LA's Convention Center Hotels Take Shape

The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles and the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles -- the first Ritz-Carlton "all club" property in the United States -- are scheduled to open March 2010 at L.A. LIVE, adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center. The two hotels will share an iconic 54-story skyscraper that will be the focal point of the 27-acre, $2.5 billion Downtown sports and entertainment mecca. As the project nears completion, more information is coming to light on all fronts, including the details of the convention center hotels. The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles will feature 878 guest rooms, including 35 suites and more than 77,000 square feet of meeting space (boasting three floors of stacked ballrooms - the most efficient conference space in Los Angeles - and largest with the capability of serving 2,000). The Ritz-Carlton will feature 123 guest rooms and suites situated on the upper floors, along with The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE (composed of 224 private condominiums). A 3,400-square-foot Club Lounge will double as the property's 23rd floor check-in area with an adjacent boardroom for small meetings, a combined lobby-lounge-restaurant space on the 24th floor will offer panoramic views of Downtown and the surrounding Southern California cityscape, and a rooftop swimming pool and terrace will provide a luxurious retreat from the city below.
www.lalivemarriott.com
www.ritzcarlton.com
www.lalive.com

A New Universal Experience

The 1973 "Best Picture" Oscar® Statuette for The Sting is just one of the many rare gems of Hollywood memorabilia on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's newest attraction -- "The Universal Experience: Behind the Scenes of Universal Pictures." This new attraction celebrates the studios' historic movie heritage and provides visitors with an extraordinary, close-up view of never-before-seen props, costumes, artifacts and special-effect items chosen from many of Universal's most celebrated productions, including recent hits and major motion pictures that have yet to be released. In addition, interactive trivia and film clip kiosks impart a lively hands-on element to the visitor experience. Among items currently on display are props and costumes including the "Book of Who" from Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the "speak 'N Spell transmitter" from E.T. , Gregory Peck's briefcase and glasses from To Kill a Mockingbird and Cate Blanchette's period costumes from Elizabeth. The Universal Experience will be updated regularly with material from new movies and artifacts from the studio's 95-year-old archives including more than 6,000 titles.
www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Mark Taper Forum Re-Opens in September

Winner of more Tony Awards® than any theatre outside of Manhattan, the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum will re-open its doors to the public on Sept. 14, 2008 after a yearlong $30 million renovation with the premiere of "The House of Blue Leaves." The distinctive circular theatre located at the Music Center in Downtown has received a much-needed updating of its technical capabilities and audience amenities. Inside the auditorium, the unique intimacy of the Taper will be retained, with upgrades such as new, more comfortable seats, upholstery, carpeting, and sleek and elegant new railings along the aisles. The acoustics of the theatre will also be improved to allow theatregoers to hear the spoken word better, and a new air conditioning system will provide quieter and more even air distribution. The theatre's lobby will more than double in size and the lobby bar will be more accommodating. The 1,350 square-foot lower lobby will also offer comfortable, casual seating with two large banquettes, on either end of the lobby, and additional adjacent seating.
www.centertheatregroup.org/theatres/mtf

Madame Tussauds Unveiling

On July 10 Madame Tussauds revealed the details of their newest attraction, Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Located in the heart of Hollywood adjacent to Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Madame Tussauds Hollywood is scheduled to open in summer 2009 as the first Madame Tussauds to be built from the ground up in the 200-year history of the company. The 44,000-square-foot, $55 million, three-story building will be home to celebrity wax figures that can cost in upwards of $150,000 each to create. Set in 12 themed areas (The Red Carpet, Party, Spirit of Hollywood, Westerns, Crime, Modern Classics, Making Movies, Sport, Action Heroes, Behind the Scenes and Awards Ceremony), more than 80 figures will be on display. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled the first three figures to be included in the new museum: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles and the recently deceased Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. Hollywood prides itself on status symbols that celebrities thrive to attain; from getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to being the lucky recipient of an Oscar® Statuette. Having a wax figure created in your honor at Madame Tussauds Hollywood will soon be considered another preeminent mark of achievement for the celeb-set to earn and the public to admire. Not only will visitors be able to see their favorite celebs up close, the figures at Madame Tussauds can be touched and approached for photo opps.
www.madametussauds.com/hollywood

24 Hours in the Beach Cities

In LA's Beach Cities, restaurants are as fresh as an ocean breeze and the nightlife sizzles with waves of excitement. Click the link below for a 24-hour itinerary and enjoy a sample day along LA's 75 miles of coastline from Malibu to San Pedro. Read More...