However, in the case of the Chateau Marmont, which opened in 1929, the stories are all true and have been documented.

Originally designed as an apartment building, Chateau Marmont was constructed to be earthquake proof, and has thus survived our many major earthquakes here–in 1933, 1953, 1971, 1987 and 1994–without sustaining any major structural damage.

It was put on the list of Los Angeles’ Historical-Cultural Landmarks on March 24, 1976. The Chateau Marmont is loosely modeled after France’s Château d’Amboise.

Magnificent from the outside, it’s the stories that happen in the inside that often catch people’s attention, and have made Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont so famous and an iconic and legendary hotel; so here are a few of the ones listed from Wikipedia:

• It is reported that Keanu Reeves lived in the hotel after his rise to stardom until 2003 when he purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills.
• Featured on the cover of Gram Parsons‘ solo album, GP, released in 1973. Gram Parsons also lived there for a time in the early 1970s.
• In 1982, John Belushi died of a drug overdose in one of its garden bungalows.
• Jim Morrison used up what he called "the eighth of my nine lives" after he hurt his back here while dangling from a drain pipe and falling onto a shed while trying to swing from the roof into the window of his hotel room.
• James Dean hopped in through a window to audition with Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo for Rebel Without a Cause.
• Director Nicholas Ray had a bungalow here in 1953, according to Shelley Winters’ autobiography.
• In 1992, Demi Moore, Annie Leibovitz and Joanne Gair shot Demi’s Birthday Suit at the hotel.
• Johnnie Ray lived within walking distance of the hotel.
• Led Zeppelin band members rode their motorcycles through the lobby one evening to cheering guests, causing modest damage.
• When Montgomery Clift was almost killed in a 1956 auto accident near her home, Elizabeth Taylor brought him to the Chateau Marmont, where she leased the penthouse as a place for him to recuperate.
• Greta Garbo loved to stay in the Chateau Marmont for weeks during her infamous seclusion period and would not leave her room for days. She also attended many lavish and glamorous parties here during the apogee of her movie star status.
• Fashion photographer Helmut Newton died there on January 23, 2004, after his car crashed into a wall on the driveway of the hotel.
• Judy Garland sang by the lobby’s grand piano with Kay Thompson during a party held by director George Cukor, where she exclaimed to Thompson, "Oh, Kay, let’s just sing real loud!"
• Vivien Leigh, estranged from her husband Laurence Olivier, nevertheless had every surface space in her suite, 5D, covered with photographs of the great actor. In the bedroom, however, she displayed only one: on a side table near her pillow was a photograph of she and Olivier together during happier times.
• German actress and model Christiane Schmidtmer met Michel Thomas at the hotel in August 1965. They were engaged for a short while thereafter.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante briefly resided in the hotel in 1996. During this period, Frusciante was dealing with a serious drug addiction that almost claimed his life. The New Times LA interviewed Frusciante at the hotel and published an article about the musician in which his physical appearance was described as "a skeleton covered in thin skin," whose flesh was noticeably scarred and bruised from injecting himself repeatedly with heroin and cocaine. Frusciante was kicked out of the hotel shortly after the interview.
• Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded his vocals for By the Way in this hotel.
• Jean Harlow spent her honeymoon with cinematographer Harold Rosson, in the hotel and was a regular guest.
• Robbie Williams wrote his song You know me while visiting the hotel.
• It’s where the FOX series ‘Fastlane‘ character "Officer Donovan Ray" lives in order to maintain his undercover alias, "Van Strummer."
• It appears in the HBO series Entourage, when director "Billy Walsh" meets with "Vincent Chase" to discuss Queens Boulevard.
• Was briefly managed by former silent-film actress Ann Little in her later years.
• The hotel is referenced in the Grateful Dead song West LA Fadeaway
• Hunter S. Thompson was often a guest at the hotel.
• Howard Hughes moved into the attic of the hotel and would spy on beautiful women in the pool area using prism binoculars.
• Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures, told William Holden and Glenn Ford, "If you are going to get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont."
• Lindsay Lohan stayed at the hotel following her July 24, 2007, arrest for drunk driving. She also resided at the hotel for approximately two and a half years.
• English author Nigel Williams, documented his stay at the hotel in his 1994 travelogue, From Wimbledon to Waco.
• Singer Ville Valo of the Finnish rock group HIM recorded the song Song or Suicide at this hotel for the group’s 2007 album Venus Doom.
• Niki Stevens, a fictional character from television’s The L Word, lived at the Chateau Marmont in Season 6.
• Author F. Scott Fitzgerald suffered a heart attack in Chateau Marmont.
• In a video shown by The Insider and Entertainment Tonight on January 30, 2008, Heath Ledger is seen at a party where other people appear to be taking drugs. Eventually only promos were subsequently shown out of respect for his friends and family. Ledger had died a week earlier.
• Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention make recorded reference to the Hotel in their infamous "Groupie Routine" at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, on July 7, 1971. Recording found on the 1988 album You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (performance date corrected in the You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 liner notes).
• British singer Lily Allen wrote the song Batman, Guess Who?, for her second album, in the hotel.
• Before Rock Hudson became famous, he met his first live-in lover Kenneth G. Hodge, who was living in the penthouse while managing the Chateau Marmont for his aunt Bernadette. Hodge and Hudson then moved together to Hollywood to launch his career.
• English playwright Charles Wood set his play Across From the Garden of Allah in the hotel. It starred Glenda Jackson and Nigel Hawthorne.
• The hotel was the site where actress Milla Jovovich said she was going to begin shooting the fourth installment of the popular Resident Evil film series at the end of 2009.
• Evan Rachel Wood and rock musician Marilyn Manson, met there for the first time.
• The Eagles song Hotel California has been thought to have been written about the Chateau Marmont.
• Leonard Cohen‘s 1978 book Death of a Lady’s Man depicts, in its central piece "My Life in Art", Cohen’s life in Chateau Marmont in the mid-70s.
• Sofia Coppola’s fourth film Somewhere (2010) was filmed and is set at the Chateau Marmont.

Now Travelin’ Local has brought you up-to-date about why and how Hollywood’s Famous Chateau Marmont Hotel Star Studded History and Intrigue are what the walls have been saying for decades.

His glorious Hollyhock House, and Ennis House, are very well known as a testimonial to his design and architectural genius.

