Tarzana

Tarzana (named after the Tarzan Stories which was written by a resident of the neighborhood in the early 1900's) is a neighborhood in the western part of the San Fernando Valley. The majority of home owners in this area live in the Santa Monica Mountain part of Tarzana. There is a specific area of Tarzana called Melody Acres that is lush and beautiful; and, it's designated for living in a more rural type of environment. A lot of the houses resemble ranches. The lots are huge and leafy and the houses are pretty extraordinary. There are a number of celebrities and well-renowned writers and artists that live in Tarzana because of the grand houses, incredible views from the mountains, and relative seclusion. It's a bit off of the beaten path from the main Los Angeles area and the Melody Acres part of Tarzana really feels like it's not a part of the city at all. It's very tranquil, has a lot of nature and the houses are quite spread apart.
There are a couple of country clubs in Tarzana, and there's plenty of hiking and horse riding to be had. So, the fitness and fresh air aspect of the place is pretty unbeatable considering it's part of a major city.
The part of Tarzana that is not nestled in the mountains, however, isn't quite as aesthetically pleasing. It's mostly apartment complexes and it looks a barren and valley-ish. All of this part of Tarzana resembles Ventura Blvd to me (minus all of the traffic and car washes). I wouldn't say this neighborhood is ideal for young people or people who can't afford to live in the hillside portion. Plus, like I said, it's a bit of a hike to all of the Los Angeles hullaballoo so it can be boring if you were looking to go out or eat at trendy restaurants.

Tarzana is a bedroom suburb of Los Angeles out in the San Fernando Valley between Encino and Woodland Hills. It was one of the first developed areas out of what was once rural, agricultural land. Sometime between 1915 and 1919 Edgar Rice Burroughs bought land, and built his Tarzana Ranch. Later he sold the land in small parcels for homes to be built; other nearby small farms met the same fate. By the end of the 1920’s, locals were calling the area Tarzana, after Rice Burrough’s famous literary creation, Tarzan. There is still an active Burroughs fan club with a large website and yearly conventions, some of which include touring Burroughs-related places in the area.

Tarzana was advertised as a place where people could buy large lots and live away from the crowds. There are still beautiful houses going up the hills into the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Most of homes in the foothills are expensive, and there are gated communities and two country clubs. Residents who live on the north side of Ventura Blvd live in smaller houses or apartment buildings.

Approximately 40,000 people live in Tarzana. Many of the older residents had children who grew up and left the area. The median age of people in Tarzana and the percentage of residents 50 and older are very high for Los Angeles County. About 35% of the residents of Tarzana were born in another country; the most common countries of origin are Iran (Persia) and Mexico. Persian culture contributes to the community, particularly cuisine. Darband Restaurant on Ventura Blvd serves Persian food and is a local favorite. Shoomal and Ventura Kabob also offer Persian food.

Although the stretch of Ventura Blvd going through Tarzana looks a lot like nearby stretches, lined with office buildings, restaurants, and small businesses, many restaurants can be found on Ventura Boulevard, which offers something for everyone. Chablis Food and Wine is popular, as is the Oxygen Lounge and Restaurant, where you can inhale oxygen, drink, eat and dance. Paladinos (actually on Reseda in northern Tarzana) offers live tribute bands, drinks and dancing.

For people who want to get away from the city, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park is easily accessible at the end of Reseda Boulevard, at the south of Tarzana. There is parking, access for the disabled, drinking water and there are bathrooms. Those who want to do more than just enjoy the park can venture into Topanga State Park and the wild areas of the Santa Monica Mountains. Hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers frequent these mountains.

Locally, the Tarzana Recreation Center provides facilities for meetings, sports and entertainment. Providence Tarzana Medical Center is an excellent hospital.

Tarzana is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Many of the schools, including all of the high schools, are actually outside of Tarzana. Looking at some of the graduates of nearby Taft High School, or checking out celebrity websites lets you know that many television and film personalities have lived in Tarzana or near Tarzana at some point in their lives.

Tarzana is a great choice for those who can afford to live there and want to be out of Los Angeles but not too far away.