discoverLosAngeles.com: Tell us what tops your list of nearby attractions.
William: Well, Beverly Center is right across from our property, and The Grove is very close as well — only about a 10-minute walk. Melrose is always very popular, and Rodeo Drive, of course.discoverLosAngeles.com: What is your favorite thing about living in LA?
William: The mix of ethnicities. Living here has given me the chance to get to know people from all over the world. And, there's always something to do in LA. I wouldn't change a thing about it.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What do you recommend for nightlife?
William: The Sunset Strip has a lot of nightclubs. Skybar is very well-known. And if you want to see celebrities, dine at The Ivy, Koi or Katsuya.
discoverLosAngeles.com: If you had a relative in town who had never been to LA, what's the first thing you would show him or her?
William: We'd go Downtown to see the Walt Disney Concert Hall and to Griffith Park Observatory to see the views of the city. We'd probably drive along Mulholland and go to Hollywood & Highland and the Walk of Fame. I could go on and on! I'd probably need a month to show them everything.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What entertainment options are you recommending to guests this month?
Fernando: “Cats” is playing at the Pantages Theatre, and Ed Harris is starring in a great play ("Wrecks") through the first week in March at the Geffen Playhouse, which is also hosting "Through the Night" beginning March 16.discoverLosAngeles.com: What are some top attractions in the area for guests of your hotel?
Fernando: Universal Studios Hollywood first and foremost, as well as CityWalk, which is adjacent to that. People also visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and other Hollywood sights.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What do you think first-time visitors to LA enjoy most about the city?
Fernando: The awesome weather. A guest just told me the other day that we do it right when it comes to weather, and she and her husband now want to move here!
discoverLosAngeles.com: What are some of the entertainment options for visitors in the neighborhood?
Helen: We have a new Regal Cinema that’s right near our building. If guests want to go to a Lakers or Clippers game, we can assist them in getting tickets to the STAPLES Center. Or, we can help them get seats at NOKIA Theatre, which is right here at L.A. LIVE.discoverLosAngeles.com: What upcoming events in the area are you looking forward to?
Helen: Well, the Ritz-Carlton is opening late March/early April, along with a new Wolfgang Puck restaurant. And on the second Thursday of every month, we have an art walk. There are a lot of great concerts coming up at STAPLES Center. John Mayor, Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas will be here this month.
discoverLosAngeles.com: GLANCE, ION and the The Mixing Room are great dining options in your hotel, but there are many other restaurants around L.A. LIVE. What are some of your recommendations?
Helen: We do have a lot of variety around here! For fine dining, there’s Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar for steak and Katsuya for Japanese. For casual dining, there’s Rosa Mexicano, Trader Vic’s and Yard House.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What is a quintessential LA experience that visitors to L.A. LIVE can seek out?
Helen: The Pantry is two blocks from our hotel. It’s a classic diner that is open 24 hours and hasn’t closed its doors since the 1950s.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What do you recommend for entertainment in the neighborhood?
Verity: Every Thursday we have live jazz music here at the hotel, and we just started a Sunday jazz brunch in our Twist restaurant. Nearby, there's always something going on at Hollywood & Highland, especially the live music in spring and summer.discoverLosAngeles.com: Tell us about a quintessential Hollywood experience.
Verity: I would say it's as simple as taking in Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame where all the handprints are. I think that's a really cool area, and it's fun to see the stars of your favorites.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What's your favorite new Hollywood experience?
Verity: Madame Tussauds is fairly new, and it's a really cool museum. I took the tour and really enjoyed it.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What are visitors' best options for spotting Hollywood's stars and starlets?
Verity: I'd say something like the Kress because it has a restaurant on the bottom level and a nightclub on top. A place that mixes nightlife and dining would be a good bet for celebrity sightings.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What's your favorite thing to do in the area on your days off?
Michael: I like to have breakfast at the Blue Plate and then go shopping on Montana Avenue.discoverLosAngeles.com: Are there any new developments that locals are looking forward to?
Michael: Definitely Santa Monica Place. It will be an open-air shopping center with a Bloomingdales and a Nordstrom.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What do guests enjoy most about your hotel?
Michael: Our restaurant, FIG, always gets great reviews. We have a brunch where we serve tacos, which is really cool. Our property is unique, too. We're a little hideaway oasis with gardens and a koi pond.
discoverLosAngeles.com: What would you recommend for a classic Santa Monica experience?
Michael: It's between the Third Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier. On the promenade, there are a lot of artists, singers and musicians, and it's great to see them share their love of the arts. No day is alike. And at the pier, the carousel and the rides are a lot of fun.
