The Villa Aurora is a hidden gem in Los Angeles. Initially built in the 20s by the Los Angeles Times as a demo house for new building technologies, the Villa Aurora was purchased by Marta and Lion Feuchtwanger who were escaping Nazi Germany. Their home became a cultural hub for an array of émigré luminaries including Fritz Lang, Thomas Mann, and Bertolt Brecht. Today it is owned by a non-profit organization with the support of the German government and is used as a residence for artists. A 6-mpnth fellowship is awarded to writers or journalists whose freedom of expression is suppressed in their own countries. The house is not regularly open to the public, but tours can be arranged by appointment.