Top of Los Angeles
Movie Magic
This is guide for those fascinated by movies, television, and radio.Start your day by taking the Hollywood Trolley Tour. Normally I’m not one for group tours, but this a fun and great way to see historic film, television, and radio landmarks. The tour is fully narrated and allows you plenty of great photo opportunities. The tour is daily and year round, and departs every hour starting at 9:30, leaving from the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (6925 Hollywood Boulevard). The duration of the tour is an hour and the tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for children (ages 3-11). After the tour you will want to explore the Chinese theatre, and find your favorite celebrity’s hand and footprints. Next, drive north on the 101 FWY to Universal Studios. The theme park has plenty of food and beverage vendors so don’t worry if your stomach is ready for lunch. Universal Studios not only offers thrilling rides and roller coasters, but also a studio tour that will unveil the secrets of the big and small screens. For ticket prices I recommend visiting their website to find what tickets work best for you and your group/family; as well as for updated/holiday hours. After your adventurous, and probably tiring experience at Universal Studios, head to the nearby Universal City Walk to dine and unwind. Universal City Walk has numerous dining and entertainment options, including shopping and live music. For more detailed venue descriptions visit their website.
Universal Studios:
www.universalstudios.com
Universal City Walk:
www.citywalkhollywood.com/
Hollywood Trolley Tour
(USA) 1.800.959.3131
(abroad) 001-323-463-3333
www.starlinetours.com/tour_1A.asp
info@starlinetours.com
*Extending your Guide:
1) Take a tour of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Tour the graves of Hollywood’s most famous celebrities. (www.hollywoodforever.com)
2) For five dollars take a tour of the interior of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
3) Take tours of NBC, Paramount, and / or Warner Brothers Studios for even more behind the scenes sights and information. NBC: Phone 818 840 3537 Paramount: Phone 323.956.1777 Warner Brothers: www2.warnerbros.com/vipstudiotour/
So LA
And last but not least, this is the guide for those into the latest trends and hot spots.
For this guide, I recommend staying at the Beverly Laurel Motor Hotel (8018 Beverly Blvd.) It is cheap, comfortable, has a pool, and is on top of one of my favorite diners- Swingers. A Swingers’ breakfast is a great way to start your day. Plus with your car parked at this hotel, you can easily walk to the first destination without having to fret about the hassles of Los Angeles parking. After breakfast, head to Melrose. Yes the infamous Melrose. Here you will shop till you drop along blocks of fun and funky, designer and vintage boutiques. I recommend starting on the corner of Melrose and Fairfax and walking east. When you are ready for lunch, keep waking east on Melrose to La Brea avenue. Your destination? Another infamous LA landmark, Pink’s Hotdogs. There is usually a line, but don’t be discouraged, the dogs are worth it! Now might be a good time to head back to the hotel and take a power-nap before your night of clubbing along the trendiest strip in LA- The Sunset Strip. If you want to grab dinner beforehand, head over to Mel’s Diner on Sunset. FYI, Mel’s is also great for post-partying, late-night eats. The Sunset strip is hip, and trendy. But be forewarned, in LA that means expensive. Also, the parking can be somewhat chaotic. The best clubs on the strip are: Key Club: 9039 Sunset. The Rainbow Room: 9015 Sunset Blvd. Viper Room: 8852 Sunset. Sky Bar: 8440 Sunset Blvd .The Standard: 8300 Sunset Blvd. Bar Marmount: 8171 Sunset Blvd. The Whisky a Go Go: 8901 Sunset Blvd.
*Extending Your Guide:
1) Visit Amoeba Music: 6400 W Sunset Blvd
2) Catch a movie at the Arclight Cinema: 6360 W Sunset Blvd
3) Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
4) Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
5) Venice Beach
6) The Grove (on Third street between Fairfax and the Grove Drive)
7) The Historic Farmer’s Market (Third and Fairfax)
Celebrity Chic
If you want to see and be seen, this one is for you.
Los Angeles has been described as high school with money. So what do high-schoolers with money do? They shop. Celebrities are no different. Therefore the following guide is similar to the previous in that they both are about shopping, eating, drinking, and partying. However, with this guide, the price-point goes up a bit. Instead of sleeping at the motor inn, book a room at the Beverly Hilton or the Beverly Hills Hotel. And instead of hitting Melrose, this guide starts in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive. Wander in and out of the shops on and around Rodeo Drive. If you get an urge to splurge, head to Frederic Fekkai salon on Rodeo Drive near Ralph Lauren. Treat your body from head to toe to any number of their fantastic treatments that are sure to refresh your mind, body, and soul. For lunch, I recommend my favorite sandwich place in all of LA, Sandbags on the corner of Little Santa Monica Blvd and Rodeo Drive. However, if you are wanting to stick to the celeb-frequented restaurants and cafes, head over to uber-expensive The Ivy (113 N. Robertson Blvd.) Reservations here are highly recommended. If you can’t get in, fear not. Head further up the street to the Newsroom CafÃ?© (120 N. Robertson Blvd.). Both of these dining options offer splendid menus and are on the same street as your next shopping locale (Robertson Blvd.). On this street, expensive and intriguing boutiques are fun for window-shopping, or for those willing and able, for actual purchasing! Now would be a good time to head back to your hotel to lounge by the pool and order fruity drinks from hot pool-boys. When you are ready for dinner, have the hotel concierge book your reservation at any of the following restaurants. Trust me, none of these will disappoint your taste buds. Spago Beverly Hills, Peter Morton’s, Matsuhisa, Dan Tana’s, The Crustacean, The Palm, Ago, Dolce, or Chi.
*Extend Your Guide:
1) Trader Vic’s Restaurant at the Hilton Hotel (a fantastic restaurant)
2) Pacific Palisades’ farmer’s Market (Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset)
3) Runyun Canyon Park (Franklin and Fuller Ave)
4) Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd)
5) Whiskey Blue at W Hotel (930 Hilgard Ave)
6) Nobu (3853 Cross Creek Rd., Mailbu)
7) Drive by the Malibu Colony (half a mile west of the Malibu Pier). Basically anywhere in Malibu you are likely to spot a star.