One of his lesser known projects–located in the Hollywood Hills–is the Storer House.

Wright built it in 1923 for homeopathic physician John Storer, this house, which is recognized both by the City of Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Landmarks’ list (#96) and the National Register of Historic Places (awarded in 1971), is one of four houses in LA built using Wright’s well known designs incorporating patterned concrete blocks.

The Storer House is much smaller than his previous three homes that he built here–having only three bedrooms, a den, and three bathrooms, along with a traditional kitchen and including a spa, all of which make up less than 3,000 square feet on a 11,160 square-foot lot.

Of interest to note, Frank Lloyd Wright’s son Lloyd, supervised the Storer house’s construction and did the landscape design for the home as well.

As the years here passed–many other people either rented or owned the Storer House, until it fell into disrepair. That is until film producer Joel Silver came along in 1984, and purchased the house for a reported $800,000.(After being on the market for nearly three years).

With the help of Wright’s grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright and Martin Eli Weil, a past president of the Los Angeles Conservancy, a total and painstaking restoration was undertaken by Silver, which included the addition of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original plan to install a swimming pool onsite.

After owning the Storer home for 17 years, in 2002, Silver sold it for $3.5 million, to a business executive described as having "a great understanding and appreciation for historical landmark architectural property."

Although a bit difficult to find, the Storer House is definitely worth checking out as it’s part of Los ANgeles’ heritage and culture.

Created by artist Gail Cottman, this landscaped garden area is a folk art extravagant environment that’s comprised of outdoor public art pieces that incorporate and use a large amount of objects–especially primary materials which are mostly comprised of irregular pieces of tile, smooth stones, and beads.

Although the Hollywood Garden of Oz is not well known yet–probably because most of the people venturing to this part of the city are– Hollywood Sign bound, the Garden of Oz is one of the most recent additions to the list of Los Angeles Historical-Cultural landmarks, coming in at #996.

Inspired by the Wizard of Oz, Cottman initially had the help of artists Beatrice Woods, Diane and Jim Whitaker, John Raithel, Kaz Suyeshi, and Eli and Kate Yoder. On August 24^th, 1991, it was officially declared a “children’s folk art/peace garden.”

Since this declaration, over 75 artists have been continually involved in its improvements, including Bill Attaway, Sally Speelman, Irene Zdunczyk, Patty Detzler, Julie Hunter Bagish, and Bill Davis.

As far as I know, at this time, there isn’t any sign stating the hours of operation for the Garden of Oz. When I visited, which was on a weekday, the Garden was gated.

Although there is a sign about not taking photos, I felt the Garden of Oz, because of its historical status, deserved to be shared with everyone, especially those people who are unable to physically see it.

So, to that end–here’s a small glimpse of what you’ll find at the Garden of Oz:

Built in the early 1920s and located on and just below 2690 West Beachwood Drive are a keepsake of the early historic remnants of the beginning and history of Hollywoodland: Two Stone Gates

What started out only as an idea and concept in the minds of railway magnates Eli P. Clark, and M. H. Sherman, when they acquired 640 acres to create an exclusive hillside community–aptly named Hollywoodland.

And to make their dreams come true, Clark and Sherman partnered with LA Times publisher Harry Chandler, and real estate developers Tracy E. Shoults, and S. H. Woodruff.

Thus, Hollywoodland was born.

Over the years, many famous people have passed by the Two Stone Gates on their way home. Mary Mallory, who serves on the Hollywood Heritage Board of Directors and wrote Hollywoodland, describes the early residents of the area including Graphics designer Romain di Tirtoff, also known as Erte, was the first celebrity resident of the neighborhood. 

Also ensconced into the history books of the area’s famous residents include such stars as Bela Lugosi, Robert Montgomery, Gale Sondergaard, Ned Beatty, Jon Cryer, and Kathy Bates have all lived here and called the place home.  Included are such artists as writers James M. Cain, and Aldous Huxley, screenwriter/director Herbert Biberman, film director Norman Z. McLeod, and composers Max Steiner, and Miklos Rozsa whom have all also called it home.

Musicians including Benny Carter, Stan Kenton, Peter Tork, Madonna, and Moby, have all resided in the Hollywood Hills vicinity.

So, what started as crop land in the 1880s subsequently became an artist’s retreat. As time remains the great equalizer–it’s amazing what a little promotion can do.

In its heyday, the Hollywood Tower, had no shortage of Hollywood’s Royalty among its residents–including such Hollywood entertainers as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, and Humphrey Bogart. Today, it stands as a reminder of the grandeur that Hollywood once was, and still can be, just behind its doors.

Originally known as La Belle Tour, this V-shaped building was designed by architects Cramer & Wise in a faux French Normandy style and was built in 1929.

When it was first built, the Hollywood Tower had more than 50 apartments, three penthouse suites, a subterranean garage, and public roof gardens. Due to its close location to the Hollywood studios, the Tower became a favorite place of residence for entertainment professionals.

Hollywood historian and one of the founders of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, Marc Wanamaker–had the following to say about the Hollywood Tower:

It has been a major landmark since it was built. Even before the freeway, it was a landmark on that hill. Source: LA Times

As with so many buildings in the LA area, the Hollywood Tower, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, fell into disrepair during the 1970s and 80s, but in 2007, Alliance Residential Company bought the building for a reported $34.5 million dollars, with the promise of renovating the current units, plus building an adjacent 146 units.

And that’s exactly what happened.

In April 2010, the LaBelle opened.

If you get the chance to pass by and look at this magnificent icon of our city’s history, take a few minutes to enjoy cinematic history next to modern Hollywood. It’s a treat and it’s not often that the people who frequented and lived here were as much of what made this building famous, as the building itself.

On Saturday, June 25^th, North Hollywood is hosting the NoHo Rockin’ Food Truck Fest:

From 11:00am until 7:00pm you can:

Come out to the best party in NoHo and help support "Hope for Paws" animal rescue

That’s right.

For only an admission price of $4.00, which supports the cause of rescuing dogs from shelters and streets, you get to peruse the wares of at least 15 food trucks.

Plus, each ticket purchased gives you a chance to win some great raffle prizes.

Also showing will be some great local crafter’s selling their unique art work.

So head to 11458 Burbank Boulevard, and buy local and think global–and be sure to bring an empty stomach!

