New Design Concept for Tom Bradley International Terminal

Recently, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with other elected city leaders and airport officials, unveiled the architectural vision design concept for the west side of the Tom Bradley International Terminal and midfield concourse at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new concept, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and re-establishing LAX as a gateway to global travel, is a dramatic and modern design that transforms the airport into a world-class Los Angeles experience. The improved terminal will remind visitors that they are in LA by incorporating a unifying theme that is inspired by the Pacific Ocean. Arriving international travelers will be guided through the concourse on an elevated, secured corridor that will include public art exhibits aimed at introducing travelers to the diversity of Los Angeles. The Tom Bradley International Terminal will include flat-seam stainless steel stretches over the column-free structure, a design that is meant to express movement and openness by providing visitors unobstructed views of the north and south. A two-level bridge will offer either a train ride on the lower level or an automated pedestrian walkway on the upper level. Viewing lounges will overlook Downtown LA to the east and a departing view of the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean to the west. The new concourse will accommodate larger aircrafts, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. By 2012, LAX is expected to serve more A380 flights than any other airport in the U.S. The entire Bradley West project is expected to be complete in seven years.
www.lawa.org

L.A. LIVE Grand Opening and Holiday Light Show

L.A. LIVE, the new 4-million-square-foot entertainment complex featuring music, dining, sports and residences, debuted this December in Downtown. Adjacent to the STAPLES Center and Los Angeles Convention Center, L.A. LIVE will serve as the capitol for all things entertainment in Southern California. December marks the opening of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Starbucks, Yard House, Conga Room, ESPN Zone and Lawry's Carvery.

The first phase of L.A. LIVE was completed in 2007 when the 7,100-seat NOKIA Theatre opened and became the city's largest stage and hottest new venue for concerts and events. The complex includes a $30 million, 30,000-square-foot, four-story GRAMMY® Museum that is expected to attract 300,000 visitors annually. The museum features one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits, an intimate 200-seat theater and the Target Terrace rooftop, which is available for buyouts and can accommodate up to 300 guests. The final phase of the project will include the highly anticipated JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles and the first Ritz-Carlton all club property in the United States, which are scheduled to open in 2010. Housed in a 54-story tower, the 878-room JW Marriott and 123-room Ritz-Carlton properties will add even more inventory to Downtown and will be convenient hotels for convention attendees.

December also marks the biggest, brightest and newest free-to-the-public holiday celebration at NOKIA Plaza L.A. LIVE, the world premiere of "Light of the Angels". The Dec. 4 "Light of the Angels" performance was kicked off by Britney Spears and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and was the start of a month-long schedule of special events, concerts, sporting events and restaurant openings within the L.A. LIVE complex.

The GRAMMY Museum is Open

The much-anticipated GRAMMY Museum recently opened at L.A. LIVE in Downtown, celebrating music's past, present and future with artist profiles, films, timelines, memorabilia, multimedia presentations, interactive exhibits, thought-provoking programs, a 200-seat soundstage and a mock studio, where visitors can experience the actual recording process, with industry experts leading the way through mixing and producing. "Music always has played a vital role in our culture and society, and the GRAMMY Museum will provide visitors a unique and hands-on opportunity to experience music's rich legacy, as well as the special process that goes into creating it," says Neil Portnow, president/CEO of The Recording Academy. Dubbed a "museum of the 21st century," the facility also offers educational and public programs including children's music classes, and lectures with visiting artists and industry insiders. Admission to the museum requires a timed-entry ticket, which specifies a 30-minute window for entry. Guests to the museum may stay inside as long as they like. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. www.grammymuseum.org.

Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk Celebrate the Holidays

Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off the holiday spectacular with "Grinchmas," featuring tons of powder-fresh snow, meetings with The Grinch, Cindy Lou-Who and Max the Dog, and a "Whoville" jubilation through Dec. 31. "Grinchmas" is included in the price of park admission. www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.

Universal CityWalk amps up the holiday volume with spectacular seasonal celebrations through Dec. 31. The excitement begins with a towering multimedia Christmas tree bedecked with 100,000 LED lights, genuine snowfall, and a nonstop parade of bands, choirs and street performers. The world's largest spray of mistletoe dangles overhead from CityWalk's Santa Gorilla for the ultimate merry "kiss-mas" spirit. Live entertainment at the CityWalk stage includes swing and rockabilly bands on Friday nights, dynamic choirs singing holiday classics on Saturday nights, Latin sounds including mariachi, cumbia and salsa music on Sunday nights, and nightly concerts from popular bands Dec. 26 -- 30. Santa Claus is on hand for photo ops in the CityWalk Cinema on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

On Dec. 21, the 15-foot, 1,000-pound Menorah will be illuminated for the 7th annual Chanukah Festival at the free Festival of Lights celebration.

