Last week, a mob of young marauders stormed Hollywood, stealing cell phones and knocking people over. 

Last month, a 23-year-old woman refused to give money to a guy after taking a picture of him.  The man fatally stabbed her and left her bleeding on the sidewalk in front of the American Eagle Outfitters store, not far from the legendary intersection of Hollywood and Highland.

Still, Hollywood, with its odd mix of glamour and despair, is one of the top U.S. destinations for tourists from around the world.  

Marisa Gerber has been writing about this strange mix for the L.A. Times and joins the show with more.