On that day, Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder, announced it was Bob Seger Day celebrating more than 50 years as a rock and roll musician, singer, songwriter and Michigan native.

Regardless, one may legitimately ask what does this have to do with Travelin’ Local, a primarily Los Angeles and Southern California based magazine?

Because of his beautiful and emotional ode to our city via his song Hollywood Nights, a Bob Seger classic:

With a career spanning over 4 decades, Bob Segers’s music, which often tells a story, remains as popular today as it did when it was first introduced.

Born in 1945, Seger started playing music as early as the 1960s, but never found what he was looking for until he founded the Silver Bullet Band.

It’s a classic tale of working hard to obtain your goals, so when, in 1976, he and the Band achieved national attention with the release of Live Bullet, a double-vinyl-record set, which stayed on the Billboard charts for 168 weeks, peaking at #34, and eventually reached 5x Platinum status and is one of the Top 10 selling live albums of all time.

Over the next several years, Seger would record 5 more albums, each with hit songs of their own, and amazingly, the movies and television have brought Seger’s songs even more attention. Featured in the movie, Risky Business, with Tom Cruise singing in his underwear, “Old Time Rock and Roll” remains a classic movie meets music moment.

Later, Seger’s song, “Like a Rock,” is associated with Chevrolet, something Seger chose to do to help support the struggling American automobile workers in his native Detroit.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, on March 15, 2004, Segar continues to sing and write music to the present.

In that vein, let’s sit back and rock out to Seger’s unique brand of Rock and Roll.

Benefiting the Marine Toys for Tots, the Parade is in its 80^th, this year promises to be its biggest year yet.

Along with the Parade’s World Premiere on the Hallmark Channel, and an encore on the Hallmark Movie Channel, the Hollywood Christmas Parade is also in national syndication in over 90% of the country, making this year’s parade available to the largest television audience in its history.

The Parade’s live performances include many top music acts which adds to its universal appeal of the treasured holiday event.

Lieutenant General Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, said:

Toys for Tots truly appreciate being selected as the charity partner of the 2010 Hollywood Christmas Parade. We believe our presence in the parade will offer a reminder to families across the nation to think of others this holiday season. By donating a new unwrapped toy or by making a cash contribution to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, we will be able to bring smiles to children on Christmas morning who otherwise might be forgotten. Source: Press Release

Actor Erik Estrada, World’s Funniest Moments and CHiPs, and television host Laura McKenzie, World’s Funniest Moments and Laura McKenzie’s Traveler will serve as the parade broadcast hosts, which will feature celebrities ranging from film, television and stage, award-winning bands, colorful equestrians, floats and specialty characters.

As always, the grand finale of the Hollywood Christmas Parade will also included an appearance by Santa Claus.

Here’s the Parade route:

Because of the expected large turnout, parking and road closures, the best way to get to the Parade is via Metro.

Many movies are filmed in California State Parks, but not surprising considering how magnificent California State Parks are.

Part of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi was filmed in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park and Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, and both MASH, the TV series, and the movie were filmed in Malibu Creek State Park.

On Saturday, November 6^th, we’re celebrating both–the movies and as well the work of the California Parks Foundation.

Five classic movies that were filmed in CA State Parks will be featured at Paramount Studios on Saturday, and 20th Century Fox Studios on Sunday, as part of the two day Hollywood Films event:

Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi

MASH: The TV series

M*A*S*H

Spartacus

Planet of the Apes

The movies aren’t the only attraction:

After each movie, there will be a Question & Answer session.

Like M*A*S*H actors William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) and Jeff Maxwell (Igor, the Cook), Charles S. Dubin (director), Gene  Reynolds (co-creator), Burt Metcalfe (producer), Dr. Walter Dishell (medical advisor), and Ken Levine (writer) will all be on the Q & A panel.

For tickets, there’s two choices:

• Single movie:  $10.00
• Three movie package:  $25.00

So far, the California State Parks Fountain has raised a total of $161 million dollars, so let’s give some extra SoCal love on Saturday–while having a great time too.

Like many other places, Hollywood, aka “Tinseltown” started its very humble beginnings as a farm community in 1853.

Oh, how far we have come.

Released on July 3, 2003, Madonna’s Hollywood, was her first single to miss Billboard’s Hot 100, since she first appeared on the musical scene some twenty years prior. Perhaps this didn’t have as much to do with the song, but more to do with the then, anti-war stand Madonna adopted upon the invasion of Iraq.

In an interview, Madonna said this about her song:

This song is like a metaphor for me. It’s the city of dreams and superficiality. It’s the place where you forget about the really interesting things in life. In Hollywood, you can lose your memory and your vision of the future. You can lose everything because you can lose yourself.

Some things stay the same just as they change at the same time.
]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/sing-a-long-saturday-madonnas-hollywood/feed/ 0 http://www.travelinlocal.com/get-to-know-the-stars-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/get-to-know-the-stars-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:20:10 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=14808 One of the most popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With its 2,411 stars, and new ones added weekly, it’s not really possible to map them all. So today, I’m going to share the best places to see as many modern era stars while getting you all "the most bang for your time."

Of course, each and every star represents a person who made one or many significant contributions to the film and television arts and sciences industry, regardless of what particular segment they worked in–from film producers to radio stars, and behind the scenes people such as editors, etc.

Each and every star is a milestone honoring an individual that earned that right to have one. Folks, since movies have been around at least 6 or more decades, getting a Hollywood Walk of Fame star is a small and hugely poignant symbolic club.

Therefore, we’ve put together a map of some of the more high profile Hollywood luminaries that would be high on your "to see" list. For example, at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, you’ll find the stars of these famous Tinsel Town veterans:

Halle Berry
Sandra Bullock
Robert Duvall
Harrison Ford
Anthony Hopkins
Nicole Kidman
Michelle Pfeiffer
Keanu Reeves
Mickey Rooney
Kevin Spacey
Britney Spears
Steven Spielberg
Charlize Theron

If you walk a little further down Hollywood Blvd., between Hollywood and Orange Street, you’ll find:

Tim Allen
Julie Andrews
Drew Barrymore
Bill Cosby
Tom Cruise
Greta Garbo
Jean Harlow
Michael Jackson
Elton John
Lone Ranger
Groucho Marx
Mickey Mouse
Jack Nicholson
Regis Philbin
Burt Reynolds
William Shatner
Barbra Streisand
Hilary Swank
Spencer Tracy
Robin Williams
Bruce Willis

Of course, if you have some celebrity stars that are a must see for you or a friend, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has a "Find a Star" search.

