A Bowl’s-eye view

THE stream of tour buses that pulls up to 7036 Mulholland Drive may seem like a red flag for locals to stay away. It shouldn’t be. This tiny overlook is enough to make even a native Angeleno stop and appreciate what is so ordinary about life here. Eyes move from one iconic image to another -- the Capitol Records building to the south, the Hollywood sign to the north. Freeways curve and streets lead to infinity, a canvas of never-ending movement. Look over the side and you’ll see the Hollywood Bowl, which kicks off its summer season Friday. Even on a not-so-clear day, as is often the case, the panorama is inspiring -- a view that evokes the emotions Hollywood cherishes so much: mystery, drama, romance. As daylight fades and city lights begin to glow, the landscape conjures a fourth: glamour. “Do we live out there?” my son asks me, looking out over Hollywood, his voice filled with awe. No, I tell him, but there is “fairy dust” on the other side of the mountain. From this perch, a place that seemed so ordinary before, so familiar, suddenly feels quite grand. For the moment, anyway.

-- Lisa Boone