Archive for
January, 2008
January 30th, 2008 by carrie t
Malibu Pier and Beach Photo provided by Carrie T.
This is a great time of the year to visit . Avoid the summer crowds, pack up a picnic lunch, and head to the beach in Malibu for the day with your family … it’s a great way to unwind on a Sunday.
You can shop or grab food at the . You might even casually bump into a star here!
Another great place to spend a day sunning is on the . Let the guard know that you are just visiting and head up to the grassy lawn overlooking the ocean. You can park on the street and even bring pets … this is an amazing place to waste away the afternoon reading a good book or sharing time with your family. The views are stunning.
Access to the exclusive beaches in Malibu can be tough to find. Many beaches used to be closed off to the public all together but that has all changed… Appropriately nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach,” (a one mile stretch of Carbon Beach) now has public access from Pacific Coast Highway. To find it, head to the Malibu Pier and look for the beach access signs.
There are a few along the way but you have to look closely for them because they are sandwiched between closely connected houses. Parking can be tough but it’s well worth the work; the beaches are breathtaking and you’re likely to see paparazzi or a star along the way.
To get to Malibu, just follow Pacific Coast Highway north of LAX.
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January 28th, 2008 by jamie a
A Typewriter on an Adventure Photo uploaded by
With a city so rich in cinematic history, the great writers of LA tend to be overlooked. Beyond the glitz and glam, lie writers like Charles Bukowski, Joan Didion, and Raymond Chandler who bring the city to life through their words.
DiscoverLosAngeles.com provides a wonderful article on the literary history of the city of angels. As Bukowski said, “Since I was raised in LA, I’ve always had the geographical and spiritual feeling of being here…I’ve had time to learn this city. I can’t see any other place than LA.” If he’s your style, check out . They also offer , which help tourists discover how Los Angeles shaped not only his fiction, but the course of his life.
There’s no better way to discover the intricacies of a city than by reading first-hand accounts of calling it home. After you’ve learned the stories of these great writers of the past, be sure and take in a reading at a local coffee shop to appreciate LA’s thriving 21st century writers. You’ll most likely find a new author to love, as well as understand why LA is a city that still inspires great works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
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January 21st, 2008 by jamie a
Monterey Jazz Festival Photo uploaded by
Discover Los Angeles has put together a list of the top January events happening in the city. Forget about going through all the event guides and newspapers, they’ve got the best of the best all ready for you!
You can attend the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour, which is the world’s longest running jazz festival, featuring the modern jazz stars of today. There’s also the Chinese New Year Spectacular, featuring hundreds of performers, where you can help ring in the new year.
For something inspiring, you can head over to the Aquarium of the Pacific for the Festival of Human Abilities, which celebrates the talents of artists and musicians with disabilities. If a night out on the town is more your style, there’s DineLA, which we covered in a previous post.
Whatever your style, there’s bound to be something on the list to make your January a month to remember!
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January 16th, 2008 by jamie a
Taking a Trip with Megabus
Photo uploaded by
Recently introduced to the west coast, provides extremely affordable trips for students or those traveling on a budget. This low-cost daily bus service travels from Los Angeles to seven locations (so far), including , , and .
Here’s an on the Los Angeles to San Francisco route. If you have questions or wish to make a reservation, reserve online or call 877-GO2-MEGA.
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January 14th, 2008 by susan j
Hollywood photo uploaded by
Continuing the New York Times’ 36 hour travel series, writer Jennifer Steinhauer shared her weekend . She hit many of Hollywood’s highlights, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Runyon Canyon, and other places. How would you spend 36 hours in your favorite travel destination? Leave a comment and let us know!
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January 11th, 2008 by jamie a
Photo courtesy of Nokia Theatre
If you’re looking for a great place to see live concerts, nationally broadcast award shows, or hilarious comedians, the 7,100 seat is the latest addition to the L.A. scene.
Opened in October 2007, the first six concerts at the venue were completely sold out, but the theatre plans to host about 120 events per year. That certainly means that you’re sure to find something to fit your tastes and style, plus get your hands on some tickets!
After hosting the American Music Awards, their first venture in hosting award shows, the venue was a complete hit. They’ve got an awesome including Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Larry the Cable Guy, and the Moody Blues, so be sure and get your tickets early and enjoy the show.
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January 9th, 2008 by jamie a
Dining at LA’s Violet Restaurant
Photo uploaded by , taken by
Celebrate the culinary talent and a wide variety of cuisines during LA’S Restaurant Week. Dubbed , this event brings all restaurants together, from eclectic to home-style, to showcase all the great food this city has to offer.
From January 27- February 1st and February 3 - February 8, diners can make reservations for either “deluxe” or “premier” dining choices, with special discounted prices for a three course meal. They range from $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner at “deluxe” locations and $22 for lunch and $34 for dinner at “premier” restaurants.
If you’ve been itching to find a new place to dine, this week gives you the opportunity to quench your palate without breaking the bank! To help you plan your excursions, which offers six pieces of advice on how to have a great time and get what you paid for.
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January 2nd, 2008 by carrie t
Party photo provided by Carrie Tayloe
Most people who visit LA want to experience a night out in Hollywood, but they have a hard time figuring out how to organize it. Hollywood has so much to offer: great restaurants, world famous nightlife, comedy shows, concerts and performances – you name it, they probably have it.
- One of the first things you should do when planning a night out in Hollywood is set up transportation. Assuming you are not staying in Hollywood, renting a limo can be cheaper than a taxi, particularly if you have more than 8 people. Shop around in advance – or you can often find a taxi van that will drive you for a reasonable fee (remember to try and negotiate a rate with a company prior to the trip so that you will be charged a flat fee). You might even be able to meet a taxi driver at the airport that will assist you by offering a roundtrip fare at a flat rate. Transportation options include and .
- Another tip is to head out early for dinner so you can avoid traffic, long lines at nightclubs, and crowded restaurants. Locals head out for dinner fairly late in Hollywood, so if you take an earlier reservation you’ll be likely to get better service and you can hang onto your table for a while longer.
- When heading out to nightclubs, make sure to call in advance to reserve a table so that you won’t be stuck in a line at the front door. If you want to walk-up to a nightclub, come early (before 10 pm) and make sure to dress to impress!
- Do a little research before you go. , , and are all good resources for finding events in Hollywood.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
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