After all, it’s all about getting to see what you want when you want, whenever you’re Travelin’ Local.

Palahniuk is the author of such illustrious movies including Fight Club, Choke, Invisible Monsters, Lullaby….etc. His recent book, Tell All, is set in time during the era of old Hollywood.

As he spoke, he had the audience hanging on his every word. Be prepared for not just an evening of reading, but an event. Although Palahniuk is on a book tour promoting Tell All, in the process of it all, he’s created a one man show of bibliophile showmanship.

Palahniuk took a survey of the audience to find out how many attended a reading before. I was surprised that not many had, because it is always inspiring listening to a writer reading before an audience.

Which is what Palahniuk did: He read a short story soon to be published called "Knock Knock."  The story held the audience together through laughter, and almost unbearable tension and discomfort. 

As well, Palahniuk is a skilled public speaker.  After he read his story he held an impromptu question and answer round with Brad Listi, of Nervous Breakdown. 

He has a way of answering questions well, and of answering bad questions the same way.  Palahniuk told the audience that that’s what the purpose of good stories are meant to accomplish–they are written with the intent to share what we can relate to on many different levels.

This was the most interactive reading I’ve been to, as Palahniuk set up games for the audience to participate in, with the purpose to further draw them into participation. The games consisted of throwing out blow-up Oscar statuettes, and rewarding whomever blew theirs up the quickest. 

Of course this sounds ridiculous, but it does encourage increased audience  participation, and unites everyone into a shared experience, which is how Palahniuk relayed his experience of reading "Guts" to audiences across the country, causing many people to pass out.  (He later informed us that the audience would become concerned for the passed out person, which would result in the common and united concern to find commonality for that person). 

And this audience was united–in laughter, and genuine excitement about the spoken word and the written word.

The new TASCHEN publication of the magnificently beautiful coffee table sized book, Great Yoga Retreats, by Editor Angelika Taschen, and writer Kristin Rübesamen, quickly gets one to see, learn, understand, and literally feel the positive energy that the book was intended to convey.

It’s a looking glass into a discipline, lifestyle, and a way of life that millions around the world adhere to and practice.

With Great Yoga Retreats, TASCHEN has published what few know and if they did, they’ve failed in producing a comparable compilation of gorgeous Yoga retreats around the world.

It’s not just an attractive coffee table book, but it’s a serious book, where Yoga disciples of all types and abilities will know where they can travel to spend quality down time, and have the requisite knowledge ahead of time to know which Yoga Retreat to visit at the most striking places on earth.

TASCHEN’s book has a very serious side pertaining to its topic:

After more than 10 years of intensive Yoga practice, I plan not only my day around the daily Yoga sessions but also my holidays, and I visit a Yoga retreat once or twice a year. I can but warn you: Yoga is addictive and will make you high. As such, this book could be your introduction to the Yoga drug, so please preceded with caution.

Angelika Taschen

With its hundreds of gorgeous colored pictures, excellent research and prose, and detailed descriptions of each particular destination, one would be hard pressed to find a book that could replace Great Yoga Retreatsin its heady compilation of its book’s eponymous content, replete with a complete critical, quantitative, and qualitative description of each one’s attributes.

Its handsome prose takes you directly into the “belly of the beast” of the numerous resorts that they feature.

Spoiler Alert: once you start to read Great Yoga Retreats, you’ll become addicted, because the Retreats are lush and inviting.

It would be a huge deficit, if some of the places which are detailed, photographed, and cataloged weren’t mentioned. Each Retreat’s individual specialties and specifics are delineated–from rooms, food, availability, activities, types of Yoga practiced, and complete telephone, website and other specific contact information.

The book’s lyrical and close up descriptive prose written and composed by Ms.Taschen and Ms. Rübesamen, are used in conjunction with their deep sense of the areas covered. Overall, you can’t but share their Joie de vivre and hipness that’s covert yet playful, as told to the reader.

Not many can lay comparison to the sheer joy in experiencing and explaining any travel story, let alone in any medium that matches their editorial coverage.

And by doing so, they provide much thought provoking composition– the book’s writing matches its theme. One can easily and intuitively recognize how the author and editor both are profoundly unwavering and immersed into their topic, and as a treat, they recommend two books for each Retreat they cover–their selections run the gamut, always including one for Yoga study, and the other suggestion is one that’s a who’s who of author’s and books that only the bibliophiles from TASCHEN would know to toss your way.

Included is the deeply magical Ashram’s of India, to the Cloud of the Himalayas, to the magnificent Galgiriyawa Mountains of Sri Lanka, along with its incredible beauty of Thailand’s Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary of lush tropics and ocean horizon, that touch the soul and heart, (and from which the cover picture of the book was taken).

You’ll learn about the Uma Paro, Paro, Taktsang monastery with its “garden, brightly coloured flags that flutter in the wind and the sky over the Paro valley in a Cobalt Blue,” to the rustic Hollbachoff retreat in Bavaria, Germany, with its sun drenched, flowery, airy and mountain ambiance.

Venturing into the Tuscan Yoga Boot Camp at Borgo Leolana, and its companion Il Convento, the editor and writer take you further into Tuscany’s “green hills, vineyards, endless chestnut forests, olive groves and river sources, the mountain pasture of the Appenines and the peaks of the Apuan Alps on the Horizon.”

Included in the Great Yoga Retreats is the Formentera resort, not far from Ibiza, Spain, with miles of aqua-tinted deep blue ocean, forever known as one of the world’s leading Cultural Heritage islands, where even the Romans and Bob Dylan would at various time and place, would come to enjoy and stay.

The Ibiza Moving Arts Yoga studio is located on the island known for its partying and counter-culture; to the grandeur of the Andulusian region of Spain; and Kretashala in Crete, Greece– where it sits in a bay of stunning beauty and line of mountains; and to the lush Ananda Ashram in New York’s Catskill Mountains, which resembles a picture perfect postcard of green tropical foliage, and waterways.

