subject: A Rose Or A City By Any Other Name [print this page] Everyone has heard of Beverly Hills, an affluent city in western Los Angeles County. The city's sisterhood of wealthy cities includes Bel Air and Holmby Hills, these three form the "Platinum Triangle" and are home to celebrities and movie stars. In 2007 the medium price for a home in these areas was 2.2 million dollars. We have heard about the parties, celebration and events that go on in these neighborhoods made even more prominent with reality TV. The pool parties, rave parties, sweet 16 parties and weddings are more than most people can conjure up in their imagination and more than most people would want to be included in!
Beverly Hills, like most other southern California cities was originally agriculture. The rich soil that was once a fertile lima bean farm (I wonder if the stars know that?) In 1906, barely a hundred years ago, the Percy H. Clark Co. declared the community opened and people were allowed to build custom homes on land they purchased in the new development. The city was named after the Beverly Farms in Massachusetts. There was a short oil boom in the area which added to the wealth.
The Beverly Hills Hotel was begun in 1911 at an unheard of price tag of $300,000. At this time home lots were selling for $2,000. The population surged, land sold quickly and the movie industry was quickly entrenched in the area.
Hotels, shopping and restaurants in Beverly Hills are notorious and often come with hefty price tags attached. The number one restaurant according to Trip Advisor is the "Mastro's Steakhouse." Rated number one out of 195 reviews it is known for a romantic night out and its steaks. Looking over the list of restaurants listed in Trip Advisor "The Stinking Rose" caught my eye. This Italian Restaurant comes in at number 20 and was rated as best value, best fun, and best service. I guess a name is a name and a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Or would the food taste as good? It's Hard to say.
Beverly Hills, with its beautiful weather, beautiful people, expensive real estate and outlandish shopping and hotel prices is known the world over as a place of decadence and super stars. The prices may not be cheap, but a city by any other name may not smell as sweet.
