LA Showcases Summer Fun

Leading the pack in what's hot for summertime fun in Los Angeles, The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood is a sure bet. To make it easy for visitors to enjoy all of LA's newest attractions, including The Simpsons Ride, LA INC. has partnered with 10 LA hotels from the San Fernando Valley to the Beach Cities; offering new, sizzling summer guest room rates for as low as $119 per night through December 2008. LA INC. has also joined up with Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood CityPass, Wicked and American Airlines to provide travelers with a variety of unique LA experiences. Visit
www.discoverLosAngeles.com to find all the special offers.

LA Welcomes Chinese Visitors

Los Angeles is preparing for an influx of Chinese visitors and will be hosting the inaugural group this month. On Dec. 11, 2007, the U.S. and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding, making it possible for Chinese leisure groups to travel to the U.S. for the first time. LA attractions, such as Universal Studios Hollywood, currently offer daily tours in Chinese and are translating their print and online material to accommodate their new guests. Currently, Los Angeles is the most popular destination for Chinese travelers. One third of all Chinese visitors to the U.S. come to Los Angeles. In 2007, LA welcomed 131,000 Chinese visitors. Over the course of the next year, LA INC. anticipates there will be a 50 percent increase in travel from China to LA. With 19 weekly nonstop flights from China, Los Angeles International Airport is the only U.S. airport serviced by all three national Chinese airlines. Much of the growth LA will see in this particular market is due in large part to the efforts of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In October 2006, Mayor Villaraigosa officially opened the first city-level tourism office in Beijing (managed jointly by LA INC. and Los Angeles World Airports).
www.discoverLosAngeles.com

Gay and Lesbian Weddings in LA

With all its sights and attractions, gay-friendly Los Angeles is the perfect gay and lesbian wedding destination. In a 4-3 decision on May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental "right to marry" that extends equally to same-sex couples. According to a 2006 Travel Industry Association survey, Los Angeles is one of the four top 10 gay destinations in the U.S. Home to one of the largest and most eclectic gay and lesbian communities in the world, LA will now be forever known as one of the top gay and lesbian wedding destinations. From a traditional ceremony at a Lloyd Wright-designed chapel to a marriage at sea or at a secluded ranch in Malibu, visit the link below for ideas, packages and venues.
www.discoverLosAngeles.com

Bowl Season Begins in Hollywood

The Los Angeles Philharmonic opens the 2008 Hollywood Bowl summer season on June 20 with the Ninth Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony. The 87th season features classical music by the LA Phil; popular weekend shows with the LA Phil and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; jazz, world music, pop, rock and special presentations; as well as family and educational programs. The theme of this year's July 4 Fireworks Spectacular is "A Ball at the Bowl with the LA Dodgers." The Dodgers are celebrating their 50th season this year in Los Angeles and the July 2-4 shows will be filled with classic baseball music, Dodgers players, plus a guest performance by Randy Newman. This season also marks a new chapter in Hollywood Bowl history as it will be Esa-Pekka Salonen's final Bowl season. Salonen will step down as LA Phil Music Director at the conclusion of the 08/09 season and 27-year-old Venezuelan phenom, Gustavo Dudamel, will take his place for the 09/10 season. Salonen leads Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" for his final Bowl appearances on Sept. 9 and 11. The summer season ends Sept. 28 with Kidzapalooza, a seminal rock concert music festival for families.
www.laphil.com
www.hollywoodbowl.com

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

Museum of Neon Art Reopens

The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) has reopened between Spring and Main streets at 136 West 4th Street in Downtown. The bright new space includes three new shows: Soda Pop Neon Signs (from the collection of Mario Pancino), Soda Pop Sign Series (black and white photos by Tom Zimmerman) and the Group Exhibit of Neon and Kinetic Art. Additional programs include The MONA Neon Cruise, a nighttime tour in a double-decker bus showcasing neon signs, movie marquees and permanent installations of contemporary neon art throughout Downtown and Hollywood. MONA also offers an eight-week, neon sign-making class for $450 that runs July 12-Aug. 31. MONA keeps more than 150 neon signs throughout Hollywood, Downtown and the Wilshire Corridor lit in conjunction with the LUMENS project and the Community Redevelopment Agency. The museum is open Thursday - Sunday. Admission is free for members, $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $3 for children under 12, and free for children under 5.
www.neonmona.org

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