Included is the world famous Esalen Institute in the magnificent region of Northern California’s Big Sur, that’s “part institute, part think tank, part refuge,” and a tribute to the spiritual revolution that many of our and other artists around the world have been inspired by; to the Southern Californian White Lotus Foundation near Santa Barbara, with its splendorous waterfalls, and indigenous Southern California beauty of blue skies, sandy beaches, and lush landscapes chiseled into various stones and canyons.

Great Yoga Resorts covers the always pleasing Amansala Bikini Boot Camp in Tulum, Mexico (The book reviewer’s must go-to place!), to the British West Indies–home to Keith Richards, and Donna Karan–as its waves and natural habitat serve as the backdrop for the Parrot Cay, Turks, and Caicos Islands, where the Yogis are are both disciplined to have you as their guests, but will allow you “Sanskrit Peace and Harmony; and the luscious Villa Sumaya, in Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

Kudos to Ms. Taschen and Ms. Kristin Rübesamen for compiling an easy to understand category and country Index and Outline, as well as a global map that will last you the rest of your life, to thoroughly provide you the chance to pick a place to recharge your life’s batteries.

I recommend reading this book’s preface first, as it will leave you with where the book begins and as a conclusion for our need for us to strive for perfection and to return or go to our favorite Great Yoga Retreat.

Lastly, I want to mention that Travelin’ Local has a second brand new copy of this gorgeous book to give away.  Just leave a comment and subscribe to our newsletter (see the form at the top of the page), and you’ll be in the running for a TASCHEN custom book that’s fresh from the publisher. Sorry, this is only open to US residents.

We’ll announce the winner on tax day, April 15th.  If you think the pictures and text are wonderful here, just wait until you see the places described and photographed in the book.

If you don’t feel like waiting that long, you can easily find a TASCHEN bookstore locally at either of these two locations:

Hollywood Store
Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd Street, CT-10
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Beverly Hills Store
354 N. Beverly Drive,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Or you can purchase it directly from TASCHEN’s online store.

For Travelin’ Local’s first walking tour we’re featuring the Hollywood Highland area.

Within this 3 mile walk, you’ll see and discover portions of LA that are "hidden gems." Usually, they’re not well known to most people–for example, you’ll get to traverse up and down some of the most fascinating sets of stairs; walk along one of the city’s best music venues; hike through one of our city’s oldest and unique neighborhood enclaves; and see details of homes and buildings built by some of the world’s best known architects.

Travelin’ Local’s e-book provides you with a sense of time, identity, character, place and history that’s hard to imagine without seeing it for yourself.

The Hollywood Highland Walking Tour is a Travelin’ Local flipbook style with each of the 68 “pages” loaded with tons of information, history, facts, pictures, comments, and of course, maps, to help make your walking tour complete.

The best part is that Travelin’ Local is charging $3.95 for all of this. So now, you can enjoy and visit some of the coolest places in the city, get several hours of exercise if so desire, gain an "insiders" knowledge of each area of the city we cover and be entertained at the same time. The last cool benefit is that the e-Book will forever be indelibly etched in your memory, and that’s priceless!

Sadly, I fell into the category of people who knew about the world famous Pink’s, but had never been there, and worse, I found out that my dad, who grew up in the Valley, had never even heard of Pink’s.

That being said, on a recent lazy Sunday, my parents and I packed up the car with the Sunday Times, and headed out to Hollywood for some dogs.

Parking is limited (there’s a parking lot attendant for a tiny lot at Pink’s, but it was full), so we found street parking and got in line, which was wrapped behind Pink’s, all the way to its restrooms.  The line stayed approximately the same length the entire time we waited. During our wait, a constant stream of people would get served, and more and more people would show up,  so during the wait, we read the paper, and debated what dog to order from the menu.

As time dragged on, we changed our order at least 3 times, switching back and forth, and finally starting asking the opinions of those around us:

"Have you ever had a Martha Stewart dog?" and "What are your top picks?" Pink’s has expanded far from the original chili dog (with the famous Pink’s secret chili recipe), to hot dogs with a myriad of toppings, hamburgers, sides, and deserts. Many of the hot dogs are named after the celebrities who ordered them special, like the Ozzy Spicy Dog (A spicy Polish dog, Nacho Cheese, American Cheese, grilled onions, guacamole and chopped tomatoes) or the Martha Stewart dog (10" stretch dog, relish, onions, bacon, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut and sour cream…although I can’t picture Ms. Stewart eating this).

After some time, camaraderie also began with the other troopers waiting in line so long for their hot dogs.  The man in front of us worked on La Brea, and had been waiting since the line was shorter. Finally, he realized there was no time of the day when the line is shorter, so he took his son for their first Pink’s. The women in front of him were “out of towner’s,” ticking off major Los Angeles landmarks on their to-do and go list–and Pink’s was one of them.  They took to waving at cars that drove by inspecting the line.

All in all, we stood in line for about 45 minutes.  The real pressure, however, came when we reached the front counter to place our order, and that’s when we began to see other people’s dog orders.  I didn’t know what I was going to order until it popped out of my mouth to the attendant, which happened to be a Coleslaw dog; while my dad went with a spicy Polish dog, and my mom had a Guadalajara dog–which contains relish, onions and tomatoes with a topping of sour cream. We finished it up with 2 orders of onion rings, and an order of fries, and some old time Dr. Brown’s colas, all for a little over $20. 

Sitting out back under Pink’s umbrella shaded tables, we enjoyed our first bite of Pink’s hot dogs, and the Hoffy’s all beef dogs in their natural encasing snap back, which is a novelty in of itself. I couldn’t finish the entire dog, as it was quite large, but no one else seemed to be having the same problem, although I did manage to finish all of my onion rings.

The prices listed on the menu include tax, and Pink’s is cash only. Check out all the framed and autographed pictures of celebrities as stated earlier. Bottom line, to enjoy the Pink’s experience, prepare to stand in line, but it’s part of the fun and the wait builds an excitement that can only be cured by a world famous hot dog. Perfect for a mid day meal, or a late night post bar munchies stop, Pink’s is open from 9:30 am to 2am every day. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, it’s open until 3am.

Los Angeles is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year, but Pink’s recently celebrated their 70th last year, so enjoy a nostalgic piece of LA and Hollywood history, served on a bun with a crisp snap; it’s one of the oldest (and tasty) icons of Tinseltown and Los Angeles combined.  Now, I and my family get to finally claim “bragging rights” that we’re now a part of a huge number of people who can proudly say that their favorite dogs and future culinary adventures lies in the land of Pink’s creations.

