Now Open: The Simpsons Ride

The Simpsons Ride is now open at Universal Studios Hollywood. The new mega attraction, based on the critically acclaimed TV series and movie, is showing a side of Springfield previously unexplored. Guests enter "Krustyland" (a fantasy theme park created by the show's cantankerous Krusty the Clown) and are rocketed along with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson on "Krusty's Thrilltacular Roller Coaster," where they rip roar at faster than lightning speeds on a hysterical, almost unimaginable adventure. The Simpsons Ride is an unprecedented collaboration between Universal Parks & Resorts and The Simpsons creators, Executive Producer Matt Groening and Executive Producer James L. Brooks. The ride features the show's classic humor with 29 popular Springfield residents all voiced by the original talent. While Springfield is located near a Nuclear Power Plant, the ride takes energy conservation seriously and has been constructed to be eco-friendly.
www.discoverLosAngeles.com
www.thesimpsonsride.com
www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Cruise LA to Alaska

In 2009, Celebrity Cruises will be offering the industry's first roundtrip Alaska cruise out of Los Angeles with a 14-night roundtrip "Ultimate Alaska" sailing on the Celebrity Mercury. The voyage begins on April 27 and includes visits to five Alaska ports as well as Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia. Immediately following the April 27 cruise, the ship will sail a 13-night "Ultimate Alaska" voyage from LA to Vancouver, also visiting five Alaska ports, among others.
www.cruisela.com
www.celebritycruises.com

Don't Miss the Tall Ships!^TM

Enjoy the majesty of the tall ships as they visit the Port of San Pedro during the Festival of Sail LA from Aug. 15-17. The event will kick off with the Grand Parade of Sail featuring the U.S. Coast Guard training barque Eagle, HMS Surprise (featured in the movie "Master & Commander"), Bounty (the replica built for the film "Mutiny on the Bounty"), and more than a dozen other great sailing vessels. The festivities include tours onboard the tall ships, nautical demonstrations, food and gift booths, live entertainment and children's activities. San Pedro's summer excitement begins with the Fourth of July Spectacular featuring fireworks and the Golden State Pops Orchestra performing at Cabrillo Beach. "Shakespeare by the Sea" will be performing A Midsummer Night's Dream and Anthony and Cleopatra from June 12 through Aug. 9. "Hot Time - Summer in the City" is the theme of the second annual Hot Pedro Nites (July 18-19) and will feature a classic car cruise and "Doo-Wop Concert and Party" at the Warner Grand Theatre and Port Waterfront Promenade. The second annual "Windsurf Enduro" at Cabrillo Beach also takes place July 18-19. In August, Point Fermin Park will be the site of the 20th Annual Taste in San Pedro (Aug. 2-3) with food and fun for all ages. To end the summer, Lobster Festival 2008 -- the world's largest lobster fest -- will celebrate delicious lobster meals, dancing, street performances, music and entertainment from Sept. 19-21 at Ports O' Call Village.
www.lafestivalofsail.info
www.summerinsanpedro.com

"9 to 5: The Musical" World Premiere

The much-loved 1980 hit movie makes its musical world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 3. Based on the film, "9 to 5: The Musical" will feature a brand-new score by seven-time Grammy Award®-winner Dolly Parton that includes the blockbuster title song and direction by two-time Tony Award®-winner Joe Mantello (directing his first new musical since Wicked). Emmy Award®-winner and Tony Award®-nominee Allison Janney stars as Violet Newstead, the super-efficient office manager who joins her fellow co-workers -- frazzled divorcée Judy Bernly (Stephanie J. Block) and sexy secretary Doralee Rhodes (Megan Hilty in the role originated by Dolly Parton in the film) -- to turn the tables on their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot" of a boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Tony Award®-nominee Marc Kudisch). The musical is set to run through Oct. 19, 2008.
www.centertheatregroup.org

Magic Mountain Takes Coaster Thrills into a New Dimension

Six Flags Magic Mountain has transformed "X" (the world's first 4th dimension roller coaster thrill ride) into "X2: Xtreme to the Second Power," with five dimensions of extreme thrills. Closed since last year, the six-year-old X reopened May 24, 2008 as X2, following a $10 million redesign. The reinvented ride introduces all-new, innovative state-of-the-art audio, visual and sensory effects. Unlike traditional coasters, X2 sends riders screaming around its 3,600-foot maze of steel track aboard massive wing-shaped trains where the seats extend off the track to the sides of the vehicle, allowing them to independently rotate riders head over heels, forward and backward, creating a one-of-a-kind "don't know what to expect next" sensation.
www.sixflags.com/magicmountain