Thanks for posting your guide. I think it'll help a lot of people who are new to the Southland. As a Third-Generation Native raised in The Valley (as we call the San Fernando Valley) I'd like to offer a few thoughts.
First, the freeways. Even I get confused by the numbers game, and as I've been here since there was only one freeway, I'll tell you what we Natives did then and still do to help keep it straight: we use the names rather than the numbers. For example:
I-5 is the Golden State Freeway
170 is The Hollywood Freeway
The I-10 (AKA The Eye-One-Oh) is The Santa Monica Freeway
The 405 is the San Diego Freeway
The 134, which becomes the 101 is the Ventura Freeway
The 110 is the Harbor Freeway

Those are most of the main freeway names, the others are just variations on the theme. I tell you, when the traffic repoprts start on the radio, I get brain-numb real quick when all they use are the numbers, so the names help me keep it together in my head.

Another concern... WATER. This is, in fact, the low desert. ALL of our domestic water comes from the Owens Valley Aqueduct, The California Aqueduct, and the Colorado River Aqueduct. At this time, our population in the Southland exceeds our water supply by over 200%. PLEASE, do not waste water, use it sparingly. Whatever amount of water you used back home, cut that in half at least. And please, don't be fooled by artful fictions like CHINATOWN (a travesty against L.A. history if ever there was one) or revisionist crap like CADILLAC DESERT. If it wasn't for the heroic work of William Mulholland and the Bureau of Water Works & Supply (predecessor of the DWP), most of us wouldn't be here. We didn't steal the water from Owens Valley, we bought it at the rate of FOUR times the market value, fair and square. Mulholland was well-loved during his time; only the PC revisionists have reviled his work while quenching their thirst with the water he supplied. If you drink bottled water (contrary to popular belief, the stuff that comes from the DWP taps is really OK to drink) then the best you can get is Sparkletts. Arrowhead is the worst, not only in terms of taste, but also because Arrowhead has more chemicals in their bottled water than the tap water from the faucet. Sparkletts, on the other hand, bottles their water directly from the artesian wells they own at the south end of Eagle Rock Boulevard, without adding a bunch of harmful chemicals. You can really taste the difference.

HISTORY. Los Angeles actually has a long, rich cultural history. This city was incorporated in 1783. So many folks from back East think this place is a blank slate, just waiting for YOU to remake it into what YOU think it should be. It's not, and we Angelinos are as proud of our history as those from New York, Boston, or D.C. Please respect it. A lot of it is still there, if you know where to look. I recommend Brand Park and Library in Glendale; the Southwest Museum in Highland Park; The L.A. County Museum of Natural History, and other too numerous to mention here.

SMOKING. If you are a smoker, STAY OUT OF OUR MOUNTAINS. Period! Chapparal is a tinderbox just waiting to be lit. You've seen it firsthand this October.
As long as we're mentioning mountains, I'll say a word about WILDLIFE. L.A. is the only American city I know of that has actual wilderness area within the city limits, especially Griffith Park. Here you'll find mountain lions, bobcats, bears, skunks, possums, coyotes, and all manner of birds and reptiles. They all have a job to do here, and the last thing you need to do is harm them or try to eradicate them. Especialy the snakes, rattlers included. They are a VERY important part of our ecosystem. If you encounter any such animals, especially a rattlesnake, DON'T TRY TO KILL IT or anything else. They were here first, and deserve our respect.
Also, if you decide to visit our National Forests, LEAVE THE BOOM BOXES AND GHETTO BLASTERS AT HOME!!! You can learn a lot in our forests, if you're quiet and allow the voices of Nature to be heard.

FILMING. If you come across a film being shot, screw the protocol, and approach one of the crew. Sound men are usually the most approachable and will often talk to a "civilian." The camera crew is usually too busy to chat, but sometimes the actors will allow you to approach. Often, that's the way a person who is new to the area and the industry makes contacts. So, don't be shy, but do be respectful and polite. I know that whenever I'm directing a shoot, I always welcome the public, and I try to take the time to chat when it doesn't interfere with the work. It's called NETWORKING. Having a big head never gets you anywhere.

HOLLYWOOD'S BORDERS. Hollywood is bordered on the north by the Hollywood Hills; the west between La Brea and Fairfax; the south by Melrose Bl.; and the east by Hillhurst.

LIVING SPACE. The most pleasant areas to live that most of us can afford, are the East San Fernando Valley, including anywhere in Burbank, Glendale, Sunland, Tujunga, La Crescenta, La Canada. Parts of North Hollywood are OK, but much of Sun Valley is pretty poor. Forget San Fernando, Panorama City, Arleta, Van Nuys, or Sylmar unless you're a gang member. Northridge and Chatsworth are nice, if a bit pricey for the locale, and anywhere along the south edge of The Valley, around Ventura Bl., and you'd better be rich. San Gabriel Valley, especially Pasadena and Arcadia, have some nice spots, too. If you want to live right in Hollywood, you can do it, but it's also expensive, NOISY, and the street people are something you have to deal with. I did it for several years, and wouldn't do it again if you paid me. West Hollywood and Silverlake are VERY nice, a bit pricey, but they have a GREAT Gay community and a lot of cultural attractions. Anywhere south of Melrose, and you get into some older neightborhoods that range from rich old Jewish and Asian families to used-up ghettos. I wouldn't recommend anything south of Melrose unless you want to go to the beach communities. Too many gang problems.

Finally, if you get the chance to film something out on our streets, you'd better get insurance and a film permit. Personally, I have a big political problem with the EIDC (Entertainment Industry Development Corp.) the entity that hands out film permits. They are, simply put, corrupt. The rates they charge for even ametuer or low-budget film permits are prohibitive, and they won't issue one without approved insurance. If you try to go guerrilla filming and the cops catch you, you WILL LOSE your equipment. I can remember when I used to be able to get a film permit from City Hall for FREE, but now it's a minimum of about $900-$1,100 for the permit and basic insurance. No wonder there are so many productions going elsewhere, considering the featherbedding that is happening in theis town. But, that's the game we have to play, and I will say that the EIDC will help you with certain location preparations, so it kind-of balances out.

GOOD LUCK!