Sights and scenes in the Westside of Los Angeles

A dictaphone and a calculator on display at the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. This odd little spot is all about the joy of weird stuff, presented with great museological pomp.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Annenberg Space for Photography’s “Beauty Culture” exhibition in Century City runs through Nov. 27.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

“Waris Dirie” by Albert Watson is part of the “Beauty Culture” exhibit.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Two women talk outside the Dior store along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The Rodeo Drive shopping experience is enough to enrapture certain shoppers for days, or to amuse a fashion agnostic for an hour or two.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A tour bus passes a $3-million limited-edition Bugatti parked along Rodeo Drive.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Miss Coco Puff watches shoppers along Rodeo Drive.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A woman gets a makeover on Rodeo Drive during Fashion’s Night Out, an after-hours shopping event.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

At Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro, which opened in late 2009 in Beverly Hills, main dishes are $18 to $45.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

Rubaiz Virk, left, and Renin Alpagot look at photos in front of the Beverly Hills sign.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Nate ‘n Al deli dates to the 1940s. You can count on ample supplies of matzo ball soup and perhaps some schmoozing by talk-show icon Larry King, who’s been a breakfast regular for years.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The Taschen store, which is run by the L.A.-based publisher of the same name, is full of pricey, arty, lavish and often naughty books.  (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

At the Beverly Hills Hotel, which opened in 1912, rooms start at $475 a night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A statue of Marilyn Monroe stands outside the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Janss Steps and Royce Hall, as seen from Wilson Plaza at UCLA.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Inverted Fountain at UCLA is a stop on one of the free student-led tours for prospective students and their parents most weekdays and Saturdays.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The permanent collection at the Hammer Museum, which spotlights cutting-edge contemporary art.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Marilyn Monroe rests in a crypt (her name surrounded by lipstick kisses) near the northern corner of the Pierce Bros. Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary. The property is a grassy territory covering barely two acres.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Brentwood Country Mart opened in 1948 and has more than 25 boutiques and stalls, a handful of casual eateries, one stylish bookshop and two little courtyards.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Exhibits and performances at the Skirball Cultural Center aim to connect Jewish culture with American history. If you’re under 10, the highlight is Noah’s Ark, an 8,000-square-foot interactive Old Testament playground where lightning flashes on command, a conveyor belt speeds ark embarkation and climbing ropes dangle enticingly.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Noah’s Ark exhibit includes close to 400 large and small toy animals, many recycled from household materials.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Getty Center, backed by billions from late oil man J. Paul Getty, opened in 1997, its campus covering 110 acres.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

“A Revolutionary Project: Cuba From Walker Evans to Now” is showing at the Getty Center until Oct. 2.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)