eatured image credit: Ken Lund With a city as sprawling as LA, city planners in days of yore had to get pretty creative when it came to naming Los Angeles area neighborhoods. Sometimes to the point of desperation (we’re looking at you, Beverlywood). All kidding aside, a lot of LA’s neighborhoods have surprising meanings. When You Wish Upon the Tar Photo credit: Downtowngal Everyone knows the La Brea Tar Pits. In fact, you’ve probably been to the bubbling lake, taken the tour, and mailed your nephew in St. Louis a tank top emblazoned with a mammoth wearing sunglasses and carrying a surfboard. Oddly specific. Nonetheless true. At one point, the tar pits and the adjacent Hancock Park neighborhood were bundled together as part of Rancho La Brea. Originally Mexican territory, it makes sense that Rancho La Brea is a Spanish name. “La brea” literally translates to “the tar.” So, yes, the La Brea Tar Pits is a bit redundant. Hop, skip, and leap down to Or