The @RuffCutzDTLA Guide to L.A.

Enrique Gamboa daydreams like us all - only recently, he made his dreams a reality. Sitting behind a desk as a successful corporate employee wasn’t enough for him. He longed to be outside, exploring his hometown of Los Angeles, and he loved dogs.

Sometime later, we meet Gamboa, now a successful dog walker, trainer and upcoming Instagram star, @RuffCutzDTLA. His clan of 25 dog-clients - mostly rescues - accompany him on daily Los Angeles adventures to landmarks, hidden gems and even art museums. The dogs are learning to be good dogs, and Gamboa’s audience is learning a bit about L.A. from a pet-friendly point of view. Read on for highlights of the @RuffCutzDTLA trek through some of L.A.'s most picturesque neighborhoods, and meet some of his cute canine companions.

"Kaiya is the big baby boss and Downtown L.A. is home base. She arrived in Downtown L.A. as a puppy and learned the ropes of livin in the big city. She struts the town as if she’s running 'fur' Mayor of LA. Watch out Garcetti!"

Kaiya loves visit Pershing Square with her pals. Located in the heart of Downtown L.A. across from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Pershing Square is a great pet-friendly location. It spans a city block and hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the popular outdoor ice skating rink during the holidays. Building on the global placemaking movement, Pershing Square Renew aspires to be a model for the transformation of public spaces throughout Los Angeles and beyond.

"Meaux Meaux: you hear the echo in her name and she’s all bark and a regular at the park."

Originally built as a drinking water reservoir in the 1860s, the 13-acre Echo Park Lake is surrounded by 16 acres of open recreational space. With the Downtown L.A. skyline as the backdrop, the parklands, charming footbridge, boathouse, beautiful lotus beds, and the Lady of the Lake statue have attracted visitors for generations. Activities include pedal boats, picnic tables, jogging, and strolls around the perimeter pathway. The annual Lotus Festival is one of L.A.'s most popular summer events. Film noir fans will recognize Echo Park Lake from a scene in Chinatown when J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) takes photographs of Hollis Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling) from a rowboat.

"Leo’s the big Highland Park foodie and Bella loves her HP 're-tail' therapy."

The famous Chicken Boy in Highland Park was originally perched atop the namesake fried chicken restaurant in Downtown L.A., on Broadway (Historic Route 66) between 4th and 5th Streets, near the Grand Central Market. The iconic statue stood there from the 1960s until 1984, when the restaurant owner died. The 22-foot-tall Chicken Boy was saved by art director Amy Inouye, who installed the statue on the rooftop of her Future Studio Design & Gallery. The Chicken Boy Shop and Future Studio Gallery are open on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

"Agnes is like Madea ruff and tough and can still kill the game on home cookin."

Leimert Park, L.A.'s renowned enclave for African-American culture, debuted its popular art walk in 2010. Taking place on the last Sunday of every month, the Leimert Park art walk is a free self-guided art and community experience highlighting visual and performance art. From Downtown L.A. to Venice and beyond, find out where to attend art walks throughout the city. Read More →

"Odie is the hipster gentrifying all the trees off Silver Lake Boulevard."

Silver Lake is home to a few of L.A.'s favorite hidden stairs: Corralitas Stairs, Mattachine Steps, and the Instagrammable Micheltorena Stairs. Discover more secret stairs in Los Angeles with our guide. Read More →

"Eureka is flashy, she’s smart, she’s bossy, and got the model life going so she shines like a natural star!"

On Sunday, Sept. 30 the LA Phil kicks off its centennial season with Celebrate LA! A free celebration with hundreds of musicians, artists, dancers, family activities and more. Celebrate LA! will be an epic eight-mile street party featuring 1,800 musicians, artists, and dancers performing at the festival’s six hubs and along the route itself. The evening culminates with a free concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where Gustavo Dudamel will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic and welcome very special guests – including Katy Perry, Herbie Hancock, Kali Uchis, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and more to the Bowl stage.

"Cecil has the cool hair and flashy vibes that mix well in an area filled with museums, shopping and fine dining."

Jazz at LACMA is a free Friday night event that showcases L.A.’s finest jazz musicians. One of LACMA’s most popular offerings, the program has previously featured such legends as Wayne Shorter, John Clayton, Kenny Burrell, Les McCann, Billy Childs, Arturo Sandoval, Cannonball-Coltrane Project and Ernie Watts. During the season, Jazz at LACMA takes place at 6:00 p.m. every Friday at the central BP Pavilion, near Chris Burden's iconic Urban Light. Jazz has been part of the Los Angeles cultural DNA for generations, discover L.A.'s best jazz clubs and weekly events with our guide. Read More →

"As you can see, Quincy is a big beefcake and our star flufferz."

The San Fernando Valley is one of the largest regions in L.A. County. So naturally, it deserves an epic breakfast dining guide. If you have a morning meet-up in the Valley, the age-old question is “where should we meet”? Well, look no further. From classic diners to modern eateries, here are 46 restaurants serving the most important meal of the day! Read More →

"Lazer is the muscle and has the beach body for it!"

Hardbodies and spectators alike congregate at Muscle Beach Venice, the workout mecca located at the south end of the Venice Beach Recreation Center. “Muscle Beach” also refers to the numerous gyms and fitness studios in the area. Foremost among these is the original Gold’s Gym, where Arnold Schwarzenegger and other legendary bodybuilders pumped iron in the 1970s. Today, Gold’s Gym is considered a sports landmark and was once ranked No. 39 on ESPN’s list of America’s 100 most important sports venues. From its world famous boardwalk and beautiful beach to the shopper’s paradise of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice offers a unique and vibrant mix of activities and attractions. Read More →

"Buddy is the longboard of dogs. 'Surf's pup' with this long kahuna."

The landmark Manhattan Beach Pier has a stately elegance that makes it highly photogenic. There's even a small, hands-on aquarium in a rotunda at the end. Benches line the pier, so have a seat and enjoy the ocean view. At dusk the lamps that line the pier light up, creating a cozy ambiance. Manhattan Beach Boulevard runs uphill and inland from the pier - parking, shopping and dining options radiate from it.

One of the most enjoyable ways to explore L.A.’s world famous beaches is on the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail, aka The Strand. The paved bike path begins at Will Rogers State Beach near Pacific Palisades and travels south to Torrance Beach. Read More →