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/pinks-the-best-hot-dog-stand-in-los-angeles/feed/ 3 http://www.travelinlocal.com/a-tour-of-the-jim-henson-studios/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/a-tour-of-the-jim-henson-studios/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:18:43 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=8876 Where in the world would you be able to find a picture of Miss Piggy gracing the wall of a Lady’s restroom, if you had to try? If you haven’t guessed by now, that particularly unique place would be here in Los Angeles–at the Jim Henson Studios.

Getting the inside scoop on PBS’s Wilson & Ditch children television program, was only one of many features included during my recent visit to the Jim Henson Studios.

Yours truly, got the red carpet treatment by among other things, receiving a tour of the Jim Henson Studios.

Originally owned by Charlie Chaplin, the studio lot was once an orange grove. After its construction stated in 1917, his brand new studio opened the following year. Because the neighbors were worried about having a motion picture studio next door to their homes, the outside of the studio was made to look like the other houses in the neighborhood.

Kermit graces the entrance to the Jim Henson Studios

Charlie Chaplin still welcomes Visitors

When it’s compared to such larger studios such as Sony or Paramount Pictures, the Jim Henson Studios may be physically much smaller, but the others pale in comparison, because the Jim Henson Studios is a unique and special place, where its legacy, lore, and legend in the annals of cinematic history are still being made and filmed here:

Chaplin filmed several of his great movies at this studio between 1918 through 1952, including such classics as "Gold Rush" in 1925 and "The Great Dictator" in 1939. On occasion, Chaplin also rented his studio out; for example, Greta Garbo shot her final screen test at Chaplin Studios in May of 1949. Source: The Historic Jim Henson Company Lot

In case you didn’t know, Jim Henson, the founder of Henson Studios is the creator of the Muppets, which according to Henson, was a word created by combining the words "Marionette" and "Puppet."

Many well known Muppets characters include, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, Ernie, and a plethora of many other Jim Henson’s Muppets characters.

To get an idea of the potency of Jim Henson and his studio, here’s a short list of their programs:

• Fraggle Rock: The Movie (2011, distributed by The Weinstein Company)
• The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing! (2008-present)
• Jim Henson Outtakes (2008-Present)
• Unstable Fables (2008-2009)
• The Skrumps (2007)
• Frances (2006)
• MirrorMask (2005)
• The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005)
• Play with Me Sesame (2002-2003)
• It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
• Kermit’s Swamp Years (2002)
• The Hoobs (2000-2002)
• Sid the Science Kid
• Construction Site (1999-)
• Farscape (1999-2003)
• Mopatop’s Shop (1999-2002)
• Elmo in Grouchland (1999)
• Muppets From Space (1999)
• Brats of the Lost Nebula (1998)
• Buddy (1997; co-production with American Zoetrope)
• Bear in the Big Blue House (1997-2003)
• Muppets Tonight (1996-1998)
• Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
• The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss (1996-1998)
• Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
• Secret Life of Toys (1994)
• CityKids (1993-1994)
• Dog City (1992-1994)
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
• Dinosaurs (1991-1994)
• "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Series" (1990-1993)
• The Witches (1990)
• Jim Henson’s Mother Goose Stories
• Jim Henson’s Pajanimals
• The Jim Henson Hour (1989)
• A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
• Puppetman (1987)
• The Storyteller (1987)
• The Christmas Toy (1986)
• Labyrinth (1986; co-production with Lucasfilm)
• The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986)
• Follow that Bird (1985)
• Little Muppet Monsters (1985)
• Muppet Babies (1984-1992)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
• Fraggle Rock (1983-1987)
• The Dark Crystal (1982)
• The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
• The Muppet Movie (1979)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
• Sesame Street (1969-2001) (A production of Sesame Workshop(2001-present)).  Source: Wikipedia

In the reception lobby of the Jim Henson Studios, there’s a “small display,” laying testimony to a fact which few may be aware:

Many of the Jim Henson Studio productions and programs were, and are award winning–as acknowledged and recognized by their peers from the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

And this is only a small representation of their work.

Along with their headliner programs, the Jim Henson Studios grew larger thorough their collaboration with other movie producers and directors to create characters which was to become the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

For example, here’s one of their main characters from Dr. Doolittle:

The Jim Henson Studios has had several owners, including Red Skelton, CBS, (Raymond Burr, star of Perry Mason who actually lived at the studio), and in 1966, A&M Records bought the property. Over the years, the lot has changed, but the main character of it remains status-quo.

On February 6, 1969, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board designated the studio a historical cultural monument. Then, in 1999, the Henson family bought it, remodeled it a bit, but nonetheless kept all its natural charm.

As time passes by, with new Independent Studios, Film Festivals, and an ever expanding studio eco-system, the Jim Henson Studio is thriving as never before. Even by “Industry Standards,” and life in the fast lane “Hollywood” world, people still visit the Henson studios around the clock.

Although it’s not open to everyone, we wanted to “virtually open” it for you, which is why I thought our readers would enjoy a peek into Hollywood legend, history, and heritage; and also into its current happenings.

After all, Travelin’ Local and not seeing Ms. Piggy, could turn out to be a serious lost opportunity of epic proportions, of which, neither I nor Miss Piggy could or would ever allow.

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/a-tour-of-the-jim-henson-studios/feed/ 0 http://www.travelinlocal.com/pbs-and-jim-henson-studios-join-forces-to-bring-geography-home/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/pbs-and-jim-henson-studios-join-forces-to-bring-geography-home/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:19:30 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=8680

Back in the day, when I started the 7^th grade, the first assignment that my geography teacher requested from the class, was to write down all of the US State’s 50 capitals.

I was the only student in the class to successfully complete the teacher’s assignment solely due to an Atlas game that my siblings and I frequently played at home.

Currently, 50% of 18- to 24-year-old Americans are not able to find New York State on a map. Because education is the key to our ability to survive both as a nation and to remain competitive to obtain a good job, knowing more about geography definitely needs to be front and center for our educational system.

