Sunset Dr, Los Feliz

Hollywood Blvd used to be one of the sketchier streets in North Los Angeles. It was only about 7 years ago that Hwood started to turn around. I believe it was the erection of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center that started to turn things around for this street. It, seriously, was only crack addicts and weirdos. The cool thing about the street now is that the residual crack addicts and weirdos are still around; but, there's a lot of cool new stuff here too.
Hollywood and Highland shopping center kind of reminds me of Times Square. There are lights everywhere and it's always crowded with tourists. And, the funny thing about this center is that there aren't really any good stores or restaurants in it: exactly like Times Square! Across from the center are crazy tourist traps like the Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not. I'm inclined to say these joints are god awful. But, they're weirdly fun places to go for a first date after a couple of drinks. There are a lot of other touristy shops right around the center that are great for kitsch (like a Marilyn Monroe coffee cup). But, Hollywood Blvd definitely isn't known for its shopping.
Since the street started to turn around, there are a ton of bars and restaurants lining it. There's one space around Cherokee that is constantly changing ownership which is such a shame because it has the most amazing front patio. That sounds kinda weird, but patios are weirdly hard to come by in Los Angeles. There's a really cool bar called Essex on Hollywood that just opened about two years ago and has going steady. I think it's because it's pretty much the only sports bar on the entire street and it's cool looking with good food. There is a huge nightclub denizen on Hwood in the last few years, so if you can find a spot that doesn't attract that, then you're good.
Speaking of nightclubs, nearly all of the hot Hollywood clubs are either on Hollywood Blvd or within blocks of it. That makes parking impossible, the street crowded and dirty on weekends, and it is very loud with pretty obnoxious people at night. It also makes the street pretty dangerous. The druggy / gang people from the days of yore are still around and they often mug drunk nightclub goers or the staff after hours. For this very reason (amongst others) I would never live on Hollywood Blvd. This gorgeous W residence / hotel just opened up at Hollywood and Cahuega last year. It's crazy expensive, exclusive, posh, etc and I'm always wondering what kind of nutjob would pay that to live in an apartment on Hollywood Blvd. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.