Universal CityWalk will ring in the New Year Dec. 31 with Southern California's largest New Year's Eve party, featuring continuous live music, thousands of pounds of confetti, fireworks and live bands and DJ performances and twin count-downs at both ends of CityWalk. The celebration begins at 9 p.m., with the New York City Times Square ball drop displayed on two giant outdoor screens. To add to the fun, CityWalk's Café Tu Tu Tango, Hard Rock Café, Howl at the Moon, Jillian's Hi-Life Lanes, Rumba Room and Saddle Ranch Chop House will offer live entertainment specials for New Year's Eve. www.CityWalkHollywood.com.

Hotel Roundup

From Hollywood to the beach to the San Fernando Valley, new high-end hotels and sophisticated renovations at iconic properties keep Los Angeles at the forefront of trendsetting luxury. Here's a sampling:

SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills ( formerly Le Meridien at Beverly Hills) -- Following a major transformation, the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, on South La Cienega Boulevard, now sports a sophisticated contemporary ambiance with minimalist-chic Philippe Starck-designed décor and 297 guest rooms with plush bedding, 40-inch flat screens and other amenities. The elegant spa, chic pool and culinary innovations by award winning chef José Andrés, promise a first class experience. www.slshotels.com.

W Hotel -- Construction of the new W Hotel continues at Hollywood & Vine, across from the historic Pantages Theatre and above the Hollywood/Vine Metro Red Line subway station. Scheduled to open in early 2009, it will feature 305 rooms, a private rooftop pool and gym, a signature restaurant, a 9,200-square-foot spa and a rooftop bar. The $600 million development also includes the W Residences, some 50,000 square feet of retail space and a civic plaza. www.legacypartners.com.

Sheraton Universal Hotel -- This iconic hotel recently completed a $30 million renovation -- just in time to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2009. The new Hollywood Regency design style, inspired by the 1920s through the 1940s, adds a celebrity flamboyance to the 451 guestrooms and 31 suites (two presidential, three VIP, one Shrek-themed and 25 executive and junior suites); and more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space including the unique Starview Room, a newly renovated rooftop area, with 3,500 square feet and views of the Hollywood Hills. www.sheratonuniversal.com

Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel -- This long-time favorite Valley hotel, on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, is currently undergoing renovations to its lobby, public areas, meeting space, pool and room amenities. A major renovation to the 200 guestrooms and suites, and nine surrounding acres is expected in 2009. www.SLHotel.com.

Belamar Hotel -- The 127-room Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach recently unveiled a $2.2 million renovation, which includes a redesigned lobby; the new Second Story restaurant, serving healthy twists on all-American dishes from Chef Vania Almeida; and five state-of-the-art meeting rooms for groups of up to 100 people, which expands the Belamar's meeting facilities to 7,095 square feet. www.belamarhotel.com.

Hyatt West Hollywood -- Hyatt West Hollywood will reopen as Hyatt's new brand Andaz in January 2009. The Andaz West Hollywood will be the first North American Andaz property and will have a relaxed cosmopolitan feel combined with vibrant social spaces. The revamped hotel will feature 257 guestrooms and 20 expansive suites. www.andaz.com

Explore Even More with Amtrak

Visitors to Los Angeles can relax while they travel and experience breathtaking scenery when Amtrak® does the driving. Amtrak offers a convenient and cost-effective way to travel to LA daily from more than 500 cities across the United States. The Sunset Limited® follows a southern route that links Los Angeles to New Orleans, Houston and San Antonio three times a week. Travelers can sit back as the Bayou Country, southwestern deserts and California Mountains pass by their windows. Between Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, the Pacific Surfliner® offers multiple departures daily and the Central Valley is conveniently served by the San Joaquin ® line. Amtrak is also a "green" option for travel because it contributes less per passenger mile to greenhouse gas emissions than cars and airplanes. Discount fares are available for children and senior citizens. For schedule and fare information, visit www.amtrak.com.