You See LA: April 2024
Things to See and Do In or Near L.A., Handpicked by Lecturer Yara Feghali
The arts are an essential part of UCLA. They inspire dialogue, encourage creativity, and drive real lasting change, across disciplines, borders, and backgrounds. They also create opportunities for increased engagement with our surrounding communities.
Yara Feghali, lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, has curated a diverse selection of things to see and do in or near Los Angeles.
Yara is a French Lebanese architectural designer working at the intersection of architecture pedagogy, transmedia, and immersive technologies. She is the creative director of Folly Feast Lab, co-founded with Viviane El Kmati and based in Santa Monica, Calif. Through worldbuilding and storytelling, Yara and Viviane design immersive and interactive experiences, applications, software, design tools, and games around queer identity, sustainability, and technology. With Folly Feast Lab, they are committed to designing fantastic experiences that are as aesthetically engaging as they are technologically performing.
L.A. thrives in its fractured beauty. Every block feels like a unique chapter, stitching together a captivating tapestry. Turn a corner and you're presented with a whole new side of the city, like navigating a choose-your-own-adventure story. To really understand it, I embrace a sense of discovery, of drifting, letting the unexpected lead me on a delightful urban odyssey through the highway’s traffic. I think of it as reading the city through the lens of the Situationists, exploring the hidden potential of everyday spaces. I am channeling Debord and Jorn's Parisian explorations of the 1950s, but bathed in sunshine. This resonates with my recent discovery of Ceci n'est pas une ville by Laure Murat, yet another brilliant book about L.A. Like her, I see echoes of Paris in L.A., but with a uniquely Californian twist.
I have been in L.A. for seven years now and it is impossible for me to give you only five things that you need to see in L.A. so I am choosing five things I know I will be doing this April and will divide them per time of the day with a bonus for each.
Morning on the West Side 
Santa Monica Beach at sunset. (Yara Feghali)
I'm an early riser, maybe a little too enthusiastic for most mornings. But that's when the magic happens for me on the Santa Monica Bike Path. Golden hour paints the sky with soft hues, and the beach comes alive with energetic Angelenos. There's a soundtrack of music mixing with the cool ocean breeze, and a vibrant scene of people pushing their limits — runners, cyclists, skaters, all stretching their every muscle against the stunning coastal backdrop. It stretches from Marina Del Rey all the way to Will Rogers State Beach, and it's a guaranteed mood-booster. As you get close to Will Rogers State Beach, the bike path nears its end, the sandy stretch narrows dramatically. Here, you'll find yourself just 10 feet from the water's edge on the path. Several benches woo you to rest and soak up the scene. The rhythmic crash of Pacific waves against the warm sand creates a truly immersive soundscape.This coastline is what makes me fall in love with L.A. all over again.
Bonus: Stop by any of the Perry's Cafés to sit in their beach lounge chairs and dip your feet in the sand. Indulge in groovy vibes, stunning ocean views, and a selection of refreshing delicious breakfast juices!
Lunch near UCLA 
1776 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles
Sunnin’s eggplant delight boasts grilled eggplant topped with diced tomatoes, parsley, a touch of diced onions, and extra virgin olive oil. (Sunnin)
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe is my Westwood lifesaver for those in-between-class bites. This cozy spot hits the spot with fresh, delicious Lebanese food that always transports me back to my roots. It's super convenient — close to campus, with parking, and a bus stop out front. Plus, it's walkable if you're feeling energetic! My go-to order is the dreamy eggplant delight, the fiery spicy potatoes, a refreshing fattoush salad, and you can't go wrong with their classic tabouleh. Sunnin's the perfect pit stop for a quick and tasty Lebanese feast!
Bonus: Set the mood for your lunch with the soulful Lebanese sounds of Yasmine Hamdan's song "Hal" and the infectious energy of the song "Stouh Adonis" by Lebanese band Adonis.
Afternoon in Mid-Wilshire 
5511 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
Remaking Santa Monica at Killscreen, an exhibition featuring work from Yara's Department of Architecture and Urban Design studio. (Yara Feghali)
Shout out to Killscreen where I was invited as their first micro residency format to showcase the work of my winter 2023 studio in UCLA's Department of Architecture and Urban Design. Killscreen champions interdisciplinary play as the lifeblood of arts and culture and is run by Jamin Warren. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, he breaks down silos between design, established culture, and all creative fields. This approach cultivates a vibrant community of creators who, through play, demonstrate its power to shape the world. We showcased a choose-your-own adventure architectural game called Santa Monica. We used game engines to craft an interactive narrative for a mixed-use block in Santa Monica, each decision leading to a new design of the block. We design collectively these variations by simultaneously playing an interactive game where we can see the multiple scenarios play out by piecing together a map, a giant game board with game pieces, and an 8-bit style game.
Play it here!
Bonus: Stop by Pan Pacific Park in Mid-Wilshire around 5:30 p.m. Everyone in the neighborhood brings their dogs — and so do I — to let them run loose in the northern part of the park where the landscape middle ground sinks and you get to sit around and see all the dogs playing together. 
Evening in Silverlake 
3510 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
The interior of the Ruby Fruit on Sunset Blvd. (Ruby Fruit)
Meet up at the Ruby Fruit, a self-proclaimed "strip mall wine bar for the ✨Sapphically Inclined✨." It is the perfect place for an early evening get-together. It's a chill spot during the week, but be warned: weekends get lively, and you might find yourself socializing in the parking lot — a classic L.A. experience! On the up side if you go during the week there is parking. They have delicious coffee, too.
Bonus: A great historical bar nearby I love is the Black Cat. I would also recommend an early evening walk along the reservoir in Silverlake to try and spot the Neutra Houses! This collection of nine Richard Neutra-designed houses sits along the east side of the reservoir. It includes the iconic VDL Research House I, Neutra's former residence and studio. While tours are limited to Saturdays, the exteriors are a treat for architecture enthusiasts any day.
My fifth spot is more of a drive than a place 
The Palm Springs Windmills adjacent to Highway 111 and the I-10. (Palm Springs Windmills Tours)
When the city gets overwhelming, I crave the serenity of the desert. My escape? A road trip to Desert Hot Springs. Cruising past the iconic windmills of Palm Springs, I listen to music and soak in the vast, sublime beauty of the Mojave Desert. In Desert Hot Springs, I enjoy hot and cold mineral spring water soaks, and the tranquility of the night sky is perfect for stargazing — maybe you'll even spot your zodiac constellation! This is the perfect place to relax in April.
Bonus: I have recently been listening in loop to the L.A. based artist Sofia Bolt. Give a listen to their song ‘Waves’ and let her golden voice guide you. If you like pop accents, french accents, and dilemmas, this is the one for you.
Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.