After accepting a gracious invitation from both PBS and the Jim Henson Studios, I was both enthralled and captivated by their newest headliners, Wilson & Ditch, to appear on PBS Kids Go–the go-to website for early elementary students to learn more about geography. Naturally, as a former teacher and school manager, I am a strong believer in having our children as educated as possible.

Who are Wilson & Ditch?

“We’re gopher brothers in a van! Digging America ’cause we can!"

Meant “to embrace the vast beauty of the United States of America and promote an appreciation for the diversity of people and places of America through humor and song,” Wilson & Ditch are cool characters that miss their Mom and fight like siblings, but in the end, have fun doing what brothers do best.

Crisscrossing America from Philadelphia to California, to National Parks and beyond, PBS and Henson Studios create a funny, captivating, and engrossing program for kids that are designed to:

• Help students learn the geography of the United States of America
• Help students understand and appreciate the diversity of American Culture
• Introduce students to regions within the United States of America
• Help students gain an appreciation for the natural and ecological make up of the United States of America

Can you name our 50 states in just over a minute?

Wilson & Ditch can:

If you and especially your children need a little practice on geography, then catch Wilson & Ditch on PBS Kids Go.

They’re online 24/7/365. Because this site is intentionally designed to be “kid-friendly,” you can let them play there without any worry.

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/pbs-and-jim-henson-studios-join-forces-to-bring-geography-home/feed/ 0 http://www.travelinlocal.com/tv-nominees-slug-it-out-for-golden-globes/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/tv-nominees-slug-it-out-for-golden-globes/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:09:54 +0000 Douglas McBride http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=7875 The Hollywood Foreign Press might not see TV the same way you do.  They might not think about TV in exactly the same way that the folks who vote for the Emmys do either, but they see it just the same, whether you like it or not.  Of course you can’t get mad at all the nice foreign folks, until you feast your eyes on their picks though, right?  Then again, maybe you’ll love their picks.  Wherever you stand on the choices, the nominees for the 2010 Golden Globes are officially in, so read em’ and weep, or read em’ and rejoice.  The choice is yours.  Let us know what you think about these sexy photos, and all the big news below.

Most notable among the nominations here is Fox’s first year series Glee.  The musical comedy grabbed the most nods of any show, with four nominations, including best comedy series, trumping NBC’s “30 Rock,” AMC’s “Mad Men,” Showtime’s “Dexter,” and FX’s “Damages,” which all grabbed three nods each.  This year brought the love back to the major networks in the ‘Best TV Comedy or Musical Series’ category.  Four out of the five shows nominated for best comedy series came by way of the major networks this year, with HBO’s “Entourage,” the only exception to the rule.  The other players in the category included two from NBC: “30 Rock” and “The Office”, in addition to Fox’s “Glee,” and ABC’s “Modern Family.”

In contrast to the comedy category, the nominations for ‘Best TV Drama Series’ were ruled yet again by the cable networks.  Fox’s “House” was the only major network series to earn a nomination.  The category was rounded out by two offerings from HBO, with “Big Love,” and “True Blood,” up against Showtime’s “Dexter,” and AMC’s “Mad Men.”   The complete list of TV Nominations for the 2010 Golden Globes is included below the last photo.  Before the list, you’ll also find a cut and paste link to the official Golden Globes website, just in case you’d like to check out exactly how the votes stacked up.  The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs live on NBC tomorrow, Sunday at 5 PM PST and 8 PM EST, on Jan 17th, 2010.   Enjoy, and get back to us with your thoughts!

COMPLETE LIST OF 2010 GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES FOLLOWS

Best TV drama series: "Big Love," HBO; "Dexter," Showtime; "House," Fox; "Mad Men," AMC; "True Blood," HBO.

Best TV comedy or musical series: "30 Rock," NBC; "Entourage," HBO; "Glee," Fox; "Modern Family," ABC; "The Office," NBC.

Best actor in a TV drama: Simon Baker, "The Mentalist," CBS; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Showtime; Hugh Laurie, "House," Fox; Bill Paxton, "Big Love," HBO.

Best actress in a TV drama: Glenn Close, "Damages," FX; January Jones, "Mad Men," AMC; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife," CBS; Anna Paquin, "True Blood," HBO; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," TNT.

Best actress in a TV comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock," Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Toni Collette, "The United States of Tara," Lea Michele, "Glee"; Courteney Cox, "Cougar Town."

Best actor in a TV comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" Steve Carell, "The Office" David Duchovny, "Californication," Matthew Morrison, "Glee," Thomas Jane, "Hung."

Best actor in a supporting role: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"; Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"; William Hurt, "Damages"; John Lithgow, "Dexter"; Michael Emerson, "Lost."

Best actress in a supporting role: Jane Lynch, "Glee"; Rose Byrne, "Damages"; Janet McTeer, "Into the Storm"; Jane Adams, "Hung"; Chloe Sevigny, "Big Love."

Best TV movie or miniseries: "George O’Keeffe," Lifetime; "Grey Gardens" HBO; "Into the Storm," HBO; "Little Dorrit," PBS; "Taking Chance," HBO.

Best actor in a miniseries or TV movie: Kevin Bacon, "Taking Chance," HBO; Kenneth Branagh, "Wallender," PBS; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Endgame," PBS; Brendan Gleeson, "Into the Storm," HBO; Jeremy Irons, "Georgia O’Keeffe," Lifetime.

Best actress in a miniseries or made-for-TV movie: Joan Allen, "Georgia O’Keefe"; Drew Barrymore, "Grey Gardens"; Jessica Lange, "Grey Gardens"; Anna Paquin, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler"; Sigourney Weaver, "Prayers for Bobby."

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/tv-nominees-slug-it-out-for-golden-globes/feed/ 2 http://www.travelinlocal.com/can-you-predict-the-golden-globes-film-winners/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/can-you-predict-the-golden-globes-film-winners/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:57:26 +0000 Douglas McBride http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=7860

If you aren’t clued in yet, the 67th Annual Golden Globes will be announced tomorrow, this Sunday, Jan 17^th 2010 (live telecast on NBC at 5 PM PST and 8 PM EST).  This year’s film selections included what might be considered a few more popular choices than in recent years past.  So, if you’ve got a list of favorite films from the last year or so, now’s your chance to see how your picks stack up against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s choices. We’d like to hear all about it if you think one or more of the films on the short list sucks completely.  Likewise, we’d like to hear from you, if you think one or more of the Golden Globe picks is definitely worth all the hype.

