of the hill, all I could think was…

And then when I was about halfway there…

And then there was the top of the hill, when I finally made it to the top…

I was so proud of myself when I reached the top! It’s one of the most beautiful views of the city, but I would recommend going with someone who is from LA so you know what parts of LA you’re looking at.

Food is a necessity for anyone, and Los Angeles is one of the hubs of incredible restaurants. I can honestly say that everywhere I’ve eaten out was a heaven on earth experience. Let us start with In n Out. You know how you roll your eyes at your friends when they say it’s the best fast food, well, they’re right. The food at In n Out is fresh, tasty, and cheap! The bang is definitely worth your buck. Being that LA is inundated with many cultures, there are is array of different styles of food to try. Another one of my places is this place, Republique, a quaint French bakery and eatery located at La Brea and 6th. I’m not a huge bread person, but the pastries and bread are made fresh daily, and the quality of food is incredible. Definitely deserves five stars.

If you love to shop, like I do, you should definitely NOT go to Rodeo Dr. unless you’ve got money to blow. But if you’re ballin’ on a budget like most recent college grads, you should definitely make your way to the fashion district. It’s located downtown and is super easy to get to. A great part of the fashion district is called Santee Alley. They have everything from makeup to clothes, to phone accessories, to jewelry and sunglasses. Literally you can get EVERYTHING there. Trying to ditch your boyfriend and check out the latest styles? Check. Trying to ditch your girlfriend and find some fun gadgets? Check. Everything you want is located in the area. They even have food! You have to stop at one of the stands and get a hotdog wrapped in bacon—sorry vegetarians—but it is a chicken hotdog for anyone with dietary restrictions. So delicious and well deserved after hours of shardio (shopping+cardio).

If you aren’t a lover of dogs, LA may not be the place for you. Anywhere. Everywhere. Dogs. Need to buy a new pair of shoes? You’ll probably run into a Chihuahua. Need to buy a cute top or dress? You’ll probably see a pug. Trying to catch a quick ride on the bus? So is Fido the black lab. I’m sure you’d say surely there are no dogs in a grocery store? HA. There are no limits for where our four legged friends can go in LA. Look out for cute pooches at bars with their owners too.

Before you leave LA, you have to visit West Hollywood, or WeHo, as all LA natives call it. Santa Monica Blvd every night of the week is poppin and they ain’t stoppin. From food to boutiques to clubs, there are so many options for a great time.

All this to say, while enjoying life in LA, make sure you get work done for your internship because more than likely, you will learn more than you could imagine. So be ready to absorb! But, don’t forget…
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Kyle Kennedy is a senior Music Business/Theatre major at University of Miami. She spent her summer interning for BEGIN. She hopes to pursue a career as a stylist or costumer in the entertainment industry while continuing to develop her marketing skills.