Speaking of hype, some of this year’s biggest box office smashes surprisingly found their way on to the Globes’ list for statuettes.  At the same time, some of the year’s most critically acclaimed films lost out on nominations.  James Cameron’s buzz heavy, mega-budget film Avatar makes the list of ‘Best Motion Picture, Drama’ nominees.  Avatar stands alongside a group of films that include Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, Lee Daniel’s critically acclaimed Precious, Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, and Kathryn Bigelow’s widely praised The Hurt Locker.

The ‘Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy’ category included the inventive and much loved romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer.  Also included in the same category were It’s Complicated, and the musical Nine - alongside box office success stories Julie and Julia and The Hangover.   Below is a full list of the nominees (and a link).  Take a peek before you go! Again, feel free to make a prediction, and tell us which picks you think don’t add up, and which you think are the most deserving.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF FILM NOMINEES

Picture, Drama: "Avatar," "The Hurt Locker," "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire," "Up in the Air."

Picture, Musical or Comedy: "(500) Days of Summer," "The Hangover," "It’s Complicated," "Julie & Julia," "Nine."

Actor, Drama: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"; George Clooney, "Up in the Air"; Colin Firth, "A Single Man"; Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"; Tobey Maguire, "Brothers."

Actress, Drama: Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"; Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"; Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"; Carey Mulligan, "An Education"; Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire."

Director: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"; James Cameron, "Avatar"; Clint Eastwood, "Invictus"; Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglorious Basterds."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Matt Damon, "The Informant!"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"; Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes"; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer"; Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"; Marion Cotillard, "Nine"; Julia Roberts, "Duplicity"; Meryl Streep, "It’s Complicated"; Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia."

Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, "Invictus"; Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"; Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"; Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"; Christoph Waltz, "Inglorious Basterds."

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Nine"; Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"; Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"; Mo’Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire"; Julianne Moore, "A Single Man."

Foreign Language: "Baaria," "Broken Embraces," "The Maid (La Nana)," "A Prophet," "The White Ribbon."

Animated Film: "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," "Coraline," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Princess and the Frog," "Up."

Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp, "District 9"; Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker"; Nancy Meyers, "It’s Complicated"; Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglorious Basterds."

Original Score: Michael Giacchino, "Up"; Marvin Hamlisch, "The Informant!"; James Horner, "Avatar"; Abel Korzeniowski, "A Single Man"; Karen O, Carter Burwell, "Where the Wild Things Are."

Original Song: "Cinema Italiano" (written by Maury Yeston), "Nine"; "I Want to Come Home" (written by Paul McCartney); "Everybody’s Fine"; "I Will See You" (written by James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell); "Avatar"; "The Weary Kind (Theme from ‘Crazy Heart’)" (written by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett), "Crazy Heart"; "Winter" (written by U2), "Brothers.

]]> http://www.travelinlocal.com/can-you-predict-the-golden-globes-film-winners/feed/ 2 http://www.travelinlocal.com/jay-leno-and-his-other-obsession/ http://www.travelinlocal.com/jay-leno-and-his-other-obsession/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:15:11 +0000 Lisa Newton http://www.travelinlocal.com/?p=7771 “Leno is a gearhead. His warehouse boasts century-old steam-driven cars, classic Bugattis and Duesenbergs, and dozens of sports cars, muscle cars, hot rods and motorbikes.”

He even has a website dedicated to talking about all thing cars, entitled Jay Leno’s Garage.

In a recent story at the LAist, they wrote about how Jay Leno races through “L.A.’s Hidden Urban Race Track,” while suggesting that everyone else should “try it” for themselves as well. Well all who follow my musings and stories here at Travelin’ Local, would know that I would take them up on their offer, and so began my own Jay Leno’s urban Le Mans with you.

Since my car is a ten year old Toyota, needless to say I drove the route with Jay’s spirit in mind; but not with the same equipment that Jay drives with–as you can see in the video below. But my car does a great job of getting me around town when I’m not taking the Metro or riding my bike.

In full disclosure, we had already written our story for today, but would be quite remiss in not taking note of the latest comedian wars. As the Jay Leno, Conan O’Brian, Jimmy Fallon, and NBC fiasco are now embroiled in a full-fledged late night comedian bash-fest and melt-down.

If you want to laugh about that situation we suggest viewing this clip from the Funny or Die website involved:

Leaked! NBC CEO Jeff Zucker’s Vociemails for Conan O’Brien – watch more funny videos

To follow Jay’s 13 mile favorite course, I started at Beverly Drive, which is a tree lined residential street of high end houses in the Beverly Hills Post Office area.

A nice road, but not overly exciting; however its beautiful houses make for a wonderful drive.

At the corner of Beverly Drive and Coldwater Canyon sits Coldwater Canyon Park, a great place to take the kids on a Sunday afternoon. With a play ground, lots of open space, and a water feature with small, artistic critters, no child can pass up a quick run through the grass.

As Coldwater Canyon winds its way up into the hills, mansions of every size and description come into view. Although not the best place to stop and take a photo, I managed to get a few.

Taking the almost U turn onto Mulholland is a place I’m already comfortable with. I’ve been here before, but never get tired of seeing the great views of both the Valley and Santa Monica. This day was no exception:

When Mulholland meets Laurel Canyon, which needs a good resurfacing, be prepared for a great drive of twists and turns. With almost no place to stop on the road, I wasn’t able to get too many photos, but right in the middle of the drive is a corner store, where I was able to park for a few minutes and enjoy the view.

Looking at the photo, the lot of this house has been literally carved out of the mountain.

After the calm downward slope of Laurel Canyon, you enter Sunset Boulevard, which is sterotypically LA, and always reminds me of where I live. The unique, sometimes loud, but always interesting Sunset is both “Eye Candy” and fodder for the very real Sunset Strip dreams that have come and gone; and still beckon all who come here.

As billboard lined Sunset Boulevard winds its way from Hollywood to Beverly Hills, the contrast between the two becomes apparent, as you see from the above photo:

Coming full circle and back to tree lined streets, Jay Leno’s Los Angeles Nürburgring shows off the best of Los Angeles. It’s well worth a drive on any given day—but don’t take this story as an endorsement for going over the speed limits!

If you’d like to see a little more of this hidden LA gem, here’s the map with more photos attached:

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